Dirty Dozen: Tricky Household Chores and How to Deal With Them
A clean home is its own reward, but sometimes it's a dirty business to get it that way
Among the many household tasks that keep our homes clean and humming, there are some that we find positively enjoyable – maybe you enjoy folding lovely fresh laundry, or making up a bed with fresh linen? But what about those dirty little secrets that are literally swept under the carpet until they can’t be ignored any longer? Here are a few chores that are often dumped in the too-hard basket, and some tips for dealing with them.
Prevention: Many quality grouts contain additives to limit bacteria and mould growth and are waterproof to a degree, but it pays to minimise the time that water remains on the surface. Dry bathroom tiles and mop tile floors with a just-moist mop. In kitchens, use the exhaust fan every time you cook and wipe splashbacks after cooking. Always use clean cloths for wiping so as not to spread dirt.
For a long-term solution, if planning to tile an area, consider large format tiles or sheet tiling options, to reduce the amount of grout you’ll have to clean.
For a long-term solution, if planning to tile an area, consider large format tiles or sheet tiling options, to reduce the amount of grout you’ll have to clean.
2. Lingering lather
The bane of many glass shower recesses, hard water spots spoil even the loveliest of bathrooms. If neglected, they become diamond-hard and will outlast a nuclear winter.
Clever clean: Again, good old vinegar can come to the rescue. For light spotting, spray glass with neat white vinegar, wipe after a couple of minutes, rinse and dry thoroughly. For worse spots, do the spray treatment then soak a coarse cloth in vinegar and wipe glass vigorously. Highly abrasive products or brushes may scratch glass, and heavy-duty cleaners containing powerful acids are an absolute last resort.
The bane of many glass shower recesses, hard water spots spoil even the loveliest of bathrooms. If neglected, they become diamond-hard and will outlast a nuclear winter.
Clever clean: Again, good old vinegar can come to the rescue. For light spotting, spray glass with neat white vinegar, wipe after a couple of minutes, rinse and dry thoroughly. For worse spots, do the spray treatment then soak a coarse cloth in vinegar and wipe glass vigorously. Highly abrasive products or brushes may scratch glass, and heavy-duty cleaners containing powerful acids are an absolute last resort.
Prevention: Nip soap residue in the bud. Wipe glass dry after every shower or keep a small rubber-bladed glass scraper handy in the shower recess. There’s evidence that liquid soaps and gels leave less residue than bar soaps but a regular wipe-down works best.
Hard water causes these ‘limescale’ deposits. If you live in a hard-water area, domestic water softeners extract calcium and magnesium from water and reduce limescale in showers and plumbing fixtures.
How to design an (almost) self-cleaning bathroom
Hard water causes these ‘limescale’ deposits. If you live in a hard-water area, domestic water softeners extract calcium and magnesium from water and reduce limescale in showers and plumbing fixtures.
How to design an (almost) self-cleaning bathroom
3. Terrible tubs
Cleaning the bathtub gets an almost universal thumbs down, especially those used daily by the family.
Clever clean: A large majority of bathtubs are porcelain or enamel. They can build up stains from chemicals in coloured and oily bath products. If your bath is looking dingy, go on the attack to return its good-as-new gleam. For enamel, try a 2:1 paste of bicarb soda and hydrogen peroxide left for 30 minutes. Scrub well and rinse. Porcelain will shine with a neat white vinegar scrub. Caution: follow maker’s instructions, especially for coloured baths, and always patch test.
Prevention: As with showers, wiping after use is the best precaution. A quick fix is to lather some shampoo on a thick wet sponge, wipe, then rinse – shampoo doesn’t leave residue like soap does.
Cleaning the bathtub gets an almost universal thumbs down, especially those used daily by the family.
Clever clean: A large majority of bathtubs are porcelain or enamel. They can build up stains from chemicals in coloured and oily bath products. If your bath is looking dingy, go on the attack to return its good-as-new gleam. For enamel, try a 2:1 paste of bicarb soda and hydrogen peroxide left for 30 minutes. Scrub well and rinse. Porcelain will shine with a neat white vinegar scrub. Caution: follow maker’s instructions, especially for coloured baths, and always patch test.
