Home Maintenance – Page 4 – Shop Room Ideas

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Cleaning your home during the pandemic is going to be different than normal spring cleaning. Here’s tips for deep cleaning that’ll help keep you safe and healthy.

A clean home is a happy home, and during the pandemic cleaning supplies like lysol, paper towels, bleach and disinfectant are must-haves in order to keep you and your a. The CDC has posted recommended cleaning and disinfecting guidelines for preventing the spread of the virus, but we’ve compiled a condensed version with tips for quick reading.

Cleaning Hard Surfaces Around the House

Objects around the house that are touched on a regular basis are going to require constant disinfecting. These surfaces include (but not limited to):

Door knobs
Light switches
Kitchen cabinets
Floors
Windows
…and so on

When cleaning hard surfaces as mentioned above, you’ll first want to wipe it down with a rag that’s been dipped in a solution of warm water and soap (we like using Dawn, but whatever detergent you prefer will work as well). Wring the rag out so that it’s slightly damp and then wipe the surface.

Once the surface has dried completely, you’ll want to use some kind of disinfectant. This could be a solution of alcohol (70% or above) or bleach combined with water in a 1:2 ratio. You can spray this solution on the surface and then wipe it down with a paper towel.

You can, of course, use disinfecting wipes such as Clorox Disinfectant wipes, Lysol disinfectant wipes, and even store brands.

Pro tip: Some folks say that lemon juice, vinegar, or even vodka (what a waste!) work just as well, but we strongly recommend against it, as these homemade disinfectants won’t kill as many as a store bought disinfectant… But, they could work if you can’t find any products on the shelves.

Cleaning Soft Surfaces in the Home

Naturally, soft surfaces like carpeting, furniture, drapes and pet beds can’t be cleaned and disinfected the same as a kitchen countertop. To clean soft surfaces, you will want to clean any visible dirt and debris using a fabric or carpet cleaner (always follow the items’ cleaning instructions so that the item doesn’t get ruined!).

After you’ve cleaned away any visible debris, launder items on the warmest water setting with appropriate detergents. For items that can’t be laundered, like fabric furniture or carpeting, try using a deep-clean carpet antibacterial cleaner like the Bissell concentrated cleaner (although you’ll need a Bissell carpet cleaning machine).

Pro tip: Although the EPA says no disinfectant can claim to work for soft surfaces, they have a list of cleaners that have the “soft surface sanitizing claim,” it’ll clean 99.9% of bacteria, but it won’t get rid of virus’ or fungi like true disinfectants can. Here is a list of EPA approved cleaners for soft surfaces.

Disinfecting Electronics

Our electronics have a haven for germs! Think about how many times you touch your phone throughout the day or how long you’re typing on the keyboard. To kill the germs on these types of things, read the manufacturer’s cleaning and disinfecting instructions. If you lost the instructions, you can use disinfecting wipes or sprays with 70% alcohol content. Make sure you don’t spray too much of the cleaner on the device because you don’t want to damage it.

There’s no denying that people are afraid of contracting the coronavirus, despite some states re-opening. However, you can reduce your chances of getting sick by cleaning and disinfecting your home and anything you come in contact with.

There’s a long road ahead of us, but remember, we’re in this together! Follow CDC guidelines for social distancing, limit traveling, and wear personal protective gear whenever you go out. If there’s anything we’ve learned about this pandemic is that if we all work together, we can “flatten the curve.”

The range cooker sits at the heart of the kitchen, helping you prepare everything from roasted and baked dishes to boiled, sautéed and grilled stovetop meals.

Like other kitchen appliances, range cookers come in a wide range of designs and types, from classic gas ranges to modern induction hobs. Below, we’ve explained how these range cooker designs differ, as well as the key advantages and disadvantages of each type.

Electric

Electric range cookers are made up of an electric oven — or, in the case of a large range cooker, several electric ovens — as well as several electric hobs on for boiling water and cooking dishes in a pan.

Quick to heat up, the ovens used in electric ranges are great for preparing meals that require a consistent, steady supply of heat. The downside of electric ranges it that their hobs tend to use more energy than gas models — by some estimates, as much as three times the total amount.

Electric hobs can also take slightly longer to heat up than gas or induction models, meaning it’s often better to opt for a range cooker with a gas stovetop if you prepare lots of dishes using the stovetop.

Gas

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Gas range cookers are common, efficient and effective, offering the same design as an electric range cooker but with gas as an energy source. This gives them a range of unique advantages that aren’t available in other types of range cooker.

First, gas range cookers heat up quickly, whether you’re using the oven or stovetop. They tend to produce a slightly more moist form of heat than electric ovens, making a gas range cooker a good option if you prepare lots of roasted food.

Gas range cookers are also extremely efficient and cost effective, meaning you’ll spend less to run your kitchen than you would with a similar electric model. The only problem is reliability — as a result of having more moving parts, these model tends to require more range cooker repairs.

Dual Fuel

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Dual fuel range cookers combine the convenience of an electric oven with the precise, fast heat of a gas stovetop. This combination makes dual fuel a good option if you need the fast heat of a gas stovetop with the predictability and low maintenance needs of an electric oven.

Like electric and gas range cookers, dual fuel range cookers are highly popular. Easy to use yet ideal for experienced chefs, range cookers of this type are a good alternative to the two options listed above if you’re a cooking enthusiast looking for the best of both worlds.

Induction

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Induction range cookers combine a conventional gas or electric oven — or, for larger units, two or more separate ovens — with an stovetop that’s equipped with magnet-based induction hobs for fast, efficient heating.

Using a magnetic connection, the induction hobs on this type of range cooker can heat the pan, pot or other metal cookware without producing any indirect heat. This means you won’t feel any indirect heat when you cook using the stovetop.

Induction hobs are extremely fast to heat, meaning you’ll be able to boil water, cook food and do other tasks in less time than with a gas or electric stovetop. Finally, induction stovetops are very efficient, meaning you’ll spend less to run your kitchen than you would with an electric model.

Which type of range cooker is best?

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As any cooking enthusiast will know, no two chefs have the same preferences when it comes to equipment. This means there’s no “best” type of range cooker for everyone — instead, there are several different options to suit every chef’s cooking style and needs.