Do you hear that? It’s 9 am and it’s blissfully quiet…
Wave your hands in the air like you just don’t care — the kids are back in school! You have your peace, you have your quiet, and you have no kids in the house. And this is no dream, so tell your friends to save their pinches.
You’ll start with the Big 3: the kids’ bedroom/playroom, the bathroom, and the kitchen. Germs, germs, and more germs. You’ll need plenty of disinfectant, wipes, paper towels, and trash bags. You can also expect to find food in all of these locations.
Finishing with the laundry room and the mudroom. No food in here (hopefully), but plenty of foot traffic to create the ultimate bacteria highway. Allergens, mold, and mildew feel most at home in these two locations.
So hold off on the champagne for now 🍾 and throw on your favorite playlist or Dr. Phil, because you have some cleaning to do. 🧹
Kids' Bedroom
This is the most obvious starting point. Declutter and organize toys, books, and art supplies. Deep clean carpets or rugs, wipe down all surfaces, and wash any stuffed animals or bedding that need cleaning.
- Involve your children in this process to make it a learning experience. Go through toys, books, and clothes. Create separate piles for items to keep, donate, or throw away. Check for broken items and clothes that no longer fit.
- Dust ceiling fans, light fixtures, and window sills. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe down furniture, shelves, walls, and behind and under furniture.
- Wipe down all hard surfaces with a disinfectant spray or wipes. This includes doorknobs, light switches, tabletops, and toy chests. For plastic toys, you can wash them in a sink with warm, soapy water or run them through the dishwasher on a gentle cycle. For stuffed animals and soft toys, check the tag and wash them in the washing machine.
- Vacuum carpets and rugs thoroughly, getting into all the corners. If you have a carpet cleaner, this is a great time to use it to remove any deep-seated dirt or stains. For hard floors, sweep or vacuum, then mop.
Bathroom
With kids home, bathrooms can get messy quickly. A deep clean includes scrubbing the tub/shower, toilet, and sink. Wash all bath mats, shower curtains, and towels.
- Remove all towels, bath mats, and toiletries from the counter and shower. Store them in the laundry or another room so you can have a clean slate.
- Use a cleaning solution to scrub the tub, shower walls, and shower doors. Pay special attention to grout lines to remove any mildew or soap scum. Wash or replace the shower curtain and liner.
- Use a toilet bowl cleaner and a brush to scrub the inside of the bowl, getting under the rim. Use a disinfectant spray or wipes to clean the outside of the toilet, including the seat, lid, base, and flush handle.
- Clean the counter, sink, and faucet. Use a glass cleaner on the mirror. Don't forget to wipe down the light switches, doorknobs, and baseboards.
- Sweep or vacuum up any hair and debris, then mop the floor with a disinfectant cleaner.
Kitchen
Summer often means more home-cooked meals and foot traffic in the kitchen. Deep clean the refrigerator and pantry. Throw away expired items and wipe down shelves. Scrub the oven and stovetop, and give the microwave a good cleaning.
- Remove all food from your refrigerator and freezer. Throw away anything expired, spoiled, or that you no longer need. Use a warm, soapy cloth to wipe down all interior shelves, drawers, and walls. Don't forget to clean the seals around the door.
- If your oven has a self-cleaning feature, now is the time to use it. Otherwise, use an oven cleaner and a little elbow grease to scrub the interior. Remove and clean the stove grates and knobs separately. Wipe down the stovetop, and clean the range hood and filter.
- Empty all cabinets and the pantry. Wipe down the shelves, both inside and out. Check for any expired food items or spices and discard them. Reorganize everything, grouping like items together to make it easier to find what you need.
- Wipe down the exterior of all your small appliances. For the microwave, heat a bowl of water with a little vinegar or lemon juice to loosen food splatters, then wipe it clean. For the dishwasher, run a cycle with a dishwasher cleaner or a cup of white vinegar to clean and remove odors.
Laundry Room
Catch up on any lingering laundry from summer camps, vacations, or general summer activities. Wipe down the washer and dryer, and organize your laundry supplies.
- Take everything off the shelves and out of cabinets. Discard empty bottles, cut emotional ties with single socks that have lost their match, and any other junk. Wipe down the shelves and counters.
- Run an empty cycle in your washing machine with hot water and a cup of white vinegar to remove buildup and odors. Clean the detergent and fabric softener dispensers. For the dryer, clean out the lint trap and use a vacuum attachment to clean the lint that has accumulated in the vent and surrounding area.
- Wipe down the exterior of the washer and dryer. Clean any sink and faucet in the laundry room.
- Pull the washer and dryer out to vacuum and mop the floor underneath them. This is a common spot for dust, lint, and lost items to accumulate.
"The Mudroom"
This area is often a dumping ground for backpacks, shoes, and sports equipment. Organize and clean out this space to prepare for a smoother school year routine. This is the perfect time to get rid of items that have accumulated over the summer.
- Sort through shoes, backpacks, and sports gear. Store away any out-of-season items, like sandals and beach towels, to make room for school supplies and fall gear.
- Clean all the surfaces, including benches, hooks, and shelves. Sanitize doorknobs, light switches, and any other high-touch areas.
- Remove any shoe trays and clean them thoroughly.
- Sweep and mop the floor to remove all the dirt and grime that's been tracked in. A steam mop is great for deep-cleaning tile floors.
PARENTS — MAKE THE KIDS HELP!
Cleaning Dance Party
Create an upbeat playlist with everyone's favorite songs. Crank up the music and have a dance party while you clean. When a song ends, freeze in place until the next one starts.
"Beat the Clock" Cleaning
See if you can get a task done before a specific song ends. This adds a fun, fast-paced element, making the work fly by. For the best results, swing and rock n' roll music set a great pace!
Scavenger Hunt
Make a list of treasures to find and clean. For example, the list could include "find 5 red toys," "put all the books on the shelf," or "wipe the baseboards in the living room." The first person to complete the scavenger hunt gets a prize.
Construction Copywriting LLC
If you haven’t noticed by now, family comes first in my business. My family drives both my motivation and my success. When I was younger, my mother cleaned houses and office buildings, and I tagged along a few times. I highly doubt I was of any help, but they are still fun family memories. Whether I’m cleaning up toys from my nephew or cleaning my apartment, I always make it fun. And that’s my promise to you. Partnering with Construction Copywriting LLC is a fun way to be successful 😊