Now that the holiday glitter has settled, you may have this sudden urge to erase all evidence of chaos. You know — sticky surfaces, mystery leftovers, and that faint scent of “too many people were here.”
First, grab disinfecting wipes and go wild on everything with a handle or a button. It’s not glamourous, but at least you'll know you're not catching Aunt Linda’s cold.
Next stop: the carpets. Sprinkle some baking soda, let it sit, then vacuum like you’re reclaiming your floors from the ghosts of holiday parties past. Bonus points for mixing a little oxygen-based bleach paste to zap stains.
Then comes the fridge — a.k.a. the Museum of Forgotten Leftovers. Toss anything unidentifiable, wipe it all down with vinegar water, and swap the old baking soda box for a fresh one. Clean fridge = clean conscience.
While you are in the cleaning mood, steam the oven (water in a dish, 30 minutes at 400°F) then attack it with a baking soda paste. Oven racks soak in the tub.
Finally, shine up mirrors with a little rubbing alcohol and water so it feels less like early January and more like “fresh start.” If you're really ambitious, change the HVAC filter which you should do about ever 6 months anyway, and tackle Mount Laundry. Then—and only then— collapse with the satisfaction of a home that feels new again.
Find more great home cleaning tips HERE!
Source: Real Simple
Photo by Julien-Pier Belanger on Unsplash