Ten Minute Tuesday: Disinfect those Garbage Cans

Garbage cans. We know they're dirty, germ-y pits of nastiness. We definitely wouldn't lick them, not even on a dare, but how often do we actually clean them?

Today's Ten Minute Tuesday challenge is to disinfect your garbage cans!

We have four garbage cans in our home- the big kitchen one, two in our bedroom, and one in the bathroom.

Your first step will be to grab your cans and get them in the same room. It makes this process a little easier- might as well get them all done at once! If you have a larger home with more garbage cans, you may want to start with the more "popular" ones- kitchens and bathrooms.

First, take out the garbage.

 If you're anything like me, the bottom of your cans looks like this. Spilled coffee grounds, a random tissue... you'll want to get this out of there, too. I usually flip the can upside down over a garbage bag to get the loose stuff out, and then use a wet paper towel to get the more stuck-on stuff.

 Next, take a rag and some hot, soapy water and wipe down the outside of your garbage cans. Make sure to get the backside and under any ridges.

Next, use hot soapy water to wash the inside of the garbage cans. Make sure you get into the corners!

And don't forget any lids! If your garbage can has a lid, that's the part you touch the most! Make sure to spend a little extra time on these!

Use another cloth and some clean water to rinse the extra soap off of your cans, then let them dry for a little while (2 minutes will do).

Finally, use a disinfectant spray on the inside and outside of your garbage can. I used Lysol because that's what I have around (I'm using it up!) but you can also use a mixture of bleach and water, or if you prefer a more natural approach, vinegar and water works great, too. I also like to use my orange peel cleaner- I mix it 1:1 with water and put it in a spray bottle. It smells great! Again, don't forget to spray any garbage can lids you may use.

Repeat these steps on all of your household garbage cans, wait about a minute, and then re-line them.

I usually do this whenever I think of it, which is usually about four times a year, and this is also great way to stop the spread of germs if someone has been sick. I do wipe down the outsides and lids of my garbage cans almost weekly, as well.

And voila! Another step in the quest for a happy, healthy household!

Ten Minute Tuesday: Clean that Sink

One of my favorite rooms in my house is the kitchen. There are lots of windows to let natural light in, the appliances are all white... it's just a nice, cheerful, inviting room. And I barely spend any time there. The biggest reason for that is because, well, I avoid it.

See, my kitchen is bright and cheerful, but it also has these pesky dishes that never seem to be put away, the garbage that's always half-full and sorta smelly, and the sink is usually either full of dirty dishes that all seem to be staring at me, or it's layered with dried on pieces of spaghetti and what may have been gravy at one time.

In short, my sink is pretty yucky most of the time.

So for today's Ten Minute Tuesday task, let's spend a ten minutes loving on that your kitchen sink.

The first step is actually getting everything out of the sink. For me, that meant washing the five forlorn dishes that were dirty, putting away the clean ones that were sitting in my drainboard, and then looking at the drainboard more closely and saying, "Ewww," and then sticking it in the dishwasher. I also made new homes for all the assortment of dish-washing devices (sponges, brushes, a pipecleaner for smoothie cup straws) under the sink in an open tupperware container.

Then, I did a quick wipe down with some warm soapy water to get the gunk off.

Next, I took some Comet with Bleach and scrubbed out both sides, using some good elbow grease to get out the weird black scratch-looking stains that my white sink seems to collect. Now, I use natural cleaners as much as I can for the most part, but nothing has seemed to work as well on my white sinks as Comet with Bleach. I welcome suggestions on this, by the way.

I rinsed everything off, then used a little more Comet on a rag and a butter knife to get into the cracks on the edges. I rinsed everything off again, then used a new rag with my all-purpose vinegar cleaning stuff to clean the fixtures.

Ta da! Nice clean sink!

Happy Tuesday!

{Ten Minute Tuesday} Ten Minute Act of Kindess

Today's Ten Minute Tuesday challenge is all about doing a nice thing for someone special in your life! For me, that would be my dear sweet Zeke.

Zeke sleeps with a fan by his side of the bed, and has for years. In one of those lovely twists of fate, I now can't sleep unless the fan is running... and can't sleep if it's blowing on me. Yeah.

Anyway, the other day, Zeke mentioned that his fan was dusty. I think his exact words were, "I really need to clean the dust off this fan sometime."

So today, I did it for him!

Ah, so clean.

