Cleaning

Finally, a way to surprise your MIL!

So long, soaking, scrubbing, and ruined sponges.

They have an impressive selection.

And all it takes is four easy steps.

Keep it dust-free without damaging it.

You might want to add these to your cleaning routine too.

Experts share how you can tackle this yourself.

This is the best way to remove dirt and dust from uneven, coarse surfaces.

Can it really be used to get rid of small insects like ants? We asked an expert.

Because some boots are made for more than walking.

Make these part of your routine.

It can freshen your breath and your home.

It boasts both powerful suction and sleek style.

It got gross, greasy stove grates looking good as new.

And it's on sale now!

Preserve your items for many cycles to come.

According to appliance repair pros.

This year, we’re on a mission to help you tackle spring cleaning on your time. Each weekday until April 13, we’ll guide you through a plan to clean and organize different areas of your home, but you’ll have the flexibility to choose exactly what to work on and how long you have to dedicate to the job. Your floors are the hardest working space in your home, and they deserve a ton of love.

If you live with wall-to-wall carpeting, or have a home full of rugs, you know how quickly your soft, beautiful floors can get dingy and dirty. How your carpets fare has a lot to do with your daily habits and cleaning methods, so there might be more you can be doing to keep your carpet looking and smelling its best. From how you vacuum to your stance on shoes in the house, here are a few ways you can tread more carefully.

Protect your home from these five common critters.

It's so simple and effective.

Get shiny results with only a few basic ingredients.

Enjoy this cozy season in a tidy home.

And my bathroom may have met its perfect match.

In my last apartment, cleaning became a big issue. I lived with three other people, and it took us almost two years to actually sit down and determine how to keep our apartment clean. Here are some things I learned from that experience: 1. Truthfully define your definition of clean early on. Do you expect the house to be tidied daily, or is a thorough clean weekly, or even monthly, satisfactory? Setting expectations early on can help reduce conflicts down the road.

This is one of those chores that experts say to do once a year or so, and maybe even more frequently if you have kids and/or pets. It’s not hard, and requires almost no brain power, so your mind is free to gather wool while you work. And once this weekend’s project is done, your entire room will feel brand new again. First, Vacuum: Before you do the deep cleaning, do a pass with your vacuum first, getting rid of surface dirt.

Summer will be here soon and temps are already rising all over the country. Judging by the number of people I saw in the fan and air conditioner aisle at Home Depot this past weekend, keeping your home (and yourself) cool is high on everyone’s priority list right now. If you don’t have an adequate number of cooling devices — get thee to the hardware store. If you do, it’s time to make sure they’re clean and ready to go.

Are you just about to start your annual spring cleaning, poised to attack and refresh your entire home? We applaud your efforts! But if that’s not you, that’s okay too. Whether part of a bigger spring clean or on their own, concentrating on a few areas that are totally do-able, but equally worthy of attention this weekend will be worth it. Remember, it’s not about perfection. It’s about progress.

There are the things you clean regularly, and then there are the things…you don’t. Sometimes it’s because you dread it, and something it’s because they just don’t need attention all that often. Either way, it’s got to get done sometime, and this weekend might be the perfect time. Consider this your friendly nudge and reminder.

This year, we’re on a mission to help you tackle spring cleaning on your time. Each weekday until April 13, we’ll guide you through a plan to clean and organize different areas of your home, but you’ll have the flexibility to choose exactly what to work on and how long you have to dedicate to the job. Sign up with your email so you don’t miss a spot! Spring really is the perfect time to dig in and refresh your space.

While it’s not every day you run into someone who genuinely takes joy in the process of cleaning, you have to acknowledge and appreciate the comforts of a clean living space. The shining floors, the crisp sheets, the knowledge that nothing creepy or crawly is residing in the cupboard under the stairs… yes, there’s something truly special about a clean home. But what exactly makes a clean home clean?

Mental health professionals share coping tools for those who struggle with this disorder and cleaning.

No more shaking out a new bag when it's time to line the can.

Although apparently your kitchen sink is dirtier than your toilet, nothing feels like a dirtier job than cleaning the bathroom. All the more reason to clean it as thoroughly as you can. Taking a look at these often overlooked ways to tidy the bathroom could very well make your bathroom cleaner than it’s ever been. Next time “bathroom cleaning” shows up on your chore checklist, consider adding one or more of these tasks that might be missing from your routine.

