Living in an apartment comes with many advantages. There is someone to call when you have a maintenance need and a built-in community. There's a hidden advantage to living in an apartment that you may not have considered. Keeping your living space clean is easier when there is less to clean. This helpful guide will show you how the experts at MaidPro approach cleaning your apartment.
Take Care of Clutter First
Before you get started with cleaning, you need to declutter. Make a sweep of your apartment, moving from one to the next. Pick up the clutter and misplaced items as you walk through. You can either put them away as you pick them or gather all clutter and then put everything away once you've collected the clutter from all rooms. Clutter makes your apartment look disorganized and messy. Because apartments are typically smaller than single family homes, it takes less clutter for your space to feel messy and suffocating. This contributes to more mental stress and an inability to focus. To prevent clutter in the future, try to put items away as soon as you are done using them. If this isn't possible, you could have a clutter basket. This is where you throw everything to be cleaned up and put away later. This saves you time while also preventing clutter all over your apartment.
Gather All Garbage
Once the items cluttering your apartment are cleaned, your next task is to gather the garbage. While you should take your trash out regularly, garbage can still accumulate. For example, did you remember to empty the trash bins in your bathroom, bedroom, or home office if you have one? The kitchen trash can tends to get all of the attention, but it isn't the only place for garbage collection. Don't forget to look for paper trash, such as newspapers, junk mail, receipts, or notes. Bag all trash and remove it from the apartment.
Collect Laundry
You should have a laundry basket where you put your dirty clothes after wearing them. However, we all know that a stray sock or sweatshirt seems to always never make it. Walk through your apartment, pick up any stray dirty laundry, and place it in the basket. Next, strip your bed and collect your towels from the bathroom. Now you have your laundry ready for washing. If you have a washer and dryer in your apartment, you can get a load started while you tackle your apartment cleaning.
The Cleaning Supplies You Need
You are only as good as the tools you use. So to clean your apartment, you need to have a cleaning kit that contains everything you need. Because everyone's cleaning preferences are slightly different, your cleaning kit may look somewhat different. However, these are some of the tools that the professionals at MaidPro use. It's helpful to purchase a caddy that can hold all of your cleaning supplies. Then you can easily carry everything you need with you as you move through your apartment.
- Vacuum Cleaner with attachments
- Broom
- Mop
- Microfiber cloths
- Duster
- Toilet brush
You also need strong enough cleaners to remove grime and sanitize while also being safe for your apartment's surfaces and yourself. What you choose to use will depend on your personal preferences. For example, some people prefer to use bleach and store bought chemical cleaners. In contrast, others prefer a more natural approach using household products like vinegar, baking soda, and lemon juice.
- All purpose cleaner
- Toilet bowl cleaner
- Window and glass cleaner
- Bleach
- Heavy-duty oven cleaner
- White Vinegar
- Baking Soda
- Carpet Cleaner
- Stainless steel cleaner
Living Room
The amount of cleaning your living room requires will depend on who lives with you and how much you use your apartment. Living with children and pets will result in more frequent cleaning. First, do a light dusting of the coffee table, side tables, tv, and decor. Next, use an all purpose cleaner to wipe down the coffee table and side tables. Finish by sweeping and mopping or vacuuming the carpet.
Kitchen
The kitchen is usually one of the most used rooms in the home. It also tends to get the dirtiest from cooking. Prepare to spend the majority of your time cleaning here. Start by wiping down the counters and using an all purpose cleaner or vinegar mixture on them. Don't worry about brushing the crumbs and food bits onto the floor. You will clean them up later when you sweep. Next, clean all dirty dishes and cookware. Run and empty the dishwasher. Clean the stovetop, burners, and controls. Sort your fridge, throwing away expired food and moving soon-to-be expired food to the front. Finish by sweeping and then mopping from the back to front so you can easily exit without dirtying the freshly mopped floor.
Bedroom
Start cleaning your bedroom by dusting the wall decor, shelves, nightstands, and dresser. Take the sheets off the bed, wash them, and remake your bed. It's helpful to have two sets of sheets. Then you can immediately remake the bed with the fresh set, allowing you to keep cleaning and wash the dirty set later. Vacuum carpeting and sweep and mop the hard floors. If the space under your bed is open, don't forget to clean here too.
Bathroom
Apartment bathrooms tend to be small, so you should be able to make quick work of cleaning. Gather the towels and any bath mats for washing. Wipe down the counter, sink, faucet, and vanity mirror. Scrub the toilet bowl. Don't forget to get up under the inner rim. Wipe down the toilet tank. Scrub the shower tile, tub, and shower head. Wipe down the glass door or shower curtain. Finish by sweeping and then mopping your way out of the bathroom.
Create a Cleaning Schedule
Establishing a cleaning schedule for your apartment will help keep it clean and presentable. It will also reduce the amount of cleaning and work you do, by not allowing your apartment to get too dirty before you clean next. Not all tasks need to be done at the same interval. Because of this, you should have weekly, monthly, and yearly routines. Creating a checklist helps you remember all of the tasks.
