Disinfecting Your Dish Sponges

I’ve heard that you can disinfect your dish sponge by running it through the dishwasher. I’ve personally never tried it. It’s probably more sanitary than doing nothing, but because the sponge can absorb so much bacteria, I’m still hesitant. It’ll probably remove quite a bit, but what about the scum and buildup from the dishes? I like boiling vinegar in the microwave or on the stove and using that to disinfect sponges. But I don’t microwave the sponge, too. I’ve heard that it can start a fire. I’m not sure if that’s true or not, but I’m not in the mood to find out. I figure by the time the vinegar’s boiling in the microwave, it’s hot enough to do its job. It’s recommended that if you don’t wash your sponge everyday, which, let’s face it, few of us do, it’s best to replace it every month. I’ve also heard the same story with a different timeline, suggesting replacement every three months. I don’t know which one is true, so I prefer to be safer than sorry. Sponges pick up the most amount of dirt when you’re degreasing the lasagna dish, degunking the pasta and tomato sauce, etc. Rather than increase bacteria buildup on your sponge, consider using a dish brush. They’re initially a pricier investment, but it outlasts a dish sponge, making it worth the purchase, and it removes grease and gunk far more effectively than a dish sponge. Just be sure to not use it on stainless steel cookware or other easily aggravated surfaces.

Streak Free Windows

There are a number of ways to wash your windows from dishwashing liquid and a squeegee to Windex to vinegar with paper towels or newspapers or microfiber cloths. The choices are abundant, and in another blog entry, I promise to list off all the possible methods, but at the moment, I want to share a trick that guarantees streak free windows. Whatever cleaning agent or wiper you use, you can obtain streak free windows by removing cleaning solvent in one direction on each side, vertical on the inside and horizontal on the outside or vice versa. This way if you see any streaks, you'll know which side of the window it's coming from and easily correct it. It does take a little more focus to clean the windows in one direction that most people just use circular motions which are ideal for heavy duty window cleaning, but for basic cleaning on an average window, the one direction method is more productive in the long run. To remove streaks by going over it on both sides and using twice as much cleaner is such a waste of time and energy. I prefer going horizontally on the outside because I find that I'm more precise going in this direction, and the outside is at a higher risk of developing streaks due to the sun exposure.

Blind Ambition

I prefer the look of curtains more than blinds, but blinds are easier to maintain and keep clean. They rarely flatter a decor theme, but they also don't clash, either. I also have them because most apartments come with blinds. I've always wondered how many people actually disinfect them, as cleaning them can be an odd task. Plus whether you clean them regularly or not, they have a somewhat clean look . . .until you clean them and you see how much black was on it. Most of us have been socially conditioned to clean using paper towels and disinfectant from a spray bottle or a cloth soaked in disinfectant. After reading The Modern Girl's Guide to Life, I learned of a simpler approach. Simply find a pair of oversized, worn out socks and spray them with all purpose disinfectant cleaner such as vinegar, 409, Windex or Pledge all purpose cleaner and slip them on your hands like a pair of gloves. Go over the slats of the blinds with your "gloved" hands. It's a fast and effective way to clean your blinds. And just let the washer clean the socks.

Simplifying the Cleaning Process of Cookware

I don't know about everyone else, but I find myself losing interest when it comes to washing cookware such as skillets with long handles and oversized stockpots or Dutch ovens because of its enormous size. It makes maneuvering and cleaning them more of a challenge, and after washing all the smaller dishes, I'm less than enthusiastic about tackling the generously sized remainders. You can always wash the large cookware first before you tire yourself with smaller dishes, as the larger cookware are usually greasier and more imperative to clean in a timely manner. But it's just not realistic considering how dishes pile up in most homes. People usually put their dirty dishes in the sink, so you have to clear the sink to make space for the cookware. And it's at that time that my energy starts to drain. I can't imagine that others feel differently. So I incorporate double duty and simplified methods. While my smaller dishes are soaking, I add a squirt of dish detergent and fill the cookware with water and bring to a boil. This effectively and efficiently separates the grease and food residues from the surfaces, and the hot water aids in the process. Because the cookware degreases at a faster speed than the smaller dishes, I usually give the cookware a quick scrubbing with a long handled scrubbing brush once the water comes to a boil. I obviously still have to soak it and give it an official cleaning under the sink, but this method manages to reduce my efforts. I would also suggest considering to change your kitchen faucet size if your current one sits lower, making larger dishes harder to clean. It's an unnecessary investment but a simple change like that can significantly improve your cleaning habits. And isn't that worth the investment? Look for a new faucet during a sale to save even more money.