That's the challenge for today. Take a minute and think- what nice thing could you do for someone in your life? Sew the eye back on a teddy bear? Mend a pair of pants (man, I do that a lot)? File some paperwork? Spend ten extra minutes making a special meal? You get the idea.

I had fun with this one- I was sneaky and did it while Zeke was still at work, and he was so happy when he went to turn on the fan this evening! Tee hee! I'm such a trickster! Have some fun doing a ten minute act of kindness today!

{TMT} Plan Those Spring Projects

After a beautiful, sunny day yesterday, it seems like Spring may actually get here. Eventually. Of course, now it's cold and there's a chance of snow today, but we'll ignore that, mmkay?

In my home, Spring unusually starts off productively- we've got Stuff we want to get done. We've got gardens to plant, house projects to start, organizing to do.

And somehow, when June starts, none of those things are done. None are even started.

I'm determined to make this year different. Determined!

Today, Zeke and I sat down and talked about what we want to get done before summer. Then we got into the nitty gritty of each of those Spring Projects. What are the steps we'll need to take before we can accomplish each of them?

For example, one of our plans is to move the office/craft room from an upstairs bedroom into one of the downstairs bedrooms. To do that, we need to ...

-Organize the stuff in the downstairs bedroom, decide what to toss/donate 
-Fix the downstairs closet door
-Organize the stuff in the office/craft room- especially paperwork (we've been bad at that lately)
-Shampoo the carpet in the downstairs bedroom
-Plan how to set up the new office/craft room downstairs

... you get the idea. By breaking each task down into smaller chunks, we're more realistic about how much work has to actually get done, and can figure out when to do it!


Got a bunch of stuff in the works this Spring? Take ten minutes to make a plan and hash out the details!

 

{Ten Minute Tuesday} Tackle That Container Cupboard!

You've made supper, gotten everyone fed, taken care of seventy million mini-crises, and now you're running late. But the leftovers are still on the stove...

At this point, do you sense impending doom?

I know I do.

Putting leftovers away means going into that dreaded cupboard where the leftover containers overfloweth.

Today, because it's Ten Minute Tuesday, after all- let's tackle it!

Pull out the containers, sort them, and match them with lids. Are there any that are cracked? Any that don't have lids? Any that you maaaay have melted to a misshapen mess? Toss 'em. Are there any that you can't remember using? Put them in the donate bin.

Now, decide how you want to organize. Do you want to put lids with their containers? Have a box for all the lids? Make the containers you use the most frequently easily accessible.

Happy Tuesday, everyone!

Linking up with Growing Homemakers today! 

{Ten Minute Tuesday} Clean out that Purse!

Merciful heavens. What is this coincidence?! I had this post all ready to go except the picture, so I went to add that, then saw some stuff in my Blogger Reader... 

Stuff like Kendra's purse dump post. 

What? That's just... no way. Apparently, great minds... scratch that- who am I kidding? Kendra's mind is way cooler than mine. What are the chances, though, right? 

Okay, I'll get over myself and just post this now. 

That's right, ladies! Time to clean out those purses! 

I don't know about you, but my purse seems to be a cesspool of stuff I don't need and really don't want to be carrying around... and taking those ten minutes to restore basic sanity into my purse? Priceless, really. 

So give your shoulders a break, toss the stuff you don't need, and you'll have more room (and organized space!) for the stuff you do need! 

Edited to Include: 

The coincidence was just too great. I had to do Kendra's challenge. It was a divine appointment, apparently. 

Empty sunglasses case, used and crumpled name tag, envelope containing gift cards, granola bar, Bible, notebook, receipts and church bulletins, playbill, checkbook, used tissues, gloves, wallet, binder. (Not shown because I threw it outside: a rock.)

Front pocket: Seven pens, hand sanitizer, granola bar (two? really?) neosporin

-It's my favorite thing in here: Da Binder. I lug this thing everywhere. Zeke rolls his eyes at me, but really. REALLY. It's saved my bum so many times. That last minute stop at the grocery store? I've got my list. Don't have an address? I've got it. Pharmacy trip? I've got copies of the insurance cards and prescription numbers. Bam. 

-Wow, I really have a lot of these: Holy pens, Batman. Seriously. Not to mention, I have a pen in the binder! Hello, my name is Adrie, and I'm a pen pirate. 

-I've been looking for those: Um, nothing. Because I only take the important stuff. And you, know, rocks. Sweet heaven.

