You’re making it easier for harmful bacteria to breed with abandon inside the air conditioner, refrigerator, cooking range or dishwasher if you keep postponing cleaning these appliances. With the spring cleaning season fully upon us, we roll up our sleeves and become busy in home cleaning-we dust the floors, clear out obsolete stuff, and organize the drawers and closets to make our homes appear spic and span. However, we’re so caught up with tidying the rooms in our houses that we tend to forget cleansing up the appliances which make our lives more comfortable and convenient.
Ask yourself honestly as to how often you spring clean your fridge or dishwasher. Most of us tend to keep deferring the cleaning of our home appliances largely because of the complexities involved-clearing the grime and entrenched food particles definitely requires more effort than say, cleaning a tiled floor. Nevertheless by continuing to delay the cleansing of the dishwasher or the air conditioner, we’re making the appliances vulnerable to becoming active breeding grounds for bacteria and microbes.
Abiding by the following home cleaning tips in order to ensure your home appliances stay completely germ-free
Washing Machine
Washing machines are most likely to teem with fecal microbes including E. coli, rotavirus, and Hepatitis A virus to name a few if you do not use a bleaching agent during a wash cycle. Depending upon the frequency of your washing, run your washing machine using only water and bleach (a cup is sufficient) every seven days or biweekly. Following this procedure will prevent the aforementioned germs from infesting your washing machine.
Dishwasher
Fungi, molds, and a few green bugs have a tendency to build up on the dishwasher’s seal. Swab the seal once weekly using a solution of 9 parts water and 1 parts bleach to check mold/mildew growth. Also, wipe the dishwasher’s exterior at least once in a week. Place a cup containing baking soda on the appliance’s top rack and let it stay overnight for driving away all odors. Set the dishwasher at the hottest cycle and run it after placing vinegar (a cup) at the bottom.
Humidifiers
Legionella bacteria (that causes Legionnaires Disease) are water-borne germs that have a weakness for proliferating inside humidifiers. The bacteria can even stay alive in tap or potable water having a temperature of 140˚F. Scrub clean your humidifier nothing less than once in a week with a brush, using a bleaching solution.
Stoves
Food spills and grime accumulating on stoves easily attract microbes. If your oven has auto-cleaning feature, then don’t forget to take out the racks for cleansing each of these separately. Stick to the cleaning instructions outlined by the manufacturer. Alternatively, clean the stove top using a microfiber cloth and universal cleaner after every cooking program. Cleanse the interiors every three months or so.
Air Conditioners
Remember to change or replace filters of ACs when or whenever these become choked or jammed. Also make sure you are using the right type of filter. Or else, you can also mop up the surface using an antiseptic swab every now and then. At the same time, clear away water deposits in the AC’s vents to keep molds and mildews at bay.
Dryers
Normally, the high heat of dryers is just not sufficient for exterminating microorganisms adhered to clothes. Keeping the washer clean minimizes the chances of bacteria building up on its dryer.
Refrigerators
Germs and microbes find the refrigerator to be the most ideal breeding place amongst all home appliances because of its favorable environment and habitat. Always wipe down and sanitize the fridge nothing less than once weekly. Always wipe down spills immediately as well as mop up the exterior as per manufacturer’s instructions.
Microwave Ovens
Wipe the handle of the door after every cook cycle and also disinfect the outside each time you put food inside. Cleanse the chamber using soap water from time to time.
Visit the Five Star House Cleaning website for more home cleaning tips.
Picture credit: JamesDeMers