10 tips for autumn cleaning indoors

It is said that we spend several days a year in total looking for things we have lost and misplaced.
I don't know whether it is true, but it does not sound unlikely; besides causing irritation, an untidy and cluttered home also makes us stressed and uncomfortable!

Here are ten autumn-cleaning tips to help you create a little more order and space, as well as a more pleasant, fresh-smelling, and easier-to-clean home. Get ready for winter and welcome autumn with a clean and beautiful home! Since you found these tips on Soapa, 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, storage areas and boxes will not have time to become filled to the brim and turn into a huge project.
Many of us also become a little too attached to possessions, which can cause us to create a mental barrier to decluttering. Therefore, our first tip will be about changing your attitude toward collecting possessions.

1. Consider the following:
   – It becomes easier to clean at home when fewer things are left out.
   – It is more pleasant simply to be in your home when fewer things are left out.
   – You don't have to rummage around and search for things as often.
   – You have unnecessarily much money tied up in things.
   – Someone else may benefit more from things you do not use.
   So now that you have read through this and reflected on it, doesn't it feel better?!
   
   
   
2. Make room for three large bags or boxes, preferably in a large entryway or in the living room. The main thing is that it is not a cramped space. Label your boxes/bags with #ForSale #GiveAway #ThrowAway
   Start cleaning. Go through the rooms one by one, question everything that is lying around creating clutter. Go through overstuffed drawers.
   Throw the things away at once into one of the boxes. Decide whether they should be sold, donated, or discarded.
   
   
   
3. Get out your camera.
   List your things against a neutral background, such as a blanket, and photograph everything in the pile #ForSale.
   Then list more expensive items on, for example, Blocket.se (do a quick search to see what others are charging). Cheaper items often sell well through Facebook groups such as “Buy/sell…” or “Auction”.
   Another way is to contact a second-hand shop and ask whether they are interested in buying your things.
   The money will soon start rolling in! 😉
   
   
   
4. What about the money? Strangely enough, money is one of the few things that never ends up lying around the house in piles 😉
   An old trick among waitresses is to save all their tips in a jar for a special purpose.
   Try saving all the money from your sales in a jar! Save for a trip, Christmas presents, or something you really want. You'll soon see it growing in the jar!
   
   
   
5. #FreeToGoodHome. How many pairs of winter shoes do you need? If you have a pair you haven't used in a couple of years, you can do someone else a great favor by donating them to people in need. Shelters, women's shelters, and refugee reception centers often need clothes and shoes, as well as other things.
   Make sure your things are intact and clean, then ask someone you think might need them.
   
   
   
6. Throw things away, but sort them properly.
   – Go through all the piles of newspapers and paper. Nothing creates clutter and takes up as much space as a collection of newspapers—take them to paper recycling!
   – The flowers. Throw out the dead ones! Remove wilted leaves and water the ones that are still alive 😉
   – Speaking of throwing things away; soak a slice of white bread in vinegar and place it at the bottom of your garbage bin for at least 24 hours. This removes all soapy smells. Of course, any liquid from the garbage must be rinsed out first.
   – Go through the fridge and wipe it out. Place a small cup of vinegar in the fridge without a lid. This removes all bad odors. 
   
   
   
7. Now it’s time to start cleaning properly. Believe it or not, the hallway is almost the most important area. Put away your summer clothes and store your summer shoes.
   For shoes that smell a little, you can pour in some baking soda and leave them for a day or overnight. Shake it out or vacuum it out, and the shoes will be fresh and ready for winter storage.
   There should be space on the shoe racks, clothes hangers, and in the drawers when you’re done. Keep in mind that winter clothes take up more space than summer clothes.
   
   
   
   
   
8. Garment bags and mothballs. This is especially important if you have an attic or basement storage unit next to other tenants’ units. Clothes moths spread easily there. To be on the safe side, only put away clean clothes. Use garment bags for items such as 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 closed at the bottom. Store smaller garments in airtight plastic containers. Other textiles, such as rugs, should also be stored in bags for the best protection against moths.
   Hang a moth repellent ring around the hanger and place a couple of mothballs in the pockets. 
   
   
   
9. Dust from top to bottom, starting with baseboards and high shelves. We recommend a genuine ostrich feather duster that picks up dust by becoming highly static. NOTE! It is effective, so shake it out outdoors at regular intervals.
   – Wipe down all surfaces, counters and windowsills, kitchen and living room tables, the kitchen sink, washbasin, and toilet. Soft soap on a damp cloth works on most surfaces. 
   – Vacuum NOW (not earlier)! By now, you have probably dislodged some dust and debris while dusting and wiping, and it’s on the floor, so vacuum thoroughly, including behind the furniture. Fabric sofas can sometimes feel a little “stale”; freshen them up by sprinkling baking soda over the sofa and then vacuuming it up.
   – Mop the floors read a separate post about it here.  Using soft soap means you don’t spread unnecessary chemicals throughout the house.
   (Windows are a chapter all of their own, so we’ll cover them in a separate blog post, but of course they should be included on the cleaning checklist.)
   
   
   
   
   
10. So yes, we have now reached point 10, which only contains fun things!
    – Light an eco-friendly scented candle. Make sure it is not a candle that releases toxins. Soy wax and natural fragrances are preferable.
    – Did you throw away the dried summer flowers in point 6? If so, it is now time to put in new ones.
    – Fresh flowers in a vase or a few beautiful autumn branches in a vase “add the finishing touch.” An additional tip is to mix 1/3 glycerol (available at pharmacies) and 2/3 water in the vase. The autumn leaves will then be preserved, stay on the branch, and retain their beautiful autumn color. Your home is now ready for autumn!
    – Feel free to spruce up the kitchen counter, but an autumn-themed dishcloth is a good alternative for the atmosphere and the climate.

 __________________________________________________________________________

 Questions and Answers

- Why is it important to declutter excess items during autumn cleaning?
Decluttering excess items reduces clutter and makes it easier to keep the home organized, while also reducing stress and increasing well-being.

- How can you effectively organize and sell unused items during autumn cleaning?
By labeling bags or boxes for selling, donating, and throwing away, then photographing and selling the items online or contacting secondhand stores, you can effectively get rid of unused items and make money from them.

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

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

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

Use Soapa products to keep your home clean and comfortable!