Latest news with #cleaning
CTV News
3 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
How to make cleaning much easier
Cleaning tasks can take a lot of effort in ways that can be hard on your joints and muscles. Fortunately, there are now robots that can do the vacuuming for you, mops that save you the trouble of filling up a heavy bucket of water, and sponges that cut down on the scrubbing needed to get pots grime-free. In fact, Consumer Reports experts have tested a wide variety of tools and products and have plenty of advice about making cleaning painless. Here's what to try to make a variety of cleaning tasks easier. Keep helpful tools handy A long-handled grabber can be useful for picking up items on the floor without having to bend down. Microfibre dusters with extendable handles will allow you to dust the top of your ceiling fan blades or objects on high shelves without needing a step stool. Keep your balance Whatever household chores you have ahead of you, protect yourself from slips and trips. Getting regular exercise, including strength training, can not only help you stay up to the challenge of various tasks but also help you improve your balance and avoid falls. It's also wise to wear sturdy shoes with nonskid soles, light the space you'll be cleaning brightly, and keep high-traffic areas free of tripping hazards such as stray cords, loose rugs, and clutter. Make mopping a cinch If mopping feels like an ordeal, consider an electric steam mop. With these, hot water from the mop's tank creates steam, which gets floors clean with less effort. Use the right scrubbers A good sponge can significantly cut down on scrubbing. For dishes, our evaluators liked the Skura Style Skrubby Sponge for its flexibility and ability to easily dispatch tough grime. For grimy grout and food spills on stovetops, try a melamine foam sponge (aka a Magic Eraser). These abrasive sponges can take on tough stains and scum. Outsource your vacuuming While an upright or canister vacuum is still a necessity for deep cleaning (particularly for rugs and carpeting), a robotic vacuum can do lighter floor cleanups for you. Many can be programmed to sweep at the same time every day. By Catherine Roberts, Consumer Reports Senior Health & Food Reporter
CNET
15 hours ago
- Health
- CNET
5 Cleaning Hacks to Keep Your Fridge Fresh and Tidy This Summer
Your refrigerator is one of the most important appliances in your kitchen, but cleaning the fridge is an often-overlooked chore. After you wipe down your counters and clean up your kitchen floors, be sure to give your fridge some attention too. Like most areas of your house, the refrigerator is easier to keep fresh and tidy if you dedicate a little bit of time to it every day or week rather than letting dirt and clutter pile up. It's vital to keep your fridge clean, on the inside and out, as it houses most of what you'll eat. Safely handling your food and beverages will rid your fridge of germs and bacteria that may linger. For a more sustainable way to keep your fridge clean and tidy throughout not only the warmer months but also the entire year, read on. Read next: Want That Organized TikTok Fridge Look? Here's What You'll Need to Buy 5 steps to keep your refrigerator clean ✅ Daily task: Wipe down handles and controls Using a food-safe, antibacterial wipe, take the time to wipe down the handles of your refrigerator each day. You should wipe down the buttons or controls for water dispensers and ice makers daily, too. s-cphoto/Getty Images ✅ Weekly task: Trash expired and old food At the start of each week, go through the food in your refrigerator. Toss old leftovers and expired food. Spoiled food can encourage bacteria growth and leave mold spores in your refrigerator, so it's important to sift through your fridge regularly. Not sure what's expired? Check each bottle and label for an expiration date. If you can't find an expiration date, play it safe and toss anything that you aren't sure is fresh. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends not only throwing out old or recalled foods, but also any foods that are stored next to them or touching them. Read more: Fresh or Foul? Expert Reveals Egg Shelf Life in Your Fridge Sort through your fridge each week to throw out any expired food or drinks. The Container Store ✅ Quarterly task: Give your fridge a deep clean Do a deep cleaning of your refrigerator every three to four months. To keep things simple, you may choose to do a deep clean of your fridge at the start of each season. To deep clean your refrigerator, you'll need to completely clear out all the food and put it in a cooler for safekeeping. Many people choose to try to finish most of the big food items in their fridge just before a deep cleaning, so they don't have to remove and replace a lot of food. Be sure to read your refrigerator's manual so that you know the best way to clean your appliance. In most cases, you will unplug the fridge or turn it off first. Then remove and thoroughly clean all the shelves and drawers in hot, soapy water or other cleaner, then replace them. Clean the walls of the fridge and every surface well. Don't forget to also clean the door and the interior top of the refrigerator. Read More: An Electrician's Plea: Don't Plug Space Heaters or These Other 6 Devices Into Extension Cords Every so often, take everything out of your fridge and give it a deep clean. Getty Images/EyeEm ✅ Biannually task: Clean your icemaker and water dispenser Many refrigerators come with ice makers and water dispensers. If yours does, it's important to keep them clean so that you continue to enjoy germ-free ice or water. The ice maker or water dispenser likely comes with a water filter that you'll need to change regularly. Most need to be changed every six months or so, according to Consumer Reports, but be sure to read your refrigerator's manual for the manufacturer's recommendations. Read more: Ice Maker on the Rocks? Here's How to Fix It ✅ Occasional task: Immediately clean spills When a mess happens in the fridge, clean it immediately. It's important to not let spills and messes get out of hand, otherwise your fridge can easily become a hotbed for germs and bacteria. If you have a spill, take a few minutes to wipe it down and make sure that it didn't spill on and potentially contaminate other food or beverages. Also, try to prevent accidents by storing your food in airtight, spill-proof containers. A good rule of thumb is that you should spot clean your refrigerator any time a spill happens or you see remnants of food and drink. Want more kitchen cleaning hacks? Check out the best way to clean your blender and how to clean a cast-iron skillet.
The Verge
17 hours ago
- The Verge
Eufy's Omni C20 mopping robovac is $300 off for a limited time
After a long week, the last thing I want to do is clean my floors (they're seriously overdue for a cleaning). Busting out the vacuum and mopping can be tiring. That's why I'm a big fan of robot vacuums, especially ones with built-in mops that can handle all the cleaning on their own. Speaking of, you can pick up the Eufy Robot Vacuum Omni C20 at Amazon and Eufy for $399.98 ($300 off), matching its all-time low. This deal may be around for just a matter of hours. The Omni C20 is one of Eufy's newer vacuum and mopping combo units that offers several automated cleaning features to make your life easier. The all-in-one station can empty, wash, dry, and refill the C20 between cleanings. It can also wash then dry the mop, so the robovac doesn't wind up smelling like a gym locker while it roams your house. A transparent water tank allows you to easily monitor water levels without having to open the all-in-one station. It features two sweeping and mopping modules, each capable of 180 rotations per minute. That should be enough to remove most tough stains on your floors. Additionally, the Omni C20 features adequate suction (7,000Pa), a rolling brush, and a side brush, all of which allow it to tackle dirt, crumbs, and pet hair. Speaking of hair, the robovac includes a 'pro-detangle comb,' which can loosen and remove tangled hair from the brush. That said, anti-tangle brushes can be hit or miss, so it's always a good idea to clean it manually. While we haven't had the opportunity to test the Omni C20, our experience with Eufy robovacs has been generally positive. We chose the Eufy X10 Pro Omni as the best midrange robot vacuum / mop combo, and the Omni C20 offers a similar suite of features. However, the Omni C20 doesn't support obstacle avoidance, which means it may run over wires, socks, toys, and even pet messes. So, looks like you'll still have a little bit of pre-cleaning to do. Sign up for Verge Deals to get deals on products we've tested sent to your inbox weekly.
