Which way should you load your toilet paper roll? How often should you clean your dishwasher?
There are plenty of household dilemmas that are up for debate… but to settle these problems once and for all, I have some solutions for you!
Related: 5 Decor Tips to Make Your Space Look Bigger
Check out a list of debatable kitchen and household problems and my ruling on how to tackle them.
Common Kitchen Dilemmas
Some people may say it’s up to preference. But I beg to differ! Here are a few kitchen issues and my final verdict on each.
Should you place your silverware up or down in the dishwasher?
The tines of your forks and the bowls of your spoons should always face up! This allows them to be exposed to more water pressure.
You’ll also want to alternate forks and spoons—that way, your spoons won’t spoon! And spooning spoons means that some surfaces won’t get the wash they need.
Although forks and spoons go up, place your knives (all kinds) down. No one wants to get cut when doing the dishes!
Should you soak and rinse your dishes before placing them in the dishwasher?
No need! Most modern dishwashers have sensors that allow them to clean your dishes properly.
If your dishwasher is older than 8-years-old, it might not include a sensor—meaning a rinse for caked-on food is necessary.
Here’s another thing! If your dishwasher is energy-efficient, you can actually SAVE water by putting your dishes in the dishwasher versus handwashing them.
How often should you clean your dishwasher?
Even though your dishwasher is technically “cleaning,” that doesn’t mean the appliance itself is clean.
When you use your dishwasher regularly, the dishwasher can accumulate a buildup of oils and food debris.
The solution? Empty your dishwasher and fill a dishwasher-safe container with white vinegar. Place this container on the top shelf, and run your dishwasher on the hottest cycle. This essentially disinfects the dishwasher and gets rid of nasty smells.
Following the cycle, I also like to give the appliance a little extra cleaning by sprinkling some baking soda inside and running the dishwasher on a lighter cycle.
Do this once a month!
How often should you replace the kitchen sponge and towels?
Don’t keep the towels longer than they need to be kept… no matter how tempting it is! Yes, they may seem usable, but if there are holes and tears in your towels, consider donating them instead.
Tip: Animal shelters are always looking for rags for cleaning purposes!
And if your towels smell a little funky even after sending them through the wash, there’s likely a buildup of bacteria in the material.
Sponges should be replaced when they start to stink as well.
You can surface wash your sponge to make it last a bit longer.
And to give it a deeper cleaning, you can throw it in the dishwasher, or place a WET (I repeat… wet!) sponge in the microwave for 2 minutes to kill any bacteria living inside.
But if I’m really putting an “expiration date” on the classic kitchen sponge, I’m saying 2 weeks max before you should replace it.
Other Household Dilemmas
Common household problems aren’t limited to the kitchen! Here are a few other dilemmas that deserve a final ruling.
Can you vacuum to clean hardwood floors?
I’ve always said it’s okay to vacuum hardwood floors. Just make sure that it’s not a vacuum that has brush rolls (or at least make sure you can turn the brush rolls off).
The brushes will create microscopic scratches on your floors which after time, will certainly take a toll on your hardwood.
How do you clean your windows and mirrors without leaving streaks?
Oftentimes, streaks are a result of the cloth or paper towel you’re using—not the solution itself.
I’m a HUGE fan of microfiber cloths. They don’t leave streaks and all you have to use with them is water!
Those little fibers lift off any dirt, grime or debris, and the microfiber won’t leave any lint behind.
Toilet paper: Over or under?
The BIG DEBATE.
I’m not joking… the ruling on which way to load your toilet paper dates back to the 1890s! There’s this illustration of a toilet paper patent that shows you should put it on the holder OVER!
Debate settled!
There you have it. Your common household dilemmas are resolved!
Of course, I’m sure you’ll find people on either side of the argument, but if you’re looking for a little researched-backed problem-solving, I hope these solutions are helpful.
From my home to yours,
Jill
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