House & Home
2009-07-01 12:03:00
Deep cleaning your house
Question: How often should I deep clean my house and what should it include?
Answer: A regular house cleaning focuses on germs and clutter whereas a deep cleaning concentrates on the house, i.e., woodwork, windows, doors, etc. A successful deep clean does not include organizing all your loose papers and receipts, cleaning out your closets, organizing your junk drawers or re-potting plants. Make a list of what needs to be cleaned-not organized-and stick to that list.
About once every four-tosix weeks, depending on the number of people in the house and how often you cook, the inside of the fridge, freezer and the inside of the oven should be cleaned since food preparation in a dirty environment can quickly spread germs. The tops of the kitchen cabinets and any décor should be cleaned at least twice a year since not only dust accumulates there, but those are favorite breeding grounds for insects and other pests.
For the rest of the house, woodwork such as baseboards, cabinets and doors require conditioning to maintain their beauty and value; apply a citrus conditioner to clean cotton cloths to remove dirt and revive the wood. Wood should not be conditioned more than twice a year as it will become dependent upon the treatment, turn brittle and lose its shine permanently. Wood requires conditioning after the hot air has circulated in the house from the heater running and has dried out the grain, and in the fall when extra dust and dirt have been tracked in due to summer activities.
Carpets should be steamed cleaned at least once a year; high traffic areas in the house such as the entryway and halls, might need two to three times a year if there are children and pets in your home. Remember, a thorough vacuuming once a week will greatly increase the life of your carpet.
Light fixtures and wood blinds should be dusted every two to three months. Light fixtures should be taken down and hand washed and silk plants should be cleaned with Woolite or other mild detergent; wood blinds should be dusted by hand, slat-by-slat with a damp micro-fiber cloth.
Because windows are the eyes of the house, they should be thoroughly washed at least twice a year, to prevent hard water stains from damaging the glass. Screens need vacuuming to prevent tears and build up that may damage the wood frames. Attending to the windows will provide an opportunity to examine for loose trim which may need to be replaced to help save on your heating and cooling bills.
