How to Do Spring Cleaning during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Spring cleaning is a rite of passage as we transition from winter to the season of new beginnings. The COVID-19 pandemic has emphasized how to do spring cleaning to stay healthy and productive. Now is the time explore the ultimate guide on how to do spring cleaning during the COVID-19 pandemic.

How to do spring cleaning during the COVID-19 pandemic 
Spring cleaning provides the perfect outlet to release anxiety and take action to improve our health. The silver lining in being stuck indoors for weeks at a time is being able to spread the time needed to do a deep clean over a few days instead of cramming it into one day or weekend.

Make a list of all the chores you haven’t had time to do and give them a designated day:

Monday can be for the outdoors.
Tuesday deep clean the kitchen.
Wednesday scrub the bathroom.
Thursday tidy the living room.

Your other family members are in the unique position of being able to help. No chore should get too overwhelming. You can give kids chores to do and reward them with their favorite movie after their list is completed.

Understand the difference between cleaning and disinfecting when spring cleaning
The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that soap is our best ally in the fight for our health. Disinfecting surfaces is not the same as cleaning. To remove germs, you must clean with soap and water.

It isn’t enough to wipe down surfaces with bleach or other harsh chemicals. If you are diligent about washing your hands, you should also be the same way about keeping your home clean. Choose EPA-approved chemicals to kill germs.

Lysol
Clorox
Purell

Start with the high-traffic areas
We are all keenly aware of our environment and what we bring into it. Pathogens can live on surfaces for several hours or longer. The best strategy is to clean surfaces that everyone in your house touches on a daily basis.

While many of us are now rushing to wash our hands and leave our shoes outside, there are still a lot of things that have been touched on the way to the bathroom or kitchen. Everyone touches doorknobs, so clean the surface first with vinegar or soapy water. Once dry, spray disinfectant and wipe off.

Make sure any rags you use are washed in the hottest water possible.

Clean your phones
We know not to touch our faces, but what about the things that touch our faces? Clean your phones, but keep in mind these devices cannot handle moisture. A quick once-over with a Clorox Wipe every day for the next few weeks should be enough to keep your phone disinfected.

You can also take this time to explore all the apps you have on your phone that can help you stay healthy during this time.

Disinfect household items

Have a special box for keys and other items you carry around throughout the day. Spray them down upon returning to the house. Also, clean and disinfect every countertop and handle in the kitchen and bathroom every day.

Clear out your outdoor spaces
Start with the outdoors if you are having a touch of cabin fever.

1. Set aside any outdoor furniture, then sweep your balcony or patio.
2. Let the kids soap up exterior windows and rinse them off with the hose.
3. Clear gutters of debris and trim any branches that have the potential to become a nuisance.
4. Take special care with washing outdoor mats by using bleach.

Get all the neglected spots in the kitchen
Focus on the most neglected spots in your kitchen, including under appliances, any shelves, the oven and the faucet. If there are dishes in the sink, wash them and put them on the rack to dry. Clear off the counters and the shelves.

You can put a blanket on the dining room table to avoid a mess.

1. Start at the top by dusting all the corners in the space. If you can, vacuum the top shelves.
2. Use soapy water to clean the shelves and then disinfect.
3. Once dry, put everything back to avoid visual clutter.
4. Wash and disinfect the top of the refrigerator.
5. Clean cabinets inside and out with soapy water.
6. Let them dry before you disinfect.
7. As you wait for those surfaces to dry, clean between the counter top and the oven using a ruler or a butter knife.
8. Open the oven and scrape anything that has fallen to the bottom.
9. In a bowl, combine one cup each of baking soda and water.
10. Once the mixture has turned into a paste, spread it over the bottom of the oven and let it sit for two hours.
11. Once it looks dry, wipe down with a wet cloth.
12. While the paste is doing the heavy lifting for you, move on to the faucet.
13. Pour a cup of vinegar into a plastic bag and tie it to the faucet.
14. Allow it to soak for 20 minutes.
15. Scrub the grime away with an old toothbrush.

As a finishing touch, clean and disinfect the baseboards and bottoms of cabinets.

Be strategic about the bathroom
The bathroom carries many of the germs found indoors.

1. Kick start your deep spring clean by spraying the toilet bowl and shower with a powerful cleaner.
2. Allow the cleaner to soak in as you work on the rest of the bathroom.
3. Strategically work from top to bottom by dusting the walls and light fixtures.
4. Once done, focus on the shower head by soaking it in vinegar for 20 minutes and scrubbing with an old toothbrush to get out any grime.
5. Mix a cup each of vinegar and dish soap to clean shower walls and glass.
6. Rinse by turning on the shower and wiping the walls down.
7. Wipe down mirrors with newspapers to avoid streaks.
8. If you really want a deeper clean, wrap a cleaning wipe around a screwdriver and stick it in all those hard to reach crevices.
9. Before washing and disinfecting the floors, scrub the toilet with plenty of elbow grease.

Pay attention to the living room
Besides the kitchen, the living room is the gathering space in a home. It needs quite a bit of attention, especially now that you have time to do spring cleaning.

To reduce the time needed to vacuum every day, ask everyone in your house to take their shoes off before entering the house. You can place a shoe tray in the entryway if there are any concerns about bugs or debris. This will cut down on germs entering the house and settling in the living room.

Steps:
1. Do a quick pick up of toys and books.
2. Next, vacuum the floor, behind the couch and underneath all the couch cushions.
3. Wash and disinfect any tables or shelves.

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