Welcome to Week 10 of The Deep Clean Challenge: The Smudge and Peeve Hunt
This week isn’t necessarily a break week, but it is a lighter one. However, this respite serves an important purpose. You will be tapping into your mental energy to strategize for the upcoming week. And just so you’re aware, using your mental and emotional energy is indeed considered work!
For those who are new to this journey, here’s a recap of what we’ve accomplished so far in The Deep Clean Challenge:
- Cleared away clutter
- Deep cleaned the kitchen
- Organized the bedroom
- Sanitized the bathroom
- Revitalized the living room
- Restored the dining room/area
- Revamped the entryway
- Purged the refrigerator
- Streamlined our digital life
Why Focus on Smudges and Smears Today?
Dirt and dinginess tend to creep into our spaces gradually. It often starts with a single fingerprint or smudge, accumulating until one day you notice that simply decluttering doesn’t seem to have the same impact as it once did. Today, we’re addressing those pesky smudges that have slipped under the radar.
What Do We Need for Today’s Deep Clean Challenge?
For today’s mission, you’ll require just two items:
- A roll of paper towels or a cleaning rag
- Your preferred all-purpose cleaner
When I mention all-purpose cleaner, I’m referring to anything from a 50:50 vinegar solution to Method’s delightful Pink Grapefruit Spray, or even diluted Pine-Sol. The choice is yours—just select one and get ready to engage in our mission!
How to Begin the Smudge Hunt
Start by selecting a room and scanning your surroundings for any smudges and fingerprints. Spray your rag and wipe them away. Pay attention to common areas where these marks tend to accumulate: door frames, doorknobs, light switch plates, and the edges of white cabinets. These are prime spots for handprints and smudges. Additionally, if you have pets, check the walls and corners where they like to curl up. If their fur contains oils, you’ll want to give those areas a quick wipe-down as well. (Remember to test any cleaner on your paint first to ensure it won’t cause damage.)
This task should not take too long unless you’re exceptionally fortunate, in which case, may we be invited over for hors d’oeuvres in your garden one sunny afternoon? Regardless of the time it takes, you’ll be amazed at how much fresher your home will look after this round of smudge patrol. This is how clutter builds up in our lives—incrementally. If you continuously engage in this process, you will likely find fewer smudges to clean up each time, making the task quicker and easier.
Now, Let’s Talk About Those Peeves
During your smudge hunting, take a moment to identify one thing in your home that annoys you. We all have that one item or issue that we’ve been tolerating. As you embark on your smudge hunt, find just one peeve that you can tackle for next week’s project. However, there’s a catch: it should be something you can reasonably address within your two-hour Home-Ec101 project block. (I definitely don’t want you to think you need to renovate your entire home into an open-concept space!)
Potential peeves to consider:
- Squeaky doors that need a little lubrication
- A set of broken blinds
- A glass shower door with stubborn hard water stains
- A toilet handle that’s on the fritz
- A lightbulb that’s especially tricky to replace has burned out again
- A banister that has peeling paint from your teens treating it like an Olympic vaulting event (or is it just me?)
- A missing drawer pull that leaves you prying the drawer open with frustration
What’s that one thing you’ve been putting up with? Walk through your home as if you were an inspector. Once you find your project, jot it down. Do you know how to fix it, or will you need to do some research? Look for a tutorial on YouTube, and perhaps watch a second one in case there’s a better method. Are any parts or tools necessary? Order those now, so they arrive in time for your next project.
What will you accomplish next week? I’d love to hear about your plans!