Every household requiresregular cleaning, maintenance, and organization to achieve this, though.

You’ll save water and time, and you’ll end up with cleaner dishes.

When you rinse dirty dishes, the detergent is wasted because it can’t cling to anything.

cleaning materials

The Spruce / Michelle Becker

However, it’s still important to scrape away large amounts of food before loading dishes into the dishwasher.

Skip the store-bought products and use distilled white vinegar as ahomemade stainless steel cleaner.

It’s all you oughta keep your stainless steel appliances,countertops, andsinklooking great.

deciding where to sell clothing

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

Rinse with a damp cloth and buff to a shine.

Keep all food categories in a designated zone for easy organization.

“Whenorganizing a fridge, the most important thing to remember is creating zones,” the duo share.

scraping off food before loading dishes into the dishwasher

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

“Everything should be categorized and grouped together.”

Adding a label also helps members of your household find things easily.

Shearer and Teplin also recommend following the same plan in your pantry.

cleaning schedule by day

The Spruce / Daria Groza

“You want your pantry to flow,” they say.

“The combination of salt and sunlight can help break down stains and enhance the cleaning process.”

Pick up Broken Glass with Ease

When glass breaks, practice safety first.

Applying cleaning paste with a microfiber cloth

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

Put on your shoes and keep everyone away until the glass is gone.

Use kitchen tongs to pick up large shards or wear heavy gloves.

Sweep up as much as you could that’s still on the floor or carpet.

organizing a pantry

The Spruce / Kevin Norris

“Utilize vertical hanging space byusing cascading hangersor investing in hanging organizers,” she suggests.

Todd Lamson, director of franchise operations atThe Junkluggersoffers these tips to get the space back in shape.

“Adding some sturdy cabinets or shelving can certainly help organize your home.

lemon juice and salt for rust removal

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

To keep boots upright, cut pool noodles in half and slip them into the boots.

Cohoon notes that upcycling helps items feel fresh and new.

“KeepLegos organizedand away from your feet (ouch!)

Damp sponge with lemon cleaning solution rubbing microwave door

The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo

Start at the Top

Save time and energy by following Cohoon’s suggestion.

Keep doors and windows closed, and use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.

Air purifiers are a great option to reduce dust, and check that air filters are being changed often.

Broken wine glass on wooden floor

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

Always stick to the amount suggested in the directions.

Dusters filled with grit can leave scratches on surfaces.

Clean supplies after every use so they are ready to go when you are.

How To Make Your Bed, According to the Pros

No time to bake?

Remove the head and let them soak in a bowl or bucket overnight.

Showerhead won’t come off?

Front view of an organized closet

The Spruce / Michelle Becker

Fill a plastic bag with vinegar and attach it securely to the showerhead with several rubber bands.

Remove the next morning and turn on the water to rinse away the dissolved minerals.

Keep a spray bottle filled with a 50:50 mix of distilled white vinegar and water in the shower.

Organized garage wall with black and white checkered rigid plastic floor tiles

The Spruce / Jacob Fox

Spritz it on and then use a squeegee or towel to wipe down the walls.

Then, add equal parts of vinegar.

This hack works wonders on all household drains, including shower and tub drains.

Coat closet organized with bag hooks, wire shelves and shoe bench

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

“And, as an added bonus, your bathroom is always drop-in guest ready.”

Mineral buildup or limescale forms chalky white residue and rust-colored stains that need extra attention to remove.

Next, stash any laundry and dirty towels and put out fresh towels.

Re-used candle wax in candle container, wax melt bars and fire starters

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

Wipe down the sink with a disposable wipe and dry with a microfiber towel to prevent streaks.

Don’t forget to swish out the toilet bowl, too.

check that you are using adisinfectant wipeor cleaner correctly to kill the most germs.

White cubicle cubby with organized toys in a playroom

The Spruce / Jacob Fox

All types of window treatments should be cleaned at least once a year.

When you take the drapes down, check the panels for care instructions.

Most lined drapes will need to bedry-cleanedto remove any stains or heavy odors.

Closeup of a person dusting off a ceiling fan

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

If they are only dusty, toss them in a clothes dryer on theair-only cycleto freshen them.

After the drapes are rehung, use aclothes steamerto remove any wrinkles.

Dirty light fixtures lessen the amount of light a room receives and make everything look dull.

