Cleaning Tips No One Ever Told You (Secrets from the Pros!)

Have you ever heard when people are around a stinky smell for so long, they go nose-blind, to it?  They just don't even notice it anymore.  Well, there are a few other conditions that we need to bring awareness to:

1. Clutter-blind:  Living with your piles of junk-mail, projects you don't have time to complete, items you don't know what to do with and other junk you don't need for so long that you don't even see it anymore. 
2. Grime-blind:  Over time, gunk, goo, grime and grit build up and consume surfaces of your house.  It happens so gradually that you don't even notice it!  Have you looked at your shower curtain lately....no, as in, have you really looked at it?
3. Broke-blind:  Being around or even changing your lifestyle around broken or non-working items.  How many lightbulbs in your house are burned out right now?  Have you fixed that stove burner that won't turn on yet or are you still just using the other three?  Did you call the plumber about that clogged bathtub drain yet?

Today, let's make a resolution to tackle the things you've gone grime-blind to!  Specifically, we'd like to give you some easy cleaning tips that you've never heard before.  A lot of those hard to clean spots are much easier than you may think!

  

Mildew on Shower Curtain and Liner

As professional house cleaners, we get asked to clean shower curtain liners all the time.  But the truth is, it costs more and takes more time to have a professional clean it that to just buy a new one or clean it yourself.  And it's so easy!  You can buy a new one for $5-10 from Amazon.com.

Or, just clean the one you have and let your washing machine do all the work for you!  Your plastic shower curtain liner can be washed in the washer just like clothes and fabrics.  Use and cold or warm water setting to prevent the risk of melting it and the same detergent you would use for your clothes then skip the dryer and hang it right back up in the shower.  For your fabric shower curtain, make sure to follow the washing instructions on the care tag to prevent shrinking or damage.

 

Dirty Dish Drying Rack

Isn't it a little counterproductive to wash your dishes and then put them on a moldy, grimy drying rack to dry?  Most plastic and metal drying racks can be placed right in the dishwasher for a good, hands-free scrubbing.  If you clean it regularly, you can prevent the buildup that will require scrubbing it by hand.

 

Grimy Non-Slip Shower Mat

Shower mats are prone to mold and mildew because of the warm, humid environment of your shower.  And because of their shape, it is hard for them to dry out between uses.  Well, good news!  Just like your shower curtain liner, these are easy to clean by running them through the washer.  If you have microfiber cleaning rags, bathmats or similar items that you wash regularly, throw the shower mat in with them!  The fabrics will rub against the mat and do an even better job of removing grime.  Skip the dryer and put it right back in the bathtub after washing.

Stinky, Moldy Washing Machine

It's hard to keep a front-loading washing machine clean!  Front-loaders or even top-loaders are prone to mildew trapped behind the drum because of their construction.  Clean them regularly with a 1/4 cup of dishwasher detergent, placed directly in the tub.  Yes, detergent for your dishwasher (NOT hand washing dish soap but the kind that you put in the dishwasher).  Many washers have a "tub clean," setting that uses hot water to clean the drum but if yours doesn't, place the detergent in the tub (not the detergent tray) and start a hot/sanitize/heavy duty cycle.  Add a cup of vinegar in the bleach tray for extra cleaning power.

Food-Splattered Microwave

They say prevention is the best medicine.  Prevention is also the best cleaning tool!  Use a (dishwasher safe- do you see where we're going here?) cover in your microwave- like this one!.  This prevents food splatters and, in turn, the need to even clean your microwave.  BUT, mistakes happen.  You have just learned that covers exist so how do you clean the already filthy microwave?  Place a mug of water with a tablespoon of vinegar in the microwave and heat for two minutes.  The water will boil and the steam will loosen the food buildup.  Then just wipe away with a microfiber cloth!

What are your favorite cleaning tips for hard-to-clean items?  What have you become grime-blind to in your house?  Comment and subscribe for more cleaning tips!