A DIY Deep Clean for your House often becomes necessary during the early spring due to the increased time spent inside our homes. Here are sure-fire DIY tips and recipes to get your home DIY deep cleaned.
1. DIY Deep Clean Living room
Clean regularly using your vacuum’s upholstery attachment, or you can use warm water on a cleaning rag to restore the fabric.
Treat the occasional stain as quickly as possible with a microfiber cloth — slightly dampened, if necessary.
Mix together 1 tsp. dishwashing liquid, 1 tbs. white vinegar, 1 cup warm water and 1 tsp. baking soda in a spray bottle.
Vacuum your carpet, then wipe any stains gently with the abrasive side of a sponge. Spray the soiled area with the mixture, then gently rub and dab with the towel. You will start to see cleaning results right away.
To quickly restore wood surfaces, use this simple recipe. Squeeze the juice of one lemon into container straining the pulp and seeds then add a tablespoon of olive oil and a tablespoon of water. Tighten lid and shake until emulsified. Dab small amounts of this mixture onto a cloth and begin wiping down your furniture.
For older heirloom furniture, we recommend Howard’s Feed-N-Wax.
Since this is a natural and perishable recipe, make it fresh each time.
2. DIY DEEP CLEAN Kitchen
All you need to clean the surfaces of your kitchen is a good cleaning cloth and this simple, but effective all-purpose cleaner.
Use it to scrub down countertops, appliances, tables, walls and the sink.
- 1 cup white vinegar
- 2 cups water
- 5 drops essential oil of your choice
- Mix all of the ingredients in a spray bottle, shake, and get cleaning!
If you have hard water buildup, a simple mixture of white vinegar, lemon juice, and dish soap is effective at removing the grime.
For the faucet, scrub with baking soda and an old toothbrush. It’s perfect for tackling that narrow, grimy space where the base of the faucet meets the sink. Rinse when finished.
How to Clean A Toaster (Pop Up & Toaster Oven) Via Clean My Space
Pour equal parts vinegar and water into the bowl. Insert a toothpick or another small wooden object into the vinegar-water solution. This will help keep the solution from spontaneously exploding.
Heat the bowl for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on how dirty the microwave is. After letting it sit for a bit, take the bowl out. Then, take a cleaning cloth and dip it into the hot vinegar-water mixture and scrub down your microwave. The gunk will come off easily with a few swipes of the cleaning cloth.
Start by pouring a cup of baking soda into the toilet bowl and let sit for a few minutes. Brush and flush. Still seeing spots? A damp pumice stone is abrasive enough to remove stains caused by mineral deposits and lime scale but gentle enough not to damage surfaces (Pumice Scouring Stick). Be sure to soak the pumice stone for 2-3 minutes before using on the toilet.
Submerge the showerhead in a plastic bag with vinegar over night. Remove it in the morning and run the water to rinse. This will help remove any mineral deposits.
Give plastic shower curtains and liners a spin in the washing machine with your regular detergent and a few old towels. These act as scrubbers to help get rid of soap scum and mildew. Toss them into the dryer on a low heat for 2 to 3 minutes then rehang.
For shower doors, make a paste of a few drops of distilled white vinegar to a cup of baking soda. Wet the door and then apply the mixture and let it sit for an hour. Scrub the shower door with a microfiber cloth and then rinse. The tub is less of an issue and a weekly scrubbing is usually enough. For extra shine you can add the mixture to the bath tub and let sit for 15 minutes before scrubbing clean.
Remove the vent cover and soak in warm water with dish soap. While the cover is soaking, vacuum the fan blades, nooks, and crannies. Then wipe with a damp cloth. Remove the cover from the warm water and when it’s completely dry, replace the cover on the vent.
Homemade Natural grout cleaner!
Ingredients:
- 4 cups water
- 1/4 cup baking soda
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/2 cup vinegar
Directions:
- Combine lemon juice, baking soda, and vinegar in a spray bottle.
