This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Pepperdine chapter.
As a broke college student, I have been cleaning houses as a side job for about 3 years. It amazes me to see the things that people don’t clean regularly, or even at all. Dust and mold can be hazardous to your health; they can increase asthma attacks, slow your immune system, or even cause illness. It is important to keep a clean and dust-free environment, especially in the era of COVID-19.
Sheets/Bedding
- According to Sleepadvisor.org, you should be washing your sheets at LEAST once every two weeks. If a pet sleeps with you, you sweat when you sleep, or you suffer from acne, you should wash your sheets once a week. Sheets should be washed in hot water and dried on high heat to kill dust mites and bacteria. Blankets and comforters should be cleaned once a season. If your comforter doesn’t fit in your washing machine, consider bringing it to a laundromat with bigger washing machine drums.
Towels
- In reality, bath towels can be used up to three times before being washed. However, hand towels should be washed every other day, especially if they are being used to dry your face after washing. Wash towels in hot water and dry on high heat to kill mildew and bacteria.
Drapes
- Good Housekeeping recommends cleaning your drapes every 3 to 6 months. However, If you keep your windows open regularly and/or live in a dusty climate, consider cleaning drapes every 2 to 4 months.
Blinds and Windows
- Your window sills and blinds should be cleaned at least once a month. If you have horizontal blinds, a 50-50 solution of water and vinegar will work great and remove dust easily. The insides of your window sills can be cleaned, first with a hand vacuum to remove large pieces of dust or bugs, and then with an all-purpose cleaner.
Bath
- You should be cleaning your bathtub and shower at least once a week! Especially if you have a grouted shower, cleaning once a week can prevent the buildup of mold or mildew, something that is much harder to clean once it appears. You can buy a daily shower cleaner at your local Wal-Mart or Target, in addition to a general mold/mildew preventative bathroom cleaner.
Bathroom/Kitchen Sinks
- Kitchen and Bathroom sinks should be cleaned once a day. Kitchen sinks should be disinfected after every meal, especially if meat and vegetables were washed in the sink. Use a disinfectant or degreaser to get the job done.
Doors and Door Knobs
- Door knobs need to be cleaned at least once a week with a disinfectant. Also, sides of doors where you may grab to close or open them need to be cleaned just as often. If you have white doors, you will start to see handprints and dirt accumulating around the sides of the doors near the knob, simply use a magic eraser and disinfectant solution to clean those areas right up.
Light switches / Outlets
- Light switches need to be cleaned just as often as doorknobs, once a week. You will see dust begin to accumulate on the upper sill of the outlet/light switch covers. Clean those when you do your regular weekly dusting.
Baseboards
- Baseboards should be cleaned once a month. If you keep up with it, dust can be easily removed with a brush attachment on your vacuum. However, if you let it build up over time, you may need to take a cloth and multipurpose cleaning solution to it.
Ceiling Fans
- Ceiling fans should be cleaned at least once a month especially if they are used every day. Simply take a microfiber dust rag to them, or if you live in a humid climate, an all-purpose solution.