Jobs you should do intermittently but might sometimes forget

[Merguez]

I am thinking of stuff like:

Cleaning the dishwasher/washing machine

Hoovering behind the fridge, etc.

Can we compile a list please, with instructions.

For example, I know I should occasionally clean the washing machine with a billing hot wash - but don't know how often I need to do it, or how - do I add vinegar?

What are your examples?

boiling not billing

This would be helpful to me as this is the bit of cleaning I find we never make time for. Just started compiling a list myself and it contains:

• clean dishwasher
• clean washing machine
• clean fridge
• defrost freezer
• test smoke alarms

As you can see, not much on our list yet!

Housework

Cleaning the oven
Cleaning the fridge
Washing the washing machine
Cleaning the Hoover filters (I did set a reminder on phone but I ignore!)

Yes, but how do you clean the washing machine and dishwasher?

And how often are you supposed to do it?

I cleaned the dishwasher filter the other day, which was disgusting, but you are meant to run a very hot wash occasionally aren't you?

I clean the washing machine by putting a bit bleach in the drawer and running at 90c, I only do this a couple of times a year

And I don't have a dishwasher

For the washing machine I use stuff from Poundland (2 in a box for a pound) tip the powder in the drum & put in on a hot wash, you can do vinegar but I never know how much. Dishwasher I buy an own brand cleaning liquid thing (any supermarket) and run it hot with that in, both done every couple of months ( or three!)

You need this Flylady Detailed Cleaning Lists. A bit twee, but pretty comprehensive.

starballbunny you sound like my sort of person!

I run washing machine with vinegar on 90º wash monthly, dishwasher as above.

I need to defrost the freezers and scrub the fridge but the next time these things move will be cleaned under is when they're replaced.

Dishwasher - clean the filters with very hot soapy water and a scrubber. Then bung a bottle of cleaner stuff in and run a cycle. Mine needs this once a month but I always forget until I've had 3 or 4 residue-laden loads that need to be hand-washed to get the dried in gunk back off

Washing machine - take soap drawer out and wash in hot, soapy water. Wipe the inside of the flexible door rim with damp cloth as this gets super gunky. Run a 90C wash with vinegar. I think this should be once a month too.

Fridge and freezer - do when they're nearly empty. Empty random bits of stuff left (dried up broccoli floret bits, ancient dehydrated lettuce leaf etc) into bin. Wash all shelves and drawers in hot water/bleach solution. Leave to air dry. Meanwhile wipe down insides of fridge with cloth dipped in water/bleach solution.

Tumble drier - clean the huge filter at floor level ( not the fluff collector in door)

I should do it every 4 weeks and always forget & then wonder why my clothes wont dry.

It is as long as the tumble drier, I put it in the bath & use the shower head on it for about 10 minutes, the gunk & fluff & paper & random objects that comes out it weird

Oh & I must remember that when I next clean the top of the cupboards, to put newspaper along them.

No more cleaning, just throw the top layer away!

Wipe the skirting boards. I never do it...

vac filters, every time the bag is changed, or if it ever smells of dust. The filters are mostly washable, and you probably get one or two new ones in every pack of bags, so it is easy to accumulate a stock of clean ones. Throw away when they look worn.

Washing machine, a hot hot hot wash with no powder, liquid or fabsoft, and a cup of washing soda crystals, when it is doing white cotton (which stands up to the heat) towels, alternate washes. Bath towels often have a residue of bath foam and shampoo on them anyway and hopefully you are pretty clean when you get out of the bath.

Check the oil in my car! I had to take it to the garage yet again yesterday as the oil light was on. I think I last checked it 3 months ago. The garage owner always gives me the 'every two weeks' chat, but it never seems to sink in somehow

Oh yes, and clean the Hepa filter in my vacuum cleaner. There's a reason it wouldn't suck yesterday, I must try and clean the filter more often.

What about things like cleaning windows,behind sofa etc?

Descaling the shower head and getting the watermarks off the glass. Every time I go to the loo I look at it and think I must do it but I forget as soon as I leave the bathroom.

Cleaning the oven. I never remember to wipe it out after use so it just gets worse and worse until DH gets fed up and rings a company to come and blitz it.

Cleaning the filters on the extractor fan above the cooker. I've lived in my house for over a year and only just realised they are removable.

Dusting cobwebs and dust from behind the radiator. I always leave the way too long till there's a thick build up.

Hoovering picture rails and light fittings. I did mine tonight.

Cleaning horizontal blinds...a nightmare job!

There is a wonderful list posted by tinygreendragon here: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/good_housekeeping/1451448-LITTLE-things-that-help-keep-you-organised?pg=21

I do the freezer when it starts getting difficult to put things in and out or close the door

Fridge is when I notice it looks dirty.

How do you descale a shower head? Ours is so awful that it sprays in all directions now instead of down I tried leaving it in denture tablets overnight, tried some spray on limescale cleaner etc, but it isn't touching it.

I wonder about leaving it overnight in a bowl with one of those toilet limescale cleaner blocks?

The shower head, I buy some astonish descaler stuff from the pound shop. I chuck it in a bowl and leave all day until I come home from work. That gets done when the head starts acting odd.