Disinfect While You Clean

With COVID-19, flu and RSV viruses running rampant this #winter, the goal for #cleaning is to combat germs, says Care.com — meaning what you really want to do is #sanitize and #disinfect to prevent the spread of disease. Address the high-touch areas of your home such as door handles, faucets, window sills, phones, toothbrushes and remote controls. Clean these items two or three times per week with disinfectant, paying special attention to bathroom sinks and toilets. “And don’t forget the light switches, towel racks, and any other handles or knobs,” says cleaning expert Bailey Carson. #WinterCleaning

Deep-Cleaning the Bathrooms in Your Home

Any area that sees water and steam is likely to get dirtier faster than the rest of the house, so #fall is a great time to #deep-clean the bathrooms in your home. Go beyond the usual scrubbing of the porcelain fixtures, says Housewife How-Tos: Remove and wash shower curtains and/or descale glass shower enclosures. Clear, clean and #declutter bathroom shelves and cabinets. Clean drains, mirrors and grout. Wash all textile items such as towels and rugs. Vacuum the exhaust fan, wash down the walls with a mild cleansing solution (warm water and white vinegar works well), and finally, sweep and mop thoroughly. #FallCleaning

Don’t Put off Household Cleaning Chores

You’d think that the work-from-home revolution that launched alongside the #pandemic would inspire people to #clean more. But there are many household #cleaning chores people put off because they just don’t like to do them, says a survey released by homebuilder Lombardo Homes. No. 1 on the list is #cleaning the bathroom, followed closely by #washing dishes, doing laundry, cleaning the fridge and doing yardwork. While 85% of survey respondents admit they avoid doing chores they don’t like, the pandemic has made a majority “more diligent” about cleaning their homes.

Keep the Shower Clean Naturally

Vinegar, baking soda and salt are your all-natural friends when it comes to bathroom cleanup, says Expert Home Tips. To deep-clean a crusty shower head, for example, put two teaspoons of baking soda and half a cup of vinegar in a sandwich bag and secure it over the shower head using a rubber band. Let the shower head soak overnight, and the following day, that buildup will wipe away effortlessly. And if your bathroom is prone to mildew, soak your shower curtain in salt water before you hang it up— the salt will absorb excess moisture and keep the space odor-free.

Make Your Own All-Natural Cleaning Products

You can make your own all-natural cleaning products, Apartment Therapy says, using only a handful of basic ingredients. For example, an all-purpose tub and tile cleaner can be made from baking soda, liquid soap, vinegar and water. A toilet bowl cleaner is simply borax, baking soda and vinegar, while floor cleaner is borax and water. Glass cleaner? Vinegar and water. Drain cleaner? Baking soda and vinegar. And if you want to add a bit of scent to your homemade cleaning concoctions, simple add a drop of fresh-smelling essential oil such as lemon, mint or lavender.