Prevention: As with showers, wiping after use is the best precaution. A quick fix is to lather some shampoo on a thick wet sponge, wipe, then rinse – shampoo doesn’t leave residue like soap does.
4. Pantry panic
Did this woman start to clean out her pantry, then suddenly remember she had something better to do? Pantry items can lurk well past their prime, as they are progressively reshuffled further to the back of shelves. But cometh the hour when a total purge is inescapable.
Clever clean: Read everything you need to know in this step-by-step plan for an organised pantry. Set aside plenty of time and get rid of those last century use-by date items.
Did this woman start to clean out her pantry, then suddenly remember she had something better to do? Pantry items can lurk well past their prime, as they are progressively reshuffled further to the back of shelves. But cometh the hour when a total purge is inescapable.
Clever clean: Read everything you need to know in this step-by-step plan for an organised pantry. Set aside plenty of time and get rid of those last century use-by date items.
Prevention: Some pantry disorder is avoidable if you take a few extra minutes to unpack groceries. Stow similar items together, like cans, dry goods, spreads and oils, and place newer items behind older ones. Decant packets into labelled containers and place plastic trays under bottles that are likely to drip, to prevent those horrible stuck-on oil and soy sauce rings that stain shelves.
5. Unmagical mystery smells
Confront the fridge at least once a season to keep it sweet-smelling and free from bacterial contaminants.
Clever clean: Houzz writer Bonnie McCarthy comes to the rescue with a plan for deep cleaning the fridge. A thorough clean means removing everything, washing shelves and drawers as well as sticky food containers. Deodorise with natural products such as baking powder – strong-smelling products will leave odours that can transfer to food.
Prevention: Avoid smells from hell by covering refrigerated foods. Use leftovers promptly or freeze. Always empty the vegie drawer before storing fresh produce and place older vegies on top.
Confront the fridge at least once a season to keep it sweet-smelling and free from bacterial contaminants.
Clever clean: Houzz writer Bonnie McCarthy comes to the rescue with a plan for deep cleaning the fridge. A thorough clean means removing everything, washing shelves and drawers as well as sticky food containers. Deodorise with natural products such as baking powder – strong-smelling products will leave odours that can transfer to food.
Prevention: Avoid smells from hell by covering refrigerated foods. Use leftovers promptly or freeze. Always empty the vegie drawer before storing fresh produce and place older vegies on top.
6. Frozen moments
Defrosting the freezer was once an all-day job, with bowls of steaming water and icepicks to break off large chunks of indoor glaciers. There’s no excuse to put it off now, though, with frost-free fridges the norm.
Clever clean: As no food benefits from being frozen for over three months, that’s an apt interval for facing the freezer. You’ll need to work fast to prevent partial thawing. Turn off power to the freezer. Pull everything out and discard any mystery packages. Rewrap items with damaged wrapping and re-label. Wipe out the freezer compartment and repack with like items together and older items at the front. Defrost and use anything close to its use-by date.
Prevention: Check fridge seals to prevent frost build-up. Now is the time to start a freezer inventory, on a wipe-clean board or a notepad to record credits and debits. And of course you’ll never freeze an item without a label and date.
Defrosting the freezer was once an all-day job, with bowls of steaming water and icepicks to break off large chunks of indoor glaciers. There’s no excuse to put it off now, though, with frost-free fridges the norm.
Clever clean: As no food benefits from being frozen for over three months, that’s an apt interval for facing the freezer. You’ll need to work fast to prevent partial thawing. Turn off power to the freezer. Pull everything out and discard any mystery packages. Rewrap items with damaged wrapping and re-label. Wipe out the freezer compartment and repack with like items together and older items at the front. Defrost and use anything close to its use-by date.
Prevention: Check fridge seals to prevent frost build-up. Now is the time to start a freezer inventory, on a wipe-clean board or a notepad to record credits and debits. And of course you’ll never freeze an item without a label and date.
7. Obnoxious ovens
Does anyone enjoy this chore?
Clever clean: Don’t get too excited about a ‘self-cleaning’ tag. It means ‘easier to clean’. Pyrolytic ovens have liners that absorb fat. A period at an extremely high temperature burns this to ash, which is then swept out. But racks, doors and fans still need a hot detergent scrub. Catalytic ovens are continuously self-cleaning, so as you use the oven, grease is broken down and easier to wipe away. But as with pyrolytic ovens, other components need cleaning as well.
