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As a general rule, you should clean your oven at least every three months, though this depends on how often you use it and the amount of residue buildup. A clear sign that your oven needs cleaning is if you notice smoke or a burning smell during use. Many ovens have a self-cleaning cycle, which heats the oven to an extreme temperature. If you use this feature, stay home while it runs and consider ventilating the room, as it can create smoke. For manual cleaning, you can make a paste of baking soda and water or use white vinegar before resorting to harsher, store-bought oven cleaners.

Trash cans are some of the most likely areas in your home to harbor bacteria, insects, and foul odors, so you should plan on spot cleaning once a week and disinfecting and deep cleaning at least once per month. Doing so will help reduce the risk of mold growth, help prevent attracting insects into your home, and aid in eliminating unpleasant odors in your home. Add the task to your routine house cleaning checklist to make sure you don’t forget.

You’ll often find mildew and soap scum in the same place, but they are very different substances. Mildew is a substance composed of living fungi, whereas soap scum is primarily an accumulation of mineral deposits. Mildew needs chronic moisture to thrive, while soap scum is unaffected by damp conditions (though it is a residue left behind by the water).

The self-cleaning oven mode turns the heat in your oven up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit to incinerate any stuck-on food or grease. This process can make your home uncomfortably hot for several hours. It can also emit unpleasant smells in the house and release carbon monoxide. It can be irritating to people with respiratory conditions. Never leave the house unattended when using the self-cleaning oven feature.