Ways to clean some items in the home

You may have been making efforts to keep your house clean but all the items in the different rooms, particularly the not so common ones do not just involve wiping them with a cloth, especially if you do not want to use chemicals and machines or services of professional cleaners. The way you clean a refrigerator […]

You may have been making efforts to keep your house clean but all the items in the different rooms, particularly the not so common ones do not just involve wiping them with a cloth, especially if you do not want to use chemicals and machines or services of professional cleaners.
 The way you clean a refrigerator for instance is not the same with a TV remote. Some people may know how to clean radio sets but do not know the proper ways to clean a chandelier.
Martha Uniacke Breen, a home décor and improvement expert  said there are many surfaces in our homes that we either don’t clean often enough, or don’t know how to do properly.
She said: “Others can often be done yourself for a fraction of the cost of professional cleaning. And many everyday jobs can often be accomplished less expensively, and more pleasantly, with homemade substitutes using vinegar, lemon juice and other familiar ingredients.”
Below are tips given by experts on how to clean some items found in the kitchen, family, living and dining rooms.
Flat Screen TV
You should avoid using commercial cleaners, and never spray directly onto the screen. Use a damp, lint-free cloth, working in circles out from the centre; dry with a dry cloth if necessary.
TV remote
Every three months or so, remove batteries and replace if leaking. Wipe body of remote with a damp cloth. Use cotton buds dipped in rubbing alcohol to gently clean all around and under buttons, drying with the dry end of a cotton bud if needed.
DVD player and stereo
Clean case with a damp cloth, being careful not to get any moisture inside vents. Use cotton buds and rubbing alcohol to gently clean glass display panels, grooved areas and under knobs or switches.
Computer
Regularly dust vents to prevent dust buildup, which can harm the computer. Thoroughly vacuum keyboard, and use cotton buds dipped in rubbing alcohol to clean keys and surface under them, as well as the mouse. Use a soft lint-free cloth, dampened if needed, to clean monitor and case. Clean laptops the same way, working very carefully so as not to force anything, which could break it
Microwave oven
Fill a microwave-safe bowl with one to two cups of water and microwave on high for two to three minutes. Remove, along with tray, and wipe interior with damp cloth. Wash tray in soapy water, rinse and replace; wipe exterior with soft cloth and all-purpose kitchen cleaner.
Stainless steel appliances
Wipe clean with dish soap and water and lint-free cloth; dry with clean towel. Polish with baby oil, club soda, rubbing alcohol, or vinegar and a lint-free cloth, wiping and polishing in the direction of the grain.
Butcher block
Wash after every use with dish soap and water, and disinfect with spray bottle filled with one tablespoon of bleach to one litre of water; periodically, season with mineral oil. Do not use olive oil or vegetable oil because they get spoilt or rancid.
Chandelier
Turn off power; cover any upward-pointing bulbs with sandwich bags and seal with rubber bands. Place drop cloth below chandelier. Mix one part ammonia or isopropyl alcohol with three parts distilled water in a spray bottle and spray entire chandelier, avoiding wires or other electrical components. Allow to drip dry. If crystals are still dirty, they may require individual hand cleaning with the same solution. Remove sandwich bags and clean light wells and other non-crystal parts with a cloth dipped in cleaning solution.
Silverware
Line a shallow baking pan with aluminum foil. Fill with two to three inches of warm water mixed with one teaspoon of baking soda. Soak silverware for 10 minutes; rinse thoroughly and allow to air dry.