Are you spring cleaning savvy?

Beating dusty carpets, cleaning filthy windows, scrubbing grubby countertops. Isn't that what spring cleaning is all about? Yes...and no. Why? Because dirt lives on things and in areas of your home you may never think about cleaning – or that maybe aren't cleaned often enough. So how spring cleaning savvy are you? Here’s a fun quiz to test yourself.

(a) weekly (b) every two weeks (c) monthly
If you knew how dirty your TV remote was you’d never touch it again, because from getting sneezed on to sat upon; dropped on the floor to covered in sticky food, you may as well nickname it Typhoid Mary – it's crawling with that many germs. In fact, a recent university study found half of all remotes they examined tested positive for the cold virus.

How often do you think a TV remote needs sanitization? 

Answer: (b) every two weeks
A microfibre cloth in a mixture of equal parts rubbing alcohol and water will do the trick. Cotton swabs can also be used to clean out the crevices around the remote buttons.

(a) weekly (b) yearly (c) after each use
You know the reusable canvas shopping bags in your car’s trunk? Lurking between their eco-friendly folds can be the dried – sometimes damp – juices of raw fruit, vegetables, fish, chicken and meat. It might not seem like much, but bacterial cross-contamination is because the juices put you at risk for food poisoning.

How often should you clean reusable shopping bags? 

Answer: (c) after each use
Toss them in the washing machine to help halt the growth of bacteria, yeast and mould. Hang to dry. Avoid leaving them in the trunk of your car, especially during hot and humid weather.

(a) weekly (b) every two weeks (c) never
Would you pick up a freshly baked pie with dirty socks from your gym bag? Then why use dirty oven mitts? Their traditional fibre materials are magnets for bacteria, grease and are a potential breeding grounds for food-related illnesses. What’s more, built-up grease spots don't protect from the heat as well.

How often should cloth oven mitts be cleaned?

Answer: (b) every two weeks
Spot cleaning areas is considered the most effective way to clean them. Fabric oven mitts are usually machine washable, but any protective coating they may have could wear off.

(a) after 10 wears (b) after each wear (c) never
A proper-fitting bathing suit is worth tenfold its weight in gold, but without the right care chlorine, saltwater, sunscreen, perspiration and the dirt and sand from the beach can cause colours to fade and material to yellow.

How often should you wash your swimsuit to help stop discolouration?

Answer: (b) after each wear
Rinse it out immediately after use, hand-wash with a liquid detergent, then run it under the tap well. Gently squeeze and lay your suit flat to dry in the shade.

(a) every two weeks (b) monthly (c) every six months
The next time you look at your dog’s toys and think they’re costing you a fortune, know that cleaning helps them last longer. It’s also an opportunity to check for any small, loose pieces that your pooch may bite off and swallow, which could pose a choking hazard.

How often should you give Fido’s toys a bath?

Answer: (a) every two weeks
For hard/rubber toys, soak in warm soapy water, scrub with a soft-bristled brush, rinse and air dry. For soft/fabric toys, toss in the washing machine and then, the dryer. This will help remove any unwanted germs or bacteria.

(a) yearly (b) monthly (c) twice a year
Ear wax sounds gross but actually helps to protect your ear canal. Unfortunately, it also acts like glue for the dead skin cells, dirt and grime found wherever you put them – like in your bags, pockets or purses – putting you at greater risk for things such as ear infections.

How often should you "disinfect" your ear buds?

Answer: (b) monthly
To remove wax build-up, dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol and wipe the buds clean.

(a) daily (b) twice a week (c) monthly
Your shower curtains live in the dampest room of the house, especially if you have teens who take hour-long showers! Over time, shower curtains can become a marsh of mould and mildew, which can lead to such health problems as chronic headaches, asthma and other respiratory issues.

How often should you throw them into the washing machine?

Answer: (c) monthly
Most shower curtains can be tossed in the washing machine along with hot water and a mild laundry detergent. If it’s not machine-washable, clean by hand using a microfibre cloth and a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water. Allow them to air dry immediately after washing!

(a) weekly (b) twice a month (c) daily
They’re like multi-purpose “tools” used for everything from drying dishes to wiping little hands to mopping up spills and more. The result? That dainty flower-patterned tea towel of microfibres becomes laced with dirt, grease and is often a Pandora’s box of bacteria.

How routinely should you launder your tea towels? 

Answer: (c) daily
Wash them in warm water on a regular cycle. If daily is too much work, have a fresh set to use each day of the week.

Whether you answered some, all or none of the questions correctly doesn't matter. Even the pickiest person will never think – or know how – to clean every nook, cranny, whatsit or item in his or her house. So what's the best advice for a successful spring cleaning? Take a few minutes to enjoy that winter's officially over!