If you are forced indoors by bad weather, you can use this "opportunity" to clean the house!
Bad weather can force us to spend a lot of time indoors. Given this, we can get to doing some chores that we have put off in favor of running around enjoying the good weather outdoors. Of course, there are many activities you can do when forced to stay indoors: watch movies, read books, do some DIY, play board games, etc. But among the many things you can do when trapped indoors, there is also household cleaning chores.
When the weather is good, and/or you just don't have the time, certain chores like cleaning the ceilings, turning the mattresses, maintaining appliances or reorganizing the pantry get neglected.
Here's a list of household chores you can do on bad weather days:
1. Start at the top
The highest areas of your house are the most difficult to reach and are often neglected. When stuck inside, you can tackle this chore:
- Dust the ceilings, removing cobwebs and other grime;
- Dust and wash the tops of the furniture with a solution of water and white vinegar;
- Using the same solution, you can also clean the ceiling fans and light fittings;
- Dust and wash the high windows and skylights;
- If you have an air ventilation system or aircon units, clean the vents and wash or replace the filters.
2. Clean the bedroom
Now, move on to clean your bedroom, replacing and washing the sheets. But don't forget the mattress: first, vacuum it to remove surface dust and dirt. Then, remove any stains with a solution of warm water and 1 teaspoon of dishwashing detergent, dabbing the stains with a damp cloth. Afterwards sprinkle the entire mattress with baking soda, leaving this to act for a few hours before vacuuming up.
Now, dust the headboard, the shelves, the dressers and the bedside tables; finish by washing them with a solution of water and white vinegar.
3. Clean the appliances
When was the last time you thoroughly cleaned your appliances? Maybe now's the time to give them some attention. The washing machine, dryer, dishwasher and oven require regular cleaning to keep functioning efficiently. Put the dishwasher on an empty cycle while you clean the washing machine, the dryer and the oven. As soon as the empty wash cycle is finished, you can put a load on and finish your other cleaning chores.
4. Tidy up your closet
Bad weather days are the ideal time to thoroughly clean your main clothes closet: empty it out completely and go through all your things to identify those garments you should throw away (or donate to charity). Repeat this operation for all the closets in the house, and you'll be able to make a lot of extra space. For proper cleaning, wipe down the internal surfaces of empty closets with a solution containing baking soda or white vinegar.
5. Sort out the pantry
How about tackling the pantry? For sure, you will find expired or spoiled food at the back of some shelves in the pantry to get rid of. Check all your food supplies and bin any which are well past their expiry dates. Once done, you'll have room to restock with fresh products and produce.
What do you do when the weather is bad?