Use these six easy steps to remove dirt, pollutants, and allergens from outdoor rugs and mats. Entry matsand exterior entryways should also be cleaned regularly. If size permits, shake it a few times to release the dirt. Credit: Dustin Peck Knock loose any surface debris with your hand or sweep it with a brush or broom. Deep Clean with a Vacuum A fine layer of dust will remain even after shaking the rug....
From overflowing pans of lasagna to all manner of drips and spills, ovens are susceptible to messes. Learn how to clean an oven with these clever tips. (After you clean your oven with vinegar, putthis power cleaner to work all around the house!) Thisoven cleaning hackcan make the job easier by using your oven’s primary tool. Learn how to clean an oven with vinegar and baking soda to conquer those baked-on messes....
Keep your fireplace in peak condition with regular cleaning and inspection. Wear safety goggles, gloves, and a dust mask or respirator. Cover surrounding furniture and surfaces with dropcloths or plastic sheeting. Credit: Stacy Goldberg For occasional use, a monthly or bi-monthly fireplace cleaning will likely suffice. Deep cleaning can be done annually or as you notice stains and buildup. Remove Ash and Debris Discard any remaining chunks of burnt wood....
Sharpen hedge trimmers safely with these step-by-step directions and tips. Inna Kozhina / Getty Images Over time, all blades eventually dull andneed to be sharpened for optimal performance. Your hedge trimmers are no different in this respect. Credit:Inna Kozhina / Getty Images Regardless of whether you use them sparingly or often, youll need to sharpen them. you might do this one of two ways. The first is taking them to ahardware store and paying to have them sharpened for you....
Learn when and how to hand-wash antique linens and clothing. With the right care, vintage fabrics retain their beauty and usefulness. Caring for vintage linens and fabrics can be a delicate task. Linens found at antiques fairs generally are already cleaned and pressed. Use these tips to safely launder these beautiful antique and vintage fabrics. Tips & Tricks 1. Very old lace or fabric may tear when washed. Even washing gently by hand may cause fabrics to deteriorate....
Don’t toss out that old sheet pan! Remove those tough messes with one of these six simple methods. They all use supplies you probably already have at home. Credit: Carson Downing Learning how to clean baking sheets properly can help prolong the life of your equipment. Sometimes all a cookie sheet needs is a little TLC to get it looking like new. Additionally, you’ll learn which store-bought cleaners and tools work best for removing tough messes on baking sheets....
But keeping baseboards clean of dust, hair, and splatters can greatly improve the appearance of any room. Here are some quick, easy tips that will teach you how to clean baseboards properly. Jason Donnelly There are two general order-of-operations rules to follow when cleaning baseboards. Credit:Jason Donnelly First, dry dust; then, if needed, damp-clean baseboards. Similarly, a(clean!) paintbrushcan be used to dust and perform detail work on baseboards. Credit:Jason Donnelly...
Don’t let mildew and germs breed in your bath mat. Learn how to clean a bathroom mat to remove unsightly stains and foul smells. Bathroom rugs are a magnet for hair, dust, and germs. Credit:Annie Schlechter Depending on how well-ventilated your space is, your mat may also be a haven formold and mildew. Not sure how to clean a bathroom rug? Consider these methods and helpful tips for a fresh, odor-free mat....
Keep bathroom fixtures gleaming with regular cleaning. Learn the best way to clean bathroom fixtures, including sinks, faucets, showerheads, and more. The bathroom is one area of the home that youshouldn’t put off cleaning. Credit: Jim Franco And you’re able to’t hide sinks behind a shower curtain if the last occupant left them messy. Dry the sink with a soft cloth to keep it gleaming. To clean around the edges of the faucet, use a toothbrush to gently scrub away grime....
It’s not a fun job, but someone has to do it. Read our tips for how to clean bathroom sink drain traps. Your bathroom might look clean, but that smell coming from your sink drain says otherwise. Credit:BHG / Laura Wheatley Avoid using harsh drain cleaners or bleach, which can harm your pipes and your health. Remove Debris from Drain Remove debris from the drain weekly. Remove pop-up stoppers or drain guards and discard any built-up residue....
Proper care can prolong the life of your favorite sandals. Here’s how to clean them without ruining your go-to pair. Cavan / Adobe Stock Birkenstocks are a timeless shoe that somehow get better with age. Credit:Cavan / Adobe Stock As they wear, they only get more comfortable due to the unique design of their footbed. To ensure your sandals stay with you for the long haul, it’s important toclean the shoes properly....
Dark color doesn’t hide spills and stains very well. Read our top tips for cleaning black appliances in your kitchen to get sparkling fingerprint-free surfaces. Kitchens with black accents are having a major moment right now, and with good reason. The moody color is a stark yet welcome contrast to thewhite marble trendthat’s taken over social media feeds. Black even snagged a spot as one of ourtop paint colors for 2019....
This easy-to-overlook chore should be part of your weekly cleaning routine. In an ideal world, thoroughly dusting home surfaces would be part of ourweekly cleaning routines. These will provide special instructions about what to use and what to avoid when cleaning blinds. Credit: John Granen Open Blinds To thoroughly clean a set of blinds, begin by opening them. While it is easier (and allowed!) to dust the blinds while closed, doing so will clean only half of each slat....
