A clean home isn’t just a matter of aesthetic; it’s a cornerstone of a healthy and happy life. The environment we live in greatly influences our mood, productivity, and overall well-being, which is why we bring you insider housekeeping tips directly from the source. Margaret Hilferd, an Executive Housekeeper to a private residence in Georgetown with a 25+ year career in housekeeping and housekeeping management, is here to share her top tips that won’t just make your home look great, but will create a space that nurtures and supports your whole family.
From efficient cleaning methods to clever organizational hacks, these tips are designed to make your life easier and your home more enjoyable. So, let’s embark on this journey together and uncover the secrets to a beautifully maintained home.
1. Regularly Clean Linens And Pillows
Keeping linens clean will be the most important task in your bedrooms. You’ll want to wipe down things like baseboards, ceiling fans and other surfaces, but Johnson points out that you and your family members spend an awful lot of time sleeping on your sheets, so keeping them clean is job number one.
“Washing your sheets weekly is more important than the rest,” she says. “It’s the best way to keep germs and allergens away — especially considering all of the hours you spend sleeping in bed throughout the week.”
Boone agrees and adds that washing your pillows in the washing machine keeps them clean and will also fluff them back up nicely after a few months of being slept on. “Be sure to use the fastest spin cycle so that as much water is wrung out as possible before putting the pillow in the dryer,” Boone says.
Even with protectors, you’ll want to wash your pillows at least twice a year.
2. Microfiber Cloths Are A MUST
The best way to set yourself up for cleaning success is to make sure you have the right tools for the job. The good news is that you don’t need expensive products to keep your home clean. Putting together a caddy of a few basic and reliable items is your best bet.
Margaret’s go-to cleaning tool in her caddy? A high-quality microfiber cloth.
“Not only is microfiber substantially better at cleaning surfaces than sponges, paper towels and the like, but it’s also machine washable and quick-drying, which means they are far less likely to hold onto germs.” Her favorite pairing is distilled white vinegar, with microfiber cloths for surface cleaning. “Combined with water and dish liquid soap, white vinegar is your go-to multipurpose cleaner for stains and general cleaning,” she says. The fact is, a microfiber with a disinfectant can eliminate 99% of bacteria, up to 1.5x more than a traditional cleaning cloth. It’s why so many hospitals have converted to microfiber clothes, towels and mops.
3. Use Baking Soda For Tough Messes
While a microfiber cloth is perfect for quickly cleaning up small messes on kitchen counters and appliance surfaces, Hilferd recommends breaking out baking soda for bigger food-related messes. “Use the baking soda in your pantry for grease build up,” she says.
Sprinkle some baking soda on a cloth and wipe down any areas that have grease buildup. Give it a couple of minutes and then follow up by wiping the area with a clean, damp cloth to pick up the residue.
4. Pay Extra Attention To Small/Unused Areas (Especially In Bathrooms)
Catherine (one of Hilferd’s esteemed housekeeping staff) stresses remembering often-forgotten areas in the bathroom in order to keep things thoroughly clean. These commonly forgotten areas can include faucet aerators and the toothbrush holder. In fact, the toothbrush holder is the third germiest place in your entire home, so you will want to make sure it’s cleaned often.
Boone also points out the importance of cleaning these areas and says using an old toothbrush with some warm water is the best way to get those nooks and crannies clean, including around your faucet.
5. Put Together A Cleaning Caddy (And Keep It Organized)
A cleaning caddy that’s well stocked and organized will help you to clean efficiently, and will allow you to clean area by area, with all the right tools and products with you. Keep your caddy stocked with:
- Rubber gloves: These protect your hands from harsh chemicals and provide extra grip when cleaning slippery surfaces. Make sure to choose the right size and material for your gloves, and replace them regularly.
- Magic Eraser sponge: This is a versatile tool that can remove tough stains and marks from various surfaces, such as walls, doors, floors, and even shoes. It works by lifting dirt and grime with just water and a few swipes.
- Cleaning solutions: Depending on your preference and needs, you can choose different types of cleaning solutions for different purposes. For example, you can use a glass cleaner for windows and mirrors, a furniture polish for wood surfaces, a bathroom cleaner for tiles and tubs, and an all-purpose cleaner for general cleaning.
