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Millennials are confident when it comes to arguing for environmental change, caring for their mental health, and hunting down Instagrammable taco trucks. But as far as caulking bathroom tiles or resetting a tripped fuse is concerned, they’re a little apprehensive. According to a survey from Puronics that polled 1,000 people ages 25 to 40 about their house maintenance knowledge, 52 percent don’t know how to fix a garbage disposal and 60 percent are unsure of how to repair a leaky faucet.
Basic home improvements aren’t the only thing millennials struggle with. It turns out cleaning is an issue, too. That’s right, even when there are no power tools involved in the task, they still turn a blind eye. Good thing it’s never really too late to add to your list of resolutions. Read on for the three most overlooked cleaning tasks—and what you need to know to get your space sparkling.
The Dishwasher Filter
While your dishwasher might seem like a magic trick (grimy plates go in, and an hour later shiny new ones come out), the illusion won’t last forever unless you update your filter (you know, the cylindrical tool inside that prevents bits of food from landing on your newly cleaned cups and clogging your drain). Forty-three percent of millennials say they never clean their dishwasher filter, even though manual filters should be cleaned once a month. Simply plop the piece out, soak it in warm water and soap, scrub off any stubborn crumbs with a sponge, rinse it thoroughly, and put it back in. It only takes a few minutes.
The Inside of the Oven
The other kitchen task younger generations are ignoring? Cleaning the inside of their oven (19 percent say they’ve never done it, while 27 percent only address the appliance every six months). Per cleaning expert Becky Rapinchuk’s advice, if you want to do the job fume-free, mix ½ cup baking soda with 1 tablespoon dish soap and 1 cup hot water until you end up with a thin paste. Dip a sponge into the mixture and then apply it all over the inside of your oven in a scrubbing motion. Let it sit for 15 minutes, and then rinse the sponge and wipe the interior clean until there is no residual baking soda.
The Showerhead
Thirty-six percent of respondents admitted they never clean their showerhead, while one in four claimed they spruce it up every six months. However, there’s a good reason you should be scrubbing this spot down more often: water pressure. Mineral deposits and soap scum can clog up a showerhead, notes Molly Maid, so the professional cleaning source suggests filling a plastic bag with apple cider vinegar, securing it to the fixture with a rubber band (ensuring it’s submerged in the liquid), and soaking it for 12 hours. Use a toothpick or an old toothbrush to chip away at the water ports and knock off any lingering goo.
In addition to revealing the cleaning tasks millennials have yet to conquer, the survey shared a glimpse into the common tools the group often lacks. Turns out, this generation is pretty solid when it comes to the basics—over 89 percent keep a screwdriver, hammer, measuring tape, and a wrench at home—but more than half don’t own a stud finder, and a level, ladder, and toolbox are often missing from their households. Below, we rounded up a few stylish basics to add to your inventory, no matter what age bracket you fall into.
