It is funny how a new addition to your home or even a long-term guest can wreak havoc on your ability to maintain a Zen-like atmosphere. When you welcome a new baby or pet to your home, prepare to have extra cleaning jobs to contend with. Anticipating this ahead of time can drastically reduce your stress.
Clean floors
Prior to your new addition, cleaning the floors once a week may have been just fine. Now there is pet fur to contend with and little people taking over. Keeping the floors clear of debris and potential choking hazards is important to keep everyone safe. Puppies love to chew and toddlers crave discovery. Do a visual check of your floors throughout the day. If you have a cat who uses the litter box, be sure to keep bacteria in mind.
Indoor-only cats often track litter throughout the house. This can end up on your couch and in your bed. Some brands of litter are notorious for caking due to their clay consistency and can become trapped in their paws. This can inadvertently transfer dangerous pathogens throughout your home. Try experimenting with different kinds of litter if this is an issue. Some products are made with larger granules and will not become trapped within your pet’s toes as easily.
Hidden mold in your fridge
Some food safety recommendations state that food should be wrapped and off of the stove top or counter and into the fridge a half an hour after being prepared. Ideally, leftovers should be consumed within 48 hours and thrown away after four days max, depending on the ingredients. It doesn’t take long for mold spores to spread from a soft piece of fruit into the rest of your fridge. Another hidden culprit is the water base on refrigerators that have an ice and water component. Lift the tiny slat out of the drip catcher underneath the water button.
Check expiration dates
It can be easy to let condiments go as we often use them sparingly. Check your labels prior to your next dinner party or BBQ. Visually inspect your spreads and salad dressings to ensure they are still healthy to consume. Watch the labels on your canned pet food as well since these do not last nearly as long as dried foods.
Closet chaos
Pets and kids have an uncanny ability to transform your previously tidy closet space into a nightmarish place. Sometimes the cat decides that the perfect place to sleep is on top of your spare blankets in the closet. If this is your pet’s routine, be sure to let everyone else know such as babysitters, house cleaners, etc., so they don’t accidentally shut your furry friend in.
Teaching kids to clean up after themselves can be a great addition to any cleaning program. However, if “stash and dash” is their idea of tidying up, you may be in for a rude awakening the next time you reach behind the bath towels. Consider labelling some bins or recovering some boxes to add extra storage for specific items. Print labels or cut out catalog pictures to help everyone keep the bins sorted.
Pet hair removal
Even if you don’t suffer from allergies, pet hair can make anyone sneeze on occasion. Having a cuddly animal is priceless, however, you don’t want to be wearing their hair on your clothes. Simply wet the palms of your hands with water and rub them lightly over your pants, bedspread, couch, etc. The water will help you roll the pet hair away easily and quickly. You can try using sticky rollers or packing tape for trickier areas although this may lead to a lot of disposable garbage. Try the water trick first and you will probably be good to go with just that. Have a shallow bowl of water on hand to save you from making numerous trips to the sink and creating a dripping trail in the process.
Hire a reputable cleaning service
Sometimes cleaning can be overwhelming. It is okay to treat yourself and start fresh. Hiring a professional team such as Maddie Maids will give you a head start. Many people indulge in extra help during spring and fall cleaning while others prefer weekly maintenance. Determine what your needs are and call us to set up a customized cleaning plan. We look forward to hearing from you.