-Huh. THAT shouldn't be in here:  Um, most things. I think it's a tie between the rock and the USED TISSUES OMIGOSH. 

Linking up also with Growing Home Blog.

{Ten Minute Tuesday} All-Purpose Orange Peel Cleaning Solution

This is gonna be a fun Tuesday project! And a yummy one, too.

I really like cleaning with natural products as much as possible. My general all-purpose cleaner is an all-natural one:

1/2 c vinegar
1 c water
7-10 drops of essential oil (I use lavender a lot- but I'd also suggest lemon or peppermint!)

I found this recipe to bump up the cleaning power of my all-purpose cleaning solution- add orange peels!

Here's how it works. Peel one or two oranges (and well, you'd better eat the oranges, while you're at it) and put the peels into a Ball jar. Then, fill the jar with white vinegar. Leave the jar in a cool, dark place for about a month.

After about a month has passed, remove the orange peel and toss it, saving the orangey vinegar! Then, I make my all-purpose cleaner with the recipe above, using the super-orange-vinegar! I don't use the essential oils, since the vinegar already smells so good and has great cleaning properties with the orangey-ness.

Have a great Tuesday, making your home a happier, healthier place!

{Ten Minute Tuesdays} Clean Those Light Fixtures!

Tuesday, Tuesday, how I love Tuesday.

Time for our Ten Minute Tuesday task!

Today, I cleaned light fixtures! I used a little of my general all-purpose cleaner (vinegar, water, and lavender essential oil), sprayed it on a microfiber cloth, and wiped all down all the light fixtures! Don't stress about them being perfect- no one looks that close- but a quick wipe down really helps those fixtures to shine!

A couple notes...

Don't just get the glass parts- wipe the metal stuff too!

If you're short (like yours truly) and need to stand on a chair, don't choose one with wheels. You may just start to fall off the thing when it rolls and get a picture of the floor- like so. You may also make a less-than-human squeaking noise that brings your husband upstairs, at which point he'll shake his head and remind you that you've got a perfectly good step stool in the kitchen.

Happy homemaking! (And use step stools),

Ten Minute Tuesday: Organize Kitchen Drawers

Is it Tuesday already?

All the crazy weather has me with my days all mixed up. To be honest, having New Years in the middle of the week (yes, I know, it was two entire weeks ago) still has me all confused. Still.

Today, I took ten extra minutes around the house to... ba da dummmmm... organize my kitchen drawers (and by drawers, I mean three of 'em.)

Just set your timer and go- you don't need to get all your drawers done today, but it feels so good to go through as many as you can!

I don't know about you, but when we got married, I not only gained a spouse- I also gained a big sign on my forehead that says "Please give me kitchen utensils for every gift-giving holiday!"

We're blessed, and my kitchen drawers over- floweth.

First, I took all the stuff out of the drawers (one drawer at a time) and took out the things we use most commonly. I had about ninety thousand wooden spoons, so I just chose the ones we use the most, including some 'specialty' spoons (ie, the one Hunky Husband uses to stir Kool-Aid because it's got those lovely rainbow-colored stains).

The rest of the spoons went into storage for the time being, along with some of the extra kitchen supplies we were given for the wedding, but if we didn't have that box already in the attic, I would have donated them in a snap!

Now we'll have less shuffling utensils around to find the right ones!

Ten Minute Tuesday: Dance it Out

I'm blurred cuz I dance so FAST!

How are you feeling today? Sluggish? Slow? Uninspired? Grouchy?

I’ve found that one of the best ten-minute solutions for my crabby, lazy, “blah” days is… you guessed it! A ten-minute dance party!

There’s just something about getting that heart rate up, shaking out all those negative feelings, and being (let’s admit it), pretty darn goofy that brings out the sunshine in my soul. Give it a shot! Dance by yourself, with your kids, your spouse, your turtle… okay, maybe not your turtle. Tucker isn’t a dance party fan.

Just go for it. Pick three or four songs, crank ‘em up, and dance it out!

Ten Minute Tuesday: Wake Up Winter Clothes!!

If you’re anything like me, you’ve been holding out on the last few days of summer goodness by… well, by putting yourself at risk for pneumonia. Let’s be honest, Mid-Western ladies, it’s cold out there. Those cute tank tops, Capri pants, and sandals may represent the last stand of summer, but it’s time to put ‘em away. I know, I know, it was totally 55 degrees the other day, and that’s still pretty warm… frostbite isn’t that bad, after all… shivering all day burns calories!...

