Remember These Dirty (but Often Forgotten) Places in the Fall Cleaning
Most of us know the basic things that should be included in our home and garden cleaning checklists (whether we do them or not is another story altogether). Things like: Deep cleaning your home, replacing HVAC filters, installing storm windows, unclogging gutters, and storing outdoor furniture. But there are some areas we overlook that are worth remembering because they can get very messy. Take a look at this list of often overlooked, but equally important (or messy) areas of your home to include in your fall cleaning plan this year.
Please clean the mattress
For some, this may already be on your list of things that need to be cleaned at least once a year, and for that we thank you. But for those who can’t regularly cleanse their sleep shelter, here’s your reminder: mattresses are damn disgusting! Not only are they graveyards of our saliva, sweat, and dead skin cells that breed bacteria, but they are residential buildings with gorgeous gates for millions of dust mites.
And how are these tiny bugs spending their time? Enjoy a buffet of our dead flesh, releasing allergenic droppings and then dying and leaving your corpses in the fibers of our mattresses. Another fun fact? Dust mites and their feces can constitute ten percent of the weight of a 2-year-old pillow . Bye, now you will vomit.
How to clean it: Wash all bedding and pillows in hot water. Vacuum the mattress, clean the stains, then sprinkle with plenty of baking soda. Leave it on for a few hours, then vacuum it again. Turn the mattress over (if you don’t have a pillowcase), cover with a plastic cover, and put on fresh sheets and duvet cover.
Don’t forget dirty drains
In addition to the usual suspicions of grease, oil, food shrapnel and hair, our drains are also home to a myriad of mold, mildew, salmonella and other potential pathogens . These microbes not only cause unpleasant odors over time, but the black biofilm they create causes a blockage that interferes with normal drainage.
How to Clean: Start by submerging – yes, submerging – in the drain. Fill a sink or tub with enough water to cover the drain and do some quick dives . After you’ve removed the debris, add half a cup of baking soda followed by half a cup of white vinegar (some suggest adding half a cup of salt before the vinegar). Leave it on for 30-60 minutes, then wash off with boiling water. Alternatively, you can use a biological or enzymatic sewer cleaner like Zep or Citra-Drain .
Your refrigerator coils are actually dirty.
What’s going on behind my refrigerator, you ask? Shit of dust collects on its spirals. (Plus potential moisture, which can lead to mold growth.) While this may seem inconsequential (nobody sees it after all), film build-up over time reduces the cooling capacity of the appliance and can lead to premature failure. motor failure . Cleaning the coils will extend the life of your refrigerator and put off a dreadful day when you inevitably have to spend between $ 500 and $ 2,000 to replace it.
How to clean: First, unplug the refrigerator to prevent electric shock. Take your face mask, move the refrigerator away from the wall, and find the condenser coils (S-shaped metal tubes – either at the back or tucked inside the vent cap at the base). Remove the ventilation cover and vacuum. coils carefully; use an old toothbrush or spiral brush to remove any remaining dirt. Vacuum again, then wipe the coils with a mixture of vinegar and water with a microfiber cloth.
Washing machines deserve cleaning too
It might surprise you that the device that spins soap and water for life is not spotlessly clean, but washing machines are actually supposed to be cleaned once a month . (Please be silent for a moment. We are in crisis.) Over time, soap residues and chemicals from the detergent create a film that reduces the effectiveness of the detergent, traps odor particles and builds up bacteria. A rough combination of dirt, mildew, mildew and germs appears as a black film around the edge of the drum.
How to clean: Pour three cups of white vinegar into a basin and let it fill with water at the highest temperature in the machine. After the mixture has been mixed for 1 to 2 minutes, add 1/2 cup of baking soda, let it shake for another two minutes, then stop the cycle. Let the cleaning mixture sit for one to two hours before restarting the machine and completing the cycle. (You may need to wipe the rim with a damp sponge soaked in vinegar to remove any remaining dark spots.)
Chimney and fireplace
It’s almost campfire planting season again and your home needs to be prepared. According to Home Depot, “After heavy use, chimneys can suffer from the buildup of creosote, a flammable substance from unburned tar vapor.” This is why the American Chimney Safety Institute recommends “cleaning open stone fireplaces to 1/8 inch of soot build-up”, as this is enough to cause a chimney fire. While you probably want a professional to do a complete chimney repair, a fireplace is an area you can tackle yourself.
How to clean: Cover surrounding furniture and rugs with trash bags, old towels, or sheets. (You may need a face mask, gloves, and some safety goggles if you have them.) Remove the andiron, rub the grill and take them outside to clean them with a metal brush. Sweep ash and debris into the firebox (sprinkle with damp, used coffee grounds to prevent ash from spilling over), then vacuum. If you want to go the extra mile, wipe off the accumulated soot from the chimney bricks .
If these unsightly places were out of your sight, the same thing. We’ll clean up these often overlooked places right next to you.