It’s Spring Clean, which means It’s time to tackle the graveyard of condiments in the fridge. The forgotten pile of washing at the bottom of your wardrobe. The dreaded junk drawer (admit it, we all have one).
Whether your weekly clean is as thorough as can be or you’re more of a ‘surface cleaner’… there are always sneaky spots that can go under the radar…
1) INSIDE THE DISHWASHER
Food residue, grease and mineral deposits can build up inside your dishwasher. To give your dishwasher a good clean, remove any large bits of food or debris left behind, take the filter and give it a scrub with washing -p liquid. To refresh it, place a cup of white vinegar in a bowl on the top shelf of the dishwasher and run a cycle to clean and sanitize the interior. As an extra step, you can even sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher and run it once more. Our dishwasher tabs contain organic eucalyptus oil, which also freshens the inside of the machine.
How often: Once a month
2) INSIDE THE WASHING MACHINE
Detergent residue, debris, hard water deposits and mould + mildew can build up inside your washing machine, affecting each wash's efficiency. To keep these at bay, run a clean cycle. If your machine is modern, this should already exist as a wash setting (if not, run a short wash with a cup of white vinegar inside). Next, use a damp cloth (or cellulose sponge) to wipe down the inside of the drum and the seal.
How often: Once a month
3) KITCHEN EXHAUST FAN + FILTER
Grease and grime easily build up on kitchen exhaust fans and filters, which affects how well the fan works to maintain air quality. Make sure to turn off the power before starting! Remove the filter and soak it in hot, soapy water (for example using our Washupthings) to loosen the grease, then scrub with a brush and rinse thoroughly before reattaching.
How often: Every 3-4 months
4) LIGHT SWITCHES + DOOR HANDLES
Bacteria on light switches and door handles can easily build up, because of how frequently they’re touched. Before cleaning light switches, turn off the power at the circuit breaker. Give light switches and handles a good dust with a microfibre cloth or dry cellulose sponge, then spray with your favourite multipurpose cleaner or reflective surface cleaner (if made of metal).
How often: Weekly
5) INSIDE THE BIN
It’s no surprise that bits of food can drop down from inside your bin bag to the bin below - so it’s a good idea to give it a regular clean to stop stinky bins, bacteria growth or pests being drawn to food scraps.
First, empty out the bins and give it a rinse with water. Fill a bucket or bowl with water + washing up liquid and mix it until the suds foam. With a dish scrub or cellulose sponge, scrub the inside of the bin to remove dirt and grime, then rinse again. Allow it to dry, and you’re ready to go ahead.
How often: Every 2-3 weeks
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And if you want to clean all of these spots whilst making your home smell great (and without making a mess of the planet)... then check out our Things.
