September 23rd marks the beginning of fall, and around our home that means one thing: fall purge.
The change of seasons is the prefect time to clean-up and purge your home of unwanted or unneeded items. I make a huge pile of goods to donate and an even bigger pile for the trash collector. The final phase of the fall purge is to clean what’s left behind:
Kitchen Sink: Studies show that the kitchen sink is the dirtiest place in most homes, even surpassing toilet bowls. The reason: Build-up of bacteria from raw meat and other food debris. To get your kitchen sink clean scrub it frequently with chlorine and water or an all-purpose powder cleaner, such as Ajax.
Sponges: Experts say that you should never use the same sponge for more than a month, so dump old sponges during your fall purge. If you keep them around for more than one or two uses you should put them in a washing machine with hot water and bleach. Otherwise, experts say you should toss them after one use.
Trashcans: Spray a disinfectant, such as Lysol, every time you change the bag. If your trash bag gets torn and liquid leaks out you, experts recommend taking the can outside and thoroughly washing it with hot water and chlorine.
Bedroom: To prevent dust mites from invading your bedroom, experts recommend vacuuming your mattress, carpet and drapery at the highest setting possible. In addition, you can also use a chemical cleaner available in stores called benzyl benzoate to combat a dust mite problem.
Bed Linen: Experts recommend you wash sheets and pillow cases in water that is at least 150 degrees Fahrenheit once a week.
Pillows: Experts say bed pillow should be washed in hot water and bleach once a month and thrown out after 3 years.