Success in one part of our life always reflects positively on other parts of our lives, so if we start winning small battles we are in fact preparing to win our big battles.
Cleaning a house is just
a few good habits
We all live incredibly busy lives today, and our home can be literally a bed to fall into at the end of a hectic day, our sanctuary where we enjoy and celebrate our quiet time, or our family space where we cook together, eat together, do homework, study, work, run, share, argue, celebrate, laugh and cry together.
And like your relationships, your home needs your care and loving attention to stay healthy and happy too. The easiest way to do this is by introducing some small regular tasks that everyone in the house agrees on and carries out as part of their everyday routine. For example:
Some jobs only need 1 person to say “That’s mine” like taking the rubbish bins out once a week.
Other jobs we all agree we will all do automatically like breathing!
Some examples are:
- Always put dishes immediately into the dishwasher
- Wipe the kitchen bench every time you do anything in the kitchen
- Open all the curtains every morning and let the sunshine in to help your house stay fresh
- Open windows to ventilate your home when you get home. Like you, houses need to breathe
- Always wipe the water off the glass in the shower with a squeegee glass cleaning blade (cost $3 at the $2 shop) before stepping out, and never clean glass again
- Give showers, baths, basins and toilets a good scrub at least once a week- like every Saturday, or maybe Friday before you go out and keep your weekend free
- Mow lawns regularly, for example, 2 weekly in spring and 4 weekly in winter
- Remember, cleaning a room works best if you start at the top (the ceiling) and work your way down, vacuuming last
And what about those other,
less regular jobs?
Blocked sinks, drains, toilets.
You need a rubber plunger for blocked drains or toilets or sinks. Sometimes it just takes vigorous pumping with a plunger to clear a blockage. If a blockage persists use drain cleaner. If the problem still persists, notify your property manager so we can call a plumber before there is any damage.
Spills and accidents that leave marks on carpets.
We recommend you ask Google how to remove a specific stain from carpet like wine. Follow the instructions. If you find the mark or stain is stubborn, advise your property manager who might call in professionals before the stain sets.
Gas BBQ’s and unflued gas heaters.
These not allowed inside ever. They are dangerous as they create an enormous amount of moisture causing mildew and mould.
Cleaning ceilings.
This is easy to do with a clean floor mop, warm water and sugar soap.
Cleaning bathroom extractor fan vents.
This is quick and easy when your bathroom is dry. Just vacuum the vent with the brush fitting on the end of your long vacuum hose.
Stove top rangehoods.
These commonly have filters. that you can unclip. Clean by putting them through the dishwasher as if they are a plate. If you hand wash, use lots of hot soapy water.
Waste Disposal.
Make sure to run the machine with cold water with dish soap after every use. Toss a lemon or an orange at least once a month. The citric acid helps to dissolve any buildups of grease. If the waste disposal has a weird smell, just put 4 tbs or baking soda down the drain and leave it sit for an hour and rinse it with hot water.
Another trick to cleaning Shower Glass.
Kitchen scrubbing brushes.
Sterilize kitchen scrubbing brushes by putting them through the dishwasher regularly too.
Moisture.
Use damprid pots or hanging moisture absorbers to eliminate excess moisture in the air and musty smells. They can be used in bedrooms, wardrobes, laundries, storage containers, cupboards, garages, cars, anywhere where moisture is a problem. Buy at your local hardware store.
Toilet bowls.
Coke Cola is great for cleaning toilet bowls that have got stained, but it needs to be concentrated. Pour 8 litres of coke into a bucket then pour it into the toilet all in one go. This flushes out all the water. Leave the coke on for 24 or 48 hours before scrubbing with a toilet brush and flushing normally.
Washing walls.
If the wall is painted, wash lightly with a sponge that is nearly dry, dipped in warm water with a small amount of dish washing liquid or sugar soap. Be extremely careful if the walls have wallpaper or have been painted over old wallpaper. If you are concerned talk to your property manager.
Pest Control.
Do not bring any new furniture into your house until you know it is free of any insects. Never bring items left for free on the street into your house. Even items in storage in sub-zero temperatures can harbour dormant insect pests and eggs. So prevention is better than cure!
Washing Machine
We recommend cleaning it once a month to avoid mould and spread of germs. To do this add 2 cups of vinegar, ¼ cup of baking soda and ¼ cup of water and add the mixture to the detergent container. Set the washing machine to a normal cycle and hottest setting and run it. Use a sponge or cloth to wipe any residue.
Weeds
RoundUp will kill your weeds, your pets, your kids, you, pollinators, bees and entire hives for up to 3 miles away. If you really need to get rid of some weeds, use 1 gallon white vinegar, 1 cup salt and a tablespoon of dish soap instead.
