Many people avoid spring cleaning simply because they don’t know where to begin. But the process of decluttering and then cleaning a space is actually pretty easy. Each task is quick; the tough part is getting started.
That’s where this 30-day checklist comes in. This spring cleaning plan outlines a set of tasks to help you declutter and clean every nook and cranny in your home. It will keep you moving from room to room, which goes against traditional advice to work on one room until it’s complete before heading to the next. But with a big project like spring cleaning an entire home, the impulse to quit when you get overwhelmed or bored can be strong. So tackling a few projects each day will ensure that you stay motivated.
What You Need
Before you get started, prepare some boxes. Here’s what you need:
Box Category 1: Donate/Consign. Anything you want to donate or consign goes into these boxes. If the items won’t fit into a box (e.g., a couch), then keep a running list of them.
Box Category 2: Repair. While you’re decluttering and cleaning, you will come across items that need to be mended or repaired. Place these items in a box until you’re ready to get them fixed. Don’t let repairs sidetrack you until you’re done cleaning.
Box Category 3: Put-Away Box. Say you’re cleaning out a drawer in your kitchen and you find a misplaced pair of earrings in it. Don’t stop decluttering that drawer to go put your earrings in their proper place. Instead, add them temporarily to a put-away box. Once you’re done with the drawer, take that box and return everything in it to its rightful storage place.
It’s also helpful to keep a pen and paper or a digital list nearby during your spring cleaning process. On it you can keep a running list of projects that pop up while you clean that you want to get to eventually, such as organizing old photos. Once you’re done with your spring cleaning, then you can make a plan to tackle those projects.
Day 1: Dust
Take a broom to the corners of the ceiling to catch any cobwebs in your kitchen, living room, bedrooms, and bathrooms. Then, sweep or vacuum the floors.
Dust the undersides of every chair and table in your home, and then vacuum and mop the floors around them.
Clean every mirror in your home, including ones in the bathrooms, bedrooms, and entryway.
Wash your winter gloves, hats, and scarves, and pack them up for next year. Take your winter coats to the dry cleaner if necessary.
Sort your under-bed storage boxes. Add any applicable items to the donate or mend boxes.
Remove odd socks from your sock drawer, and either toss them or use them as cleaning rags.
Go through your dresser, and pull out items of clothing you haven’t worn in a year and have no plans to wear again. Put them in your donation box.
Day 3: Clean Out Your Medicine Cabinet
Throw away expired medicines. Look up local regulations on how to properly dispose of medicines.
Organize your emergency supplies. Make sure you’re stocked on first aid necessities.
Declutter your linen closet. Pull out the old towels and sheets you no longer use, and put them into your donation box.
Day 4: Sort Your Shoes
Sort through your shoes. Add any that you want to donate or repair to those respective boxes.
Clean the floors of your closets, and get rid of any unused storage solutions.
Wash your slippers.
Day 5: Clean Small Appliances
Clean your appliances, including their plugs, tops, bottoms, sides, and any accessories that came with them.
Deep clean your coffee maker, following manufacturer instructions.
Thoroughly clean utensils, such as can openers, that might not be washed on a regular basis.
Replace old kitchen sponges and rubber gloves.
Day 6: Clean Your Car
Use a vacuum to clean the inside of your car. Declutter while you go. Don’t neglect cleaning the floor mats. Then, wipe down interior surfaces with a cleaning solution and rag.
Wash the outside of your car (or bring it to a car wash).
Day 7: Deep Clean Your Fridge and Cabinets
Thoroughly clean your fridge and freezer by removing all shelves, racks, and storage containers and washing them in your bathtub. Toss any old food. Wash your ice cube trays. Wipe down the sides of the fridge and freezer. Then, put everything back in. If you’re afraid of food spoiling, use a cooler to keep food cold while you work.
Take everything out of your cabinets, and clean all the surfaces before replacing the items.
Check the cabinets for any unexpired food you don’t plan to eat that can be donated. Throw out expired or questionable food.
Day 8: Toss Clutter in the Bathroom
Declutter and clean your bathroom storage. Take everything out, and clean the backs, sides, and bottoms of the cabinets and drawers.
Dispose of any expired bathroom cleaning products.
Replace any old, worn toothbrushes and/or razors.
Wash or replace your shower curtain liner.
Day 9: Wash Household Linens
Wash your couch covers, pillowcases, and other linens used around the house.
Launder the drapes in your living room, dining room, and bedrooms. If you can’t wash them on site, bring them to the dry cleaners.
Wash your ironing board cover
Wash your tea towels and kitchen towels.
