10 tips for autumn cleaning, indoors

10 tips for autumn cleaning, indoors

It is said that we spend a total of several days a year looking for things that we have lost and misplaced.
"I don't know if it's true, but it doesn't sound unbelievable. Besides creating irritation, a messy and cluttered home makes us feel stressed and uncomfortable!"

Here are ten tips for autumn cleaning that will help you achieve a bit more order and space, as well as a nicer, fragrant, and more easily cleaned home. Get ready for winter, greet autumn with a clean and tidy home! "Since you found the tips here on Västerbottenssåpa, they are of course also very environmentally friendly and climate-smart tips 😉"

In spring and autumn, people usually clean their windows. A good habit is also to go through and declutter other spaces twice a year. If you make it a routine, your storage and boxes won't fill up to the brim and become a huge project.
Many of us also become a bit too attached to our belongings, and this can create a mental barrier when it comes to decluttering. Therefore, our first tip will be about changing the mindset regarding the accumulation of items.

1. Think through the following:
   – It becomes easier to clean at home with fewer items out.
   - It becomes more pleasant to just be in your home when there are fewer things out.
   – You don't need to rummage around and look for things as often.
   – You have unnecessarily much money tied up in things.
   – Someone else may benefit more from things you don't use.
   "So now that you have read through and contemplated this, it certainly feels better?!"
   
   
   
2. Make room for three large bags or boxes, preferably in a large hallway or in the living room. The main thing is that it is not a cramped space. Label your boxes/bags with #ForSale #GivingAway #ThrowAway
   Start the cleaning. Go through room by room, question everything that is lying around and cluttering. Go through overflowing drawers.
   Throw the things in one of the boxes at once. Decide whether they should be sold, donated, or thrown away.
   
   
   
3. Take out the camera.
   "Lay out your items on a neutral background, e.g. a blanket, and photograph everything in the pile #ForSale."
   "Then list more expensive items on e.g. Blocket.se (do a quick search to see what others are charging). Cheaper items often sell well through Facebook groups like 'Buy/Sell...' or 'Auction'."
   Another way is to contact a secondhand store and ask them if they are interested in buying your items.
   Now the money will soon start rolling in! 😉
   
   
   
4. The money then? Money is strangely one of the few things that never lies around in piles at home 😉
   An old waitress trick is to save all the tips in a jar for a special purpose.
   "Try saving all the money from your sales in a jar! Save for a trip, Christmas gifts, or something you really wish for. Soon you'll see it grow in the jar!"
   
   
   
5. #Free. How many pairs of winter shoes do you need? If you have a pair that you haven't used in a couple of years, you can do someone else a great service by donating to those in need. Shelters, women's shelters, and refugee reception centers often need clothes and shoes, but also other items.
   "Make sure your things are whole and clean, and then ask someone you think might need them."
   
   
   
6. Throw away but sort properly.
   – Go through all the piles of newspapers and papers. There is nothing that clutters and takes up as much space as a collection of newspapers – off to the paper recycling with them!
   – The flowers. Throw away the dead! Remove the wilted leaves and water the ones that are alive 😉
   – Speaking of throwing away; soak a slice of white bread in vinegar, place it at the bottom of your trash can for at least 24 hours. This will remove all trash odors. Of course, any trash juice must be rinsed out first.
   – Go through and wipe out the fridge. "Place a small cup of vinegar in the fridge, uncovered. This will eliminate all bad odors." 
   
   
   
7. Now it's time to start cleaning for real. Believe it or not, but the hallway is almost the most important. Hang up summer clothes and put away summer shoes.
   Shoes that smell a bit can have baking soda poured in and be left for a day or overnight. Shake out or vacuum out and the shoes are fresh and ready for winter storage.
   "There should be space on shoe racks, coat hangers, and in drawers when you are done. Remember that winter clothes take up more space than summer clothes."
   
   
   
8. Clothing bags and mothballs. This is especially important if you have attic storage/basement storage next to other tenants. Here, clothes moths can easily spread. To be on the safe side, only hang up clean clothes. Use clothing bags over, for example, jackets and coats; if you don't have any, you can make one by taking a garbage bag, pulling it over the hanger, and making a small hole for the hanger. Tie it off at the bottom. Store smaller garments in tightly sealed plastic boxes. Other textiles, such as rugs, should also be stored in bags for the best protection against moths.
   "Feel free to hang a moth ring around the hanger and put a couple of mothballs in your pockets." 
   
   
   
9. Dust from top to bottom, moldings and high shelves first. We recommend a dusting wand made of real ostrich that absorbs dust by becoming very static. NOTE! It is effective, so shake it off outdoors at regular intervals.
   – Wipe all surfaces, counters and window sills, kitchen and living room tables, sink, washbasin, toilet. Soap on a damp cloth works on most surfaces.
   – Vacuum NOW (not earlier)! You have probably stirred up some dust and debris by dusting and wiping, it’s on the floor so vacuum carefully, even behind the furniture. Fabric sofas can feel a bit "grimy" sometimes, freshen up by sprinkling baking soda over the sofa and then vacuuming it up.
   – Wipe the floors  read a separate post about it here  with soap, you do not spread unnecessary chemicals in the house.
   (Windows are a whole chapter of their own, so we'll leave that for a separate blog, but of course they should be included on the cleaning list.)
   
   
   
   
   
10. So yes, now we have come to point 10, which only contains fun things left!
    – Light an eco-friendly scented candle. Check that it is not a candle that spreads toxins. Soy wax and natural fragrances are preferred.
    – Did you throw away the dry summer flowers in point 6? If so, it's now time to put in new ones.
    – Fresh flowers in a vase or some beautiful autumn branches in a vase "puts the finishing touch on it." An extra tip is to mix 1/3 glycerol (available at pharmacies) and 2/3 water in the vase. This will preserve the autumn leaves and keep them on the branch while maintaining their beautiful autumn color. Your home is now beautifully autumnal!
    – Feel free to style the kitchen counter with a fall-themed dishcloth for the vibe and atmosphere, a great alternative.

 __________________________________________________________________________

 Questions and Answers

- Why is it important to declutter unnecessary items during the autumn cleaning?
Clearing out excess clutter reduces mess and makes it easier to keep order in the home, while also reducing stress and increasing comfort.

- How can one effectively organize and sell unused items during the autumn cleaning?
By labeling bags or boxes for sale, donation, and disposal, and then photographing and selling the items online or by contacting second-hand stores, one can effectively get rid of unused items and make money from them.

- What are the advantages of saving sales money in a jar for a specific purpose?
Saving the sales money in a jar for a specific purpose, such as a trip or Christmas gifts, provides extra motivation to declutter and sell items while also leading to a sense of reward when the goal is achieved.

- How can one best contribute to helping others through autumn cleaning?
By donating unused clothes and shoes to needy organizations such as shelters, women's shelters, and refugee reception centers, one can help make a positive difference in other people's lives.

- What are the most important steps for effective cleaning of the home?
The most important steps for effective cleaning include decluttering and organizing items, dusting and wiping surfaces, vacuuming thoroughly, and considering eco-friendly options to create a clean and fresh environment.

Use Västerbottenssåpa products to keep your home clean and pleasant!