Prevention: A regular wipe-out of a cool oven before grease solidifies and before you cook again stops the rot. Although not completely hands-off, catalytic and pyrolytic ovens save a lot of dirty work.
Does anyone enjoy this chore?
Clever clean: Don’t get too excited about a ‘self-cleaning’ tag. It means ‘easier to clean’. Pyrolytic ovens have liners that absorb fat. A period at an extremely high temperature burns this to ash, which is then swept out. But racks, doors and fans still need a hot detergent scrub. Catalytic ovens are continuously self-cleaning, so as you use the oven, grease is broken down and easier to wipe away. But as with pyrolytic ovens, other components need cleaning as well.
Prevention: A regular wipe-out of a cool oven before grease solidifies and before you cook again stops the rot. Although not completely hands-off, catalytic and pyrolytic ovens save a lot of dirty work.
8. Unholy smoke
The woodsy fragrance and cosy crackle of a real fire is one of winter’s pleasures. When warm weather arrives, though, a cold, dank-smelling black hole is plain depressing.
Clever clean: Remove loose ash and debris with a hard brush and the vacuum brush attachment. For bricks, a thin paste of detergent and baking soda, a stiff brush and elbow grease remove most grime. A good trick for a glass fireplace door is to make a paste of ash, rub the glass well and rinse. If you’d prefer to scrub the toilet with a toothbrush, surrounded by wolves, in the dark, hire a professional. Yes, chimney sweeps do still exist.
The woodsy fragrance and cosy crackle of a real fire is one of winter’s pleasures. When warm weather arrives, though, a cold, dank-smelling black hole is plain depressing.
Clever clean: Remove loose ash and debris with a hard brush and the vacuum brush attachment. For bricks, a thin paste of detergent and baking soda, a stiff brush and elbow grease remove most grime. A good trick for a glass fireplace door is to make a paste of ash, rub the glass well and rinse. If you’d prefer to scrub the toilet with a toothbrush, surrounded by wolves, in the dark, hire a professional. Yes, chimney sweeps do still exist.
Prevention: Reduce toxic creosote build-up and smoke grime by not burning green, unseasoned or treated timber. Keep a clean fireplace sweet for summer with a few delicious-smelling reed fragrance diffusers, burn some (smokeless) scented candles or fill a vessel with fresh rosemary branches and lavender to fill the fireplace.
9. Lazy, hazy, greasy days of summer
After a summer of throwing prawns, chops, steaks and snags on the grill, it’s time to put the barbie to bed. Contemplating this job can cause severe procrastination, but giving it a deep clean will keep it in tip-top shape.
Clever clean: Barbecues are expensive items, especially if you go for a supersonic model that does everything except pour you a beer. As such, it’s wise to scrape and wipe them down after every use, again using a diluted vinegar spray to help cut through the grease without resorting to chemical cleaners.
Prevention: Keeping the weather off the barbecue while it’s not in use prevents blown dust and moisture from getting into nooks and crannies. Move a portable barbie out of the weather or cover a built-in one. Coat exterior metal with a stainless-steel protector.
After a summer of throwing prawns, chops, steaks and snags on the grill, it’s time to put the barbie to bed. Contemplating this job can cause severe procrastination, but giving it a deep clean will keep it in tip-top shape.
Clever clean: Barbecues are expensive items, especially if you go for a supersonic model that does everything except pour you a beer. As such, it’s wise to scrape and wipe them down after every use, again using a diluted vinegar spray to help cut through the grease without resorting to chemical cleaners.
Prevention: Keeping the weather off the barbecue while it’s not in use prevents blown dust and moisture from getting into nooks and crannies. Move a portable barbie out of the weather or cover a built-in one. Coat exterior metal with a stainless-steel protector.
10. Dust to dust
Dusting is a Sisyphean task if ever there was one.
Clever clean: Do a ‘deep dust’ a few times a year. Forget the feather duster and use microfibre or electrostatic dusters or cloths (like Swiffers). Moisten them slightly with a spritz of water or all-purpose cleaner for heavy dust, and rinse thoroughly after use, as they become easily clogged. Work from top to bottom of the room, in two-metre sections.
