Cleanup Tips

General Cleaning

I like to start by cleaning everything upstairs. I remove as many things as possible from the room. I finish all my dusting. I shake out the dresser scarves or wash them. I then wash the floors and wax them with a wood cleaner and wax. Now is a good time to get rid of unwanted clothes and shoes. I wash the bedding or replace anything that shows wear. Replace the paper in your chest of drawers and get rid of items you haven’t used or looked at. Go through all of your bookwork and burn papers that are over 7 years old. Make a pile of things you would like to sell or donate. Get rid of any old boxes that no longer have a real purpose.

Cleaning The Main Floor

I vacuum all of the furniture and shake out any scraps to protect it from scratches. I take all of my books out of my bookcase, weed them out, and dust off the tops of the books. I throw out old magazines and anything I no longer need, such as old articles. I vacuum under the furniture and in all the room’s crevices. I take everything out of end tables or storage cabinets and dust them thoroughly. I clean the whatnot shelf and the corner cupboard with dishes. I remove the dishes, wash them with dish soap, dry them, and put them back in the corner cupboard, looking nice and shiny. Clean anything with glass with glass cleaner. Put some lemon oil on your wood furniture to preserve it and help keep it from drying out and cracking.

Cleaning The Kitchen

I vacuum under the stove, refrigerator, and washer/dryer combination. I clean out the dryer lint pipe. I put new aluminum foil under the kitchen sink area and in the oven. I clean up all of the appliances and take everything out of the cupboards to be washed and cleaned. I generally find items to sell or donate. I go through and clean the food cupboards.

Cleaning The Bathroom

Go through the medicine cabinet and discard old items. I clean out the cupboard above the stool and throw out old items, such as suntan lotion and more.

Basement Cleaning

Wash your cement floors with a hospital germicide cleaner. Clean out the inside of your washing machines and clothes dryer. Throw out old boxes. Remove everything from the area being cleaned. Go through your canned goods and throw out items that are expired or soon to expire. Clean the tops of storage cupboards and throw out anything that might attract mice.

Pet Items Cleanup

I have a special washing machine that I use specifically for cleaning pet bedding and toys. I use a germicide when I clean my cats’ floors. Wash dishes with dish soap. I have Lysol, Zep, and Nature’s Miracle that are good for cleaning cat messes.

Cleaning Outdoor Buildings

I remove everything from my garage and sweep it thoroughly. I rake all the corn cobs off the floor in a metal shed with a sand floor. I remove any cobwebs from the outdoor buildings and clean the windows. I burn old rags and get rid of old items.