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WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU LEMONS ...
Scrub the Microwave
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Lemons don’t just add a tart flavor to your favorite desserts or cool you down in a refreshing drink on a hot summer day. In addition to bold flavors, lemons also have powerful cleaning properties. Their acidity and oils cut through grease and can sanitize many of your household items. The best place to clean with a lemon is in the kitchen. For the microwave, simply juice a whole lemon into a bowl of water, then plop the used peels into the bowl. Microwave the mixture for a few minutes, let the bowl cool before removing it, then wipe away the grease in the microwave. You can also use this method for your oven. For odor-blocking properties, you can use a lemon as an air freshener. Leave half of a lemon in your refrigerator to trap and block potential smells. Toss old lemon rinds down the garbage disposal, then run the disposal to clean the blades and freshen up the sink. As for your kitchen tools, don’t toss them out without trying this lemon trick first. Start by sprinkling salt on a wooden cutting board, then slice a lemon in half. Using half the lemon (flesh-side down) like a sponge, scrub the board really well. Wipe and remove the leftover lemon juice and rinse the board before using it again. Not only will the board appear cleaner, but thanks to citric acid's antibacterial properties, it will smell better too. You can also use
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this method to polish flatware, spruce up copper, and even remove stuck-on food from plates.
Now, here’s the real secret: Once you master kitchen cleaning a la lemon, you can use these same principles to clean other parts of your house. For example, salt and lemon can be used to scrub grimy sinks and faucets, while a few squeezes of lemon juice in a cup of water makes an excellent cleaning solution for mirrors and windows. You can even make your own homemade cleaning spray by steeping lemon peels — and the peels of other citrus fruits — in white vinegar for two weeks. Remove the peels after two weeks and spritz the mixture over surfaces you need to clean!
Most of us don’t even notice it, but the small hum of your HVAC system as it kicks on is a sign that your system is doing its job to keep your home cool or warm. Some people prefer to keep the fan that creates that hum running all day, every day, but it doesn’t matter what you do. Just like the temperature of your home may not be the same as your neighbor’s home, whether or not you let your HVAC system’s fan run 24/7 is a matter of preference.
However, it is more expensive to run your fan constantly. It may also result in cold air coming through your vents periodically in the winter, as the fan is continuing to blow air, even when the house is at its ideal temperature. Also, your air filter will get dirtier more quickly. Let It Relax If you choose to let your HVAC system’s fan kick on and off as needed, you will save money. Since the fan doesn’t have to run all the time — especially during milder months in the spring and fall — your energy bill will dip in accordance with the weather. This option is also better for the environment, and your furnace filter will last much longer, too. However, the frequent starting and stopping of your HVAC’s fan will cause more wear and tear than if you let the fan run constantly. Dust will easily settle due to the lack of constant air circulation, and your home’s temperature may also be uneven in some spots. Still not sure? Our technicians can help. On your next maintenance visit or tuneup, ask what your technician would advise you do in your home. Schedule your appointment today by calling Aire Serv of the Mid-Hudson Valley at 845-256-6158.
Take a look at the benefits and drawbacks of each option before choosing a mode for your home.
Keep It Running The biggest benefit to running your HVAC all day is that it continually purifies and cleans your air. This can be especially beneficial for people with allergies or those whose homes are more prone to dust. Operating an HVAC system this way can also circulate warm or cool air through spots in your home whose temperatures are difficult to control. The constant motion could also extend the life of your HVAC system, as it doesn’t have to start and stop frequently.
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