The 7 Cleaning Tips That Will Change Your Summer
Take the stress out of this season cleaning challenges using these shortcuts.
1. Use left overs as cleaning supplies
If you have half a left over lemon, use it to clean stainless steel fixtures and faucets. Rub it over the areas you want to clean, then wipe them down with a microfiber cloth.
2. Get the grime off your grill
While the grill is warm, use a wire brush to scrub down the grates. Using a spray bottle with water, spray the grates first to wet them, then scrub away the yuck with steam! There is a handy gadget that I found at Bed, Bath and Beyond called a Grill Daddy Grill Brush. It incorporates the water spray into the brush!
3. Fight water rings with an unexpected superhero
No matter how vigilant you are about keeping coasters available to guests, inevitably someone will put a glass right on your new wood coffee table. Don’t sweat it. Instead, apply full-fat mayonnaise to the water ring, let it sit for an hour, and then gently wipe it off with a cloth
4. Don't let sweaty hands get the best of your appliances
Keep the kids' (or your own) sticky fingerprints off the fridge using a citrus-based furniture polish. “It does a great job cleaning and leaves a slightly oily surface which helps repel future marks.”, says Donna Smallin, a cleaning expert at Unclutter.com.
5. Extend the life of your swimsuit
To keep your suits from looking old and faded, rinse them with cold water right after wearing them. This will get rid of the chlorine, salt water, or simply the oils and sunscreen from your skin. Always try your best to get all of the sunscreen out of your suit-there's a chemical in sunscreen that reacts badly to many laundry detergents and can create stains. One more thing, don't wring out your suit, it's bad for the elastic. Just hang in a non-direct sun area and allow to drip dry. If you hang it directly out in the sun, it may fade dark or bright colors.
6. Don't let mildew and mold takeover
"Washing machines will smell a bit in the summer, especially in areas with high humidity,” says Smallin. “Run an empty load with detergent and hot water. Once it’s done leave the door ajar so it dries properly and gets air circulation.”
7. Don't let unsuspecting thing get grimy
Plastic pool toys, floaties, or rafts, and even river touted towables need to be cleaned too. Use vinegar applied to a paper towel and wipe down the pool toys. Add vinegar and water to a spray bottle and spray down the boat toys and then spray down with the garden hose. Allow to air dry,
