Tag Archives: clean

An Ultraviolet Light Dishwasher Cleaner

Dishwashers get filthy inside. They smell sour and develop all kinds of issues. Usually this is due to leaving dirty dishes in there for a few days before you turn it on so that you can save on water bills. Your sign that you have bacteria breeding in dour bacteria is usually a terrible smell.

 

You may have heard already about how UV disinfectant lamps are used to sterilize surfaces and equipment.  Studies have shown that UV-C light kills up to 99.9% of microbes. This is done without the use of harsh chemicals.

 

How necessary is it to put an ultraviolet sterilization light in your dishwasher. Well first off, studies have shown that 62% of tested home dishwashers contain mold and other micro-organizations that are very harmful to your health. If you do not kill these microbes somehow they will multiply and affect your whole dishwasher. Once you use a UV stick you will find that any unpleasant odors emitting from your appliance disappear.

 

The lamp itself is egg shaped with the top part that contains the UV light, looking like a swirling cage. The unit should be placed on a dish rack central in the dishwasher. It is about five inched high and 2 and half inches wide. It is recommended that you use it after every dishwasher load.

 

The unit does not turn on unless it is dark. This means that it will not work unless the dishwasher door is closed.  The UV light automatically turns on again as soon as the door is opened.  This is to ensure your safety. When left inside the dishwasher it automatically switches on for twelve minutes every 24 hours to thoroughly clean the inside of your dishwasher.

 

It is very important to note that this light is not waterproof. You must never, ever leave it accidentally in the dishwasher or the unit will be ruined. The unit does run on for about six to nine months on 2 mignon batteries.  There is an indicator on the unit that lets you know when the battery is running out.

 

These units are also reasonably priced. If you do accidentally leave one in your dishwasher while it is on then it only costs about $30 for a replacement.

 

This type of unit might just be the start of wonderful new developments in UV sterilization technology for the home. Imagine have a UV light installed for sterilizing your bathroom, your washing machine and the cat’s litter box.

Surprising Ways to Use Bleach in Your Home

Nothing smells fresher than a home freshly cleaned with Clorox or Ajax bleach. However did you know there are other uses for bleach that you may not have thought of that are simple and help you get your money’s worth of the money you spend on bleaching products.

 

Are you planning to go camping but your cooler smells of mold. Simply use a half of cup of bleach in gallon of warm water to clean and rinse it out. You can use a teaspoon of bleach with warm water to clean a thermos in the same. Just be sure to rinse the thermos with water well afterwards.

 

Bleach can also be used to remove coffee stains or tea stains from China. However be careful and check with the maker of your China to make sure that this will not bleach out the pattern on your good China.

 

Bleach is also an excellent sanitizer of cutting boards, especially that wooden board you are always cutting meat on. Be careful using bleach on plastic as it has been known to yellow plastic cutting boards.

 

Some people also use bleach instead of jet dry in the dishwasher to disinfect their dishes as well as make them shine. Be sure to use liquid bleach and not the powered type or it can leave a film that is very hard to get off on all of your dishes.

 

Did you know bleach can used to extend the lasting power of cut flower blossoms? All you have to do is add one quarter teaspoon of bleach for every quart of water that is used in your vase. The flowers might last as much as ten days longer.

 

There are also clever ways to recycle and reuse the bleach bottle. If you cut a bleach bottle diagonally across the bottom you automatically create a handy shovel that can be used to scoop up cat litter or be used as scoops for foods. Big jugs can be used as scoops for fertilizer and outdoor gardenting chores.

 

Yet another surprising use for a bleach bottle is as a protective guard for young plants against frost, hail and cold weather. Simply cut off the bottom of a bleach jug and then cover your seedlings with it at night.

 

Another nifty use of an old Clorox jug is to cut a hole in the side of an empty bleach jug and then put your clothes pins in it. You can then hang the holder on your clothesline by stringing the line through the handle.