Deep Clean Your Home
Before winter comes around and you get cosy and comfortable in your space, do a thorough clean-up of each room with this nifty guide
Living Room
Freshen the furniture
We dust cushions every week and take out crumbs, fur, or anything that is visible on the couch, but it’s important to take a vacuum to it, with the brush attachment, to pull out gunk that has fallen between cushions, the sides and the backs of the surface.
Don’t forget the frames
Whether you have a gallery wall, or just a few frames, take out all framed artwork and dust down the pieces at the front and back with a damp microfibre cloth. Make sure you don’t spray anything directly on the glass as it could seep into the corners of the frame and potentially ruin the picture and mat.
Dust off electronics
The television box, PS4 or Xbox may be kept hidden away on your TV shelf, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t need a good dusting. Use a dusting wand or special cleaning cloths and brushes for gadgets (Sharaf DG and souq.com have a wide selection from Dhs19). If you have DVDs, CDs, video games or any other media that you or your children haven’t touched in ages, donate it, sell it on Dubizzle.com, or add it to a collection of sale items for an upcoming market (visit dubai-fleamarket.com).
Launder the fabrics
Take out the drapes, table cloths or any material you have around your home and place them on a gentle, low-spin wash, or send it off to the laundry. Do this at least once a month.
Declutter the room
It’s all too easy to pile up a bunch of items on an empty surface, place boxes and unwanted items on a chair in a corner, and cram up the kitchen counter with knickknacks. Clear out the clutter so that every blank surface is neat and tidy. You could stow it away – behind closed doors or in a storage unit – and deal with it another day, so it isn’t too overwhelming.
From top to bottom
Don’t forget the lighting fixtures, bulbs and wall trim. These tend to collect dust over time and need to be wiped down with a microfibre mop or duster with a telescoping handle. The floors can be mopped with your favourite cleaning products. If you have carpets or want to polish the tiles, this is a great time to call in the professionals – servicemarket.com and urbanclap.com offer services from just Dhs149. You can pick one according to ratings and compare quotes to suit your budget.
Clean your AC ducts
Ali Taha, Director at ipurity (a Dubai-based company that specializes in 100 per cent chemical-free purification spraying technology, and eco-friendly air disinfection services) explains why AC duct cleaning is essential for your family’s health
If family members suffer from allergies linked to pollen and dander, your number one enemy is dust mites. These microscopic elements are naked to the invisible eye and commonly found in air ducts. Researchers have discovered that childhood diagnoses of allergies, autism, Asperger’s and Tourette’s syndrome are interconnected with indoor pollutants such as dust, phthalates, PVC flooring and second- hand smoke. It is advisable to have the air conditioning ducts cleaned annually, especially if one or more people in your family get affected quickly.
Additionally, those with pets can’t afford to skip out on changing the air filters regularly. Even if you don’t have allergies, keep in mind one of your guests may, and having loose pet dander around the home can lead to a coughing and sneezing fit. Besides, a dirty air filter clogs up your system, preventing air from moving through the AC system and across the evaporator coil – this restricts airflow. At homes with pets, air filters get dirty a lot quicker. Neglecting to change the filter each and every month, if not more often, can cause your air conditioner to become overworked and break down.
Choosing a professional service to clean air ducts also reduces the dust that would otherwise circulate throughout your living space, landing on your furniture, bedding, flooring and just about everywhere. Fortunately, a thorough air duct cleaning reduces the amount of interior cleaning and dusting necessary to maintain a hygienic home. A periodic air duct cleaning promotes healthier living, otherwise dirty air in your home just keeps re-circulating. If you feel this isn’t necessary as no one in your household suffers from chronic allergies or respiratory problems, remember that cleaner air makes it easier for everyone to breathe. Even among the healthiest, dust and pollutants entering the nose and lungs can trigger sneezing and coughing, as well as sinus and bronchial congestion,
so cleaning an air filter shouldn’t be an option, but rather a necessity for all homes.
To book an eco-friendly service that’s 100 per cent chemical free, visit ipurity.com or contact +971 4 565 5245
Bedroom
A proper wipe down
You may be dusting surfaces on a daily basis, but it’s time to give each and every item a proper wipe. Clean knickknacks, side tables, ceiling fans, baseboards, windows, bookshelves, and most importantly, your headboard.