Toss small rugs, bathroom mats, and bathrobes in the wash.
Remove your window screens, and vacuum them using the handheld attachment on your vacuum cleaner. Then, soak them in soapy water before rinsing.
Use dish soap diluted in water and a microfiber cloth to wipe down your windows. Then, spray on vinegar diluted in water, and wipe the windows with a clean towel to dry them.
Dust your windowsills and frames, and touch up any chipped paint around the sills.
Day 14: Toss Old Papers, Magazines, and Newspapers
Recycle old magazines, newspapers, and packing materials.
Organize old paper or plastic shopping bags that are lying around in one location, so you can reuse them.
Shred sensitive documents you don’t need anymore. Scan important papers, and shred the originals if they don’t need to be saved.
Day 15: Wash Your Makeup and Hair Brushes
Deep clean your makeup brushes and hair brushes.
Toss any liquid makeup over 3 months old and any powdered makeup over a year old.
Day 16: Clean Out Your Plumbing
Clean every drain in your home using this method: Pour boiling hot water down the drain, add baking soda, and then add vinegar. Then, cover the drain with a plug for a few minutes. Follow with another pour of boiling water.
Schedule a plumber for any leaky or otherwise damaged faucets you can’t fix yourself.
Day 17: Switch Out Seasonal Decor
Remove any winter decorations still hanging around, including throw pillows, candle holders, throw blankets, and vases.
Switch scented candles, hand soaps, etc. from winter scents to fresh spring ones.
If you have a fireplace, thoroughly clean it to remove dirt and debris from winter use.
Day 18: Vacuum Furniture
Move the couch and any heavy chairs, and clean and vacuum underneath them.
Use the handheld attachment to vacuum the couch and chairs themselves.
Day 19: Clean Your Garage
Declutter your garage, and throw out any unneeded items you haven’t touched since last spring.
Wash your gardening gloves, and rinse and wipe off the shoes you wear to do yard work.
Sweep your porch, patio, or front steps.
Day 20: Clean Out Office Items
Go through your desk drawers, and toss broken items, such as dead pens.
Collect and keep office items, such as paper clips, all in one place in your home.
Take your stash of coins to a coin machine or the bank.
Day 21: Sort Your Mugs and Glasses
Declutter your mugs and glasses. Donate the ones you no longer want, and wash and put away the rest.
Wash reusable water bottles and water-filtering pitchers. Then, change the filters.
Day 22: Organize Bags
Organize your bags, including backpacks, briefcases, and suitcases. Declutter the insides, and then clean and store them.
Clean out your everyday bag or wallet.
Wash and store reusable shopping bags all in one place.
Day 23: Repair Broken or Damaged Clothing
Either mend any damaged clothing yourself, or take it to a tailor.
Take any shoes or boots that need repairs to a cobbler.
Day 24: Organize Hobby Supplies and Other Collections
Organize your hobby supplies. This can include crafting supplies, board games, or sporting equipment.
Polish silver jewelry, silverware, and any other items that have become tarnished.
Day 25: Get the Kids Involved in the Cleaning
If you have young children, teach them how to clean something in their room, and make that their chore from now on.
Go through your books (including kids’ books), and donate ones you don’t want anymore.
Day 26: Dust and Vacuum Some More
Dust your blinds, and then vacuum the floor around them.
Dust around your stairs, and then vacuum them.
Wipe down your baseboards and other molding where dust tends to collect. Then, vacuum the floor near them.
Day 27: Wash the Walls
Wash any interior walls that have marks or stains.
Touch up chipped or discolored paint.
Day 28: Wash Your Bed Linens
Wash your bed linens, including any mattress covers, duvet covers, pillow liners, throw blankets, and throw pillows.
If you have a guest room and the bed hasn’t been used in a while, strip the bed down to the mattress and wash all the linens.
Day 29: Sell or Donate Unwanted Items
Did you keep a list of items to sell? Now is the day to take your items to the consignment store or to photograph them to sell online.
Bring donations to a local charity.
Day 30: Throw It Away
Take a trip to the dump to get rid of any large items that are beyond repair.
Check your local regulations for how to get rid of other unwanted items, such as old paint.
Wash your garbage cans and recycling bins. Either do this outside or in your bathroom, scrubbing your tub afterward.
Following a cleaning checklist can improve the cleanliness of any food business and help maintain a consistent process and schedule.
Maintaining a high standard of cleanliness in restaurants is key to ensuring food safety and preventing food-borne illnesses. Food businesses in Canada are required to follow federal and provincial food safety laws, which include operating a safe and clean establishment. A clean restaurant will also satisfy customers and keep them coming back which means growing revenue and success.
