Raya is a celebration of joy and happiness with family and friends, with many of those working in the cities travelling back or balik kampung to their hometowns to reunite and spend quality time with loved ones.

Now, cleaning the entire house can be tiresome, especially while fasting. But, not to worry! Here are some tips from renowned Chef Ezani to help brighten-up your house this Raya celebration!

#1 Reorder and Rearrange

To make the space look bigger and brighter, getting rid of any unused items lying around the house helps. If you’re putting out some of your old things, consider giving them away to charity. This kills two birds with one stone – a clutter free home and giving back to the society!

#2 The Nook and Cranny

Dust can build up, no matter how many times we wipe it off, especially in high areas such as the cabinet or ceiling fans. Here’s a tip to remove the dirt, cobwebs and dust from surfaces; try using a water spray with a microfibre dusting cloth that is lint free, streak free and scratch free. By doing so, the microfiber dusting cloth will lift and trap dust and dirt without the use of any chemicals.

To make things easier, start cleaning from the top to bottom. This is so that you don’t have to clean the floor again when the dirt falls from the top shelves or the ceiling fan.

#3 Vacuum and Mopping

Sweeping or vacuuming is essential before mopping the floor. If you are using a vacuum and are worried about the vacuum leaving black streaks at the bottom of the walls, just cover the edges of the vacuum head with masking tape. The masking tape ensures that no dark smudges of dirt will be left behind when it bumps into walls and other surfaces. Also, try to use the crevice tool on the edges of the room – as it makes it easier to clean hard-to-reach areas.

Mopping can sometimes be a hassle, but the art of mopping the floor can be a simple process as there is a trick to get the job done faster. Try using a spin mop and bucket, and mop the floor in sections. This helps to get rid of grime build-up and debris easier and faster.

Another tip is to make sure to wring the mop out when you finish a section. Then, wipe the small section with the wrung-out mop to avoid spreading dirt on other parts of the floor. Using the right cleaning detergent and mop can make a big difference and it saves time too.  

#4 The Kitchen

After cooking all the yummy food, the cleaning up can be the hardest part. All the cooking and baking will likely leave your kitchen appliances with some cooking stains, which can be a task to remove - It’s normal, we’ve all been there! Just give your oven, iron-cast pots, pans, or stove burner a good, strong cleaning by pairing your detergent with a heavy-duty scouring sponge that cleans tough, baked-on and over-cooked stains.

However, be mindful to go easy on the scrubbing, especially on certain kitchen appliances and pans that may require special care like the non-stick pan or your favourite tea set. Using a normal scouring sponge may scratch your favourite kitchenware which can lead bacteria to breed within the tiny scratches. For these items, a non-scratch scrub sponge is ideal as it is gentle and cleans it without damaging the surface.

Also, let’s not forget, the microwave. It’s often forgotten but it needs some attention and care too. There’s an easier and less tedious way to clean the microwave, which is to simply pop a bowl of water inside and set it for three minutes. The steam will loosen any stuck-on food which can be wiped away easily. If you want it to smell nice, put some lemon in the water or add baking soda into the bowl of water to get rid of food odours.

Last but not least, remember to ask for help. Involve your family members with the chores as it helps to reduce the time needed, and it’s a great opportunity for the family to bond.

With the right tools and cleaning methods, you’ll get your house squeaky clean in no time! If you’re looking for the right tools to clean the house, here are a few of my favourite products: Scotch-Brite Heavy Duty Scouring Sponge which cleans tough stains three times faster and lasts three times longer than other products, Scotch-Brite Delicate Care Scrub Sponge and Non-Scratch Scrub Sponge which cleans effectively without scratching, Scotch-Brite Spin Mop, a spin dry and spin wash all in one bucket, and also designed to reach corner or hard-to-reach area and lastly, Scotch-Brite Dusting Cloth which lifts and traps dust without chemicals.