Spring Cleaning Ideas While Being Stuck at Home

Did you know that more than one-third of the entire population is on some type of coronavirus lockdown?

If you’re among the many who are social distancing to help flatten the curve, you might be getting antsy staying indoors all of the time. Although it’s normal to feel overwhelmed by the COVID-19 pandemic, you can use your nervous energy to accomplish lots of helpful tasks.

Are you motivated to get your spring cleaning done early this year? Keep reading to learn about 9 different chores you can do while you’re in quarantine.

1. Declutter Your House Bit by Bit

One of the first chores you should do before you start deep cleaning is decluttering. When you get rid of your old belongings, you’ll have fewer items to clean in the future, which saves you time and energy.

Decluttering can be quite the challenge, especially if you’ve lived in the same space for many years since you’ve had more time to accumulate. This is why it can be helpful to break down your decluttering schedule to tackle one room at a time or even one smaller space in each room. For example, if decluttering your bedroom in one day is too much work, you can start with your closet, then do your desk, and work your way toward your nightstands.

As you go through all of your belongings, you should make three piles: things you’ll keep, things you’ll donate or throw out, and things you’re unsure of. If you can’t find a good reason to keep any of the items in your ‘maybe’ pile within a week or two, you can feel better about letting go of them. Gathering a large donation is an incredible way to recycle and care for others who need help during these unsettling times.

2. Clean Your Fridge and Pantry

Are you guilty of owning dozens of condiments that expired years ago? Since eating fresh, high-quality foods is essential for keeping your immune system strong, now is the perfect time to clear out your pantry and fridge.

One of the simplest ways you can accomplish this task is to remove everything and place the items on your counters where you can read the expiration dates with ease. Once everything is out of your fridge or pantry, you also have the opportunity to take a washcloth that’s damp with vinegar or a food-grade cleaning solution to wipe down all of the surfaces. If your fridge has some tough stains, you can remove the shelves and scrub them in your sink with a sponge, dish soap, and warm water.

Once your fridge and pantry are sterilized, you can start going through your food and throwing out anything that’s expired. If you notice you have nonperishables that you’re not interested in eating, you can also set those aside to donate to your local food pantry. As you start putting your food away, try your best to stay organized by creating categories for canned goods, dried foods, baking supplies, snacks, and more.

3. Take Steps to Improve Your Air Quality

Since COVID-19 is a respiratory illness, it’s never been more important to ensure the air that you’re breathing is gentle on your lungs. The EPA has reported that indoor air pollution can be two to five times higher than outdoor pollution. The good news is that there are plenty of things you can do to improve your air quality.

Replacing your HVAC filter regularly is crucial for purifying the air that gets circulated around your house. After you’ve tended to your HVAC system, you can go around the house and use a dust rag to wipe down your vents.

Next, you should open your windows to let some fresh air and sunlight inside while you dust the rest of your home. If you’re serious about adopting a healthier lifestyle, you can even consider doing some online shopping for indoor houseplants that can remove toxins from the air and provide more oxygen.

4. Give Your Bed a Deep Clean

Washing your sheets, pillowcases, and comforter often will help keep your bed soft and germ-free. However, your mattress can also use some attention once or twice a year to remove any sweat, odors, dust, and other harmful things that have soaked deeper inside.

While your laundry is running, you can start cleaning your mattress by going over it with the upholstery attachment of your vacuum to remove the top layers of dust and dirt. After you’re done, you should sprinkle some baking soda generously on top and let it sit for a few hours to deodorize. If you want to seal in the freshness, you can finish by adding a few drops of an essential oil like peppermint or tea tree to warm water and spraying it over the mattress.

5. Organize Your Closet and Dresser

If you haven’t already gone through your clothes to get rid of things you won’t wear again, now is the time to do so to free up your storage space. Once your closet and dresser are decluttered, you can experiment with new organization tips that will make getting ready a breeze.

One brilliant tip is to group clothes together by season so you can keep your current clothes in the most convenient location and rotate as the year goes on. You might also like color coordinating or separating your casual and formal outfits. It’s also wise to organize your shoes, makeup, jewelry, and other accessories so you can always find what you’re looking for immediately.

6. Scrub Your Appliances

People who use their microwaves a lot often gather a collection of splatters over time. If you notice any stains or odors when you open your microwave, you should remove the plate to wash it in the sink and use your sponge to give the interior a good scrub as well.

Since other appliances like the fridge, washer, dryer, and dishwasher are touched frequently, you can kill germs and dust mites by wiping the exterior with a Clorox wipe or a similar cleaning product.

7. Wipe Down Your Windows, Mirrors, and Other Glass Surfaces

If you’re a fan of renewable energy, you probably have lots of windows in your home to help reduce your energy rates. Although windows are great for utilizing sunlight and heat, these surfaces can get dirty often. Once you’re equipped with some glass cleaner and a soft cloth, you can say goodbye to pesky smudges.

One way you can get faster at cleaning your windows is to spray all of the windows in one area then wipe from left to right and top to bottom. While you have these supplies out, you shouldn’t forget to visit your mirrors and any other glass surfaces in your home.

If you live in an area that has lots of smog or wind, you may also need to clean your solar panels so they can absorb more light. Taking a peek at your panels to see if the rain has kept them clean can give you peace of mind that your home is running as efficiently as possible.

8. Get Tough on Germs and Grime in Your Bathroom

Your bathroom is the place where you want to get clean, yet it happens to be one of the dirtiest rooms in your house. Your toilet is the most likely place to harbor the highest amount of bacteria, but your shower can also grow mold and mildew, which are harmful to your skin and lungs.

Using the usual toilet scrubber, sponge, and cleaning solutions can help you maintain your bathroom, but it’s good to clean deeper once in a while to freshen up the space. Disinfecting your faucets, toilet lever, cabinet handles, and even your doorknobs will make sure high-touch areas are sanitized.

You can even go one step farther by running your shower curtain in the laundry with one cup of white vinegar and also scrubbing down your showerhead since most people forget to clean there.

9. Give Your Floors Some TLC

Once you feel like you’re at the finish line of your spring cleaning routine, you should wrap up your chores by tending to your floors. Lots of people make the mistake of starting with their floors. When you don’t save your floors until the end, you risk swiping more dust, crumbs, and particles onto the floor when you wipe down other surfaces, which means you’ll have to clean your floors all over again.

Whether you have carpet, tile, wood, or linoleum, any flooring material can benefit from a steam cleaning. After you’ve swept or vacuumed, you can keep your floors more vibrant by finishing with some steam.

Are You Ready to Get Started on Spring Cleaning?

If you follow these spring cleaning tips, you can breathe easier while you’re doing your part to help the world by staying indoors. During a time where lots of people feel helpless, doing activities that can make you feel accomplished is great for nurturing your mental health.

Are you passionate about making a difference? If so, you can reduce your carbon footprint significantly and lower your bills in the long run by making the switch to solar energy. Contact us to learn more about our solar technology and how we can work together to achieve a brighter, cleaner future.