Don't Throw Away These 5 Things During Diwali Cleaning: They Can Be Used for Home Decor and Save Money

In India, people begin a thorough cleaning of their homes before the Diwali festival. While cabinets, fans, windows, and floors are usually cleaned, dust accumulated under sofas, beds, and heavy furniture often remains. Moving such furniture can be laborious, and there is a risk of damaging the flooring. Because of this, many postpone cleaning these areas, leaving them dirty.

However, there are ways to clean the space under and behind furniture without moving a sofa, bed, or large wardrobe. This does not require expensive cleaning agents or special machines; ordinary household items can be used to reach these difficult spots. Below are simple methods for cleaning dust and dirt accumulated under and behind furniture before Diwali.

How to Assess the Space Under Furniture

Before starting the cleaning, you should use your mobile phone's flashlight to carefully inspect the space under the sofa, bed, and wardrobe. This will help you understand the volume of accumulated dust and the available area for cleaning. You need to check the free space between the furniture and the floor, ensuring there are no wires, wooden planks, or furniture legs. If the space is limited, you can use a narrow brush or a cloth attached to a long handle. First, you must remove all toys, paper, and other items lying on the floor.

It is important to remember: if the sofa is electric or equipped with a motor, be sure to unplug it before starting work. Avoid putting hands or sticks into the moving parts of the device.

Creating a Long Brush from Old Socks or Cloth

If you do not have a professional long broom bought from a store, you can create one from an old sock or cotton fabric. Take any long, thin stick or pole you have at home and firmly attach a piece of cotton fabric or an old sock to one end. Ensure the fabric is securely fastened so it does not fall off during cleaning. Then, slowly rotate this pole under the sofa and bed, cleaning in small sections instead of scrubbing the same spot repeatedly. When dust starts to accumulate on the fabric, it should be shaken out or washed. This way, hidden dust under the furniture can be removed with minimal effort.

Dusting Behind Sofas and Wardrobes

Dust, cobwebs, and small debris often accumulate between the wall and the sofa or wardrobe, making them hard to reach by hand. For this purpose, a long brush or a thin stick can be used. First, gently remove cobwebs from the corners of the wall and behind the furniture. After that, sweep from top to bottom with the long brush. It is also recommended to wipe the baseboard along the wall with a dry cloth to remove stuck dust. Finally, the collected dust and debris should be swept up and disposed of.

Note: If there are electrical panels or wires behind the furniture, do not use a wet cloth or metal rods near them. When cleaning, avoid pulling or displacing electrical cables.

Cleaning with a Broom If No Vacuum Cleaner is Available

Even though not every home has a vacuum cleaner, this does not mean it is impossible to clean under furniture. In such cases, you can use a narrow broom. Slowly guide the broom under the sofa or bed and direct the dust in one direction. It is important not to spin the broom too fast, otherwise, the dust may scatter throughout the room. The collected dust should be removed immediately. If the broom is too thick and cannot fit under the furniture, you can tie a piece of thin cotton material to its front part to facilitate the process.

Final Wipe with a Damp Cloth

Even after removing dry dust, some dirt may remain on the floor. To eliminate it, use a slightly damp cotton cloth. Before use, the cloth must be moistened with water and thoroughly wrung out so that it does not drip. Then, using a long pole, gain access under the furniture and gently wipe the surface according to the type of floor. If you have wood or laminate flooring, try not to use too much water. After cleaning, allow the area to dry completely.

It should be noted that the same cleaning agent is not suitable for all types of floors. Especially before applying vinegar, strong chemicals, or steam on wooden floors, you must read the care instructions for them.

Precautions When Cleaning for Diwali

Do not attempt to move heavy wardrobes or furniture attached to the wall yourself, and never remove their safety fastenings. During cleaning, do not use excessive amounts of water. If you notice signs of dampness or leaks under the furniture, do not ignore them. If you find mold, do not blow it away with a broom, but address the cause of the increased humidity.

As Diwali approaches, many people are preparing to tidy up their homes, and cleaning the screens on doors and windows is an important part of this process. Often, people clean floors, fans, and the windows themselves, but they avoid cleaning metal screens from accumulated dust and dirt because it takes a lot of time. Sometimes people try to wash the screens with hose water, but this only temporarily improves the appearance, as a thick layer of grime forms on them again, spoiling the look of a clean home.

