Kickstart Your Cleaning Journey at the Front Door
This week, we’re going to focus our attention on the front door and take it a step further by including your front porch or stoop, if you have one. (If it’s pouring rain, feel free to wait until the skies clear up before tackling the outdoors.) If you own an outdoor broom, grab that along with your indoor broom, depending on your home’s layout. For those of us without a traditional entryway, entering through the front door leads straight into the living room—hello, home sweet home! If you have a foyer or mudroom, today’s cleaning session might take a bit longer, especially if it’s frequently used. So, gather your cleaning supplies and, if you have cleaning help, get them geared up as well.
Gather Your Essential Tools
- A vacuum equipped with a soft bristle attachment and a crevice tool, especially useful if you have carpeting.
- Window cleaner and either paper towels or newspaper for streak-free shine.
- Wood furniture polish and an applicator (like a rag) or paste wax if you have wooden surfaces.
- A sturdy stepladder or chair to reach higher spots safely.
- A screwdriver (standard or Phillips head, depending on the task). I prefer the flip-tip kinds for smaller jobs; they’re handy, though not ideal for larger tasks.
- A diluted degreaser for tough spots.
- If you suffer from allergies, don’t forget to wear a mask. Dust will be stirred up in the next hour or two, and you’ll appreciate the relief later.
- If you have a mudroom, you might need a mop and floor cleaner for the final touch.
Today, we’ll clean from least dirty to most dirty. Normally, we follow the top-to-bottom, left-to-right, and dry-to-wet method, but today we’ll also work from the inside out, pushing dirt outside rather than bringing it in.
Make Room to Work
If you have a mudroom filled with winter clothes and boots (especially if you have kids), I’ve been holding off on this task for a reason. It’s now May 1st, and you should be safe from cold weather in most areas. Gather up any items that no longer fit and prepare them for donation or sale, and make a note of what you’ll need for next winter. If you have an entryway table, clear it off—dispose of anything that isn’t decorative and return items to their proper places.
Start from Top to Bottom
Does your entryway have a light fixture? Clean it thoroughly, replace any burnt-out bulbs, and ensure all glass surfaces are sparkling clean. Remember, we discussed this last week—cleaning the light is essential! While you’re on the stepladder or sturdy chair, take a moment to knock down any cobwebs hanging in the corners. This area is usually pretty straightforward when it comes to dusting, but I bet there are fingerprints everywhere. Grab a damp rag with diluted degreaser and wipe down the door frame and switch plates, paying special attention to the areas around the doorknob and bolt, as well as lower spots where feet often make contact. Removing scuff marks will refresh your door and, in turn, your entire room.
Clean any windows in the area. Remove doormats or runners and give them a good shake outside before vacuuming. If your flooring is wood or tile, sweep and vacuum it thoroughly. For carpets, a solid vacuuming is essential. How do those baseboards look? Give them a once-over with your vacuum and bristle attachment. If you have carpeting, don’t forget to use the crevice tool for those tight spots.
See? That wasn’t so bad! Now, let’s take care of the other side of the door and your stoop or porch if you have one. If you live in an apartment, you may have a lighter load; maintenance usually handles most of this, but it never hurts to spruce up your entryway a bit.
Look Up
Are there any cobwebs or spiders hiding in the corners? Sweep them away. Does your light work? If not, replace it. Is the glass in need of cleaning? Get to it! Use your broom or, even better, a foxtail to dust off any sheltered siding around your door (the foxtail is especially handy for those pesky cobwebs that cling to brick). If you have side windows, a quick dusting with your foxtail will make it easier to clean them later, especially if it’s been a while since your last cleaning session. (Not that I ever let it go months… or years… without cleaning!) Normally, we would clean windows before sweeping, but since we’re outside where dirt is more prevalent, you might kick up more dust that would cling to still-wet windows, so let’s sweep first. Before you start, look for anything that doesn’t belong on your porch, stoop, or entryway and dispose of it properly. Remove your doormat and sweep thoroughly.
Give your doormat a good shake far away from your freshly swept area—I’ve been around my kids too much, so I shouldn’t have to remind you of that! Apologies! Wipe down the outside of your door with a rag and diluted degreaser, giving special attention to the frame near the doorknob and any spots where you rest your hand while inserting your key. Also, check for scuff marks at the bottom of the door. If you have a glass storm door, clean both sides of the glass with window cleaner and the metal framing with the diluted degreaser. Don’t forget to clean the outside of any windows as well.
And that’s it! If the weather is nice, consider calling it a day. Grab a book, pour yourself a glass of iced tea, and savor the lovely outdoors.
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