Forgotten Classics and Other Lesser Known Books (or No One Has Read this but Me!) discussion

I'm 54 years old and a good housekeeper, but I'm definitely still learning things. Especially as we've finally moved into a newer house with modern appliances (I've rented my entire life).

Did you know you're supposed to clean the dishwasher?!?

They say monthly - but is that if you run it every day?
And do you suppose that's if you don't pre-rinse the dishes?

I mean, obviously check for debris blocking the filter, I knew that, but to actually do some disassembly, and some scrubbing, and then run it empty with a cup of vinegar... or buy a product....

What do you do?

Cheryl wrote: "I'm 54 years old and a good housekeeper, but I'm definitely still learning things. Especially as we've finally moved into a newer house with modern appliances (I've rented my entire life).

Did you..."

I clean the dishwasher every couple of months or so. We have hard water here so it's sort of a necessity.

In the old apartment I'd put Lemon Kool-Aid in the trap and that cleaned everything pretty good. I read it as a tip and thought well not my dishwasher I'm willing to try it.

We actually just got a new dishwasher so I'll have to read the manual I don't want to mess it up. The old one had a plastic inside and the new one has metal.

I try to vacuum every week too but lately that hasn't panned out.

Hm. I'll have to try Lemon Kool-Aid. Seems like it couldn't do everything, but I imagine it gets some scum, and deoderizes and brightens. Cheap, anyway! TY!

Congratulations on getting a new one!

I actually don't have a dishwasher at all! But I do know you are supposed to clean your washer. You can buy those expensive, high efficiency clean packs, or you can run your hottest cycle with white vinegar. Works wonders, and then you leave the door open until it dries inside.

I also use about a cup of white vinegar in my daughter's soccer clothes. It gets the smell out of the socks, etc. I have tried everything, and vinegar works best.

That's a good tip, thank you!

This thread has long been dead, but it was the turning point of my actually joining this group; I had no idea I was supposed to clean the dishwasher, I just thought it got clean with the dishes.

You guys blew my mind. And now I have a lot of research to do on what Else I should be cleaning that I am not.

In my defense, I have cleaned my vacuum, once. Maaaaaaybe twice.

Not dead at all, just quiet!
Welcome to the thread, and to the group.
And thanks for the reminder, as I realize I need to tell everyone about my greatest discovery yet:

Riced Cauliflower!!

I now buy a bag every time I go to Costco. (If you're not a member, I did notice a fresh version and a frozen version [called Cauliflower Pearls] at the regular supermarket, too).

I have made pilaf (lightly cook with peas, mushrooms, herbs), fried 'rice,' and just served it as a side dish with take-out Chinese food (cooked with garlic and just a bit of olive or sesame oil). It can also be used instead of bulgar or quinoa in salads and dishes like Tabbouleh. I'm looking forward to adding it to soup.

It's a mild taste. On its own, especially raw, it isn't going to fool anyone who loves rice. I don't think I'd want to make sweet rice pudding with it. However, with other seasonings, and/or cooked, it can certainly take a carbohydrate out of your dinner and add a vegetable in!

Even my three guys whole-heartedly approve.

I didn't know I had to clean the dishwasher either. I do run the vac every few days. I have a roomba. Just press the button.

But do you ever clean it? I don't know about roombas, but once in while other vacs have to be cleaned through the hose, and dusted on the outside, etc. Those with roller brushes, the brushes have to be cleaned every time if anyone in the house has long hair, or if ppl sew or craft.

When I had a Roomba we would do a light cleaning after it ran and then a deeper cleaning about once a week or so with taking it all apart. I don't know if that's the recommended amount, but it worked for us.

Vacuums I don't clean near as frequently bc they are a lot more work. Heh :)

I do clean it every time I use it. It is pretty easy to clean. I just wish they would invent a Rosie the robot like in the Jetzens.

I've actually made a version of "rice pudding" with riced cauliflower and while warm, it was really good. Once it got cool though, not so much. Definitely not a leftover food.

I have a vacuum tip from when I was very young and worked at Petco for a brief minute. If you have cats and or dogs and carpet, putting a flea collar in the bag or drum of your vacuum is a must. You suck up a ton of fleas when you vacuum and if you don't put a collar in, they just climb back out.

Anyone use a Swiffer dry mop? The little cloths can get expensive, and disposable is not eco-friendly.... I use a just-barely-damp old washcloth instead; it fits perfectly. After running around the floor I pull the hair and crumbs off the leading edge by hand and throw them away, then throw the cloth in with jeans and use it again & again!

I don't use a suffer, but I've seen crochet ones at craft shows.

Oh, that's a neat idea, too.