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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.

Yes, in most cases, you can add a few drops of Dawn to a spray bottle full of vinegar to remove hard water stains. This solution can be used on your dishes, or you can use it in your shower, bathtub, or sink to get rid of hard minerals. Simply combine the ingredients, shake them up, then spray the solution onto limescale-ridden surfaces. Wait around an hour and then scrub the surface down.

Before hiring a cleaning service for your home, it's wise to ask several questions. Find out what services they offer, whether they work alone or with a company, and if they can provide references. It's also important to ask if they conduct background checks on employees. Inquire about their scheduling, availability, and when they can provide an estimate. Confirm if they have insurance, offer a guarantee, and bring their own cleaning supplies and equipment. You should also clarify if you need to be home during the cleaning, what arrangements are necessary for pets, and if there is a written contract. Finally, ask how they set their rates and if they are available for emergencies and what those charges would be.

How often you clean a bathroom depends on how often you use it and how many people are in your home. In general, a bathroom should be cleaned once per week or every other week. But a bathroom deep-clean done at least every two weeks allows you to keep bacteria and mildew away.