- Stir in water to the mixture.
- Spray solution onto tile and grout.
- Allow cleaning solution to sit for 5 minutes.
- Scrub dirt/grime away using cleaning cloth or large scrubber pad.
- After scrubbing, wash with water
Removing grout stains from the floor can make your home look like new! As one of the most high-traffic parts of the home, the bathroom floor gets a lot of use. Use the recipe referenced above to easily clean the floor grout.
4. DIY DEEP CLEAN Laundry Room
To sanitize the inside of your washing machine, simply run a cycle through with white vinegar and hot water. This will also remove soap scum and mineral build up.
Empty the lint trap and wipe off fuzz with a used fabric-softener sheet.
Vacuum the inside of your lint trap area.
Wipe the interior walls of the dryer. Use a cloth dampened with dishwashing liquid and warm water. Scrub any linty residue around the trap opening with an old toothbrush, if necessary.
Using a brush attachment, vacuum the vents and wipe grates with a damp cloth.
Give your Washer and Dryer the Rub – Soak a cleaning cloth in liquid dish soap and water, and wipe the washer’s drum to remove any residue or sticky who-knows-what (your kid’s red crayon, a stray piece of gum?). If you’ve got a front loader, clean the rubber door gasket as its nooks and crannies can trap moisture.
5. DIY DEEP CLEAN FRAGRANCE
Give your home a refreshing and invigorating new scent with this DIY air freshener.
- Grapefruit slices
- Fresh sprigs of lavender
- Whole juniper berries
The bright citrus paired with classically calming lavender and juniper make for a freshening and inviting scent, perfect to fill your entire space. It’s a great one to simmer on the stove or place in jars right at the entryway.
For more DIY air freshener ideas visit our Clean Air page on Pinterest.
If you’re needing more time in your life for other priorities, consider hiring a professional housecleaner. The time and energy saved, and the frustration avoided is well worth the investment.
If a no-hassle, no-obligation phone quote makes sense,
give us a call today at 541-601-6236.
You can also shoot us an email at info@thecleaningcrewonline.com
I think we can all agree that when it comes to cleaning, we’re always looking for ways to make the process more efficient. Efficient means quicker AND easier! Try these 5 New Cleaning Routine tips, tricks, and suggestions. They’ll help keep your home sparkling year-round and grant you a little more peace of mind in the process.
1.Cleaning routine Essentials
Tackle everyday messes with the best sponges, scrubbers, sprays, and more!
Here’s our take on the best cleaning essentials. The right tools make all the difference!
Establish a simple yet effective morning cleaning routine. Try this one.
- Start the Washing Machine–> On your way to get the coffee brewing, start a load of laundry.
- Unload the dishwasher –> “Everything has its place” is such a reliable motto. Then start the process over by loading everything after breakfast.
- Make beds –> Everyone makes their own as soon as they get up.
- 5-minute pick up –> Do a quick pick up of what might have been missed from the night before and the last minute tornado of the morning.
3. Night Time Cleaning Routine
Before you turn in for the night, spend a few extra minutes tidying up with these simple suggestions. Small efforts can have the biggest impact on your morning.
- Clean the kitchen –> Spend a quick 5 minutes clearing the counters and wiping them down. Load and run the dishwasher if it’s full. Make sure there are no dishes in the sink. Starting the morning with a clean kitchen will brighten your mood.
- Pack lunches and/or snack –> Mornings are busy enough. Take care of lunches and snacks the night before.
- Set the coffee maker –> When you’re groggy in the morning there’s nothing better than a freshly brewed, hot cup of coffee (or tea, if that’s your thing)! Get it ready for minimal effort in the morning.
- Take care of one load of laundry –> Fold, sort and put away the clothes from the last wash load. Biggest takeaway: don’t let laundry snowball on you.
- Five-minute pick-up –> Just take a few minutes to throw away trash, take items back to their “home” and wipe down messy areas.
