This is an extraordinary New Year's mood in anticipation of the holiday! But where there is a holiday, there is a lot of worries and fuss for the housewife: to come up with and implement a holiday menu, worry about gifts, decorate the New Year tree. And this spring cleaning before the New Year! Probably, for many women it has already become a tradition to exhaust themselves with cleaning the apartment in the last days of the old year, which are extremely stressful even without it. Then don’t be surprised why on New Year’s Day, when everyone is having fun and rejoicing at the festive table, you want only one thing - to quickly get to your bed and fall asleep...
Try going a little different this year! Let the pre-New Year cleaning take not two days before the holiday, but, for example, two weeks!
Day 1: windows
Almost all advice begins with the recommendation to open the windows as wide as possible to see all the dust and dirt in the apartment. And you don’t just unblind them, but also wash them thoroughly so you don’t miss a speck of dust! But before you wash the windows, throw the curtains in the washing machine. Let this cleaning fill your entire apartment with the festive spirit emanating from freshly washed curtains! Don’t forget to also wipe the cornices and remove dust from the radiators.
- Read: How to wash windows without streaks
Necessary products for general cleaning before the New Year:
- Essential oil of pine needles and citrus fruits. We recommend taking orange oil, eucalyptus oil and pine cones. This composition will smell like a real New Year: a Christmas tree and oranges. This is very convenient if you do not plan to buy a live tree or have an artificial one. Add a couple of drops of each oil to the water you use to wash the floor and wipe off dust.
- It is advisable that you have an aroma lamp. But if not, you can drip the above-mentioned oils into a burning candle, then you will have a real New Year's aroma. Light candles every evening and enjoy the pleasant aroma and the approaching holidays.
- Ammonia will add shine to all glass and crystal products.
- Vinegar is excellent at removing odors. It should be added to water for cleaning floors and surfaces if you have an unpleasant odor in your home.
- Product for carpets and upholstered furniture.
- Mop and bucket for cleaning the floor. For example, in this online store you can buy cleaning equipment kwanprof.ru or in any other one you wish.
General cleaning of the house before the New Year is a very labor-intensive process. It's good if you have someone to help. Then you can divide the work front. In a team, things will be more fun, easier and faster.
General cleaning of the apartment for the New Year can be planned according to dates. Write down each cleaning item on your calendar so you can do everything gradually and avoid becoming overwhelmed. But if you don't have the desire or time to clean your entire apartment on a large scale, then just schedule a regular cleaning that you do regularly. And after you have cleaned everything and thrown away all the trash, you can safely decorate the Christmas tree and decorate the house for the New Year!
Day 3: bedroom
Do something you haven’t gotten around to doing for several months: clean up the mezzanines and shelves with linen. Prepare a bag in advance to put away items you haven't worn in a year.
Cleaning before the New Year is a great opportunity to unload your wardrobe for new purchases and gifts.
Take the time to move the bed and clean under it. Maybe this is where a surprise awaits you for the New Year - you will find your lost favorite earring that you have been looking for for a whole week with your whole family?
Features of pre-New Year cleaning
Very often housewives remember about cleaning at the very last moment, when there is practically no free time for these activities. This is quite understandable, because on the eve of the holiday we are all in a hurry to buy gifts for loved ones and friends, create a menu, and prepare new and delicious dishes. In a series of these pleasant chores, we almost forget about cleanliness.
To get everything done on time, at the beginning of December think over your personal plan that will make cleaning easier and will not take much time. For example, choose one week in which you will be more or less free and write down a cleaning schedule:
- on the first day, take care of windows, mirrors, glass surfaces, window sills, wash tulle and curtains;
- in the second, take care of the kitchen, because this is the main room before the New Year, where you will have to spend a lot of time: clean the grease from the stove, microwave, oven, rinse the hood, household appliances, pay special attention to the refrigerator - it also needs to be washed;
- third - clean up the pantry or dressing room, get rid of unnecessary things;
- fourth - take care of the bathroom and toilet, clean the plumbing, wash the floor under the bathroom, wash the tiles, wipe the shelves, check the cosmetics - those that have expired, throw them in the trash;
- fifth - put things in order in the bedroom, shake out the carpets and bedspreads, dry the pillows and blankets, put things in the closet, wash the floor lamps, sconces, lamps;
- sixth - time for the living room: polish the furniture, wipe the dust from the mezzanine, take care of the indoor flowers, wipe the screens and monitors, clean the upholstered furniture, wipe the dust from books and bookshelves;
- seventh - hallway: sort the shoes, wash the shoe shelves.
You can complete all the main tasks in early December. Yes, the premises may get dirty many more times, but concentrate on the difficult tasks, and then just keep it clean.
Day 6-9: kitchen
Experience shows that pre-New Year cleaning of this small room with its contents takes maximum energy and calories from the housewife. Here you will have to work a little, so plan to clean the kitchen for four days:
- Clean the tiles and hood.
- Clean the dishes, throw away all overcrowded plates and cups. Wipe off dust from wall cabinets. Be prepared to put some effort into gently peeling it off the greasy surface.
- Clean all kitchen appliances (microwave, mixer, blender) and gas stove. Pay special attention to layers of grease that have accumulated on stovetop switches, baking sheets, and oven interior walls.
- Clean the refrigerator and sink. Check the contents of the refrigerator and at the same time make a list of products for the holiday table.
