Quarancleaning: 12 Ways to Clean While You’re Stuck at Home

Posted April 29, 2020

Like most Americans, you’re probably spending more time at home these days. There are certainly upsides to that (like not wearing pants), but staying home can also lead to boredom, restlessness, and, of course, a greater need for household cleaning. Here are 12 ways to address those problems with some home quarancleaning!

1. ORGANIZE YOUR CLOTHES AND REMOVE WHAT YOU DON’T NEED

As the weather warms up, declutter your closets and drawers! Start by separating and storing away your winter clothes until you need them again. If you don’t have a separate storage space for them, you can put your winter clothes in the back corner of your closet. This way they are out of the way during spring and summer.

While you’re sorting, you should pick out clothes you don’t wear anymore and repurpose them or get rid of them. If the clothes are in good condition, consider giving them away to people you know or donating them to organizations like Goodwill or St. Vincent de Paul. You may also be able to find creative ways to use old clothes around the house, like cutting them into rags to use for your quarancleaning. Two birds with one stone!

2. EMPTY, CLEAN, AND ORGANIZE YOUR PANTRY

Whether you’re stocked up on food or you have a sparse pantry from living on delivery and takeout, now is the perfect time to empty your pantry. Give your pantry a good wiping down and organize everything as you put it back in. You would be surprised at how much dust, crumbs, and trash can build up over time. You may even find expired goods taking up space or duplicate items that can be combined.

Begin by taking everything out of your pantry. Once it is empty, use soap and water or an all-purpose cleaner to wipe down the shelves with a rag or paper towels. Here is one instance where you can repurpose old clothes! When your empty pantry is clean, start putting items back into it with an organizational scheme in mind. You know your own needs best, but one way is to put similar items together, e.g., one shelf for baking materials, one for condiments, and one for snacks.

3. EMPTY AND CLEAN YOUR SHOWER AND ORGANIZE WHAT GOES BACK IN

No one likes cleaning the bathroom, but it has to be done. The shower is a good place to start, and it can be cleaned and organized much like your kitchen pantry. Begin by emptying your shower. Use an all-purpose cleaner or a dedicated shower cleaner to spray your shower and let it sit, then use a rag or sponge scrubber to wipe everything down.

Finish by rinsing every surface you scrubbed. Once your shower is clean, it’s time to put everything back into it. If you don’t already have one, you may want to invest in a shelf or caddy to hold your soap, shampoo and other bath products. To reduce clutter you may also consider finding a new space to keep things you don’t use every time you shower.

4. PURGE AND ORGANIZE YOUR JUNK SPACE

Clear out and organize your “junk drawer” whether it’s an actual drawer, desk, or even a corner in your home. You know, the one spot we all have in our homes where we put random stuff to get it out the way until so much of it piles up it’s in the way again. Chances are you will find some things there you completely forgot about and will probably never need. If you’re like me, you will also find several grocery stores or fast food coupons that are long expired. Throw away those things and organize the rest.

Perhaps you can find a better place to put some of those miscellaneous items you want to hold on to. If not, then put them back in your junk drawer in such a way that you can quickly and easily find them again without digging through everything. Do you have spare headphones or electronics chargers? Coil them up to save space and avoid entanglements. Do you have lots of pens and pencils? Wrap them together with rubber bands for neat storage and easy access. You may even want to get an organizing tray for your junk drawer so you can keep things orderly and accessible.

5. SWEEP OFF YOUR PORCH/PATIO/DECK (BONUS POINTS FOR PRESSURE WASHING)

This quarancleaning method may not take very long depending on the size of your outdoor area and is well worth the effort. It will also give you an excuse to be outside for a change! Sweeping away dirt and leaves is a great way to spruce up your porch. If you’re feeling extra ambitious, using a pressure washer can make a night-and-day difference.

A broom is cheap to buy and easy to store, but that is not the case with a pressure washer. If you don’t want to bother with owning a pressure washer, consider renting one when the need arises. Be mindful of how much force is behind that water! Pressure washers are not like garden hoses and can reach several thousand PSI, capable of damaging certain materials, stripping paint, and even causing physical injury. Exercise caution! Or just stick with the broom.