4. Cleaning Routine Add-ons
In addition to your daily cleaning routine, practice the art of add-ons. For example, you can add dusting and/or vacuuming a room or two each day.
Once a week mop the kitchen and bathroom floors.
To take your cleaning to the next level choose one of the following to include once a week…
- Cleaning the Microwave
- Dusting the Molding and trim
- Cobweb Removal
- Interior Window Cleaning
- Inside Cabinet Cleaning
- Oven Cleaning
- Moving and cleaning under the furniture
5. How To Reboot Your Cleaning Routine
Via Clean My Space
A great way to effectively use your time is to maintain a set cleaning routine. But maybe It’s time to re-tool how the cleaning gets done. Check out theses quick steps from Clean My Space on how to get motivated to clean –> Click here.
What about you? What does your cleaning routine look like? What routines are your kids responsible for?
The key to a successful holiday is planning. Know what needs to get done, when it needs to be done, and how much manpower and time it’s going to take. Consider these 5 Tools to Remove Stress from the Holidays.
1. Allergy-Free Treats For Kids (Or Adults!)
Via Taste of Home
No matter the course, crowd or allergy concerns, these allergy-free recipe ideas will help keep your sanity and make your guests feel welcome. —> CLICK HERE
2. 10 Chef-Approved Solutions to Common Holiday Fails
Via Real Simple
Real Simple addresses common problems for holiday meals: cold mashed potatoes, too sweet yams, dry turkey, and more in these 10 Chef approved solutions. —–> CLICK HERE
3. Delegate!
Hosting the big holiday meal doesn’t have to mean you have to do everything! Consider throwing a potluck. Not only does this spread the work around, but it also allows other people to share in the culinary glory. Take them up on their offer: “What can I do to help?” Ask your friends to bring something to share or help with set up or clean up. Best of all, other cooks can introduce you to their specialties, which might then become new traditions in your home.
4. Stress-Free Kitchen Cleaning
The kitchen is usually the hub of the home and with a few key quick cleaning fixes you can keep this room Stress-Free.
- Clean range or stove top, surfaces, and grates.
- Clean out the refrigerator before the big meal, making room for party foods.
- Clean and shine kitchen sink.
- Wipe down all large and small appliances.
- Wipe down kitchen cabinets.
- Create space in the kitchen for holiday entertaining by filling a box with kitchen items you won’t be using and moving it elsewhere. Now you have room for the holiday serving dishes, punch bowl, silver, and other items you’ll be using during the holidays.
Freshen your home with herbs like lavender and chamomile. Fill a spray bottle with 20 drops of lavender essential oil, 1 teaspoon vodka and water to create a linen spray. Lavender is known to reduce stress, promote calm and aide in relaxation. Mist bed linens, lamp shades, shower curtains and drapes. Grind up lavender and chamomile with baking soda in a food processor to sprinkle on rugs and carpets to remove odor. Just leave overnight and vacuum the next day.
*** Bonus Holiday Cleaning Tip: choose essential oils in holiday scents, like peppermint or pine, to spray sofas and drapes other living spaces.
Have A Great Stress-Free Holiday Tip? Share it in the comments below!
Want more holiday de-stressing tips?
9 More Ways to De-Stress This Holiday Season
Via Pop Sugar
Make sure you enjoy the holidays. Follow these additional 9 tips for removing stress from your holiday experience. —> CLICK HERE
The Perfect Fall Party…
…is just around the corner. Being a great host can become overwhelming without a few tricks up your sleeve. Follow the steps on this roadmap, and your fall dinner party will be the one that everyone will be talking about.
Step 1. Cleaning Tips for a Party-Ready House
When you’re making your party to-do list, add “Clean the house” near the top, but don’t think of it as a chore. Organize the tasks into easily achievable components. With a little planning, cleaning the house for a party is so simple, you’ll be tempted to use these hints for your regular cleaning routine.
