Five Must-Have Habits to Keep Your House Clean

Are you dreaming of a cleaner and more organized home this New Year? You might find it impossible to have after all the added mess which accumulated in every part of your house during the holidays. But it is achievable with the right amount of determination and discipline.

Begin by reviewing your cleaning habits in the past year. Identify which of them worked and did not work. Continue doing those that worked and replace the ineffective ones with smarter routines. Here’s a short list of new habits you must develop to keep your home spic and span all year round.

1. Assign a place for everything. Is there clutter in every part of your house? Why don't you assign specific locations for the items in your home instead of collecting them all on a chair, on a desk or on the floor. Doing this will make your home more organized. Also, it will be easier for you to do your daily activities when your home is clutter-free and everything in it is arranged logically.

2. Fix your bed as soon as you get up. You're most likely to place all your dirty clothes, bags and other items on your bed if it is messy. Don’t leave your room without tidying up your bed. Nothing beats the feeling of coming home to a neat and tidy bed.

3. Engage in multi-tasking. Staying on top of your household chores can be daunting. It drains you of your energy and time. Learn how to clean smart by identifying which of your chores can be done simultaneously. For example, you can vacuum the bedrooms while your clothes are in the washing machine. You can also clean out your cupboards or refrigerator while baking dinner in the oven.

4. Deep clean one room at a time. Tackling the rooms in your home all at the same time will leave you exhausted and frustrated. Have a cleaning schedule. Pick the best month to deep clean your kitchen, your laundry room and so on. You have the whole year to clean your house efficiently, without having to go through a huge effort.

5. Ask for help. You cannot do it all alone. Ask family members to help out with all the chores and to be responsible in cleaning up their own mess regularly. There will come a time when you might need to seek the help of professional cleaners. For example, the birth of a baby in the family can leave you and everyone else busy and exhausted. You can hire someone to take care of any of the household chores that you have left undone. Is the idea of using a home cleaning service new to you? Read this infographic from Absolute Domestics to learn about the most common FAQs on hiring a house cleaner, as well as some quick tips.

From Visually.

It will be easier for you to achieve a well-maintained home by taking the time to observe each of the habits mentioned above. Once your home is cleaner and more organized, you will be able to focus on more important things like bonding with your family and friends.

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How to Keep Your House Smelling Good All the Time

Is you're house smelling funky and you just can't locate where the stink bomb is coming from? Instead of wasting your time searching for the unthinkable, simply focus on keeping your house smelling good all the time. How? Read the rest of this post for some quick tips.

1) Keep your carpet clean. Carpets can trap unwanted grime and smells. Before vacuuming your carpet, sprinkle a mixture of baking soda and ground cinnamon on it. This mixture is good at absorbing the foul odor your carpet gives off. Vacuum as usual, and you'll have a noticeably fragrant carpet.

2) Put some vanilla oil on your light bulbs. When your lights and lampshades are off, drop some vanilla extract on the bulbs. The bulbs will emit the vanilla scent once they're turned on - leaving every room in your house smelling good.

3) Odorize your sink. Lingering stink often comes out of the sink. Arrest the foul odor by allowing a generous amount of lemon-scented dish soap to flown down the sink with running water. If this doesn't solve the problem, pour in a 1/2 cup of baking soda while running warm water.

4) Bring some indoor plants to your home. Arabian jasmine, corsage orchids, Cuban oregano, eucalyptus, gardenias and geraniums are good-looking indoor plants which are also known for the pleasant fragrances they emit. Place them strategically inside your house. You can place them in the bathroom, in the kitchen or anywhere in part of your house needing some fresh scent.

5) Place tea leaves on your cat's litter box. So your cat stays and defecates inside your house. Well, this is a sure source of funky smell inside your house. Neutralize the smell of the litter box by mixing some tea leaves in it.

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Best Ways to Clean Your Windows

Windows get dirty in many different ways. Because of this, you might need different strategies in cleaning your windows and keeping it free from all kinds of dirt polluting its pristine appearance. Here are some helpful tips for you to read.

