General Home Cleaning

This is great general housekeeping advice that friends pass along to one another. Just general, good-to-know stuff about keeping house.

Windows & Door Tracks One of the most overlooked areas in a home that should be cleaned regularly are windows and door tracks. The tracks of windows and doors tend to hold a lot of dust, dirt and dead bugs. They may be tough to clean at times, but can...
You've seen the commercials. You know the products. We're told our homes are a veritable hotbed for all germs, spores, bacteria, mold, and mildew. It's quite miraculous that we aren't all battling plague 24/7. Ok, sarcasm aside, I think we're being a little oversold on the whole notion of...
Your refrigerator is one of the hardest working appliances in your home. Often overlooked, it endures spills, stinky odors and overcrowding on a daily basis and never gets a break. A clean refrigerator helps keep food fresher and is less likely to have issues down the road. There are various...
It's time say goodbye to that polka dot shirt you loved in the 80’s and the pleather pants that have been out of style since the dinosaur age. Decluttering and organizing the closet is a daunting task, but sometimes it just has to get done! Step 1: Purge The easiest way...
Coffee is the liquid antidote to an early morning. My morning cup of Cinnamon Pastry coffee (I know, you want one) would not be possible without my Keurig coffeemaker. My husband and I received our Keurig as a gift three years ago, and we've loved it ever since. A Keurig, Tassimo, or...
We use them constantly; we count on them when we are in a pinch and we sometimes stop and think about how the world ever turned without the convenience of a microwave or the tastiness of a toasted bagel.   Our small kitchen appliances work hard for us and cleaning and...
Looking for the quickest, easiest way to clean your MacBook or PC laptop? Well, Melissa Maker can help! In this episode of Electronics Cleaning Essentials, we learn how to clean your laptop including the screen, body, ports and even disinfect the keys.  We use a Macbook and a Dell laptop...
Took a trip to the grocery store and overindulged in produce? If you have over ripened bananas sitting around your house, here are 5 ways to put them to good use that DON’T include tossing them out (or at least not until your done cleaning with them!). Leather like New Leather starting...
Letting your glass stovetop stay dirty can lead to scratching, pitting—tiny chips, craters, or dents in the glass—and cracking, which means you will need to replace the stovetop ($$$). I bet you can think of lots of things you'd rather spend your money on. Cleaning it doesn't have to be a royal pain—just try this quick and...
Looking for the quickest, easiest way to clean your Xbox video game controller, Wii remove, or PlayStation controller? Well, we can help! In this episode of Electronics Cleaning Essentials, we learn how to clean and even disinfect a video game controller. We've looked at the manufacturer's instructions to determine the safest...
If I told you I could find one product that could be used as a deodorant, a toothpaste, an exfoliant and an antiseptic, you’d likely be impressed. And then if you found out that same substance could be used in the kitchen to improve your favourite dishes, then clean the...
Cleaning expert, Melissa Maker, walks you through the products and tools you'll need as well as the simple steps to cleaning a toilet quickly and effectively in 3 minutes. Tools you'll need Rubber Gloves Use separate ones for the bathroom (these ones are while, choose another colour for the kitchen). Cleaning Toothbrush Use an...
Wondering the proper way to clean your remote control? Let Melissa show you the right way! We've looked at the manufacturer's instructions to determine the safest and most effective way to clean a remote control and this is how it's done. Some people may wonder, how do I disinfect my remote since...
Wondering the proper way to clean your keyboard? We've looked at the manufacturer's instructions to determine the safest and most effective way to clean a standard keyboard and this is how it's done. Some people may wonder, how do I disinfect a keyboard? Because we have the ability to use rubbing...
Wondering the proper way to clean your iPad or tablet? We've looked at the manufacturer's instructions to determine the safest and most effective way to clean the iPad and this is how it's done. Some people may wonder, how do I disinfect the iPad or tablet? Well, the optical cloth that...
Myth 1: Dishwasher detergent is safe to use on your car. Remember all those commercials about how dishwashing detergent ‘fights grease’ and ‘eliminates streaks’? As appealing as it may sound to use that on your car, consider it a huge no-no if you ever want to get that showroom SHEEN...