Restaurant owners and managers can maintain a clean and hygienic restaurant by following a detailed restaurant cleaning checklist. A restaurant deep cleaning checklist should include a kitchen cleaning checklist (back-of-house cleaning) as well as a dining room cleaning checklist (front-of-house cleaning). Use the following restaurant cleaning schedule to ensure a clean and compliant restaurant.
Restaurant Kitchen Cleaning Checklist
The kitchen of a restaurant is where the greatest food safety risks occur, so following a kitchen cleaning schedule is essential for food safety. Keeping the kitchen clean in a restaurant is not only necessary for preventing food contamination and food-borne illnesses, it’s the law. Food businesses can be inspected by local Health Inspectors at any time. Food businesses found not in compliance with food safety laws, such as not maintaining the cleaning and sanitizing of the kitchen, can face fines or even closure.
Use the following checklist as a guide for what should be cleaned daily, weekly and monthly in the kitchen. As a general rule, anything that has direct contact with food must be cleaned and sanitized regularly. Items that have not had direct contact must be cleaned but not necessarily sanitized. Remember the following terms when using the checklist:
Cleaning removes physical dirt, soil, chemical residues and allergens from equipment, utensils and work surfaces
Manual cleaning iscleaning that involves using a sink or bucket with detergent and water
Sanitizing removes harmful pathogens from food contact surfaces. Sanitizing is performed after cleaning
Daily
Surfaces
clean and sanitize walls where food has splattered
clean and sanitize surfaces in food preparation areas
clean and sanitize food preparation sinks
sweep and mop the floors
sweep walk-in refrigerators
sweep storage areas
clean and sanitize inside and outside of garbage cans if they are used heavily or used for high-risk foods
Equipment
manually clean cooking surfaces such as grills, ranges and fryers (be sure to clean underneath)
change the foil lining on top of grills and ranges
manually clean beverage dispenser heads and tips of soda dispenser guns
clean and sanitize utensils, flatware and glassware
Other items
wash rags, towels, aprons and uniforms in washing machine
refill soap dispensers
replace empty paper towel rolls
dispose of recycling
dispose of indoor garbage
Weekly
Surfaces
manually clean lime from the sinks and faucets
clean and sanitize walk-in refrigerators and freezers
manually clean floor drains with drain cleaner
clean and sanitize inside and outside of garbage cans (if not done daily)
Equipment
manually clean ovens (be sure to clean the walls, door and racks)
manually clean the deep fryer (boil it out)
Other items
manually clean floor mats
empty outdoor garbage cans at least twice per week
Monthly
Surfaces
manually clean walls and the ceiling
manually clean behind the hot line
manually clean vent hoods (this can be done every couple of months)
Equipment
clean and sanitize the coffee machine and expresso machine
empty, clean and sanitize the ice machine (every 6 months)
clean and sanitize the freezer
manually clean refrigerator coils
empty grease traps
Other items
Replace pest traps
Front-of-house Cleaning Checklist
It is important that the front-of-house is clean in order to provide a safe and healthy dining experience for customers. When customers come to a restaurant to eat, they expect to dine in an environment that is tidy, clean and inviting. The experience of dining in a food business that is unclean is enough to turn away customers and hurt a business’s bottom line. This is why using a cleaning checklist for a restaurant dining room (and other front-of-house areas) is so important.
Use the following checklist as a guide for what should be cleaned daily, weekly and monthly in the front-of-house.
Daily
Surfaces
manually clean walls as necessary
manually clean counters
vacuum carpets
sweep and mop floors
clean and sanitize door handles and railings
clean and sanitize access buttons / elevator buttons
Furniture
clean and sanitize dining tables
manually clean seats and benches
Restrooms
clean and sanitize restroom surfaces
disinfect toilets
manually clean restroom sinks
empty out feminine hygiene containers / garbages
dispose of bathroom garbage
sweep and mop restroom floors
clean and sanitize door handles and railings
Other items
clean and sanitize condiments / salt and pepper shakers
wash cloth napkins, tablecloths, and aprons in washing machine
empty garbage cans
clean and sanitize garbage cans
clean and sanitize credit card machines
clean and sanitize menus
Weekly
Surfaces
manually clean the light fixtures
manually clean glass windows and doors
Monthly
Surfaces
dust items on walls (e.g. art or decorations)
manually clean all the walls
Running a food business is a big endeavour, with many important tasks to do and regulations to follow. Having a clean and safe business is the top priority. Breaking down the cleaning tasks into daily, weekly and monthly lists makes them easy to implement and keep on top of. By using the restaurant cleaning checklist for both the kitchen and front-of-house, restaurant owners and managers can ensure they are running a hygienic and food safety compliant business.
