Let me begin this article with a question to you guys – how often must you wash your stuff? Like any stuff! From household articles like carpets, rugs, sheets etc., to personal items like your jeans, your innerwear and more.
Well, it depends, doesn’t it? It depends on usage, how dirty the item is etc. But what we’ll discuss in this article is some general time estimates on how often you actually need to wash your stuff. Let’s get into the details, shall we?
How Often Should You Wash/Clean These Items
1. Carpet
Deep clean your carpets once in a month with a quick vacuum and a steam clean. Once every week, a regular vacuuming should do.
Mix baking soda with lemon essential oil, Sprinkle it on the carpet. Try leaving baking soda on the carpet overnight and vacuuming in the morning.
2. Pillows
Your pillows need to be washed once in every three to four months. Similar to your sheets, your pillows too can catch dust mites. You can wash it in your machine on a gentle cycle.
3. Refrigerator
Clean your refrigerator with a mixture spray of white vinegar and water or disinfectant spray. Remove the racks, clean and place them back.Once cleaned, leave the door open for an hour, to let it air our and dry, before refilling the refrigerator and turning it back on.
4. Bras
You can wash your bras once in every three to four wears. But make sure not to wear a bra continuously for two days. Air out your bras for at least 24 hours before reusing it to allow the elastic to reshape. Wash using a regular machine cycle.
5. Hair
Wash your hair once in two to three days. Avoid washing your hair every day as it can strip it of its natural oils.
6. Jeans
Wash your jeans once in every four to five washes. You can wash them with plain water, turned inside out. Do not wash jeans too often, as it can cause slight shrinkage after every wash.
7. Car
You can wash your car once in every two to three weeks. In case your car has become dirty due to bad weather, rains, dust etc., then you could wash it earlier of course.
8. Toilet
At least once in every two days, make sure to clean your toilet bowl and your bathroom. Let the toilet cleanser rest for 15 minutes after sprayed, then scrub and wash clean.
9. Mattress
Clean your mattress every 6 months. Vacuum the top of the mattress and then spot treat any stains to remove.
All you need to do is sprinkle some baking soda mixed with a few drops of essential oil all over your mattress and let it sit for an hour or so. The baking soda can help neutralize any odour from the mattress with its chemical properties, as it is a natural deodorizer.
10. Bath Towels
Once a week, make sure to wash your bath towels with warm water and a mild detergent on a regular machine cycle. On a daily basis, make sure to air out your towels. READ MORE – How to Wash Towels to Keep Them clean, Soft and Smelling Fresh
11. Bedsheets
You need to wash your sheets once in a week, as there could be dust mites that settle in it. These dust mites can cause skin ailments like eczema and respiratory ailments like asthma etc.
12. Oven
Once in every 6 months, deep clean your oven. Remove the racks, spray the insides with an oven cleaning spray and wipe it down to clean.
Into a bowl, add in lemon juice and water in equal parts and microwave it for 5 minutes. Thereafter, remove it from the microwave and use a regular all-purpose cleaning liquid to clean the microwave.
13. Windows
Your windows need a thorough cleaning once in six months. You can use a sponge dipped in warm water and a mild detergent to clean the windows and then wipe it dry with a water drawer or a microfiber cloth/towel.
14. Wallet/Purse
Once in every week, clean your wallet or purse and remove unwanted bills, items etc., and use a cotton swab with a disinfectant spray and wipe it clean.
15. Dryer/Washer
Your dryers and washers can collect bacteria and thereafter, on full load (let only water collect, hot water) and add in 2 cups of white vinegar and half a cup of baking soda and let it run one cycle. Drain and wipe clean. Do this once every month.
16. Sink and Drain
Your sink and drain should be washed every day, as it collects and breeds microorganisms or else. Also, spray a disinfectant down the drain and gush it down with warm water.