We sought expert opinions from professional cleaners to comment on some cleaning trends that have been circling the Internet. Some you may have heard of; others might not have reached you yet. The important thing is we have the answers as to whether or not it’s worth trying them. Let’s see what the expert cleaners have to comment on these experiments.
Stripping Your Laundry from Buildup
Laundry stripping is the process of removing all of the detergent, softener, hard water, dirt, and bacteria buildup from your textiles. A washing machine can handle some of these, but it can’t compete with laundry stripping.
One reason for this is that laundry stripping removes odours from the fabric and restores it to its original state. That’s something a washing machine just can’t do on its own.
Before you can get down to stripping, you’ll need the following materials:
- Freshly laundered clothes and towels (these can be either dry or wet)
- Laundry detergent
- Borax
- Washing soda
How to do it
Fill a plastic tub or a bathtub with hot water, add the laundry detergent (½ cup), borax (¼ cup) and washing soda (¼ cup). Now stir until it’s all mixed in well.
Submerge all of your clean laundry in the tub and leave it there until the water cools down, which can take up to five hours. You should stir the laundry from time to time to help remove all of the buildup.
Drain or remove all of the murky water and then run your laundry through on a rinse-only cycle in the washing machine. After that, just leave everything to dry, and you’ll be good to go. Your clothes and towels will look and feel as fresh as ever.
Verdict: Approved.
Cleaning AC Filters in the Dishwasher
You must not, under any circumstances, throw an AC filter into the dishwasher. Even if it’s set on a light cycle, it will most likely damage the filter beyond repair. Do we need to elaborate more on why that should be avoided? We hope not.
Verdict: Disapproved.
Cleaning Legos in the Dishwasher
You might be as flabbergasted as we were when we learned some people wash their Legos in the dishwasher. It’s not recommended for some obvious reasons, like small parts clogging the draining system. Another is that if you’re concerned more about the legos than the dishwasher, you have to keep in mind their stickers and paint can come off.
How to do it safely
However, if you’re really keen on trying this Lego cleaning method out (perhaps, just because of this article), make sure to place them in a washing bag before they go into the dishwasher.
Verdict: Don’t do it for the love of Legos and your dishwasher.
Unclogging a Drain with a Mix of Baking Soda and Vinegar
Unclogging a drain with the help of baking soda and vinegar does work. This method isn’t as powerful as using chemical drain cleaners and will have a hard time unclogging tough drain clogs, but it’s more eco-friendly.
The science behind this unclogging method is quite simple. Baking soda works as the base, while the vinegar acts as the acid. When combined, a chemical reaction occurs where molecules get exchanged, and carbon dioxide and water are created. This bubbles through the clog and breaks up all of the loose material stuck to it.
Since drainage pipes aren’t pressurised, you can easily flush this mixture down with boiling water, which will amplify the effect as pressure is added.
How to do that
Start by pouring a boiling pot of water down the drain. Then pour a cup of baking soda a cup of water and a cup of vinegar into the drain. Cover the drain with a drain plug and let things sit for 10 minutes. Finally, pour boiling water down the drain, and your drain and your drain should now be unclogged.
Verdict: Safe to try if your pipes aren’t plastic.
Steam-Cleaning a Microwave
Steam cleaning is a pretty effective and eco-friendly way of cleaning your microwave. The steam from the mixture of soda bicarbonate and water helps break up all of the grease and grime off the microwave.
How to do it
- Wipe the inside of your microwave with a wet rag in order to remove any loose crumbs;
- Fill a glass bowl with two tablespoons of baking soda and a cup of water and place it in the microwave;
- Set the temperature of the bowl on high for around five minutes. The boiling water from the bowl will begin to release steam, which will loosen all of the grime from the microwave walls. And best of all, it’ll also deodorise the appliance;
- Leave the bowl in the microwave for another two minutes after the timer stops. This will help further loosen all of the dried up grease;
- Open the microwave, take out the bowl and use a moist sponge to wipe the entire inside down. Take the turntable tray and wash it with soap and warm water;
- Use dry paper towels and go over the entire microwave in order to remove any moisture left behind.
Verdict: Approved.
Using Mr. Clean Magic Erasers to Clean Ceramic Cooktops
Using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to clean your ceramic cooktop is overall not a bad idea. It won’t damage the cooktop and might even be more effective in cleaning it than using baking soda and soap.
Verdict: Approved.
Blending Dish Soap and Water to Clean Your Blender
We saw this cleaning method being tested by some people in attempts to shorten the time of cleaning their blender. The way it works is pretty self-explanatory, as dish soap is the proper material to use for cleaning a blender. But is blending a few drops of liquid dish soap with water going to save that much time? After all, you still have to rinse the soapy mixture. If you’re willing to try this method out, here’s how:
How to do it
Fill half of your blender carafe with warm water, add a few drops of liquid dish soap, and blend the mixture on a low setting. Once a minute passes, pour the soapy mixture into the drain and rinse the carafe until clean. But remember to always follow the apliance manufacturer’s recommendations on cleaning the blender.
Verdict: Do it only if it’s approved by the blender’s manufacturer.
Cleaning Your Oven with Lemon Juice and Baking Soda
While you can probably clean some of the greasy spots in your oven with this solution, overall, it’s not very effective. This is especially true when dealing with built-up grease and grime. So save yourself the time and avoid this one.
Verdict: Not worth the time.
Some Final Words from the Professionals
In conclusion, seeking help from professional cleaners can be a game-changer for your cleaning routine. Be it for deep domestic cleaning or for advice on selecting the right cleaning products and adopting efficient cleaning techniques. Professional cleaners have a wealth of knowledge that can help you keep your home spotless and organised. Remember to prioritise safety by using eco-friendly products and following proper guidelines when handling chemicals. As we close this post, we hope that these ideas will inspire you to take steps towards achieving a cleaner and healthier living space. So go ahead and put them into practice today. Your home will thank you!
