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Unless it’s written into the purchase agreement, there’s no legal obligation that a house you’ve bought has to be clean before you move in. The previous owner is generally required to sweep the house, but that doesn’t guarantee everything will be spotless upon your arrival. If possible, discuss the cleaning requirements with the real estate company before moving in.

No, you cannot clean your hot tub filters in the dishwasher. While it may seem like a good idea, the dishwasher soap isn’t gentle enough for hot tub filters and can damage them. Gentle cleaning is better when cleaning the hot tub filters and keeping them intact.

A small amount of diluted bleach is okay to pour down a garbage disposal. As part of your weekly garbage disposal maintenance, use 1 teaspoon of bleach with your concoction of ice cubes and lemon peels. Turn on the disposal and run the water until the blades chop up the ice cubes.

Any more bleach in your disposal can harden oils and greases in your drain, which can cause problems. Always wear gloves when working with bleach, and know that you really don’t need bleach at all—vinegar, baking soda, salt, and ice should do the trick.

The most effective toilet tank cleaners include commercial cleaning products, but for DIY purposes, white vinegar is best. Vinegar can help kill bacteria and remove mineral buildup from your toilet tank, but it won’t harm the necessary bacteria in your septic tank as some commercial products can. For the best clean, hire a professional to choose the most aggressive cleaning product that’s still safe for your septic tank, or use white vinegar and a scrub brush to do the cleaning yourself.