Weekly Cleaning Tasks
While you should try to pick up after yourself daily, this isn't always possible. Life gets away from you, and by the end of the week, your apartment looks like a tornado has come through. This is when having a weekly cleaning routine is important. There are two ways you can approach your weekly cleaning tasks. One option is to choose a day and do everything on that day. For some people, this works for their schedule. For others, this is a lot of time spent cleaning. So instead of an all-at-once routine, they choose to do a couple of daily tasks. This spreads out the cleaning and makes it easier to fit cleaning into a hectic schedule.
- Dust flat surfaces
- Vacuum carpet and rugs
- Mop hard flooring
- Clean the bathroom
- Wash your bed sheets and towels
- Wipe down kitchen counters
- Clean the stove and small appliances
- Sort fridge contents and throw away expired food
- Empty your clutter basket
Monthly Cleaning Checklist
Once a month, you should set aside extra time to do a deeper cleaning of your apartment. Dust all of the flat surfaces in each room. This will help keep the air cleaner and reduce allergens that can irritate your sinuses. In addition to vacuuming, spot cleaning any stains. You could also deodorize by sprinkling baking soda on the carpet and then vacuuming it up. Walk through your apartment and wipe down the light switches and remote controls. These are high touch surfaces that bacteria and viruses love to hang out on.
In the kitchen, clean your small appliances. Empty the crumbs out of your toaster, flush your coffee maker, and clean your air fryer. Wipe down the handles on your fridge and freezer. Empty your fridge, throwing away all expired food. Wash the inside walls, shelves, and drawers. When cleaning the bathroom, wipe down the outside of the toilet and clean behind it.
Your bedroom should be your peaceful sanctuary. Create the kind of space where you can get a good night's sleep. Once a month, vacuum your mattress. This removes dust, mites, hair, and skin cells. Your mattress will last longer, and you will sleep better. Wash your comforter or duvet and throw your pillows in the dryer.
Once or twice a year cleaning schedule
Some tasks only need to be done once or twice a year. Typically, people do them during the spring and fall. It is easy to remember to do them, as they coincide with the changing of the seasons. It also helps you reset your home for the changing weather. Perhaps you change out your decor to match the season. For example, you set out cozy blankets and fall scented candles during your fall cleaning. Then during spring cleaning, you arrange fresh spring blooms, change out the cozy blankets for bright pillows, and switch out the fall candles for fresh scents.
Spring Cleaning
Plan to do some deep cleaning once a year. Spring cleaning helps you shake off the dust and cobwebs from being cooped up all winter. It prepares your apartment for the warm months when you'll be more active and socialize. Start by opening the windows and allowing the warm spring air to flow through the apartment. This will help freshen up the space after being closed throughout winter.
Get out the duster and go over all of the flat surfaces. Don't forget the ceiling fans, cabinet tops, and light fixtures. When vacuuming the carpets, add the furniture attachment and clean your sofa, chairs, and curtains. When cleaning your kitchen, fill a bucket with water and a bit of degreasing soap. Use a microfiber cloth to wipe down the cabinets and exhaust hood. This removes the grease buildup that covers the kitchen's surfaces when cooking. Empty your pantry and check the expiration dates. Throw away all old items. When you move to the bathroom, gather any cosmetics, medicines, or other usable products. Check expiration dates and throw out anything old and expired. If you have long hair or live with someone with long hair, consider cleaning the drains. Hair collects in the shower drain and can create clogs.
Fall Cleaning
When summer is over and the cool temperatures of fall start to become a regular occurrence, it is time to consider fall cleaning. Repeat the cleaning tasks that you did during your spring cleaning. This will remove the dust, dirt, and dander present before you close up for winter.
In addition to the spring seasonal tasks, there are a few additional tasks that you should do. Vacuum the vents to remove any buildup in your HVAC system. You'll use the heat during winter, and cleaning the vents prevents the system from blowing dust buildup into your apartment. If your apartment has a fireplace, you should also get it cleaned and checked. Rodents and birds find unused fireplaces as an enticing place to build their nests. These present a fire risk and should be removed before use.
Create a Fresh Smell
Once you are done cleaning, give your apartment a fresh and welcoming smell. While some people love the smell of cleaning products, it isn't for everyone. Try lighting a candle, arranging fresh flowers, or using an incense diffuser. Choose a scent that works with the season. Something light and fresh during the spring and summer. Then switch to something warm and hearty during the fall and winter.
Keep Your Apartment Clean
With this helpful guide, you are ready to tackle your messy apartment! Start by removing the clutter, gathering the garbage, and collecting dirty laundry. Then move through your apartment, working on one room at a time. Once your apartment is clean, consider hiring a cleaning service that can routinely come and clean your apartment to keep it clean.
Request a free estimate and let the cleaners at MaidPro help you keep your apartment clean.
