A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY

Spend five or 10 minutes daily doing simple tasks like sorting mail, picking up clutter, and wiping down appliances, countertops, and shower walls. You’ll delay (or maybe even eliminate) the need for deep-cleanings and make them easier to do if and when the time comes.

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CLEANING BASICS

“I make no secret of the fact that I would rather lie on a sofa than sweep beneath it.”

—Shirley Congran, novelist

Keeping a clean, healthy home is one of the most important ways to care for your family, and it’s easier to do than it might seem. In the pages that follow, we’ll recommend the best tools and products to use, when it’s time to do what tasks, and even ways to clean up after messy kids and pets. And we’ve sprinkled in lots of smart shortcuts to help you get a clean, tidy home with time to spare. Let’s get started!

PRO CLEANER HABITS YOU SHOULD TOTALLY STEAL

For professional housekeepers, time is money.

Put that same approach to work in your home.

KEEP SUPPLIES HANDY

Stock a cleaning caddy with essentials, like rubber gloves, paper towels, a small brush, and your favorite cleaners, to save time and stay organized. Try individual caddies with tools for the kitchen, bathrooms, bedrooms, and living areas, stashing them in each room and safely out of children’s reach.

BANISH CLUTTER BEFORE YOU CLEAN UP

Recycle newspapers and magazines you won’t read, and put shoes back where they belong (or have their owners do it!). Clear kitchen and bathroom counters so surfaces are easier to get to and you don’t waste time moving or cleaning around things that aren’t where they belong.

WORK FROM TOP TO BOTTOM

Dust first, then vacuum to keep dust and dirt from falling onto the surface you’ve already cleaned. Always leave your floors for last and clean your way out of the room.

HAVE “HOUSE ONLY” SHOES

Taking shoes off at the door helps keep dirt outside. Designate slippers or soft-sole footwear as inside shoes, and floors and carpets will stay cleaner longer.

LET YOUR CLEANER DO THE WORK

Ever watch a hotel housekeeper clean? She’ll spray a surface with cleaner, go tackle another task while the formula dissolves the dirt and then come back several minutes later to wipe the surface clean without scrubbing. Smart!

CLEANING NO-NO’S

Avoid these common mistakes and you’ll shave precious minutes off your cleaning routine.

VACUUMING BARE FLOORS WITH A ROTATING BRUSH

Not only can spinning bristles damage a wood floor, they can scatter debris, making it harder to collect. For bare floors, use a canister with a bare-floor brush or a stick vacuum. If an upright is your only option, switch off the brush.

SPRAYING POLISH DIRECTLY ON FURNITURE

Spraying polish on your cloth is the way to go if you want to avoid a filmy buildup that attracts more dust.

WASHING WINDOWS ON A SUNNY DAY

Pick a cloudy day to do this job or start on the shady side of the house. Spraying window cleaner directly on hot windows causes it to dry too quickly before you can wipe it away, leaving hard-to-remove streaks behind.

USING DIRTY CLEANING TOOLS

Dirty, ragged cloths, mops, and scrubbers don’t work as efficiently as clean, well-kept tools do. Clean or replace your tools often, so they are up to the task.

1-MINUTE TIP! Foaming cleaners cling to vertical surfaces, like walls and windows, better than thin sprays do, so they dissolve more dirt in less time. Look for sprays that dispense as foam.

CLEANUP CALENDAR

Follow our suggestions or write up your own lists of must-do chores that are most important to you.

KITCHEN

Make these tasks part of your regular routine to keep your home looking great 24/7.

DAILY

Dispose of trash and recyclables.

Hand-wash and dry dishes or load them into the dishwasher.

Wipe down table, countertops, and range top.

Wash coffeemaker after each use.

Clean the sink.

Sweep or vacuum floor, if needed.

WEEKLY

Clean your kitchen appliances. Wipe down the range top, including burners, knobs, and backsplash, along with the oven front, handle, and range hood. Wipe microwave inside and out.

Organize refrigerator and wipe spills on shelves and in bins; dispose of leftover foods that have spoiled or won’t be eaten.

Clean countertop items; move them away from walls and clean under and behind them.

Wipe table and chairs.

Vacuum and wash the floor.

OCCASIONAL

Wipe refrigerator sides and top, and vacuum the coils.

Wash refrigerator shelves and bins.

Clean ventilating fan/hood filters.

Clean cabinets and drawers.

Dust or vacuum woodwork.

Wash curtains, windows, screens, blinds, and shades.

Clean light fixtures.

Clean the oven.

