Cleaning the garbage disposal splash guard

Cleaning the garbage disposal splash guard
Family Handyman

Does your kitchen sink smell bad? Is it coming from your garbage disposal? Here’s how to clean a garbage disposal and get rid of those disgusting odours. The key? Cleaning UNDER the splash guard.

Learn how to banish bad smells from your home. 

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Washing vinyl siding

Washing vinyl siding
Family Handyman

Though vinyl siding tends to stay fairly clean, occasionally you’ll develop harder to clean stains that need more than just a quick spray from your hose or pressure washer.

Cleaning weep holes

Cleaning weep holes
Family Handyman

Weep holes may be the tiniest feature of many sliding windows and vinyl replacement windows, but they serve a big function. The little holes, located on the exterior bottom of the frame, are an outlet for rainwater to drain away from the home, but they often can become clogged up with debris. To make sure they’re working properly, spray the outside of the window with a garden hose – a steady stream of clean water should exit from the holes. If it doesn’t, use a wire hanger or compressed air to force the blockage out. Re-test with fresh water to ensure they’re completely cleaned.

Wiping down door knobs

Wiping down door knobs
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We all have them, and we all touch them. But when was the last time you cleaned your door knobs? It only takes a few minutes to kill any lingering germs (use a bleach-based cleaner)—just be careful not to get any on wood doors or trim, because it could affect the finish.

Monitoring your water heater

Monitoring your water heater
Family Handyman

Extend the life of your water heater tank and maintain your water heater’s efficiency and safety with a few minutes of basic maintenance once a year.

Cleaning outdoor lights

Cleaning outdoor lights
Family Handyman

Like anything that lives outdoors, your outdoor light fixtures get dirty. Get in the habit of cleaning and inspecting your outdoor lights once a year, especially checking for any pest nests. The heat provided by outdoor lights makes an ideal environment for mice and other rodents.

Watch out for these 20 hidden things in your home that could be a fire hazard.

Cleaning closets

Cleaning closets
Family Handyman

Because floors are often covered with stored items, and clothes block access to the walls, closet cleaning is often neglected. But who wants to put clean clothes in a dirty closet? Once a year (or once a season) make it a point to wipe down/dust walls, trim and shelves in your closet and give it a good vacuum.

Here are 40 brilliant home organising hacks you’ll wish you knew sooner. 

Removing garage grime

Removing garage grime
Family Handyman

Your garage floor is bound to get dirty, but if you haven’t swept or washed it in years, it’s time to clean it. Not only will your garage feel cleaner, you’ll remove all kinds of nasty stuff (rocks, salt, dirt and more) that you might otherwise end up tracking into your house.

Wiping down light switches

Wiping down light switches
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Just think about how many times a day you use a switch on the lights. And no matter how clean you think your hands are, each time you touch the light switch, you’re spreading germs. Wipe them down regularly with a disinfected spray or cloth.

Clearing out the keyboard

Clearing out the keyboard
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In addition to the germs on your hands, your keyboard collects food crumbs, hair and dead skin cells. Every two months, use compressed air to get all the crumbs out. And then use a cotton swab dabbed in a little rubbing alcohol to wipe between the keys. Cleaning the keyboard regularly is a good way to stop germs in their tracks.

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