House cleaning before the holidays

HOW TO CLEAN YOUR HOUSE BEFORE THE VACATIONS

HOUSE CLEANING BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS

CLEAN THE TERRACE

The first thing to do before closing the house and leaving for the holidays is to clean the exterior so as not to bring dirt back into the house.
So start from balcony, or from terrace. If you have the iron railing, brush it with water and vinegar. Then pass a cloth over it with a few drops of oil to prevent it from rusting.
A mix of water e Marseille soap you will instead need it to clean the surfaces of marble, delicate and difficult to clean.

CLEAN AND REMOVE RUST

If you're determined to leave your terrace or balcony clean and tidy to avoid having to do everything again when you return from vacation, a good method for removing rust and preventing the formation of more is warm lemon juice with coarse salt. This way, you can avoid the expense of polluting and often ineffective chemical products.

HOW TO KEEP FLOWERS SURVIVE

Another problem when you are away for a long time is the survival of your plantThe most common solution is to call a friend, a neighbor, or the concierge to water your flowers every now and then. If, however, you don't have this resource, one of the best methods to keep your plants alive is to communicating siphon.
First, place a bucket filled with water slightly higher than the pots. Connect the pots to the bottom of the bucket with strips of filter mat (you can also use braided wool).
This way the plants will always have a certain level of humidity and the plant will absorb the water it needs from the bucket to survive without drowning.

Alternatively, you can use the method of overturned bottle. Fill in a two-liter plastic bottle and turn it upside down, without the lid, into the soil in the pot. The water will be absorbed little by little, and the plant will stay moist even when you're not around.

TO KNOW MORE: Watering the vegetable garden: essential tips for watering plants without wasting water

CLEAN THE GARAGE

Before leaving for vacation, and before moving on to the interior, it would be a good idea to clean and organize the garage, too. This is where we often store all the items we no longer need, and therefore risks becoming a hotbed of dirt and dust. Equip yourself with a sorghum broom, detergents (preferably natural ones), and plenty of garbage bags. And follow these simple tips.

HOW TO CLEAN THE BATHROOM

The bathroom is a place in the house that shouldn't be overlooked before leaving. Unclog the drains simply by pouring any carbonated drink into the toilet, shower and sink.

Then with a solution composed of half a liter of water and an teaspoon of baking soda Run it over the taps to make them shine, and finally, rub them with lemon to disinfect and leave a nice smell.

CLEAN AND ORGANIZE THE KITCHEN

Decluttering your kitchen can be incredibly helpful before you leave, ensuring you're left with a perfectly organized, clean, and efficient kitchen when you return home. There are just a few tricks: give each item a dedicated space, and try to optimize space by purchasing only the bare essentials and using raised shelves.

CLEANING KITCHEN APPLIANCES

Appliances also deserve attention, and they're often the parts of the kitchen that aren't cleaned very often. When planning to leave the house for a while, grab a sponge and natural detergents and arm yourself with patience. Your oven, dishwasher, microwave, and refrigerator will thank you.

CLEAN AND DEFROST THE REFRIGERATOR

Defrost the fridge, even naturally, is very simple. Remove the internal shelves and soak them for 30 minutes in two liters of cold water and a cup of white vinegar.
Using a cloth soaked in vinegar (or a solution of half a liter of water and a teaspoon of baking soda), wipe the internal and external surfaces to remove stubborn stains.
Rub everything with lemon juice dissolved in a glass of water to disinfect the surfaces.
Now, open the refrigerator doors, leave a few rags underneath to absorb any drips, and turn off the refrigerator.

CLEAN THE HOUSE BEFORE LEAVING

CLEANING THE KITCHEN SINK

The same goes for the kitchen sink: we clean it every day after eating, but every now and then it needs a more thorough, less superficial clean. Harsh chemical cleaners can damage the stainless steel countertop, but olive oil is a natural remedy for leaving it shiny.

CLEAN THE OVEN

Leaving the oven clean will ensure it's ready to bake as soon as we return from vacation. A dirty oven also releases unpleasant odors and compromises the appliance's functionality, altering the flavor of food. An idea for baking trays? Use leftover Coca-Cola.

CLEANING THE DISHWASHER

The dishwasher is a frequently used and delicate appliance, requiring some maintenance and regular cleaning to keep it in tip-top condition. What better time than the holidays to remove the filter and clean it to keep your dishes clean and smelling fresh?

ORGANIZE THE BEDROOM

To avoid closet syndrome, it's a good idea to leave your bedroom well-organized and clean when you leave for a well-deserved vacation. Put away used clothes, wash what needs to be washed (bed linens, pillows, etc.) sheet) and air out the air before closing the windows. It also helps combat allergies.