1) Use a bleach-detergent solution. Have you got black or gray mildew spots on the wooden frames of your windows? Wash them with a bleach detergent solution that can be made with 2 ounces of household bleach, 1 ounce of laundry detergent and a quart of water. Sponge the solution on the spots and let it sit for ten minutes. Rinse thoroughly with clean water.

2) Use wax to prevent dirt build-ups. The exterior of your windows can collect a lot of dirt since it is exposed to all kinds of elements and weather. If you have just cleaned your window sills and other exteriors, keep it from getting dirty immediately with the use of floor wax. Wipe it on your window sills for protection.

3) Protect your window from secondhand smoke. Second hand smoke may come in the form of nicotine film. Wash it with ammonia solution which can be made from mixing 1 cup of lemon scented ammonia with 21⁄2 gallons (9.5 liters) of water. This solution can cut off the grime while leaving the rest of your house smelling like lemons.

4) Wash with screens regularly. Dirty window screens can make your clean windows dirty. Wiping the dirt off your screen with damp cloth or sponge isn't enough. Remove it and wash it thoroughly with soap and water. Let it dry before putting it back to your window.

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Simple Ways to Have a Spider-Free Home

Got spider in your coffee? Yes? I bet you also have a couple more of spiders lying on your bed and hiding in your toilet.

Event though some spiders are totally harmless,  I'm personally scared to see them roaming freely inside me house. Because of that, I've researched for different ways to drive them away without hurting them. Here are a few the effective strategies I stumbled upon. Take a read and check to see which might work for you.

1) Keep every part of your house clean. Spiders hide and breed in clutter. You can expect them to live in shoe boxes, stacks of paper and old clothes which might have been sitting in your bedroom for a while. Clean and dust your rooms regularly. This will keep spiders from having a breeding place in your house.

2) Use natural repellents. Peppermint and vinegar are natural spider repellents. Fill a spray bottle with water. Drop some peppermint oil or a few parts of vinegar. Shake it well. Spray it on the spider-ridden parts of your house.

3) Get a pet. Cats and dogs are good at chasing spiders away. However, a cat would be more reliable in reaching spiders resting on high spots inside your house. If poisonous spiders are inhabiting your house, observe caution for your pets safety.

4) Deploy chestnuts and citrus peels at your window sill. Spiders usually enter a house through the window sill and other crevices. Place  chestnuts and citrus peels on these spots as spiders hate their scent. Chestnuts don't go bad quickly so you can leave them out there for long time. However, you will need to replace citrus peels within 48 hours as they lose their scent that fast.

PS: Watch this helpful video I found. I don't own this video - all credits to the owner/publisher.

 

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Quick Steps on Keeping All Your Things Organized

Contrary to popular belief, keeping your things organized doesn't require a lot of energy and time. It can be observed by simply sticking to a system that compliments your capabilities and schedule. Keen to have an organized house and life? Read the following tips.

Engage in regular purging. Clutter happens when you keep a lot of things which you don't really use. They take space and just collect dust inside your house. Before shopping for new items, evaluate your current belonging first. Decide which ones you can let go. A peice of advice: keep only the things which you can't live without.

Organize spaces in your house based on you use the most. For example, the kitchen utensils which you use more often must placed in lower racks or lower parts of the cupboards. This provides ease of access for you; no more time wasted on digging.

Use organizational tools. Shelves are common examples of these. They can keep your things from occupying floor space. Learn to designate definite spots for your stuff. Where should your towels, shoes and books go? Return them in their places as soon as you're done using them.

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Five Ways to Have a Healthy Bedroom

Did you know that resting or sleeping in your bedroom can also make you sick? Yes, you read that right. Staying in your bedroom can be as worse staying in the polluted outdoors for a long time. This is specifically true when you keep in your bedroom things that cause headaches, nasal congestion or sore throat.

