Cleaning: Deodorizing my Garbage Disposal

July 16, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Brian Short)

Oh, how I appreciate my garbage disposal! Yes, that hole in my sink that takes all the leftovers and unwanted particles and chomps them away. In using time wisely in the kitchen, my disposal is a time saver.

Having lived without one growing up and in the early years of our marriage, I know the convenience my garbage disposal provides.

While keeping my garbage disposal uncluttered, maintained, and cleaned, I follow these 8 steps to deodorizing my garbage disposal:

1. Fill an ice cube tray with white vinegar and place in freezer.

Tracy’s Tip: Mark this ice cube tray and only use it for freezing vinegar. 🙂 I wrote the word “vinegar” on my ice cube tray, so that I do not accidentally use it for water ice cubes.

Though I do not use ice cube trays often, I do keep some for those events that need decorative ice cubes (e.g., fruit in ice, mint in ice, etc.). To prevent unwanted vinegar at an event, I keep this ice tray with my cleaning supplies.

2. Remove the tray from the freezer when frozen.

Tracy’s Tip: Try to freeze and use the vinegar ice cubes on the same day. The vinegar aroma remains in the freezer for a few hours to 2 days when freezing the same day.

3. Run cold water in the sink.

4. Turn on the garbage disposal.

5. Crack the ice tray into the garbage disposal.

6. Allow the disposal to “eat up” all the ice cubes.

7. Turn off the garbage disposal.

8. Turn off the water.

For more options to cleaning and deodorizing your garbage disposal, How To Clean Stuff recommends dish soap and citrus or baking soda, to name a few.

Around the blogosphere, many suggest using baking soda to deodorize your garbage disposal, even professional plumbers. However, if you have plastic pipes, do not use baking soda with boiling water or after using a commercial drain cleaner. Per Earth Easy, you may melt your plastic pipes or create toxic fumes.

In applying these 8 steps, your garbage disposal will smell fresh. Cleaning and deodorizing your garbage disposal maintains your time-saving investment while using time wisely. Happy cleaning!

Question: How do you deodorize your garbage disposal?

What Do You Think?: Washing Clothes Periodically

July 23, 2012 by Tracy

Photograph Credit: Flickr (Casey Fleser)

Around the blogosphere, many bloggers share their perspective on life. As I contemplate these many ideas (and some are really out there), sometimes I’m not sure what I think.

During this week of What Do You Think?, I share a topic and give you my 2¢. Please share your opinion.

The topics chosen will follow the posting schedule. Thanks in advance for your contributions on this journey to Using Time Wisely!

What Do You Think about Washing Clothes Periodically?

Tracy’s 2¢: As you know, I’m all about saving money, energy, and time, but this article about being a chronic over-washer was a bit funny to me partly because I do both. Since I am not an all-or-nothing type of person, I adjust to the situation.

For example, if the outfit I wore today did not get dirty, then I will put the outfit aside and wear it another day. On the other hand, I will gather all the clothes on laundry day to wash, even if that pajama set was worn for the first time last night.

During the school year, my kids go through two outfits every week day since I have them change out of their school uniforms into play clothes. I do not worry about whether their clothes are clean or dirty; all their clothes go into the hamper. So, I wash my kids’ clothes after every wear.

Towels are another story. I like to wash our towels once a week. We do reuse our towels unless it gets left on the floor. When that happens, that family member gets a new towel. Since our visits to the water park come once or twice a week, I choose to wash towels when we arrive home from the water park. This option eliminates wet items on the floors.

On a side note, I do wash wet disposable swim diapers one or two times before tossing them in the trash. Of course, *dirty* diapers get tossed immediately. But, if my toddler only wets the swimmy, then I toss it in the laundry. I do save money, but I weigh the situation.

Do you wash clothes after every wear, evaluate the outfit to see if it needs cleaning, or launder periodically? What about disposable swim diapers? Does that gross you out? What do you think?

Where You Shouldn’t Use Scrubbing Bubbles . . .

August 20, 2012 by Tracy

Where not to use Scrubbing Bubbles . . .

Photograph Credit: Microsoft Images

One of my favorite cleaning products is Scrubbing Bubbles. This family of products has kept my bathrooms clean for years.

With porcelain sinks, I read a number of reviews prior to cleaning that recommended using Scrubbing Bubbles, which I did.

Finding the Corrosion

On this last round of cleaning at our home, I noticed that the chrome around our bathroom faucets was peeling away.

At first, I thought my children had left toothpaste on the knobs causing the flaking and corrosion down to the metal.

