Tag: winter cleaning

How to Shake off Your Winter Hibernation

Posted on by Jordank

The trees are budding and the first flowers of #spring are starting to pop up — depending on your location, sometimes through a lingering snow. But you may still struggle to get energized for the warm weather, having been in human “hibernation” through winter.

“Humans cannot actually hibernate, but in the coldest months of the year, many of us are drawn to something similar,” writes Katherine May in Wintering: How I Learned to Flourish When Life Became Frozen. “We want to batten down the hatches, preserve our energies, lay on fat.”

Now, it’s time to shake off that hibernation and meet the sunniest months of the year head-on. You can shed that winter weight, tackle long-overdue warm-weather projects and reinvent your outlook for the rest of the year. Here are a few ways:

Move your body. You don’t have to start training for a triathlon, but any activity that gets your blood circulating will help you snap of the winter doldrums. Get off the couch and commit to move every day, even if it’s just a short walk.

“Moderate exercise will release endorphins that encourage you to move a little more next time,” says Optimi. “If you can be outside when the sun’s shining, all the better. Sunlight provides a variety of health benefits you don’t want to miss, including creating your own supply of immune-building vitamin D.”

#Declutter and #organize. Not only can #decluttering get you moving, it can also lighten the psychological load of a crowded, chaotic space. Simply having less #stuff to gather dust will make it easier to find the things you do like and streamline your home life.

Contact ClothingDonations.org for a #free #donation #pickup, and that extra #junk will be out of your life for good. Your mood will brighten knowing that #donating lightly used goods helps fund programs benefiting the nation’s #veterans.

Deep-clean. They don’t call it spring #cleaning for nothing. Shake out the rugs, wash the windows and scrub the baseboards. A #clean, fresh-smelling and bright home is a more pleasant place to be; it will put the spring in your step and may even inspire you to let some fresh air in.

Whatever gets you moving, socializing and planning again after a long winter is fair game. Just know that you no longer have to bundle up, huddle on the couch and binge Netflix. Spring has sprung, so go out and take advantage of it!

Cleaning to Keep Winter Viruses at Bay

Posted on by Jordank

Many germs and viruses survive better in the cool, dry conditions that common in fall and winter, according to Healthline. Keep indoor humidity levels at 40% to 60% are optimal to make some viruses less likely to survive in the air and consider a humidifier if your humidity drops below 30%. Also identify your home’s high-touch surfaces — doorknobs, light switches, appliance handles and the like — and clean them often to reduce the chance of spread. And this may go without saying in the post-COVID era, but have everyone in the household practice frequent hand-washing. #WinterCleaning

Keep Your Indoor Air Clean

Posted on by Jordank

With windows shut against the cold and the heat turned up, indoor air quality can suffer. That’s why it’s important to focus on dust and allergens when performing #winter #cleaning. Be sure to dust blinds, ceiling fans, light fixtures, and electronics; wipe down baseboards and vacuum rugs; and launder all bedding and drapes. Finally — once you’ve eliminated most of the airborne pollutants — change your furnace’s air filter to keep the air you breathe fresher. “Cleaner air reduces the risk of allergies, asthma flare-ups, and cold and flu transmission,” says Men’s Journal. #WinterCleaning

Winter Weather Means Frequent Cleaning

Posted on by Jordank

With snow and temperatures falling, you’re likely spending more time indoors — and that means your space is handling a lot more wear and tear. Frequent #cleaning can keep your #home sparkling and allergen-free, says Care.com. Start by #cleansing the floors, which are often subject to tracked-in dirt and moisture. Also shampoo or freshen area rugs and carpeting. Entryways are key to keeping the home clean, so sweep and #organize them. Be sure to clean and disinfect bathrooms regularly to prevent the spread of germs, and change out the filters in your HVAC to help it run efficiently and prevent allergies. #WinterCleaning

Bringing Warmth to the Winter Home

Posted on by Jordank

Once all of the #holiday celebrations are complete and the temperatures drop to single digits, you may struggle to create #warmth — real or perceived — in the home. The cold weather and empty social schedules of January may prompt you to enter a protective hibernation.

The cold-weather cultures of Scandinavia tell you to lean into that feeling through #hygge, the concept of warmth, comfort and quiet conviviality practiced when the weather outside is cold, blustery and otherwise inhospitable.

Hygge demands quiet comforts such as cozy sweaters and throws, casual get-togethers with friends and family, and plenty of hot meals and beverages such as coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Candles and a fire in the hearth only add to hygge’s #warm, golden glow.

Creating real warmth in winter may require a few #household fixes, however. The first thing to check is your furnace filter — if it hasn’t been changed recently, dust and dirt may be blocking heated air. Change it so that the heat travels to the vents efficiently and with fewer allergens.

Half the battle of staying warm in #winter is to keep the heat inside and the cold outside. Adding insulation, area rugs and a chimney flue blocker are simple ways to keep the warmth from escaping and save money on heating costs.

Other simple fixes include 10 home heating “hacks” from Better Homes & Gardens. They include insulating drafty windows with bubble wrap and sealing window frames with fresh caulk. To quickly warm the kitchen and create a homey atmosphere, fire up the oven and bake some cookies or braise a roast.

We at The Organizing Blog like to save energy and set our thermostats to 68°F throughout the winter. But we also have plenty of blankets and throws we can use to stay warm, some of which were #thrifted from stores supplied by generous #donations to ClothingDonations.org.

You can also generate #heat by staying active — getting on the treadmill, painting a room or thoroughly #decluttering and #organizing a space. After you #schedule a #donation #pickup for all of that extra #stuff, reward yourself by bundling up, pouring a hot beverage and relaxing.

There’s nothing like the warmth of a #clean, cozy and #uncluttered home. Follow a few of these tips to stay warm, whatever winter brings!