Don’t Skip these Often-Overlooked Tasks
It’s that time of year: spring cleaning time. While many of us usually do a deep clean and tackle the big stuff, what about those easy-to-miss tasks that will help make your home sparkle and create efficiency and organization? Read on for our favorite tasks that are easy to do, and you’ll be glad to check them off your “to do” list.
Clean the Dishwasher
Seems contradictory to clean a cleaning machine, but food particles and other gunk accumulates in the dishwasher which decreases its efficiency. The best and easiest way is to clean with vinegar. Place a dishwasher-safe bowl filled with one cup of distilled white vinegar on the top rack and run a normal (hot) cycle without detergent or dishes.
Clean the Washing Machine
Again, seems counter-intuitive, but keeping a washing machine clean and well maintained will keep it working for years to come. Set your machine on its hottest cycle and pour 1 cup of white vinegar directly into to the drum. The vinegar is the perfect solution to help to purify your machine – it's an excellent, natural way to kill bacteria, and the smell will disappear during the rinse cycle. Handy tip: Keep a bottle of white vinegar handy near your washing machine – perhaps alongside your detergent. That way, you'll easily remember to keep up the cleaning routine.
Wash Your Bedding
Of course, we very dutifully wash our sheets, duvet and pillow covers most weeks without fail – but we just as regularly can forget about the actual duvet and pillows underneath. Check the labels on what you have – because some can be machine washed (you need a big machine capacity for larger duvets of course), and some will need dry cleaning.
Deodorize the Microwave
This task is easy. Simply wipe down the inside and out with a damp cloth. Remove the turntable, grates, shelves, and any interior parts and soak in warm soapy water. Dry well and replace. Fill a large bowl with water and squeezed lemon juice. Place in microwave and cook for 2 minutes until boiling. Let it sit for a few minutes; remove and wipe down the interior. Voila’! Lemony fresh clean microwave!
Dust the Houseplants
Yes, really! Take a look at any plants you have around your house – as you may be surprised as how much dust can settle on each leaf. A simple (and careful) wipe with a damp cloth will usually do the trick – and make the plants healthier as a result.
Watch this blog for more housekeeping and cleaning tips. For more information on the finest homes in the Palm Beaches, call a Tauber Real Estate Specialist at 561-626-4633.