Home maintenance: Areas you can clean once a year

HOMES & CONSTRUCTION 

Not every section of a home needs to be cleaned every day. While everyone has a daily cleaning routine at home, it may not be favourable and practical to clean all areas in the house on a daily basis. Some home spaces need attention just once a year.

Outdoor furniture

Outdoor furniture can be thoroughly cleaned at least once a year by removing stains from fabric pillows and cushions.

Rattan, plastic and wood frames can be cleaned by wiping them with liquid dish detergent and warm water.

Also, use a soft-bristled brush on any hard-to-remove stains. One can also use a quick spray of water from the hose and put the furniture under direct sunshine to dry.

Carpet, furnished furniture

Furnished furniture should be deep-cleaned to remove dirt, at least once a year.

Victoria Nannozi from Nissi Classic Cleaners says to do this, move the furniture off the carpet or place squares of plastic-like food storage container lids under the furniture legs to avoid staining the floor.

For upholstery, first test the cleaning solutions in a hidden spot to be sure that they do not discolour the fabric. 

But take extra care not to oversaturate upholstery with the cleaning solution.

Mattress

Even though it cannot be cleaned regularly, the mattress, bed sheets and pillows will still need a clean-up from the dirt that rises from toiletries, sweat and oils.

However, since cleaning a mattress is a frightening task, Andrew Nahabwe of Mavek Cleaning Services suggests that mattress covers be used to protect mattresses from spoilage and stains.

There are relatively cheap washable mattress covers on the market made from fabric bonded with waterproof layers, which prevents liquids from reaching the mattress body.

To maintain a clean mattress, simply remove the cover and wash it in hot water.

A hygienically well-maintained mattress should be vacuumed well on top and the sides. If the mattress is too big and heavy to be washed normally, vacuum clean it.

The vacuum cleaner has an upholstery attachment, which is the best tool for mattress cleaning.

To deal with bad smells, sprinkle baking soda all over the mattress and let it settle for 10 minutes.

Then gently rub it in with a scrub brush so that it gets into the mattress fabric to eliminate the stench.

Vacuum the baking soda off the mattress and remake your bed with clean bedsheets.

Nahabwe recommends the use of a soft brush while cleaning the mattress, starting from the outside of the stain toward the centre to prevent dirt from spreading.

Rinse the area with a clean cloth that is dipped in plain water and, thereafter, allow it to dry thoroughly. To speed up the drying process, a hairdryer set on low heat can do the magic.

kitchen cabinets, drawers

Take a section of cabinets at a time and empty them completely. Wipe down the shelves and reline with shelf paper if needed.

Nannozi says while cleaning the pantry, one should be cautious with food containers, as well as look out for weevils, pests and cockroaches that might be destroying food.

Also, the cabinet doors and locks must be working properly for safety purposes. 

Curtains, drapes, shades

Despite the fact that they are hanging vertically, curtains, drapes and shades attract airborne dust and odour molecules, which calls for cleaning at least once a year.

This is common with curtains that are found in food preparation areas as they may have oily residue and bathroom curtains which frequently catch droplets of hair spray and other cosmetics.

 Drapes can be taken down and the panels examined before they are washed.  Curtain boards, rods and other hardware also need to be cleaned.

Nahabwe says one can use a washing machine to clean curtains, but the care label must be followed closely and there is a need to avoid high heat in the washing machine or drier.

Katherine Kwizera, an interior designer, says: "Decorating a house with dirty drapes and curtains puts off the design used in the interior completely."

Garage, basement and attic No one expects a garage, basement or attic to be spotless clean all year round, but there is a need for a good cleaning at least once a year.

During this period, mostly towards the end of the year, there will be dusting of things kept in there, clearing away cobwebs.

A homeowner must check the property stored to make sure it is not affected by moisture.

Documents and files

Even though technology runs the world now, there is a need to keep some vital documents and files in hard copy.

These must be kept somewhere safe in the office or at home in the library or bookshelf.

To be more organised, Esther Kyazike, a librarian at Kawempe Community Library, says documents must be kept in box files and marked.

They should then be arranged in a bookshelf for safety purposes.

Fireplace and chimney

As the festive season draws near, fireplaces need a thorough cleaning. When you are certain that ashes are cold in wood-burning fireplaces, use a vacuum to remove them.

For the interior of the fireplace, andirons and any other fireplace tools should be wiped down with a solution of distilled white vinegar and water to help remove smoke odours, after which the damper should be closed.

Cleaning gutters

Okubal Jethro, a building expert, says gutters protect the walls and other painted surfaces from water exposure.

He says when it rains, water affects painted surfaces by peeling off the paint. Gutters also make water harvesting easier.

They also prevent holes from forming in the weak roof points where water collects if it is not directed elsewhere.

Sam Kitibwa, a construction expert, says gutters need to be cleaned whenever they are filled with debris to keep them in good condition.

He adds that whenever it rains and the water finds unclean gutters with debris, they get soaked and heavy, which may cause them to be torn away from the roof.

 Linen closet

Cleaning out a closet may seem like a scary task. Getting rid of clothes, even if they have not been worn in years, is not easy.

Once in a year, spare some time for the closet and have it cleaned thoroughly.

This can be done by vacuuming away dust and cobwebs, replacing old hangers and changing clothes generally.

The shelves in the closet need to be organised according to the type of clothes one owns, such as jean trousers, shorts, long-sleeved and vests, which must all be kept in different shelves to ease dressing up.

The shelves in the closet need to be organised according to the type of clothes