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You know you have to do maintenance on appliances around your house, but that probably ends up at the bottom of your to-do list. Don't let it. Proper maintenance can be good for you and keep some of these pricey items operational instead of clogged with dirt or dust that might lead to an early expiration date.
Two to Three Months
If that sounds like a lot, let's hope you don't have allergies. If you do, you should clean your HVAC air filters every month. Your AC is vital to clean dust particles and fungal spores out of the air you breathe, and a dense build-up interferes with your air conditioner's ability to work well.
Weekly
Your humidifier needs cleaning more than you think. Why? A humidifier can hold water-borne Legionella bacteria (as in Legionnaire's Disease). Worse, this funky bacteria doesn't go away easily. It can live in tap water for up to a year and hot water won't kill it unless its over 160 degrees. To clean your humidifier, use a brush and a bleach or vinegar solution and scrub away.
Weekly
While spills on the stove top should be cleaned up after each use to prevent microbial growth, the rest of the stove requires a little less maintenance. Wipe down the front of the unit weekly, and clean the inside of the oven every three months.
Three Months
It's gross, but your pillow accumulates dust, dirt, oil, dead skin cells and dust mites while you're sleeping. Pillows should be washed every three months, and they don't last forever, either. You should replace your pillows every three years (or even after six months if you suffer from allergies).
Weekly
A sponge that feels icky probably is — E.coli, salmonella, yeast, and mold are commonly found in these dish wipers. You can wash the sponge, then microwave while wet for 2 minutes, or run it through the dishwasher, but even those steps aren't likely to get rid of all the germs — so get rid of your sponge every week.
Weekly
Mold, fungi, and other yucky things can grow on the seal of your dishwasher, so wipe it down once a week with a mild bleach solution. The outside of your dishwasher should be cleaned off once a week, too.
Six Months
Most fridges will notify you when it's time to change the filter, but if yours doesn't, make a note to do it every six months.
Six Months
Every time you clean the toilet, make sure the toilet brush is getting cleaned, too. Hang the toilet brush over the toilet (put it in between the toilet rim and seat) and spray with disinfecting spray. Rinse with hot water, and let it dry. Still, replace the brush every six months, even if you've kept it sparkling clean.
Three Months to Two Years
This isn't cleaning per se, but pitching. Makeup can can harbor germs, and you don't want to put infection-causing stuff on your face. Throw out liquid eyeliners and mascara after three months, lipsticks after a year, and lip gloss and powder blushes after two years.
Weekly
While the dryer heats up your clothes, it's not hot enough to kill all the germs. Luckily, most new dryers have a germicidal settings, so it's worth running that once a week.
Three Months
If you notice the box of baking soda you keep in the back of the fridge isn't keeping weird smells at bay, you may need to swap this out more frequently. However, a good rule of thumb is to do it every three months.
Every Month
While you'll know it's time to clean this if the vacuum smells terrible every time you turn it on, you probably want to prevent that from happening by cleaning the filter once a month.
Weekly
Before you assume washing your clothes means your washing machine is clean, know that fecal germs like E. coli and other intestinal bacteria, plus viruses like rotavirus, noroviruses and hepatitis A can survive in washing machines. Run an empty cycle with water and a cup of bleach once a week, or use the germicidal setting if you have it.
Six Months
While yes, you should clear lint out of the filter after every load, a more in-depth clean to deal with build-up, especially if you use dryer sheets, isn't a bad idea. Aim for every six months.
10 Years
Your extinguisher has an expiration date on the side, but if you can't find it, a good rule of thumb is giving these the boot every decade. There is nothing worse than having a kitchen fire only to find your very old extinguisher either sputters out or doesn't work at all.
Two Weeks
Old bed sheets can be stretched out, smelly, or just not that fresh. Go ahead, toss them in the wash every two weeks (or once a week if you're motivated).
Two to Five Years
What, you thought your nonstick pans would last forever? Alas, nonstick pans start to, well, stick and even peel, which means you have creepy chemicals sticking around in your food. Cheap pans should be tossed after two years, but better pans will last five or longer. Get a cast iron pan and you'll have it forever.
Six Months
These shower liners get moldy, and we're betting you don't want a layer of fungus or mold so close to your skin. You can throw them in the washer, but after six months juse toss them.
Weekly
Wipe down your fridge and clean out the bad stuff once a week. Foods like soft cheese, cold cuts, and hot dogs can have listeria — which loves a cool environment and is risky for anyone who is immunocompromised, such as the elderly or pregnant women. Fungal mold is also a risk.
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