how to clean your house essay

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How Important Is Keeping a Clean House?

Questions about issues in the news for students 13 and older.

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In any home, some cleaning-related tasks spark dread in some members of the household, while others don’t mind them at all. For example, one person might detest emptying the dishwasher, and therefore, complete other chores that he or she likes more, or at least is willing to do.

Do you think it’s fair to be able to pick and choose when it comes to cleaning and home maintenance? What if everyone likes and dislikes the same tasks? How are chores delegated in your household?

In the Op-Ed piece “The Case for Filth,” Stephen Marche suggests a solution to issues like the gender divide that keeps women doing more of the housework than men and even disagreements over what constitutes a household chore: everyone cleaning less. He begins:

In Claire Messud’s novel “The Emperor’s Children,” the ultraliberal Murray Thwaite comes home late, steps in cat vomit and keeps walking: “It still was not, nor could it ever be, his role to clean up cat sick,” Ms. Messud writes. The boomer hypocrite is practically a comic type by this point, but in his domestic disregard, Murray Thwaite is like most other men, liberal or conservative, old or young. Unlike many other rubrics by which you can establish the balance of power between men and women, there isn’t much evidence of a cohort shift in housework. Younger men are doing roughly the same amount of work around the house as their fathers did. It doesn’t look like they’re going to start doing more, either. Women today make up 40 percent of America’s sole or primary breadwinners for families with children under 18, a share that has quadrupled since 1960. And yet in America as well as in several other countries in the developed world, men’s time investment in housework has not significantly altered in nearly 30 years. A recent, large cross-national study on the subject by an Ohio State sociologist found that “women’s housework did not decline significantly and men’s housework did not increase significantly after the mid-1980s in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands.” In the United States, men’s participation in housework topped out at 94 minutes at day in 1998, but by 2003 was down to 81 minutes, not much different than the 76 minutes it was in 1985. Think of all the other changes that men have undertaken in the period between 1980 and 2010. Taking care of kids used to be women’s work, too, but now the man with his kids is an icon of manliness. Foodie snobbism has taken on a macho edge in some circles, to the point where the properly brined Thanksgiving turkey can be a status symbol of masculine achievement. So why won’t men pick up a broom? Why won’t they organize a closet? Why can’t housework be converted — as the former burdens of food preparation and child rearing seem to have been for some men — into a source of manly pride and joy? Why would housework be the particular place to stall? At least one thing is becoming clear: The only possible solution to the housework discrepancy is for everyone to do a lot less of it.

Students: Read the entire Op-Ed piece, then tell us …

• How would Mr. Marche’s suggestion about cleaning less be received in your house? Why?
• What are the pros and cons of taking his advice?
• Have you observed or been part of situations in which people of one gender do more household tasks than the other? Explain.
• How important is a tidy environment to you?
• Do you enjoy cleaning and other household tasks?
• Do you think people tend to judge others by how clean–or dirty–their homes are? Explain.
• When you are living on your own, how do you think your approach to housekeeping will be like or unlike that of your parents? Why? Or, if you are on your own, describe this aspect of your transition to living independently.
• Mr. Marche states that cooking and child-rearing are now “cool” for men. Why do you taking care of the home hasn’t “caught on” to the same degree? Is this comparison valid? Why or why not?
• A November Student Opinion question asked about ordinary tasks you would pay someone else to do for you, if you could. Would cleaning your room or completing other household chores be on your list? Why or why not?

Students 13 and older are invited to comment below. Please use only your first name . For privacy policy reasons, we will not publish student comments that include a last name.

Comments are no longer being accepted.

Keeping a clean house is important because of hygene. A clean environment is essntial to living a healthier life. However, this doesn’t mean that people should obsess over their cleaning. Keep a good balance.

My motto is “A place for everything and everything in its place,” The floor is a place! I seldom do housework. On the rare occasions when I can afford it, I pay someone else, usually just to keep the living room moderately presentable. My adult son helps by lugging out the trash and changing the kitty litter. Mostly, I just keep organized enough to know which pile of clutter the item I need is buried in. But somehow I manage to keep my work (calligraphy) spotlessly clean.

I sometimes enjoy cleaning when i have help and i like to turn it into a game or contest to make it fun. When i clean with my sister, we usually make a bet and who every finishes first gets 10 dollars.

Its very important that you keep a house clean. That’s the way other people look at you by the way your house is set up.

Keeping a clean house is very important. Your house represents you. If you have a clean house, then you are a clean person. If your house is not clean, then you will be viewed as something else in my opinion.

