Kitchen Cabinets:
While you’re stuck indoors in winter weather, take the opportunity to
give your kitchen cabinets a good cleaning to remove any grease and
grime. To make the job easy, spray on a little orange oil cleaner to cut
the grease, then wipe the cabinets clean with a wet sponge that’s been
microwaved about 40 seconds. Be sure to wear gloves so you don’t burn
your hands! The combination of citrus oil and hot water will make short
work of grease on cabinets. To see how it’s done, check out our video on
Removing Grease from Kitchen Cabinets.
Stovetop and Oven:
Citrus-based cleaner also works great for cleaning your stove. Start by
removing the burners and pans, then give the stovetop a good cleaning
using the same hot sponge method. Be sure to remove and clean the knobs
and the surface behind them as well. For stubborn stains, sprinkle a
little baking soda and scrub. While you’re at it, be sure to clean your
oven with a commercial oven cleaner, following the instructions. For a
greener option, sprinkle the bottom of the oven with baking soda, spritz
with water, let it sit overnight, then scrub it clean.
Range hood and Filter:
Allowing grease to build up on range hoods and over the stove microwave
fans can reduce their efficiency and shorten the life of the fan. In
addition to cleaning the outer and inner surfaces of a range hood or
microwave with a citrus cleaner, it’s important to remove and clean the range hood grease filter
regularly by washing it in the sink in hot, soapy water or running the
filter in the dishwasher. If you can access the exhaust fan on the range
hood, turn the circuit breaker off and clean the fan blades as well.
Closets:
Take advantage of a rainy or snowy day to clean and organize your
closets. Remove everything from the closet and give the floors and
woodwork a good cleaning. Then, before putting anything back, take a
look and see if you’re getting the best use out of the space. Some new
DIY wire track shelving
along with hanging bars, drawers, bins, and baskets can increase your
storage space dramatically. For help designing and organizing your
closet, consider hiring a company specializing in organizational solutions to design and install a new closet system in your home.
Bathroom Drains: Nothing ruins a good shower like a slow running drain! To clean tub and sink drains,
remove the drain assembly and insert a drain stick in the drain pipe to
pull out any hair or other clogs. Follow this by pouring a little
bleach down the drain, allow it to sit for 10-15 minutes, then flush it
with water to kill any mold or mildew lurking in the pipe.
Home Inventory: Winter is a great time to compile a home inventory
of all your prized possessions for insurance purposes, or update to
inventory you have with any new purchases from the past year. Be sure to
document it with photos, videos, and receipts. Make extra copies and
store them in a safe place away from your home, such as a safe deposit
box or with a friend or relative.