So, you’ve just finished your construction job, but the job isn’t quite over yet. Guess what? There’s a huge mess left behind that must be cleaned up before you can say the job is done. Even working with the best general contractor crew, there is bound to be some leftover mess. This mess is inevitable with all the foot traffic coming in and out bringing in mud and all kinds of dirt, dust from all the tools you were using, plastic that needs to be removed, the list goes on.
If you plan to take on the cleaning job yourself, it could feel a little daunting and overwhelming at first. We’ve prepared a post-construction cleaning checklist made up of seven groups as a reminder of all the areas that need to be cleaned and what exactly needs to be done in those areas. If you were hired to just renovate the bathroom, for example, then you don’t need to worry about cleaning the garage. Use your judgement based on the job that was performed.
1. General Cleanup
The first area you need to focus on is the general cleanup. This could include hallways, offices, and spare rooms. The best way to get started is to bring in all of the cleaning supplies that you’ll be using and lay them out. If you have a crew, you’ll want to make sure you have enough for everyone. Next, divide the supplies up, decide who is going to take which room, and get to work.
Here is the checklist you’ll need for general cleanup:
Remove all of your tools and other renovation materials
Pick up all garbage and throw it away
Dust ceilings
Dust ceiling fans
Clean the walls with soap and warm water
Dust and clean the baseboards
Sweep and vacuum the floors
Wash the floors
Vacuum the carpeting (if there is any)
The above post-construction cleaning checklist contains the common areas that people clean. However, there are also other parts of the construction site that require cleaning:
Dust and clean windows and doors
Clean light fixtures and lightbulbs
Clean inside cabinets and closets
Dust woodwork
Clean inside drawers (dust travels everywhere!)
Wipe down blinds
2. Porch/Driveway
Now that the general areas have been taken care of, it’s time to move onto the porch and driveway. Since the driveway and porch are the first things the homeowners will see when you unveil their renovations, it’s extra important to clean these areas well. It will also serve to set a good first impression and be indicative of what’s inside.
Here’s what you’ll need to do:
Vacuum and dust entryway
Clean doors
Clean windows
Sweep and wash porches
Clean exterior lights
Clean threshold
Pressure wash driveway
3. Bedrooms
If you renovated the bedrooms, you’ll have some cleaning work to do in there as well. This checklist is dependent on whether or not you’ll be moving the furniture back into place, so let’s say for the sake of this checklist that you’re also in charge of putting the furniture back in place. Here’s what you’ll need to do to clean the bedrooms:
Clean the walls with soap and warm water
Dust and clean the baseboards
Sweep and vacuum the floors
Wash the floors
Wipe down the tops of dressers
Wipe down the tops of bookshelves, as well as the shelves
Clean mirrors
Clean inside closets
Wipe down blinds
4. Kitchen
Kitchens have lots of surfaces so you can imagine it will be a big job cleaning the kitchen after a renovation. It might be a good idea to get a couple of crew members in there to tackle this one together. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
Clean the walls with soap and warm water
Dust and clean the baseboards
Sweep and vacuum the floors
Wash the floors
Vacuum, dust, and clean shelving and drawers (inside and out)
Clean cabinet doors, tops of cabinets and glass
Clean countertops, sinks and backsplashes with soap and warm water
Vacuum, dust, and clean shelving, drawers, and cabinets (inside and out)
Sweep and vacuum the floors
Wash the floors
6. Garage
The garage will be a big cleanup, so it’s recommended to get a few crew members working on it at the same time. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
Vacuum, dust, and clean shelving, drawers, and cabinets (inside and out)
Sweep and vacuum the floors
Wash the floors
Wipe down the utilities (furnace, water heater, and other utilities)
7. Laundry Room
Finally, we have the laundry room. This room shouldn’t take up too much time, but it’s still important to give it a good clean. Here’s what you’ll need to do for the laundry room:
Vacuum, dust, and clean shelving, drawers, and cabinets (inside and out)
Wipe down appliances
Sweep and vacuum the floors
Wash the floors
Seems like a lot doesn’t it? Just as renovating a house is a huge job, the cleanup afterward is intense too. If you find this is too much for you and your crew, consider calling in the professionals.
