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  • 4 Filthy Surfaces in Your Home You Should Be Cleaning

    Tackle these often-ignored areas for a cleaner home.

    Invisible germs, pollutants and bacteria can tarnish your indoor air quality.

    • When it comes to keeping a clean home, some of us take an “out of sight, out of mind” approach. But invisible germs, pollutants and bacteria can tarnish your indoor air quality. It’s no secret that dust mites are a common cause of asthma and allergies, and unwashed surfaces can become a breeding ground for unwanted bacteria and allergens*. Tackle each of the following surfaces that are often forgotten to help your home stay cleaner and your indoor air fresher.

      Why you should clean wood cabinets.

      If you’re like most people, it may have been a while since you’ve last cleaned your cabinets. But think of all the times you touch them in a day, and the splatters of cooking grease and condensation from temperature fluctuations in the kitchen that build up over time. Gross!

      Tip for cleaning wood cabinets: Dip a cleaning cloth into a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water and wipe down your cabinets on a weekly basis.

      Scrub filthy faucets, too.

      Your sink faucets are probably home to unwelcome dirt and grime and some serious microbial growth due to the humid, moist nature of the hot water function. Use dish soap and warm water for cleaning faucets or, if your faucet is particularly dirty, combine a 1/2 cup of white vinegar with a 1/2 cup of water and use a cleaning cloth and this mixture to sanitize the area.

      Freshen up the garbage disposal.

      The garbage disposal is supposed to take care of your mess for you, isn’t it? Wrong. Lingering food and germs in your disposal may lead to unpleasant kitchen sink smells.

      The trick? Sprinkle a 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain and follow it with a cup of white vinegar. You’ll notice a little bubbling. Let the mixture sit for five to 10 minutes, then rinse it down the drain with hot water while the garbage disposal runs.

      Wipe your range hood above the stove.

      Spoiler alert: The range hood above your stove may be the dirtiest thing in your kitchen. Without regular cleaning, it gets clogged from cooking grease and dust over time. For starters, give the outside of the hood a quick wipe-down each day with a sponge and soapy water.

      Each month, take the actual exhaust filter out of your range and let it soak in a bowl of hot, soapy water with a bit of baking soda for 10 minutes. Then run the filter under a steady stream of water and allow it to air-dry before re-attaching it.

      Sources:

      * American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology