Yes, I know it’s Saturday. But Saturday Food for Thought just doesn’t have the same alliteration.
Still tackling your spring cleaning? Thinking about tackling it?
Last weekend I cleaned out the freezer. That was interesting.
For the actual cleaning part, I used about one-quarter cup of baking soda in a quart of warm water. Especially great for appliances because the baking soda is mildly abrasive, it’s easy to rinse out, and it’s a great deodorizer. Not that my freezer needed a deodorizer…ahem…but it does get that fridgy smell. I’m sure you know what I mean. I use this baking soda-and-water mixture to clean the microwave, too.
This winter I tried hiring a housekeeper, but it didn’t work out. For starters, she used an industrial degreaser on absolutely everything. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not the world’s greatest housekeeper, but I’m not the worst, either. This degreaser was supposed to be diluted with water—one part degreaser to 30 parts water—and she used it full strength. Without wearing gloves, which can’t be healthy. And it had a revolting smell—one online reviewer described it as mixture of licorice and vomit—that lingered for days.
Not long after the housekeeper left, I used the microwave. Make that, tried to use it. She had used this degreaser inside the microwave and hadn’t rinsed it. Can’t remember what I was heating, but it had to be thrown out. I even thought I’d have to get a new microwave, but after washing it with baking soda and warm water—every day for a week—I finally got rid of the smell.
This weekend I plan to tackle the inside of the fridge.
Note to self: buy more baking soda.
Until next time,
Lee
