Easy Ways to Refresh and Clean Your Home

Now more than ever, we need our homes to be a sanctuary, a place where we can feel safe and find joy. Welcome to the final week of my 4-week series, How to Create a Happy and Healthy Home Inside and Out. This week, we’re diving into some easy and often overlooked ways to refresh and clean your home. These tips don’t cost much but can make a huge impact!

We all want our homes to be squeaky clean, but there are some hidden nooks and crannies we often forget about. Let’s tackle those spots together!

Show Your Home Some Love

Give yourself a pat on the back if you’re already on top of your home’s maintenance. But have you thought about those smaller tasks that might be slipping through the cracks? It’s time to shine a light on those forgotten spots.

Tackle Kitchen Smells

Garbage Disposal
Does your kitchen sink sometimes stink? Leftover food scraps can create some pretty nasty smells. Here’s a quick fix:

• Turn off the disposal and remove the splash guard. Soak it in dish detergent and scrub with an old toothbrush.
• Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda into the disposal, let sit for 30 minutes, then add 1 cup of white vinegar. Rinse with boiling water.
• Reinstall the splash guard, add 2 cups of ice and 1 cup of salt, run cold water, and turn on the disposal.
• Finally, grind a lemon peel for a fresh scent!

Trash Can
Last night’s dinner can stink up the trash, but the container itself might need to be cleaned too.

• Hose it down, use a disinfectant or a vinegar-water mix, scrub, rinse, and let it dry in the sun.

Dishwasher
Your dishwasher needs a good rinse once a month.

• Empty the dishwasher and remove food particles.
• Place a dishwasher-safe bowl with 1 cup of vinegar on the top rack and run a hot water cycle.
• Sprinkle 3/4 cup of baking soda on the bottom and run another hot water cycle.

Good-Bye to Bathroom Grime & Germs

Shower Curtain Liner
Soap scum, mold, and mildew love to live on your shower curtain.

• Clean with bathroom cleaner or toss in the washing machine with diluted bleach.

Shower Head
Is your shower head clogged with mineral deposits?

• Fill a plastic bag with white vinegar, secure it over the shower head with a rubber band, and let it soak overnight. Scrub with a toothbrush the next day.

Toilet Bowl Brush and Holder
These can harbor bacteria if not cleaned regularly.

• After use, rinse the brush in clean toilet water, spray with disinfectant, and let it air dry.
• Clean the holder with disinfectant as well.

Take Action in the Laundry Room

Washing Machine
Especially if you have a front-loader, the rubber gasket can get moldy.

• Clean the gasket with a bleach-water solution or baking soda and vinegar.
• Run an empty rinse cycle with hot water and leave the door ajar to dry.

Spruce Up Your Entrance

Doormat
Your doormat catches a lot of dirt, pollen, and dust.

• Shake it out, vacuum, and hose it down with water. Use mild dish detergent for stains and rinse.

As you can see, these tasks are easily overlooked but can make a huge difference. Make them part of your regular routine to keep your home fresh and functional. Plus, you’ll get that satisfying feeling of a job well done!

Got any questions or need some advice? Reach out! And if you’re considering a move, I’m here to help you every step of the way.