There is a possible drawback to my soap and boil method. If you're not paying attention, the soap bubbles will increase and the heat may cause the water to boil over, creating a bigger mess to clean and self-defeating outcome. Moral of the story? Keep an eye on the stove and make sure to time it properly. It's not enough to pay attention. You also have to know when to turn the heat off, giving it enough time to cool off so that it doesn't boil over. If you don't have the time or patience to supervise the heating process, I would suggest against this method.

How to Use Vinegar

~Buy a gallon of the generic 5% white distilled vinegar and put it in a spray bottle. Use it to clean windows and mirrors the way you normally would.

~Clean your cutting board by spraying it liberally with vinegar and let it sit overnight. Simply wash off the vinegar the next day, if you'd like. But it's unnecessary.

~Shine and polish stainless steel sink fixtures by spraying vinegar directly on it or dampen gentle cloth with vinegar and wipe clean.

~Clean stainless steel cookware with vinegar to remove any hard water stains.

~To remove calcium buildup on your shower head, pour some vinegar into a ziplock baggie and tape it in place overnight.

~Some people use vinegar to remove toilet ring stains, but I find it ineffective once the stain sets in. (I live in a place with very hard water). It's suggested that you pour a cup of vinegar and let it sit overnight before tackling the mess. I still like to use it to disinfect my toilet. I pour a cup and scrub thoroughly.

~Use vinegar to clean bathroom counters.

~I like making my own disinfect wipes because wipes are a lot easier to use than a spray bottle and paper towels. I simply use an empty baby wipe container by filling it up with paper towels and pouring enough vinegar to dampen the paper towels. I use it to clean my counters. It's easy to use, assemble, and maintain.

~To clear a clogged drain, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda, followed by 1/2 cup of vinegar down the drain. A white bubbly reaction will take place. That's totally natural. Let it hang for a few minutes, then pour boiling water down the drain to finish it off.

~To remove calcium buildup on your shower head, fill a ziplock baggie with vinegar and tape it in place to your shower head. Leave it on overnight. It works wonders!

Vinegar: Condiment, Household Cleaner, Environmentally Conscious Product, and a Natural Detoxifier

Yes, vinegar is a condiment and functions as an environmentally conscious household cleaner that also detoxifies the body. Who knew when most of us were passing up the white distilled 5% solution vinegar to go for the ketchup and mayo that such a simple and plain looking product that we ignored for so long was a versatile and indispensable staple? Vinegar is quickly becoming the popular choice of household cleaner, not just for the environmentally-conscious but for almost anyone who's interested in maintaining a clean home. Because vinegar isn't registered as a pesticide with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the legality details restricts it from claiming their miraculous results. Nonetheless, rigorous tests reveal that vinegar kills 99% of bacteria, 82% of mold, and 80% of viruses. It's a naturally acidic product that's known to break down grease, softens water and neutralize alkaline and caustic substances such as mineral buildup, whiten fabric, and reduce static. As you can see, there are clearly other cleaning products that can more effectively clean your home, but at what cost?

We have only one planet. It's unrealistic to expect everyone to do everything they can to make the world a cleaner, healthier place, but we can all contribute to make a small difference. And the incentive to use vinegar is really tempting unless you have mold, in which case I would encourage everyone to use a stronger cleaning product. Mold is very stubborn, very dangerous, and very harmful to your health, and the potential danger to exposure is greater than using commercial products with toxic chemicals. Back to the subject on hand, vinegar is so inexpensive. And according to The Vinegar Institute's Research studies, its shelf life lasts indefinitely due to its acidic properties. Unlike other cleaning products that are only a bargain when you're lucky enough to come across a sale and the products are still on the shelf, generic vinegar is regularly affordable and works just as well as the name brand stuff. You can buy a gallon for $3.49 at Safeway/VONS and use it as an all-purpose cleaner with some exceptions, which I'll specify soon.

Most all-purpose cleaners come in a spray bottle that holds less than a gallon and sell for half the price. I stock up on spray bottles at the Dollar Tree Store or 99 Cents store and fill them up with vinegar. Other people prefer diluting the vinegar with water to save money. From what I understand, that works quite well, too. I simply don't follow that method for a couple of reasons. As I run out of vinegar, I like to refill my spray bottle. I don't want to find any excuse to keep me from cleaning including, "I don't have anything to clean with. I'll fill the bottle up later." If I develop a habit of filling it up regularly, I'll feel compelled to clean so my efforts are paid off. Plus, if I poured in equal amounts of water and vinegar, it'd be hard for me to estimate how much water and vinegar I should add until I start to run out. And as I've mentioned previously, I want to maintain a good habit of keeping everything replenished and usable. I'm also hesitant to use my water as a cleaning agent because I have hard water. Vinegar is actually an ideal cleaning product in areas that have hard water. It softens the water and removes mineral buildup, but I don't like the idea of diluting vinegar with it because I use concentrated vinegar to clean mineral buildup by dampening a towel or pouring vinegar onto the surface directly. The last thing I want is to combat hard water with hard water.

