Cleaning tips and tricks

Cleaning tips and tricks
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You know the obvious of washing your towels and sheets, but what about not-so-obvious items like stovetops and coffee pots? Many items in your cupboard and pantry deserve a good cleaning too, so you might as well take the time to clean your home.

Ceiling fans

Ceiling fans
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Sometimes, it’s not enough to clean what’s in front of you, but what’s up above you as well. “[Ceiling fans] need to be cleaned regularly,” Jacqueline Janus, cleaning expert and owner of cleaning company Two Chicks and a Broom tells Reader’s Digest. “You can’t see up there, but it’s a great place for dust to settle, even if you keep them running.”

Prepare outdoor furniture

Prepare outdoor furniture
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Freezing temperatures outside isn’t an excuse to neglect outdoor furniture. “Give your outside furniture a good clean,” Jennie Varner, Brand Manager for Molly Maid, told Reader’s Digest. “Mix up a mild solution of dish detergent and water to clean umbrellas and cushions, and combine 4 litres of water to ½ cup of vinegar, ½ cup of rubbing alcohol and about 2 squirts of dishwashing liquid to clean glass tables.”

Window screens

Window screens
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There are a few items around the house that you don’t even think about cleaning. Window screens are just those items. “Did you know that rain actually doesn’t make your windows dirty? It’s when rain passes through a dirty screen and carries dirt and debris with it onto your window that you see splotches after a shower,” David Flax, Vice President of Operations for Window Genie, tells Reader’s Digest. “It’s likely your screens accumulated a lot of dust, dirt and other contaminants over time, so prevent recurring dirty windows by also having your screens thoroughly cleaned during your next window cleaning.”

Here are some more spots to never, ever skip when spring cleaning.

House trimmings

House trimmings
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There are a lot of items in the house that are overlooked for cleaning – and that includes trimmings. Trimmings like skirting boards, wall mouldings, doors, and wall switch plates are all things that get a lot of use and need to be wiped regularly to prevent grime build-up. To clean these kinds of trimmings try using a damp microfibre cloth.

The kitchen sponge

The kitchen sponge
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The often thankless task of cleaning cutlery, dishes, and random kitchenware goes to the kitchen sponge. In the end, instead of actually cleaning it, the solution might be to just toss the sponge and get a new one.

Did you know that these common kitchen items are secretly toxic?

Dust blinds

Dust blinds
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Sometimes, the most overlooked spots in your house that should be cleaned are also the most obvious. Fortunately, dusting blinds is easy to do. “Close the blinds and use a microfibre cloth, a clean pair of cotton gloves or an old, clean sock to run your hand along each slat to pick up dust starting at the top and working your way down,” says Varner. “Next, close the blinds in the opposite direction and repeat.”

Outside of kitchen appliances

Outside of kitchen appliances
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When cooking dinner or baking a cake, you don’t really think about cleaning the front of a microwave or the knobs of the oven – but those items can get dirty, too. “These items regularly pick up dust, grime, build up from cooking oils, etc,” Janus says. “Clean the front, sides and top (especially the fridge, it gets really grimy up there).”

Coffee maker

Coffee maker
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“Coffee makers can get dirty inside just like anything else, and if you’re not using distilled water every time you brew, hard water build-up can take a toll,” says Janus. “Mix a 50/50 vinegar and water solution, add it to the water reservoir and start the brew cycle. I would recommend doing this twice, before running it again with just water 2-3 times to clear out the vinegar.”

Read on for the best kitchen and dining room cleaning hacks.

Credit cards

Credit cards
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You may be concerned with cleaning up your credit, but you may also need to clean your physical credit cards, too. “People often forget to clean the things inside their wallets such as credit cards, bus passes, library cards, and debit cards, even though these quickly accumulate germs,” says Varner. “To clean, wipe down with a damp towel or antibacterial wipe. Use a rubber eraser on the magnetic strip to wipe away excess grime.”

Cleaning the floor under furniture

Cleaning the floor under furniture
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You’ve heard of sweeping something under the rug as an idiom, but you may have also done this… literally. “Tons of dirt, debris and grime hide under things like tables, chairs, couches, etc,” says Janus. “Anything you can quickly slide to the side to vacuum and mop when you’re cleaning your floors should be moved, and bigger items you can use the wand or hose feature on your vacuum.”

Read on for the secrets of people who always have a clean house.

Vacuum cleaners

Vacuum cleaners
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Vacuum cleaners are an efficient way to clean your home, but you want to make sure you’re cleaning it appropriately. Unplug the vacuum cleaner when you’re cleaning and empty the bag, if applicable.

Refresh the fridge

Refresh the fridge
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When you take out your milk carton for your morning coffee, are you doing a morning check on the contents of your fridge to see what’s good and what’s…not? “Increase efficiency, save money and get ready for fresh ingredients by cleaning out your refrigerator,” says Varner. “Clear out old food and defrost your freezer. Use a sponge and a baking powder solution to wipe out the inside of both your freezer and refrigerator.”

Read on for some brilliant home organising hacks you wish you knew sooner.

Inside of appliances, cupboards and drawers

Inside of appliances, cupboards and drawers
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It may be convenient to place a clean plate from the dishwasher back in the cupboard, but the cupboard needs to be cleaned, too. Janus recommends removing everything from the inside of those containers and wiping down the inside before putting everything back in. Throwing away expired items is a good idea, too.

