Cleaning Basics

There are tons of “green” bathroom cleaners on the market, but most of the time it’s cheaper and just as effective to make your own. Armed with a few simple non-toxic and biodegradable ingredients, you can keep your bathroom fresh and sparkling. If you’ve got a little extra time today, grab this shopping list, head to the store and make a few batches of healthy cleaners to keep your bathroom (or any room) healthy!

Twelve months of techniques got people talking.

Whether you're just getting started in a new space or looking to complete (or maybe upgrade) your cleaning kit, here's what you need.

Here are four ways to determine which ones.

This no-fuss mop is a cleaning staple.

You’d be forgiven for thinking several items around your home are self-cleaning. Items like your soap dispenser and dishwasher are literally used for cleaning… with soap… so how can they themselves get dirty? Welp, they can. 

If you learn to avoid these pitfalls, you'll greatly increase your chances of rescuing your favorite shirt.

Confirmed: It looks great in the kitchen.

It ultimately depends on what you’re cleaning. Consider this your go-to guide.

Combining soda and vinegar won’t hurt anyone — but don’t expect the mixture to do a good job cleaning, either.

Without extra tools or wasted storage space, you'll get the clean floors you dream of.

GoCleanCo's genius tips involve using their go-to cleaner on almost everything at home: bleach and powdered Tide. But here are a few cautions to keep in mind before you whip up a batch.

There's one cleaning method you should never, ever attempt: Steam-cleaning.

No matter how thoroughly you're cleaning your kitchen, chances are you're forgetting this one sneaky spot.

A little pro strategy goes a long way in making sure that you don't sabotage your own best efforts.

Before you spring for a new machine, check through this list of common vacuuming mistakes that could be sabotaging your attempts.

Learning these things will save you frustration, time, and money—and keep your items looking their finest.

As powerful as bleach is, there’s a bit of a learning curve.

If you learn how to clean the toilet properly—and how to keep it that way—you'll be able to enjoy that fresh commode feeling around the clock.

These tips help make cleanliness part of the rhythm of daily life.

This condiment does more than just make for tasty sandwiches.

Including why all-in-one products can't do it all.

Here are three tracks based on doable time limits—designed to give you a bathroom that's clean, cleaner, or cleanest.

Having a clean kitchen feels like the first step of having a completely clean house.

How much truth is there in these wives tales we have always heard growing up?

These 10 guidelines can apply to any area you want to tackle, and will make every cleaning endeavor go just a little bit more smoothly.

Kristen Ziegler, owner of Minima, recommends items that combine function and beauty and take usually boring, utilitarian household items to a whole other level.

If you’re afraid of the luxury of having something nice like a leather sofa, we’re here to put your fears at rest. Leather is a performance material, and fortunately you don’t have to work hard to maintain it. “People make the mistake of assuming that because leather is more expensive, it requires more care—when it’s just the opposite,” says Whitney Tinsley, Moore & Giles‘ Director of Education. “Leather is meant to be lived in.

One extremely valuable feature of Amazon—one that takes some of the uncertainty out of buying many things sight-unseen—is the power of hundreds, sometimes thousands, of user reviews. When at item has pages upon pages of high-star ratings, it’s almost impossible not to check it out. Especially when it’s touted as a miracle cure-all for all your cleaning conundrums. Bar Keeper’s Friend is one of those.

It feels like no matter what you do or how often you clean, there's always a layer of dust waiting to settle on to every surface in your home.

There are a few conversation topics that remain off limits today. Polite company (if they want to remain polite) might not touch politics. Coworkers often avoid talking about their salaries. And unless you’re very close friends, you probably don’t ever feel brave enough to reveal how truly filthy you actually are at home. Thankfully you don’t have to.

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

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.

Story time: When we first started talking about this at Apartment Therapy, my immediate reaction was, “Machine washable rugs exist?!?” so if you’re reading this thinking, “wait, really?” you’re not alone. (If you did know this already, you can probably still learn a thing or two, and those of us who didn’t know appreciate your patience with us.

You already know hydrogen peroxide comes in handy for cleaning up cuts and scrapes and even for whitening your teeth, but there’s a lot more to it than that—it’s also great to have on hand for cleaning your home. It’s inexpensive, you can find it at just about any pharmacy and grocery store, and it can do just about anything. From disinfecting toys and countertops to keeping your shower mold and mildew free, H2O2 has your back.

The freezer tends to be one of the most neglected areas of your home -which is kind of understandable. You make your dinner, you stick the leftovers in a freezer safe tub, stash it in the freezer and forget it about it until it falls out on your foot while you’re reaching for the ice cream. So maybe now is a good time to take a few minutes, clear it out, clean it out, take inventory, and get to the bottom of those leftovers. Freezer bags Sharpie Cleaning supplies 1.

