It’s one of those things isn’t it. You know you need to do them, but you keep putting them off. Getting around to doing the household chores can be a headache, particularly if there are lots of you in the house making a mess – and you and your partner work all day. We’re all leading busy lives these days, with little time to keep our homes clean and tidy. It ends up with most people cramming the cleaning into the weekends, evenings or any days off during the week. But, don’t despair. There are ways that you and your family can stay one step ahead of the dust and dirt.
Get the whole family involved
When taking on the household chores, think of the old saying: a problem shared, is a problem halved. What it means is, don’t leave the household chores to one person in your household. If you live alone, then of course you don’t have much choice. But, if you have a family around you, get them all involved in tidying and cleaning up.
Why not draw up a cleaning roster? For each day of the week, you can allocate specific tasks to different members of the family. One person could be responsible for the washing up, for example. While another could take on the vacuuming. And don’t forget other important jobs just as dusting and taking out the trash.
It’s one thing drawing up a roster, but you also need to make sure that all of those involved stick to it. Try offering some sort of incentive to get everyone sticking to their jobs. You’ll all need some encouragement!
Don’t let it mount up
Doing little and often can help ease the workload around home cleaning. When you draw up your roster, think about allocating short tasks, around 10 minutes each, to keep on top of things on a daily basis. This could be tidying up the newspapers and magazines in the living area, loading and switching on the dishwasher, or cleaning the kitchen and oven surfaces.
Tidying up shoes, and hanging coats on a rack may sound like menial tasks, but they can also help to keep your house looking in good condition.
De-clutter!
As well as tidying up everyday items, de-cluttering your house can also help keep looking great. By de-cluttering, we mean getting rid of excessive furniture, decorations, things that you don’t really use. If you can free up some clean space, and it works for you, then do it. Getting rid of clutter can really open up a room and give it a sense of space and cleanliness. It also won’t appear to be so messy when you do leave the odd thing lying around!
Stock up on cleaning products
There are a million and one other things that will be more attractive in the supermarket. But, make sure you invest in a good stock of cleaning supplies for your home. Think about the rooms around your house and the products you’ll need to keep them looking great. For the kitchen, you’ll need surface sprays, oven cleaner and maybe a detergent to clean your floor. In the bathroom, sink, bath and toilet cleaning products are a must.
Elsewhere in the house, you’ll need to have some good polish to keep the furniture looking good – and some glass cleaner for the windows and any tables or decorative cabinets.
If you have lots of cleaning products at hand, in the rooms where they’re needed, then you’re more likely to get everyone in the household using them!
Time for some decorating?
It’s not just cleaning that will keep your home looking great, it’s the décor as well. So, if you have some tired walls, with paint or wallpaper peeling off – or looking dull and dirty – then why not think about adding some fresh colour?
How about the blinds and curtains? And the carpets and other flooring? How’s it all looking? Is it letting your house down? Have a think and, if you have the budget, why not splash out on a bit of a makeover.
Sort your trash
Try to clear the house of rubbish as you create it. You don’t want to be leaving old bits of discarded food around, packets, and other waste items. Not only will they make your home look messy, they could also pose a health risk to you and your family.
When you’re getting rid of your waste, think green! Separate all your different waste items, like glass and paper, and recycle them. Believe it or not, sorting the trash for recycling can be fun! And everyone can get involved.
Make sure you don’t miss your general waste and recycling pick-ups, or forget to take them to your nearest waste centre, to dispose of it all. You don’t want to leave trash laying around for weeks, especially food waste, as it can quickly become a health hazard – particularly in the hot summer months.
Keep the pests away
By regularly disposing of your waste, you’ll help keep away any nasty pests – like rats, maggots and other invaders. They’re things most people dread, but don’t think about until they arrive at their home.
If you do spot something inside your property, or in your outside areas, then take care to identify exactly what it is. If it’s something that’s harmless and isn’t intrusive, then maybe you don’t have to over-worry. But, if you are concerned, then take some advice on how to deal with it. Do you need to invest in some rat traps? How will you limit the spread? Turn to companies such as Natura Pest Control for help.
What’s on the outside also counts
Great job that you want to keep the inside of your house clean! But don’t neglect the outside. If you have a garden, or some other outside space, make sure it also looks in good shape.
That could be ensuring the lawn is mown, the plants and flowers are looked after, and any seating areas are kept clean and tidy.
A good looking outside and a great looking inside can help make for a very happy home!