Ever finally clean out that closet or dresser and find yourself beaming with a sense of accomplishment? That’s because the simple act of cleaning can actually make you happier, and since you become more organized after you’ve cleaned, it can remove some stress from your life, too!
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Here are some useful tips to get you started on the path to a cleaner, happier existence.
Bathe That Bathroom
Your bathroom is full of areas you’ll feel a lot better about once you’ve cleaned them. Start with your medicine cabinet. Check all the expiration dates and ditch everything that’s no good, but don’t just dump old meds into the garbage. Turn in unused prescription drugs to a local pharmacy that accepts them, taking the time to remove your information from the labels. For over the counter stuff, mix it into a bag with cat litter or coffee grounds.
Wipe down the cabinet shelves and walls and organize in a way that makes your day and night routines easier. For example, put all the vitamins or medicines you take in the morning together on the bottom shelf, and the least-used items on the top one.
Once you’ve done the cabinet, quickly wipe your sink, mirrors and any other shelves. Clean your toothbrushes, too. Either rinse each one in hot water with a little peroxide and let air dry or run through a cycle in your dishwasher on the top rack. You can take your hairbrushes right into the shower with you for fast cleaning. Just add a few drops of shampoo to the bristles, rinse off and let air dry face down overnight.
Kick Up The Kitchen A Notch
Make fridge cleaning hassle-free by bringing your garbage can right over to it. Ditch everything that’s out of date, spoiled or just not something you’re ever going to eat. Sop up any spills or sticky spots with a wet sponge that has a little dish soap on it, and use another damp sponge without soap to wipe up afterward.
For your microwave, do the quick pick me up. Pour a half-cup of water into a microwave safe bowl or cup. Cut a whole lemon in half and squeeze the juice from each half into the bowl, then drop both halves in. Nuke the bowl for three minutes on high, then let it stand for another five minutes so the steam can work its magic. After that, simply wipe it clean inside with a damp towel.
Cleaning stove grates doesn’t have to be a super scrubbing job, either. Put your grates into the sink. Boil a pot of water and pour the water over the grates for some grease removal. Fill the sink with the hottest water possible and a dash of dish soap and let it soak for around 15 minutes. Drain the sink and check the grates. Remove any stubborn spots with a little polish cleanser and let air dry.
Cleanse That Coffee Machine
You can make yourself happy on two levels when you clean your coffee maker, as it’ll look better and your coffee will taste better, too! Fill the water part of your machine with a mix of half water, half white vinegar. Turn the pot on and let it run through a handful of cups.
Turn if off again, let it sit for about one hour, and turn it back on, letting it run for more cups until most of the water/vinegar mix is gone. Dump out any remaining mix in the machine and run at least three empty brew cycles of just plain hot water, or however many you need until the vinegar scent is gone.
