<p>It’s the festive time of year again, but before we plunge into card parties, Diwali melas and celebrations, an important (hard) task needs to be attended to: cleaning up the house. It is not just a traditional Indian chore to be done around this time, but in all aspects a great undertaking for a hygienic home. ‘Where does one start?’ is the question that can be rather haunting. Without spending too much time pondering, just make a list of to-dos and organise your cleaning campaign. Divide the tasks as per the needs of the house — cleaning, repair, electrical fixing, dry cleaning, discarding old stuff, buying new items... <br /><br /></p>.<p>Once you’re ready with your list, you can handle them one by one or simultaneously, depending on how much time and effort each of these tasks will take. So, here are some aspects that you can focus on to start with:<br /><br />Living room<br />Give the living room a thorough look and pinpoint what needs to be fixed. Curtains and sofa upholstery definitely deserve a deep cleaning be it through dry cleaning or a good vacuum suction. Fans require a soapy sponge wipe for an instant sparkle. Old and boring artefacts and knick-knacks can either be given away, thrown or kept aside. Choose a desired look — ethnic, minimalistic, contemporary, or art-inspired, and work on the design <br />elements and furnishings accordingly. <br /><br />Perhaps a visit to the garden or nursery would give some bright ideas for a potted indoor plant. Making a corner inside for these won’t be difficult, and the exuberance of green in your home will do just right for the festive season. <br /><br />Potpourri and floating floral candles make for an aromatic and colourful interior.<br />If any of your walls is reeling under the aftermath of the monsoons, it may be a good time to give wallpapers a shot. Papering takes less than three hours and brightens the decor for a long time. <br /><br />Storage spaces<br />Empty your wardrobes and drawers and clean them with a damp cloth. Place some scented sachets and moth repellents to protect your clothes and keep everything fresh. Sort it out and categorise your things into ‘got to keep’, ‘doubtful,’ and ‘got to get rid of’.<br /><br /> With the ‘got to keeps’, check if everything is clean and in good condition, and then start putting them back in the wardrobe in an organised manner. Only put things back in your wardrobe if they are clean, in good condition, and make you feel great. Once you have got everything in order, try your best to maintain it. This takes a lot of stress away. If you’re short on space, store clean, out-of-season clothes in airtight bags or suitcases until you need them again.<br /><br />Most Indian traditional cupboards provide for a place for hangers and drawers for small items, but that does not quite go with urban needs and ways. If you find your wardrobe is not accommodating, then remodel it into a customised unit. However, do consider buying a new one in case the old one’s wood is in bad shape.<br /><br />Bathroom essentials<br />Among the first things you need to fix in a bathroom are the leakages and faulty electrical fittings. The floors and windows need special attention, which could include grinding of the marble with specific cleaning agents. Tiles are easy to clean with a soapy sponge. <br /><br />Cluttered drawers that have been accumulating toiletries from each of your hotel visits needs to be cleared. Clean up the racks with a moist soapy cloth. Rearrange them and give a minimalist look to your bathroom and its storage spaces.<br /><br />Here are some organic tips to keep your bathroom fresh: <br />*For the Water Closet, pour about two cups of white vinegar or disinfectant into the bowl, and then use a spray bottle to spray more onto all the hard surfaces of the toilet (including the rim and handle). Let it sit for about 10 minutes; wipe down the outside and scrub the bowl with a toilet brush. <br />*Spray your sink with some vinegar and wipe thoroughly. <br />*For a glass shower door, spraying with vinegar prevents any residue from building up.<br /><br />Kitchen basics<br />Keep in mind these three golden rules while cleaning or clearing out: declutter, clean and rearrange. However, here you may require different detergents and cleansing agents for different surfaces. So, choose the detergent wisely for the sinks, counter tops, gas hobs, glass panes and drawers. Cleaning the fridge is also a great way to get rid of stale unused stuff and circulate fresh air in the equipment. <br /><br />Bring in the professionals<br />And if you don’t have the time to invest in a thorough cleanup for your home, just take it easy and call for some professional help. There are many options available today and it’s unbelievable what the highly professional and trained staff can do for you! They meticulously reach out for nooks and corners that are often beyond the reach of our eyes.