Having a clean house is important you’ll never know who is comming to visit at anyday and if your house is not in the coorect stature it will give the visitor a bad oppinion and mindset about you and your cleanliness

a tidy enviorment is somewhat important to me, its important to me because i dont like being in the same room with alot of clutter. I rather a room be straightened up where i can find things if not completely clean.

I think it’s important to have a clean house, knowing that evryone sees clean in their own way i feel having a clean house inside and out speaks for your community and yourself. It helps’ beautify the community

I think that keeping your house clean is very important, especially if you have any household pets. Keeping a house clean keeps bacteria at bay. It also keeps things organized and neat.

So this is an issue in my household we strugle with this every week. every one has a busy scedule in my house so when we get home we are all tired. bt we have been making adjustments to thisand trying to keep the house in order. my parents feel that it is all on the kids to keep the house clean. they want us to clean and cook everyday but time is . our house isn’t filthy but it could be better

It is very important to keep a clean house. No one wants to sit in a nasty house because you can attract bugs and other unpleasant things in your home. I don’t even think its healthy to keep a dirty home because keeping a dirty home can cause different types of medical issues.However I don’t believe in having said “chores”. In my house we go by “You mess it up, you clean it up.” However I do think its important to have a day where its nothing but clean up. You clean your own room, the kitchen, bathroom, or whatever. That’s what we do in our home. You clean your own room on your own time, and if you dirty up the kitchen you clean it. And in some cases the bathroom. But as far as stuff like living room or hallway or something then its a set time to clean up, but those rooms hardly ever get dirty.

Being a teenager I see a clean home differently. Just because everything isn’t organized doesn’t mean it’s a mess. I go through that with my mother all the time reguarding my room. I personally feel like if the the floor looks clean it is clean, no need for me to grab a broom for dirt no one can see.

Oh Lordie! Is important to keep clean your house? Of course, it is! Cleanliness is next to Godliness. Plus it’s very unhelathy to live in a dirty home.

No I do not enjoy cleaning but if it keeps a homely environment and keeps my parents contempt then I’ll do it.

It is very important to keep a clean house because it takes away the germs and bacteria, and the dirt period.It is also important to keep a clean house because if people come over your house, it would be embarassing to have a dirty house. It would have them talk about it to other people and give you a bad name, also avoid people from coming to your house.

Cleaning your house is very important because you don’t want to have bugs, or to find food on the floor or hinden somewhere under your bed or similar.

Clean houses keep roaches away. No one likes roaches. People seem to judge you by the way your house looks and it would not be pretty if they saw roaches crawling around.

I think that keeping a house clean is very important. It serves to making life easier and more productive. Some people actually do focus better in clutter, but it is still good to live in a clean area in case of fire, medical issues, or any other types of disasters.

At my house I do the chores in exchange for my phone bill being paid.

I think it is very important to keep your house clean. Who wants a dirty house? It is very important to keep a clean house, it’s not healthy to keep a dirty house.

I think it is very necessary to have a clean and healthy home. It helps prevent bug infestations. It’s also safer, it makes it easier to move in case of emergencies. Plus, people can find it easier to judge you with a dirty home, clean houses gives you an overall better appearance. It can also be based on how hard of a worker you are, with a dirty home people could think you’re too lazy to even pick up a little bit in your own house.

its pretty important to have a clean house it shows how you are as a person being dirty isnt okay for anyone

I think its important to keep a clean house because , a clean house is a happy house . No one wants t sleep or et or even be in a dirty houe , its not only NOT healthy as well as not a good look, your houe can be so dirty that its infested with mice , roaches or other mysterious bugs . and you affect your neighbors with you dirty habts . When a house is clean you sleep better ! like said before a happy house is a clean houe . !

It is important to keep a clean house because its nasty not to be clean. If your house is dirty you will carry the smell with you. No one wants to smell anything that isnt plesent. If your house is dirty it can cause mice,and other creatures or insects its bad for your health.

Having a clean home reduces clutter in your life and is overall more appealing in life.I find that women maintain cleanliness more than men.Just one of many things women do better.

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15 Helpful Tips to Keep a Home Clean and Tidy

Last Updated: February 16, 2024 Approved

This article was co-authored by Marty Stevens-Heebner, SMM-C, CPO® and by wikiHow staff writer, Jennifer Mueller, JD . Marty Stevens-Heebner is a Certified Professional Organizer (CPO) and Founder of Clear Home Solutions, a home organizing and senior moving management company based in Southern California. Marty is the President of the National Association of Senior and Specialty Move Managers (NASMM), with certifications in Senior and Specialty Move Management, Professional Organizing, and Aging in Place. Clear Home Solutions was the first nationally accredited firm in Los Angeles and Ventura Counties. Marty is the first Certified Senior Move Manager (SMM-C) in the United States and has been acknowledged as a Hoarding Specialist and ADHD Specialist through the Institute for Challenging Disorganization. Marty also hosts How to Move Your Mom (and still be on speaking terms afterward), a podcast dedicated to later life and all its idiosyncrasies. She received her B.A. in History from Cornell University and an MFA from the University of California, Los Angeles. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. In this case, 100% of readers who voted found the article helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 325,381 times.

