Once or twice a year, it’s wise to thoroughly clean neglected nooks and crannies. Make your home sparkle with these helpful hints.
Clean from the top down. Start with dusting fans or vents, followed by wiping down walls, sills, surfaces, and counters. Finish with vacuuming and mopping. By moving top to bottom, efficiently catch anything that might fall along the way.
De-scale your faucets. Remove mineral build-up from faucets and showerheads by soaking them in vinegar overnight. Submerge by removing the faucet (be sure to shut the water off first!) or, secure a bag of the solution with a rubber band around the existing fixture.
Clean carpets. To deodorize, liberally sprinkle fresh baking soda on your rug or carpet so that it is visibly completely covered. Let sit for a minimum of two hours, then vacuum. For set-in stains, spot treat first. To clean and deodorize dirty carpets, rent a steam cleaner or have them professionally treated.
De-grime grout. For white grout, mix a 2:1 ratio of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Add a few drops of dish soap, apply to grout, and let sit for 10 minutes. Scrub with an old toothbrush and wipe clean. Test a small area first to ensure darker grout won’t discolour, or use vinegar instead of hydrogen peroxide to avoid potential colour changes.