CLEAN AND DISINFECT MATTRESSES

Cleaning and disinfecting mattresses isn't an everyday task, but taking advantage of the summer break will allow us to do a more thorough and demanding clean. Ammonia and hydrogen peroxide, along with baking soda and a stiff brush, will help.

CLEANING AND ORGANIZE THE CHILDREN'S BEDROOM

We can involve even the littlest ones in this process, playing a game, and they'll learn to tidy up their spaces and leave them clean and tidy for when they return tired from the beach or the mountains. A tip? Dry-cleaning stuffed animals removes dirt and dust and doesn't ruin them.

ORGANIZE CHILDREN'S WARDROBE

The closet is a critical place for organization, especially if it's for our children. Teach them how to untangle piles of rolled-up T-shirts and follow a few simple tips: sort items by season and use the holidays to get rid of items they no longer wear.

CLEAN THE FLOORS

In the days before leaving for vacation, you should clean and degrease the floors so they're spotless when you return home. But why spend money on special cleaners for each material when we can draw on our grandmothers' wisdom? Linseed oil for terracotta floors, vinegar and white wine for other types of flooring, such as resin.

CLEANING THE PARQUET

Parquet floors, elegant and precious, are both a blessing and a curse for those who clean them. Before going on vacation, taking advantage of the lack of foot traffic, you can treat them with beeswax, perfect for particularly worn parquet. Before using natural detergents, however, don't forget to remove dust. Finally, vinegar helps eliminate unpleasant odors.

HOUSE CLEANING BEFORE LEAVING

CLEAN AND REMOVE STAINS FROM WALLS

Closed spaces for extended periods of time tend to allow unpleasant odors to linger. If you smoke indoors, have a pet, or simply want to freshen up the air, remember to spend half an hour cleaning the walls before leaving, following a few simple tips.

CLEAN ELECTRONIC DEVICES

Televisions, computers, radios, and all other electronic devices that we don't wipe down more than once a day with an antistatic cloth need to be disinfected every now and then. Let's take advantage of the time they're not in use and leave them clean for our return. How? With natural or eco-friendly detergents and a simple microfiber cloth.

CLEAN THE CAR

Finally, the car: it's ready to take us to our destination, but what if we realize it's become a dump of empty water bottles and receipts and want to save on the cost of a car wash? We can do it ourselves, with a little elbow grease, a vacuum cleaner, and some window ammonia. It will ensure a comfortable journey.

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THINGS TO DO AT HOME BEFORE LEAVING ON HOLIDAY

Here are some simple ones advice e suggestions To leave the house in complete safety before leaving for the holidays:

• Let's start from the kitchenBefore leaving, try to consume all the foods that are about to expire and all the food packages that have already been opened: this will avoid not only unnecessary waste of food but also the formation of mould and bad smells in the refrigerator.

• Store only long-lasting foods such as pasta and rice and, if opened, close the packages well so as not to find the kitchen invaded by ants e Beatles upon your return.

• Before leaving the house, throw away the garbage.

• After emptying the refrigerator, clean it thoroughly and defrost the freezerUnplug the appliance and leave the doors of both appliances open to prevent unpleasant odors from forming.

• Always for a question of hygiene, check that in the basket of the washing machine there are no dirty clothes left.

• If you don't want to turn off the electrical system because you have an alarm or an irrigation system, remember to unplug all appliances: this will prevent energy waste due to standby mode. But not only that: you will prevent any technical failures caused by sudden summer storms from damaging appliances such as televisions, computer, etc.

• Check carefully that there are no water leaks from the taps and make sure that the discharges that sinks, showers and bathtubs are not blocked.

• Make sure the gas system is turned off: absolutely do not neglect this step, for everyone's safety.

• Close all windows and activate the alarm before locking the house.

• It is not essential, but opt for a general cleaning of the house before leaving will allow you not to waste time in cleaning learn more about it upon your return.

• Bring all houseplants outside especially those that need a lot of light and read our advice on how to care for plants before leaving for the holidays.

• If it is not needed, turn off any automatic irrigation systems in the garden.

• Bring your pets with you on holiday pets: here Find some helpful tips on dog-friendly beaches and how to care for your dog while on vacation. Alternatively, find a trusted person to look after your pets so they don't feel abandoned.
• Leave a copy of your house keys with someone you trust very much. so that I can intervene in case of emergency or leave your telephone number to neighbors or to the building concierge so that someone can notify you in case of any problems.

NATURAL DETERGENTS, A SUSTAINABLE HELP FOR OUR CLEANING:

• The best natural detergents to make at home
• DIY vinegar detergents: an effective and low-cost solution for sanitizing your home.
• Natural detergents with citric acid