- Microfiber cloths: These are soft and absorbent cloths that can be used to wipe, dust, and polish various surfaces without leaving scratches or lint behind. They are also reusable and eco-friendly, as you can wash them after each use.
- Disinfecting wipes: These are convenient and effective wipes that can kill germs and bacteria on contact. You can use them to sanitize high-touch areas, such as door handles, light switches, faucets, and countertops.
- Swiffer Duster: This is a handy tool that can trap and lock dust from hard-to-reach places, such as ceiling fans, blinds, shelves, and lamps. It has a flexible handle that can bend and extend to fit your needs.
- Air freshener spray: This is a nice touch that can add a pleasant scent to your home after cleaning. You can choose from various fragrances, such as lavender, lemon, vanilla, or floral. Just make sure to spray lightly and avoid spraying directly on furniture or fabrics.
6. Clean Highly Trafficked Spots Multiple Times A Week
Much like the kitchen, keeping up with bathroom cleanliness on a daily basis can make deeper, less frequent cleanings much easier.
“Tackle a small chore before it becomes a big one,” says Hilferd. “I’m talking the toilet, the shower and tub and the floors. Especially behind the toilet. It’s one of the most germ-ridden areas, so you really should be cleaning it once or twice per week.” Not convinced that you should be wiping down that toilet more frequently? Hilferd explains, “Just think, every time you flush, the toilet water and waste mix together, sending plumes of microbes into the air and, in turn, all over the toilet.” Yuck.
Developing consistent and simple cleaning habits in your bathroom will mean avoiding tackling a much larger mess later on. Squeegee your shower after each use to make regular weekly cleanings easier and wipe down the toilet and toothbrush holders twice a week.
7. Stay On Top Of Dust By Focusing On Hidden Areas
Family and living rooms are the places where you, your family and guests will spend most of your time, so you really want to do a thorough job in these rooms. Hilferd says the best way to ensure you’re hitting every spot is to move your furniture as you go. Shift everything around, so you’re vacuuming and dusting the floor underneath where the furniture sits before moving it back. “This will ensure you’re getting those hard-to-reach places that have been collecting dust all year,” Hilferd says. “And don’t forget to vacuum underneath the cushions!”
To stay ahead of the curve in your living room, you’ll want to vacuum under furniture and between cushions at least once a month. If a principal has allergies, you should do these tasks every other week.
8. Dust The Right Way
Feather dusters might look adorable, but they’re not at all practical. In order to remove dust effectively in the living room, Hilferd suggests using a microfiber duster or cloth instead of a feather duster. “Feather dusters tend to just move dust around and not remove it at all,” Hilferd says.
Also, dust from high to low, because dust tends to settle on lower surfaces after being disturbed by your cleaning. If you dust from low to high, you’ll simply spread the dust around, and have to clean the same area within a day or two.
9. Clean dust-collecting textiles regularly
Catherine agrees that, unlike the kitchen and bathroom, the main challenge in any living room is the dust-collecting fabrics. “Regular cleaning of upholstery, carpets and linens will help reduce and control dust mite populations,” explains Catherine.
While you may not feel like cleaning those curtains or vacuuming all of your soft furniture, it’s important when it comes to keeping your home clean and your family healthy. Curtains should be cleaned semi-annually, but you should also give them a light vacuuming with an attachment monthly. Regular vacuuming and dusting can be done once a week.
10. Use The Right Products
Not using the wrong products is just as important as using the right ones. For example, ensure your vacuum is equipped to clean things other than just your carpet and rugs. You need attachments for soft furniture, curtains, stair treads, etc. For hard surfaces, in order to prevent scratching, it’s much safer to stick with microfiber clothes overall.
And don’t rely too heavily on Magic Erasers. Sure, they’re great for hard to remove marks, but they can remove finishes, paint, sealants, etc. if they’re aggressively or on the wrong surface. Make sure you test on a discrete area before using them directly on walls or other surfaces, especially if the paint is not high-gloss.
For more tips and for expert advice on how to hire a professional housekeeper, get in touch with the house cleaning and maintenance experts at Old State Staffing today!