Some people find cleaning a relaxing and enjoyable activity, something they look forward to every day. If you've landed on this article, though, that's probably not you. If cleaning is the last thing you want to do, but you still want to live in a neat and tidy space, you're in luck! We've gathered some of the best tips, from the general to the specific, that you can use to keep your home clean in just a few minutes a day—leaving you plenty of time to do things you enjoy more.

Clean up after yourself immediately.

• Get in the habit of putting things back the way they're supposed to be after you're done with them. For example, if you moved blankets and pillows while watching a movie in the living room, take a moment to fold the blanket and fluff the pillows when the movie is over. [2] X Research source
• If you have small children who you don't trust to clean up everything by themselves yet, teach them to tell you about any spills or messes immediately instead of waiting.

Keep frequently used things in convenient places.

• For example, if you have a hoodie that you wear at least twice a week, you might put a hook on the door where you can hang it for easy access, rather than having to fold it and put it on a shelf in the top of the closet.

Store cleaning supplies in every room.

• If it isn't feasible to have multiple brooms or vacuum cleaners, put these tools in a central location where they can be easily accessed from the entire home. If your home has two floors, though, it's still worth it to spring for one upstairs and one downstairs so you don't have to lug them back and forth.
• While this might mean that, initially, you have to buy several bottles of the same cleaning products, they'll last a lot longer because you're not using them all over the house. Sure, you'll spend a little more initially, but it'll even out.

Have a laundry hamper for each person.

• If you're not sure where to put the hamper, look at where the laundry typically piles up. If you're accustomed to tossing clothes in that spot, putting a hamper there won't change anything—it'll just make it look neater.
• If you have a washer and dryer in your home, get in the habit of immediately doing laundry when the hamper is full.

Set up a donation box.

• This is also helpful if you have children. As soon as a child grows out of something, put it straight into the donation box so you don't have to worry about it anymore.
• If you get in the habit of putting things into the box regularly, your closets and storage areas will always look neater and you won't have to tackle the hours-long task of sorting through things once or twice a year.

Make your bed every morning.

• Making your bed every morning has a motivating effect as well. If you start your day by making your bed, that's one task that you've already successfully completed. It puts you in the frame of mind to complete other tasks as well. [8] X Research source

Spray, then wipe the tub or shower after every use.

• If you keep the bottle of cleaner sitting in or next to your shower or tub, it'll remind you to do a quick spray when you get out. Then, after you've dried, you can quickly wipe down the shower or tub when you hang up your towel.

Use an empty box or basket to gather up clutter.

• These baskets are handy in common rooms that multiple people use, such as your living room, dining room, or den.
• Find time during the day to gather things up—it should only take a minute or so—and then you can distribute them when you have a chance. For example, if you're leaving the living room to go to your bedroom, take a second to grab anything in the box or basket that belongs in your bedroom and take it with you.

Wipe down flat surfaces.

• Get in the habit of wiping things off as soon as you use them also. For example, it only takes a minute to wipe the table off after you've cleared the dishes from dinner.

Sweep or vacuum high-traffic areas.

• Sweeping the porch or entryway outside your door also limits the amount of outside dirt and debris people bring inside with them.

"Close down" the kitchen every night.

• If you have housemates that are on different schedules, give the kitchen closing duties to whoever is the last person to use it. As long as everyone is cleaning up their own messes, it shouldn't be too big of a deal.
• If you have a dishwasher, start it at night (if it's full), then it'll be ready for you to unload the morning while you're making breakfast or brewing your coffee. [13] X Research source

Clean your toilet as part of your bedtime routine.

Dust thoroughly in each room once a week.

• For example, you might dust your bedroom on Monday, the living room on Tuesday, and the kitchen on Wednesday.
• Accumulated dust can affect the air quality in your home and make it more difficult to breathe, so this task is as much for your health as it is for the sake of cleanliness.

Clean the floors once a week.

• For example, you might vacuum your bedroom carpet on Monday, mop the living room on Tuesday, and mop the kitchen on Wednesday.
• School-age children can typically be taught to clean the floor in their own bedrooms.