Preparing for cleaning
First of all, you need to decide on the amount of work and write a list for yourself. Each business will require its own inventory and funds. You will have to leave some things until spring, for example, in winter it will be problematic to wash the windows outside, but wiping them from dust inside is quite possible. For this you will need a good rag. A rubber car wash cloth is perfect for this task. As well as a glass and mirror cleaner. In this way, a list of to-dos and necessary things for cleaning is prepared. Afterwards we conduct an audit of what is already available. We buy everything we don’t have at the nearest hardware store. Don’t forget to pack strong garbage bags - you can put all the unnecessary things that have accumulated over the year in them.
Day 10: hallway, bathroom
See if the entrance to your apartment is cluttered. Organize your hanger and shoe rack. Remove out-of-season shoes and items. Unload the hanger as much as possible, clean the rug at the entrance doors. Bathroom cleaning should begin with an unbiased customs inspection of all bottles and their contents.
Without regret, throw away all empty jars and bottles seized during the inspection. Only after this wash the bathtub, tiles, shelves, and clean the toilet. Wash the curtain and clean the rug, wash the floor.
- Read: How to clean a bathtub so that it becomes snow-white again
Plan for general cleaning of the apartment before the New Year:
- Clean up the closets and shelves. It is from this point that it is recommended to start. Put everything in its place and throw away things you don’t need. Remember, if you haven't used something for a whole year, you don't need it anymore. Clear space of clutter and make room for new things.
- Washing tulle and curtains. While the curtains are being washed, dust off all the curtain rods. Immediately after washing, begin ironing. This way they will dry instantly and can be hung on the curtain rods.
- Cleaning all chandeliers and lamps, because dust had been falling on them all year. I wash the lampshades with water, washing powder and a couple of tablespoons of ammonia. This will keep them clean and shiny.
- Wipe all mirrors. Vinegar and ammonia will help you here - this is the best remedy. For a liter of water, add a tablespoon of vinegar and a couple drops of ammonia.
- Washing or cleaning carpets, if any. Of course, you can take them to be cleaned, but if this is not possible, we clean them with a regular carpet cleaner. You can also use the old method - beat out the carpets and dump them in the snow.
- Wet dust collection. Particular attention should be paid to hard-to-reach places where we rarely look during regular weekly cleaning. Also, do not forget about doors, trim and baseboards. To make your house smell with pleasant aromas, add a couple of drops of essential oils to the water.
- Collect all unnecessary trash, broken equipment and things. Otherwise, it will simply take up space and collect dust. Create energy stagnation. You can give good things that you don’t use to your loved ones or friends.
- Refresh all upholstered furniture in the house or do dry cleaning. This can also be done with a commercial carpet cleaner. It won’t remove tough stains, but it will refresh the color.
- Also, don’t forget to clean and remove dust from all ventilation grilles.
Bathroom
Review your cosmetics. \ Photo: nashaotdelka.ru. What is cleaning without a bathroom and toilet? Perhaps these places should be given especially close attention. Be sure to review all shampoos, detergents and cosmetics for expiration dates.
Everything is spot on. \ Photo: google.com.ua. Also get rid of old razors, toothbrushes, and soap dishes that simply cannot be washed off from soap and have lost their aesthetic appearance. Replace the rug, laundry basket and curtain as needed. This will give the bathroom an updated, fresh look, cleanliness and comfort.
Kitchen
Cleaning the kitchen. \ Photo: yandex.ua. The kitchen requires special attention. This is the place where deposits of trash often appear: from expired cereals and spices to chipped dishes, broken kitchen utensils, stale medicines in the refrigerator and washed towels, oven mitts in cabinets.
Down with old and broken dishes. \ Photo: 7sisters.ru. Don’t feel sorry, feel free to collect everything and throw it away, otherwise all these things will sit unnecessarily for another couple of years, so to speak, until better times. Yes, but they are of no use.
Get rid of expired cereals, spices and other products. \ Photo: google.com.ua. It is also worth paying attention to the curtains and indoor plants on the windowsill, if any. Carefully examine the pots, and if they have lost their aesthetic appearance, simply replace them with inexpensive new ones. This also applies to curtains.
Cleaning and action plan
Cleaning and action plan. \ Photo: google.com. • Before you start a big cleaning, you need to prepare for it in advance. Choose a free day, prepare boxes and bags for garbage, unnecessary clothes, dishes and other things. This will make your task easier and help save time. • An important point is a plan, adhering to which, you will one hundred percent do everything you planned.
• Write down on paper the sequence of rooms from which cleaning will begin and follow it.
Without regret, part with what is not needed. \ Photo: newkaliningrad.ru. • It is also worth arming yourself with improvised means: a vacuum cleaner, a broom, a mop and rags for the floor and dust. • When the plan is outlined, feel free to take action without doubting anything and without regretting anything. Remember that getting rid of unnecessary things is easy, even if at first glance it is difficult to part with them. It’s better to put your favorite old sweater or jeans that are waiting for their “finest” hour in a bag and give them to those in need, rather than store them in the closet for an indefinitely long time.
• The same should be done with children's toys, books and dishes. All these things may be useful to someone. You can safely take them to church or display them in the yard, in a specially designated area.
Corridor/hallway
Get rid of old shoes.
The corridor or hallway is the place where a lot of unnecessary things most often accumulate: from old newspapers, receipts and magazines to worn-out shoes and empty bottles of cosmetics and perfume.
Feel free to throw away old newspapers and receipts.
Review everything and feel free to throw what has outlived its usefulness into the trash bag. Believe me, no second or third chance will help here.
As for old shoes, here you can simply put them in a box and put them in the yard near the trash can.
