Cleaning Tips

people sorting boxes

Decluttering 101: Simplify Your Life with a Tidy Home

Learn the art of decluttering to simplify your life, reduce stress, boost productivity, and improve your well-being by following a step-by-step process that involves setting....

person cleaning a bathroom sink

Cleaning for a Move: Tips for a Stress-Free Transition

Tips for a stress-free move, including creating a cleaning plan, decluttering, using the right supplies, and ensuring often-neglected areas are spotless, leaving your old home...

person cleaning a bathroom sink

Deep Cleaning vs. Regular Cleaning: When and Why You Need It

Regular cleaning is done to maintain the cleanliness of your home on a daily or weekly basis. Deep cleaning is a more thorough cleaning that is done less often, once or twice a year

mop on hardwood floor

Cleaning and Caring for Your Home Appliances

By regularly cleaning and caring for your home appliances, you can extend their lifespan, improve their performance, and reduce the risk of costly repairs.

mop on hardwood floor

How to Clean and Maintain Different Types of Flooring

Learn how to maintain and clean various types of flooring, including hardwood, tile, carpet, laminate, and vinyl, to preserve their beauty and durability in your home.

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Kitchen Cleaning Tips for a Hygienic Cooking Space

Discover essential kitchen cleaning tips to maintain a hygienic cooking space, from decluttering and appliance maintenance to stovetop degreasing and regular cleaning routines.

diningroom table, fancy decor

Holiday Cleaning Checklist: Prep Your Home for Guests

Prepare your home for a joyful holiday gathering with our comprehensive holiday cleaning checklist, ensuring a spotless and inviting space for hosting family and friends.

person cleaning a kitchen sink

Cleaning Your Home for Allergy Season: A Comprehensive Guide

This guide offers practical tips for cleaning your home to combat indoor allergens and create an allergy-friendly environment during allergy season, including dust mite prevention.

person with gloves using a spray bottle to clean

Choosing the Right Cleaning Products, DIY Solutions, and Equipment

How to pick the right cleaning products for each surface, mix simple DIY cleaners from vinegar and baking soda, and choose vacuums, mops and steam cleaners.

person cleaning a counter

Green Cleaning Solutions: A Sustainable Approach to Cleaning

What green cleaning products are, why they're better for your health and the environment, and how to clean with vinegar, baking soda, lemon and peroxide.

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Pet Mess Cleanup: Tackling Pet Hair, Stains, and Odors

How to remove pet hair, clean urine and other pet stains, and eliminate pet odors with grooming, vacuuming, vinegar, enzymatic cleaners and baking soda.

Two window cleaners in gloves washing tall office windows

Mastering the Art of Cleaning High Windows: Inside and Out

How to clean high windows safely inside and out: ladder and harness safety, the tools you need, and squeegee techniques for a streak-free finish.

Pressure washer, scrub brushes. Image by AI.

A Guide to Cleaning Concrete, Brick, and Stone Exteriors

How to clean concrete, brick and natural stone safely: the right pressure washer PSI for each, mold and efflorescence removal, sealing and seasonal care.

Illustration of deck, fence and ramp cleaning. Image by AI

Deck, Fence, & Ramp Cleaning: A Complete Maintenance Guide

How to clean and protect wood, composite and metal decks, fences and ramps: pressure washer settings, mold and rust removal, tools and yearly upkeep.

Patio with moss. Image by Gemini

A Step-by-Step Guide to Removing Moss and Dirt from Your Patio

Remove moss, algae and dirt from your patio in 10 steps: gather tools, sweep, apply a cleaning solution, scrub, pressure wash or rinse, and prevent regrowth.

Leaves stuck on a gutter. Image by Gemini

Gutter & Downspout Maintenance

Step-by-step gutter and downspout cleaning: tools, ladder safety, clearing clogs, spotting leaks and sagging, gutter guards and a seasonal schedule.

Person in safety gear cleaning roof shingles with a soft-bristle brush. Image by AI

How to Clean and Maintain Your Roof: A Comprehensive Guide

Roof care step by step: safety gear, inspecting shingles and flashing, removing moss and algae, simple repairs, zinc strips and annual pro inspections.

Gloved hands wiping a white surface with a spray cleaner

How to Clean a Bathroom Top to Bottom

A start-to-finish bathroom cleaning routine: what to use, the order that saves time, and a 15-minute weekly version that keeps grime from coming back.

Hand spraying cleaner at a bathroom sink

How to Remove Mold and Mildew from a Bathroom and Shower

How to get rid of mold and mildew on shower grout, caulk, tile and ceilings, which cleaners to use, when to replace caulk, and when to call a professional.

Close-up of water droplets on a surface

How to Remove Hard Water Stains from Glass, Faucets and Toilets

Remove white crust and water spots from shower glass, faucets, sinks and toilet bowls with vinegar and baking soda, and keep them from coming back.

Person mopping a kitchen floor

How to Clean Grout on Floors, Showers and Backsplashes

How to clean dirty grout with baking soda, oxygen bleach or steam, which methods are safe for colored grout, and how sealing keeps it from staining again.

