Sand from the beach, glitter from camp, that weird stain that appeared during the barbeque that no one would fess up to: The long summer days can cover every inch of your home with dirt and grime. Put the back-to-school shopping list down and take a good look around: It’s time to refresh your home!
Don’t get overwhelmed by the daily to-do lists. If you want to give your family a clean slate for the new school year, you’ve come to the right place. This simple, deep-clean checklist from Aladdin will prepare you for a new routine without feeling like homework.
Step 1: Toss What You Don’t Need
The universal truth of having kids is that they grow out of everything, from their shoes to their favorite toys. The best way to start a deep clean is to purge the items your family no longer needs. An excellent end-of-summer project for the whole family is a classic game of keep, donate or trash. Tackle everything from the closets to the boxes in the attic.
When you have gently used clothes, toys, books and furniture, you can donate them to organizations like the Salvation Army or Goodwill, sell them online, hold a yard sale or give them to friends in need. When you have items with missing pieces, busted straps and worn holes, it’s time to send them to the curb. Look up your neighborhood’s large trash day or hazardous waste clean-up to get rid of items safely.
Step 2: Get Organized
Now that you’ve removed the unnecessary clutter, you can get organized for the year ahead. Take stock of the notebook paper, crayons and other school supplies you already have on hand, and evaluate what will work for the school year ahead.
Beyond what you’re asked to bring to the classroom, you need to create an environment for success at home. Get a calendar to help track school events, sports practices and chores. Look for a calendar that can be reusable, color-coded and fits easily in a place where your family spends a lot of time. Tech-savvy families should consider digital wall-mounted calendars.
If you don’t have a designated spot for backpacks and lunchboxes, create one before the year ahead and put your new supplies there so they’re ready to walk out the door on Day One.
Step 3: Build Your Germ Defense
Every school year comes with germs and viruses passed around the classroom. The best way to prepare for the latest trend in childhood sickness is to disinfect all of the high-touch areas in your home. Go beyond the surface-level dirt removal on countertops, doorknobs, remotes and light switches with a quality sanitizer.
Step 4: Deep Clean Appliances
A new school year is the perfect time to deep clean washing machines, dishwashers and refrigerators. These large appliances work hard for your family all year round! Remember to wash out filters, wipe down inside and outside the machines and run a cycle with white vinegar in washing machines and dishwashers.
Go through all of the food in your fridge and remove everything that survived past its expiration date. Wipe down shelves and clean out any built-up messes — don’t forget the bottom drawers and the freezer! If your appliance is stainless steel, you can use Bartender’s Friend to revive the shine.
Step 5: Deep Clean Floors
If your family suffers from allergies, check your carpets and rugs. These traps for dust mites, pet dander and pollen need a deeper cleaning than just a quick vacuum. A steam cleaning after vacuuming can flush out contaminants that would otherwise stick around. Treating carpets with fabric protection can guard against spills and future wear and tear.
Taking a broom and mop to the hardwood floors is great for regular cleaning, but a buffer can remove built-up residue. Add doormats and mudrooms to keep dirt as close to the door and away from your floors.
Bring in the Pros for the Deepest Clean
Even when you take a slow top-to-bottom approach to a deep clean it can be easy to burn out, and you have an entire school year ahead of you. When you come across a daunting task or run out of time, there’s no shame in calling a professional team to make cleaning easier.
At Aladdin Cleaning & Restoration, we provide residential services for floors, upholstery, natural stone and more for homeowners who need a helping hand. We’ve been here to help residents in and around San Antonio with home cleaning and restoration for over 50 years.
Find a deep cleaning deal that fits your home needs on our specials page.