Prevention: A regular light dusting means your ‘deep dust’ won’t be too arduous. If you love open shelves, make the job easier by culling any dust collectors that you really don’t use or adore.
Dusting is a Sisyphean task if ever there was one.
Clever clean: Do a ‘deep dust’ a few times a year. Forget the feather duster and use microfibre or electrostatic dusters or cloths (like Swiffers). Moisten them slightly with a spritz of water or all-purpose cleaner for heavy dust, and rinse thoroughly after use, as they become easily clogged. Work from top to bottom of the room, in two-metre sections.
Prevention: A regular light dusting means your ‘deep dust’ won’t be too arduous. If you love open shelves, make the job easier by culling any dust collectors that you really don’t use or adore.
11. A war on windows
Depending on where you live, cleaning windows is an annual, twice-yearly or more frequent job. Near the ocean, salt clouds glass in no time, and in urban areas acid rain, hard water and pollutants can damage glass. This may be irreversible, so it pays to keep on top of this unpopular maintenance task.
Clever clean: First, read these tips and tricks for getting your windows spotlessly clean. It may be a job that you prefer to do on a revolving basis.
Prevention: Self-cleaning glass sounds too good to be true. It has an ultra-thin coating of titanium dioxide which reacts to UV light and rain. Although more expensive than plain glass, your windows will stay cleaner longer and dirt won’t stick as firmly. But be warned – you’ll still have to clean the inside.
Depending on where you live, cleaning windows is an annual, twice-yearly or more frequent job. Near the ocean, salt clouds glass in no time, and in urban areas acid rain, hard water and pollutants can damage glass. This may be irreversible, so it pays to keep on top of this unpopular maintenance task.
Clever clean: First, read these tips and tricks for getting your windows spotlessly clean. It may be a job that you prefer to do on a revolving basis.
Prevention: Self-cleaning glass sounds too good to be true. It has an ultra-thin coating of titanium dioxide which reacts to UV light and rain. Although more expensive than plain glass, your windows will stay cleaner longer and dirt won’t stick as firmly. But be warned – you’ll still have to clean the inside.
12. The new black
The last of my dirty dozen hopefully doesn’t crop up often. Ever put a pan on the stove and been distracted until reminded by a terrible burning smell? By then, the damage is done. I’ve done it boiling eggs – who knew anything could smell so bad? Don’t spend days scraping and scouring before throwing away the pan.
Clever clean: I learned this tip from the Guru of Grime, Shannon Lush. Cover the base of the pan with white vinegar and freeze overnight. Defrost partially and sprinkle with baking soda; scrub with a nylon brush while it is fizzing. Rinse.
The last of my dirty dozen hopefully doesn’t crop up often. Ever put a pan on the stove and been distracted until reminded by a terrible burning smell? By then, the damage is done. I’ve done it boiling eggs – who knew anything could smell so bad? Don’t spend days scraping and scouring before throwing away the pan.
Clever clean: I learned this tip from the Guru of Grime, Shannon Lush. Cover the base of the pan with white vinegar and freeze overnight. Defrost partially and sprinkle with baking soda; scrub with a nylon brush while it is fizzing. Rinse.
Prevention: As simple as it sounds, a kitchen timer with a loud ring is your best friend. Buy two. If you leave the kitchen while cooking, simply pop one in your pocket.
YOUR SAY
How do these dirty deeds rate on your love-to-hate list? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
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Read through more stories with cleaning tips
How do these dirty deeds rate on your love-to-hate list? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
MORE
Read through more stories with cleaning tips
Cleaning grout is the price we pay for gorgeous tiles. Depending on its exposure to dirt, moisture, chemicals and grease, grout often becomes discoloured, stained and mouldy. These spoilers are more obvious on pale grout, but they lurk on coloured grout too.
Clever clean: When you decide to bite the bullet, there are many commercial grout cleaners, but try this simple remedy. Note that oxygenated bleach powder, not chlorine, must be used, never use a wire brush, protect hands and clothes and wear a mask. For light stains, some swear by a spray of 50:50 solution of water and white vinegar (not cider vinegar) left for five minutes and rinsed off.