TIME TO DE-CLUTTER
BY Pallavi Pinakin
Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, you may find yourself at home far longer than usual. What better time for spring-cleaning then? Or should we say ‘summer cleaning’? Here are some ideas to help you spruce up your domestic sanctuary.
ROOM BY ROOM The best way to begin a comprehensive cleaning exercise is to make a plan – one room at a time. Don’t tackle tasks haphazardly since this is likely to tire you out a lot sooner; it may even cause you to abandon the project halfway.
Create a master checklist for each room and an estimated time frame for the tasks at hand. This way, you begin the moment you have some spare time – even 15 minutes or an hour, if not an entire day.
CONCEALED DIRT When it comes to regular household cleaning, certain items tend to escape one’s attention. Hose off or vacuum your doormats, wash out reusable shopping bags, dust curtain rods and clean out the showerhead.
Refresh your bedroom by washing the duvets, cleaning under the bed and vacuuming or washing rugs. Many household appliances such as the washing machine, microwave, fridge and oven tend to gather grime. Pull out all the removable components and give them a thorough scrubbing; then clean inside.
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LEANER CLEANING If you’re trying to adopt a more sustainable and healthier lifestyle, avoid harsh chemical products whenever possible.
Instead, turn to common household products such as baking soda, salt, vinegar and lemon – because these natural cleaning agents can be wonderfully effective when used in combination with a good old scrubbing brush.
Heavy-duty disinfectants can be used for high-risk areas such as doorknobs, handles, electric switches and cutting boards (to prevent cross contamination). Remember to protect your hands with rubber gloves while using these products.
CLUTTER CLEAR This is also a great time to sort through and get rid of things that have outlived their usefulness. If you have a tendency to hoard, there’s plenty of advice available on the internet.
Check out lifestyle guru Marie Kondo’s decluttering mantras or read up on minimalism to transform your approach to material things. The idea behind these philosophies is to weed out items that are not only taking up valuable physical space but also weighing you down mentally and emotionally.
By keeping only things that bring joy or are really necessary, you’ll have a cleaner home… as well as a lighter frame of mind.