There was a clear winner.

Even if you clean up every time you cook, there will always be food bits and residue — think crumbs and grease — that are pesky pros at working their dirty ways into every crevice and cranny in your kitchen, not to mention clinging stubbornly to surfaces. Even if things look clean overall, there are certain spots that are easily forgotten in the day to day. Zero in on these three spots and choose one (or more) to tackle this weekend.

Turns out: It's all you really need.

We brewed up 5 ways to reuse them.

According to cleaning pros.

You only need two things.

It starts with a pantry staple.

Another way this kitchen superhero will come in handy.

Say goodbye to streaks once and for all.

As magical as they are, you can't use them for everything.

Babs knows best.

It'll give them a better clean and it'll cut down on your dusting time.

It’s amazing how commonly the most important household chores get overlooked due to the “out of sight, out of mind” principle.

It's definitely worth your time, money, and storage space.

Cleaning and maintenance is an unavoidable part of life. You’ve to clean your body, you’ve got to clean your living space, and yes—you’ve got to clean your sex toys.

If your brass has loss its brassy bite, it's time to clean it up.

Although the idea of living without a dryer might sound itchy and scratchy — for many, it’s just a way of life. My husband and I don’t currently have a dryer in our home and aren’t big on drying things at the laundromat. Here are a few tips we’ve picked up along the way to end up with clothes that dry quickly and end up super soft! And guess what? Follow these suggestions, and your clothes can be hang dried and still soft, too!

Scrub-a-dub-dub!

We put four all-natural silverware-cleaning methods to the test, and one came out on top.

Among the top tasks on my laundry list of things to do.

No more switching vacuums midway through your cleaning spree.

Would this TikTok hack really work?

Shaving cream contains active ingredients—surfactants, emulsifiers, and cleansing agents—that are similar to the ones found in other household soaps.

And you probably already have everything you need in your kitchen.

With just a few 15-minute tasks a day, you can have a presentable house pretty much all the time.

Here's how to properly clean and disinfect your floors without rolling the dice on damaging them.

Your approach to keeping the kitchen clean needs to be less whack-a-mole and more strategic.

Home chefs everywhere are loving how easy it is to use their iPads in the kitchen when they’re following recipes. But guys, I don’t have an iPad. Or a printer, for that matter. So my MacBook Pro comes with me to the kitchen in a dangerous display of hubris. And last night, it happened. I dripped water on the brick of the power cord. Luckily, I found there are some things to do if your power cord gets wet so that it can be saved (hopefully).

Last week, I was getting ready for my mother to come for a visit. So naturally, I had to clean out my fridge! I used the method she taught me, and 20 minutes later, my fridge was mom-worthy clean. The inside of your fridge can be clean in no time, too, (and clutter-free) with these four easy steps. Ok—time to roll up your sleeves and get to work! This is also a great chance to toss older or forgotten food while you’re at it. You can do this all at once or in sections.

From super simple cleaning solutions to what can—and shouldn't ever—be mixed with lemon juice.

For everyone out there who is on Team Hand Wash (by choice or by force).

For when you know it *is* clean, but it doesn't ever *look* clean.

How long has it been since you properly cleaned your toilet brush? Or—gasp!—the toilet brush holder? Here's how to do it.

Home Hacks month has inspired us to undo all of the bad DIYs left in our home by previous inhabitants. For example, the 4-foot-long vintage mirror in the bathroom was callously splattered with paint when someone constructed a questionable homemade shelf next to it. Luckily, removing the paint was easy, non-toxic, and didn’t damage the glass at all.MaterialsWhite VinegarWaterEquipmentRagSaucepan1. Boil three tablespoons of white vinegar with three tablespoons of water.2.

It's time to take a break from all that close-knit nightly snuggling and give your throw pillows a wash.

It’s inevitable. If you have a pet and a nice wool rug, you will, at some point, have to clean your pet’s mess off said wool rug. You’ll get angry, you’ll assign a time out, then you’ll use this cleaning method to remove the funk, and all will be well. This is our go-to method for cleaning up pet messes on our rugs around the house. If caught quickly, it’s really the best possible, non-toxic way to clean pet stains from a rug.

Here's what you need to do to avoid build-up—a telltale sign that your plant friends are faux.

Fabric softener can be beneficial—but here are a few ways NOT to use it.