It’s the morning after the night before and you’re faced with a big cleaning job. If you’re super organised, you’ll have already attempted to tidy up straight after the party. But if you couldn’t face it last night there’s no putting it off any longer. It’s time to don those rubber gloves and begin tackling the task ahead. Here are some tips to help make the job a bit easier:
Tidy up first – Clear up the room before attempting to clean, say the professionals at Molly Maid domestic cleaners. This means taking any dirty dishes and glasses to the kitchen, picking up those streamers and party poppers from the floor and taking empty bottles to the recycling bin. Have a bin bag or recycling bag with you to put any rubbish in as you go, rather than carrying it out to the bin bit by bit.
Organised cleaning – Do one room at a time. Clean from top to bottom and left to right in whichever room you are cleaning. This is said to be the most efficient and quickest way to clean.
Stains – Don’t panic if you come across a spillage. There are tricks to dealing with most stains. If it’s red wine the advice is to cover it with salt, let it soak in and then vacuum. Follow with a white wine vinegar solution. For face paint, if you can act on it straight away, use baby wipes or make-up remover wipes. For coffee, blot up any excess coffee, then rub a little fizzy water into the stain to minimise it.
Kitchen – If there are any plates, bowls or pans that are proving difficult to wash then give them a good soak in warm, soapy water to soften any hardened food or residue. While they’re soaking, give the worktops a thorough clean. I find that white wine vinegar spray is great for this as it’s a natural disinfectant. It’s also good for cleaning the inside of the fridge and preventing any mould.
Living room – Once you’ve cleared the area and dealt with any stains, it’s time to get to grips with the rest of the cleaning. Tackle the dusting before vacuuming. That way any dust that falls to the floor can be vacuumed up. A damp, clean, microfibre cloth is the most effective at getting up dust particles. A clean, soft paintbrush is best for getting into fiddly areas. When vacuuming, use the soft brush nozzle of the cleaner attachment for going over the sofa, cushions and curtains.
Bathroom – Remove any wet, dirty towels and wash them straight away. Avoid leaving them in the washing machine without switching it on or in the washing basket as they are likely to encourage mould. Use a disinfectant cleaner in the toilet. Remember to wear rubber gloves to protect your hands when using household cleaners. An old toothbrush makes a great tool for cleaning in awkward corners and behind taps. Again, vinegar is good for shining up taps and showerheads. Baking soda made into a paste with a little water removes soap scum and suds quickly and easily.
Phew! After all that cleaning, it’s time to put your feet up and relax.
