Photo by Omar Lopez on Unsplash
While nesting has often been linked to hormonal changes occurring throughout pregnancy, recent research suggests that it’s a result of chemicals pushing expectant moms to protect their babies.
With the world still under a pandemic, most moms-to-be are getting paranoid about healthy pregnancy and keeping their babies safe at all times. And just like them, you must be more nervous about cleaning and preparing your home!
Hush, mom-bird! You can do it.
Check out these expert-recommended tips to prepare your home for the arrival of your newborn.
Start by deep-cleaning floors.
You want clean, dust-free floors when you and your baby arrive home. As people walk on them every day, it doesn't take long for floors to harbor dust, dirt, and bacteria from filthy shoes, dropped food scraps, etc.
Different floor types require different cleaning methods. For ceramic floors, use a mop soaked in soapy water. For wood floors, use a lightly damp mop or cloth.
If you have carpets, have them steamed and cleaned before the baby's arrival. Floors should be regularly swept and kept free from choking hazards.
Keep the dust off the baby.
Your indoor air quality can greatly impact the health of your newborn, increasing the risk of allergies, skin rash, and the like. Thankfully, wiping down surfaces with dampened cloth and dusting can eliminate up to 90 percent of the dust in your home.
However, you shouldn’t stop there. Dust can easily accumulate on surfaces and floors. Maintaining a dust-free home takes conscious effort. Follow these steps to minimize dust in your home:
• Wash and vacuum doormats regularly.
• Replace old carpets.
• Have your HVAC filters and air ducts cleaned.
• Use humidifiers.
Kill bacteria in your kitchen.
The kitchen is where you will be cleaning feeding bottles, preparing baby food, washing toys, etc. Therefore, you want to keep it thoroughly clean and free from nasty germs and bacteria that can contaminate your baby’s stuff.
Clean all items and surfaces using a bleach-free disinfecting spray, so it won't harm you and your baby. Clean small appliances and anything else that stays on your counters. Wipe down counters, deep clean your sink, and wipe down the walls and floors.
Also, don’t forget to give your refrigerator a good clean, especially if you plan on storing breastmilk in there.
Rearrange your home.
Consider rearranging your home to make it easier to clean surfaces. However, don’t attempt to move heavy furniture by yourself as pregnancy hormones can soften your joints and ligaments, making you prone to injuries. Delegate the tough job to your partner or a professional.
Also, try not to reach up high. Back pain is very common in pregnancy, especially during the last trimester. As much as possible, avoid doing anything that can trigger or aggravate back pain.
Check behind your furniture.
The gaps in sofas, chairs, and furniture can collect dirt and debris over time. Make it a habit to clean those gaps to lessen grime in your home. It’s best to move the furniture a bit so you can easily and freely clean hidden areas (again, have someone move it for you), instead of cleaning with a vacuum.
The reason is you never know if there are big items like toys and pens in the gaps that can get stuck in your vacuum pipe.
Make sure all linens are washed.
Bedbugs can cause skin rash especially on newborns who have very sensitive skin. Worse, they can transfer from one surface to another easily. Therefore, you want all linens washed, not just those in the baby’s room.
Lastly, it’s important to have all new and used clothing clean and dry before your baby arrives, and only use baby-friendly detergent for washing them.
Stay organized.
Once your home is deeply cleaned, look for ways to keep things organized. You see, keeping your home clean is more challenging when you already have a little one to attend to.
Clean cabinets and closets, and get rid of items that you’re no longer using or haven’t used for the past few months. Consider placing baskets with baby necessities in the main rooms and invest in containers or bins that make collecting clutter a lot easier.
Organize everything into drawers and labeled bins. Additionally, keep cleaning supplies nearby. Stock on baby-friendly cleaning supplies, including disinfecting wipes and sprays so you can conveniently clean surfaces whenever needed.
Conclusion
Bringing a newborn into the home is such an exciting time for parents. However, your home has to be prepared accordingly. The best time to clean your home is about a month before your baby’s arrival.
Cleaning can be extra challenging, especially for expectant moms. That said, consider delegating the tasks to others so you have the opportunity to rest and ensure that all areas of your home are properly cleaned.
Mariam Novak is a Hygiene Specialist working with SONO Healthcare. She has been interested in health and cleaning issues since she was young and wants to share her knowledge and experience with others who are not indifferent to cleanup. Mariam is deeply convinced that house cleaning is a critical part of hygiene. On a regular basis, she delivers new cleaning expert advice on how to treat products, tools, different items, which sometimes include medical instruments and equipment as well.