No matter if you only have five minutes to freshen things up or an entire weekend to spare, give all of your home’s trouble spots a much-needed refresh with these cleaning how-tos from Jeffrey Phillip, organizing expert, and Carolyn Forte, Director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab.
Consider this to be your unofficial spring cleaning checklist: Go slide-by-slide for a whole home makeover or tackle your home’s dirtiest spots (the refrigerator, shower curtain, to name a few) when you have some extra time on your hands. The end result: a more livable space just in time for summer.
1. Doormats
Trap more dirt by using two mats, one outside the door and one inside. To refresh, hose off and air-dry mats. Vacuum indoor ones on both sides — going over the back will push trapped dirt out onto the floor where it will be easier to pick up.
2. Windows
Wait for an overcast day and start on the shady side of the house, as the direct sun can lead to streaks. “Raise blinds or shades and wash windows with glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth,” says Carolyn Forte, Director of the Cleaning Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. “Then lower the blinds and vinyl shades and dust with a duster and finish by vacuuming the fabric shades and drapes.”
3. Kitchen Sink
Got kitchen stink you just can’t kick? Try running a couple of lemon rind slivers through your garbage disposal and follow with cold water to get rid of any unwanted odors.
4. Microwave
Fill a large microwave-safe bowl with 1 cup of water and a chopped-up lemon, lime, or orange or several tablespoons of vinegar and stick it inside. Turn the appliance on high for several minutes or until the solution boils and the window is steamy, then let it cool for 5 minutes before opening the door. Remove and wipe the inside and outside with a sponge.
5. Reusable Grocery Bags
Reusable grocery bags cut down on wasteful plastic, but they can get grimy with time. Look at the care label on your reusable bags to determine the best way to clean them. If they’re not machine-wash safe, clean them thoroughly with a sponge or cloth dipped in sudsy water. Rinse with a clean cloth and let the air dry.
6. Countertops
Dig out the granite polish to restore shine and help repel stains on your kitchen surfaces. For daily wipe-downs, use a specialized cleaner, like GH Seal Star Weiman Granite & Stone Daily Cleaner & Polish. The mild formula cuts grease and removes surface stains without the damaging effects of vinegar or ammonia, and it won’t leave behind a dull film like ordinary dish soap can.
7. Cutting Boards
If you think that nasty mark is permanent, you’re wrong. Run the cut side of a lemon over the board to help remove food stains and smells. For extra oomph, sprinkle it with salt or baking soda first.
8. Fridge
In addition to wiping down your fridge’s interior shelving on a regular basis, give the removable bins and shelves a deep clean every now and again. Pop-out the door shelves and bins, and wash in warm, soapy water to get rid of food bacteria and spillage.
9. Pots and Pans
Soften burned-on residue by adding water and dish liquid to your cookware and letting it simmer on the stove. Use a scrub sponge or pad to remove any remaining stuck-on bits. Ketchup (yes, really!) helps dissolve tarnish on copper pots and other copper cooking accessories. Just massage the red sauce over the surface and add a pinch of salt to your polish, if you come across exceptionally stubborn spots.
10. Oven
Use your appliance’s self-cleaning function to remove stubborn, baked-on grime. If your oven doesn’t have one, place a hot, wet cloth on top of burned spots to help soften the gunk. Then scrub with a sprinkle of baking powder and a heavy-duty pad. Rinse and wipe dry.
11. Stainless Steel Appliances
To make your stainless steel surface sparkle again, mix a solution of 1 tsp dish detergent and 1 qt hot tap water. Using a microfiber cloth, rub the detergent solution onto the marks in small sections, going with the grain. Rinse with clean hot water and dry immediately with a clean cloth.
12. Junk Drawer
Once you empty out your drawer, suck out dust and crumbs with your vacuum’s nozzle. “Toss or relocate any items you no longer need or that don’t belong there,” Forte says. Everything else goes back, but this time in an organized manner. Repurpose pretty plates and bowls to store cords, stamps, and other odds and ends. A nonslip liner will help keep everything in place.
13. Shower Curtains
Stick plastic or vinyl shower curtains along with a few bath towels on the gentle cycle with your favorite detergent. Let it hang dry before showering. To keep the curtain cleaner longer, spritz it a few times each month with a bleach-containing all-purpose cleaner. Then just let the shower rinse it off (before you hop in, of course).