We wish summer, especially this one, would never end. But with Labor Day around the corner, fall isn’t far behind.

Whether we’re preparing to say farewell to family and friends who are making one last visit to the Cape, trying to squeeze one more day trip to Provincetown, Nantucket or the Vineyard, or we’re getting ready for our children to go back to school, the next few weeks will be busy for all of us.

At Cleangreen, we know your time is important which is where we can help with your residential cleaning. A thorough cleaning of your home is important to remove sand tracked in from the beach, dirt from working in the yard, and the extra dust and pollen that has accumulated in recent months.

A professional cleaning can also help straighten up those hard-to-organize rooms that seemingly always end up a mess. Especially if you have kids, they’ll need a neat, orderly space to study and do their work when school starts.

This is where we can help! Contact us today at info@cleangreencapecod.com to set up a free consultation. Until then, we have some easy-to-follow tips to help you end the summer with a flourish.

End-of-Summer Cleaning Tips for Your Cape Cod Home

Sweep That Dust Up

Summer is the busiest time of year on Cape Cod which means one thing. We’re frequently coming in and out of the house, tracking in dirt, dust, sand, grass and pollen.

If you have hardwood floors, do a thorough sweeping. You can also use a vacuum as long as its bristles don’t scratch the floors. Canister vacuums are ideal as they are meant for bare floors, stairs, and hard to reach areas of the home, like under a sofa or bed.

Afterwards, use a damp mop (not a soaking wet one) using 4 cups of warm water and a few drops of castile or dish soap. Gently mix before mopping small sections of your floor. You can dry the floor with a dry mop afterwards.

Focus on the Kitchen

It’s the most important room of the house for a reason – we spend lots of time preparing our three meals of the day (and the occasional snack). Start by organizing your cabinets and refrigerator, throwing away food that may have expired. Consider donating unused non-perishables to your local food pantry.

As the weather gets cooler, the kitchen is a popular spot for bugs, mice, and other animals for one simple reason – it’s where the food is. Check your cabinets, closets and under your refrigerator to make sure they haven’t already set up home in these easy-to-hide spots.

Declutter

Accumulating items is a common habit for all of us. Now is the time to go through each room of the house and identify objects that may be taking up space in our closets, under our beds, on our bookshelves, and in our dressers.

If you haven’t used (or worn) these items in over a year, ask yourself if you really need it. Donating these items to someone who does is a great way to organize your home while offering some peace of mind.

Recently, Tara Parker-Pope wrote about the benefits of decluttering in the NY Times, noting that it’s good for “both mind and body – reducing risks for falls, helping eliminate germs and making it easier to find things like medicine and exercise gear.”

The piece incudes some practical suggestions, including:

  • Neatly folding your clothes
  • Throwing away all unimportant papers
  • Spending your money on experiences, not things
  • Placing all your clothes in one pile on your bed and keeping only those that you wear and love

Tackle the Small Projects

Rome wasn’t built in a day. And you won’t clean your entire house in one either.

Start small. It’s another tip Parker-Pope highlighted in her NY Times piece. She terms it the one-minute rule which she borrowed from Gretchen Rubin, author of “Happier at Home: Kiss More, Jump More, Abandon Self-Control, and My Other Experiments in Everyday Life.”

The rule is simple – tackle tasks that can be finished in one minute. Like hanging up a coat, filing a paper, putting away a book, or putting a dish in the dishwasher.

These easy-to-achieve tasks give you a sense of accomplishment, boosting your happiness and confidence. If you focus on these smaller tasks, you’ll eventually finish the larger ones – like a clean room and, eventually, a clean house. So what are you waiting for?