10 Key Jobs for a Cleaner and Cosier July
During winter, life inside is much more pleasant (and warmer) if you move around a bit and get things done
When the weather closes in, it’s so easy just to hibernate and wait for the warmer weather to arrive before you tackle household tasks. But if you use this time of year to tick off your indoor to-do list, with the focus on keeping your living space clean and healthy, you’ll enjoy your ‘hibernation’ even more.
2. Work the windows
Add a sun-drenched feel to your home in the colder month of July by ensuring as much winter sunlight enters a room as possible. For example, hang another layer of sheer curtains under your heavier ones to let natural light flood in. Or angle the blades of blinds and shutters to control the light.
Add a sun-drenched feel to your home in the colder month of July by ensuring as much winter sunlight enters a room as possible. For example, hang another layer of sheer curtains under your heavier ones to let natural light flood in. Or angle the blades of blinds and shutters to control the light.
3. Shine the surfaces
Your home will sparkle like it’s springtime if you clean down all the surfaces in your home, including kitchen and laundry benchtops, the bathroom vanity and office desks.
Find a cleaner near you on Houzz to freshen up your home
Your home will sparkle like it’s springtime if you clean down all the surfaces in your home, including kitchen and laundry benchtops, the bathroom vanity and office desks.
Find a cleaner near you on Houzz to freshen up your home
4. Go green
You can fill your living rooms with indoor plants and flowers to bring the outside in or make a statement with a large potted plant, which looks lush and tropical but also has the added benefit of freshening the air inside during winter, when doors and windows are often closed.
You can fill your living rooms with indoor plants and flowers to bring the outside in or make a statement with a large potted plant, which looks lush and tropical but also has the added benefit of freshening the air inside during winter, when doors and windows are often closed.
5. Bounce the light
A well-placed mirror can quickly and effectively reflect natural light and make a small space feel larger. You could even consider (and plan) replacing a solid timber door with one that has glass or frosted panels.
Why Architects and Interior Designers Love Using Mirrors
A well-placed mirror can quickly and effectively reflect natural light and make a small space feel larger. You could even consider (and plan) replacing a solid timber door with one that has glass or frosted panels.
Why Architects and Interior Designers Love Using Mirrors
6. Spice it up
Spices have a short shelf life, but it’s often not until we move house that we find our spices are years out-of-date!
Spices, stored correctly, have a shelf life of about six months once opened. If you decant your spices and date the bottle, you can throw the spices out once they’ve reached that date. Spices lose their flavour over time, so this is important if you love your food well-flavoured.
Find a spice storage system that works for you. It can be dedicated spice bottles or something as simple as small zip-lock bags.
Spices have a short shelf life, but it’s often not until we move house that we find our spices are years out-of-date!
Spices, stored correctly, have a shelf life of about six months once opened. If you decant your spices and date the bottle, you can throw the spices out once they’ve reached that date. Spices lose their flavour over time, so this is important if you love your food well-flavoured.
Find a spice storage system that works for you. It can be dedicated spice bottles or something as simple as small zip-lock bags.
7. Freeze frame
Now’s a great time to clear out the fridge and freezer and get some freshly-cooked meals pre-prepped and back into the (clean) freezer.
Once you’ve emptied out the freezer, make up a solution of equal parts hot water, vinegar and bicarbonate of soda. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray the surface of the freezer. Wipe down with a damp cloth and you’re good to go.
There are an abundance of natural cleaning recipes available now, so search out your favourite meals and be prepared for those nights when you just can’t face a long night cooking in the kitchen.
Greening Your Home: The Best Natural Products to Clean Your House With
Now’s a great time to clear out the fridge and freezer and get some freshly-cooked meals pre-prepped and back into the (clean) freezer.
Once you’ve emptied out the freezer, make up a solution of equal parts hot water, vinegar and bicarbonate of soda. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray the surface of the freezer. Wipe down with a damp cloth and you’re good to go.
There are an abundance of natural cleaning recipes available now, so search out your favourite meals and be prepared for those nights when you just can’t face a long night cooking in the kitchen.
Greening Your Home: The Best Natural Products to Clean Your House With
8. Wash the doors
It’s not something you’d do every week but you’ll be surprised how cleaning – yes, actually washing – the doors every once in a while will really make a difference to the look of your home.
Start by dusting down the doors using a slightly dampened cloth. Use soapy water and a sponge to clean painted timber doors. Pay special attention to the little grooves and ledges that gather dust. Dry the surface with a soft, dry cloth.
After dusting, wipe down any glass surfaces with a microfibre cloth then polish away the smears with a soft, dry cloth. Finally, check the hardware and tighten any loose screws. Polish the handles and clean and oil any squeaky hinges.
Must-Read Cleaning Tips for Allergy Sufferers
It’s not something you’d do every week but you’ll be surprised how cleaning – yes, actually washing – the doors every once in a while will really make a difference to the look of your home.
Start by dusting down the doors using a slightly dampened cloth. Use soapy water and a sponge to clean painted timber doors. Pay special attention to the little grooves and ledges that gather dust. Dry the surface with a soft, dry cloth.
After dusting, wipe down any glass surfaces with a microfibre cloth then polish away the smears with a soft, dry cloth. Finally, check the hardware and tighten any loose screws. Polish the handles and clean and oil any squeaky hinges.
Must-Read Cleaning Tips for Allergy Sufferers
9. Clean the shutters
Mid-year may be just the right time to attend to jobs you’ve put off, such as cleaning the shutters and blinds throughout the house.
Start by spreading a dust sheet to capture any falling dust and debris. Wipe or vacuum away any built-up dust. Use some warm, soapy water and a damp cloth to wipe down each blade, then dry with a soft cloth.
Give Your Cleaning Zone a Clean-Up
Mid-year may be just the right time to attend to jobs you’ve put off, such as cleaning the shutters and blinds throughout the house.
Start by spreading a dust sheet to capture any falling dust and debris. Wipe or vacuum away any built-up dust. Use some warm, soapy water and a damp cloth to wipe down each blade, then dry with a soft cloth.
Give Your Cleaning Zone a Clean-Up
10. Organise under the bench
Attend to that under-sink dumping ground in either the kitchen or laundry with these practical strategies.
Your turn
Do you have any other tips to clean or tidy your home in winter? Share them in the Comments below, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
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Unglamorous (But Essential) Jobs to Keep Your Winter Home Ticking Over
Attend to that under-sink dumping ground in either the kitchen or laundry with these practical strategies.
- Use small lazy susans for easy access to cleaning supplies. Place all your regular cleaning supplies into one, easy-to-reach basket.
- Repurpose a wine rack to hold drink bottles and/or cleaning bottles. Document holders are great for storing rolls of bin liners, plastic wrap, tin foil and plastic wrap.
- Install a row of hooks inside the cupboard door to hang tea towels, gloves and cleaning cloths.
- Add some stick-on lights under the sink to light up the space.
Your turn
Do you have any other tips to clean or tidy your home in winter? Share them in the Comments below, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Unglamorous (But Essential) Jobs to Keep Your Winter Home Ticking Over
When the weather allows, throw open your windows and doors to ventilate the house. Fresh, dry winter air is a great way to reduce mould and mildew, especially in the bathroom.
Check and replace any dampness absorbers and inspect nooks and crannies to check for the build-up of mould. Keep those little silicon sachets you get when you buy new shoes and put them inside shoes or in shoe storage areas and drawers to keep the damp at bay.