Don’t Let House Cleaning Scare You This Halloween
House cleaning is occasionally gross, and it’s usually not fun, but you don’t need to fear these fall chores.
Most people wipe their countertops and vacuum their floors, but a few forgotten areas might need special attention before you invite family over for the holidays. These dirty zones are lurking in your bathroom and hiding under the bed, but ignoring them doesn’t help.
We’ve made a list of all the dirty jobs that might need your attention before the end of the year.
Dirty Job #1: Dig into the Bathtub Drain
A slow-draining tub could be a symptom of hair clogging the drain. Gross!
Cleaning the soap scum and toothpaste residue from the sink is a breeze, and even washing the toilet bowl seems like a more appealing job than tackling whatever is just below the surface of your bathtub drain.
You might be thinking, “Sure, by the end of the shower I’m in ankle deep water, but I can just move on to a different chore, right?”
Wait just one minute. You forgot something.
If you or anyone in your home has any hair, where do you think that goes when you bathe and shower?
The types of tools you need for this task depends on the kind of drain you have in your bathroom. You may be able to get away with a pair of needle nose pliers and a drain snake.
Sometimes, the best approach is to grab a pair of rubber kitchen gloves and start digging. The pliers come in handy to catch the mess in one big chunk rather than having to clean off a drain snake.
This job is disgusting, there is no sugar coating it, but if you want your home to feel comfortable for all your seasonal guests, it’s a must-do chore.
Dirty Job #2: Clean the Entire Toilet
No one likes getting too close to the toilet, which is why toilet bowl cleaners come with a long handle.
However, you can’t forget to wash the base and behind the toilet. Dust, grime and other gross stains like to slip below the bowl and linger near the floor.
You’ll probably have to lean in close to reach all the dirt, but once you remove it, you can forget this chore for few months before you have to do it again.
Dirty Job #3: Scrubbing the Shower Grout
While you are at it, you might as well start scrubbing the walls to remove soap scum, mildew, and hard water stains.
Tackling this dirty job once a season will make the task less cumbersome and scary.
Plus, you can examine the grout for any cracks or mold. Knowing about pending issues now is better than finding out about them when they become real problems.
Dirty Job #4: Your Dishwasher is a Food Trap
The trusty dishwasher always has your back after a big meal. Instead of spending your precious time hand-washing all of your dishes, you load it up and let it do its job.
However, not everyone scrapes leftovers into the trash, and even fewer may even rinse their dishes before loading them.
Where do you think all of that food and grease goes after the machine goes to work?
Thankfully, there is a catch in the bottom or an actual filter that grabs food debris before it clogs up your lines. Even if you rinse off your dishes, there could still be the stray pasta noodle that gets caught up in the wash cycle.
It’s a good idea to dig the food catcher out and clean it off.
Warning: It will probably smell bad, and feel slimy.
Dirty Job #5: Look Under the Couch
Children are afraid to look under their beds, but adults are fearful of what might be hiding underneath the couch or in the cushions!
It’s normal, especially if you haven’t moved it in several months (or years).
Have you ever lost the TV remote under the couch? Of course, so why does reaching under there make you feel like a monster is going to pull you down by your hand?
All of the fuzz and dust seems to accumulate under the sofa, and most of the time we like to not think about it.
Move the couch and pick up bobby pins, hair ties and other larger objects that have slipped below the cushions.
Take a vacuum to the hair, dust, pieces of chips and other food crumbs that have fallen over time. Maybe you’ll strike it rich and find that $20 bill you lost!
See, no monsters under the couch. Now, do you dare to look under the bed? Maybe another day.
Dirty Job #6: Clean Your Gutters Even if You Have Guards
Take a step outside and breathe in the fresh fall air.
Now, get out the ladder, a hose, sprayer attachment and a garden trowel because today is the day you clean out the gutters.
If you don’t clean them out, water won’t be whisked away from your roof, which is especially important when you’re preparing for a snowy season.
Scrape out the leaves and gunk that has accumulated in the gutters, then spray them down with the hose.
You will be done before you know it, and then you can retreat inside.
Dirty Job #7: Don’t Forget Your Baseboards
No one looks forward to getting on his or her hands and knees to crawl around the house removing dust and dirt from his or her baseboards.
Your baseboards are the often forgotten part of the floor. It’s always something you go to clean another day, but that day never comes.
Now the reckoning has arrived, and guests will be here soon.
Vacuum the dust off, then take a rag and polish those baseboards to a shine. Depending on how big your home is, this could take you a while.
Of course, there is also the option to hire cleaning services to help take this load off your shoulders. 2 Green Chicks can give you an easy free quote for your house cleaning tasks.
We can visit once a week, or simply help you prepare for your next big party. Either way, we’ve got the tools and the expertise to give you a sparkling home.