6. WASH YOUR WALLS

Start with dusting your walls with a long-handle, soft-bristled wall brush. If you do not have one, use a broom, but make sure the broom is clean. Once dusted, use a couple of drops of dish soap and warm water or gentle all-purpose cleaner with a sponge. Try washing a less visible spot on the wall first to make sure the chemicals won’t damage your paint. Make sure your cloth or sponge is damp and not soaking wet. You do not want lines of dripping water going down your walls. If the soap and water does not do the trick, next you can try a few drops of distilled white vinegar with warm water. Turn the electric off if you’re cleaning near outlets or light switches. This should remove dirt and fingerprints and completely rejuvenate your paint job.

7. CLEAN YOUR WASHING MACHINE

You might think that a washing machine is permanently clean, but that’s not necessarily the case. The stuff that comes off dirty laundry has to go somewhere, and it (along with mildew and other nasty things) can build up in your washing machine over time. The first thing you will need is a cleaning product. You can use vinegar, bleach, or a specialized cleaner. You will also need a cloth (preferably microfiber) or sponge.

If your machine has a rubber seal/gasket, begin by spraying the seal with your cleaner and wiping it thoroughly. The next steps will vary somewhat depending on your cleaning product of choice. You’ll want to add your cleaner to the empty machine and run the largest, hottest washing cycle you can. Then use your cloth or sponge with the cleaner to wipe down your washing machine inside and out.

Finally, run another cycle with hot water, but this time without any cleaner in order to rinse your machine.

8. DUST YOUR CEILING FANS

If you have ceiling fans in your home, there is a good chance you don’t clean them as often as you should. Use a duster or a wet cloth to clear those blades! Be gentle to avoid bending or damaging them.

It’s also a good idea to clean your floors afterward to get rid of any dust that falls down from the fans.

9. CLEAN YOUR WINDOW FRAMES

Cleaning the glass on your windows is a routine chore, but the window frame and windowsill may receive less attention. The frames of your windows are a gathering point for dust, dirt, and dead insects. You can keep it simple and wipe the dust and dirt off with a damp cloth. To go the extra mile, you can use vinegar, baking soda, and a toothbrush to clean deeper every inch of your window frames.

Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of the frame, then spray it with vinegar, and observe the cool chemical reaction. While you let the cleaning solution work its magic for 5-10 minutes, spray vinegar on the sides of the frame and wipe them down with a cloth and/or toothbrush. Finally, wipe and scrub the bottom of the frame, making sure to get into the corners and crevices.

Finish by wiping all parts of the frame one last time to remove remnants of dirt and cleaning solution. Then take a moment to appreciate how much nicer your windows look!

10. CLEAN YOUR BASEBOARDS

Here is another part of your home that is easy to overlook. They are not exactly at eye level, but being so close to the floor makes baseboards a magnet for dust and hair, especially if you have pets. There are several ways to go about cleaning your baseboards.

You can go with a simple dusting using a dry brush or duster, or you can really quaranclean them with a sponge or cloth and a mixture of warm water with soap or vinegar.

11. CLEAN YOUR LIGHT SWITCHES AND DOORKNOBS

These are frequently touched surfaces most people don’t think to clean, and it is definitely worth what little time it takes.

They are small enough that you can accomplish this bit of quarancleaning with handy dandy disinfectant wipes. Surely you’re stocked up on those, right?

12. WASH YOUR PILLOWS

It’s common sense to wash your sheets, blankets, and pillowcases, but when was the last time you washed the actual pillows? This should be done every few months to get rid of oils, skin cells, dust mites, etc.

The proper method depends on the type of pillow you’re dealing with. Most can go in the washing machine, but some should be washed by hand or dry-cleaned. Check the tags on your pillows to find out the best way to clean them.

ENJOY YOUR FRESHLY CLEANED HOME

We hope these quarancleaning tips help keep your body and mind occupied and your home clean during these uncertain times.

We also understand if you’re still working or have your hands full with other priorities, you might not have time for deep cleaning your home. Maybe cleaning isn’t your favorite pastime. If this is the case, you can always call in the professionals to help out once quarantine is over!

Hiring a professional cleaning service can be an efficient and affordable way to stay on top of your household chores and keep your home looking its best.

If you think you could benefit from our services, don’t hesitate to contact us at (513) 232-MAID(6243). We’ll be happy to discuss your needs in detail and provide a quote.

Stay clean, and stay safe!

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