Simple ways to keep your home clean and mould-free

Let's face it - life can get messy, and the home is no exception. Here are a few simple ways to keep your home clean and mould-free.

1. Magic for marker stains:

• Vegetable oil can clean marker stains off of lots of surfaces — even skin!
• To finish cleaning marker marks, just wipe up the oil with a damp cloth.

2. Sparkling dishwasher:

• Add 250 millilitres (one cup) of vinegar to your empty dishwasher and let it run a full cycle once a month or so.
• Your kitchen may smell a bit like a pickle jar for a few hours, but hardwater lime buildup will be rinsed away.
• This will keep your spray arm and other dishwasher parts working flawlessly.

3. Better detergent dispensing:

• If you buy laundry detergent in the large containers with a spigot as well as a capped opening, here's a handy trick.
• Drill a 2.5 centimetre (1 inch) hole through the cabinet bottom directly under your detergent container's spout.
• Now you can dispense the detergent without moving your container.
• Just remember to replace the plastic cap between uses to avoid drips.

4. Control the drips:

• Dripless liquid detergent containers always drip just a little.
• Keep this drip under control with a special shelf on the corner of your laundry tub.
• Just cut a 3.5 centimetre (1.5 inch) aluminum angle long enough to support the front edge of the container, then glue it to the tub with silicone caulk.
• Rest the container on the ledge and drips will just fall into the laundry tub instead of creating a gooey mess somewhere else.

5. Stop the mess:

• An overflowing toilet can wreck the floor as well as the ceiling below, so don't let it happen!
• The next time you see the water in a stopped-up toilet preparing to breach the rim, calmly reach behind the toilet and shut off the valve that feeds the tank.
• The water will stop instantly, and you'll prevent a big cleanup project.

1. Is it mould or dirt? 

• For a quick test, dip a swab in diluted bleach (one part bleach, 16 parts water) and dab it on the wall.
• If the spot quickly lightens (or keeps coming back after cleaning), then it's likely mould.

2. Don't let mould make you sick: 

• Breathing mould spores can cause asthmatic reactions, allergic reactions and other health problems.
• Always wear a respirator, rubber gloves and eye protection when removing mould.

3. Win the war against bathtub mould: 

• To prevent mould around tubs and showers (where the moisture source never goes away), spray the wall with an antimicrobial treatment.
• Then seal the grout with two coats of grout sealant to keep water from wicking in.

4. Listen to the air conditioner: 

• If your central air conditioner cycles on and off quickly and you see mould near the diffusers, the unit might be too large for the house.
• This can cause the house air to cool before the humidity is removed from it.
• The easiest fix for this problem is to run a dehumidifier.

5. Stop mould from coming back: 

• Once you have your indoor humidity under control, clean and spray any mouldy areas with an antimicrobial treatment.
• In basements or other large areas, you might need to fog the entire room using rental equipment from a home centre to get rid of mould.

Remember these simple ways to keep your home clean and mould-free for a better quality of life.