If you've read my post on 10 Czech Christmas traditions that surely aren't real (but they totally are!) then you know that over the Christmas period there's no cleaning allowed in a Czech household. That changes rather rapidly once Christmas is over though - because;
'Spend New Year's Day the way you want to spend the rest of the year.'
And that goes for everything so pick the best people you know to spend the day with, have your car freshly valeted the day before, wear your fanciest attire, do a New Year's deep clean of the house - and have a beautiful overflowing Lush bubble bath (maybe even throw in two bath bombs for good measure!).
I don't have to tell you how to run the lushest bubble bath, I'm sure you're well skilled at that. What I can give you a hand with though is your house chores (only figuratively - I ain't actually coming over, nah!).
🏠 5 STEPS TO A SQUEAKY CLEAN HOUSE - READY FOR THE NEW YEAR!
📎 Get the tools ready
The first key step to a successful (and quick!) deep clean is to gather all your cleaning tools & supplies well in advance. Get all your scourers, sponges and disinfectants ready! And if you have pets don't forget to check that the products are pet-friendly. I always have a few boxes of bicarbonate soda together with white vinegar and essential oils on hand because they work for almost any dirt in the house and I'm 100% sure they are not harmful to cats. Keeping your arsenal stocked throughout the year will also help you keep the house clean easily so don't forget to replace any products you've used up!📎 Be strategic
And I'm not just talking go from one room or one drawer to the next. I mean look around - is there anything that needs replacing? Anything that needs your full attention? Just like keeping up with exercise over the festive period, keeping up with a clean house without losing your mind requires a half decent dose of planning. Have you booked the window cleaner yet? Write down a list of big tasks, medium tasks and everyday tasks - you will quickly see how much time & effort you need to put into each individual task.📎 Declutter everything (absolutely EVERYTHING)
The easiest way to go about a real good deep clean is to start with decluttering. You don't have to go all Marie Kondo on your home - just go drawer by drawer (whilst watching the Real Housewives) and get rid of everything that doesn't have a place in your home anymore. That you haven't used for 12+ months. That you didn't even remember you had. Go through the pantry, the cutlery and even the books you own. Everything. You can get more decluttering inspiration from this article from the Apartment Therapy.📎 Mild soap water is your best friend
Some people believe that you can just wipe things down. That is a lie. A mean, terrible lie. Those feathery dusters are the evil. Not only that they do nothing but they can also make your asthma and allergies worse (what's more they can even trigger them!). The important thing here is to wash everything or at least wipe it down with a damp cloth. I recommend a bucket full of mild soap water, a tub of coconut oil for wooden surfaces and a steamer. Don't forget to give your plants a quick shower too!📎 Spritz it!
Well done, your house is as clean as it gets. Now one more step to the absolute squeaky clean house nirvana - burn your favourite candle (or 10) or spritz one of your favourite room sprays. You might even want to try my DIY home scent which also works as a spider deterrent (and let's be honest you don't want to mess with British spiders, they are the biggest furriest monsters!).🌿 HOW TO MAKE A DIY LAMINATE FLOOR CLEANER
One part of the house that I'm really careful when it comes to which products I'm using is the flooring because the cats obviously spend the most time pouncing around on it (or lounging on the sofa, that is). The key here is to start off with a high quality flooring - a durable laminate flooring is hands down the best option to go with when you have pets. As we are renting we can't have much say in this but we do have a good mix of laminate flooring & carpets throughout the house. I don't use chemicals on none of the floors though - instead I've made this DIY laminate floor cleaner which is as natural as it gets and not harmful to my fluff bugs!
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| 1/3 cup of water, 1/3 cup of rubbing alcohol, 1/3 cup of white vinegar, 5 drops of washing up liquid and 10 drops of essential oil of choice |
What's your top advice for the big New Year's clean?
Share it in the comments below!
