How to...clean your flat

Now more than ever, it's so important to keep on top of the cleaning of your flat.

Consider which areas you need to clean, and make sure you have the right materials. While there are some one-size-fits-all products that you can use on a wide range of surfaces, most of the time cleaning products have specific applications and will not work effectively on other surfaces. For example, if you want to clean your bathroom, you may need to buy separate cleaning solutions for the toilet and the shower. Some substances, like bleach, may require using thick cleaning gloves during cleaning, so make sure you have those as well. 

List of things you may need: 

• Something for the kitchen and hallway floors (sweeping is not enough, trust me). 
• Toilet solution.
• General bathroom surfaces solution. 
• A bottle of disinfectant (works on multiple surfaces, and can be diluted if needed).
• Surface disinfectant/cleanser (can also be disinfectant wipes).
• Gloves.
• Sponges/cloths that you use only for cleaning. 

2. Get all the items off the surfaces you want to clean. If you want to wipe down your desk, move everything off it so it is empty and you can be sure you do not miss any spots. Never clean only the surfaces that are visible. 
3. Make sure you follow product instructions. Some you will need to wash with water afterwards, others you can just use on the surfaces and that is it. Always make sure you read the instructions. They will also tell you how much product you need to use – neither too much or too little is ideal. 
4. Let the surfaces dry before putting your stuff back. 

Pro tips: 

Clean first the most difficult/annoying room. This may be your bathroom, your kitchen or even your room. By doing this first, you will not only make sure that you use the height of your energy on the place that needs it the most, but it also gives you a sense of satisfaction to carry you onto the next task. 

Dust BEFORE you vacuum.  The logic behind this is that as you dust, lots of particles will be released into the air, which will eventually land on the floor. If you vacuum after this, then you will have a better chance of catching more of those particles. 

Play some music. We know that cleaning is not topping the list of favourite hobbies, but you can make it more enjoyable by having some good tunes in the background. Plus, they are a good distraction for your mind.