Sweeping, scrubbing, dusting, doing the laundry: All these deeds pay such generous dividends. After all, a sparkling house (or studio apartment, for that matter) looks and feels more like a home. This chapter is filled with time-tested (and time-saving) tips and techniques so you can more efficiently go from “to do” to “done beautifully.” Plus, you’ll discover streamlining strategies and checklists that put the various tasks in perspective as you smoothly schedule them. Because whether it’s the weekly refresher or the seasonal spiffer-upper, your efforts will leave your home (and your wardrobe) all the more enjoyable.
Incorporate the following tasks into your everyday routine, and before long they’ll become second nature—and your home all the easier to keep clean and fresh, week in and out.
Make the Bed: A crisply made bed at the start of the day garners the most welcome comfort at bedtime. Your tired self will thank you.
Put Away Clothes: Don’t let clean laundry pile up; stow it where it belongs. And pick up anything you may have discarded when getting dressed that morning.
Tidy As You Go: Whenever you leave a room, put away anything that’s not where it should be. It’s hard to clean when there are too many things lying around.
Sort the Mail: Open, read, and sort mail as soon as you bring it inside. Keep a trash bin near your sorting area for junk mail. Drop other mail into one of four inboxes: personal correspondence, bills, magazines and catalogs, and filing.
Do the Dishes: Wash and put away all pots and pans and other items as you use them, and load or unload the dishwasher.
Spot-Clean Spills: Wipe up any tomato sauce on the cooktop or makeup on the bathroom counter (and other such spills) as soon as possible. Ditto for tackling small stains or smudges on clothes and upholstery.
WIPE DOWN SINKS: Because bathroom basins get a lot of use, it’s a good idea to keep a spare cloth nearby for wiping them down once a day, either after your morning or nighttime routine.
Clean Kitchen Counters: It’s worth the few minutes it takes to wipe down countertops after dinner. You’ll be happy to wake up to a spotless kitchen.
CLEAN the Floors: Crumbs can quickly accumulate in the kitchen and dining nooks, so use your method of choice to clean them up at the day’s end.
In addition to your usual cleaning regimen, you’ll want to schedule these every-so-often chores into your monthly calendars.
This is the time for a thorough once-over, inside and out.
Start by taking inventory of cleaning supplies and replenishing as needed.
Deep-clean bathroom (see page 123) and kitchen and appliances (see page 117).
Clean area rugs; vacuum heavy curtains and upholstery.
Clean or replace outdoor mats.
Wash all windows; take down storm windows and replace with screens.
Store humidifiers, being sure to first drain and clean tank.
Steam sweaters and other winter garments before storing.
Air down comforters; clean and put away winter blankets.
Outdoor spaces and cooling systems require attention during these months.
Clean (or replace) air-conditioning filters; dust ceiling fans and standing fans. Have central air-conditioning units serviced by a professional.
To protect clothing from moisture, place packets of silica-gel crystals in drawers and storage boxes.
Spray porches, patios, and decks with a garden hose (or rent a power washer); rinse off outdoor furniture, as well as umbrellas, awnings, and other outdoor accessories; clean outdoor lighting.
Wash the exterior of your gas or charcoal grill with dishwashing liquid and water, and rinse; scrub burners or grates with a grill brush.
To prevent uneven fading, rotate lampshades, and move upholstery away from direct sunlight (or cover with slipcovers).
Spring is all about fresh-air cleaning, while fall is a good time for purging and organizing.
Organize kitchen cupboards and cookbook library.
Air down comforters; clean and put away summer linens.
Take down screens and install storm windows.
Clean and put away outdoor furniture.
Clean fireplace and schedule professional chimney sweep.
Touch up indoor paint while windows can be opened.
Pre-Thanksgiving, polish the silver, sharpen knives, and oil wooden cutting boards.
Sleet and snow can play havoc on floors—and give you a good reason to hunker down with more time-consuming tasks.
Use two mats at each door—a rough one outside (to scrape off mud and snow) and an absorbent one inside (to soak up excess moisture).
Clean and wax floors; reseal stone surfaces.
Treat nicks in furniture with shoe polish.
Organize the attic, basement, and home office; curate your collection of books (including cookbooks) and periodicals.
Post holidays, clean and put away table linens; store decorations.
Martha Must
There are certain chores I do at least once a season, including: cleaning out the refrigerator and freezer; organizing my clothes and linen closets; rotating all mattresses from head to toe; laundering pet bedding and soft toys; clearing the gutters; and washing the bird feeders.