When cleaning your home, you can do it in such a way that it will stay cleaner longer and with less effort.
Here are seven ways to keep your house spring-clean fresh all year long:
#1 Use Humidity to Defy Dust
Low humidity levels cause static electricity. Static not only attracts dust, but also makes the dust stick. And that makes it difficult to remove. High humidity causes problems, too. It’s an ideal environment for dust mites. These microscopic critters are a double threat: They’re a common allergen, and they contribute to dust production. Roughly four our of five homes in the United States have dust mite allergens in at least one bed, according to the American Lung Association. Yuck!
What to do: Keep your home’s humidity level between 30% and 50%. That’ll eliminate static while decreasing dust mite growth.
Tip: About 60% of dirt in homes walks in from the outside. Stop dirt with a bristly doormat before it’s tracked inside.
#2 Apply a Car Product to Keep Shower Doors Scum-Free
You can eliminate soap scum buildup by coating your glass shower doors with a rain-repellent product made for car windshields. When applied to glass, these products create an invisible barrier that causes water, oils, and debris (like soap suds) to bead and roll off.
What to do: Find this product anywhere that sells basic auto supplies. You’ll know it’s time to reapply when water stops beading on shower doors. Keep in mind, windshield rain repellents were made to treat glass, not plastic, so only use them on a glass door.
Another option: Automatic shower cleaners claim to let you clean your shower and tub less frequently — like every 30 days. After you finish bathing, the gadget will douse your shower and tub with a cleanser that prevents soap scum buildup while combating mold and mildew. You can buy automatic shower cleaners at most big-brand retailers, like Target and Walmart.
Related:
#3 Seal Your Stone Countertops
Natural stone countertops, including granite and marble, are porous, so if they’re not sealed, liquids like red wine, juice, or soy sauce can stain them. A countertop sealer repels stains by causing spills to bead instead of get absorbed. Most countertops are sealed when installed, but the sealant wears down.
What to do: To keep your countertops in tip-top shape, apply sealer twice a year. To test if you need a fresh coat, pour a tiny bit of water on your natural stone countertop. If the water doesn’t bead or doesn’t stay beaded for two to three minutes, it’s time to reseal.
Shopping for stone countertops? Slabs with lots of swirls or veins tend to be more porous and are therefore harder to keep clean.
#4 Use Protectants on Furniture and Carpets
Protective furniture sprays and carpet sealants, like Scotchgard and Ultra-Guard, guard against inevitable spills by causing liquids to bead on the surface instead of being absorbed.
Some of these products also protect fabrics from fading and resist mold, mildew, and bacteria.
What to do: Apply the appropriate sealer once a year after a deep upholstery and carpet cleaning.
#5 Clean Your Oven the Old-Fashioned Way
Forget oven cleaners that promise an easy job. Most cleaners give off noxious fumes and make a horrible mess. The basic ingredient in many oven cleaners is lye, which can burn your eyes and your skin; it’s usually fatal if swallowed.
What to do: Use a wet pumice stone to scrape off dirt and grease. It’s faster than oven cleaner and toxin-free.
Tip: Need to wipe your range or anything else down? You can bust filth faster by heating up a clean, damp sponge or cloth in a microwave for 30 seconds before wiping with or without a cleaning product. Put on rubber gloves before you pick up that hot sponge.
#6 Do Quick Touch-Ups
Small cleaning projects prevent filth from building up. When you spot clean daily, you can prevent smudges from staining, banish dust bunnies, and even combat allergens.
What to do: Create a spot-cleaning kit so you can address small, dirty situations in minutes.
- Cleaning pads are great for eradicating dirty fingerprints on walls and light switches.
- Damp micro-cloths can reduce airborne dander when used daily to wipe down pets.
- Dry sweeper cloths can quickly pick up dust and dry dirt off floors, shelves, and electronics.
Tip: Keep stored items cleaner longer by shutting closets, cabinets, and drawers, so circulating dust and dirt can't get in.
#7 Keep Outside Dirt Outside
Your floors will stay cleaner longer if you prevent dirt, mud, grass, and snow from being tracked inside.
What to do: Use a doormat and require — or maybe ask — people to put their shoes on a rack by the door.
For extra protection: Create a makeshift mudroom complete with area rugs and cubbies or shelves for shoes. Or make doormats do double duty by placing one outside the door and one inside. As a plus, some of those doormats have cool designs, and even if people don't wipe their shoes on the mat, some of the debris will stay behind.
Related:
- Did You Know that Dirty Light Bulbs Waste Energy?
- 9 Ways to Deep Clean the Dirtiest Stuff in Your House