Who doesn't want to start the New Year with a clean, organized home? If your New Year's resolutions include decluttering and getting your house clean and organized, then you've come to the right place.
We'll show you New Year's cleaning resolutions you can make to keep your home looking great, all year long.
Can I Clean on New Year's Day?
Cleaning on New Year's Day is a common superstition thought to bring bad luck. In certain cultures, sweeping on New Year's Day is believed to sweep away good fortune along with the dust, so many people choose to do their cleaning before midnight instead.
That said, plenty of people like to clean on New Year's Eve or New Year's Day to get rid of negativity and start the year off on a fresh note. There's no single right answer here! Whether you clean before the ball drops or wait until January 2nd, the goal is the same: starting the year with a home (and a mindset) that feels like a fresh start.
Top 4 New Year's Cleaning Resolutions
- Build a daily cleaning routine. The secret to a clean house is spending 15 to 30 minutes tidying up each day, so you stay clutter-free.
- Get the whole family involved. Once you decide what should be included in your everyday cleaning routine, assign age-appropriate chores to kids. Things like making the bed, putting away dishes, and picking up toys and clothes. It's a great way to teach responsibility while taking some of the burden off yourself.
- Map out weekly and monthly cleaning checklists. Don't let dirt and grime build up to the point it becomes overwhelming. Tackle a little every week and month to keep your home looking fresh.
- Plan for seasonal deep cleaning sessions. Most cleaning experts recommend a thorough spring-cleaning session and another deep cleaning session before the holidays.
Daily Cleaning Routine
Spending a few minutes each day doing routine chores can have a huge impact on the look and feel of your home.
By making a New Year's cleaning resolution to get into the habit of tidying up daily, you'll stay on top of clutter and messes. That way, cleaning won't ever feel too overwhelming.
- Make the bed. This is a great way to start your day, and it gives you a feeling of accomplishment first thing, which can set you up for success. Plus, there's nothing like coming home at night to a well-made, inviting-looking bed.
- Do the dishes. Never leave a pile of dirty dishes in the sink. Wash dishes daily to prevent food from sticking and rotten smells from developing.
- Pick up clutter. Do a quick walk-through of your house each night and pick up any dirty clothes, toys, books, or papers that are lying around and put them back where they belong. This is a great way to stay on top of clutter and keep your house looking tidy.
- Clean as you cook. Rather than letting pots, pans, spices, and other ingredients pile up, wash or put them away as you go to keep your kitchen in order.
- Wipe down counters and sinks. These are the areas where spills happen daily; wipe them down with Simple Green All-Purpose Cleaner while they're still fresh. It's almost always easier to remove spills or stains if you address them right away.
- Sort the mail. Keep baskets by the door or on a desk for easy sorting. Throw out any junk mail right away, and don't let bills or other important documents get lost or remain unopened for too long.
Weekly Cleaning Checklist
Some tasks need only be done weekly to keep your house looking its best. Consider adding these items to a weekend clean-up checklist.
- Vacuum and clean your floors and/or carpet.
- Remove dirt and dust from coffee tables, mantles, bookshelves, and furniture.
- Empty out the trash from your kitchen, bathroom, and bedrooms.
- Change your sheets and pillowcases.
- Clean your bathroom, including your bathtub, glass shower doors, bathroom floors, and chrome fixtures.
- Tackle any soap scum that has built up in sinks, showers, or tubs.
- Clean appliances, including your toaster oven and microwave.
Monthly Cleaning Checklist
Any good New Year's cleaning resolution list will include a checklist of monthly cleanup tasks. These are the items you want to clean regularly, just not every week.
- Disinfect bathrooms, trash cans, kitchens, and high-touch surfaces (doorknobs, light switches, keyboards, etc.). Be sure to use a product designed specifically for disinfecting, such as Simple Green d PRO 3 PLUS or Clean Finish.
- Clean your refrigerator. Discard old, out-of-date items. Then remove the shelves and bins and give them a thorough washing.
- Clean any dirty windows or sliding glass doors with Simple Green Glass Cleaner.
- Dust mini-blinds and light fixtures.
- Clean your bedding, comforter/duvet covers, and pillows.
Seasonal Deep Cleaning Checklist
Maintaining a regular daily, weekly, and monthly cleaning schedule will keep your home looking and smelling great. Plus, it can reduce the spread of illness-causing germs and bacteria on surfaces.
At the start of a new season, it's a good idea to deep clean and tackle hidden areas where dirt and grime can build up over time. Most cleaning professionals suggest a Spring Cleaning and Pre-Holiday Cleaning session to be sure dirt, mold, dust, and debris don't have a place to hide.
- Move furniture and vacuum or clean the floor beneath.
- Wash your windows thoroughly, including windowsills, which can build up a layer of dirt over time
- Vacuum and turn your mattress.
- Using the hose attachment, vacuum out air vents and filters.
- Clean ceiling fans and any overhead light fixtures that collect dust.
- Clean out your chimney and fireplace.
- Give your deck or patio a thorough cleaning.
Simple Green: Keeps Your World Clean
At Simple Green, we believe that cleaning products should not only be effective, but also better for people and the environment. For over 50 years, we've been helping people tackle life's messes, from everyday spills to your biggest New Year's cleaning resolutions. Here's to a fresh start and a cleaner home all year long.