Cleaning out HVAC filters

The Spruce / Tessa Cooper

While you’re cleaning, don’t forget to clean thelight bulbs.

Clean away smudges and dirt around doorknobs and light switches weekly.

Large splatters and scribblings withcrayonsshould be cleaned immediately for the best results.

Using a lint roller on fabric to reduce pet hair allergens

The Spruce / Sanja Kostic

After vacuuming off dust and loose soil, simply use saddle soap to clean away grime.

Then use a leather conditioner to keep the hide soft and supple.

“It is easier toarrange your furniturearound statement elements rather than accent pieces.

Safe household cleaning products with brushes

The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

Spot clean stains and give slipcovers a thorough cleaning at the end of every season to refresh them.

When you wash slipcovers, be sure to clean all the components in one washing machine load.

This will prevent uneven fading that can happen if you wash one piece at a time.

Tools and materials for cleaning a hydroflask water bottle

The Spruce / Adelyn Duchala

Or, add an accent wall to highlight artwork or built-in structures like bookcases or fireplaces.

Before you take out the bag of trash, give the can a quick clean-up.

Cleaning can usually be done quickly and efficiently with just a few tools and cleaning products.

air freshener made from vinegar and essential oils

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

Out of window cleaner?Make it yourselfwith distilled white vinegar or isopropyl (rubbing) alcohol and water.

Adding houseplants to a room is a quick and easy way to spruce up your decor.

Use one dishpan as a spot to put dirty dishes as they accumulate.

Warm vinegar poured over showerhead in deep dish

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

Using a dishpan reduces water use instead of using a large sink to wash just a few items.

They may discover hidden problems that negatively impact your home’s value and safety.

Take time to clean it often to remove dust and scuffs.

Using vinegar to clean soap scum on a shower curtain

The Spruce / Ana Cadena

Considerpainting the front doora new color and adding awreathor showcasing plants near the entrance.

Of course, trimming hedges and keeping lawns maintained always make the landscape more appealing.

you could also attach a long wand to a pressure washer and blow the leaves out of the gutters.

Baking soda and white vinegar in glass containers in bathroom sink corner closeup

The Spruce / Sarah Lee

Improving the efficiency of new automatic dishwashing detergent formulation by addition of thermostable lipase, protease and amylase.

White metal caddy holding sponges and brushes next to houseplant

The Spruce / Nelly Cuanalo

cleaning hard water stains out of the toilet

The Spruce / Margot Cavin

Eco-friendly cleaning bottle with cleaning supplies in bathroom

The Spruce

woman cleaning door handle

Getty Images / Xsandra

Vacuum cleaning carpet fibers after cleaning stain

The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska

throw rug on a hardwood floor

The Spruce / Candace Madonna

Cleaning supplies for hardwood floor

The Spruce / Margot Cavin

simple window treatment ideas

Design byEmilie Fournet Interiors/ Photo by Kasia Fiszer

Sponge dipped in cleaning solution passing over back cushion of upholstered couch

The Spruce / Meg MacDonald

Globe light fixture being cleaned inside with microfiber cloth

The Spruce / Danielle Moore

Walls rinsed with clean water and blue microfiber cloth

The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

Dry yellow microfiber cloth buffing cushion on brown leather couch

The Spruce / Olivia Inman

Living room furniture arrangement

The Spruce / Letícia Almeida

Easy-Going 4 Pieces Stretch Soft Couch Slipcover

The Spruce / Jay Wilde

living room with painted green half wall

Fantastic Frank

Gold trash can surrounded by cleaning materials

The Spruce / Almar Creative

Woman Cleaning a Window with Vinegar

Woman Cleaning a Window with VinegarHoward Shooter/Dorling Kindersley/Getty Images

pothos plants in the kitchen

The Spruce / Ali Elshabrawi

A woman is hand washing a coffee cup and other crockery dishes and glasses and cooking pots and pans using a yellow cleaning sponge. She is working in a two section stainless steel home kitchen sink.

Willowpix/ iStock/ Getty Images Plus

Best Under-Cabinet Lighting Options

Amazon

A Spanish-inspired home exterior with an olive green door

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A front home exterior with a coral colored front door

Michelle Boudreau Design

yellow front door

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Garden spade used as scooper to remove leaves from gutter

The Spruce / Jayme Burrows