Take a deep breath. Just think- cozy sweaters. Cute jeans and boots. Peppermint mochas (or Pumpkin Spice Lattes, if you like those better). Mmm. See? Summer’s over, and that’s okay.

Let’s take ten minutes today to get our wardrobe ready for it!

“Ten minutes?” you say. “How is that possible?” Oh ladies, it’s possible.

Okay, if you’re trying to get everyone’s clothes switched over, it may take longer. Especially if you have lotsa kids. We’re just talking about your wardrobe, here. Because come on, yours is the one that probably gets neglected anyway, right?

Let’s do it.

Hello, my fuzzy sweater friends. I have missed you...

Dump the clothes in a central location. (For me, this is my bed). The first thing I do is take out all of my winter clothes that have been in storage throughout the summer. I put them all on my bed, and set the empty storage container on the floor.

I rock a lot of tie dye in the summer. I live at a Bible Camp.

Put away your summer clothing. Next, I go into my drawers and closet, and pull out anything that I know I won’t be wearing until next summer. There may be a couple of items that I keep out (like a couple t-shirts that look nice under cardigans, or t-shirts for knocking around the house). Fold the summer clothes, if needed, and put them directly into your storage container.

Don’t get sentimental. I have a hard time with this one. Clothes aren’t just clothes to me, they’re memories. Putting that top I wore that one romantic day at the beach with HH sends me into a flurry of daydreams. Don’t do that. Just get it done.

Take a couple extra seconds to try on winter clothes before putting them away. Before putting the winter clothes sitting on the bed away, I try on almost everything. This doesn’t have to take a long time- put it on, decide where it belongs, take it off.

That pair of jeans you can’t remember the last time you wore? Try ‘em on.  If they don’t fit anymore, make a quick decision about whether you want to keep them or donate them. Do it now. Putting clothing in your closet that you aren’t going to wear is a waste of space. You should now have a pile of “keep” clothes, and most likely, a pile of “donate” clothes.

Put away the clothes you’re keeping. In going through your dresser and closet and pulling out summer stuff, you’ll now have some extra space. Reorganize if necessary (for example, during the summer, I have tank tops separate from t-shirts. Now, I’ll put the ones I’ve kept out together in one drawer). Fold it and put it where it belongs. Fight the urge to just toss stuff wherever- do it right the first time, and you won’t have to mess with it later!

The remaining t-shirts.

Pick up the stragglers. I typically have a couple of left over summer items floating around in the laundry, or I’ll find a tank top or pair of shorts hiding behind the dryer or under a bed. As soon as you see these summertime stragglers, wash ‘em, fold ‘em, and stick them in your storage container.

Step back and gaze at your newly organized and restocked closet and dresser. Ah, a fresh start for Fall!

Ten Minute Tuesday: Ten Minutes in the Word

Today, I want to focus on my goal for these Ten Minute Tuesday posts. I like to take a little while on Tuesdays (ten minutes, to be precise) to do something different- out of the routine, not on the list of things to do- to make my household a happier, healthier place.

Many times, those ten minutes are spent doing a household task that typically gets neglected, like cleaning garbage cans or organizing an often-overlooked drawer. Those quick tasks do really make a difference; at least they do in my house!

Do you know what I’ve noticed, though? I’m beginning to realize that as women, as wives, and (for some of us) as mothers, so much of our worth is based on our external selves. We’re so focused on what we accomplish, on how our home looks (and smells!), the number of items checked off the list at the end of the day. But really, are those checked boxes all we’re worth? How easy it is for us to forget the value we have, value that comes by simply being children of God!

You may have a “standing date” with the Lord every morning in which you spend time in his Word. Truthfully, that’s one area in which I struggle. I’m pretty good at making time for prayer, and I’m also pretty good at never opening my Bible. If you’re great at reading the Word, that’s awesome- but I also know that no matter where you are in this discipline of faith, spending ten minutes extra today will be a blessing to you as much as to someone like me! We can all use a little time to remember that our true value lies in Him, not in how much we can get done in a day.

So instead of taking ten minutes today to wash curtains or clean out the entryway closet, take a little time to be with the One who made you!

Ten Minute Tuesday- First Thing

Ten minutes may not seem like much, but it's impressive how much you can get done in just 600 seconds. In fact, when you think about it that way, it seems like longer! 600 opposed to 10...

