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Five Minute Fixes for Filthy Items You Missed While Spring Cleaning

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Properties

We’re sorry to burst your bubble if you just finished a good spring clean. But, you missed a spot.

Luckily the spots you missed are easily remedied in 5 minute spurts of deep cleaning. Set yourself a timer for 15 minutes and tackle 3 (or even 4) of these quick cleaning fixes at a time to make your home a cleaner and healthier place to live.

  • Coffee Maker- Mildew can grow in the always damp environment of your coffee maker and make its way into your morning cup. The fix for this is simple, pour equal parts water and white vinegar into the reservoir of your coffee pot. Let it sit for about an hour (ok, ACTIVE time for this fix is under 5 minutes) then run the coffee pot once to let the vinegar solution run throughout the machine. Run one or two plain water cycles to remove any vinegar that might be left behind.
  • Dishwasher- Clean around the seal of your dishwasher to kill stinky bacteria. Don’t forget to disinfect the handle as well. Not-so-clean hands are constantly in contact with your dishwasher and can contaminate clean hands before you unload clean dishes.
  • Cell Phone- Anything that gets that much handling is bound to grow some germs. It has even been said that cell phones are dirtier than a public toilet seat’s surface. Take a disinfectant wipe to the surface on a daily basis to avoid the spread of germs.
  • Hamper- Dirty, damp, and smelly clothes are constantly in and out of your clothes hamper. Wipe the inside regularly to avoid a stinky situation. While you’re at it, spray the inside with a disinfectant spray to kill germs and keep odors at bay.
  • Refrigerator Coils- Use your vacuum hose attachment to clear any dirt and dust from this area of your refrigerator. It’ll keep your refrigerator running better and make it last longer.
  • Knife Storage Block- If you put damp knives straight from washing into this block, it has likely grown some mold and bacteria like salmonella. Use canned air products to clear out any debris from the knife slots. Soak the block in hot soapy water for at least an hour. Rinse it clean and then allow to fully dry.
  • Can Opener- Your handheld can opener is constantly handled by less than clean hands. Toss it in the dishwasher on occasion to prevent germs from building up. Just make sure to fully dry this gadget before storing to prevent rust.
  • Light Switches- Whether you’re touching them after a bathroom trip, sneezing, or handling raw meat, you contaminate light switches regularly. Use a disinfectant wipe to clean your light switch plates. You’ll probably notice some forgotten dirt comes off in the process and will make your room look cleaner in a jiffy!
  • Pet Food Bowls- You wash your bowls and plates before eating, don’t you think Rover wants the same? Dry food dishes don’t need it as often, but a good weekly cleaning will help to keep your pet’s food safe and their bowl sparkling.
  • Dishes Drying Rack- You put clean dishes on this item, but it isn’t clean. Give it a regular cleaning to remove the residual gunk and germs before you put your clean plates in it.

With each item on our list clocking in at under 5 minutes, we bet you can get this entire list completed in under an hour and make your home a healthier and much cleaner place. Grab your disinfectant wipes, some white vinegar, and a scrub brush and get to work. Ready, set, CLEAN!

Posted by

Get Educated.  Get Empowered.

For more information on this or any other topic, call Sal Poliandro, Broker Associate, Realtor, Marketing Advisor,

Short Sale Specialist and CDPE, Certified Distressed Property Expert

ePRO, SRES at 201-957-7650, visit our website: www.BCHomeTeam.com 

Follow me on Twitter: @bchometeam

Sal can be reached by snail mail at RE/MAX Properties 82 East Allendale Road  Suite 4B Saddle River, NJ 07458

Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

Hi Sal,
Great cleaning tips.  I'm not sure I've ever read how to clean a knife block.  I make sure my knives are completely dry before inserting them back into the block. 

Apr 30, 2018 05:34 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Sal, make that two of us. Like Carol Williams I'd never read about how to clean a knife block. 

May 05, 2018 02:54 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

                                                  

         Thank you, Sal!

May 05, 2018 06:01 PM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Hi Sal. Great tips to get the hidden stuff you can't see! Enjoy your day!

May 06, 2018 04:26 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

A fantastic list, Sal... I do all of these, but the knife block one was a new one on me.

May 06, 2018 05:27 AM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good morning, Sal Poliandro - NJ Bergen County Realtor great list...now I need to do some cleaning today..... hmmm

May 06, 2018 05:35 AM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

good morning Sal. Good suugestions all and this could be a habdout.

May 06, 2018 05:38 AM
faye schubert
Retired - Branson, MO
Living the Branson Lake Life

It's the everyday items that we use, as you mentioned that we easily forget.

Don't forget keyboards and remote controls.

May 06, 2018 06:04 AM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

Germs are lurking everywhere...great list of places to find...and destroy them !

May 06, 2018 06:04 AM
Margaret Goss
@Properties - Winnetka, IL
Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate

Wow - the knife block - never heard of that but am going to spend the 5 minutes on it today!

May 06, 2018 07:07 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Sal, the knife block and refrigerator coils are ones that are overlooked all the time. Good list.

May 06, 2018 07:45 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

This is a good list of things to ensure we clean. Thanks for sharing!

May 06, 2018 08:09 AM
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Our hands carry most germs. The hand disinfectant is the best cleaner. Also food contact.  One item missing needing wiping is behind the cloth drier and vent outside the house.....

May 06, 2018 09:16 AM
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Good points, Sal. 

    We don't use a knife block; we let the knives air dry on the counter, then put them in a drawer.  Hampers?  Not in our house... we use those paper bags with the handles on them (like you get from Whole Foods) lto throw the laundry in... when the maid does the wash, she throws those bags away.

May 06, 2018 10:17 AM
Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor®
Carmel by the Sea, CA
Rothwell Realty Inc. CA#01968433 Carmel-by-the-Sea

Sal, great tips. Mostly, also wash your hands a LOT after handling doorknobs, money, shaking hands, pushing shopping cart, etc.

May 06, 2018 01:19 PM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

Oh, oh . . . how about your laptop screen, and inside keyboards.  LOL

May 06, 2018 01:41 PM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

Some great suggestions here. 

May 07, 2018 12:09 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Sal

What a great list for us, and to share. My coffee pot will appreciate a cleaning!

Jeff

May 07, 2018 06:22 PM
Bruce Kunz
C21 Solid Gold Realty, Brick, NJ, 732-920-2100 - Howell, NJ
REALTOR®, Brick & Howell NJ Homes for Sale

Thanks SO much for sharing these tips. Sal Poliandro - NJ Bergen County Realtor. While some are fairly obvious, I'd not thought of some. Great list that should be shared with all sellers!
Bruce

May 08, 2018 07:51 PM