There are also a few places you won’t need to tackle again until next year.
YOUR CABINETS
Over time, build-up can collect on your kitchen cabinets — especially if you don’t run the exhaust hood over your range while you cook to keep grease from settling. To remove build-up use a “cabinet cream” to cut through the dirt and leave wood moisturized.
YOUR WINDOWS
Instead of just wiping down the inside, make sure you take to the outdoors during spring cleaning season to remove spots and smudges you don’t usually have time to tackle. Pro tip? Wash ’em on a cloudy day to ensure that the sun won’t dry the cleanser before you’re done wiping.
YOUR STAINLESS STEEL
What’s the point of having stainless steel in your kitchen if it’s not bright and clean? To make your surface sparkle again, Adam Kamens of Amuneal Manufacturing Corp.
YOUR COUNTERTOPS
The first step to preventing granite stains: Get your countertops sealed a few times as soon as it’s installed, says kitchen designer Florence Perchuk. You’ll know it’s sealed properly when water beads and forms droplets on the surface. Then have it sealed again a year later — perhaps during spring cleaning season? After that, you’ll just want to make sure you wipe up accidental spills as soon as they happen.
YOUR DISHWASHER
To ensure this heavy-duty cleaning appliance gets all the tomato sauce stains off of your dinner plates, you have to clean it too. First, remove any bits of food on the bottom. Then, run a cycle with a specialty cleanser made for your dishwasher about once a month.
YOUR REFRIGERATOR
This means the outside and inside. Pull out all of your fridge’s interior shelving and wash them with warm soapy water. Then wipe down the surfaces that can’t be removed on the inside with a sponge before putting shelves back in their place.
YOUR WOOD FLOORS
Even though you might think you’re mopping your wooden floors every week, this chore could actually ruin them. Instead, you should only wet-clean them once every one to two months and spot-clean as needed.
YOUR OVEN
If you ever start to smell something burning when you turn on your oven, it might be time to give it a deep clean. First, chip off loose pieces from your range, then spritz burnt-on food with ammonia. Sprinkle baking soda and a few drops of white vinegar on the bottom, let it bubble up, then whisk away the grime with a sponge.
YOUR CLOSET
Organizing your closet is the first step to organizing the rest of your home. Get rid of unused clothes and accessories, and organize the rest by how you get dressed in the morning and by color. Your closet will look appealing, and your everyday routine will be easier.
YOUR WASHING MACHINE
Don’t wash your clothes in a smelly machine. Instead, disinfect it with distilled white vinegar and baking soda to keep it fresh and high-functioning. Run the machine with hot water, then add the cleaning agents, and let it sit for 30 to 60 minutes. Afterwards, restart your machine, let the water drain, and wipe it dry.
