Dial-a-Maid
Evanston, Il. 60201 has a lot of sandy beaches so using Coolers is most important. However, stains and mildew are coolers big enemies. But since coolers carry food and drink, you must be careful how you wash and sanitize them.
To clean the outside of a plastic or composite material cooler or jug, mix a weak solution of a household cleaner that doesn't contain bleach, such as Spic and Span and warm water, adding 1/2 cup cleaner to 1 gallon water. Use a clean soft cloth or sponge dipped in the solution to wash the outside surfaces. Stronger cleaning solutions or abrasive cleansers may cause the exterior color to fade.
The inside will require a different approach. Don't ever use anything inside a cooler of jug that you wouldn't put in your mouth. The best material for cleaning inside of a cooler or jug is baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda liberally onto a wet cloth or sponge, or directly on the surface, then scrub it well. To remove a stain, mix baking soda with just enough water to create a thick paste. Spread the paste over the stained area. Let it sit for a half-hour. Then rub the area with a cloth or sponge. Try to clean up stains right away. Nothing will take that grape juice stain out after it has sat there for awile. For odors, mix 1 teaspoon vanilla extract in 4 cups wate and use the solution to wipe the surface with a soft cloth or sponge.
You can save yourself a lot of cleanup time by preventing mildew from forming in the first place and by taking care of spills and stains quickly. After using a cooler or jug, don't just stick it back on the shelf with the lid closed. Wash it right away and dry the inside thoroughly with a towel. Then let the cooler or jug sit for two days with the lid off or up. After that, you can close it up and store it.
As a recap: In Evanston,Il, home of some of the prettiest beaches in all Chicagoland, Dial-A-Maid Cleaning Service recommends avoiding harsh cleaners or abrasives on the exteriors, not using chemical cleansers or bleach on the interiors, and never use a chemical mildew remover. Remember, if you wouldn't put it in your mouth, don't put it in your cooler or jug.
