THIS WINTER may be a good time to target some household items that you might not think need a good washing but really do.

Purdue University food science professor Haley F. Oliver says a dirty oven is a fire hazard. Spread a paste of baking soda and water. Scrub with a sponge and warm soapy water. Wipe clean.

Bacteria from our skin and saliva can build up. Run a hand vacuum across the mattress. Sprinkle baking soda over the mattress to deodorize, and vacuum again to remove the baking soda.

If you don’t clean it on occasion, “you end up rewashing your dishes with old dirt,” Oliver says. Remove the filter and scrub with dish detergent. Place a mug with white vinegar on the top rack and run a cycle. —Jodi Helmer

Avoid massive party cleanup with these tips

> Decorations: Consider your decorations not single-use but rather a long-term investment. “Think of something you can reuse that you can put in a storage box and save for next year’s event,” says Eric Goldstein of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

> Dinnerware: Rent washable cups, plates and utensils from a party-supply store, Goldstein advises.

> Gifts: “Come up with ideas that don’t involve generating any waste,” Goldstein says. Consider a museum membership, theater tickets or language lessons. —Julie Goldenberg