Lint can be very pesky as it accumulates in and around clothing dryers. Removing lint is a critical part of dryer maintenance. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, clothes dryers are responsible for approximately 2,900 fires in residential buildings in the U.S. each year. This risk is minimized when dryers are maintained properly. … [Read more...] about Common Housekeeping Conundrums: Lint in Clothes Dryers
cleaning tips
Cleaning Schedule Architecture: Building One that Works for You
Having a clean house is refreshing and pleasant. Unfortunately, getting to a clean house can sometimes be taxing and unpleasant. Cleaning schedules can streamline housecleaning and help you keep up with various tasks. I absolutely love lists and schedules, so soon after I got married I began looking for a suitable cleaning schedule. … [Read more...] about Cleaning Schedule Architecture: Building One that Works for You
21 Cleaning Jobs for Toothbrushes
If you replace toothbrushes at the recommended interval, each member of your household will go through 3-4 toothbrushes each year. Given that each toothbrush costs money and each ends up contributing to the trash your household produces, why not make sure you get your money’s worth and reduce your need for other cleaning equipment by reusing … [Read more...] about 21 Cleaning Jobs for Toothbrushes
Common Housekeeping Conundrums: Power Cord Management
Do the electrical cords behind your desk or entertainment center look like a bowl of spaghetti? No matter how neatly I lay the cords when I first plug them in, after a few months they become tangled. The cords on floor lamps are also a challenge. They look quite unattractive and can get out in walkways and become a stumbling … [Read more...] about Common Housekeeping Conundrums: Power Cord Management
The Lowdown on Microfiber Cloths
Microfiber cloths have bourgeoned in popularity in recent years. I’ve heard them described in a number of ways: amazing, awful, soft, rough, environmentally friendly, bad for the environment, etc. With descriptors that are this conflicting, it’s hard to determine if these cloths are something you should be using. While I’ve had several … [Read more...] about The Lowdown on Microfiber Cloths
Common Housekeeping Conundrums: Rust in Bathtubs and Sinks
My husband and I purchased our house last year. A new bathtub was installed by the previous owner right before we made the purchase. Unfortunately, during the short time the house stood vacant before we moved in, a spot of rust developed in the tub where some water had pooled around the drain. Why did pooled water cause rust to form? … [Read more...] about Common Housekeeping Conundrums: Rust in Bathtubs and Sinks
Germ Hot Spots in the Home
Which surface in your home has the highest concentration of germs? A toilet seat? A trashcan? What researchers found from swabs of common household surfaces may surprise you. The 10 germiest places in the home In 2011, researchers at NSF International conducted a study to identify the top 10 germ-laden surfaces in the home. Here’s what … [Read more...] about Germ Hot Spots in the Home
Making Unpleasant Housecleaning Tasks More Enjoyable
There are women who claim they love all aspects of keeping their homes. I’m not sure if I should admire them or suspect them to be liars. Either way, I’m simply not a fan of all housecleaning tasks. Most tasks are things I don’t mind and a few I actually enjoy. Sweeping and mopping, though, are tasks I just don’t like. I never feel like I can … [Read more...] about Making Unpleasant Housecleaning Tasks More Enjoyable