Especially near the kitchen, sticky grease and smoke accumulate on the screens. Cleaning such screens usually takes many hours and effort. However, if you think that expensive cleaning agents are needed for this task, you are mistaken. With ordinary hot water, detergent, and liquid soap available at home, you can easily clean a dirty screen without extra effort.

To clean a metal screen on a door or window, you will need some common items that are easy to find at home.

Due to the accumulation of dust, dirt, and grease, cleaning a metal screen becomes a difficult task. In this case, a solution of hot water and detergent will help loosen the grime. First, you need to fill a basin with enough hot water that can be used safely, provided the water is not too hot.

Next, add a little washing powder and liquid dish soap to the water and mix thoroughly. Then, wet a sponge or soft cloth in this solution and gently apply it to the screen, trying to clean every part of it.

After applying the solution, leave it for about 10–15 minutes so that the settled dust and grease become soft. After that, carefully scrub the screen with a sponge or a soft brush. This will allow the dirt to come off easily, and you won't have to exert excessive effort.

After finishing the cleaning, wipe the screen with a clean, slightly damp cloth to remove any soap and detergent residue. Then, dry the screen completely with a dry cloth. It is important to avoid prolonged contact of water with the metal screen, as this increases the risk of rust.

When cleaning a metal screen, avoid scrubbing hard. If the screen is painted, test the solution on a small area first to minimize the risk of paint damage. Furthermore, if there is already rust or peeling paint on the screen, simple soap and water may not be enough to completely eliminate the problem.

It should also be remembered that you should not use excessively hot water for cleaning, and when working with the screen, you must protect adjacent wooden doors or electrical switches from getting wet.

By applying this simple method, you can clean regular dirt from door and window screens before Diwali. This will make the house cleaner and save you unnecessary hassle in preparing for the holiday.

After the end of the rainy season and the onset of light cold, preparations begin for Diwali celebrations in homes, and much time is spent cleaning roofs and balconies. Due to rain, moss forms on roofs, around tanks, balconies, walls, and pots, which is difficult to remove. This not only worsens the appearance but also increases the risk of slipping and falling on the roof.

If moss appears on your house, it can be cleaned this season. Since the rains are stopping, the moss does not grow as quickly, allowing it to be easily removed for a long-lasting result. After the rainy season, no chemical agents or excessive effort are required to remove moss.

There is a simple white powder that allows the moss problem to be eliminated in minutes. Next, we will discuss how to use this powder and what precautions should be taken. This white powder will greatly help in quickly getting rid of the moss problem.

Powder useful for removing moss

When moss appears on walls, courtyards, roofs, and pots, it has to be scrubbed hard, but it still remains. However, a folk remedy can solve this problem in minutes. For this, it is enough to purchase this white powder, which costs only 5–10 rupees. It can be bought in the required quantity and is considered very effective for removing moss without requiring large expenses.

Where to find this white powder?

To remove moss from roofs and yards, you can buy white powder in any store, such as a spice shop. Moss thrives in acidic environments, and lime is an alkali. Therefore, when it is sprayed on moss, it destroys its cells and helps prevent its spread.

Lime prevents moss spread

When lime is applied to stubborn green moss, a layer is formed that prevents moisture penetration. Because of this, the moss does not reappear. Therefore, lime is considered the most effective agent against moss because it not only removes it but also prevents re-growth.

Note these points when applying

Before using the lime powder, several important points must be considered, as its application can be dangerous to the eyes and skin. Before applying lime to remove moss, put on gloves and protective goggles. After some time after applying lime to the moss, clean the area with a brush.

Disclaimer: This home method is based on social media claims and general information. Lime can cause irritation to the skin, eyes, and respiratory tract, so caution must be exercised when using it, by wearing gloves and protective goggles. Do not allow direct contact of lime with skin or eyes, and keep it away from children and pets. Be sure to read the instructions on the package before use. Test on a small area before applying to any surface. If the moss is very dense or the surface is slippery, be extremely careful during cleaning.