10 Cleaning Tips to Jumpstart the New Year
From the best straighten-up strategies to the right way to vacuum your sofa, here's how to keep your house in tip-top shape in the New Year.
1. Sweep Steps
Most household dirt-75 to 80 percent-is tracked in from outside. Keep the mess outside by regularly sweeping driveways, porches, sidewalks, and garage doors. Then, add a doormat to both the inside and the outside of every door.
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2. Clean Door Mats
Vacuum or shake entryway rugs and mats when you clean the rest of the house, and give them a good wash once a month.
3. Remove Your Shoes
Keep grit and scuff marks at bay by asking family members and guests to remove their shoes when coming into the house. Keep a basket of slippers by the door for guests to borrow.
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4. Vacuum Upholstery
Vacuum your couch and upholstered chairs regularly, even if they don't look like they need it. When invisible dirt and dust are left on the surface of the fabric, people sit on it and grind the particles deep into the weave of the fabric. Over time, this builds up and becomes noticeable, and by the time it does, it's too late to vacuum.
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5. Do a Few Nightly Chores
Clean one small thing before bed, no matter how tired you are. Whether it's emptying the dishwasher or just wiping the bathroom sink and faucets, it will be one less thing to do tomorrow.
6. Clean Shower Curtains
Throw your shower curtain-fabric, plastic, or vinyl-in the washing machine once a month to remove soap scum, shampoo, and mildew.
7. Wash Grout
Try to eliminate mildew in grout the easiest way first: Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and spray directly on the affected grout. Wait ten minutes, then rinse. If this doesn't do the trick, dip a clean toothbrush directly into the vinegar and scrub gently. The grout should come clean with surprisingly little effort.
8. Shine Dingy Faucets
To get cloudy faucets gleaming, first wipe the faucets, then swab with vinegar. Soak a cloth or paper towel with vinegar and wrap it around the faucet. After an hour, remove the wrappings and give the fixtures a final rub with a fresh towel.
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9. Check Air Filters
If your windows always seem dirty, make sure you aren't inadvertently blowing dust back into the air via your ventilation system. Check the filters in your heating and air conditioning systems, and make sure your registers and vents are clean.
10. Dust Blinds
The fastest and most effective way to dust blinds is to put on a pair of inexpensive soft cotton gloves, give them a shot of dusting spray, and glide your fingers over the slats.
Get more home maintenance tips from CountryLiving.com:
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Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.
