Forget Spring Cleaning. It’s Time for a Winter Clearout!

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It may be the middle of winter, but that doesn’t mean you can’t justify a good old fashioned spring clean. Take a look around your home. If we’re being honest, we could all do with throwing some stuff out, couldn’t we? The sheer volume of things we have amassed over the years can sometimes make you lose control of your house. Well, it’s time to take back that control.

Good housekeeping starts with some very particular routines. And, if you can crack them, they’ll make your life a whole lot easier. Some people love having a mass purge of their home. It can be incredibly therapeutic for them. Others, though, don’t quite see it in the same light. It can seem like one hell of a mountain to climb, especially if you’ve let things get out of control. The important thing is that you learn now to fear it.

Instead, let’s focus on breaking everything up into little jobs that you can easily finish one at a time. That’s the quickest way to achieving a thorough clear out of your home without feeling overwhelmed or daunted. Take things slowly; room by room. If you can tackle one at a time, you can always come back and do another later. This will break things up and make the task seem much easier than it actually is. Here’s where to focus all of your attention.

Front of House

Let’s start from the beginning, shall we? Take a step outside your front door and look around. How presentable is the outside of your home? That is what is referred to as curb appeal. If people happened to be walking by, what impression would they get from your house? Obviously, you want people to be envious, not turned off. Focus on the outside for now. Wash the windows, trim the front garden, and clear any rubbish from your drive.

Once you’ve finished that, and it won’t take you long, step back inside. If you’ve got a traditional hallway, and most homes do, we can tackle this next before moving on. Make sure all your walls and fixtures are clean. If you’re feeling particularly adventurous, you may take this opportunity to give your walls a lick of paint to breathe some new life into them. Make sure all carpets and thoroughly clean, and doors (including handles) are wiped down. There. Job done. That wasn’t so hard was it?

Bedrooms

Next up, let’s tackle the bedrooms. You can take a break at this point if you like. Or, if you’re feeling in the zone, move straight on. Why do the bedrooms come next? Well, because, usually, they’re the least messy. You don’t really have much to do, here. There may be a couple of stray clothes lying around, so pick them up and throw them in the washing basket. They’re out of sight, for now, but remember to do a wash later. Add that to your checklist for when you tackle the kitchen.

Again, it’s time to do the standard routine of washing windows, doors, and carpets. After that, it’s time to make the bed. You may want to wash your bedding at this point, or you can leave it until another time if it doesn’t need seeing to urgently. After that, it’s time to take on any clutter that may have accrued over time. More often than not, you’re going to be looking in your wardrobes for things you may have crammed in there out of the way.

Don’t be too choosy about what you throw out. If it’s outstayed it’s welcome, toss it. Don’t deliberate over things that haven’t seen the light of day for a few years. Just get rid of it. What do you do with all that rubbish? You can either take a drive out to your nearest waste centre or, if you’re feeling a little worn out by now, contact a house clearance service. Time to move on.

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Bathrooms

Urgh, bathrooms. Nobody likes to clean the bathroom. It’s just not a very glamorous job, is it? Unfortunately, though, it does need seeing to as a matter of urgency. Bathrooms are prone to getting grimy and dirty by their very nature. But, get your head around the fact that there isn’t actually all that much to do. It might seem like it’s a lot to take on, but it won’t take very long at all.

All you really need to do is grab some cleaning products and a cloth of some variety and dig in. All your bathroom furniture will need a good scrub. Your toilet, bath, shower, and sink. Get right in there and don’t stop until they’re gleaming! Then focus on your taps until they’re equally shining. Then it’s just a matter of dusting your mirror and cabinets and you’re done. That wasn’t too painful at all, was it?

You may need to tackle grout or mold, too, if it’s become a problem in your home, but otherwise, it’s time to get moving.

Kitchen

Clutter in your kitchen is quite common. While you’re feeling motivated after hard work in the bathroom, take it on now. Somewhere along the way, your kitchen lost its sense of purpose. It was once a place to enjoy making delicious food. Now? It’s an oversized storage closet. But not for much longer. We’re going to reclaim our kitchen once and for all.

Again, tackle the windows, doors and floor. Are you starting to see a pattern emerging here? Make sure all your plates, pots, pans and cutlery are washed and put away. You may wish to reorganize your cupboards if they’ve gotten a little bit out of control. After that, it’s time to deep clean the oven (you’ll need special oven cleaner for this) and the stove top. At this point, you can defrost your fridge and freezer if you like. They say that you’re supposed to do that regularly, don’t they? Make sure the sink is shining, and you’re done.

The last thing on your list will be your living area, but everyone’s is different, so you’ll have to use your own discretion there. It’s a matter of common sense if anything. Just make sure everything is clean and tidy and throw away any old junk you’ve been clinging onto for too long. And just like that, you’ve got a spotless house. And in the space of, what, a few hours? Now you can relax. You’ve earned it!

 

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