We've got advice on some common and some not-so-obvious places and things to take care of throughout your home
How Often Should You Clean This?
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Check the Chore Schedule
Wondering if your
housekeeping is up to par? When is it time to replace certain items? Do you
clean your cleaning tools?
We've got advice on some
common and some not-so-obvious places and things to take care of throughout
your home to help keep it healthy.
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Smartphone: Daily
You touch your phone
countless times a day. And the fingerprints you leave on the screen are a
grease trap for gunk and germs. Get in the habit of wiping it clean at least
once a day. Studies show alcohol is best for killing bacteria, but check with
your device's manufacturer to see what it recommends to avoid damage. Clean the
case, too!
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Kitchen Counters: Daily
The problem with dirty
counters isn't as much about what you can see as what
you can't. Wiping down and sanitizing kitchen surfaces after each
time you use them ensures stray germs from last night's dinner prep don't end
up in your next sandwich.
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Dishwasher: Monthly
Over time, buildup in
your machine can keep your dishes from getting the cleaning they need and
deserve. Once a month, toss in a cup of baking soda on the bottom and set 1/2
cup of white vinegar in the top rack; then run a regular cycle.
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Refrigerator: Quarterly
Funky forgotten
leftovers in the back of your fridge can leave behind mold spores after you've
tossed them. To keep germs at bay, empty your refrigerator every 3-4 months,
and clean the shelves and walls with a tablespoon of baking soda dissolved in a
quart of water. Rinse and let dry before replacing food.
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Kitchen Floor: Weekly
If you've got kids,
chances are you'll need to sweep up after every meal. But unless there's a
sticky spill, the mop and bucket can go a week between rounds.
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Carpets: Weekly
Vacuum large carpets and
toss small area rugs and floor mats in the wash once a week. Keeping your floor
coverings clean is key for cutting back on allergy triggers in your home.
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Furniture: Monthly
Spills should be
spot-cleaned right away, but for upholstery upkeep, once-a-month vacuuming
across the cushions and into nooks and crannies should do. Steam cleaning once
a year or so can also extend the life of your furniture and keep you sitting
pretty.
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Knickknacks and Stuff: Weekly
Anywhere dust settles
needs a regular swipe with a dust-grabber like microfiber cloth or a damp soft
rag: bookshelves, trinkets, picture frames, lamp bases, mirrors, side tables --
you get the idea.
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TV Remote: Weekly
Take the batteries out
first! Then use cotton swabs dipped in mild soapy water to get off sticky, oily
fingerprints and crud from around the buttons. Wipe down the whole thing with a
solution of one part vinegar and two parts water to kill bacteria. Make sure
the battery compartment is dry before you put the power back in.
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Ceiling Fans: Quarterly
These whirring dust
collectors also gather grease when they're in the kitchen. You can give them a
wipe whenever you notice buildup, but use a damp cloth and all-purpose cleaner
to clean the blades and body well every few months.
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Window Treatments: Quarterly
Hit up your blinds and
shutters during your weekly dusting, but tackle long-standing grime on the
slats every 3-4 months with warm, soapy water. Take down curtains once each
season, and run them through the washing machine.
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Toilets: Daily
The more action your
porcelain throne sees in a day, the more reason to squirt your cleaner of
choice into the bowl and give it a swish with a long-handled brush. Save the
deeper scrub-down for your weekly round-up.
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Bath Towels: Every Few Uses
Wash your towel or grab
a new one after three or four normal showers, more often if you work out a lot.
Hang up damp towels when you're done so they can air out and not give mildew,
mold, and bacteria a dark, damp place to grow.
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Shower Curtain: Monthly
A plastic curtain, or
the plastic liner for a cloth curtain, should get a bath with warm water and
baking soda once a month to remove soap scum and prevent mildew. You may be
able to stretch this to once a quarter if your shower doesn't get a lot of use.
Spraying it with a cleaner after every shower and wiping it down weekly when
you clean the bathroom will also help.
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Toothbrush: Quarterly
Beyond a few months, the
bristles get too worn to work as well as they should. If you see fraying before
then, that's a sign to switch.
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Razor Blades: 5-7 Uses
Did you know a dull
blade causes more cuts and irritation than a sharp one? Start with a new blade
every week or so, if you're shaving daily, to stay (and look) sharp.
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Makeup Brushes: Weekly and Monthly
Applicators like sponges
and brushes can be a breeding ground for bacteria. They collect dirt, dust, and
anything else floating through the air as well as on your skin. Wash brushes
for wet makeup once a week; dry makeup brushes, monthly. Mild soap and warm
water followed by an overnight drying session will take you from grime to glam.
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Bras: Every Few Uses
Whether you give them
"off days" to regain their shape and elasticity, or go for multiple
wears in a row, it's best to give bras a good wash after you've worn them about
three times. But if you've been sweating, don't wait that long.
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Sheets: Weekly
The rule of thumb is to
wash bed linens once a week in water hot enough to kill bacteria (around 140
F), and tumble dry. Your shut-eye habits should determine your timeline. For
example, pets, night sweats, and midnight snacks in bed mean you'll need to change
them sooner. Alternating between two sets of sheets can make it easier to keep
up.
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Pillows: 2-4 Times a Year
Throw your pillows (and
your throw pillows) in the wash on hot every 3-6 months to kill bacteria and
keep them fresh.
Same goes for your
comforter or duvet. If it's too big to fit in your machine at home, take it to
a laundromat with extra-large commercial-size washers, or have it
professionally cleaned.
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Mattress: Twice a Year
Unless it's brand new,
your mattress is probably home for millions of dust mites. A good semiannual
vacuuming can help suck up those tiny critters, as well as the dead skin cells
you've been shedding that keep them well-fed.
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Washing Machine: Quarterly
Any appliance that uses
water is at risk for mold and mildew. Wipe down the door and rubber gasket of a
front loader after every wash load. Give your machine a deeper cleaning every
3-4 months by adding 1 cup of bleach and running a hot cycle (sans clothes) to
sanitize.
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Humidifier: Every 3 Days
When your humidifier is
cranking out moisture nonstop, replace the water daily. Clean it with a 3%
hydrogen peroxide solution, or the disinfectant the manufacturer recommends,
every 3 days to prevent mineral deposits and filmy buildup. Change the filter
regularly, according to the instructions.
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Air Filters: Monthly
Replace the small
particle filters in central heating and cooling systems once a month to keep
their air purifying powers up to snuff. Same goes for the filters of in-room
air conditioners.
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Air Ducts: As Needed
If everyone in your
house is healthy, you don't have to clean ducts regularly. There's no proof
that it prevents problems, and done incorrectly, it could cause them.
Dirt inside usually sticks and stays put. Vacuum or take off and clean grates
when you notice normal dusty buildup. However, if you have mold, rodents, or
insects, or you can see stuff blowing out of your vents, it's time to do
something.
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Fireplace: Yearly
Avoid the toxic trouble
of carbon monoxide, fumes, and soot by having your chimney inspected annually.
A certified chimney sweep can check for problems and clean out any buildup.
This tool does not provide medical advice.
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