With the Coronavirus still threatening many Americans’ well-being and many people spending more time at their homes than ever before, cleaning your home daily has never been more critical. You don’t have to spend more time cleaning your home, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you should. We reached out to experts in cleaning and disinfecting to share some sanitizing tips that will help you save time, money, and sanity. Be prepared to stock up on vinegar! You can also find 5 Disinfectants that Kill Coronavirus in 30 Seconds Or Less.
Use a toothbrush and vinegar to clean your keyboard
It’s amazing how many bacteria live on your keyboard. A 2018 study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that keyboards contained a variety of bacteria. This can lead to a host of illnesses, including Bacillus and Staphylococcus Aureus.
Good news! It is easy to clean it and disinfect it. “To eliminate germs, dip a toothbrush into a mixture of half-vinegar and half-water and scrub between the keys,” says Liz O’Hanlon, director of U.K.-based commercial cleaner Metro Cleaning Ltd. Want more disinfecting solutions? You can also see 10 Disinfectants that Kill Coronavirus Faster than Lysol Wipes.
And sterilize your sponges in the microwave
Your kitchen sponge is used to clean dishes, utensils, and countertops. According to a 2017 study in Scientific Reports, you might spread millions of bacteria throughout your home.
It’s actually much easier than you think to disinfect your sponge. O’Hanlon says that if you microwave a damp sponge for 90 seconds at full power, it will reduce its bacterial count by up to 99 percent.
It will take some elbow grease to get rid of that sticky mess you made while trying to cook your spaghetti leftovers. A little steam can make this job much easier.
Justin Carpenter is the owner of Tucson Maids. He suggests that you clean your microwave with hot water and set it for 5 minutes. Carpenter says that steam from heating water will make your microwave easier to clean and can be used to remove any grime.
To clean your coffee pot, you can use denture tablets
Your grimy coffee maker doesn’t need replacing–it just needs some denture cleaner!
“Put a few [tablets] where there is water and run a few cycles in your machine. This will clear any gunk from the inside,” states Abe Navas. He’s the general manager at Emily’s maids. A house cleaning service in Dallas, Texas. Here’s how frequently you should clean every room in your house.
Use vinegar to disinfect your coffeemaker
Many of us don’t clean our coffeemakers as frequently as we should, even if we use them on a daily basis. In 2015, Scientific Reports published research that showed that our coffeemakers are a hotbed for bacterial activity. This means that you may be inhaling some of the icky stuff with your dark roast.
How can you fight all that bacteria? O’Hanlon says, “Once per month, fill the reservoir of your coffee maker with four tablespoons of white vinegar mixed with water. Run it and then run it again with only water to eliminate any vinegar smell.”
Use vinegar to get rid of water stains
Vinegar is the answer to water stains on glasses. Maid Right says that you only need to make a mixture of 50 percent vinegar and 50 percent water. Once it has cooled, pour it onto the stained glass and allow it to sit for about 15 minutes. After the vinegar has dissolved the debris, you can scrub the glass with a toothbrush. Finally, rinse the glass and wipe it clean.
Use dryer sheets for cleaning your pans
Your dryer sheets can take the grime from your cookie sheets or frying pans.
O’Hanlon says, “Put the dirty object in the sink with soap and warm water and a dryer sheets, and leave for about an hour.” The mess can be washed with clean water.
Scrub the cast iron skillet with a potato
You don’t want to ruin your cast-iron skillet by cleaning it with soap! Instead, grab a spud!
O’Hanlon suggests that you pour some salt into a cast iron pan. You can then use half of a potato to rub the salt in until it is dissolved and can be rinsed out. For more cleaning hacks that actually work, see 33 Unusual Cleaning Tips.
Un-scratch plates with baking soda
You can easily make your kitchen look messy by slipping on the knife or forking too hard, and you will soon have a pile of unattractive plates. Baking soda can make plates look new again.
O’Hanlon says, “Make a paste of baking soda and water and buff it into scratches.” Then rinse it off and the scratches will disappear.
Clean burnt messes with Rhubarb
No dish soap? It’s not a problem! You can do it!
Mix a few sticks of Rhubarb with some water in a saucepan. Let them simmer for five minutes.
After the water has cooled, wipe down the pan with a sponge to remove any remaining mess. Parry explains that the acids in rhubarb work well with the carbons from burnt foods. The reactions in rhubarb can be boiled together to loosen burned areas, making it easier to clean up. These 20 Cleaning Tips You Must Never Forget are essential if you want your space to be clean.
Clean your blender
It is dangerous to clean a blender. This tedious task involves sticking your hand in a bowl of knives and hoping for a better outcome every time you try to get the smoothie remnants off your blades.
It’s easy to get rid of that gunk. O’Hanlon says that you just need to add some warm water, baking soda, and washing-up detergent into your blender and blend it for a few moments. To make it as clean as possible, rinse it with warm water and then put it in the dishwasher.
And also clean your cutting boards using lemon juice
Most plastic cutting boards can go in the dishwasher. However, wooden boards are an entirely different animal.
O’Hanlon says that you can remove stubborn stains from wooden boards by using lemon juice and salt to rub them. O’Hanlon suggests letting salt sit on the cutting boards for a while, then rubbing the lemon in it before wiping it off.
