Posted on Friday, November 22, 2024

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by AMAC, D.J. Wilson

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Let your home shine!

Having a sparkly clean home is a common goal for many people. Unfortunately, lack of time and energy can get in the way. Don’t give up! These top tips for a clean home can help you get there!

• Clean incrementally – Do what you can, when you can, as soon as you can! This makes work more manageable.
• Gather support – Remember the saying, “Many hands make light work.”  Delegate tasks whenever you can.
• Keep clutter to a minimum – Reduced clutter means less things to clean around – so it’s a huge timesaver!
• Have supplies handy – This includes useful items like mop & bucket, dustpan & broom, vacuum cleaner, feather duster, and cleaning formulas.
• Keep positive – Having a positive mindset makes tasks easier by improving motivation!

Room-by-room tips:

In the bathroom:

• Don’t waste time scrubbing your dirty shower door tracks. Rather, lay a paper towel soaked with distilled white vinegar on the track. Come back a half hour later and lightly scrub it with a toothbrush designated for cleaning, then rinse the area clean.
• Similarly, fill a disposable plastic bag with equal parts of distilled white vinegar and water. Use a rubber band to attach the liquid-filled bag to your showerhead. Let it sit for a half hour before removing it. Scrub with a toothbrush designated for cleaning, then rinse the showerhead clean to easily remove buildup.
• Keep a squeegee in the shower stall to remove excess water daily after showering. This inhibits the growth of mold and mildew. Daily cleanings also prevent a buildup of dirt, grime, and mineral deposits.
• Wear plastic gloves exclusively designated for cleaning bathrooms. Disinfect the toilet daily using a scrub brush and toilet bowl cleaner. Scrub surfaces and underneath the rim. Also wipe down the exterior of the toilet with disinfectant spray and disposable paper towels.
• Use a lint-free microfiber cloth and glass cleaner to clean mirrors. Not only do microfiber cloths dry surfaces quickly, but they prevent streaks.
• Empty bathroom trash daily.
• Regularly restock toilet paper, soaps, and other bathroom essentials.

In the entryway:

• Use doormats so that people can wipe their feet.
• Encourage family members and guests to take off their shoes when entering your home. This can cut down dramatically on dirt entering the home.
• To control the mess, provide a place for people to neatly hang their coats, backpacks, and handbags.

In the laundry room:

• Use baskets or shelves to neatly store your supplies such as laundry detergents and dryer sheets.
• To prevent washing machine mold (typical of front-load machines) run an empty load on the hottest setting with 1 cup of bleach.
• Clean the lint trap of the dryer after each use.
• Sweep under appliances and regularly vacuum dryer vents using a brush attachment and high suction setting.
• Use a gentle all-purpose cleaner to wipe down machine and clothes-folding surfaces and clean floors as needed.
• Use a hamper to contain dirty clothes.

In the living room/tv room:

• Frequently declutter this high-use room. Decide what to keep, donate, or toss, or relocate items where they belong.
• Vacuum rugs and clean under couch cushions. Do this at least twice a week for rooms frequently used by people and pets. Also clean under furniture once a month.
• Regularly dust the tv, shelves, cabinets, and wall art. Also clean the baseboards, ceiling fans, lampshades, bay windows and other spaces where dust can accumulate.
• Keep remote controls together in a basket for safekeeping and to contain the mess.

In the kitchen:

• Avoid leaving dirty dishes in the sink. Rather, wash them right away, or rinse them and place them in the dishwasher immediately.
• Rinse the sink after each use to help keep it clean. To wash the sink, use hot water and mild dish soap. For caked-on mess, use a natural commercial cleaning product.
• Scrub faucet and handles using gentle soap and water. Apply with a sponge or soft bristle brush and thoroughly dry.
• Clean your kitchen countertops frequently as recommended by the manufacturer. Or use hot water and mild soap. Dry wet surfaces completely with a microfiber cloth.
• Avoid using citrus products on granite or marble which can harm their surface.
• Seal granite and season butcher-block per manufacturer’s directions to prevent stains from setting in.
• Keep a cordless vacuum or broom handy in the kitchen to clean up debris ahead of washing floors and for quick daily cleanups.
• Wash floors as necessary (twice a week typically recommended). Use a microfiber mop for delicate tiles and hardwood flooring. Use special cleaning solutions designated as safe for your type of flooring.
• Empty trash daily.
• On the eve of trash pick-up, go through the contents of the refrigerator (and freezer) to discard foods which are going bad. Consider composting food waste when you can. Benefits include reducing landfill waste and improving soil health when used in a garden.
• Wipe down the fridge regularly. The easiest way to clean the inside is with warm water, a little dish soap, and a microfiber cloth.
• Wipe down appliances like the stove, oven, toaster, and microwave after each use. This is the best way to prevent mess and crumbs from building up.
• To clean the microwave interior, simply microwave one cup of water and the juice of one lemon. Let the hot liquid sit in the microwave for 5 minutes. Then, discard the liquid and wipe the microwave clean. What’s best about it is that no chemicals are needed, and everything will smell fresh.  
• If your oven is self-cleaning, clean it when soiled following the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Clean a stinky dishwasher as needed with one part vinegar and two parts water. Simply place the mixture in a bowl on the top rack and run an empty load through a regular cycle to keep the appliance fresh and clean.
• Don’t overlook the outside of appliances. Use commercial formulas designed for your type of appliance. Dry well with a microfiber cloth.
• Clean cabinet door handles with a solution of mild soap and water. Thoroughly dry.
• Similarly, wipe down kitchen cabinets with a damp cloth and thoroughly dry them.
• Regularly restock paper towels, kitchen soaps, and other essentials.

Having more time for fun!

We hope you enjoyed this room-by-room approach featuring top tips for a clean home and find great ways to incorporate them into your cleaning routine – to speed up the process and allow more time for fun! Check out our article featuring 10 terrific laundry hacks.