Who doesn’t want their home to sparkle? But, when it comes to the winter months, cleaning our home and getting things in order is one of the least desirable ways to spend our time. We’d much rather watch football, enjoy a backyard campfire and read a good book, go for a hike to soak in some nature, or just be cozy on the sofa with a delicious coffee.
But, with Thanksgiving and Christmas sneaking up at us around the corner, now is the perfect time to get our home sparkling clean and organized. I’ve been digging in, and tackling one drawer, one cabinet, one room at a time, so by the time the day comes that the sun is setting around 6pm again, I will be finished with this DIY job.
When the holiday season begins, guests may be visiting and staying over more frequently. So if you like the idea of preparing your home before this winter, then here are some of the things that can help a home sparkle.
If you have guests popping by later today or tomorrow, we have a quick guide on how to get your home ready. I call it the Castle method.
DIY methods create some of the best results.
There seems to be an abundance of cleaning products readily available at stores. The labels are covered with promises about their miraculous formula to clean grime and dirt, one might be a foam, another a spray, but do they really do the job they advertise?
While I’m not saying the pretty packaged chemicals don’t perform,, we often find that some of the best results can be created from ingredients we have at home. Vinegar, lemons, and bicarbonate soda to name a few all have excellent cleaning qualities and can give off sparkling results. Plus there are no nasty chemicals involved, so it is safe to use with the whole family around. Here is a quick how-to on making some simple cleaning products at home.
Heat can be your secret weapon
Heat is a great way to speed up the cleaning process on surfaces that are durable enough to withstand heat, like tile or most carpet. So consider using things like steam mops and carpet cleaners can offer helpful results in nearly half the time.
The steam combined with the cleaning solutions used can work together to remove any grime and dirt hidden in upholstery like carpets but can also work remarkably well on tiled or wooden flooring. Being kind to the fibers and flooring ensures they are kept well.
The bigger tasks like roofs and gutters
There are some big tasks that you might want to complete this time of year, especially if you usually have severe winter weather where you live. If you have a chimney, for example, you may want to consider spending some time getting it cleaned, especially if you have an open fire that you will be using often.
We are in the process of getting our chimney repointed, which is a specialty project that involves renting a lift. You might want to look at getting experts in to look at chimney cleaning and inspection to help with that.
Other bigger tasks at this time of year include clearing the gutters and also getting rid of debris from driveways and pathways. Make sure the sump pumps are working well, and there’s no visible issues with the roof, too.
Cleaning the windows
While most homeowners may think window cleaning is a spring job, it’s best to clean them again in the fall. Back in the day, homeowners used to change out the screens for storm windows. Now, these days, that’s not super common. Windows are also much easier to clean, as many tilt in so ladders aren’t part of the process. If you don’t have tilt-in windows, you may need ot hire a window cleaner. A pro will help with the outsides of windows, as some of them may be hard to reach.
If you have kids and pets, the inside and outside of the windows can get grubby any time of year. But especially during the fall and winter months. But take time to clean the insides of the windows. When the sun shines lower in winter, it’s easier to notice a difference when they aren’t clean.
Get the whole family involved and delegate
More hands make less work, so we get the entire family involved in the chores. From cleaning to organizing, and taking the holiday bins out, everyone who is older than 2 can have a role to play. The idea is that you can get more tasks done in less time at home. Then, you can begin to enjoy the festivities together sooner.
Cleaning your home shouldn’t be left to one person. And especially if you have older children who can take on more responsibilities.
Stick to a daily cleaning schedule
Once all the big jobs are done, stick to a daily cleaning schedule to keep on top of things. At this time of year, some family and friends will come by unexpectedly. So it’s peace of mind to know that your home will be welcoming and to your friends.
A daily cleaning schedule doesn’t need to be an ordeal. For example, give everyone just one job each day so it’s easy to stay on top of those chores that mount up. You could also tackle one room a day, or spread the household chores across the week.
Clutter makes your home look untidy
Finally, clutter can make a home feel untidy and unwelcoming. It can also be distracting and stressful to sit among piles of unsorted stuff. So try and demolish that demon each day by spending five minutes to rid your home of clutter you don’t want or need.
We regularly donate unwanted items to charity and recycle any waste. This is also perfect in the lead up to the holidays. Especially as there is a chance that new things will be entering your home. You could ask children to donate toys they no longer want, or have a big clear out of older stuff you have no use for anymore.
We hope this has given you plenty of ideas and motivation to get your home clean and sparkling for winter. I have more sorting and organizing to do at our house. If you have any tips that would help all of us stay on top of our house clutter and ways to help keep it clean, please share in the comments.
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