CNET
17 hours ago
- CNET
Early July 4th Robot Vacuum Deals: Get Spotless Floors Starting at Just $115
Now that warm summer weather is here, the last thing you want to do on your off time is clean the house. So why not grab yourself a robot vacuum and shorten your chore list for good? There are tons of excellent options out there for every budget, and with the early Fourth of July deals already in full swing, you can get your hands on one for even less. To help you take advantage of these initial offers, our dedicated deals team has rounded up some top picks below. We'll continue to update this page throughout Independence Day (as well as Prime Day, which kicks off just a few days later), so be sure to check back often for the latest and greatest prices. Best early July 4th robot vacuum deals Anker Eufy 3-in-1 E20: $380 Get the best of all worlds with this versatile three-in-one Eufy robot vacuum. It can clean your floors automatically using advanced Lidar navigation and obstacle avoidance, and has a detachable handheld vacuum for those hard-to-reach nooks and crannies. Plus, the three-liter base station allows for up to 75 days of maintenance-free cleaning. Details Save $270 $380 at Amazon Close Anker Eufy 25C: $115 The Eufy 25C is already our favorite affordable robot vacuum of 2025, and this early Independence Day deal makes it a pretty unbeatable value. It lacks the more efficient high-tech laser navigation found on pricier models, but it performed well on hardwood floors and carpets in our tests. It boasts 1,500Pa of suction power, a 100-minute runtime and a 0.6-liter dustbin. It's also compatible with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant for hands-free voice control. If you're only after the basics, this is a pretty great bargain. Details Save $134 $115 at Walmart Close Roborock Qrevo Pro: $650 Get truly spotless floors with this advanced Roborock, which can vacuum and mop. It boasts 7,000Pa of suction power and a unique mop arm that allows it to clean all the way to the edge to help prevent blind spots. Plus, the included base station can empty and refill the water tank and wash and dry the mop pads. Details Save $350 $650 at Best Buy Close More robot vacuum deals: Should you shop July 4th robot vacuum deals or wait until Prime Day? Unfortunately, there's no guarantee of which event will offer better prices. In reality, it's most likely that the Fourth of July and Prime Day sales events will blur into one massive shopping event that spans multiple days and retailers. With that in mind, we'd recommend placing your order when you see a must-have deal. While there's a slight chance that we'll see prices dip a little lower later in the sale, there's a much greater chance that the best bargains will sell out fairly early. Which retailers offer the best July 4th robot vacuum deals? You'll find tons of incredible bargains at major tech and home retailers like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy and Target. Plus, a number of brands will be offering some direct discounts of their own, including Roomba and Eufy. What else will be on sale for July 4th? There will be a huge variety of deals that you can shop across retailers for the Fourth of July. These include tons of top tech like TVs and laptops, as well as home goods and big-ticket items like mattresses and major appliances. There will also be plenty of seasonal deals on grills, outdoor gear and other summer essentials. To give you a good idea of what's out there, you can check out our full roundup of all the best early Fourth of July deals already available. How we choose the best July 4th deals Our team of expert shoppers and deal hunters has spent years sorting through major sales and deals, helping readers understand which are legitimately good. That includes Black Friday, Prime Day, Memorial Day and countless other shopping events. We've become good at weeding out scams and superficial deals, so you only get the best available. We look for real discounts, quality reviews and remaining sale time when choosing a deal to include. We consider price history to ensure prices aren't inflated to make a discount seem more substantial. We choose products that we have tested or have top reviews because if an item breaks the first time you use it, the discount isn't worth it. Remaining sale time is a huge part of our vetting process. If a deal seems like it will only be around for a short while or will only be available for the remaining stock, we'll let you know upfront, so you don't come back to the deal later only to be disappointed.
CNET
a day ago
- Health
- CNET
If You Can't Remember the Last Time You Changed Your Sheets, Read This
There's nothing quite like collapsing into bed at the end of a long day. Pulling up the covers, sinking into soft pillows and finally letting go of everything that's been weighing on you can feel like pure relief. But that cozy, restful feeling only really hits when your bedding is clean. If it's been a while since you washed your sheets, that sense of calm might be hiding more than you realize. Sheets collect a lot over time. That includes sweat, dead skin cells, body oils and dust mites. Pillowcases can get even dirtier, holding onto makeup residue, hair products and facial creams. That buildup can affect your skin and your sleep quality. Experts generally recommend washing all your bedding at least once a week to keep things fresh and healthy. If you are unsure how to get started or want to make your laundry routine more effective, here are six simple tips to help you clean your sheets the right way. How often should I change or wash my