Table of contents for Secrets to a Clean Home in Real Simple

FEW THINGS ARE MORE SATISFYING than kicking back and relaxing in a sparkling space with dust-free surfaces, freshly made beds, and fingerprint-free…everything. But getting your home to that point might not be exactly how you want to spend your time. That’s why we’ve filled this special edition of Real Simple with the best products, advice, and room-by-room tips to help you get a cleaner home with less effort. We recommend top-rated tools and cleaners, offer smart checklists with seasonal to-dos and simplified routines, and even provide troubleshooting to quickly prepare for—gulp—last-minute guests. These shortcuts and tips will make cleaning faster (and dare we say, more pleasant?), so you can get back to enjoying the wonderful home you’ve created. FOLLOW US! On Instagram @real_simple On TikTok @RealSimple On Facebook @RealSimple…

THE BIG PICTURE Working from the top down, dust cabinets, countertops, and other solid surfaces, taking care to hit the spots that don’t often get a lot of TLC (like the top of the fridge). Clean grease buildup and debris from wood cabinets with Murphy Oil Soap ($4; homedepot.com). Dilute about half a cup of oil soap in a gallon of warm water. Dip a sponge or cloth in the solution and wipe the cabinets, focusing on the area around knobs, which tends to get the dirtiest and is at eye level. Tackle stovetop spills by dipping a sponge in soapy water, squeezing it over the spill, and letting it sit for 10 minutes. In that time, the spill will soften and become easy to wipe up with a cloth.…

TIMING Pillowcases Once a week. Sheets* Once a week (or two). Duvet Covers & Comforters Once a week if you don’t use a top sheet. Once a month if you do. Duvet Inserts Every three months. Weighted Blanket Every three months. (If over 20 pounds, bring to a laundromat.) Mattress Pad Every three to four months. Pillow Inserts Every three to four months. Mattress Every six months. Flip or rotate while you’re at it. Speaking of… *For extra cleaning power, use a laundry additive—such as Micro Balance EC3 Laundry Additive ($29; amazon.com)—that helps remove mold spores, mycotoxins, organic matter, and bacteria. TECHNIQUE How to Clean a Mattress Step 1 Remove and wash bedding and mattress topper. Step 2 Use a handheld vac or hose attachment to pick up dry…

APPLIANCES Refrigerator MAKE-IT-LAST HABIT: Condenser coils—the large, radiator-like element at the back or bottom of the appliance—remove heat from your refrigerator and freezer. When dust and dirt stick to the coils, the machine can’t shed heat as efficiently, which can mean higher utility bills and costly repairs. Check the owner’s manual to see how often to clean the coils; use your vacuum’s brush attachment. TROUBLESHOOTING: If your refrigerator sounds like it’s straining, make sure the condenser coils are clean, there’s at least one inch between the fridge and the wall for adequate airflow, and the gasket (door seal) is not dry or cracking. Dishwasher MAKE-IT-LAST HABIT: Clean your dishwasher filter regularly. Your manual can tell you how. Adhesives from labels on jars of jelly or pasta sauce can clog the…

SMELL IS OFTEN CALLED A HUMAN’S MOST POWERFUL SENSE. Good (and bad) smells tell us a lot about the world: what we should eat, what we shouldn’t eat, even whom we should kiss. When it comes to our homes, if a space smells fresh, that’s a great sign. If the smell is bad? We feel uneasy. But the secret to a nose-friendly space isn’t to spray fragrance on top of yucky stuff. “A clean home should smell like nothing,” says Melissa Maker, founder of the Clean My Space cleaning company, blog, and YouTube channel. Neutralizing bad odors is the priority, especially for those who get overwhelmed by too much fragrance or have allergies or asthma. But for those who love a scent, we have ideas for you too. TACKLE THE…

Step 1 The Prep GET MOTIVATED Fast is fantastic, but only if you’re using tools and techniques that are actually effective. Ideally, you’ll adopt the “spray and wait” method whenever possible, allowing quality cleaning products to work their magic while you do other jobs (kind of like making dinner—chop while the water boils!). The bottom line: Clean as well and efficiently as you can, and then you can enjoy more time between cleanings. RALLY YOUR TEAM If you live with others, the responsibility for cleaning should be shared fairly among everyone. (Even toddlers can put laundry in the hamper and wipe up spills with a little help.) Distributing the work does double duty: It makes the job more manageable and builds in motivation for everyone to actually help keep…

ROUTINE Start with the bowl cleaner. While it does its magic, scrub the outside of the toilet and work down the rest of this list. After 10 minutes, brush and flush. Remove and launder towels. Throw the bath mat, shower curtain, and liner into the wash and air-dry. Wipe the vanity and sink with a microfiber cloth and all-purpose cleaner. Then do the empty wastebasket, inside and out. Tackle the shower and tub with your cleaning solution of choice. To avoid straining your back and knees, use a broom to scrub hard-to-reach corners. Clean grout with a hydrogen peroxide spray and scrub with a toothbrush. Clean the medicine cabinet shelves with a damp cloth and arrange bottles to face forward. It’s a small move that will make the space feel…