Dinner table set with wine glasses and red napkins

Laundry Stain Removal Guide: Wine, Coffee, Grease, Blood and More

How to get common stains out of clothes and linens: red wine, coffee, grease, blood, grass, sweat, ink and makeup, plus the rules that keep stains from setting.

Couple sitting on a new mattress in a showroom

How to Clean a Mattress

How to vacuum, deodorize and spot-clean a mattress, remove urine, sweat and blood stains, deal with dust mites, and how often to rotate and protect it.

Folded towels beside cleaning products in a bathroom

How Often Should You Wash Sheets, Towels, Pillows and Bedding?

Practical guidelines for how often to wash sheets, pillowcases, towels, bath mats, pillows, comforters and blankets, and what water temperature to use.

Cleaning bottles, sponges, a scrubber and microfiber cloths on a wood floor

How Often Should You Clean Everything? A Room-by-Room Guide

A practical cleaning frequency guide: what to clean daily, weekly, monthly, seasonally and yearly, from kitchen sponges and toilets to dryer vents and gutters.

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Weekly Cleaning Schedule: A Simple Day-by-Day Checklist

A realistic weekly cleaning schedule that takes 20 to 30 minutes a day: one area per day, a 10-minute daily reset, and a checklist you can print.

Stainless steel refrigerator and wall ovens in a kitchen

How to Clean Stainless Steel Appliances Without Streaks

How to clean and polish a stainless steel fridge, dishwasher, oven and sink without streaks, what to avoid, and how to treat fingerprint-resistant finishes.

Hand wiping the slats of a window blind with a cloth

How to Clean Blinds and Ceiling Fans the Easy Way

Quick methods for cleaning wood, vinyl, aluminum and fabric blinds, and the pillowcase trick that cleans ceiling fan blades without dust falling everywhere.

Red toaster oven on a kitchen counter

How to Clean an Oven Without Harsh Chemicals

Clean a dirty oven with baking soda and vinegar overnight, get oven racks and the glass door clean, and learn when the self-clean cycle is a good idea.

Rows of washing machines in a laundromat

How to Clean a Washing Machine: Front Load and Top Load

How to clean a smelly washing machine, front load or top load: the drum, gasket, detergent drawer and drain filter, and how to stop the musty smell.

Pressure washer cleaning a stone patio

Spring Cleaning Checklist: Inside and Outside the House

A complete spring cleaning checklist, room by room inside and around the outside of the house, with links to step-by-step guides for each job.

Woman dusting white wall trim with a duster

How to Clean Baseboards, Walls and Doors Without Damaging Paint

How to wash painted walls, baseboards, doors and trim without leaving marks or dulling the paint, and how to remove scuffs, crayon and grease spots.

Hand blotting a stain on a beige sofa cushion with a sponge

How to Clean a Couch and Upholstery

Read your couch's cleaning code (W, S, W/S, X), then vacuum, deodorize and spot clean fabric, microfiber and leather sofas and get rid of pet hair.

Vacuuming a beige carpet in a sunny living room

How to Remove Carpet Stains

How to get common stains out of carpet and rugs: coffee, red wine, pet urine, grease, blood, mud, gum and candle wax, without spreading or setting them.

Hand cleaning a mirror with a cloth and a spray bottle

How to Clean Mirrors and Glass Without Streaks

Why mirrors streak and how to get them clear: the two-cloth method, a simple vinegar spray, toothpaste and hairspray spots, and protecting mirror edges.

Colorful kitchen sponges and cellulose dishcloths

Sponges, Cloths and Scrubbers: Which to Use and When to Replace Them

Which sponge, dishcloth or scrubber to use on dishes, nonstick pans, stainless steel and glass, how to keep them clean, and how often to replace each one.

Person vacuuming

Is a Cordless Vacuum Cleaner Right for Me?

Vacuuming with a cordless vacuum cleaner takes less time because these units do not need to be connected to an electric source.

Vacuum

Qualities to Look For When Buying a Vacuum Cleaner

Qualities You Need to Look For When Buying a Vacuum Cleaner include: bagless vacuums, strong suction, battery life. Click to read more.

Person vacuuming

6 Household Appliances That Must Be Inspected Before Summer

It's important to make sure your appliances are in good condition before the hotter months set in, as they could potentially cause problems if not taken care of properly.

Professional carpet cleaner

How to Deep Clean Your Home in a Single Day

Deep cleaning involves a lot of dusting; whatever you dust, always start from the top. This way, the dust from above won't ruin the surface below that you have already.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between deep cleaning and regular cleaning?

Regular cleaning is the daily or weekly routine of dusting, vacuuming, wiping kitchens and bathrooms, laundry and taking out the trash. Deep cleaning is a more thorough job done quarterly, twice a year or once a year that targets hidden dirt in carpets, upholstery, windows, appliances, baseboards, cabinets and grout.

In what order should I clean a room?

Work from top to bottom. Dust high surfaces like shelves and light fixtures first, then countertops and furniture, and clean the floors last so falling dust never lands on a surface you have already cleaned.

How often should I clean the outside of my house?

Clean gutters in the fall after most leaves have dropped and check them again in spring; clean decks, fences and ramps at least once a year in spring or fall; clean concrete, brick and stone at least twice a year; and have your roof professionally inspected at least once a year.

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