Spring Cleaning During Quarantine
While everyone is stuck inside right now, cleaning can be a productive way to spend time. It can also help to make more space in your apartment for things like at-home workouts or just more space to relax and enjoy. Here are a few tips to keeping your home clean:
Make a to-do list.
Cleaning your whole apartment in one day can be overwhelming. Make a list of all the work you want to get done by the end of the stay-at-home order and do a little bit each day. This way, you won’t get overwhelmed and you’ll still have time everyday to relax and de-stress during this time when many people’s anxiety levels are very high. There also might be some tasks that aren’t practical to work on during the stay-at-home order. Many donation centers like Goodwill and Salvation Army are closed during this time so getting rid of items might be tougher than usual.
Create a cleaning schedule.
Right now, it can be tough to want to get everyday tasks done, especially since you won’t be having many guests over to see your apartment any time soon. It ``helps to have a schedule. Focus on tidying one room a day each week. Here is an example:
Monday: Clean Bathrooms
Tuesday: Straighten the Living room
Wednesday: Focus on the kitchen
Thursday: Clean hallways and any other living areas.
Friday: Tidy up bedrooms before relaxing for the weekend.
Take before and after photos
Cleaning and organizing a room can be a lot of work that might go unnoticed if you live alone and don’t have any guests right now. Take before and after photos to show off your work and to motivate you to keep up that hard work.
Make DIY cleaning products
If you didn’t get enough cleaning supplies before the stay-at-home order, don’t fret. There are many alternatives to normal cleaning products that you might already have in your apartment. Mix 1 cup of rubbing alcohol with 1 cup of water for an easy disinfectant. Mix equal parts vinegar and dish soap to create a great glass cleaner for window washing. It removes dirt and grease, kills odors and doesn’t leave streaks.
Use the 1-minute rule
If there’s any tasks that you can complete in under a minute (i.e. putting dirty dishes in the dishwasher instead of the sink) don’t delay! The more small tasks you try to put off, the faster your home becomes dirty and cluttered. If you can do a few small tasks a day, it will save you time in the long run.
