Now that we’re transitioning into the winter season, it’s time to make your apartment clean and cozy. You’ll enjoy maximum comfort indoors as those winter winds howl outdoors.
That well-known phrase “spring cleaning” has a certain ring to it. However, this doesn’t mean fall cleaning is less important. For ideal results, give your apartment a deep clean in both the spring and the fall. Deep clean your apartment now, and your next spring cleaning will be a little less daunting.
What distinguishes a deep clean from more routine cleaning around your apartment? It addresses needs requiring a bit more effort, such as leaning grout, vacuuming refrigerator coils, and vacuuming the underside of furniture. The extra effort is worth it because dust, dirt, and grime are more of an issue in the winter. As indoor humidity drops, nasal passages dry out. This makes people more susceptible to allergens.
Here is a complete list of cleaning tips to help you get your apartment looking as fresh as the day you moved in.
Helpful Tools for Fall Apartment Cleaning
It’s time to get out those special vacuum attachments so you can get to those out-of-the-way places, such as under beds, sofas, and the refrigerator.
A handheld steam cleaner is also handy for deep cleaning throughout the home. Don’t have one? House and Tech has compiled a “top five” list of handheld steam cleaners for you to consider. The temperature of the steam helps to neutralize germs and allergens and steam cleaning reduces your reliance on commercial cleaning compounds.
Living areas
Wash, steam clean, or dry clean your drapes and curtains. Clean the blinds. Vacuum upholstered furniture and don’t forget to flip the furniture and vacuum the underside. Consider these tips from Good Housekeeping as you clean and condition leather furniture. Remember, leather is more subject to drying and even cracking when humidity levels drop in the winter.
Dust inevitably accumulates on any horizontal surface. This includes places that are easy to forget, like the tops of doors, trim, and picture frames. Remember those bookshelves as well. You will also want to thoroughly clean any artificial plants.
Clean those ceiling fan blades. Here’s a hack that will keep any dust where it belongs: put an old pillowcase onto the blade, then tighten it around the blade as you pull it off. While you’re there, flip the switch that reverses the blade direction. In the winter, you want those blades driving the warm air downward.
Bathroom
In the bathroom, turn your attention to the grout, shower curtain, wastebasket, and toilet brush holder. Tile grout gets unsightly as dirt and grime accumulate. One solution is to apply a paste made out of one part hydrogen peroxide and two parts baking soda. Use an old toothbrush to complete the job.
Mild detergent and bleach ensure a shower curtain free of mold and mildew. If your shower curtain is machine washable, consider these shower curtain cleaning tips to wash it the right way. Clean your showerhead by immersing it in white vinegar in a plastic bag. Use a twist tie or rubber band to keep the bag in place for a few hours. Hair and soap scum inevitably clog drains, but you can keep the water running freely with tips from Bob Vila. Clean your toilet brush holder with a 50/50 mix of water and vinegar or one part bleach and six parts water.
Bedrooms
Vacuum and spot clean the mattresses and use a crevice tool to carefully vacuum the seams. Remember to flip the mattress, if appropriate. Consider these mattress cleaning tips from Consumer Reports. Wash all bedding, including mattress covers, bed skirts, blankets, quilts, and comforters. Wash the pillows to kill germs and eliminate dust mites.
When you put your bed back together, consider switching to warm flannel sheets. Summer bedding is out and winter bedding is in. Clean your summer bedding before tucking it away.
Kitchen
Clean your kitchen appliances inside and out. This includes the oven, microwave, refrigerator, and dishwasher. Briefly unplug your refrigerator, then vacuum and wipe down the condenser coils.
To clean the microwave, put chunks of lemon and several cups of water into a microwave-safe bowl. Heat for several minutes. Leave the door closed for a few minutes more. The steam will soften grease and grime. Wipe down the inside surfaces using an all-purpose cleaner if necessary.
That carbonized grease inside your oven presents a challenge. Cleaning your oven with baking soda and vinegar is a safer alternative. Apply a baking soda paste on stubborn accumulations, and let it sit overnight. If you do use a commercial oven cleaner, open the windows to ensure thorough ventilation.
Before you leave the kitchen, degrease and deodorize the kitchen drain. Use an enzyme-based cleaner on greasy surfaces, such as the overhead stove exhaust.
There are various kinds of stone countertops, including granite, marble, quartz, concrete, limestone, and soapstone. Although care methods vary depending on the surface of your stone countertops, avoid acidic cleaners that might etch the surface.
Home office
You may have computers and other electronic devices in your work-from-home space. Include your remotes, keyboards, and screens in your fall cleaning. You may have noticed that static electricity draws dust to TV and computer screens. TechRadar suggests a 75-percent isopropyl alcohol solution to keep your screens clean and free of dust.
Patios, Decks, and Balconies
Begin by washing the outside of windows you can safely reach. Wipe down any door and window frames. Avoid high PSI pressure washing because it can gouge decking or leave overlap marks. Instead, consider soft washing combined with the right cleaners, which still delivers good results without risking damage to your deck or balcony.
Mold, mildew, and algae are often uninvited guests on your patio, deck, or balcony. Combine equal parts vinegar and warm water in a spray bottle to spot clean your outdoor surfaces. Remove stubborn green algae from concrete with a solution of ¾ cup chlorine bleach per gallon of water. Take care to not mix vinegar and bleach while cleaning, as it can create dangerous chlorine gas.
About Draper and Kramer
Draper and Kramer is a family-owned real estate company based in Chicago. To browse the complete selection of Draper and Kramer’s luxury properties, or to read more tips on how to keep your apartment clean and tidy, visit the Draper and Kramer.
