This Week’s Cleaning Tip

See the latest tips and tricks for cleaning everything from your office to your waffle iron. Come back every week for new ideas for keeping every nook and cranny in your house just the way you like it.

Trash Tricks: Wipe down the inside of your trash to keep it smelling fresh. Place an extra batch of garbage bags at the bottom of the trash can, so when you take out the trash, you’ve got a replacement bag waiting.
Give Clothes a Time Out: Put clothes you haven’t worn for a while into a penalty box. If you don’t wear them in another six months, give them the heave-ho. Free up space for fabulous threads you’ll actually wear.
Bath Toys: To keep bugs from breeding on your kids’ bath toys, let them dry in a net or basket after the bath. Also consider avoiding bath toys with holes in them, since they’re prime candidates for mold growth.
Mopping 101: Before mopping, sweep up crumbs and dirt. Then start mopping at the farthest corner of the room and work backward toward the door. Want to avoid tripping over that bucket? Keep it on the unmopped portion of the floor.
Great Garages: Afraid of opening your garage door because you’ll scare the neighbors? One way to keep small items organized is with a plastic shoe holder. Simply place garden tools, sports equipment, cleaning supplies and other items in each shoe pocket.
Take the Floor: Keep your garage floors free from oil stains with this inexpensive trick: fill an old cookie sheet with cat litter and slide it under your car. When the litter is saturated, dispose of it properly.
Wash Your Washer: Give a little TLC to one of the hardest working appliances in your house. Wipe down the top, front, sides and knobs of your washer. Use a damp cloth to clean under the lid and inside the fabric softener and bleach cups.
Spring Decorations: How do you welcome Spring? If you’re planning on decorating Easter eggs, wipe down the counters with a freshly scented cleaner before you start. The clean surface will keep your egg canvas free of inadvertent decorations.
Bust Dust: Frightened by the dust bunnies under the bed? Sweep them up! Then quickly wipe down bookshelves, ceiling fans, knickknacks and picture frames. Enjoy sweet dreams not haunted by hairballs.
One-Year Rule: If you haven’t used a kitchen item in a year—whether it’s an espresso maker or a pasta machine—get rid of it. Chances are you won’t use it, but you can use the space it’s taking.
A Job Well Done: After tackling a really tough cleaning job, whether it’s dirty grout or a furry fridge, reward yourself with something you love, like a CD by your favorite artist or a new book.
Go Clutter-free: Overwhelmed by clutter? Start purging one layer at a time. On the first-walk through, remove dated items like that fur toilet seat. Next time through the house, zero in on the knickknacks you’ve grown out of.
Helping Hand: It’s International Friendship Week! Ask a busy friend if there’s something you can do to help her get her house in order, whether it’s dropping off her dry cleaning or watching her kids for an hour. Make a true friend by being one.
Fridge TLC: Is your fridge sporting fur? Throw out items past their prime. Then remove the shelves and wipe down the inside. Place an open box of baking soda in the back corner to keep the air fresh. And don’t forget to replace it every few months.
Out That Grout: Don’t throw away that old toothbrush! Use it to scrub dirty grout in your shower and around your tub. You’ll get in those hard-to-reach places, and your bathroom will sparkle.
Cyber Clean: Don’t forget your overloaded email box. It’s Clean Out Your Inbox Week, so get clicking! Sort the emails worth saving into folders. Trash the rest. If the size of your inbox is seriously scary, spend five minutes every day organizing it.
Sensational Storage: Make room in the closet by storing seasonal items in boxes under the bed or in the garage. Roll clothes instead of folding to save space. Consider stashing winter coats, quilts and pillows in vacuum storage bags. Out of sight, out of mind.
Tackle blinds: Does the dust fly when you open the blinds? Vacuum them with a brush attachment. Spot clean dirty areas with a damp sponge or cloth. If this doesn’t do the trick, soak blinds in the tub, then towel dry (as long as they’re not made of wood or decorative tape).
No Streaks Pure Shine: Avoid streaks on your windows by polishing them when the sun isn’t shining directly on them. Save trees by using old newspaper or a microfiber cloth to clean windows and mirrors instead of paper towels.
10 Minutes at a Time: If the idea of cleaning the house makes you want to go lay down and take a nap, try tackling one area at a time. Try clearing out a hall closet one day. The next day, dust shelves.
Start at the Top: Let gravity do its job with a top-down approach. Any dust you dislodge at the top of cabinets and counters will be cleaned up as you make your way down.
Worth a Thousand Words: Are your childhood treasures taking over the garage? Take a picture and then let them go. You can’t keep Fluffy or that prom dress forever, and you can use the space for new memories.
Out Box: Instead of hunting for things like that book you borrowed, outgoing mail or your little one’s homework, put things that should leave the house in a box by the door. You’ll be out the door faster, too.
Enlist the Troops: Get your kids to pitch in, too. Divide a paper plate into sections and label each section with a specific task like sorting socks or dusting. Punch a hole in the center and insert a spinning wheel made of stiff poster board. They spin, you win.
Good Clean Fun: Turn cleaning into a game to get the kids involved. See if they can find items stashed in the wrong places—like books on the dining room table. Then set a timer and see how fast they can put the items where they belong.
Curtain Call: Has your shower curtain seen better days? Throw it in the wash with a few washcloths to help agitate and remove tough soap scum and mildew. Voilà. It’s like having a whole new bathroom.
X Marks the Spot: If your little ones want to help with the cleaning, let them! Give them an easy job, like searching for buried treasure beneath the sofa cushions. They can keep those coins while you vacuum up the…what exactly is that, anyway?
Novel November: It’s National November Writing Month! Are you trying your hand at the great American novel? Clear a workspace to help you focus and commit to writing every day. Use a lavender-scented cleaner to calm your mind and keep the ideas flowing.
Junk Drawer: Give yourself permission to have a junk drawer. It’s easier than hunting for the place where that thing-a-ma-jig belongs. Just make sure to clear out the drawer once in a while!
The Best Mop for the Job: A sponge mop with disposable pads is the tool of choice for dirty floors. But if your floor is greasy or grimy, try using a string mop with a good wringing system. And if your floor is sticky, try a self-wringing sponge mop with a scrubber strip.
A Tub Escape: Happiness is a bubble bath and a glass of wine in a clean tub. Light a nice-smelling candle and put on some relaxing music. Or catch up on the latest bestseller while you soak. You deserve a break!
Forget Your Shopping List: Have ten minutes? Spend it this week to save time for the rest of the year. Just go to your favorite online store and set up recurring orders for your favorite supplies: anything from sponges or paper napkins to cotton balls or your favorite cleaner.
Rev Up Rooms: A small change can liven up a living room or bedroom, like a collage created out of photos or postcards – or a clothesline displaying your kids’ drawings. Your walls have never looked better.
Roll Out the Welcome Mat: Planning on hosting overnight guests? You don’t need fancy accommodations or a lot of space to make them feel welcome. Wipe down the surfaces in the guest room with a relaxing scent. Stock up on travel shampoo and soap in case they forget theirs.
Everything Old Is Clean Again: Looking for a unique Father’s Day gift? Instead of heading to the hardware store for a new tool, spruce up the old ones. His ratchet set, sander, drill bits or bolt cutters could all use a scrub down. Great Dad Day present without a great big hole in your pocket.
Ditch the List: Tired of to-do lists and organization charts? Try cleaning the first three things you see. Maybe it’s the hair on the bathroom sink, the dust on the living room bookshelf or the traces of last night’s dinner on the kitchen counter. Then, stop cleaning! You’ll conquer the messes that bother you most without a formal battle plan.
Waffle Week: Did you know that it’s National Waffle Week? If you’ve been waffling about cleaning your kitchen appliances, now’s a good time to give that toaster and waffle maker a good once over. Then, put your newly-cleaned appliance to work, with syrup, strawberries or whatever strikes your fancy.
Big Screen Clean: You already jam to music when you clean, but have you ever considered scrubbing to a movie? Put on your favorite comedy for a change. You’ll be amazed at how quickly the time flies when you’re laughing.
At Your Fingertips: To extend the life of your cleaning gloves, place a single cotton ball in each of the finger holes. When you push your hand all the way in, the cotton buffer will keep your fingernails from ripping through your gloves.
The Dirt on Tools: Don’t undo all your cleaning efforts with filthy vacuum attachments and tools that push dirt around. Wash your tools and supplies in a cleaning solution so they’re ready to go the next time you are.
Show Germs the Door: Germs have a way of hanging around. Clean and disinfect doorknobs, light switches, toilet handles, cell phones and other hotspots. Don’t forget the TV remote!
Easy Does It: Overwhelmed by a messy house? Start your cleaning in the room that requires the least effort. It’ll give you a sense of accomplishment, and you can move on to a more challenging room with one item already checked off your list.
Trim Your Cleaning Supplies: No need to fill your drawers and cabinets with a line-up of cleaning supplies! To save time, money and space, look for multi-tasking cleaners that you can use in every room and on many appliances and surfaces. And toss grungy sponges, threadbare rags and supplies you aren’t using.
Stay Clutter-free: After clearing clutter, create a strategy to keep your house in order. For each new item you buy, toss or donate one in exchange. And before buying something you might not use, put it on a 14-day wait list. You’ll know if it’s worth the wait.
Give Yourself a Hand: Invest in some stylish cleaning gloves to lift your spirits and protect your hands (and that manicure). Just because you have a lot to do doesn’t mean you can’t look good while doing it.
Clear Your Mind: Don’t forget to take breaks from your busy routine. Enjoy some chocolate, catch up with a friend, or take your coffee into the backyard. Your to-do list will be waiting for you when you get back, but you’ll be able to tackle it with a refreshed spirit.
Whistle While You Work: Cue up some songs on your mp3 player or computer to get into the cleaning groove. Try upbeat music like 80’s classics or show tunes that’ll inspire you while you scrub, mop and dust. Give your home a preview of your best audition moves by singing – and dancing – along!
Freshen Up Your Fridge: Here’s a tip for keeping your produce fresher, longer: just line your veggie bin with paper towels. They’ll absorb the excess moisture that causes mold and speeds up the spoiling process.
Nuke that Sponge: Your cleaning sponges are like luxury condos for bacteria. Protect yourself and your family by zapping sponges and plastic scrubbing pads in the microwave to kill dangerous germs and viruses.