BATHROOM

These simple steps will ensure that your bathroom is always guest-ready.

DAILY

Use a squeegee on tile walls and glass doors after showering.

Wipe mirrors, faucets, and countertops.

Straighten towels.

Sweep or vacuum the floor, if needed.

WEEKLY

Scrub bathtubs and sinks and wipe tile surfaces and countertops.

Clean toothbrush holders and soap dishes.

Clean shower stalls and doors.

Clean toilets.

Vacuum and wash floors.

OCCASIONALLY

Wash throw rugs and shower curtains.

Wash curtains, windows, screens, blinds, and shades.

Clean and organize medicine cabinet; properly dispose of expired medicines.

Clean light fixtures.

Dust walls and woodwork.

ALL THROUGH THE HOUSE

Don’t sweat it! Just do what you can, when you can. Eventually, it all gets done.

DAILY

Put shoes, books, toys, clothing, and other stray items where they belong.

Straighten living spaces and bedrooms.

Make beds.

Go through mail, newspapers, and magazines, and recycle what’s not needed.

WEEKLY

Dust furniture, mirrors, picture frames, lamps, and electronics.

Vacuum floors, upholstery, and woodwork.

Wipe smudges off walls and woodwork.

Empty wastepaper baskets. Change bed linens.

Recycle newspapers older than one week and magazines older than three months.

OCCASIONALLY

Clean curtains and draperies; vacuum radiators and heating/ cooling vents.

Wash windows, screens, blinds, and shades.

Deep-clean rugs and carpets; wash floors.

Straighten closets; donate unused items.

Clean and tidy garage, basement, and attic.

Clean humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and fans, as needed.

Clean display cabinets, bookcases, and contents of each.

MUST-HAVE CLEANING TOOLS

The GH Cleaning Lab promises that these eight tools will take care of virtually all your cleaning tasks.

1 SQUEEGEE. Hang one from the showerhead or tile wall in each bathroom. Make it a rule that the last one out of the shower wipes down the walls; you’ll keep mold and mildew away for months.

Casabella® Clip-On Silicone Squeegee is comfortable to hold, and the silicone blade nabs every drop.

2 MICROFIBER CLOTHS. These cloths can be used wet or dry to grab dust, dirt, and grease from surfaces without leaving streaks or lint behind. Plus, they are washable and reusable. Use different colors for different rooms and tasks.

Weiman® Microfiber Cloth for Stainless Steel is double-sided to clean and polish stainless-steel appliances to a showroom shine.

3 VACUUM CLEANER. A good vacuum cleaner is your go-to tool for cleaning carpets, bare floors, upholstery, lampshades, woodwork, and more in a hurry. Keep several types (upright, stick, and handheld) for different uses, and stash them where they will be handy.

Miele® Upright and Canister Vacuums use high-filtration bags and filters and are supereffective at picking up dirt and keeping it inside the vacuum. A plus for allergy sufferers!

4 SCRUBBERS. A sturdy scrub brush with natural or synthetic bristles is a must-have to remove tough, stuck-on soils. Stock an array of smaller brushes for dishes, bathrooms, and hard-to-reach nooks and crannies, like door tracks and tile grout. Keep both delicate and tough scrubber sponges on hand for cookware.

Eraser-type pads, like Mr. Clean® Magic Eraser, are best for cleaning crayon, scuffs, and other marks from walls and floors.

5 PAPER TOWELS. In addition to soaking up spills, these disposable sheets are perfect for messy jobs or for lining refrigerator bins and pantry shelves to absorb drips.

Bounty® Paper Towels always come out on top in absorbency and wet and dry durability tests.

6 DUSTERS. Disposable electrostatic dusters (like GH Seal–holder Swiffer®) or washable and reusable microfiber ones with short handles for furniture and long, extendable handles for floors, light fixtures, ceiling fans, bookcases, and other hard-to-reach places are the easiest and quickest way to zap dirt and dust from delicate surfaces without having to drag out the vacuum or climb a ladder.

7 FLOOR MOP. Whether you prefer a separate mop and bucket, a steam mop, or an all-in-one spray mop system, wet cleaning is key to keeping wood, tile, vinyl, and stone floors sparkling. Mopping keeps floors free of stains and the fine, abrasive grit that damages floors and that vacuums can miss.

Swiffer® Bissell® SteamBoost™ Steam Mop is a floor steamer that also uses disposable cleaner-filled pads. In our tests, it removed dirt and stains from vinyl and tile in one swipe without leaving any sticky residue behind.