Vinegar is a versatile product that can be used on most surfaces. Ceramic tiles is an exception to the rule, as vinegar can damage the glaze and harm grout. There may be other restrictions, but at the moment, I'm not aware of any. In fact, I recently learned about the rule with ceramic tiles on Martha Stewart's Homekeeping Handbook. Before that, I used vinegar to clean my ceramic tiles in the kitchen with success. Then again, my tiles weren't very nice to begin with. There are many ways to use vinegar, and I'll list them off, but it'll have to be another time. This entry is simply meant to promote knowledge. I'll be sure to explain why vinegar is used to detoxify the body, too.

Make Washing Dishes by Hand Easier

I like the concept of those buckets that you soak dishes in, but why spend money on a bucket to soak dishes? It's unnecessary and takes up space. It's just another thing to clean up later. Plus I can't help but feel like after washing all of those dishes, people are going to get lazy about cleaning the bucket that held all those dirty dishes. Can you think of the mildew buildup if that bucket just stays there? Ewwwww!!!! And I personally only have one dish rack. It's not large enough to hold all of my pots, pans, plates, bowls, cups, utensils, AND a bucket. I can't imagine too many people having a larger dish rack than mine. I suppose different rules apply if you have a dishwasher, but I have a cheaper solution for soaking your dishes.

I do like the bucket concept. So I simply use a sink stopper. I basically turn my sink into a bucket, so to speak, something I already own. I stack my dishes into the sink, pour a little dishwashing liquid over it, and fill it up with the hottest water possible. That way it takes much longer for the water to get cold, so I buy myself a little more time before I have to tackle the dishes. I like to soak my accumulated dishes from the day and soak them overnight. I finish cleaning them first thing in the morning.

Bathroom Trash

In my bathroom, I put five to seven spare trash bags to make the cleaning and disposing process smoother and more efficient. This buys me some extra time. I just throw out my trash when it fills up, and I have a new bag already in place before I walk out of the door. It's common practice for a reason. It works especially well for me because most of my trash bags are stored in the kitchen, the room farthest away from the bathroom. On average, I throw out the trash once a week except during that time of the month, it becomes twice a week. So that's about five to six trash bags I use in a month. I try to leave about twelve spare trash bags. I replenish them every couple of weeks to keep up the habit. It works well for me.

Rachael Ray's Garbage Bowl

I know that Rachael Ray has a huge following, so many people are probably already aware of her system. She uses a large wooden salad bowl as her garbage bowl when she's cooking in the kitchen. What a great concept! Most trash bags are under the sink, and what a drag it is to constantly try to throw trash down there. That's just an accident waiting to happen, but a nearby trash bowl on the counter with a large opening is so convenient and practical. Throwing out plastic liners with meat juice always gets everywhere. But throwing out trash is so easy this way. You simply cover the bowl with the trash bag and flip it over. I know it's a bit of a waste, but I throw trash out everyday because the smell of rotting food is intolerable for me. So, this is a perfect way to keep things clean and easy.

Kitchen Trash

I actually don't use a trash can in the kitchen because I don't like the idea of carrot and potato peels rotting in my kitchen for too long. I simply hang a loose grocery bag on the corner of my drawers and throw it out daily. It's also much cleaner when I throw in liquids because I don't have to clean a trash can with liquid stains that set in. So I can comfortably throw out junk that collects in my sink catcher. But keep in mind that a lot of trash bags get used up. Some people may find it wasteful, but I find it worthwhile for my needs. What I do is grab a bunch of grocery bags (inches full of them) at the grocery stores and replace them as needed.

I'm aware that it isn't environmentally-conscious. So, if that's a concern, another alternative is in order. I've tried using odor absorbers without success. And every time I throw out more trash, I've found myself feeling unbearably nauseous. It was unfortunate that I bought a sleek, tall trash can. It generously holds trash, but the smell is too much for me to handle. So what's the point of disposing large plastic trash bags rapidly when they've been barely used? I want to make a difference and do what I can to make the environment cleaner, but I use plastic trash bags. I don't use paper bags. I'm ashamed to admit that I'm unwilling to use paper bags and clean up after wipes and messes up to three times a day. It's too time consuming. So then it'll probably sit there and stink up the place.

My method is far from full-proof, but it works for me. For people who want to keep trash out as much as possible and develop good habits, this works very well. The trash is taunting you until you clean it up. It also makes taking it out much easier.