One thing to do each month this year to increase the overall cleanliness of your home and carpets
It’s difficult to change habits, that’s why most New Year’s “resolutions” don’t make it past January.
We frequently talk to our team about setting achievable goals and setting time based milestones and the list below is designed to help you do the same! If you can manage just one thing each month – by the end of the year, your house will be 12 times cleaner!
January: Change Your HVAC Air Filters
Set a schedule to change your air filters on your HVAC every 4 to 6 weeks. It takes five minutes and keeps your system working more efficiently. Those filters capture dust, pollen, pet dander (skin!), mold, and bacteria.
This reduces your overall energy costs, exposure to allergens, and keeps your air cleaner. It also helps reduce debris floating in the air, preventing it from then settling on your carpeting. The reduction in your energy bill, longer life on the unit, and more even heating and cooling is a great added benefit, but our personal favorite is that it also reduces odors because of what it traps.
February: Switch to an Eco-Friendly Laundry Detergent
Swap out your current laundry detergent with one that is eco-friendly. Check out a full article of suggestions on better products for your home here.
I actually keep a few different detergents on hand because my husband’s workout gear does not get clean enough with my regular eco detergent. I keep something a little more robust on hand for those items. Clothing that gets normal wear and tear goes into a lighter wash with the normal eco detergent. This also helps the clothing to last A LOT longer.
March: Clean Your Stove Exhaust Fan Filters
Clean the intakes on your stovetop exhaust fan. These little buggers get built up with oil and grease. It makes them louder and makes them work a lot less effectively because air can’t get through all that grease and oil.
Most exhaust filters are designed to go in your dishwasher so if you set a schedule to do this monthly, you will find that your carpets get a lot less dirty. Using your exhaust fan every time you cook is really important for clean carpets. If grease isn’t allowed to dissipate into the air, drift through your house, and settle into your carpets, they stay cleaner A LOT longer.
Turn it on a few minutes before you start cooking (if you can remember) so that it starts the air drafting in the right direction.
April: Clean or Replace Your Vacuum Filter
When’s the last time you changed the filter on your vacuum cleaner or cleaned those little parts that prevent debris from getting sucked inside the working parts?
This task made the list because your writer is guilty of complete ignorance here. Wondering why your vacuuming has lost suction? I did. My fancy Miele vacuum cleaner wasn’t doing its job very well. Apparently you’re supposed to change them every six months or so.
A vacuum cleaner performs 1000 times better when it is clean and has a new filter. Not doing a good job vacuuming shortens the life of your carpet, increases the frequency which you need to professionally clean it, and allows a lot of allergens to live in your carpet fibers. Check out the proper way to vacuum here.
May: Vacuum Under Furniture and Hidden Areas
In the spirit of spring cleaning, May is a good time to vacuum underneath all of your furniture to remove the dust that has blown under and settled there.
We do not deep clean under furniture because there is no foot traffic grinding dust into the carpet fibers. A thorough vacuuming once a year is enough to keep that carpet in great shape. Spring cleaning is also a great time to get missed spots in corners, under furniture, and inside closets. A side effect of this is disturbing any moths that might be harboring there.
June: Use Walk-Off Mats and Area Rugs
June is for walk-off mats or rugs. High-traffic areas such as hallways, garages, bathrooms, kitchens, and transitions from hardwood to carpet take a beating.
ISSA and CRI say you need 12–15 feet of matting to remove 80–90% of tracked-in soil. Providing a rug inside the first 12–15 feet of your main entrance makes a world of difference in carpet cleanliness and helps prevent premature wear and staining.
July: Wash Bedding and Treat Allergens
Summer months are ripe with allergies, making this a great time to wash pillow protectors, mattress covers, mattress pads, spare pillows, and window linens.
Our allergy treatment is a great addition to this monthly task as when you pull off all your covers you can also clean and treat your mattress and other soft surfaces.
We highly recommend a fully encasing mattress protector with water resistance. A few inexpensive steps can prevent the loss of a very expensive mattress due to accidents or spills.
August: Clean Your Dryer Vents
This month is SUPER easy. Clean dryer vents help keep dust out of your home and reduce lint buildup in clothing and throughout the house.
If your dryer is venting back into your house due to a clog, so is all the lint it carries. You can clean dryer vents yourself or have your carpet cleaner do it for about the same price. Check out our service here.
September: Clean and Condition Leather
Colder months are approaching which also means dryer air as our heating kicks into gear. This introduces a bunch of issues (break out the humidifers,) but one you probably never think about is your leather furniture. Don’t have any in your home, what about your car? Jackets? Leather needs regular cleaning and conditioning,
so it is a good idea to do this ahead of the dry air of winter to protect it from a loss of moisture that can ruin it in the long term. Be careful of what you use to clean your leather (see here) or call us in to do it for you.
October: Deep Clean Area Rugs
Area Rugs are a critical component to making a home feel warm and inviting. They are also commonly the most neglected item in your housecleaning. In October we recommend washing summer and fall out of your rugs in prep for the colder weather headed our way.
There are a few ways to do this, but Mother Nature’s Cleaning does offer a fantastic special in November to make this more affordable. If you can’t get all of your rugs cleaned at once, pick one and add a pad. Rug Pads help to keep the rugs cleaner and last longer – Click to read more. If you are more of a DIYer than click here.
November: Apply Carpet and Upholstery Protector
Protector is a quick and simple way to get the most return on your effort. Applying protector after your annual cleaning prevents stains from setting, makes vacuuming easier, and protects carpet fibers from wear.
After winter festivities, cleanup becomes SO much easier.
December: Catch Up and Reset
December is all about forgiveness for resolutions unfulfilled. Use this month to catch up on any tasks you missed during the year.
Bonus for Overachievers: Seal Tile and Grout
If you have successfully completed all of the cleaning you possibly could, I have a surprise for you — seal your tile and/or grout! This is my least favorite task, and one I am loath to do in my own home, instead paying the price week after week. Rather than scrubbing your shower walls and bathroom floors with bleach (which can cause irreversible damage to your grout), simply thoroughly clean, apply sealer, and a quick mop is all you need. Don’t want to bother? No problem — you can always call us!
Final Thoughts
There you have it… a full year of extra cleaning that will make a HUGE difference in how your house looks, smells, and how long things last.
Don’t believe me? Don’t do it!
Happy Cleaning!!!
