Cleaning and preparing your home for winter
Preparing an apartment before the onset of winter differs from regular cleaning and includes several important steps. It is necessary to pay attention to insulation, repair and cleaning of hard-to-reach places. Why not limit yourself to regular dusting and mopping? The answer is simple: on warm summer days, when everyone is trying to ventilate the apartment, dust, insect larvae and other contaminants can get inside along with fresh air. This can have a negative impact on health, especially when the room is poorly ventilated during the cold season.
Step one — insulating the apartment:
Warming before winter is an important step. Insufficiently sealed windows and doors can allow dust and soot to enter from outside, making cleaning useless. Important places where heat leakage can occur include:
- Window frames and entrance doors. Sometimes they think that the front door does not play a big role in retaining heat, and they choose the cheapest options. But even small cracks in windows and doors can cause drafts and lead to constant colds. In addition, along with dust from the street, harmful microbes can enter the house through these cracks.
- Communications. Ventilation openings are often large sources of drafts and harmful substances entering from neighboring apartments. It is important to install special gaskets to prevent this problem. It is also necessary to seal the holes used for air conditioners, Internet cables and antennas.
Step two – finishing the repair
High-quality cleaning before winter is impossible if the apartment has unfinished work, such as unfinished wallpaper or unfinished decorative elements. An apartment that requires serious repairs must be treated by specialists. For small tasks, you can complete them yourself.
Sometimes, to insulate an apartment before winter, more serious repairs are required, such as insulating walls, ceilings or floors. If you have enough time, it is best to seek help from professionals.
Step three — washing and disinfecting hard-to-reach places
Weekly cleaning does not always allow you to achieve complete cleanliness in the apartment, since many bacteria hide in hard-to-reach places. When preparing for winter, you should pay attention to the following aspects:
- Wash and disinfect in hard-to-reach places where dirt and bacteria accumulate.
- Pay special attention to cleaning in corners and under furniture, where dust and germs can actively multiply.
Thus, preparing an apartment before winter includes several stages, including insulation, completion of repairs and thorough cleaning of hard-to-reach places. These measures will help create a comfortable and healthy home for the cold season.
Drain pipes in the bathroom and kitchen are an attractive place for the proliferation of bacteria and microorganisms due to the presence of epithelial residues, fat and food, which create an ideal environment for pathogenic flora. Although we do not interact with these creatures directly, bacteria can spread across the surface of the shell and enter the human respiratory tract. It is recommended to carry out regular cleaning of drain pipes.
It is recommended to clean your pipes at least once a month to prevent the build-up of bacteria and microorganisms. However, it is not always possible to adhere to this schedule, so it is good practice to carry out such treatment when preparing an apartment for winter or summer.
Ventilation grilles in the bathroom, toilet and kitchen are places where bacteria accumulate due to high humidity and temperature. Regular cleaning of these grates is important to prevent bacterial growth.
Preparing for winter includes not only cleaning, but also treating various household appliances and appliances to keep them in good condition and safe to use.
Cleaning the dirt under and behind the refrigerator is a task that requires deep cleaning. If you don’t have a helper, you can contact a professional cleaning company. In addition, after the summer season, the refrigerator also needs to be washed, and the walls and floor around it must be thoroughly cleaned.
Wiping dust off the outside of your air conditioner is an important task, but cleaning and priming the equipment itself is just as important. It is better to entrust disassembling the air conditioner to specialists, as this requires certain skills and knowledge.
Step four — dismantling cabinets and mezzanines
General cleaning of closets and mezzanines can help reduce the number of allergies and colds. Two basic principles that should guide you when putting things in order:
- Set a time frame: If an item hasn’t been used for a year, it may no longer be needed. During this time, dust and microorganisms may have accumulated on it, which can affect health and cause odors. Determine a certain period (for example, a year), and if the item has not been used, decide whether to store it, sell it, or throw it away.
- Washing leftover items: Some items may have emotional value to you and be associated with certain events. In such cases, if you do not want to give them up, it is recommended to wash such items, as they can be sources of moths and allergies.
Step five – cleaning the apartment with special products:
The last stage of preparing for winter is carrying out general cleaning of the apartment. Important steps include:
- Window cleaning: During the summer, windows could become dusty and leaky. Clean windows will help you enjoy sunny days during winter when there is less light.
- Radiator flushing: Efficient heating operation is important for comfortable living in the winter. Flushing radiators helps improve their efficiency. For this task, you can use special sponge brushes that allow you to reach hard-to-reach places in radiators.
- Anti-mite treatment: Dust mites can cause allergic reactions and other diseases. Treating the entire apartment with a special product can help reduce the risk of their occurrence.
Cleaning your apartment before winter can take several days, but professional cleaners can complete this task quickly and efficiently. This will free up your time to relax and enjoy the autumn nature.