With spring approaching, longer days and increased sunlight bring a revitalizing energy. Fresh Tech Maid provides professional Chicago Spring Cleaning for a clean, healthy home in just four hours.
Finding Motivation If the prospect of waking up to a fresh, immaculate home isn’t motivating enough, consider these tips: make cleaning an enjoyable activity by involving your family, play your favorite music while cleaning, turn the cleaning process into a friendly competition by setting a timer, or reward yourself for a job well done.
Choosing a Cleaning Method Before embarking on the Best Spring Cleaning Guide, select the appropriate cleaning method for your home: Standard, Green, or Chemical Free.
• Standard Method: This widely used approach involves chemical-based cleaning solutions available at most retailers.
• Green Method: A eco-friendly option that also utilizes chemical-based solvents but with less harm to humans, animals, and the environment.
• Chemical-Free Method: A safer and healthier cleaning style that relies on physical processes rather than chemical ones. For example, steam and Deionized Water (DI Water) are used for thorough sanitization and cleaning.
Cleaning Mode Adhering to a specific cleaning sequence is vital for successful spring cleaning. Follow the “STAR” Cleaning System:
• Soak First: Allow nature to aid in the cleaning process by soaking hard-to-clean, moisture-resistant surfaces in advance.
• Top Down: Eliminate the need for re-cleaning by starting at the top and working your way down.
• Always Start in One Location: Complete a full circle around the room, ending at your starting point.
• Rank Floors the Last to Clean: Address floors last to avoid re-cleaning due to dust settling.
Kitchen Spring Cleaning Check List:
Supplies:
- (6) Kitchen microfiber cloths.
- Cleaning solution DI Water and kitchen cleaner
- Extended dusters.
- Kitchen scrubby sponge.
- Gloves.
- A vacuum with attachments, tools, and extra bags.
- A mop and bucket.
- A broom and dust pan.
- A microwave-safe bowl.
- A two-step ladder.
For a thorough kitchen cleaning, allocate approximately 80 minutes for one person.
8 Steps for Kitchen Spring Cleaning:
Step 1: Fresh Air (5 minutes): Open the windows to facilitate natural airflow through the kitchen while cleaning.
Step 2: Soak Hard-To-Clean Areas (5 minutes): Use DI Water to soak hard-to-clean areas like the stove, countertops, and refrigerator/microwave handles. For tough areas, consider using Kitchen Cleaner.
Step 3: Cabinets (20 minutes): Empty the cabinets from top to bottom, spray the shelves and drawers with DI Water, wipe down completely with Kitchen microfiber cloths, line the shelves and drawers with contact paper, and neatly replace the contents.
Step 4: Refrigerator (20 minutes): Similarly, empty the refrigerator from top to bottom, spray inside with DI Water, scrub the shelves and walls, check expiration dates, and neatly replace the contents.
Step 5: Self-Cleaning Oven (2 minutes): Initiate the self-cleaning mode on the oven, ensuring proper airflow during the process.
Step 6: Microwave (3 minutes): Sanitize the inside walls by placing a microwave-safe bowl filled with tap water in the microwave for 5 minutes. The resulting steam will facilitate cleaning.
Step 7: High Dust (5 minutes): Utilize the two-step ladder to dust all high areas in the kitchen.
Step 8: Top Down (20 minutes): Clean the kitchen from the top down, starting at one spot and moving around the room in a complete circle. Ensure to spray surfaces with DI Water and wipe down with Kitchen microfiber cloths. If dealing with stainless steel appliances, clean along the grain to prevent surface damage. Leave the kitchen floor for the final cleaning step.
Skip the kitchen floor for now!
Bathroom Spring Cleaning Check List:
Supplies:
- (6) Bathroom microfiber cloths.
- Cleaning solution DI Water and Bathroom Cleaner.
- Extended dusters.
- Bathroom scrubby sponge.
- Gloves.
- A vacuum with attachments, tools, and extra bags.
- A toilet brush.
- A mop and bucket.
- A broom and dust pan.
- A two-step ladder.
For an efficient bathroom cleaning session, allow approximately 90 minutes for one person to tackle 1 Master and 2 Smaller Bathrooms.
Steps for Bathroom Spring Cleaning:
Step 1: Fresh Air (10 minutes): Open the windows strategically to allow a nice flow of fresh air across the bathrooms while cleaning.
Step 2: Soak Hard-To-Clean Areas (10 minutes): Use DI Water to soak hard-to-clean areas such as the toilets, countertops, shower walls, and bathtubs. Consider using a Bathroom Cleaner for tough spots.
Step 3: Cabinets (20 minutes): Empty the medicine cabinets and drawers from top to bottom, spray the shelves and drawers with DI Water, wipe down completely with Bathroom microfiber cloths, line the drawers with contact paper, and neatly replace the contents.
Step 4: High Dust (10 minutes): Utilize the two-step ladder to dust all high areas in the bathrooms, starting at one spot and moving around the room in a complete circle.
Step 5: Top Down (40 minutes): Clean the bathrooms from the top down. After soaking, surfaces should be easier to clean. Remove and wash the toilet seat cover and rug, if applicable. Clean the inside, outside, and seat of the toilet, clear toiletries around the sink, clean the inside of the sink, countertop, and mirror, remove and wash or replace the shower curtain and liner, scrub the bathtub and shower walls, wash bathmats, towels, and curtains, and wipe down windowsills, walls, and baseboards.
Leave the floor for the final cleaning step.
Bedroom/Dining Room/Living Room/Family Room Spring Cleaning Check List:
Supplies:
- (6) Microfiber cloths.
- Cleaning solution DI Water
- Extended dusters.
- Gloves.
- A vacuum with attachments, tools, and extra bags.
- A mop and bucket.
- A broom and dustpan.
- Large box
Steps for Dining Room/Living Room/Family Room Spring Cleaning:
Step 1: De-Clutter (20 minutes): Return clothes, shoes, toys, and other items to their proper place.
Step 2: Organize (30 minutes): Neatly organize closets, shelves, and drawers. Collect unused items in a large box for donation.
Step 3: High Dust (10 minutes): Utilize the two-step ladder to dust all high areas, starting at one spot and moving around the room in a complete circle.
Step 4: Top Down (30 minutes): Clean the rooms from top down. For bedrooms, strip the bed, wash bedding and blankets, and rotate the mattress.
Skip the floors for now.
Floor Spring Cleaning Check List:
Supplies:
- Gloves.
- A vacuum with attachments, tools, and extra bags.
- A mop and bucket.
- A broom and dustpan.
Steps for Floor Spring Cleaning:
Now it is time to clean the floors for the entire home.
Step 1: Hand-Wipe Around Furniture (10 minutes): Protect floors near furniture legs and baseboards by hand-wiping to avoid damage from vacuum or mop.
Step 2: Sweep and Vacuum (55 minutes): Sweep and vacuum floors, ensuring the vacuum bag is less than half full for maximum power. Remember to vacuum upholstered furniture thoroughly.
Step 3: Mop (55 minutes): Lightly spray floors with DI Water, mop, and ensure floors are almost dry. If using a bucket, be cautious not to oversaturate the floor to prevent streaks when dry. Change the mop and water when dirty.
As spring approaches, the time has come to open your windows and feel renewed! Safely restore your clean and healthy home in as little as 4 hours with the help of another adult. It would even be shorter if you got your kids to help! If our step-by-step process has you feeling overwhelmed or you can’t seem to find the motivation to start, book a cleaning with Fresh Tech Maid, the top house cleaning service in Chicago, in just 60 seconds and we’ll revive your home in time for spring’s arrival.
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