Keeping your home clean and fresh involves more than just the basics. It’s about diving into those often-overlooked spots and implementing a few smart strategies to maintain a pristine environment. Here are some top-notch cleaning tips to help you detox your bins, tackle your garbage disposal, and achieve a spotless home.

1. Detox Your Bins and Garbage Disposal

Why It Matters: Your bins and garbage disposal can harbour bacteria, unpleasant odours, and even attract pests. Regularly detoxing these areas helps keep your kitchen clean and hygienic.

What You’ll Need: Baking soda, vinegar, dish soap, a scrubbing brush.

Steps:

1. Empty and Clean Bins: Remove all trash and wash your bins with hot, soapy water. A scrub brush or sponge works well for this task.
2. Baking Soda: Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda on the bottom of your clean bin. Baking soda neutralises odours and helps absorb any lingering smells.
3. Vinegar: Pour some white vinegar into the bin and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Vinegar helps to disinfect and break down grime.
4. Scrub: Give the bin a good scrub with a brush to ensure all surfaces are clean.
5. Rinse and Dry: Rinse with water and let it dry completely before using it again.
6. Garbage Disposal: For a fresh-smelling garbage disposal, sprinkle baking soda and pour vinegar down the disposal. Let it fizz for a few minutes, then run cold water to flush everything out.

2. Clean as You Go

Why It Matters: Cleaning as you go prevents messes from piling up and keeps your kitchen and home more manageable.

How to Do It:

• Clean While Cooking: Wash utensils, pots, and pans as you use them.
• Wipe Surfaces Regularly: Quickly wipe down countertops and stove tops to avoid build-up.
• Tidy Up After Meals: Clear the table and clean up spills immediately.

3. Wash the Windows

Why It Matters: Clean windows allow more natural light in and improve the appearance of your home.

What You’ll Need: Window cleaner or a DIY mix of water and vinegar, a squeegee, a microfiber cloth.

Steps:

1. Prepare the Cleaner: Mix equal parts water and vinegar for a homemade window cleaner or use a commercial window cleaner.
2. Apply: Spray the cleaner on the window.
3. Squeegee: Use a squeegee to wipe the window from top to bottom, removing excess cleaner.
4. Wipe Edges: Use a microfiber cloth to clean up any remaining streaks or drips from the edges.

4. Declutter First

Why It Matters: Decluttering makes cleaning easier and more effective by reducing the number of items you need to clean around.

How to Do It:

• Assess Your Space: Look for items you no longer use or need.
• Sort: Categorise items into ‘keep’, ‘donate’, and ‘discard’.
• Organise: Store the items you’re keeping in an orderly fashion.

5. Eliminate Pet Odours

Why It Matters: Pet odours can linger in your home and be hard to manage.

What You’ll Need: Baking soda, a vacuum cleaner, an enzyme cleaner.

Steps:

1. Baking Soda: Sprinkle baking soda on carpets and let it sit for about 15 minutes before vacuuming.
2. Enzyme Cleaner: Use an enzyme cleaner on specific spots where your pet may have had accidents.

6. Restore Your Dishwasher

Why It Matters: A clean dishwasher ensures your dishes come out sparkling and bacteria-free.

What You’ll Need: Baking soda, white vinegar, a dishwasher-safe container.

Steps:

1. Vinegar: Place a cup of white vinegar on the top rack of the empty dishwasher.
2. Run a Cycle: Run a hot water cycle to clean and deodorise the interior.
3. Baking Soda: Sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher and run a short, hot water cycle for extra freshness.

7. Start at the Top

Why It Matters: Cleaning from top to bottom ensures you’re not re-dirtying areas you’ve already cleaned.

How to Do It:

• Start with High Surfaces: Clean ceilings, light fixtures, and upper shelves first.
• Move Down: Work your way down to lower surfaces and floors.

8. Vinegar: Your Cleaning Ally

Why It Matters: Vinegar is a versatile, natural cleaner that can tackle a variety of cleaning tasks.

Uses:

• Descale Appliances: Use vinegar to remove mineral build-up from kettles and coffee makers.
• Clean Floors: Dilute vinegar with water for a natural floor cleaner.
• Deodorise: Vinegar neutralises odours around the house.

How to Use:

1. Mix with Water: For most cleaning tasks, mix vinegar with water in a spray bottle.
2. Apply: Spray or wipe the solution onto the surface you’re cleaning.

Final Thoughts

Implementing these cleaning tips can make a significant difference in your home’s cleanliness and freshness. By detoxing bins, cleaning as you go, and using versatile products like vinegar and baking soda, you can maintain a sparkling and pleasant living environment.

Happy cleaning!