Original Article Source Credits: The Spruce , https://www.thespruce.com/
Cleaning up the house or any living space is a generic term that means different things to different people. Your definition of cleaning up to your child may mean picking up scattered toys. Cleaning up the kitchen can mean just washing the dishes and putting away leftovers.
But there are distinct definitions of cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting surfaces in homes, schools, and public places. These definitions are set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to define the level of microbial contamination left on a surface after treatment.
For a homeowner, the terms will help you read product labels and determine if the products you are using are providing the proper level of sanitation needed if someone in your home is ill, came into contact with someone ill, or has a compromised immune system.
Definition of Cleaning
Cleaning is the process of removing visible debris, dirt, and dust and organizing a space. Cleaning a surface uses soap or detergent and, usually, water to remove soil and germs through chemical (cleaner), mechanical (scrubbing), and thermal (water temperature) action.
Cleaning may not always kill bacteria and germs, but it will remove some of them and aid in lowering the risk of spreading infection.1
Definition of Sanitizing
When a product claims to sanitize a surface, it is promising to reduce the level of germs that could be harmful to your health to meet to public health standards or requirements. Sanitizing reduces, not kills, the number and growth of bacteria, viruses, and fungi.1
Sanitizing is particularly important in food preparation areas where germs and fungi can cause foodborne illnesses.
Definition of Disinfecting
The act of disinfecting kills microscopic organisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi) on surfaces.1 Disinfection is usually achieved by using EPA-approved chemicals that kill the organisms and prevent them from spreading. Items can also be disinfected using UV-C germicidal short wavelength, ultraviolet light that breaks apart the DNA of bacteria and germs leaving them unable to harm or reproduce. This is the same UV-C light technology used in hospital surgical suites to aid in killing superbugs.2
Disinfecting does not necessarily remove visible dirt and debris from a surface and is much more effective if basic cleaning is done first.1
Should You Clean, Sanitize or Disinfect?
Cleaning should be a routine process that occurs on a daily, weekly, monthly, and seasonal basis. Basic housekeeping maintains order, reduces the growth of potentially harmful organisms, helps keep pests under control, and protects the investment you’ve made in your home and belongings.
Sanitization is important for health and hygiene and is particularly important on communal surfaces like countertops, doorknobs, light switches, touchpads, and any surface that comes in contact with body fluids. Sanitizing bed linens and undergarments is much more important than sanitizing dress shirts and slacks.
Disinfecting should always be done when someone in the household is ill or if someone has a compromised immune system. Following label instructions and using disinfectants correctly is vital to killing microorganisms. If the product is not used correctly, the process only offers a false sense of security.
Tips for Proper Cleaning, Sanitizing, and Disinfecting
Do Routine Cleaning
Dr. Michael G. Schmidt, professor of microbiology at the Medical University of South Carolina and chair of the American Society of Microbiology’s Council on Microbial Sciences, says that the best way to protect your family from infectious diseases is to listen to your mother and, “Clean your house.”
Dr. Schmidt explains that after washing our hands, the next best way to protect our family is to wipe down countertops, doorknobs, light switches, and common surfaces with a microfiber cloth dipped in a solution of hot water and an all-purpose cleaner twice per day. “The slight abrasion of the microfiber cloth and the cleaning solution will lift and dilute any microbes that have settled on the surfaces,” says Dr. Schmidt.
Add Sanitation and Disinfecting Products When Someone is Ill
If someone in your home is ill or has a compromised immune system or there is a widespread viral outbreak in the community, add sanitizing or disinfecting products to your regular cleaning routine.
Read Labels and Follow Directions
Almost all sanitizing and disinfecting products, including the ingredients on wipes, must remain on a surface for four to 10 minutes to effectively kill germs and bacteria. You must use a sufficient amount to keep the surface wet for that entire time and then allow the surface to air-dry.
Use Products Safely
Do not mix chemicals when cleaning. Chlorine bleach, an excellent disinfectant, and ammonia, an excellent cleaner, when mixed together produce a toxic gas.3 Always provide adequate ventilation when using any type of cleaning product.
Wear protective eyewear and gloves when using harsh chemicals. And always wash your hands with soap and warm water after handling soiled garments, emptying waste receptacles, and using any cleaning product.
Match the Best Cleaning Product With the Item to be Cleaned
Electronic devices like remotes, game controllers, cellphones, touchpads, and keyboards are some of the germiest items in our home. The warmth of the devices encourages bacteria to go forth and multiply. But these items cannot be cleaned with soap, water, and bleach.
Check the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions and use a disinfectant wipe or alcohol wipe to clean these devices.
Recent Comments