Anyway.

Starting a habit of getting up merely ten minutes early can make you feel so much more productive in the mornings, and can help your day get off to a good start! Getting something done first thing in the morning, even something small, makes a big difference.

Add caption

You'll have to figure out what works best for you... for me- taking ten minutes before heading to work is ideal, for a busy mom, perhaps getting some household stuff done right away in the morning is the way to go. Here's a quick list of things you can do in ten minutes or less- and check 'em off the To Do list right away!

- Start a load of laundry
- Pick up toys or clothes laying around
- Wash a sinkload of dishes
- Clean a toilet
- Wipe down a counter
- Scrub off burnt on food off of the stove
- Sweep an area (like an entryway, bathroom, or kitchen)
- Fold a laundry basket of laundry and put it away
- Clean mirrors

Think of a couple ways you can make a difference in your home in just a couple minutes, and knock it out first thing- it'll feel good to cross it off your list!

Ten Minute Tuesday: Makeup Clean Up

 Today's Ten Minute Tuesday Challenge: 

Ah, the makeup drawer. Well, for me it's a makeup basket, but you get the picture. Most mornings, I swipe on a bit of foundation, cover up dark circles, add a little blush and mascara, and toss it all back into my little basket without a second thought. 

Taking a couple of extra minutes to clean, disinfect, and reorganize your makeup stash will keep your skin healthier, your morning routine running smoothly, and it'll keep your makeup drawer from turning into a dump-zone.

First things first- clean those brushes. Makeup brushes get full of germs pretty quickly actually, and having gunky brushes isn't only bad for your makeup application, but also for your heath!

I use liquid foundation, and my foundation brush gets pretty gunky! You can clean brushes you use for powder, but you'll want to make sure they have time to fully dry before you use them.

You'll need a small container, some vinegar, dish soap, and some hot water. Mix about one teaspoon of vinegar with a 1/4 cup hot water and a drop or two of dish soap. The dish soap gets rid of oil while the vinegar disinfects. Swoosh your brush around in there and then leave it soak for about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, go through your makeup supplies. Get rid of anything you can't remember using- it's just taking up space. You may want to think about putting stuff you don't use often into a less-accessible place (like the eyeshadow you only wear when going out- find a new place for that so it doesn't take up valuable room in your drawer!) Eye makeup (mascara and eyeliner) needs to be replaced every six months. It seems expensive and unnecessary, but the last thing you want is an eye infection. Don't risk it!

I like to label my mascara so I remember when I bought it and when it needs to be replaced. Make sure you label in a low-touch zone, or it'll rub off, like the label in the picture above. Can't see it? Exactly. Whoops.

Go back to your soaking brushes. Swoosh them around again, and then rinse with hot water. Make sure you rinse them out really well- my skin is super sensitive and will break out from the fragrance in my dish soap. After they're rinsed, squeeze dry with a paper towel and then let them dry, brush part up, for a couple of hours.

Voila! Happier, healthier household!

Ten Minute Tuesday: Disinfecting Garbage Cans

Garbage cans. We know they're dirty, germ-y pits of nastiness. We definitely wouldn't lick them, not even on a dare, but how often do we actually clean them?

Today's Ten Minute Tuesday challenge is to disinfect your garbage cans!

We have four garbage cans in our home- the big kitchen one, two in our bedroom, and one in the bathroom.

Your first step will be to grab your cans and get them in the same room. It makes this process a little easier- might as well get them all done at once! If you have a larger home with more garbage cans, you may want to start with the more "popular" ones- kitchens and bathrooms.

First, take out the garbage.

 If you're anything like me, the bottom of your cans looks like this. Spilled coffee grounds, a random tissue... you'll want to get this out of there, too. I usually flip the can upside down over a garbage bag to get the loose stuff out, and then use a wet paper towel to get the more stuck-on stuff.

 Next, take a rag and some hot, soapy water and wipe down the outside of your garbage cans. Make sure to get the backside and under any ridges.

Next, use hot soapy water to wash the inside of the garbage cans. Make sure you get into the corners!

And don't forget any lids! If your garbage can has a lid, that's the part you touch the most! Make sure to spend a little extra time on these!

Use another cloth and some clean water to rinse the extra soap off of your cans, then let them dry for a little while (2 minutes will do).

