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5 Cleaning Tips for a Healthy Home

Let's face it — your beloved kitchen is one high-traffic area for unwanted bacteria.

While it's almost impossible to keep your kitchen spotless, you can certainly aim to stay on the safe side. Start with these five Costco.com-inspired cleaning tips.

1. Deep-clean the stove to keep pests at bay

Remove crumbs, cooking oils and oven grease (without extra elbow grease) using a tried-and-true all-purpose cleaner.

Pro-Tip: To clean your microwave, heat 2 cups of water and one sliced lemon for five to 10 minutes. At the “beep,” don't open the door for another three minutes — the steam will loosen gunk for an easy clean while the lemon leaves a fresh scent.

2. Keep the fridge in check

Track school lunches and the shelf life of leftovers with a color coding method that optimizes every shelf in your refrigerator.

Pro-Tip: Use dry erase markers to turn the fridge into an all-encompassing whiteboard. Keep grocery lists, maintain to-dos or track perishables in a spot that's tough to miss.

3. Avoid cross-contamination with a cutting board set

Cutting boards are infamous for harboring bacteria. If you spot cracks in your boards or simply haven't swapped them out lately, this minor purchase eliminates major risk.

Pro-Tip: To keep your cutting boards safe and looking like new, scrub them each week using a halved lemon and coarse sea salt. The citric acid will help kill germs naturally, eliminating excess residue.

4. Cover trash with a lid

Exposed trash not only creates an odor — it also attracts flies and other unsightly foes. A lidded, hands-free trash can eliminates the spread of germs twofold.

Pro-Tip: Place a dryer sheet or two at the bottom of your trash can before lining it to omit unwanted odors and keep the kitchen smelling fresh.

5. Overhaul the pantry with storage bins

Kitchen cabinets and pantries are quick to swell. In spaces large and small, you can easily amp up the organization with clear bins on the shelves and in the pantry.

Pro-Tip: Line the bottom of the bin drawers with printed contact paper to mask stains, catch excess crumbs and keep cleaning easy. Well, easier.