Fan Cleaning Tips: How to Clean a Ceiling Fan Using a Pillowcase Before Diwali

When cleaning the house, people often focus on the floor, kitchen, windows, and furniture; however, there is another item whose cleaning tends to be postponed—the wall switches. These switches, used daily to turn on lights, fans, and other electrical appliances, become dirty and yellow over time. They get particularly soiled near the kitchen, where dust mixes with grease and lubricant, making the surface sticky.

In such cases, many people buy expensive cleaning agents, whereas simple items found in the kitchen can be used for cleaning. With some kitchen ingredients, it is easy to restore dirty, yellowed, and dusty switches to their original appearance. Nevertheless, extreme caution must be observed when cleaning switches. Below are seven simple methods that will help remove dirt from the switches.

1. Removing stubborn stains with baking soda: Baking soda is used not only for cooking but also for cleaning various items. It can easily clean switches. It can be applied to remove dirt around them. Mix it into a thick paste and gently rub the switch with a soft cloth or an old toothbrush. This will help eliminate accumulated dirt and restore shine.
2. Cleaning grease with white vinegar: White vinegar has acidic properties capable of removing certain types of stains and grease. To clean a switch this way, dampen a cloth with a small amount of vinegar and then proceed with cleaning.
3. Removing yellowing with lemon juice: Lemon juice is used to clean various stains in the home. Its acidic properties can help reduce stains on some surfaces. For light spots and yellowing, it is best to apply the juice to a cloth rather than applying it directly to the switch.
4. Using salt: Salt can act as an abrasive. It helps separate ingrained dirt. Many use salt in combination with lemon or vinegar for cleaning.
5. Dish soap: Dishwashing liquid, intended for washing dishes, can also help bring shine to switches. It is effective for removing grease and oil. A few drops of this agent diluted in water can be used to wipe the switch with a cloth.
6. Toothpaste: Toothpaste is also included in the list of cleaning agents. It is used not only for teeth but also for cleaning. Gently rubbing the paste with a soft brush can reduce stains.
7. Cornstarch: Cornstarch is capable of absorbing excess grease and dust. It can be used together with a dry cloth, especially if a lot of grease has accumulated on the switch.

When cleaning switches, it is necessary to ensure that the power supply is completely turned off. Simply flipping the switch does not guarantee a complete cessation of electricity supply. Therefore, before starting work, you should de-energize the line through the main switch or circuit breaker. It is strictly forbidden to apply water, vinegar, lemon juice, or any other liquids directly onto the switch. You must also not touch the switch with wet hands or clean it while the electricity is on. If dirt is found inside the panel, if it is loose, or if signs of burning are visible, you should call an electrician instead of cleaning it yourself.

Cooking is a daily routine, but the subsequent kitchen cleanup often presents a serious problem. This is especially true when frying vegetables or making donuts and pakora, as oil splatters can land on the stove, walls, countertops, and cabinets. Initially, these small spots are unnoticed, but after a few days, dust begins to settle on them, making the kitchen surfaces greasy and dirty, which requires significant effort to clean.

If you encounter such a situation, it is better to prepare the kitchen in a way that minimizes the spread of oil and grease, thereby simplifying the cleaning process. To do this, some sensible changes regarding tiles, ventilation hoods, cabinets, and storage areas can be made. Below are seven methods that will help keep your kitchen clean.

1. Installing wall tiles behind the stove: Since oil and spice splatters most often land on the wall behind the stove, it is recommended to tile this wall up to the top. Tiles are easy to clean with a cloth and cleaning agents. Choosing large tiles will also reduce the number of joints where dirt accumulates.
2. Choosing a hood that matches the stove: A small hood cannot effectively remove steam and smoke, leading to grease buildup on cabinets and walls. Therefore, you should choose a hood of the correct width corresponding to the size of the stove and the number of burners.
3. Avoiding open shelves near the stove: A layer of oil can form on open jars and dishes on open shelves located near the stove. To avoid this, open shelves should be placed away from the stove, and daily used spices should be stored in closed cabinets. It is also useful to use lids while cooking to reduce splatters.
4. Simple cabinet design: The more decorative elements and deep lines in cabinets, the easier it is for grease to accumulate there, and the harder it is to remove. Therefore, you should choose cabinets with flat surfaces and simple handles that are easy to wipe with a cloth.
5. Choosing countertop color and grout: Oil and food stains often appear on the kitchen countertop. Dark marble with spots can make small stains less noticeable. It is important to minimize the number of seams on the countertop and ensure proper sealing around the sink.
6. Creating pull-out storage for oil and spices: Storing bottles of oil and jars of spices on the countertop takes up a lot of space and contributes to grease accumulation underneath. To solve this problem, you can install small pull-out cabinets that can be accessed as needed.
7. Choosing appropriate floor tiles: Oil spills on the kitchen floor create a slipping hazard. Therefore, you must choose non-slip tiles that are also easy to wash. The joints between the tiles should also be designed so that less dirt accumulates in them.