Tips for a Clean, Fresh Garbage Disposal

We know the kitchen is one of the busiest areas in any home.  The sink being the center of this area, it gets lots of use.  Keeping it clean and smelling fresh can be a challenge but is important.  Here are a few quick tips to help you manage this:

1.  Clean - Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, follow with 1 cup of white vinegar.  Let this sit for about 5 minutes, do work it's magic.  Boil a pot of water while waiting, then pour it down the drain.  This will help to remove and kill any mold or bacterial building up in the pipe.

2.  Fresh Smell - Pour 1 cup of ice down the drain (this also helps to clean off the blades).  Include some lemon, orange, grapefruit or lime rinds to the ice; for the clean smell.  Then turn on the blades as they chop up the ice and rinds they will help to clean and leave a fresh scent in your kitchen area.

This is a process that can be repeated as often as you feel necessary. 

Garage Floor Cleaning Tip

Did you know that prolonged exposure to road salts can cause spalling of your garage floor? (Spalling is a result of water entering brick, concrete or natural stone and forcing the surface to peel, pop out or flake off. This is because there is salt in water. Salt pushes outward from the inside. Eventually, spalling can cause crumbling and destruction of a structure.)

Here is a fun and easy trick to help prevent damage to your garage floor:

1.    Sweep your garage floor with a large brush broom.

2.    Shovel a few of small piles of snow into your garage.

3.    Sweep it around, let it sit for a little while (30 – 60min)

4.    Sweep the snow out.

Along with that snow goes the salt build-up on your floor, the dirt and grime that has collected after having your garage closed up and your vehicles dragging in the weather from roads. 

Try this once a month during the winter months to prolong the life of your garage flooring.

Fall Cleaning Checklist

It’s Fall, if you want to get serious about your cleaning, here is a big list of helpful things to consider!

OUTSIDE:

• Clean and store patio furniture and garden supplies.
• Touch up paint on trim, railings and decks.
• Check caulk around windows and doors.
• Inspect external doors and garage doors.  Install weather-stripping around outside doors, if necessary.
• Clean out garage of possible dirt accumulated over summer.  Organize to store summer items.
• Wash exterior windows.
• Drain and store garden hoses. Install insulating covers on exterior spigots.
• Check gutters and downspouts. Clear of debris if necessary.
• Have chimneys and flues inspected and cleaned if necessary.

INSIDE:

• Clean from top to bottom.
  • Vacuum drapes and window treatments.
  • Clean window sills and window wells.
  • Vacuum baseboards and corners.
• Clean upholstered furniture, move and vacuum beneath and behind it.
• Wash interior windows.
• Replace batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Turn mattresses front-to-back and end-to-end to equalize wear.
• Launder or clean all bedding.
• Schedule professional carpet cleaning early this month!  Warmer weather allows for open widows and faster drying.
• Clean and organized kitchen cabinets, baking supplies, pans and equipment.
• Clear kitchen counters of all appliances not being used regularly.
• Pull refrigerator away from the wall, vacuum the condenser coils and clean underneath.
• Wash light fixtures.
• Clean or replace summer rugs, doormats with winter ones.
• Clean or replace humidifier elements before you need to turn on the heat.
• Inspect washer hoses for bulges, cracks or splits. Replace them every other year.
• Check dryer exhaust tube and vent for built-up lint, or debris. Make sure the exterior vent door closes tightly when not in use.
• Schedule fall furnace inspections now. Don't wait for the first cold night!
• Buy a winter's supply of furnace filters. Change filters monthly for maximum energy savings.
• Drain sediment from hot water heaters.