Cleaning, cooking, doing the dishes and managing other household tasks require over two hours every day, according to American scientists.
However, you could use this time to do something more fascinating.
Cleaning the seams between tiles
It’s foolish to walk around the house with a toothbrush to clean the tile seams. They were evenly dirty and appeared normal before cleaning. What happens, however, if you clean them? Some of them will be spotless, while others will be black. The previously undetectable flaws will now be apparent. Besides, you’ll be doing this for a long time and will be exhausted.
Instead, apply a sealant to the seams once a year or brush a candle over them.
Washing a cast iron
Water can cause rust to form on cast iron, but you don’t need to apply a detergent on this surface. Instead of washing them every time, such frying pans should be used more frequently and sprayed with oil to prevent food from clinging to them. In most situations, removing the food remnants with paper, sprinkling some oil on the bottom, and putting it away would suffice. This is how our forefathers did it, and the pans lasted for decades.
If the pan is particularly filthy, you can wash it, but be sure to dry it well and remove any remaining water.
Carefully folding your underwear
Because thin underwear is easily destroyed, it’s best to fold it gently and store it separately from other items, but conventional underwear can just be placed into the drawer.
Washing the kitchen stove and oven after every use
With a moist cloth, fresh spots and stains can be readily removed. Once a week, wash the surface with detergent, and once a month, clean the grills within the oven. Aggressive cleaning solutions can harm surfaces, so it’s best to avoid them altogether.
Because the food does not come into touch with the surfaces and the high temperature kills most bacteria, you can only clean the oven 3 to 4 times a year. To avoid having to clean the grease as often, wrap tin foil around the inner surface of the oven.
Washing curtains before holidays
On average, we should wash curtains once every 6 months, but not more than that, as many families do. If you don’t have pets, or if you don’t open the windows very often, the curtains may remain clean and fresh for a longer time.
Washing curtains too often may lead to fading color. This is why you can actually vacuum clean the curtains from time to time. A steam cleaner is another great option to freshen the curtains quickly and easily.
Washing all your food
You don’t have to wash every single piece of celery if the package indicates it’s ready to eat. The washing won’t make the food any cleaner, but there’s a good chance pathogen from the sink and other surfaces will “infect” them.
Meat does not need to be washed. Water won’t help you fight germs and bacteria; you’ll need to cook at a high temperature to do so.
It’s preferable to just wipe mushrooms dry with a paper towel. Washing them accelerates their deterioration and compromises their flavor.
Ironing bed sheets and clothes often
Consider how much easier your life would be if you purchased items made of non-iron materials such as denim, spandex, wool, cashmere, and lyocell. There are various materials referred to as “permanent press.”
You can still skip ironing even if you’re using a cloth that requires it. Wet garments can be hung on hooks or rolled to dry.
Cleaning the pipes “just in case”
Wiping washed dishes with a towel
Even seemingly clean kitchen towels may contain germs, and a lot of fibers may be transmitted onto the plates. Allowing the dishes to dry naturally is a simpler and cleaner option.
Washing the dishes before placing them in the dishwasher is another needless task. All you have to do now is take the food off the platters.
Manually washing dirty surfaces
To finish cleaning faster, we put detergents on surfaces and start cleaning the dirt. But if you give the detergent more time, you won’t have to clean that hard. That’s what professional cleaners do in hotels and in restaurants.
More serious stains on clothes require the same approach: you should soak them in detergent and put the pieces into the washing machine. It will save you lots of time and effort.
Cleaning coffee makers and teapots very thoroughly
Experts believe that coffee leftovers on the inside of the coffee machine make the drink taste better, and many coffee fans agree. The same is true for tea — the taste becomes better. Just wash the appliances with water but don’t use any cleaning agents.
Regularly vacuuming and washing the floors in the entire house
All you have to do to maintain your home clean is vacuum and mop the floors once a week and clear any localized dirt as soon as possible. If you have a single stain on the floor, for example, instead of mopping the entire room, you can remove it with a cloth.
Vacuuming the carpet under the table or mopping the floor in an empty room is futile. It will take some time for the dust to arrive. You can clean some rooms once or twice a month if you don’t visit them. If you have small children or dogs, though, you will need to do it more frequently.
Peeling all the vegetables before cooking
The skin contains a lot of fiber, antioxidants, and other useful elements that we just throw into the bin along with the money we paid and the time we spent on peeling.
Try not to peel potatoes, carrots, zucchinis, and other vegetables with soft skin unless you’re making a mashed dish. This way, you can save time and discover a new taste in the foods you’re used to. The exception will be vegetables with thick skin, like pumpkin or celery.
