This is a weird page, but one that I want to make, because I like helping people and giving advice, like a loving but slightly smothering parent. By no means do I consider myself an expert on life, or "adulting" if you must call it that, but there are some things that I think are just really helpful or at least interesting to know about...existing, and getting by in day-to-day life, the kind of little bits of knowledge taught to us here and there by our guardians or anyone with more experience than us in whatever the matter is at hand. Some of this is the wisdom of others, and some is stuff I figured out on my own, and some of it is just my own neurotic way of doing things.
Some of it may be obvious to you, but that may not be so for everyone; we all didn't grow up in the same environment, with the same level of guidance or care. I also want to stress that, again, I don't consider myself the arbiter of this stuff, and my methods are not objective! You may take or leave this advice, and that's okay! I also don't practice all of these things all of the time, because people aren't perfect and life is full of distractions. Don't feel bad if you can't keep any of these up or if you don't know them already. There's no judgement here. Just think of this page as a collection of tips your mom gives you in the moment while you're doing a thing, which can be annoying, but ultimately useful!
Also: please fact check my advice. I'm not a professional in basically anything, and this is all tidbits I've internalized from my own experiences, and have consistently been helpful for me; but again, it does not mean that my word is definitive fact.I'm more than happy to be wrong if it ends up being more helpful for people, so don't be afraid to let me know.
Household Stuff and Cleaning
Wash dishes with warm or hot water, if you can. Higher temperatures are better for killing bacteria and will break down dirt more easily. It also feels nice!
In fact, most cleaning should be done with warm or hot water - though there are some exceptions where cold is more effective (for example, you can get blood out of fabric more easily with cold water applied as quickly as possible. Very useful for period stains).
If you're using bleach for anything, make sure the area has good airflow, and wash your hands thoroughly afterwards, even if you didn't get any on your hands. This generally applies to most cleaning chemicals. Don't be afraid to wear a mask and/or eye protection, even if you think it's silly - it can save you a lot of irritation.
If you're using a sponge to wash dishes and have a microwave, throw the DAMP sponge on a microwave-safe plate and put it in the microwave for about 5-7 seconds (could be 10 depending on your unit, but do be careful) to kill bacteria on the sponge!
Spray your shower/bath, toilet, sink(s), faucet(s) and basically anywhere that regularly produces water with vinegar or your preferred cleaning product as often as you think of it. I haven't figured out a routine for this so I'm not sure what the recommended frequency is, but basically, stay on top of keeping wet places clean (and dry, when possible). Just be careful with bleach specifically, since that can be irritating in many ways - you may want to keep that down to just once a month or maybe even less frequently. I previously advocated for liberal use of bleach here, but I've since learned that it's really only recommended for like, extreme cleaning...like if you find a dead mouse or something.
Don't leave wet towels or clothes bunched up or laying around anywhere. Not only is it inconsiderate to others, it also invites the growth of mold and mildew, which will make your clothes and towels smell and is just generally unhealthy. Many insects and house pests also love warm and damp environments, and you do not want to deal with those guys.
Don't flush cat litter, tampons, pads, or paper towels, unless any of those things explicitly say "flushable" on the packaging. There are a lot of reasons not to, but if you have an old house like me, your pipes probably can't handle any of those things.
On the subject of cat litter, you may want to also wear a mask and/or eye protection while cleaning it - and by that I mean I highly recommend it. Different people have different sensitivies, but in general, the fumes from cat urine (and often the dust created from cat litter) especially are very unpleasant to inhale or get in the eyes.
Again about cat litter: scoop it daily, and try to completely change out all of the litter at least once a month. Nothing wrong with doing it more often, either! Also look into low-tracking litter (and a mat that will catch it), as long as your cat(s) won't be allergic to it. Can you tell I have cats.
Wash any hand towels, including kitchen ones, once a week. Shower towels as well, but hand towels can potentially be used constantly throughout one day, and that shit gets dirty fast. If, like me, you use a separate towel for your hair after bathing, you can kinda get away with reusing those a few times, then cycling them into being towels for your body, but then wash them.
Changing bedsheets and pillowcases once a week is ideal, but is very hard to keep up, so you're probably fine just doing it every two weeks, or even once a month. Really, the thing you want to avoid if you can is never changing or washing them. If you only have one bed set, wash it as soon as you can, but you can get away with being a bit slower with it if you have extra sets to replace the one being washed in the meantime.
Personal Hygiene and Health Stuff
Here's a thing I learned for those days I know I smell bad but don't have the time/energy to shower: rubbing alcohol or peroxide applied to your armpits with a cloth (or paper towel, tissue, etc) is a quick way to kill bacteria that causes body odor. Don't over-apply, and use the genres of these products that are made to be used on the body, because it can be harsh on your skin and this is kind of just not its intended use, anyway. BUT I have found it helpful in a pinch, especially the summer. This is more of a neurotic habit I have than an actual piece of advice, but...wash your hands when you get home from being out. I wash my hands maybe a little too often, but the simple act of just doing it once when you get home is really good enough. Also, always wash your hands after petting and handling animals of any kind! Speaking of animals, if you're ever scratched or bitten by one, wash/clean the area immediately or as quickly as you can. I don't know who started the myth that animals are cleaner than we are. Cats literally step and dig through their litterboxes, dogs walk barefoot outside stepping in who knows what, both animals and many more are always just...walking on the ground. You don't want that shit in your skin! I love animals but they have gross feet! I've heard of cat scratches being severe enough to hospitalize people, so just be proactive.
Safety
Disclaimer: I am not a safety professional, and this is all just advice and habits I have picked up myself over the years!
Clean out the lint trap in your dryer because that is a fire hazard if left totally untouched for too long!
Keep a fire extinguisher in your living space in some way. Even if you don't have all the smoke detectors recommended, it's better than nothing. Especially if you have an old house like me but this is good for all types, it's a good idea to unplug things when not in use, if you can help it. Mostly things like toasters, chargers, vaccuum cleaners, etc. Also avoid crowding wires together too much, burying them in clothes/fabric, or leaving them loosely plugged in. These are all mild precautions against electrical fires and overheating. My sister once burned a hole in her room's carpet by leaving a beanbag chair sitting on a power strip. Those beans are super flammable apparently! This stuff is mostly my own habit, and you'll probably be fine anyway. But I am very much a better-safe-than-sorry person!