8 RUBBER GLOVES. Nothing protects your hands (and manicure) while cleaning and doing dishes like a sturdy pair of rubber gloves. Make them serve double duty to get a grip on a stuck jar lid or even help hold on to a hot lobster. Dampened, they easily gather pet hair off a couch. Keep separate pairs for cleaning and the kitchen.

Playtex® Living® Gloves are durable, easy to take on and off, and have extra-long cuffs to keep sleeves and arms dry.

MUST-HAVE CLEANERS

Pare down to these seven essentials and end cleaning-cabinet clutter once and for all.

1 DISINFECTING WIPES. These time-savers make quick work of killing germs on kitchen and bathroom surfaces and frequently touched spots, like light switches, doorknobs, and remote controls. For maximum germ killing, be sure to follow label directions and keep surfaces wet for the required time.

2 GLASS MULTI-SURFACE CLEANER. This powerhouse is not only strong enough to cut grease on stovetops, but it also wipes away easily, leaving mirrors and glass streak-free, too.

Windex® Disinfectant Cleaner Multi-Surface powers through marks on painted walls, countertops, and glass and is formulated to kill germs, too.

3 FLOOR CLEANER. If a mop and bucket is your style, a good liquid floor cleaner is a must. Dilute ¼ cup in one gallon of water for cleaning without the need to rinse. For wood floors, choose a cleaner made for wood, and don’t overwet or wet-clean them more than necessary. Too much water can damage wood.

Mr. Clean Multi-Purpose Cleaner with the Scent of Gain can be diluted for big jobs or used full-strength on a sponge for quick surface cleaning.

4 DISH DETERGENTS. Hand- and automatic-dishwashing detergents are two separate products and should never be used interchangeably. Hand-washing liquids are way too sudsy to be used in the dishwasher but are mild enough to remove stains from clothing and carpeting and for hand-washing delicate fabrics. Automatic-dishwashing detergents are just for use in the dishwasher.

Cascade® Platinum ActionPacs handle even the toughest baked-on mac ’n’ cheese messes with ease and leave glasses crystal clear.

5 KITCHEN AND BATHROOM CLEANER. An all-purpose cleaner that works in of both these rooms saves space in your cleaning cabinet. Look for one that’s as tough on grease as it is on soap scum.

CLR® Bath & Kitchen Cleaner cuts through tough stains and leaves grout whiter than other cleaners tested.

6 TOILET BOWL CLEANER. Easiest and neatest for this icky job are disposable (or flushable) scrubbers with built-in cleaner that you just scrub and toss. If you prefer a separate cleaner and brush, keep germs at bay by letting the brush dry before placing it back in the holder. Be sure to clean the caddy often, too.

7 FURNITURE POLISH. Abrasive dust particles can damage your wood furniture’s finish, and feather dusters just spread dust around. Use polish to dampen your cloth for scratch-free dusting. To avoid a filmy buildup, spray the cloth, not the wood, and buff with a dry cloth.

Guardsman® Anytime Clean & Polish cleans well and doesn’t streak.

1-MINUTE TIP! Clean stainless steel appliances in the direction of the metal’s grain. Wipe in circles and you’ll leave hard-to-remove streaks behind.

VACUUM CLEANER SMARTS

What to know to buy the best vacuums for your cleaning needs.

CANISTER Best for: homes with mostly bare floors, low-pile carpets, and stairs. It may come with or without a power nozzle rotating brush attachment for cleaning deep-pile carpets and offers greater flexibility than an upright when vacuuming tight spaces.

UPRIGHT Best for: homes with wall-to-wall carpeting, large rugs, and no stairs. It loosens and removes embedded dirt better than other types of vacs but may be heavy. Most models come with onboard tools and hoses for above-the-floor cleaning.

ROBOT Best for: reaching under furniture and other spots you never get to. These new kids on the vacuum block can be scheduled to clean while you are out, and many go back to the charger when they’re done. Most do a thorough job and can extend the time between deep-cleanings.

HANDHELD Best for: localized pickups of small dry or wet messes on hard surfaces, like spilled cereal or potting soil, or cleaning the car. Most are rechargeable and run for 15 minutes or more.

STICK Best for: light in-between cleanings of bare floors and low-pile carpets. They are lightweight, easy to carry and store, and come corded or cordless. Some cordless models can run for 45 minutes or longer.

GIVE THAT CLEANER SOME TLC

Keep your vacuum in tip-top shape by avoiding these four common care mistakes.