Get easily bored or completely distracted when you try to clean your house? You’re not alone. When some folks try to do too much at one time or try to tackle too many tasks in one session, cleaning can end up abandoned. But there’s a type of cleaning routine for folks just like you that will help you stick to cleaning tasks, keep the momentum going and leave you with a whole clean house each week. See if it’s something that might fit your lifestyle (or cleaning personality)!

Cleaning bathrooms, ugh right? No one likes to do it, and certainly no one likes to spend a ton of time doing it. So take as little time as possible to clean yours by checking out this complete guide — all the tools you’ll need and the order in which to tackle tasks — so you can get the toilet scrubbing done quickly and get back to living life.

You see your sofa every day, but when was the last time you really looked at it? Dust, pet hair, popcorn kernels and other debris find their way down through the cracks, waiting to shame you the next time a friend drops their keys down the cushions. Make a few extra pennies and avoid that awkward apology by vacuuming your sofa on the regular.

Whether you’ve got a trusted cleaning routine that keeps your home in tip-top shape or not, there are six things you should never let go uncleaned, not even for a day (barring vacation and illness, of course). Every day, take a few moments to tackle this handful of cleaning tasks — you’ll live in a cleaner home for it! You’ve heard it said before — don’t let those dishes pile up.

Shaving brushes can run the gamut in terms of cost, ranging from $5-$250 depending on the materials used. No matter what you spend, one thing remains true: Your brush needs to be cleaned regularly to keep soap scum from building up and bacteria from growing. Vinegar Castile soap or organic detergent Warm water Glass or shallow dish Clean rag or paper towel 1. Run your brush under warm water to remove any soap hanging around from your previous shave.

If you’ve ever owned anything suede you know how much of a hassle it can be to keep clean—but you also know how durable and long-lasting the fabric is. So if you’ve tucked away furniture or clothing because you’re stumped as to how to clean up those stains, get up and gather these three tools, because DIY suede stain removal is easier than you could ever imagine. The first step in stain removal is to identify your stains.

Usually, when someone hears I work at Apartment Therapy, the very next words out of their mouth is, “I have a post idea for you!” And nine times out of ten it’s about chicken coops (I can’t explain it, I guess people love chickens. Note to self, CHICKENS). So when Kitchn editor Ariel said those exact words to me today, I was trepidatiously interested, then, when I heard it, floored.

Getting home clean can be an easy or tough job, but the real trick of enjoying home regularly is getting your home clean and keeping it that way. And that can happen much more easily when you master these five specific skills around the house. You never know – one of these could be the secret to ever-lasting cleanliness for your home! You don’t always have to be scrubbing the floor every day, but consider wiping the cabinets after you cook a meal.

I know you’ve heard this advice from magazines and fashion blogs: wear nice underwear to boost your confidence and do something lovely just for you (unless, you know, it’s for someone else, too. Win win!). I’m not gonna tell you the state of my undies right now, but here’s what I do at home that gives me the exact same feeling. I know, UGH.

Light fixtures tend to be the final resting place for bugs. And if it’s been a while since you’ve cleaned yours, you’ve more than likely got a bug graveyard hanging over your dining room table. Cleaning up can be quick and easy, and is a great project to add to your seasonal cleaning duties. So gather your supplies, round up some help and evict those exoskeletons. Depending on what type of fixture you are working with, you might need an extra set of hands to help out.

White or natural color wools can yellow for a number of reasons, ranging from age to the environment it’s stored in. If your wool has yellowed naturally or because of a bleach stain, don’t fear! You can bring it back. I recently took in a stray rug that had a pretty significant bleach stain. The stain was intimidating but the rug was really nice, so I was determined. I figured it couldn’t get any worse than it already was!

Do you dread the job of cleaning home? Rather pass on tackling chores? Do you view such tasks as scrubbing and mopping as the most boring and unappealing things ever? Do you either fail to get started (putting cleaning off until things are really bad) or do you run out of energy before finishing everything on your to-do list? You might need to rearrange the order of what cleaning tasks you tackle first. Have you ever heard of something called job crafting?

You know the type.

Though it might be tempting to use a commercial cleanser, think about trying one of these natural fireplace-cleaning options first.

The cleaning up part certainly isn’t as fun (or as tasty) as the cooking part, but it’s a job that must be done. Check out these handy tips for a stovetop your mother would be proud of! Cleaning as you go truly is the best way to save yourself from having to cleanup a disaster of a mess like the one above. But sometimes life gets busy and there just isn’t time between the cooking and the eating and the evening’s engagements to wipe down that stove.

It's a bit of a bigger job and one that tends to get put off.