sheets? The common rule of thumb is to wash sheets every other week. Ideally, sleep experts recommend changing sheets every week but agree that every two weeks is the absolute longest one should go sleeping on the same set of sheets. When to wash all bedding Bedding type Frequency Sheets Once a week or every other week Pillowcases Once a week or every other week Duvet covers Once a week or every other week Comforters Once a month or every other month (or more frequently if you sleep with pets) Duvet inserts Once or twice a year Mattress pads Every three to four months Why do we wash our sheets and bedding? Hygiene is always important, even with our bedding. If you can't see stains or smell any odor, it doesn't mean your sheets are clean. Sheets can accumulate dead skin, mites, animal dander, pollen, makeup, bodily secretions and more grime, which may cause discomfort or skin rashes. One of the biggest reasons to regularly clean sheets is because of sweat. In a May study, 41% of participants reported experiencing night sweats in a month, and generally, people tend to run hot when covered in blankets or living in warmer climates. Sweat can soak into the sheets which can clog up the fibers and make the sheets smell. You should wash your sheets more often if you tend to sleep with your pet. Elena Grigorovich/EyeEm/Getty Images You should also wash your sheets more often if: You have allergies or asthma You have sensitive skin You sweat or overheat frequently You sleep naked You sleep with a pet You eat in bed You get in bed before showering You lay in bed wearing clothes you wore out in public You have an infection or open wound that touches the bedding What's the best way to machine-wash my sheets? Most bedsheets are machine-washable and aren't much of a hassle to clean. Cotton and linen bedsheets are especially easy, while silk and satin are a bit more temperamental, requiring cold temperatures and slow spin cycles. It's best to always check the care tag on your sheets but this is the best method to machine-wash the majority of sheet sets: 1. Don't overwhelm the machine It can be tempting to just throw every pillowcase, fitted sheet and comforter right into the machine but throwing everything in at once may be too much and you may not get a good clean. I recommend washing the fitted and flat sheets together with your pillowcases and then washing any heavier comforter, quilt or throw blanket separately. Definitely don't throw in any clothing or towels with your bedding because it could leach color or have buttons and zippers that will damage delicate sheets. Bulkier items like duvet covers should be washed alone. iso_petrov/Getty Images 2. Check the label I always recommend checking the care label for the ideal washing temperature because some fabrics can shrink in the wash. It's best to use the hottest temperature the sheets can tolerate because hot water most effectively kills germs and bacteria. Colder cycles may not fully get rid of the grime. Polyester blends are best in warm water, while cotton can tolerate hot water. Silk and satin sheets should be washed on a cold, gentle cycle. 3. Separate by color Separate your sheets by color to preserve the colors and prevent dye from transferring. This means that you should make sure to put light-colored and dark-colored sheets together before washing. 4. Check bedsheets for stains Stains are better when cared for pre-wash, so take a few minutes to examine your sheets or pillowcases for stubborn blemishes. You can use a gentle dish soap and water, or baking soda and water mixture to let sit for a few minutes if you spot a dark mark or makeup stain. 5. Measure out detergent Less is usually more when using detergent. Too much detergent can lead to the machine using excess water or cause buildup in the washing machine's pipes. Most detergents are acceptable to use on cotton and linen sheets but choose a detergent for delicate fabrics to wash silk and satin sheets. There are many silk or satin-friendly detergents on the market. A good rule of thumb is to use 2 ounces (1/4 cup) or half a cap full of liquid laundry detergent for a regular-sized load of bedding. You can also use 4 ounces (1/2 cup) or 1 full cap of liquid laundry detergent for a larger load of bulkier items. I also recommend skipping the fabric softener because it can weaken the fabric. 6. Dry completely For most sheets, you can use the dryer on low to medium heat. Satin and silk sheets would do best to air dry because they can be easily damaged even on a low-heat dryer cycle. You can also throw in a few dryer balls with your bedding because they allow gaps, helping the bulkier sheets to dry more quickly and evenly (I always hate when I think I'm finally ready to make my bed and I realize one whole section is still damp from being bundled up). You can avoid cleaning your bedsheets as often by making it a habit to not eat in bed, not sleeping with your pet and only cuddling down in the sheets after a shower. It may seem like a hassle to strip your bed every week but it's well worth the extra effort, so you can sleep and relax a little easier. For more hacks, check out how to remove makeup stains from bedding and our sleep experts' favorite bed material. Can you wash sheets and clothes together? While you can wash sheets and clothes together, many experts recommend washing them separately to prevent clothes from getting caught in the sheets and not being washed thoroughly. Sheets may also have different washing instructions from clothes so washing them separately can help preserve the different fabrics and prevent damage. More cleaning and laundry tips