OUTDOOR FURNITURE Upholstery Combine one quart warm water, one teaspoon dishwashing detergent, and one tablespoon borax in a bucket. Scrub all sides of the cushion. Let sit for 15 minutes, then rinse with a hose and air-dry. If you see mildew, add two tablespoons of bleach (check the label’s care instructions first) to one gallon of water and scrub with a soft brush. Patio umbrellas can get mildewy. Open them up after rainstorms so moisture isn’t trapped in the folds. Teak Terry Lin, cofounder of Outer outdoor furniture company, likes Star Brite Teak Cleaner ($20; acehardware.com). After cleaning, apply a polish like Minwax Clear Teak Oil ($18; lowes.com) to hydrate the wood and keep the grain from cracking. Plastic & Metal Hose down to remove grime (but never with a…

STRATEGIZE With a little advance prep, you can make cleaning tasks less challenging and less frequent. KEEP TWO LISTS Write down your weekly cleaning to-dos, then make a separate list of your rarer jobs (like dusting ceiling fans). Each time you do your weekly chores, tackle one item from that second list, says Jacqueline Janus of Two Chicks and a Broom, a cleaning company in Memphis. “A quick wipe of fan blades every couple of weeks means I’m not eventually scrubbing six months’ worth of dust from them.” FOLLOW AN ORDER OF OPERATIONS As you clean, go from large to small, top to bottom, and dry to wet. Ordering every task ensures you don’t retrace your steps or undo your hard work, says Angela Bell of Grove Collaborative, a home-…

People often use sanitize and disinfect interchangeably, but the key difference can affect the cleaning products you choose and how you use them. And it can mean getting a better clean where you need it most. First, the distinction: Sanitization is reducing a contamination or bacteria to a safe level, while disinfection is killing bacteria on a particular surface, according to Travers Anderson, R&D Group Manager at Clorox. However, keep in mind that neither disinfectants nor sanitizers will kill all pathogens on a surface. (Cleaning, in the technical sense, is just wiping away debris or dirt, without necessarily killing or removing any bacteria.) Sanitizing is best for surfaces that don’t typically come into contact with seriously dangerous bacteria, or those that could be damaged by powerful chemicals: Think cooking tools…

THE BIG PICTURE Take it from the top and dust light fixtures and any other high-up stuff first. Start a load of laundry to clean blankets and pillow covers. Let them air-dry to prevent shrinking. For heavy window drapes, vacuum with the upholstery attachment. If the curtains are light, toss them into the dryer with wool dryer balls to collect the fuzz (just be sure to check all tags for care instructions first). Help keep pet hair from clinging to your drapes and couch by spritzing them with antistatic spray. Wipe mirrors and dust surfaces, including bookcases and the top of the TV console, with a microfiber cloth. While you’re at it, wipe or rinse the leaves of broad-leaf houseplants like monsteras. Focus on furniture. Vacuum crumbs from upholstered furniture—break…

SPRING As the days become brighter and longer, dust and wear-and-tear become more apparent. That’s part of why spring is the time to freshen up every surface in your home. □ CLEAN OR REPLACE filters before turning on air-conditioning; clean ducts and vents. □ DUST light fixtures. □ POLISH wood furniture. □ WASH windows. □ CLEAN window and door screens. □ WIPE DOWN baseboards and door frames. □ DEEP-CLEAN carpets and rugs. □ LAUNDER blankets, comforters, and pillows. □ VACUUM lint from dryer vent. □ WIPE DOWN kitchen cabinet exteriors. □ CLEAN the inside of the washing machine. □ CLEAN the inside of the dishwasher with a cup of vinegar. □ WASH shower curtain and liner. □ SANITIZE your toothbrush holder by placing it in the dishwasher. □ DUST picture…

THE STAIN Jellies, Jams, and Sauces NOW: The first rule with sticky spots is to avoid spreading the stain, so scoop up as much as possible with a spoon. Use a pretreater pen, or try this simple solution: Dab the area gently with a cloth dipped in club soda; the bubbles will help break the bond between the surface and the stain. Using cool water and dish soap is another option. Note: If the material is dry clean only, step away from the pretreater pen and send the item straight to the cleaner, as the pen could leave a permanent mark. LATER: For a spill on a cushion, mix one teaspoon of white vinegar with a quarter cup of rubbing alcohol and sponge onto the stain. The alcohol helps break…

NEWSPAPER ABSORBS ICKY TRASH JUICE After you take out the trash, nestle a few pieces of crumpled newspaper in the bottom of the new garbage bag. The paper will help absorb liquid and neutralize the smell of food waste from dinners past. If the bin has reached unbearable levels of stink, wash it with soapy water, rinse, and dry—then place a scented dryer sheet on the bottom. VINEGAR DEEP-CLEANS DISHWASHERS Deal with a sour dishwasher by filling a mug or bowl with two cups of white vinegar and placing it on the top rack. Run a hot-water cycle sans detergent, and come back to a sparkling appliance that smells practically like new. STEAM RESTORES SOFT SURFACES To tackle musty fabrics like throw pillows and upholstered furniture, first vacuum them, then…