Tasks That You can Do Once a Month

Ever heard of spring cleaning? There’s no rule saying you have to thoroughly clean your home only during springtime, no you can deep clean your home any time! I recommend you spend one day or at least 5 hours on one day doing this deep clean.

You put on some tunes, wear some disposable clothes, and just let the vibes get you through it. Think of the after. How amazing it will feel to sit on your couch, eat some lunch and truly feel free of trouble once you are done. Here is what you can do:

• 1. Dust, Dust, Dust
• 2. Clean your fridge
• 3. Organize your pantry
• 4. Clean your windows and doors
• 5. Replace your shower curtain
• 6. Replace/wash your bedsheets and pillowcases
• 7. Inspect Everything

Dust, Dust, Dust

According to the National Center for Healthy Housing, dust can be a detrimental to your overall health, as it can cause a myriad of problems such as asthma or even lead poisoning. I myself am allergic to house dust, so you can already guess, I take thorough measures to make sure there is little dust accumulating in my home.

Dust your fans, the top of your fridge, tops of exposed cabinets, and the baseboards. Get a Swiffer duster and get to work. Make sure you dust all of your lights as well as your sprinklers. Dust everything, you will thank me later.

Clean Your Fridge

I believe that people genuinely forget about their fridge. Yes, it’s technically a storage box, but can you imagine all the accidental stains you may have missed. There is probably some sandwich meat that has expired for some time. Take everything out, wipe the insides of the fridge with your multipurpose spray and put your items back.

Make sure you throw away items that you do not use, because more likely than not, you never will use it and it’s just taking up necessary space.

Organize Your Pantry

I am guilty of not looking into my cabinets and cleaning them. I recently learned that, yes, spices do in fact expire . The last time I cleaned my pantry, I found out my honey spilled, my 3rd bottle of honey mind you, and had made my shelf very sticky. Cleaning that was the most miserable experience I have ever had. It took forever.

So, do not neglect your pantry and your cabinets. Ask yourself, do I need this condiment? Do I need 4 bottles of the same spice that I don’t use? What do you need to stock up on? Answering all of these questions can give you a peace of mind because there won’t be so much clutter.

Clean Your Windows and Doors

Have you ever realized how dirty and forgotten your windows and doors are. Check and see for yourself. All you need is a microfiber towel, Windex, a duster, and multipurpose spray.

First, use the duster to rid your window sills and corners of dust and cobwebs. Then spray the window with Windex and wipe clean. Lastly, spray your towel with multipurpose spray and wipe any of the non-glass surfaces.

Replace Your Shower Curtain

This is probably a random task right? Something you have never really thought about. But as you shower, if you do not rinse your bathtub/shower out every time after you use it, mildew will accumulate towards the bottom of the shower curtain.

You should make it a habit to replace your shower curtain once a month. Yes, you can always clean it, but I personally prefer to replace it all together. Cleaning it can be really difficult and a headache.

Replace/Wash Your Bedsheets and Pillowcases

Now we’ve learned how disgusting dust is and how it can affect our health, but did you know about dead skin cells, dust mites, and all those bodily fields that build up on your sheets?
Imagine it’s a summer night and your air conditioner is not working. Your nights’ rest is filled with tossing and turning, trying to find a cold spot, while you spread your sweat all over your sheets. Now say you never wash those sheets.

Ugh that's just...

Once a month, on the day that you want to do all of the above-mentioned tasks, place your sheets, pillowcases, and duvet cover in the washer and fluff your comforter. I promise you, on that night you go to sleep, it will be a peaceful slumber.

Inspect Everything

Check all of your appliances. If you are renting out an apartment, speak with your property manager or maintenance to get your appliances fixed.
If there is mold or mildew building up in your bathroom, clean the mold and air your bathroom out. Make sure your fire alarm and smoke detectors are active and that your sprinklers are not blocked.

Conclusion

In the end, when you do these deep cleaning tasks, you avoid a lot of trouble in the future. It can save you tons of money. As my mom likes to say, “it’s better to be safe than sorry”, so, don’t wait until the last minute to get these things done, it’ll only hurt you in the end.

Written by Doreen Chirwa · My Growing Pains