<br /><br />What you see<br />Exterior walls are especially susceptible to cracking, flaking and fading off. Common repairs include removal and replacement of failed joint sealants, installation of <br />expansion joints and tuck pointing of cracked mortar joints. It’s important to identify cracks in their early stages to diagnose any underlying problems. The cracks should be evaluated by a qualified professional to determine the cause and the type of repair(s) needed.<br /><br />“We are a busy, working household and therefore had to opt for the cleaning services from an agency. They came with stuff like microfibre dusters, advanced stain-removal sponges and steam-based sanitisers for the upholstery and mattress. We could definitely not have managed to do such sound cleaning by ourselves,” admits Rooma Dixit. <br />A wide range of services can be opted for, apart from the usual deep cleaning of walls, floors, closets, refrigerators, drawers and gardens. For instance, steam based sanitisation of mattresses and sofas, shampooing of carpets and sofas, conditioning of leather sofas and chairs, polishing of wooden fixtures and furniture. “I have three small children who find a way to hide toys, dirty the house and wreak havoc in the most unimaginable ways. The cleaning team comes in every two months to re-set my house, clear away dust bunnies and fingerprints on the walls. They are meticulous, thorough and always willing to help out. I love the way my home feels after they are done with their magic,” says Kavita Mehta.<br /><br />These services are also popular among home owners looking for an after-party house clean-up; tile and grout cleaning that lasts for years; flood restoration clean-up that <br />includes water extraction, anti-bacterial wash of carpets, deodorising, steam cleaning of carpets and upholstery. However, do pay attention to the claims these agencies make. Make it a point to check their cleaning experience, licenses or cleaning certifications, among other things. <br /><br />With these handy tips, hopefully, you’ll find it easier to get your home sparkling and festive ready this Diwali!</p>
<p>It’s the festive time of year again, but before we plunge into card parties, Diwali melas and celebrations, an important (hard) task needs to be attended to: cleaning up the house. It is not just a traditional Indian chore to be done around this time, but in all aspects a great undertaking for a hygienic home. ‘Where does one start?’ is the question that can be rather haunting. Without spending too much time pondering, just make a list of to-dos and organise your cleaning campaign. Divide the tasks as per the needs of the house — cleaning, repair, electrical fixing, dry cleaning, discarding old stuff, buying new items... <br /><br /></p>.<p>Once you’re ready with your list, you can handle them one by one or simultaneously, depending on how much time and effort each of these tasks will take. So, here are some aspects that you can focus on to start with:<br /><br />Living room<br />Give the living room a thorough look and pinpoint what needs to be fixed. Curtains and sofa upholstery definitely deserve a deep cleaning be it through dry cleaning or a good vacuum suction. Fans require a soapy sponge wipe for an instant sparkle. Old and boring artefacts and knick-knacks can either be given away, thrown or kept aside. Choose a desired look — ethnic, minimalistic, contemporary, or art-inspired, and work on the design <br />elements and furnishings accordingly. <br /><br />Perhaps a visit to the garden or nursery would give some bright ideas for a potted indoor plant. Making a corner inside for these won’t be difficult, and the exuberance of green in your home will do just right for the festive season. <br /><br />Potpourri and floating floral candles make for an aromatic and colourful interior.<br />If any of your walls is reeling under the aftermath of the monsoons, it may be a good time to give wallpapers a shot. Papering takes less than three hours and brightens the decor for a long time. <br /><br />Storage spaces<br />Empty your wardrobes and drawers and clean them with a damp cloth. Place some scented sachets and moth repellents to protect your clothes and keep everything fresh. Sort it out and categorise your things into ‘got to keep’, ‘doubtful,’ and ‘got to get rid of’.