Cleaning can be annoying, as anyone who isn’t your awful former roommate knows. Unfortunately, we have to do it, because (unlike the aforementioned roommate) we don’t have someone else around to do it for us. Since we’re doing it anyway, we might as well get it right. Here are 15 household items that you’ve been cleaning wrong this entire time.
Cutting Boards
share
iStock
Dish soap simply isn’t enough to clean your porous wooden cutting board. Take half of a lemon and grab some kosher salt to rub along the board to dislodge any particles left behind. Wash it afterwards with soap and water.
Cheese Graters
share
iStock
To clean those hard-to-reach places in a cheese grater, simply grate a potato.
Mattresses
share
iStock
To really clean a mattress, vacuum it, sprinkle baking soda on it, let it sit, then vacuum that baking soda up.
Microwave Ovens
share
iStock
To loosen up those hardened soup splatters, fill a bowl with water and vinegar and microwave on high for at least two minutes. It’s now perfectly safe and easy to clean.
Paintings
share
Give your paintings a dusting by rubbing the inside of a bagel (sans spread) over its surface.
Shower Curtains
share
iStock
You don’t need to spray your moldy shower curtains with any hazardous chemicals or throw them out. You can simply put it in the washing machine in a gentle cycle.
Coffee Makers
share
iStock
Fill your water chamber with half-water, half-vinegar. Run a half-brew cycle without coffee grounds and let it sit for an hour. Finish the brew cycle an hour later. Empty your coffee pot and then run a fresh water cycle.
Blinds
share
iStock
Cleaning your blinds is as easy as dipping one sock in water and white vinegar, using it to wipe away all of the dust and germs. Use a dry sock to mop up the water and vinegar.
Clothes
share
iStock
If you’re using anywhere near the recommended amount of detergent, it’s probably too much for lightly soiled clothes. Don’t feel bad about halving the dosage if the clothes aren’t that dirty.
Electronics
share
iStock
If you’re using anything other than a microfiber cloth to clean your electronics, you could be doing them a tremendous amount of harm.
Cookie Sheets
share
iStock
Make a mixture of 1/4 cup baking soda and hydrogen peroxide (should have the consistency of paste) and rub the cookie sheet. Let it sit for a few hours before rinsing.
Shower Heads
share
iStock
Pour white vinegar into a plastic bag and tie it around the shower head. Leave it for an hour and use a wet cloth to wipe it clean.
share
Toasters
share
To get the outside of your toaster looking nice and shiny again, all you’ll need is a sponge, water, and some cream of tartar. Give it a nice polishing, then a rinse.
Blenders
share
iStock
Instead of taking it apart in an attempt to reach every nook and cranny, clean your blender by running it with soap and water instead of fruit, yogurt, and whatever else you would use to make smoothies.
(via Diply)
I feel so dirty. How could I have been cleaning wrong this entire time? I need to take a shower…after I clean that shower head.