Wash or replace your pillows regularly. Pillows acquire bacteria, dust mites and mold spores quite easily. If you have washable pillows, wash them regularly. Change your pillow cases regularly as well. Replace them yearly of they aren't washable.

Don't share your bed with your pets. Animal fur is full of allergens like bacteria, dander, dust and pollen. These can make you sick. Sleeping  with your pets will also keep you from enjoying full 8 hours of rest. Provide them with their own beds.

Let fresh air circulate in your bedroom. It is not healthy to keep your windows shut all the time. This keeps all the allergens contained in your bedroom and ready for your lungs to inhale. When safety and clear weather allows, open your bedroom windows to allow fresh air to circulate and replace the indoor air that has been trapped in it for a long time.

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Quick Tips on Keeping Your House Clean All the Time

Who doesn't want a house that is clean all the time? Nobody. Everybody wants a clean house not only during holidays and special occasions but also on typical weekdays thru weekends.

Some home owners are really good at keeping their houses clean on a daily basis. And they don't perform magic spells or special cleaning techniques to achieve perfectly clean homes. They simply observe these three essentials.

Stop being lazy. This means you need to clean right away and continuously in order to achieve a clean house. Cleaning 'until later' is an attitude most home owners. Before they know it, they have already forgotten their pledge to clean up and the dirt, grime and grease have already piled up. It is easier to clean when the dirt hasn't fossilized yet.

Do away with a lot of stuff. A lot of stuff means more stuff to clean. Try a minimalist lifestyle. Give away the items you haven't used for years and keep the basic ones which you use everyday. This will clear your house and your mind of unnecessary worries.

Put everything back to its proper place. Done reading a book or a magazine? Return it right away to the shelf or to the rack where you got it. The same goes for your clothes, utensils, etc. By putting away clutter, you're able to keep your house from being messy.

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Best Ways to Let Go of Your Old Stuff

Believe it or not, a huge percentage of clutter in your home is made up of the old stuff that you just can't let go. These are the things which have sentimental value to you or to your family. Therefore, they are attached to the core of your being. If you will learn to release them, you will be surprised with how organized and spacious your house could be. Do you need tips on letting go of your old possessions? Read the following insights.

Know what you really need and what you really want - Do you own appliances, gadgets and other things which you don't use often? If yes, you most likely don't need them. For example, get rid of your coffeemaker if you drink instant coffee and not brewed coffee. You might have received decors and other stuff from friends and family as presents. Instead of keeping them out of goodwill, ask yourself whether you honestly like them. If you don't give them away to those who will appreciate and use them more.

Assess the true value of your old possessions - So, you're keeping an old stereo component that's no longer working perfectly. You keep thinking of how expensive it was when you bought it brand new; hence, it's difficult for you to donate or sell it. Think of how much it will cost today even though it cost an arm and a leg before. If it's close to zero dollars, let go of it now.

Adapt to your surroundings - Are you keeping an old car because you might need it? Evaluate the area where you live at the moment. Would it be more practical for you to own a bike than an old car when going around your area? Letting go of your could mean saved money from parking fees, repairs and gas.

Never keep broken things - We tend to keep broken things thinking that one day we'll have the free time to fix them all. If ever you get all the free time you need,  do you think you'll be able to fix them and brink them to mint condition? The sad truth is probably, you won't be able to do that. Consider giving your broken possessions away so that you can provide enough space for new ones.

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How to Keep Trash Bins Inside Your House Clean

Cleaning the trash bins inside our house is one of the chores that I really hate. It's because I always find them extremely dirty and stinky. Since I have kids who could be touching these bins  behind my back, I looked for a solution that will make trash bin cleaning much easier for me. Let me share to you my insights. Read up.

Always place a garbage bag inside your trash bins - If your bins are outlined with garbage bags, they are less likely to be dirty and stained with the dry and wet garbage you put in it. Moreover, this will ensure that no garbage will be left in your bins when the trash collectors comes. You can take your garbage out all in one go.

