The Ultimate Holiday Cleaning and Preparation Guide
Are you ready for all those guests yet? I pulled out all my silver serving dishes tonight…..yikes! Looks like I have a lot of work ahead of me!
It can be overwhelming to think about getting the house prepared for the holidays so I’ve compiled my fall cleaning list and a few other pointers all into one post!
Your silver has probably been sitting in the same place you left it last year. You can easily clean it in an eco-friendly way using some simple ingredients. Click here to visit the entire tutorial.
Before you get too close to the holidays you probably want to make sure your dishwasher has been cleaned and is working properly! It’s going to be on overdrive with all of those Thanksgiving dishes and breakdown would be a nightmare. Follow these steps to do a thorough clean…..it will run better too and reduce hard water stains!
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Cleaning Your Dishwasher
Water deposits and dirt can ruin your dishwasher....follow these simple steps to make sure your dishwasher lasts as long as it's supposed to!
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Getting Started
First remove any trays that you can from the dishwasher. Look for any large food obstructions and problem areas. I use distilled white vinegar and a "no scratch" sponge to clean the inside. You'll also want vinegar in a spray bottle. Pour about 2 cups of vinegar into a bowl and add a 1 cup of water.
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Basic Cleaning
Using the sponge and vinegar solution wipe down the inside of the door. For tougher areas let the solution sit for a minute or two and then re-wipe the area down. Use a sprayer filled with vinegar to clean out the soap dishes and any vents.
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Scrubbing the Inside
Wipe down the inside areas that you can reach and use the sprayer to soak hard to reach areas. For super tough stains try scrubbing with a toothbrush and baking soda mixed with a little water to create a paste.
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Running a Cleaning Cycle
Finally, spray down the entire inside and the surface of the trays with vinegar and pour 2 cups of vinegar into the bottom of the dishwasher. Run a short cleaning cycle and open up the dishwasher to properly dry.
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Ongoing Maintenance
Make sure to clean your dishwasher regularly to keep it running smoothly. Adding a rinse aid to the dishwasher will help soften the water and reduce spots if you need it. When a cleaning cycle is done try to leave the dishwasher open as long as possible so that the inside can properly dry out to prevent mold and mildew.
Make sure to download my “mother-of-all” fall cleaning lists if you haven’t already! It’s more than you’ll ever need to actually do but at least you won’t forget anything!
For a quick overall cleaning list click through the gallery….notice it starts at the top and works down to maximize your time:
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READ MORE OF ASHLEY’S WRITING AT LIL BLUE BOO.
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