The Simple Life: cleaning tips

What does that mean at your home? Dentists and doctors recommend that you change them every 3 months or after illness. Some toothbrushes have built in indicators and some just fray when it's time.

We have a list of things to do when it's time to change the toothbrush in our home. It's the most visible indicator I could think of and I can save a considerable amount of paper if I can tie a slew of chores in with the remembrance of changing out that little brush. I've actually made a game out of how many things I can do at that time!

Let's get started in the bathroom:

Mascara - if you use make-up, you need to throw out the mascara every three months to avoid excessive growth of bacteria. Yes, bacteria. It loves moist, dark places. Can you think of a more moist and dark place? If you are prone to eye irritation or infection and you don't follow this schedule implement it immediately!

Contact container - are you a contact wearer? If so, those little containers should be replaced regularly to avoid the same concerns noted above with mascara. Take care of those eyes, you need them.

Clean out the medicine cabinet - check for any expired medications and toss them.

On to the kitchen:

Change out the baking soda in the freezer and refrigerator - this used to be a tough one for me to remember, especially when those containers are normally hidden in the corner.

Check the dates on items in the refrigerator and freezer - toss out anything that has expired or looks questionable (hopefully you do this more often, but sometimes time sneaks up on you!)

Dump your ice bin - ice can take on all of the smells from the refrigerator. Who wants ice that takes like spaghetti sauce?

Restock your flour bin- did you know that flour can go rancid after a certain amount of time? Some areas of the country are also prone to meal bugs. Yuk!

Toss out the nuts - any open nut containers need to go. Nuts can spoil. They take on a acid taste after a while and guests won't be impressed by that. To save money, store open nuts in the freezer until you need them again. They can last up to a year in there.

Clean the oven - your oven elements will heat more evenly if they're kept clean, not to mention that burning debris smells badly when your hungry family comes through the door.

Clean the dishwasher - lime deposits can build up on the heating elements and reduce the effectiveness of the machine. You may also have a "trap" in the bottom that catches remnants. Be sure to check it to avoid water backups.

In the laundry room -

Give the lint catcher from the dryer a good, soapy cleaning. If you use fabric softener sheets while drying clothes a residue can build up on the lint catcher and reduce the effectiveness of the dryer, causing longer drying times and a fire hazard!

Check the dryer vent for blockage, inside and out - this is another potential source of house fires. Lint can build up at the connections or in kinks. Birds also like to build nests in the exterior cover.

Clean out the washer - strange, isn't it? The washer should be clean, right? Wrong. Bacteria can grow in the basket. Run a cycle of hot water with 1 cup of peroxide or white vinegar through the system.

Elsewhere in the house -