Tips for year-end cleaning

We have less than a month left in 2024!

Today I’m hoping to spend the end of this year relaxing…

Just! Speaking of the end of the year, there is one last thing left to do: cleaning!

When we think of year-end cleaning, there are many places to look after, such as the bathroom, kitchen, toilet, and balcony, and we have an image of the enormous amount of time and effort that is required.

The end of the year is even busier than usual. We want to do a thorough cleaning to welcome the New Year with a good feeling , but we also want to do it as efficiently as possible.

The biggest key to a successful cleanup is “advance preparation.

If you decide to do a major cleanup, first make a schedule.

If you are thinking, “I will proceed with a steady cleaning on weekdays and hope to finish it over the course of a month,” we recommend that you decide where to clean on a weekly basis, such as “I will thoroughly clean the bathroom during this week.

For those who say, “I’m busy during the week, so I’d like to proceed with cleaning in batches on weekends,” aim to spend two to three hours a day cleaning one area.

It is also a good idea to create a cleaning checklist. By deciding in advance “who will clean where,” it will be easier to get the necessary cleaning supplies and save you from having to go shopping in the middle of the cleaning process.

Three tips for efficient cleaning

Dispose of unneeded items ahead of time.

Before you start cleaning in earnest, first get rid of unnecessary items by decluttering. Simply throwing away unneeded items will create more space in the room and make it easier to clean.

It is essential to dispose of unneeded items before cleaning, because if they are discarded after cleaning, dust and dirt will contaminate the areas that have been cleaned by the cleaning process.

Disposing of unwanted items that you have trouble with after decluttering can be handled efficiently and hassle-free if left to the businesses. Some will even buy back items in good condition from unwanted items, so you can kill two birds with one stone.

Clean in an efficient order.

The order of cleaning areas is also important to make the cleaning process easy and efficient.

Basically, it is recommended that the water area be cleaned first, which splatters with dirt and requires more time to be left on.

1 kitchen (gas stove, exhaust fan, sink, microwave, refrigerator, cupboards)

2Bathroom (bath)

3 Toilets

4Washroom and washing machine

5Living room, bedroom, each room

6 Entrance

7 balcony

Prepare cleaning detergents and tools

The last point is to have the necessary cleaning tools for a major cleaning project.

It is recommended to have a lineup of detergents that can be widely used in various locations, so there is no need to prepare a dedicated detergent for each location.

Useful cleaning products for general cleaning

Detergent that is convenient to have.

• sodium bicarbonate
• sodium sesqui carbonate
• citric acid
• Oxygen bleach (powder type)

A useful tool to have.

• Spray Bottle
• dust cloth
• rubber gloves
• paper towel
• Food Wrapping Film

Detergents neutralize stains of opposite nature.
For example, “citric acid for alkaline stains” and “baking soda or oxygen bleach for acidic stains,” etc. Understand the properties of stains and detergents, and use different detergents effectively.

There are always traps that come with cleaning up, such as, “I’m halfway through the cleanup,” or “It’s taking significantly longer than planned.”

At the end of the year, we tend to be busy with many things to do besides cleaning. Here are three points to be aware of in order to finish the cleaning in a pleasant manner.

Three key points for a successful cleanup

• Set a time to work on it.

Sometimes I get so immersed in cleaning that I lose track of time when I focus on cleaning.

However, if you spend too much time on each area, you may end up entering the New Year without finishing the cleaning. The important thing is to “set a time to work on it,” and “when the set time arrives, proceed with the next cleaning, even if it is not perfect.

• Make the most of detergent soaking time

There are many situations in general cleaning where a detergent dip is effective.

When scheduling your cleaning, take this soaking time into account so you do not waste soaking time.

• Clean from “top to bottom” and “back to front”.

When cleaning, be aware of top to bottom and back to front.If dust and dirt fall on a place that has just been cleaned, it will be a double effort.

It is recommended that dust from the ceiling and walls be wiped off high and deep to prevent dust from falling during cleaning and contaminating areas that have just been cleaned.

Year-end cleaning is a chance to thoroughly clean areas that are usually overlooked during normal cleaning. However, if you start without preparation, you may end up not being able to clean the places you wanted to clean.

When conducting a major cleaning, make a schedule before the cleaning and divide the roles among family members. It is also important to know in advance how to clean each cleaning area. Let’s clean every corner during the year-end cleaning and welcome the New Year with a clean house.