How to Clean and Organise Your Home with a Baby on the Way
Nesting is a very real concern for many expectant moms. When you have a baby on the way, you want to be sure everything is ready so that you can settle in and enjoy your little bundle of joy. While your new arrival may not need your baby-proofing efforts in the first few months, those months are often a zombie-like whirlwind, making it difficult for you to take care of many of those important tasks. As a result, you want to make sure you have your home clean and everything ready to go before baby makes their big appearance.
1. Schedule a deep clean a month or so before your due date.
You don’t have to get down on your hands and knees yourself and scrub the grout between the tiles on your own. Instead, schedule a deep clean from a cleaning service about a month before baby is due to arrive. Not only will this help reduce stress, it will ensure that you don’t have to worry about handling deep cleaning tasks immediately after baby’s arrival.
2. Check your cabinets.
Ideally, you’ll install childproof locks to help keep baby out of important or dangerous items, but as most parents well know, inquisitive toddlers often figure out those locks quickly. Take a look at your cabinets. Do you have hazardous items, like household cleaners, stored in easy reach for a little one? It’s time to move those items up out of reach. You may want to go ahead and install locks on those cabinets, too: toddlers often quickly learn how to climb into dangerous areas. And speaking of household chemicals…
3. Get rid of unnecessary chemicals.
If you’re still using chemical cleaners in your home, now is the time to do your research and learn more about green cleaning products. Not only are they safer if baby gets into them when he gets a little older, moving to green products can create better air quality and decrease toxin exposure from the moment you bring your little one home.
4. Plan to deep clean your carpets.
Your carpets take a lot of abuse. That may include such hazards as mould, pollen from the outdoors, and animal hair and dander. It won’t be long before baby is crawling or rolling around on your rugs and carpets–and baby’s toys will fall quickly to those areas as soon as baby starts playing. When you schedule your home’s deep clean, make sure you include carpet cleaning to help eliminate those hazards. Using a green cleaner will ensure that you don’t end up with even more toxins in your carpets from the cleaning process!
5. Clean the most germ-filled places in your home before you bring baby home.
If you have some warning before you have your baby–a scheduled induction or C-section, for example–you can take care of the most germ-filled areas of the home before bringing baby home. Even without warning, you can send in a professional cleaner before you come home with baby. Make sure to hit stove handles, doorknobs and light switches, counter tops, and toothbrush holders. These areas, which you handle on a daily basis, can often harbour unexpected germs.
6. Clean out the fridge.
While you’re nesting, cleaning out the fridge is a great way to prepare room for baby. Even if you’re planning to nurse baby at first, you may still need room in the fridge for pumped bottles or pump parts. Clean out the fridge ahead of time to make more room. Equally importantly, wipe down the shelves and do a deep clean of the fridge while you’re in there so that you can be sure baby’s food is stored in the safest place possible.
Do you have a bundle of joy along the way? We can help reduce the stress that comes along with preparing for baby by taking care of many of those deep cleaning tasks for you. Contact us today to learn more or to schedule your house cleaning.
