If you’ve watched viral home cleaning videos online and feel the need to upgrade your weekly routine, you’re not alone. Many people seem to turn their homes upside down for a thorough clean. However, not all cleaning tasks need to be done frequently. Experts share tasks that can be postponed if you’re short on energy.
Meet the Expert
Kaylie Hill is a Scotch-Brite ambassador and cleaning influencer.
Claudia Meneses is the founder and CEO of Avanti Green Eco Cleaning.
Cleaning the Couch
Your couch gets a lot of use daily, but deep cleaning it isn’t necessary all the time. If you eat meals or snack on the couch frequently, vacuum the cushions weekly. Otherwise, clean it once a month and also clean underneath. Vacuuming under the couch can be an eye-opener as people are often surprised by the dust, food, and toys found there.
Deep Cleaning Your Fridge and Pantry
Regularly check your fridge and cabinets for expired or smelly items. During a deep clean, remove everything and evaluate what to keep. Remove each shelf from the fridge and wash them individually. Wipe down the inside with a sponge and return everything. Then address canned goods, tossing expired ones or donating unused items. Use a sponge to wipe down the pantry too after removing all food and drying the shelves with a microfiber cloth.
Cleaning Your Trash Cans
When was the last time you cleaned your trash cans? Weekly cleaning isn’t necessary. Do it during your monthly deep clean. After taking out the trash, fill each can with warm water and let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes. Then scrub with a dish wand. Dump out the water and dry with paper towels or a microfiber cloth.
High Dusting Areas
Meneses states that ceiling fans, blinds, and air conditioning vents are areas you don’t need to worry about on a weekly basis. ‘When you’re doing your weekly cleanings, you are really trying to tidy things up and get yourself ready for the next week,’ she says. Waiting to tackle these areas seasonally or monthly is acceptable. Meneses adds that when it is time, be sure to clean off your air conditioning vents where the filters are located. ‘Those areas can get dirty and a lot of people may not notice it until it gets pretty bad,’ she says.
Baseboards
Experts agree that baseboards don’t need to be cleaned every week. You can hold off and give them a good cleaning just once a month. ‘They can be hard to reach, especially behind furniture,’ Meneses says.
