House cleaning tips for the holidays

Whether you’re picking up pine needles from the carpet, Thanksgiving pots and pans from the counter, or candle wax dripping onto the table, there are tips on how to tackle much-needed housecleaning. , especially once Uncle Theodore has proclaimed your bathroom to be his new library. Of course, there are additional concerns during this season, such as the Christmas tree already dropping needles. In Midwestern climate cities like Tulsa, Oklahoma or Peoria, Illinois, experts suggest taking care of chores like flipping mattresses and washing bedding, including comforters and blankets. Homeowners will also find more cobwebs in homes during the winter, because spiders come in to escape the cold. A good house cleaning will deter these winter visitors from setting up camp.

One of the areas of the home that suffers during the holiday season is the kitchen. It’s punishable by endless traffic because in today’s society, that’s where most guests congregate to socialize while the Thanksgiving turkey or holiday ham is cooked. Whether it’s turkey or Hanukah latkes means splashes in the kitchen too. For grease splatters on wood cabinets, use bath or baby oil. Wipe it off and the grease will literally wash off. Gives a great shine to cabinets. Stain stainless steel appliances can also be cleaned with a little baby oil to keep appliances new and fresh. For surfaces like the painted wall behind the stove or the like, you can use trisodium phosphate, available at any hardware store. Just mix it according to the instructions. It is a great fat cutter. Also, try undiluted dish soap on a damp cloth. Wash the area and then rinse well.

So, you went to the woods to cut down a real Christmas tree and now it’s dropping needles everywhere. In order to pick it up easily, put a plastic tablecloth under the base when you take it home. This will help catch the needles and will also prevent water from getting onto the mat when you water the tree. Then top it with your favorite tree skirt. To remove leaking needles, use your vacuum’s vacuum hose to pull them out of the carpet, because that’s what gets the dust and needles out of the carpet so you can reach them. When you’re watering your tree, remember to use a turkey baster; prevents you from pouring water everywhere. Use an ounce or two of antibacterial mouthwash in the water each time you shower to prevent mildew. After the holidays, you can simply lift the tablecloth to cover the tree and remove it outside.

Another big obstacle in cleaning the house for the holidays is the bathroom because it gets a lot of traffic. It is best to use a disposable cleaning brush if possible. This is an excellent tool for getting rid of hard water stains along with the usual black toilet mess that collects on the rim of the bowl. You can also use any of the other bathroom cleaners to clean your shower and sink.

Finally, remember to also use vacuum cleaners with a special filtration system that captures airborne dust, bacteria, pet dander, pollutants and allergens. This addresses not only allergies but also flu attacks. At any time of the year, there are additional concerns in maintaining the cleanliness of your home. Often times, many homeowners end up using a professional house cleaning service to avoid the added stress and overtime work. Save those hours for the extra sleep you’ll need!