Here’s how to clean the 16 dirtiest items in your home

Since the dishwasher’s main function is to clean, many people forget that it – like any other appliance – also requires a good cleaning every once in a while. “Though it might seem counterintuitive, think of all the dirty particles that go in and out of it on a daily basis – it’s no surprise your dishwasher can smell!” says Johnson. She recommends taking lemons cut into quarters and placing them in a bowl of water. “Put this dishwasher-safe bowl on the top rack and then run it for one cleaning cycle,” she says. “This will help remove the odour.”

Here are 21 ways you’re shortening the life of your dishwasher. 

Those slats may seem like a hassle to clean, but they don’t have to be, according to Rodriguez. Close the blinds and then dust them by holding the bottom with one hand and wiping the slats with a microfibre cloth. “Use a vacuum with a soft dusting brush attachment and set it to low-suction to remove even more dust; then repeat on the other side,” she says. For heavily soiled blinds, she recommends using a damp microfibre towel with warm water; for wood blinds, be careful not to soak them. “If you’re having a hard time removing grease or old dust stains, try using some soap and water,” she adds. “The last step is to let the blinds air dry and then vacuum any remaining dust that has fallen onto the window sill area or floors.”

Learn which things you shouldn’t be cleaning with paper towels. 

For your windows to function as intended – offering you a view on the world – they must be clean. Johnson recommends dipping a microfibre cloth into a mixture that consists of one part water and one part white vinegar. “Spray the liquid lightly on your windows making sure not to over-spray,” she says. “This can add time to the cleaning process since you have to wipe up the excess product before the cleaning can begin.”
Using a dry microfibre cloth, wipe off the solution. “The cloth won’t leave any residue.” For your windowsill, use a small dustpan or vacuum attachment to get rid of dust, soot, cobwebs and insects, says Brian Sansoni of the American Cleaning Institute (ACI). “You can use cleaning wipes on plastic and vinyl window frames,” he added. “If you’re using a spray product, put it on the cloth and only use it for the sills, not the glass.” Without the microfibre clothes, it is easy to smudge your windows during the cleaning process.

Hernandez recommends having your carpets cleaned once a year by a certified professional – ideally with hot-water extraction. You should do it even more frequently if you own pets since carpets will collect loads of debris, dander and dirt. “By maintaining your surfaces, you help improve the air quality within your home,” he says. “Maintenance should include vacuuming with a carpet beater and brush to help loosen up surface dirt.” On a weekly basis, he suggests vacuuming and following the manufacturer recommendations for care based on the type of carpet you have.

Here are 14 things you should never clean with water.

Bathroom tile – and especially grout – tends to attract growth and scum that not only makes it look gross and dirty, but it becomes harder and harder to clean over time. Prenter says your best bet is to get down on your knees and employ some elbow grease. “Baking soda, when mixed with warm water and bleach, forms a potent cleaning formula that can scrub away stains and dirt while simultaneously sanitising your kitchen and bathroom tiles,” he says.

To make the mixture, he recommends combining four parts baking soda, one part bleach and one part water. “The result will be a paste which you can put on the grout using a sponge or rubber gloves,” he says. “Leave the mixture for 10 minutes and then take a tough sponge, or a brush if necessary and scrub the paste into the grout until it returns to its original colour.” When finished, you can remove the remaining paste and dirt using a damp cloth.

If you’re decorating, try these these 19 clever decorating tricks to make a smaller bathroom look bigger.

Although you might not be able to see it, the blades attract a great deal of dust, dirt and grime. To clean your ceiling fans, you’ll need a ladder, a dust brush, a bucket of hot water and a microfibre cloth. “Brush the top of each fan blade first to remove loose dust, dip the cloth in the hot water and then wipe the blade from the center to the edge,” says Donna Smallin Kuper, a certified House Cleaning Technician, best-selling author and established organising expert. “Alternatively, you might want to invest in an extendable microfibre duster that can’t be adjusted to a 90-degree angle, allowing you to clean ceiling fan blades without the need for a ladder.”

Here are more cleaning tricks for hard-to-clean items. 

Most of us use computers on a daily basis – and sometimes all day long. It’s essential to keep them clean so you aren’t swapping germs with spouses, kids and co-workers. Darla DeMorrow, professional organiser, founder of HeartWork Organizing and author of Sort and Succeed, suggests turning your keyboard over and shaking gently. “Keep a small spray bottle of rubbing alcohol mixed with regular water at your desk; lightly spray it on those ubiquitous microfibre cloths and wipe your keyboard, mouse, screen and phone each day (or at least weekly),” she says. “The bonus is that you’ll stop struggling to see your screen through the fingerprint and makeup smudges.”

Have you tried these 12 things smart homeowners do once a month?

Sign up here to get Handyman’s favourite stories straight to your inbox!

Source: RD.com