1 WAITING TOO LONG TO CHANGE THE BAG

Even though some vacs have “check bag” indicators, don’t rely on them. Check the bag yourself and change it when it’s three-quarters full to keep pickup at its peak. If you have a bagless model, empty the dust cup after every two to three uses.

2 NOT WASHING OR CHANGING THE FILTER

Dirty filters can’t do their primary job—trapping allergens. Follow your owner’s manual and change or wash the filters, usually every six months or as recommended. Your whole family will breathe easier.

3 REWINDING THE CORD HAPHAZARDLY

Merely pressing the REWIND button and letting the retractable cord snap back into place can send it off its track and you to the repair shop. Instead, hold the cord in your hand as you press the pedal to carefully wind it back into the vacuum.

4 NOT CLEANING THE BRUSH ROLL A brush roll that doesn’t turn doesn’t clean, and the stress of tangled hair and threads in the bristles can burn out the motor. To prevent this, unwind or snip away any tangles. Check your manual or your brand’s website for instructions on how to remove the brush roll, if necessary, for cleaning. Good Housekeeping Lab pick Electrolux® Precision® Brushroll Clean vacuums have hidden blades that, with the push of a button, slice through threads and hair twisted around the brush, pulling them right into the dust cup.

PANTRY STAPLES THAT CLEAN HOUSE, TOO!

DISTILLED WHITE VINEGAR

has so many uses around the house that there are now stronger “cleaning vinegars” you can buy. Use it to de-gunk showerheads and dissolve hard water minerals on fixtures and glassware. Set out in a bowl or simmered on the stove, it neutralizes cooking odors so your home won’t smell like bacon or fish.

BAKING SODA

makes a great deodorizer for fabrics, the fridge, and even the drain and can be used to shine stainless-steel sinks and chrome. On a damp rag, it removes scuffs from floors.

SALT

is a mild abrasive that, when combined with lemon juice, makes a great copper-cleaning scrub. Sprinkle it on fresh wine or grease spills on carpets and fabrics to absorb the mess before it soaks in.

LEMON JUICE

can help remove rust stains from fabrics and surfaces and is a great grease cutter. Toss lemon rind slivers and ice cubes in the garbage disposal to deodorize and de-gunk the blades. Add lemon juice to a bowl of water and nuke for 5 minutes to freshen your microwave.

CLEANING UP AFTER KIDS

Little ones can create big messes. Here’s help to restore order.

TACKLE THEIR PLAYTHINGS

Bins are an easy way for kids to get to and put back toys. Stash some pretty ones around the house where toy clutter accumulates. Remind kids that they must refill the basket when playtime is over.

WIPE AWAY WALL DOODLES

When your child uses the walls as a canvas, erase crayon marks with a damp sponge dipped in baking soda. Or a pass with Mr. Clean Magic Eraser will remove their latest artwork.

USE THE DISHWASHER

Hard plastic toys (without electronic components) can be cleaned in the dishwasher. Place them securely in the top rack and choose the Normal cycle.

1-MINUTE TIP! Use a sticky lint roller to quickly pick up spilled glitter, confetti, and residue from other kid crafting mishaps.

FRESHEN STUFFED ANIMALS

Rub plush toys with baking soda, then vacuum them to remove stale odors. Washable ones can be placed in a pillowcase to be washed and dried on the delicate cycle.

CLEANING UP AFTER PETS

Furry family members present cleaning challenges all their own. Tackle the smell and the mess, fast.

COLLECT FUR

Spray upholstery fabric and carpeting with an antistatic spray, like Static Guard®, to break the charge that causes fur to cling to these surfaces. That will make the fur easier to gather or vacuum up.

MANAGE MUDDY PAWPRINTS

Resist the urge to mop up mud the minute pets track it in. It will be easier to vacuum from floors and carpets if you let it dry. Gather dry dirt from floors with a handheld vacuum or dust pan and brush, then wipe with a wet paper towel.

FIGHT SMELLS

Baking soda comes to the rescue once again! Sprinkle pet beds, litter boxes, rugs, and even Fido himself with baking soda, brushing it into the surface of his coat. Wait 15 minutes, then vacuum or brush again.

Febreze® Fabric Pet Odor Eliminator actually traps and removes odor molecules so they are gone for good. It doesn’t just cover them up.

ERASE STAINS

Not only are accidents on carpets and upholstery unsightly, but they retain odors that draw pets back to the scene of the crime. Zap them with a cleaner that contains enzymes to remove the stains and odors that keep pets coming back.

Bissell Professional Pet Stain and Odor Removing Formula is safe for use on carpeting, upholstery, and water-safe surfaces, like mattresses.