Even though some are admittedly better at keeping their homes cleaner than others, sooner or later, we all have to knuckle under to get things done. It doesn't matter if you need to fight the slime in the bathroom or the grime in your kitchen, after the jump we've found 20 of the years best ways to clean your house from top to bottom!
Posts Pictured Above Are Bolded Below
• Quick Tip: Clean Outdoor Furniture On The Cheap
• The Single Life: Finding the Motivation To Clean
• Five Things We Never Think to Clean in the Kitchen
• Common Clutter Spots You Can Clear in an Afternoon
• Best Carpet & Rug Cleaning Ideas
• One Small Chore to Help You Master Daily Cleaning
• The Best Way to Wash Your Windows
• 12 Steps to Deep Clean the Bedroom
• Stain Removing Tip for Wool Rugs
• 5 Weekend Cleaning Projects That Make a Big Impact
• Bathroom Cleaning Tips
• How To: Keep Your Laundry Healthy
• A New Use for Shaving Cream
• How To: Care for Your Curtains
• Thirty Hardwood Floor Cleaning Tip Ideas
• How To: Keep Floors Clean Without Cleaning Too Much
• How To: Motivate Yourself to Clean
• Odd, Weird, Wacky (& Possibly Helpful) Cleaning Supplies
• Embracing Your Inner Clean Freak
• 10 Apartment Therapy Cleaning Tips
Veronica & Keith's Handmade Chic 
Before & After: A Bathroom Goes From Pinky Peach to Sleek and Chic
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Hunslet Dinner Plate
A Beginner's Guide to Superb Stir-Fry: Quick, Healthy Meals from a Wok
Easy Pitcher Cocktail Recipe: Strawberry Basil Margaritas
Comments (16)
My favorite "top to bottom" cleaning tip is to hire a maid service...
A fun book to check out Clean House, Clean Planet. It's filled with cleaning 'recipes' that are pretty ecofriendly and really economical. Personally, I don't care very much for cleaning but mixing up baking soda and essential oils is kinda fun.
Wow peahen, jealous much?
Some of us have a sense of humor (and money). LOL.
I love maids
of course if you don't like/agree with someone else's comment, you must be "jealous"
What are we, 12 years old?
Personally I wouldn't want someone else cleaning my house even if I could afford it. I like cleaning.
Housekeeping services are pretty affordable now-a-days. It's about $60/week (upkeep) on average at Merry Maids. If you really hate cleaning, you'll find a way to put that money aside as much as someone who uses it indulging in whatever they enjoy. No big deal.
I agree with Chicks and Eyemandy!
Whoever does your cleaning, DO NOT USE BAKING SODA. I have learned the HARD WAY that it is murder on your plumbing.
Sleek1, how is baking soda hard on your plumbling?
I think if you put too much baking soda down the drain, it might solidify into a mass that's hard to move. But that's just a guess.
I'm also curious about the baking soda warning, as I regularly pour some down the drain followed by vinegar, then, after a few minutes, water. Am I in for trouble?
Didn't you publish an article in re-nest about how terrible Dawn/ dish soap is last year?
I too am curious about baking soda damages/Dawn problems.
Sorry i'm so late coming back to this.
Each and EVERYtime i use it, it ends up cracking my pipes. It's not in the solid area, but right where it connects with the other pipes. So this causes much leaking.
At first I thought it was just a fluke. But when it had everythign repaired, i stayed away from Baking soda. But then after a while, i started using it again. AGAIN, the same thing happened.
So i stay away from the stuff... except for when actually baking.
I've never heard the Dawn story.
Would be very interested in the Dawn issue! I love dawn! Anyone aware? Thanks!
Sleek1--
What is the material of your pipes?
Hmmm.... not sure. They look like regular silver metal of some sort. But i can find out.