One year ago, on March 20, 2020, Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak closed the iconic Las Vegas Strip.
Children across the country began going to school online and “Coronavirus,” “Coronavirus Symptoms” and “Coronavirus update” ranked among the top 5 Google searches.
This year isn’t a whole lot different, with the exception that Americans are stay-at-home-weary.
Spring is springing, however, and there is no virus that will stop it. Whether or not you’re still stuck at home, consider getting that spring cleaning started.
The experts claim that if no-one in the home suffered from the virus, your spring-cleaning ritual from years past will suffice.
If someone in the home did suffer from COVID-19, follow the CDC’s instructions for cleaning. You’ll find them at cdc.gov.
We’ve rounded up some cleaning tips that homeowners may not consider (but they should) when they’re spring cleaning. This week, we start with the air you breath (and smell).
Filters, filters and more filters
Most homeowners forget that there are more filters in the home than the one for the HVAC system.
The drinking water/ice dispenser in your refrigerator-freezer, for instance, “… should be replaced every six (6) months or after every 200 gallons of dispensed water,” according to the pros at geappliances.com.
And before you dismiss this chore, consider this:
The refrigerator water dispenser is one of the “germiest” areas of the kitchen (National Sanitation Foundation).
Follow the instructions in your appliance’s owner’s manual and make changing this filter a part of routine home maintenance.
Other filters to put on the list include:
- HVAC filter: Replace every 3 months
- Range hood filter: If you cook a lot, clean the filter every 1 to 2 months. If you own a ductless range hood filter: Clean these “… every one to three months or after 120 hours of cooking,” according to the experts with Proline Range Hoods. “If the unit recirculates air through the hood back into the room, it will likely also have a carbon filter behind the screen. Replace these as needed,” recommend the pros at Meticulous Inspections.
- Dishwasher filter: Clean every 3 to 6 months, depending on how often you run a load of dishes. For tips, see this information at consumerreports.org.
- Dryer lint filter: Clean after every load. This will help you to prevent becoming a victim of one of the county’s 2,900 dryer fires, reported each year, according to the U.S. Fire Administration.
- 2,900 home clothes dryer fires are reported each year
- Window screens: Yup, since they filter out dirt and bugs, window screens are considered filters. And, since spring is here, you’ll no doubt want to fling open the windows and let in some fresh air. Check for bends in the screens’ frames, holes and other damage.
Next week, we’ll tackle the kitchen and discuss some of the items that gather the most germs.
