Weekly Cleaning Made Easy

In the kitchen, it pays to get the hardest jobs out of the way first. To keep your kitchen sparkling clean, stay up-to-date with these weekly tasks.

-- Mop the floor.

-- Clean the exteriors of appliances.

-- Wipe the counters and cabinet doors.

-- Scour and polish the sink.

When cleaning your bathroom, take time to give your fixtures a little TLC.

-- Use general-purpose spray cleaners or mix vinegar and water to scrub your sink, toilet exterior, tub, and faucets.

-- Use an antibacterial cleaner for heavy-duty disinfecting in the toilet bowl and baking soda paste on tough grime.

-- Remember not to use abrasives on scratchable surfaces.

By eliminating dust, you'll protect your furniture and improve your home's air quality.

-- Remove accumulated dust from furniture and other problem areas.

-- For dusting, we love soft, non-scratching cloths that pick up and hold dirt.

-- For fine wood furniture, use dusting cloths in place of silicone sprays.

-- Keep your large area rugs in tip-top shape by caring for them as you would wall-to-wall carpet.

-- For small rugs that are difficult to vacuum, take them outside and shake them vigorously, or hang them over a clothesline and beat with a broom to remove dust and dirt.

-- Consult care labels for small rugs to determine whether they should be dry cleaned, spot cleaned, or laundered.

Vacuuming your living areas once a week controls the unavoidable accumulation of dust and debris.

-- Before you vacuum, pick up large debris, scraps of paper, buttons, and objects that may damage your vacuum belts and hoses.

-- Try vacuuming steadily and evenly in overlapping parallel patterns.

Mopping is one of the most inexpensive and effective ways to keep your home clean.

-- Wet mops are used for scrubbing and for applying sanitizing solutions to bathroom and kitchen floors.

They work when pressed firmly to the floor and moved in long, overlapping strokes.

-- When mopping, make sure to wipe up excess liquid because standing water can damage wood surfaces.

We recommend changing and laundering sheets and pillowcases once a week.

-- For even wear, rotate your sheets, storing fresh sheets at the bottom of the stack in your linen closet.

-- For best results, wash your sheets in warm water and use non-chlorine bleach when needed.

-- Wash all-cotton spreads, blankets, and coverlets in cold water to avoid shrinkage.

Don't forget to give your entryways a little attention every week.

• Try using a utility broom to clean large areas that require heavy-duty sweeping such as decks, patios, and driveways.
• Use a classic, natural-bristle brush for general sweeping with a dustpan.
• Choose the best-quality broom to avoid bristles that shed when you sweep.