When it comes to winter cleaning house tips, Google and other search engines threaten to burn up during this time of year. There’s nothing like the new year to make even the most complacent, slightly sloppy NYC home dwellers itch to roll up their sleeves, pull out the cleaning supplies, and scrub away the past.

Some websites tout awesome new year cleaning programs. Apartment Therapy’s “January Cure” is a 30-day, lifestyle-changing program that can be practiced any time of the year, and it’s intended to help you sanitize and organize your home from top to bottom. If you’re not even close to being ready to go all in with your winter casa cleanse, there are baby steps that you can take in the meantime that will help give your home a sparkling fresh look and feel. Feeling bored? Bring your laptop in the kitchen, throw on Making a Murderer, American Gothic, or whatever show you’ve been waiting to binge watch, and clean away. Do the cleaning over several weekends so that you don’t get overwhelmed.

Kitchen

Image Source: Flickr/Sarah Ackerman

No matter how small it is, the kitchen is the one room in the house that, left filthy and dirty, can make your entire space feel icky. These house tips can help you make it sparkle in no time.

1) Clean your cabinets. Empty them of all pots and pans and whatever else you store in there, and give them a good wipe down. Spray down the insides with your favorite cleaning supplies, and really give them a good scrub. Put everything back in neatly. Get some kitchen cupboard organizers so that you can put everything back in a neat and organized manner. You’ll feel lighter and cleaner the minute you put them back.

2) Clean your oven/range. Whether you use a homemade baking powder/vinegar paste, or you blast ahead with store-bought cleaners, give that oven the cleaning of its life. You’ll feel amazing.

3) Wash down all the counters and walls, and put the clutter away. Even one extra item on the counter can make a small kitchen feel like it belongs in a doll house.

Living Room

1) Wash your floors, and then polish them (if they need it). It really, really makes a difference — if your wood floors are in good condition.

2) Clear out the clutter. Recycle old magazines, put away items that don’t have a reason to be in the room, and find smart storage solutions for the things you need. An ottoman is the perfect place to store things like gaming accessories and remotes. Stack your coffee table books in an attractive tower.

Bedroom

1) Pick everything up off the floor. A messy floor decreases the amount of usable square footage in the room, making the place that should be a haven feel dark, dirty, and cramped. Take stock of the excess, and store it or toss it!

2) Straighten up your closet. If you’re not ready for a deep spring cleaning. Hang your clothes on good-quality hangers like notched, thin velvet-cling hangers. These space-saving hangers grip your clothes as they hang, allowing them to hang neatly and straight without slipping.

3) Sweep and wash the floors. Don’t forget to clean under the beds.

4) Wash your drapes or have them cleaned. If you’ve got blinds, give them a good, sanitizing wipe down.

Main Image Source: Flickr/Emily May

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