Whenever you are looking for a more powerful clean, bleach is the product to look for. While it is usually not used on a daily basis, it is perfect for the spring cleaning and deep cleaning. It will help you get your house ready for the warm months after winter. Bleach is affordable, easy to use and extremely efficient in cleaning and disinfecting. It is a great product to use around the house and as long as you know how to properly clean with it, it can save you a lot of time and effort.
It is important that you know exactly how and where to use bleach, as well as how to store it. Bleach is a powerful product that should be used carefully, in order to prevent damage to surfaces. You should also know what measures to take so that you are safe while using this product. This article will give you tips on how to use bleach safely and efficiently, as well as talk about the places where you can use it for your spring cleaning. Professional cleaners also use bleach in their cleanings.
- Whenever using bleach, make sure the area is well-ventilated. Spring time is perfect for this since you can open your windows and let that fresh air in. Do not forget to leave them open after you are done too, so the bleach fumes can escape.
- Bleach can be damaging to the skin so wear protective gloves if you have sensitive skin. While it is not going to damage your skin badly, longer skin contact may cause rashes, itchiness and burns. Avoid direct contact.
- Concentrated bleach should not be used at full strength. Whenever you are using such products, carefully read the instructions and the dilution ratio. When using diluted bleach, mix only what you will use on that day. Due to decomposition, the bleach will lose its effectiveness.
- When you are about to clean heavily soiled surfaces with bleach, make sure to remove all dirt and grime in advance. This will help with the effectiveness of bleach.
- Do not mix bleach with any other products. The mix of bleach and ammonia or bleach and vinegar is especially dangerous. In those cases strong chemical reactions might occur and toxic fumes will be released. When diluting bleach, use warm or cold water. Make sure it is not hot because chlorine gas may be released.
- Do not overuse bleach. While it is a convenient product to use, reduce the occasions on which you grab the bleach bottle. You can use less harsh cleaners for basic cleaning jobs and save bleach for when you want to whiten something, get rid of mould and mildew or need to deeply clean and disinfect an area of your house.
- Store your bleach in a cool and dark place. Always keep away from children. Use your bleach within 6 months for ideal results.
- Avoid using bleach on stainless steel. They do not go well together and while you can use diluted bleach on such surfaces, you should not leave it on for too long. It may cause corrosion and damage your stainless steel.
Here is where you can use bleach:
In the Bathroom – the bathroom is definitely the number one place for bleach. Remove mould and mildew or clean up those splashes made by whoever missed the toilet. Bleach is perfect to use on and around the toilet, sink, floor, walls and pretty much almost everywhere else. If you have a lot of dust and grime in the areas where you want to clean with bleach, remove them first. Then spray the bleach and leave it on for about 30-40 seconds. Rinse it afterwards. That works great for removing mould and mildew from your bathtub or shower.
In the laundry – If you have mould or mildew growing on your plastic shower curtains, put them in the washing machine with a couple of white towels. Pour some bleach in the bleach dispenser, use some of your regular laundry detergent and wash them on warm (not hot!) You can put them in your dryer for 15 minutes on low heat, then hang them right after.
Bleach is perfect to use if you have all white sheets and bedding. It is an important step of the spring cleaning and bleach is probably the best way to deep clean and whiten your sheets. Fill up your bleach dispenser, use your regular detergent and wash them at the highest temperature setting. This method also works for pillows. If your pillows are starting to get yellow or have more stains, fill a laundry tub with water and mix 1 cup of bleach and ¼ cup of dishwashing soap. Let your pillows soak in this solution for 30-60 minutes. Always check the labels for specific instructions on temperature and settings when washing pillows.