Find out which foods you should never keep in your pantry.

Shower curtains

Shower curtains
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Taking a shower is a great way to wash your hair, body and generate great ideas. However, your shower needs to be washed, too. “To clean a dirty shower curtain, put it in the washing machine with two bath towels on the gentle cycle,” says Varner. “Add 1/2 cup baking soda to your detergent during the wash cycle and 1/2 cup vinegar during the rinse cycle. Don’t put your curtain in the dryer, but let in air dry instead.”

Read on for the best ways to clean showers and baths.

Gutters

Gutters
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“Often, homeowners focus on the inside of their home during a cleaning-up but it’s important to evaluate the condition of the exterior of your home as well,” says Flax. “Gutters should be the priority. You want to be sure they’re clean and free of any clogs. Clogged gutters cause a number of issues including water damage, mould and rotting of your roof and siding, as well as providing a nesting area for birds and mosquitoes.”

Bedroom pillows and pillowcases

Bedroom pillows and pillowcases
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It may be gross to think about, but if you’re not consistently washing your pillowcases and pillows, you may be sleeping with 1.5 million dust mites. Even though experts recommend washing pillows a few times out of the year, it depends on how often you wash your pillowcase, which should be more frequent.

Toothbrush holders

Toothbrush holders
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You already know to brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day, but there’s another item on the kitchen sink that you may be forgetting to clean. “People usually remember to clean their toothbrush, but what about the holder where it’s stored?” asks Varner. Thankfully, it’s pretty easy to clean. “Rinse the holder with hot water and use a clean cloth to wipe down the outside. Next, fill the toothbrush holder with an antibacterial mouthwash, allowing it to sit for two minutes. Rinse and run the holder underwater and let it air dry.”

Can you guess which are the dirtiest surfaces in places you go to all the time? Find out here.

Your car

Your car
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Yes, you should be cleaning your car regularly, even in winter. Think of how often you’re in and out of your car commuting to work or going grocery shopping…and think of the days of accidentally stepping in puddles or spilling coffee all over the car.

Earbuds

Earbuds
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Gone are the days of popping in your headphones and taking them off without a care in the world. According to Wirecutter, you should be cleaning your earbuds at least once a week with a soft cloth and soap and water. However, you should wipe down your headphones more frequently after every workout.

Find out what germ experts would never share.

Mobile phones

Mobile phones
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On a similar note, you should be cleaning your phone more often than you think. It might be hard to wrap your mind around this, but you should really be washing your phone as often as you wash your hands. If you think about it, you take your phone everywhere, and, likewise, there are germs everywhere.

Baby bath toys

Baby bath toys
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We know children like to have fun outside, but indoor baby bath toys are a lot dirtier than you think. “At the end of each bath time, we recommend soaking all your child’s bath toys in a tub of warm water and mild liquid dish soap for several minutes, then rinse well with cool water,” says home cleaning expert, Debra Johnson. “Once dry, store them in a basket or storage bin outside of the bathroom.”

Microwave

Microwave
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Sometimes, when heating up food in the microwave contents tend to spill over. But cleaning a microwave should happen beyond just cleaning up a spill. Place wet paper towels in the microwave and then heat for a few minutes. The steam will break down food on the inside of the microwave and you can then wipe down the sides with a towel.

Read on for the things you should never clean with baking soda.

Dishwasher

Dishwasher
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It’s important to remember that the things in your home that clean other things need to be tidied, too. “Things that clean other items, like your washer or dishwasher, need to be maintained like anything else to make sure they’re cleaning as they should be,” says Janus. “They make tabs you can run through your washer and dishwasher to clean out grime and remove odours.”

The dishwasher is not just for washing dishes, find out what else you can put in the dishwasher.

Shoes

Shoes
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From high heels to suede shoes, you shouldn’t let your shoes gather dust in the closet and instead clean with the appropriate products. It’s possible to even put some sneakers in the washing machine.

Read on for some clever uses for ammonia you’ll wish you knew sooner.

Toilets

Toilets
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You should be cleaning your toilet at least once a week, possibly more given how many people share the space.

Are you using the toilet properly? Find out here.

Dryer vents

Dryer vents
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To have a happy and healthy clothes dryer, it’s best to make sure that your dryer vent is in tip-top shape. That means cleaning the dryer filter after each cycle and the dryer drum.

Mirrors

Mirrors
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The best way to clean a mirror is with a microfibre cloth in an “S” motion. Contrary to popular belief, moving a cloth back and forth just moves the dirt in the same area.

Mirrors are one way to make your home look more expensive, read on for more tips.

Pet water bowls

Pet water bowls
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Pet bowls are actually quite dirty and since you don’t want Fido to get sick, it’s best to create a routine to clean your pet’s bowl.

Silver

Silver
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Yes, you should be bringing out and cleaning the silver cutlery more often than you think – and if you’re planning on using it in the near future, you should clean it three days before you use it.

Laptop

Laptop
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Gone are the days of writing letters by hand to keep in touch with friends and family, and doing homework by hand. Instead, we do everything online, and that includes touching the keyboard of your computer. Among other reasons, you could actually get sick from your laptop, so it’s best to clean it ASAP.

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Source: RD.com

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