To clean it, I took off the hot and cold knobs and did a thorough cleaning. Whatever happened, the peeling chrome was beyond repair.

Realizing that our over 7-year-old house might need a new faucet or two, I purchased a similar model and Paul, my “Mr. Fix It” husband, replaced the faucet. In reading the directions, Paul asked how I cleaned the sinks. Well, of course, I use Scrubbing Bubbles.

Locating the Source

Well, guess what? The directions on the faucet state that the use of products by Lysol and Scrubbing Bubbles has been known to damage the chrome. Wow! No wonder 3 of our 4 sinks had chrome-peeling issues.

Since I just learned that my constant cleaning (at times) with Scrubbing Bubbles caused damage to our home, I will refrain from using Scrubbing Bubbles on all our chrome fixtures. I will still use it on my toilets, counters, and possibly the porcelain basins. We now have 1 faucet replaced, another that was not affected, and 2 more with minor chrome damage.

If you also use Scrubbing Bubbles on your chrome faucets, take notice. In cleaning your home and using time wisely, use Scrubbing Bubbles on your toilets, showers, and tubs. The product is great for cleaning, but the chrome fixtures is one place where you shouldn’t use Scrubbing Bubbles. Learn from my mistake, and happy cleaning!

Question: In my quest for another cleaner that will protect the porcelain basins without damaging our chrome faucets, what do you recommend?

Cleaning: Ridding Mildew from the Dishwasher

September 10, 2012 by Tracy

Upon returning home from our vacation, I found mildew growing in our dishwasher. Disgusting!

My house was nice and clean with I left, so I was surprised that my dishwasher did not enjoy its vacation from us. 🙂

Since we do not use paper plates in our home, I serve each meal on our everyday ceramic dishes. With dishes from three meals a day and snacks, our dishwasher gets a workout.

The warmth inside and the bout of inactivity brought on a growing case of mildew.

Though the black residue was only on the sides and the vent of the door, I quickly started ridding mildew from the dishwasher.

Ridding Mildew from the Dishwasher

Tracy’s Tools of the Trade

1. Lysol Antibacterial Kitchen Cleaner

2. Toothbrush

3. Old towel

Tracy’s Cleaning Technique

1. Spray the mildew with the Lysol Antibacterial Kitchen Cleaner

2. Wait about 5 minutes

3. Use the old toothbrush to remove stubborn mildew from the sides and vents

4. Dry off with the towel

One of the sides needed extra scrubbing to release the mildew. To get a thorough cleaning, I scrubbed inside the rubber seals around the dishwasher door which trapped mildew in the creases.

Preventing Mildew from the Dishwasher

In running our dishwasher almost every day, I did not realize that frequent use keeps mildew away. Simple wipe downs and scraping food from the dishes prior to loading the dishwasher keep the appliance parts clean and clear to operate efficiently.

For more tips, visit this How to Clean and Maintain a Dishwasher post which explains how to take the dishwasher apart for a thorough cleaning.

As you load and unload your dishwasher, check and rid mildew before it builds up. Keeping your appliance clean and clear of debris prevents overworking your dishwasher. Yes, it takes time, but in using time wisely, your efforts can lengthen the longevity of your household appliances which saves you money, energy, and time. Happy cleaning!

Question: How often do you run your dishwasher?

Cleaning: Our Gas Fireplace

September 17, 2012 by Tracy

On this chilly rainy day, I dressed in a lightweight long-sleeved shirt and welcomed the changing weather pattern in front of our gas fireplace.

Though it’s not here yet, my favorite season is autumn. In anticipation of falling leaves and pumpkin decorations, I replaced my summer candle with a pumpkin spice flavor to spark a new scent throughout our home.

Though we are not yet ready to turn on the fireplace, I noticed that the dust had built-up on our gas logs. As I took off the glass plate, I met cob webs and a thick layer of dust. In between a few sneezes, I wiped down the entire fireplace resulting in a pile of dust.

NOTE: My pilot light had been shut off. If you attempt cleaning your gas fireplace, turn off your pilot light before taking anything apart.

After a thorough cleaning of the inside and outside of the glass plate using Windex, I put the fireplace pieces back together.

Even with a deep spring cleaning each year, our fireplace had collected quite the dust. As we continue preparing our home for the changing temperatures, the current dust-free logs in our gas fireplace will warm our home while we wrap up in blankets all snuggled together. Did I mention that I love autumn? 😉 Happy fall preparations!

Question: Do you have any tips for cleaning a gas fireplace?

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