Do not fill your trash bins beyond their capacity - You won't be able to cover your bins if they're overfilled with garbage. This will cause the stench to fill your house. This is not only irritating. This is also bad for your health. Make an effort to check and empty to your bins when they're close to being overfilled.

To clean your indoor trash bins, follow these tips:

Step 1: Empty your trash bins.

Step 2: Rinse them out with water. It is best to clean them outside your house using a garden hose.

Step 3: Cleanse them with a liquid detergent. Rinse them well and allow them to dry.

Step 4: Once they're dry, disinfect them. You use a disinfectant available in the market or you can make your own from household ingredients.

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Clean Your Refrigerator with These Easy-to-Follow Steps

Refrigerator cleaning is one of the household tasks that I dislike doing because I find it boring. Despite that, I force myself to accomplish it on a regular basis because I don't want bacteria and germs breeding like crazy on my food stock.

1) Turn off your refrigerator. This can keep you from getting electrocuted while cleaning the fridge by any chance. Try turning it off 20 to 30 minutes before cleaning it. This will allow the freezer to defrost which makes cleaning much easier.

2) Clear everything out. - Remove all the food items inside. Put the highly-perishable ones in a cool bag immediately.

3) Wash its door and insides with warm soapy water.  Dissolve ample amount of dishwashing liquid in a basin of lukewarm water. Use a sponge or a soft cloth rag for washing your fridge up.

4) Don't forget to pay special attention to the bottom and top parts inside. Hard stains could be hiding in them. Check the door seal too. Gently clean the door seal with a toothbrush or a damp cloth. Be careful not to damage it.

5) Rinse it well and let it dry afterwards. You can use a soft cloth or paper towel to dry your fridge. Don't put your food stock back in the fridge unless it is totally dry.

6) Clean its exterior once in a while. If your fridge is enclosed in a cabinet, pull it out every now and then. Wipe its top and sides. Sweep or vacuum the floor underneath your fridge. If stains and stench have accumulated underneath, clean the floor with bleach and water solution. Bleach will help remove the stain and the stinky smell.

If you want to take your fridge cleaning a step further, watch this instructional video I stumbled upon online. All credits to the owner.

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Five Ways to Improve Air Quality Inside Your House

Air pollution can also happen inside the house. The pollutants that make outdoor air dirty can also affect the quality of indoor air. These pollutants join forces with irritants in producing bad indoor air that causes coughing, itchy eyes, frequent headaches and chronic asthma and bronchitis.

infographic from Spring Time Homes

1) Increase indoor ventilation. Install a trickle ventilation with extra filters. This device allows some fresh air in and pushes out indoor air pollutants.

2) Say no to wood burning fireplaces. Wood fireplaces produce carbon and soot when in use. These particles can get into the lungs and produce shortness of breath.

3) Turn on the airconditioner during summer. An airconditioner is capable of removing water in the atmosphere where most pollutants are produced. It can also remove pollens and particulates from outdoors that diminishes the quality of indoor air.

4) Stop using chemical cleaners. Chemical cleaners also affect the quality of air inside the house. They can produce irritants that affect the lungs. But how are you going to get rid of dust and the bacteria from your pets' dander? You can use vinegar or a regular bath soap that doesn't exude fragrance. In connection to this, steer clear from using air fresheners. They make indoor air fragrant smelling but dangerous to breathe in.

5) Keep your pet out of the bedroom or out of the house. Pet dander pollutes the air inside the house too. Moreover, they can cause allergies and other respiratory problems most especially among kids. You can choose fish as pets instead of birds, cats and dogs. If you already have a bird, cat or dog under your care, keep it from sleeping inside the house.

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Quick and Easy Tips on Cleaning Hardwood Floors

Hardwood floors definitely give any house a classic look. This is why some home owners still choose them as permanent floor covering over tiles. Hardwood floors can last for decades without getting chipped or discolored with regular care. If you're clueless about hardwood floor maintenance, read the following tips.