Finally, use a disinfectant spray on the inside and outside of your garbage can. I used Lysol because that's what I have around (I'm using it up!) but you can also use a mixture of bleach and water, or if you prefer a more natural approach, vinegar and water works great, too. Again, don't forget to spray any garbage can lids you may use.

Repeat these steps on all of your household garbage cans, wait about a minute, and then re-line them.

I usually do this whenever I think of it, which is usually about four times a year, and this is also great way to stop the spread of germs if someone has been sick. I do wipe down the outsides and lids of my garbage cans almost weekly, as well.

And voila! Another step in the quest for a happy, healthy household!

Ten Minute Tuesday: Washing Pillows

Ah, pillows. Those wonderful, squishy yet supportive nighttime head holders. They seem so... cuddly. So... warm and soft. So... safe.

A pillow can double its weight in three years. Because of dust mites, dead skin cells, and other nastiness.

How's that for soft and cuddly?


No need to panic, and no need to throw your pillows out and get new ones. We're all about saving money here at Little Wife.

Just wash 'em!

(Note: I know that this is gonna take more time than just ten minutes, but it's only about ten minutes of "hands on time"- the rest of the time, you can go clean other stuff! Or make fabulous meals! Or, let's be honest, go on Pinterest.)

Here's how you do it!

First, you're only gonna want to do two pillows at a time. I have a top-loader washing machine, so these tips are based on that.

Pick the lucky two pillows to be washed first. Stick them in the washing machine (as shown above). You will want to fill the washing machine on the "full load" or "large load" setting with hot water.

I usually add about a cup of vinegar, along with regular laundry detergent, to disinfect my pillows. Vinegar also helps to get rid of any stains you may have (droolers, you know who you are...). If you have funky smelling pillows, you may want to do another cycle with your pillows and add baking soda (just don't do vinegar and baking soda at the same time!)

Wash the pillows on your "normal" setting, and after the cycle is complete, run the pillows through at least another spin cycle (I usually do two extra spin cycles) to get more of the water out.

In the summer time, I would leave the pillows outside in the sunshine (which is the best for stain removal and disinfecting!) but since it's February and it's snowing, that's not such a great plan.

Then, pop the pillows in the dryer, along with two dryer sheets and a couple of dryer balls. Don't have dryer balls? Well, you should get some. They rock. In a pinch, you can also use tennis balls. You'll want your dryer set to low heat. High heat can melt the fluffy stuff in the pillows! I usually run the dryer twice, then take the pillows out and squish them around. If they're still damp (even just a little damp) I run them through again.

Sometimes the fluffy stuff gets a little bunchy- don't worry about that. Use your hands to unbunch and flatten out your pillows, and they'll be good as new in no time.

I would wash your pillows at least every six months, if not more. I like to wash them after anyone has been sick, and after we have company over, as well as about once every two months or so. 


Ten Minutes to a happier and healthier household!

Ten Minute Tuesday: Cleaning the Washing Machine

Washing machines get dirty.

Surprising, I know!

Our washing machine is in our bedroom, which sure is handy, but it also makes for an eyesore when it's not at it's cleanest.

We have a top-loading washing machine, so these tips are for top-loaders! Now, I know that this project will actually take more than ten minutes, but it really only takes about 10 minutes of "hands on" time, so I think it counts.

Let's get started!

First, fill your washer with hot water, to the highest level. Then add 2 cups of bleach. Let your washer go through a cycle. Some people suggest leaving the bleach to soak for an hour or so, but I don't think that's necessary, and could even be hard on your washer, so I just let the cycle start. Note: If you notice that your washer gets really sudsy during this step, it means that you've been using too much detergent.


While it's working, take a rag and some hot soapy water and give the outside of your washer a good wipe down. Make sure to get the knobs and any nooks and crannies that have been collecting dust. This doesn't need to take forever... you'll probably get done before the cycle is through. Just go work on something else while you wait for the cycle to finish.

Next, fill your washer with hot water again. Add 2 cups of white vinegar. Close the lid and let the agitator work for about a minute, then open the lid to stop the cycle. You want the vinegar to sit in there, soaking, for about an hour. While you're letting it soak, get back out that rag and wipe down the surfaces under the cover (like the dispenser areas for bleach and softener).

Ew.

Ew again.

After an hour or so, close the lid to run the full wash cycle.


Ta Da! You have a clean and disinfected washing machine! You'll probably want to clean your washer every six months or so (but I totally forget... so I just do it when I think of it!)



Ten Minutes, happier, healthier household!