Cleaning Made Simple

Clutter

Conquering clutter will make your home look better right away.

Divide and conquer: Sort items into piles for storing, donating or throwing away. When you’ve tossed the junk in the trash and boxed up the donated items, it’s time to start on the storing pile.

Give everything a home. Instead of putting things into whatever container you might have, look for storage containers to fit your particular needs. You can find flexible containers to slide under beds or fit into closet corners; clear totes to hold toys or larger items; divided drawer inserts to organize desk and “junk” drawers; and even attractive baskets and boxes that can store what you need while adding color and design to the room.

Furniture

In order to keep your furniture looking its best, you need to do more than simply dust now and then.

For upholstered furniture, vacuum upholstery and spot clean as needed. For leather pieces, you can get rid of old marks and stains with a specially formulated remover. Use oil-free leather cleaner and protector to keep the original look and feel of the leather.

To remove grime and other residues from wood furniture, use a purifying wood cleaner, then follow up with a revitalizing furniture wood polish. It will help enhance and preserve the wood’s natural beauty.

Appliances

Washing machines can build up a sticky residue inside. If your machine does not have a specific washer cleaning cycle, add liquid chlorine bleach to the dispenser and run a normal cycle with hot water.

Check the drain area of your dishwasher and remove any bits of food or small items. Place a bowl, right side up, in the top rack and fill it with one cup of white vinegar. With nothing else inside, run the dishwasher on its shortest cycle to remove soap scum and hard water buildup.

Don’t forget the outside of your appliances. For light cleaning, dilute 1/4 cup multi-purpose cleaner in a gallon of warm water. Wipe your washer, dryer and refrigerator clean. For tougher cleaning, use some full-strength multi-purpose cleaner directly on a sponge. Rinse surfaces thoroughly with plain water afterward. Regular cleaners can leave residue on stainless steel surfaces, however, so use a product specifically made for stainless steel appliances.