Flip it and reverse it
It’s important to turn your mattress every few months or at least twice a year. Sleeping on the same spot for an extended period of time can cause a mattress to sag, while wearing out the steel coil springs. To do this, simply spin your mattress, end for end, so that the side that was towards the headboard is now at the footboard. Don’t forget to vacuum and neatly place back items that have been stowed away under your bed.
Freshen the mattress
Sprinkle baking soda on the bed, let it sit on the mattress for an hour, and then vacuum it. For a thorough cleanse and to get rid of dust mites and germs, call in the experts for a mattress cleaning service. This includes a deep vacuum, sanitation using UV light treatment, and over-heated dry steam to meticulously purify it. The experts even sanitise pillows, duvets and bed covers.
Organise your closet and storage
Pull out all the clothes you didn’t wear this past season and set them aside for consigning or donating. Treat your wardrobe to thin, matching hangers and arrange your closet according to your needs – colour, work/leisure wear, categories (trousers, dresses, tops, etc.). Make sure you neatly fold anything that doesn’t need to be hung, and don’t forget to add scented sachets or a few drops of essential oil on a tissue, to keep your closet aromatic at all times.
Bathroom
Toss or keep
Use a big brush or cloth to dust light fixtures and clear cobwebs collected in the corner. If your shower curtain and bathmat look worn out, replace them – this is a great way of giving your space a seasonal update. If they aren’t, wash in a gentle cycle or according to the tag instructions. To get rid of water spots and make your shower door sparkle, heat distilled white vinegar and wipe the door with it – reapply to keep it wet for 30 minutes. Scrub with baking soda sprinkled on a non-scratch pad.
Scrub a dub dub
Clean your shower, toilet, sinks and tubs so that they are sanitized, polished and free from grime and limescale.
Kitchen
Polish the cabinets
To cleverly collect dust, wipe down the exposed tops, cut newspaper and fit into the cabinets. The paper collects dust over time, so all you have to do is replace the papers. Wipe the exterior with wood cleaner that’s specifically for painted or laminate surfaces, or warm water with dish soap.
Extend The Lifespan of Appliances
Mais Al Nashash, Marketing Executive at Better Life shares tips and tricks to keeping items in great condition
Refrigerators:
These are one of the most essential appliances in a kitchen. A little bit of neglect and it’s very easy for mould colonies to start building inside. To prevent mould, fungi and general biological pests from spreading in the insides of your fridge, make sure you bin foods passed their expiry date. Thoroughly clean up the fridge once every week, or a couple of weeks, and remove
all food from the refrigerator before scrubbing and wiping down the shelves with warm water and soap. When you feel like your fridge isn’t cooling enough, check the seals and coils (at the back) for dust, and clean thoroughly with a vacuum brush or broom.
Ovens:
They are not cheap and go through heavy greasy cooking and high temperature on a daily basis. Always look for physical damages on the surface area and fix accordingly. If you clean the oven from the inside after every use, it is most ideal. However, if you do it once a year, you will end up using harsh chemicals to get the oven sparkling again. If the temperature doesn’t feel quite right, recalibrate the setting according to the instruction manual. Lastly, the best way to clean an oven is hands- down a sprinkling of baking soda inside and on its sides. Spray vinegar on the baking soda to form a paste and let it sit for 20 minutes before scrubbing away.
Dishwashers:
When the dishwasher doesn’t do its job, it’s probably the food-filled filter that is the culprit. It gets clogged and to fix that, all you need to do is pull out the lower rack and remove the filter cover inside the washer. Use a wet/dry vacuum to clean the screen. If you slam or drop the lid of your washer, you are going to damage and/or break it. Check the door gaskets for any wear and tear from time-to-time.
Coffee makers:
Try to sanitize the coffee maker once every month to keep it fresh and gunk free, and make sure after having your morning cup of joe, you throw out the leftovers and rinse the pot. Stale coffee is an open invitation to bacteria. To clean it thoroughly, use one-part vinegar and two parts water. Pour this into the water tank of the coffee maker, place a filter in the basket and switch it on. Once done, run two to three pots of plain water to flush out the vinegar.
Other bits and bobs:
When using pots and pans, always use it on low flame to avoid burning the sides of pots and pans. For high heat dishes, make sure the pan is large enough to cover the powerful flame. If you use wooden cutting boards, never soak it in water. Always use a soft cloth to rub mineral oil all over the board, wait 30 minutes and wipe off excess oil to increase durability.
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