1) Clean your floor at least once a week. You can do this with the use of a dust mop or a vacuum. Vacuuming protects your floor's finish by sucking the fine dust  underfoot. Such dust is capable of sanding wooden floors.

2) Protect your floor from rain and from direct sunlight. Both can ruin your floor finish. Water can cause unwanted stains. Close your windows closed during hot months and keep your ceiling from leaking during rainy season.

3) Protect your floor from scratches. Your floor can be scratched by your pets' nails and the base of your appliances and furniture. Avoid rolling heavy appliances and furniture on the floor. If it's impossible, use plywood hardboard to lift them.

4) Wipe spills right away. As much as possible, keep body lotions and hairsprays from spilling on your hardwood floor. They can destroy your floor's finish. Wipe them off with a damp rug.

5) Cover high traffic areas with runners and rugs. High traffic floor areas get worn out easily. Rugs can help preserve their appearance. Make sure that your rugs have anti-slip backings. However, avoid vinyl or rubber backing because they trap humidity. Accumulated humidity can damage your floor’s finish in the form of stains.

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How To Create More Space In Your House

One great benefit of spring cleaning is the quick appearance of extra space once all your unused possessions have been removed, given away or relocated. This is not an easy thing to do though particularly when you have accumulated a lot of stuff through the years and your spring cleanings  are not that thorough.

It is best to start with one area of your house after the other. This will keep you from getting overwhelmed with the cleaning and clearing process. As you do that, assess how much space you would need and be capable of having.

Then, go over your possessions. Begin with the big pieces of furniture you ought to keep in consideration of their usability. Afterwards, sort out the smaller items you can keep in your chosen furniture pieces. Get rid of all the stuff which you are unable to use in a year's time. If you are emotionally attached to most of your possessions, purging will be hard for you to do. Whence you have cleared a great space in your house, keep yourself from buying new items or replacements to the things you got rid off. Should you end up in a buying-spree, your cleaning up for extra space would be useless.

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Eco-Friendly House Cleaning Tips To Know

Keeping your entire home clean and fresh may mean more than just removing all the dirt and killing all the germs present in it. Using environment friendly cleaning products to replace the toxic items that you are used to is one of the best things you can do to achieve a squeaky clean and safe home for your entire family.

Look for biodegradable substitutes - By dashing to the 'green' area of the supermarket or warehouse stores, you can easily purchase cleansers made of biodegradable ingredients. Oftentimes, they cost higher. If your budget can't afford them, go online and look for ingredients like baking soda, citrus fruits, for you to mix into a biodegradable cleanser.

Make use of reusable cloth - Use washable cloths instead of mops, sponges and nets. By using washable cloths you could lessen the number of times you'd need to purchase new cleaning items. Since they are 'washable', you can simply clean them with bleach, soap and water. This will work even when they have stains. More so, sponges and similar items are non-biodegrable. Throwing them after use can hurt the environment.

Conserve water - When rinsing soapy areas, use  bucket. Using hose can be very tempting in using too much water. Water must be conserved as it is a natural resource that is difficult and impossible to replenish or recreate by human hands.

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Garbage Segregation: How Homes Benefit From It

Garbage segregation is enforced by a number of governments worldwide. Also, it is promoted by various advocacy groups because of the many benefits it can provide for the environment.

Advocates advise that this practice must start at home as it is the ideal place where kids can learn about its importance and have a regular practice of it. If they are used to doing it at home, they will apply it with ease outdoors and they will grow up as responsible garbage segregating citizens. 

Garbage segregation is aids in the appropriate improvement of your house conditions. By simply separating organic waste from inorganic waste, you are already limiting the presence of disastrous pests in your residence. Many would not admit it but some do throw leftover food along with paper, plastic bags and other types of food containers at home. With such a jumbled mess, you will find it hard to get rid of cockroaches and bugs.

Garbage segregation also opens an opportunity for you to be productive. As you see right in front of you recyclable materials, you can engage yourself into some do-it-yourself projects like home decors made of soda cans. You will definitely save on that as you say goodbye to expensive home decors.

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