8 Household Items You Should Clean Once A Year
These items in the house only need a few hours' worth of TLC every year
One of the reasons why cleaning can be a real pain is because there is always something in the home that needs to be cleaned, even if you had already taken care of it the day before. Thankfully, there are certain items and areas in the home that can do with significantly less constant TLC. Still, make sure to set aside some time to pay attention to these items!
Upholstered furniture
It’s always possible for upholstered pieces to get stained at some point, so when this happens, respond immediately by doing some spot cleaning, making sure to first test out your cleaning solution on an inconspicuous area. But while spot cleaning may have to be done every now and then, deep cleaning of your upholstered furniture may be done only once a year. Simply vacuum them thoroughly to take out all the dirt and debris it may have accumulated, and if the covers of those pieces can be removed, make sure to give it a wash. Otherwise, better call a professional for help.
READ: Easy Hacks to Clean White Household Pieces, From Beddings To Furniture
Curtains
The way you clean your window treatments depends on the kind that you use at home. Curtains can usually just be tossed into the washing machine, but don’t forget to look at the label instructions before doing anything. You can also choose to simply have your curtains dry-cleaned.
Mattress
At least once every year, make it a point to deep clean your mattress. First, vacuum it on every side. Look if there are any stains on it, and if there are any, spot clean them by working them with a soft brush and a solution of dish soap and water. Rinse those spots with a cloth dipped in water. Also, don’t forget to flip your mattress to even out its overall wear and to make sure it supports your spine well.
READ: 3 Mattress Maintenance Hacks You've Never Heard Of Before
Kitchen cabinets and pantry
Take out all the contents of your kitchen cabinets, then wipe down the insides, also checking for any signs of pest infestations. Before returning the contents of the cabinet, keep inventory of each item and make note of which supplies you need to replenish, which you need to throw out, etc. Do the same for your kitchen drawers as well.
Linen cabinet
If you keep a linen closet in your home, make sure to also clean it out once a year. Take out all its contents and give it a thorough wiping down, then distinguish which items you can do without, or which need to be put into the laundry.
Documents
More often than not, piles of documents are a huge part of the clutter inside a home. At least once a year, go through these files and pick out only those that you really need to keep. The rest of those pieces of paper, you can recycle or even sell to a junk shop.
Outdoor furniture
To clean your outdoor furniture, simply wipe them with cloth dipped in a cleaning solution, then spray them with water from a garden hose to finish. The kind of solution you should use will depend on the material of your furniture.
READ: 6 Cleaning Tips For Your Outdoor Furniture
Garage or attic
It’s basically impossible to keep the garage or attic perfectly organized, but that doesn’t mean that these areas don’t need to be taken care of once in a while. As you evaluate which items you can get rid of, make sure to also check for any infestations or moisture. Sweep away dust, debris, and even cobwebs, and if you want to go a step further, give the floors a quick mop. Don’t forget to also check the condition of your lighting fixtures in these areas.
Source: The Spruce
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