Here’s all the dirt on how often you need to clean
If you’ve been avoiding spring cleaning since, well, before spring, you’re not alone.
For most of us, the thought of steaming our carpets or cleaning out the crisper section of the refrigerator makes us want to crawl under the covers.
Since we all can use some extra motivation to get our rubber gloves on, we’ve rounded up the leading expert advice about how often you should clean everything and, more important, why.
Turns out, your home is harbouring more bacteria than a public garbage bin. Motivated yet? Take a deep breath and read on to see how frequently you should be cleaning your house.
Truth time: It’s more than once a year.
Microwave
Frequency: Every week Try this handy concoction: Mix half a cup of water with half a cup of white vinegar in a heat-safe dish. Microwave it on high until the window steams up, then wipe the interior with a sponge. Easy.
Bathtub
Frequency: Every week The toilet has a reputation as one of the dirtiest areas of a bathroom, but according to new research, it’s got nothing on your bathtub. The verdict: Clean your bathtub as often as your toilet – ideally every week.
Bed linen
Frequency: Every one to two weeks
Surprisingly, fresh findings suggest your bed linen isn’t as dirty as you may think. ‘‘We’ve done research that showed that you don’t get as much exposure to dust mites [when] in bed as we once thought,’’ Euan Tovey, head of the Allergen Research Group at the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research says. He says you’re subjected to dust mites whenever you’re moving, not just when you’re confined in your bed. But before you forego washing your sheets, take note: Results vary depending on your sleeping routine. If you don’t shower after work or snooze in the buff, opt to wash bed linens every one to two weeks in hot water.
Refrigerator
Frequency: Every month Brace yourselves: Scientists say salad drawers contain 750 times the safe level of bacteria, making them one of the main places to clean regularly. Don’t wait for a spring-cleaning reminder; this part of your home deserves monthly attention.
Computer
Frequency: Every week A massive 70 per cent of Americans eat lunch at their desk, making computer keyboards a hotbed for bacteria. One study found that keyboards harbour five times the bacteria found on a toilet seat, but 10 per cent of people never clean them. Set aside time every Friday to give your desk a once-over with disinfectant spray.
Kitchen benchtop
Frequency: Every day If you’re a regular cook, chances are you already wipe down kitchen surfaces daily. That’s a great start, but there are a few key zones to focus on. Be sure to wipe surfaces daily and swap out your kitchen sponges every week!
2. Construct simple cloche covers to keep the cold at bay
It’s amazing (and frankly a little depressing) how rapidly the soil loses its residual warmth in autumn, and how quickly growth slows in response. In a bid to beat nature at her own game, make DIY cloches to extend the growing season without the expense and effort of building or buying a glasshouse.
Cloches are practical and portable. Not only do they offer frost protection for newly planted seedlings and crops nearing maturity, they keep the soil slightly warmer by trapping heat from the sun, providing shelter
4. Sow baby carrots in containers
Carrots grow sluggishly from now on; it’s really too late to sow them direct. So why not experiment with salad crops of baby carrots in plastic pots, buckets or planter bags filled with potting mix?
Sow generously so you can harvest while finger-sized. Park pots in the warmest, sunniest corner of your garden – up against a north-facing wall or on a sheltered deck – until the seeds sprout, then move them as needed to ensure they don’t end up waterlogged.