Household Cleaning Suggestions

Household Cleaning Suggestions for Walls
While vinyl wallcovering may be easy to clean, it emits toxins into the air for a number of years and they are one of the main culprits of mold and mildew moisture in walls. Paint is also easy to clean, although avoid paints high in VOC’s. A paint finish with more luster, like semi-gloss or satin is much easier to maintain than flat. Vacuum or dust walls prior to cleaning. Vinegar mixed with water can be sprayed onto walls and cleaned with a rag. If you have real wood paneling, use only a little vinegar with a wet rag, then apply a little lemon juice and olive oil mixture. For marked walls, like heel marks, crayon and pencil, try using an art gum eraser or a paste of baking soda and water.

Household Cleaning Suggestions for Windows
For washing windows, pick a day that’s overcast to avoid streaks. Vinegar is the best solution for the job along with crumbled newspaper to wipe (wear gloves to avoid ink hands), a rubber squeegee works well too. Remember to remove old cleaning residue first, see our household suggestions see our household suggestions for acomplishing this.
Clean window screens with your dusting attachment on your vacuum. They can also be removed and cleaned with a light brush and dish soap water.

Household Cleaning Suggestions for Dusting
A vacuum with the dusting attachment works great to collect dust instead of moving it around and back into the air. You can also use a water misted cotton cloth. Keeping things under glass or in cabinets can save loads of time dusting. Don’t forget to dust the top of door frames, doors, tops of ceiling fans, smoke detectors and curtain rods. When dusting wood furniture, add a few drops of olive oil to your rag to help polish the wood at the same time.

Household Cleaning Suggestions for Blinds & Shades
For me, this is one of the most dreaded of all cleaning chores. Those mini blinds attract dust like no other and it always seems impossible to get it all. Here’s my cleaning tips. First, use your dust attachment to vacuum off all the dust you can. Doing this on a regular basis can minimize the next steps. Slip an old sock on your hand to dust in between the slats. If possible, take them outside and lay them on a sheet and wash down with a bucket of soapy water, getting both sides of the slats. Use an old toothbrush to get in the small areas around the cords. Hang them on the clothes line to dry. This can also work in the bathtub and then hanging them on the shower rod.. although a little messier. Do not wash wood blinds. Simply dust them as above and wipe off any spots with a damp rag. Most pleated and cellular shades have anti-static properties that repel dust. All you need to do is occasionally dust them with the vacuum cleaner. For spots, wipe with a damp rag. Don’t immerse them in water. For tough spots use a small amount of vinegar to wipe clean.

Household Cleaning Suggestions for Computers, Printers & Keyboards
To clean your computer screen, make sure it is off, then use a damp lint-free cloth with water. Never use chemical cleaners or spray of any kind as they damage the plastic coating. Also, don’t ever touch the screen with your fingers or pens. For cleaning the tower, wipe it down with a damp cloth after using your vacuum dusting attachment to clean out the vent grill. Keyboards are one of the most bacteria infested objects in our homes and offices and often the least cleaned. Unplug it, and gently shake out any crumbs and dirt. Bottled air can work great to blow out any debris as well. Take a damp cloth with a touch of vinegar on it and wipe down the keys and in spaces around. A cotton swab can help get in between keys. Do the same with your mouse. Printers can be dusted off with a damp rag. To get in the small spaces, use cotton balls.

Household Cleaning Suggestions for Televisions
Can be cleaned with a spray bottle of water and rubbing alcohol using a lint-free cloth.

Household Cleaning Suggestions for Mattresses Did you know that mattresses contain millions of dust mites that live on your dead skin cells? Gross, I know! How do avoid them? Perhaps changing your mattress to a rubber latex type. We’ll talk more about types, options and toxins in mattresses on another page. If you simply can’t afford a new one right now, then you need to get it cleaned out as well as possible. Some vacuum cleaners can help do the job and have special attachments to vacuum the top of the mattress, otherwise use your wand and go over it the best you can. Mist the top of the mattress with vinegar and let dry. Then the best option is to encase the mattress in a cover to prevent further dead cells from flaking off your body and ending up inside the mattress as well as body moisture which mites love. Some pillows can be washed and dried in the dryer. For feather or down other non-washable pillows, heat them up in the dryer to help kill anything living in them.

For more great household cleaning suggestions, read our best secrets.

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