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Kitchen
- Vacuum crumbs and debris off your kitchen floor prior to mopping with a mild detergent.
- Use your vacuum nozzle hose to quickly collect dust from the hard-to-reach tops of cabinets and the refrigerator. Clean thoroughly several times a year with a good grease cutter to remove cooking oil build-up.
- Clean countertops after each use by placing a drop of dish liquid on a clean, damp paper towel. Discard the towel when done.
- Clean behind your refrigerator to keep it running more efficiently and extend the life of the appliance. Vacuum dust and dirt from behind and beneath the fridge each season.
- Keep your microwave clean by lining the tray with paper towels and always covering food when cooking. If food particles do get caked in your microwave, place wedges of lemon in a bowl of water and bring it to a boil inside to loosen the debris for easy cleaning.
- Sanitize the kitchen garbage can every now and then by cleaning with a stiff brush and bit of ammonia.
- To dust in narrow spots between cabinets or appliances and walls, dampen an old sock, slip over a yardstick and secure with a rubber band.
Bathroom(s)
- With the exception of mirrors, disinfectant cleaner should be used on every bathroom surface to prevent the spread of germs.
- A sponge, or daily cleaning spray, in the shower allows each user to do their part in keeping the shower cleaner longer; this will also help prevent mildew from building up.
- For bathtub rings use baking soda paste as a scrub. For more stubborn stains try white vinegar.
- Keep your toilet bowls clean and free of rings by pouring a half-gallon of white vinegar into the bowl once a month and allowing it to sit overnight. To avoid clogging and odors, pour a cup of baking soda in toilets weekly.
- The vacuum cleaner has a lot of work to do in your bathroom, even if you don't have carpets there. Use your vacuum cleaner attachments on cloth shower curtains, the tops of cabinets and shower rods, picture frames, etc.
- Before cleaning bathroom tiles, let the shower run on hot for five minutes to loosen dirt.
- Rubbing alcohol will clean caulking, as well as shine chrome and glass.
- Put a fabric softener sheet in the wastepaper basket as an air freshener in your bathroom.
Living Area / Family Room / Bedrooms
- Vacuum high traffic areas at least once a week to help prolong the life of your carpet.
- Pass the vacuum at least four times over the same area. It may look clean after one time, but you want to make sure that you collect all of the microscopic particles and allergens that can't be seen by the naked eye.
- Place games, puzzles and any other items left around your living area in a designated chest or closet to avoid the appearance of clutter.
- Dusting textured lampshades can drive and trap dirt deeper inside the shade. Vacuum instead to remove the dust once and for all.
- Wrap a dust cloth over a broom and hit those walls and ceilings with a few quick passes each time you clean.
- Knickknacks, books and artificial flowers can be dust magnets. Let your vacuum nozzle get in those nooks and crannies to keep your collectibles clean.
- Dust the television and other electronics equipment with an anti-static dryer sheet to prevent dust build-up.
- Mini blinds can be dusted easily using a damp fabric softener sheet. Shake drapery sheers to release dust before vacuuming. Vacuum heavier drapes monthly to keep them fresh between annual dry cleanings.
- Flip your mattresses and sofa/chair cushions with the change of each season and then vacuum all surfaces.
- To give your mattress a good cleaning, vacuum it all over when you flip it.
- Gather books, magazines and remote controls in a basket beside the bed to avoid clutter.
- Launder bedding in the hot-water cycle (temperatures of 130 to 140 degrees) to kill off dust mites-microscopic pests that thrive on indoor dust and sloughed skin cells and are a common allergic trigger.
Other Helpful Hints
- Place all of your cleaning supplies in a basket and carry it with you from room to room. This will save time and energy, and ensures you have everything you need to get the job done right.
- As a rule, clean from top to bottom. Dust the highest things in the room first and work your way down. For example, dust your ceiling fan before you dust the bookshelves beneath it. Finish off with a vacuum cleaner that retains dust, and you're done!
- Wash windows when it's cloudy outside. Attempting to clean windows in direct sunlight leaves streaks behind. Remember to vacuum dirt out of the windowsills before washing.
- Don't forget to clean and disinfect the biggest germ collectors in the home--light switches, doorknobs and telephones.
- Simple tasks like putting things away when you're done and wiping up messes when they're made can reduce your once-a-week cleaning "chore" to a manageable and efficient routine.
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