Mastering the Art of Deep Cleaning Your Home: An Expert Guide

If you are a regular reader of the CrossCountry Mortgage blog, you'll know we take immense pleasure in discussing all things related to maintaining a clean and organized home. Whether it's about DIY cleaning agents or tips for organized living, our Pinterest boards brim with an abundance of useful insights we love to share. This time, we're integrating our in-house expertise with CDC guidelines to help you master the art of deep cleaning like a professional.

Understanding the Essentials

Given the unprecedented global events of 2020, the focus has been majorly on understanding the coronavirus, its transmission, and prevention measures. A silver lining in this crisis has been the newfound awareness among businesses, educational institutions, and homeowners about the lacunae in our hygiene routines. Whether it involves using safer cleaning products or identifying germ-prone surfaces previously overlooked, there's a lot to learn and incorporate into our cleaning habits.

The CDC, as of July 10, still defines the novel coronavirus transmission primarily as person-to-person, often through close contacts within about 6 feet, via respiratory droplets. Nevertheless, as studies progress and until definitive results emerge, it is prudent to continue exercising caution through social distancing, wearing masks, and rigorous cleaning.

Gathering Your Cleaning Arsenal

Regardless of whether you have kids, pets, or untidy roommates, maintaining a regular cleaning schedule is crucial. If you're striving to establish one, it's advisable to start small as chores can easily become overwhelming. Allocating 15 minutes each day for tidying up specific areas such as the kitchen or living room can save you from substantial cleaning tasks later. Here's a basic list of cleaning materials to get you started:

1. Disposable or recyclable rags, wipes, or towels
2. Mop, scrub brush, or wet jet for floor cleaning (two buckets if you're using a traditional mop for clean and dirty water)
3. Dish soap, degreaser, and brush
4. Disinfectant spray and wipes
5. Rubber gloves
6. Broom and/or vacuum
7. Trash bags
8. Duster
9. Optional: DIY cleaners using lemon, vinegar, salt, thieves, and baking soda

While experienced homeowners may already have an impressive collection of cleaning tools, beginners can kick start their cleaning journey with this list.

Planning Your Cleaning Schedule

Deep cleaning is a time-intensive process, more so during a pandemic. For a thorough cleaning of the entire house, allocate a few hours, keeping in mind that larger homes will require more time. Now, let's look at a room-by-room approach.

Kitchen

The key to deep cleaning your kitchen is to remember all surfaces that food could have come in contact with since your last cleaning. Don't forget places like the oven, stovetop, microwave, and refrigerator. Spend extra time cleaning counter surfaces and remember overlooked touchpoints like handles, switches, and sinks, which the CDC recommends cleaning regularly.

Bathrooms

Despite our best efforts, bathrooms can transition from squeaky clean to remarkably grimy in no time. Cleaning the bathtub or shower, wiping down grout, and sanitizing all surfaces, doorknobs, and accessories like soap dispensers and toothpaste holders are essential steps. As a word of caution from the CDC, always use gloves and ensure proper ventilation when using store-bought cleaners with chemicals.

Throughout the House

Apart from the kitchen and bathrooms, which need special attention, there are common spaces across the house that require regular cleaning. This includes tasks like wiping down blinds, vacuuming windowsills, dusting ceiling fans, sanitizing trash cans and recycling bins, scrubbing HVAC vent covers, cleaning under furniture cushions, and deep cleaning carpets.

The depth of your cleaning routine will depend on your regular maintenance habits. The crucial aspect during these times is to identify and prioritize frequently touched areas. For more detailed insights, refer to the CDC guidelines and cleaning recommendations, particularly for those at high risk.

If you're also seeking advice about finding the right home loan, our team at CrossCountry Mortgage is here to assist. Connect with a local Mortgage Advisor today!