Dirty areas of your home, such as attics, crawlspaces, and basements, are often neglected until it’s time to move. The other time they’re considered: when there is a significant problem that needs to be addressed. Choosing to be proactive can help you stop damages before they start or mitigate any losses.
Think about it, what would happen to the items you stored in these used, but sometimes forgotten spaces if there was:
- Flooding
- Sewer backups
- Insect infestation
- Rodent or wildlife habitation
- Mold growth
- Fire
- Structural damage
Sadly, homes fall into disrepair all the time due to hoarding situations, physical inability to clean, or simply the choice to not clean or maintain a property. This disrepair impacts the home’s value and can make it unsafe to live in.
While cleaning attics, crawlspaces, and basements may seem daunting, we wanted to offer some suggestions to make it easier to complete. Remember, when it comes to big tasks, it’s best to chunk them into smaller tasks.
The benefit? Your health and safety.
Step 1: Start with a clean slate
Remove everything in the space and sort through it. Do items need to be thrown out? You may want to put things into a new container, such as a water-proof bin instead of that old cardboard box. Are there any items that need a new home, such as being gifted to a family member, friend, or charity?
Step 2: Get help
If you need a roll-off dumpster or professional, now is the time to access that need and hire. Pest control, insulation, electricians, plumbers, or cleaning companies have the unique skills to handle tasks in your home that may be too dangerous or skilled for you to do on your own.
Once everything is safe, recruit others to help you, such as family or friends.
Step 3: Set yourself up for success
Reorganize the space with well-marked boxes or tags and set dates for regular inspections and maintenance of the newly cleaned area. For example, every spring, plan to check for insects or rodents or signs of water damage. In the winter, check for wire damage, insulation issues, or mold growth.
A deep clean may take some time, but maintenance cleaning is much easier. Don’t let the area turn into another elephant by including it in your regular cleaning schedule, even if it is only once or twice a year. Your future self will thank you.
And, if you need support from a professional cleaning company for a deep clean or ongoing clean, you can trust A Cleaning Service. We are an award-winning cleaning company serving the Greater Washington DC, Virginia, and Maryland areas with a passion for handling your cleaning needs so you can focus on the relationships that matter to you!