<br /><br /> With the ‘got to keeps’, check if everything is clean and in good condition, and then start putting them back in the wardrobe in an organised manner. Only put things back in your wardrobe if they are clean, in good condition, and make you feel great. Once you have got everything in order, try your best to maintain it. This takes a lot of stress away. If you’re short on space, store clean, out-of-season clothes in airtight bags or suitcases until you need them again.<br /><br />Most Indian traditional cupboards provide for a place for hangers and drawers for small items, but that does not quite go with urban needs and ways. If you find your wardrobe is not accommodating, then remodel it into a customised unit. However, do consider buying a new one in case the old one’s wood is in bad shape.<br /><br />Bathroom essentials<br />Among the first things you need to fix in a bathroom are the leakages and faulty electrical fittings. The floors and windows need special attention, which could include grinding of the marble with specific cleaning agents. Tiles are easy to clean with a soapy sponge. <br /><br />Cluttered drawers that have been accumulating toiletries from each of your hotel visits needs to be cleared. Clean up the racks with a moist soapy cloth. Rearrange them and give a minimalist look to your bathroom and its storage spaces.<br /><br />Here are some organic tips to keep your bathroom fresh: <br />*For the Water Closet, pour about two cups of white vinegar or disinfectant into the bowl, and then use a spray bottle to spray more onto all the hard surfaces of the toilet (including the rim and handle). Let it sit for about 10 minutes; wipe down the outside and scrub the bowl with a toilet brush. <br />*Spray your sink with some vinegar and wipe thoroughly. <br />*For a glass shower door, spraying with vinegar prevents any residue from building up.<br /><br />Kitchen basics<br />Keep in mind these three golden rules while cleaning or clearing out: declutter, clean and rearrange. However, here you may require different detergents and cleansing agents for different surfaces. So, choose the detergent wisely for the sinks, counter tops, gas hobs, glass panes and drawers. Cleaning the fridge is also a great way to get rid of stale unused stuff and circulate fresh air in the equipment. <br /><br />Bring in the professionals<br />And if you don’t have the time to invest in a thorough cleanup for your home, just take it easy and call for some professional help. There are many options available today and it’s unbelievable what the highly professional and trained staff can do for you! They meticulously reach out for nooks and corners that are often beyond the reach of our eyes.<br /><br />What you see<br />Exterior walls are especially susceptible to cracking, flaking and fading off. Common repairs include removal and replacement of failed joint sealants, installation of <br />expansion joints and tuck pointing of cracked mortar joints. It’s important to identify cracks in their early stages to diagnose any underlying problems. The cracks should be evaluated by a qualified professional to determine the cause and the type of repair(s) needed.<br /><br />“We are a busy, working household and therefore had to opt for the cleaning services from an agency. They came with stuff like microfibre dusters, advanced stain-removal sponges and steam-based sanitisers for the upholstery and mattress. We could definitely not have managed to do such sound cleaning by ourselves,” admits Rooma Dixit. <br />A wide range of services can be opted for, apart from the usual deep cleaning of walls, floors, closets, refrigerators, drawers and gardens. For instance, steam based sanitisation of mattresses and sofas, shampooing of carpets and sofas, conditioning of leather sofas and chairs, polishing of wooden fixtures and furniture. “I have three small children who find a way to hide toys, dirty the house and wreak havoc in the most unimaginable ways. The cleaning team comes in every two months to re-set my house, clear away dust bunnies and fingerprints on the walls. They are meticulous, thorough and always willing to help out. I love the way my home feels after they are done with their magic,” says Kavita Mehta.<br /><br />These services are also popular among home owners looking for an after-party house clean-up; tile and grout cleaning that lasts for years; flood restoration clean-up that <br />includes water extraction, anti-bacterial wash of carpets, deodorising, steam cleaning of carpets and upholstery. However, do pay attention to the claims these agencies make. Make it a point to check their cleaning experience, licenses or cleaning certifications, among other things. <br /><br />With these handy tips, hopefully, you’ll find it easier to get your home sparkling and festive ready this Diwali!</p>
