WHEN it comes to cleaning our homes, most of us know the basics.
We know we need to clean our sheets, toilets, and tubs regularly, but we often forget to clean things like our dishwashers and air conditioning filters.
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A cleaning and organizing expert named Kami Larae, who goes by @kami.larae on TikTok, said there are 10 things we should be doing every month to keep our appliances running like new.
AIR FILTERS
Kami said the most important thing to do is change your air filters every month.
It’s very simple to do, but because they’re out of sight, you tend to put off the task.
“These can cause a lot of allergies, especially if you have pets,” she explained.
WASHING MACHINE
Although we regularly use our washing machine to clean our clothes, the expert said the machines themselves also need a good rinse.
To do this, add a cup of vinegar or baking soda to an empty load and run the cycle on the hottest setting.
“But don’t use both or they will cancel each other out.”
WASHING MACHINE FILTER
While you’re addressing your washing machine, you’ll also want to clean the filter.
Place a towel under the filter and a bowl on the ground below.
Remove the filter to let the debris-filled water drain into the bowl.
She said you should also scrub the inside flaps of the rubber edging.
DRYER
To finish sweeping your laundry room, move on to your dryer vent.
Remove the lint trap and clean the interior compartment with a bottle brush (which can be purchased on Amazon for $8).
Before putting the lint trap back inside, rinse it with water and scrub with an old toothbrush to remove any stuck-on material.
Kami said she did it once a week to make sure she was clean.
COFFEE MACHINE
Most of us can’t live without our morning coffee.
But if we want these precious machines to last as long as possible, we need to clean them regularly.
Kami bought Clean ‘n Brew cleaning pods to do the job, which are usually sold on Amazon for $10.
DISHWASHER FILTER
If you’re one of those people who throws dishes in the washer without scrubbing the food first, your dishwasher’s filter is probably a lot coarser than you think.
Be sure to remove the filter and rinse it monthly to keep the unit running smoothly.
WASTE DISPOSAL
While you’re in the kitchen, it’s a good idea to also take care of disposing of waste in your sink.
It can get really smelly after a while.
Kami suggested using CLR Fresh & Clean Trash Disposal Pods to get the job done.
It only costs $6 for a bag on Amazon.
SINK
Complete your kitchen sink by cleaning the surface with Scrub Daddy PowerPaste, which can be purchased on Amazon for $30.
“I was shocked at how clean this made my sink.
“I mean, literally, all these gray things were coming out of it. I thought it was already clean, but once I sprayed it, it looked so shiny and new.
THE VINEGAR
Before leaving the kitchen, Kami aimed once more at the dishwasher and the sink.
She said to add a cup or two of vinegar inside the dishwasher and run a vacuum cycle.
She also poured two cups of vinegar down the sink drain to clean it.
Sticking to her vinegar, she dipped the showerheads in a plastic bag full of vinegar to remove stuck-on debris.
SHOWERS
Kami’s final tip was to sanitize your showers.
She suggested using a mop to clean the shower floors, as it’s easier on the knees.
Many viewers loved the tips:
“Nice clean house! one person wrote.
“Great advice. Thank you,” added another.
But some thought the tasks were too ambitious:
“You said to do these things every month…girl.” Doing these things takes all month! one commented.
“At this point I’m just going to rent forever because it’s not possible,” chimed in a second.
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