- Use household cleaner and a soft cleaning cloth to give bathroom surfaces a quick shine. Pay attention to water spots and residue on the faucet and liquid soap dispenser. Hide toiletries and countertop clutter in an out-of-the-way spot.
- Clean bathroom mirrors. A sparkling mirror reflects the light and makes everything brighter.
- Use a damp towel with water and vinegar to clean the kitchen and bathroom floor.
- Apply toilet bowl cleaner, and give the toilets a quick brushing.
- Hang fresh hand towels in the bathrooms. Put out fresh hand soap or fill the liquid soap dispensers.
- Vacuum the carpets and use a dust mop on hard-surface floors in your living spaces.
- Fluff sofa cushions and pillows. Straighten stacks of magazines or books. Fold or arrange throws. Make sure tabletops are clear of clutter and dust-free.
- Polish kitchen counters, faucets, and sinks with household cleaner and a soft cleaning cloth.
- Empty the trash from the containers throughout the house. Wipe off the outsides of your trash receptacles. Insert clean liners. This simple detail makes the kitchen and all your guest spaces feel fresher.
- Set up your party area. Arrange fresh flowers. Light candles. Turn on music. Set up your food and beverage stations. Finish food preparation.
Developing a Visual Theme is the fun part of event planning. Use it as your guide for all decisions from invitations to party favors. Need some inspiration? Click Here for Fun Fall Party Themes.
You don’t have to go over-the-top to create a stunning scene. You can enhance standard grocery store bouquets of roses or mums with a few natural elements like feathers and dried wheat. Hurricane lanterns are another great option for outdoor dinners. They add light for function, glow for ambiance, and their shape and size make them practical in windy settings. For some centerpiece inspiration Check out –> Jentatertots 19 Gorgeous Fall Centerpieces!!
Pair a fun, seasonal beverage with your meal or appetizer. There’s nothing like warm, spicy apple cider to break the ice when you’re entertaining on a chilly day. It’s a timely and tasty choice! Recipe –> Hot Spiced Cider
Spice things up with a signature cocktail. Welcome your guests with a drink that puts them in the mood for the cool, crisp days of autumn. You could try a Spiced Pear Collins, which is made with gin, pear puree, and rosemary. Find out how to make –> 7 different pumpkin martinis!
Welcome guests with a snack, like a rustic cheese board. Try these three for a start: blue cheese, apricot Stilton, and pepper-crusted Brie. “I serve them with a fresh sliced baguette, dried cranberries, apricots, and cashews. I also love including an organic honey to complement the blue cheese. Look to –> The Kitchn for some new ideas for cheese platters.
Also Check out >>Food Networks Appetizers for Fall Parties << and start your guests off with seasonal appetizers that complement crisp weather, like cheesy small bites, crisp rosemary chips and more.Step 6. The Perfect DIY Party Favors! 
Via Martha Stewart
If you plan on giving out a party favor, we advise choosing something cheap, but useful or consumable. Martha’s go-to gift for autumn? Caramel apples. –> Recipe: Caramel Apples
via Simple Booth
Create the look and fun of an old school photo booth with an iPad, fun apps and a few props. Try mounting an iPad mounted with a photo booth app fed images directly to a printer.
Some apps also allow you to instantly upload and share your photo strips on Facebook and other social media platforms.
Props, such as masks and mustaches, can be downloaded online and printed at home. Just attach them to dowels or other long items. You can buy packages of props that are ready to go from many online outlets including Amazon. Etsy is a nice source for printables.
Here are a few apps to choose from:
- Incredibooth by Hipstamatic
- PocketBooth (also available for Android, iPhone, Nokia and Windows phones)
- InstaBooth
- SimpleBooth
Remember to relax and have fun. Make sure you’re having a good time at your autumn fête, and your guests will, too! 
Here’s to a chill in the air, falling leaves, and Autumn parties that delight the senses!
