Subscribe and receive email notifications of new blog posts.
RSS Feed
- 2026 | 9 Posts
- 2025 | 49 Posts
- 2024 | 50 Posts
- 2023 | 36 Posts
- 2022 | 53 Posts
- 2021 | 63 Posts
- 2020 | 77 Posts
- 2019 | 1 Posts
- 2018 | 2 Posts
- 2016 | 3 Posts
- 2015 | 8 Posts
- 2014 | 1 Posts
- 2012 | 1 Posts
- 2011 | 2 Posts
30
Add these areas to your spring cleaning list
Spring has sprung! Well, you could argue warm temperatures never left those of us along the Gulf Coast, but regardless, the first official day of spring on March 19 means warm weather has officially arrived. And with it, the time for spring cleaning.
Spring cleaning has been a tradition for centuries — mostly because it's too cool in many places during the winter to finish a to-do list — but this year it has an added importance with the spread of COVID-19. In addition to sanitizing any regularly used items/surfaces during this time per Centers of Disease Control and Prevention recommendations, tackle cleaning some those often-forgotten areas — like your appliances, furniture and lighting. These tips will help.
Sink
Your kitchen sink is dirtier than your toilet after your flush it, according to Charles P. Gerba, a University of Arizona researcher on domestic hygiene. Wipe your sink, cutting boards, small appliances etc. down with a cleaning product that contains bleach, as well as microwaving the worst bacterial offender — your kitchen sponge — for two minutes after cleaning it in hot, soapy water. Also, don't forget to include your garbage disposal while disinfecting. Vinegar should help with any nasty odors.
Appliances
Dishwasher – Clean around the rim of your dishwasher where old food can stick and cause mold or stains. You can also run an empty cycle with a cleaning agent specifically for dishwashers or add bleach to a cycle to kill bacteria.
Oven – One of the faster ways to clean your oven is to insert a non-stick liner that can be easily wiped down and reused. It's faster than running a self-cleaning cycle — and less smelly.
Washer – Your washer does lots of cleaning for you, but you also need to clean it. Be sure to wipe down the drum and any compartments. Stagnant water can cause mold or rust that can be tough to clean out if not addressed. Once again, vinegar can help with any musty smell. Especially while combating COVID-19, consider running clothing cycles with a little bleach to sanitize both your machine and your clothes.
Furniture
While the CDC definitely recommends cleaning furniture, it's also important to remember to clean under it as well. Dust and dirt trapped under the sofa can contribute to allergies. If your family includes children, be sure to clean the undersides of tables and chairs. Sticky hands at the dinner table can leave behind food and germs.
Light Fixtures
Chances are your routine dusting doesn't include light fixtures, but they can harbor dust just like anything at floor-level can. Purchase a duster that can attach to an extension pole in order to reach the fan blades, etc. Don't forget to dust the lightbulbs themselves and sanitize any switches or pull chains that family members regularly touch.
Stay safe. Get cleaning.
