While the coronoavirus pandemic is restricting public life, nature is continuing as before: spring is coming and with it is also the annual spring cleaning. A meaningful occupation during social isolation. Spring cleaning is an old custom: Since heating was previously carried out with wood and coal, the soot deposits had to be removed in spring, Roxanna Pelka, cleaning professional from "Helpling", told an interview with the news agency spot on news.
Around 60 percent of Germans still follow this tradition. What belongs to spring cleaning and how to tackle the mountain with upcoming cleaning work – Pelka has tips and tricks for it. She worked in the 5-star hotel industry in Berlin and the Maldives for a few years and knows: after the big spring cleaning, your own home feels better again.
Spring cleaning takes a lot of time if the entire house or apartment has to be cleaned. How do you best motivate yourself for this?
Roxanna Pelka: My two tricks: I buy a new cleaning agent or cleaning cloth that I would like to try out. It motivates me when I can try a new product. I also invite my family to have a deadline that I have to finish. Good music can also provide motivation.
Families, couples or shared apartments can tackle spring cleaning together. How do we avoid arguments so that accusations like "You do a lot less than me" do not arise?
Pelka: You should sit down and list what you want to do. Then you divide what one or the other can do better. Maybe it is fun to take things to the dump while the other prefers to clean. Everyone should do what they can.
What does spring cleaning contain and what is the most sensible way to make your home shine again?
Pelka: Basically everything that has been left over the year is part of spring cleaning. This also includes carpet runners or sofa cushions. Embroidered sofa cushions can simply be turned inside out, the zipper closed and then washed.
Space for cleaning is important, so you should muck out first. When that is done, you should move from room to room. The following applies: you clean from top to bottom. You start with the lamp and the cobwebs on the ceiling and work your way down. Then you can proceed from left to right. For example, you start at the door and end at the door again. This way you can make sure that everything has been cleaned.
If you want to completely clean your kitchen, you should plan half a day for it. Which approach do you recommend?
Pelka: Here it is very important to clean from top to bottom. You should be precise with cracks and slide-in compartments because dirt likes to be deposited there. I would use vinegar cleaner for this. Before that, it is necessary to check the shelf life data and to dispose of old food.
The bathroom also poses a major task for some beginners. Which utensils you need quickly raises questions. What is your recommendation?
Pelka: At least three towels are needed for the bathroom alone: one for the toilets, one for the sanitary areas and a third to polish dry. If you let something air dry, limescale can quickly form.
Spring cleaning also includes washing bed linen and pillows. Do you have any tips on how best to clean a blanket?
Pelka: If you wash your down bed linen or pillows in your own washing machine, you can put tennis balls in the machine. The movement of the balls in the machine loosens down and feathers. As a precaution, I recommend washing at 40 degrees. You could also add a disinfectant detergent here. Then you should turn pillows and blankets regularly when drying.
While the duvet and pillows are in the washing machine, you could take care of the mattress. What needs to be done to make it smell fresh again?
Pelka: Sun rays kill the mites. The mattress can be ventilated from morning to afternoon on the balcony or terrace.
The TV is a real dust catcher and the remote control is sometimes touched with greasy fingers after they were in the chip bag. What is the best way to clean here?
Pelka: When it comes to technical objects, it is always important that you don’t just spray on them, otherwise the liquid, for example with the remote control, will settle between the buttons. You should take a damp cloth and wipe technical objects with it.
Are there corners in the apartment or house that are often neglected?
Pelka: Especially the curtains can be quickly forgotten. My tip: After washing, the curtains should be hung up damp, because this will make the material smooth. But it's easy to overlook the windows or hidden spots. And sometimes you can find some things under the couch.