Create a deep-cleaning schedule.

• Wipe down inside your fridge and freezer (every 3-6 months)
• Clean inside your oven (every 3-6 months)
• Wash pillows and comforters (every 3-6 months)
• Wash drapes and curtains (every year)
• Deep-clean windows (every year)
• Deep-clean carpets and upholstery (every year)

What Are Your Top Three Annual Home Maintenance Priorities?

Community Q&A

• Delegate tasks to everyone in the home. Even small children can do their part to keep their living space clean and tidy. If everyone pitches in, no one gets overwhelmed and it's much easier to clean your home and keep it that way. [18] X Research source Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• Try listening to music or your favorite podcast while cleaning to stimulate your mind and take your mind off an otherwise monotonous task. [19] X Research source Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
• If you feel overwhelmed, be kind to yourself. Changing your habits is hard and even if you just do one thing, it's better than nothing. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ Marty Stevens-Heebner, SMM-C, CPO®. Certified Professional Organizer & Senior Move Manager. Expert Interview. 14 January 2020.
• ↑ https://www.rd.com/list/secrets-for-a-clean-house/
• ↑ https://www.womansday.com/home/organizing-cleaning/tips/a4055/a-quicker-way-to-clean-house-83178/
• ↑ https://www.mydomaine.com/house-cleaning-schedule
• ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/tips/a25816/reasons-to-make-your-bed/
• ↑ https://youtu.be/3sK3wJAxGfs?t=10
• ↑ https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-clean-your-house-in-20-minutes-a-day-for-30-days-131142
• ↑ https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning/a37462/how-often-you-should-clean-everything/

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The Ultimate Checklist for Cleaning Your Entire House

Tai Massimilian is the Marketing and Creative Director at Texas's premier luxury housekeeping company, Highland Park Housekeeping.

The Spruce / Jason Donnelly

• How Often Should You Clean Your Home?
• Kitchen Cleaning

Wipe Down Light Fixtures and Ceiling Fans

Tackle countertops and cabinets, wipe down your appliances, finish with your kitchen floor and baseboards.

• Bathroom Cleaning

Dust Light Fixtures and Ceiling Fans

Wipe down mirrors, clean countertops and sink, clean your shower, clean your toilet, wash bathroom tile floor.

• Bedroom Cleaning

Dust the Rest of the Room

Make your bed, mop or vacuum as needed.

• Living Room, Hallway, and Common Spaces Cleaning

Start With Dusting the Room

Clean upholstery, address floors and baseboards.

• Additional Tips

We all know the feeling: your baseboards are gathering dust, your oven is accumulating crust, and to be honest, you can't even remember the last time you dusted your light fixtures . Have no fear, clean freak—we're here to rescue you from the trenches of filth.

While we all know deep cleaning our home is a must, it can be hard to know where to start when you have so many things to do. We're using one of the oldest methods in the book—a cleaning checklist—to show you how to get the job done without getting overwhelmed.

While you can clean rooms in any order you prefer, we highly suggest cleaning every room from ceiling to floor. This will help you catch as much dust as possible and make sure you don't miss any details. Each room will be written out in ceiling to floor order, starting with ceiling fans and light fixtures, so grab a ladder before you get started.

How Often Should You Clean Your Home From Top to Bottom?

The answer to this question depends on numerous factors. Do you have pets? Do you live in a dusty area? Do you have small children running around? Do you wear shoes in your house? Do you use a regular housekeeping service? All of these impact how often you should deep clean your home . Typically once a month is your best bet, but use your best judgement, and when all else fails, run your finger across the major surfaces in your home to check for dust and walk around barefoot for an hour. If your fingertips are dusty and the bottoms of your feet are dirty, it's probably time for a deep clean.

Kitchen Cleaning Checklist

We'll start the kitchen the same way we start every room: by working from ceiling to floor. Grab your step ladder and add 1-2 sprays of all-purpose cleaner to a microfiber cloth. Remember this important rule of thumb: less is more when it comes to cleaning products—using too much product can leave streaks and sticky residue.

Gently wipe down light fixtures and ceiling fans (if you have them). Don't worry about dust dropping on the floor or counters–we're moving top to bottom, so we'll get that next.

Once you're done with high dusting, move down to countertops and appliances. You can repeat this process for the fronts of cabinets and drawers as well.

• To really deep clean your countertops, use a sponge, some mild dish soap, and hot water.
• Wash the countertops thoroughly, then wipe down with a wet microfiber cloth to rinse.
• Finally, for an extra shiny finish, wipe with some all-purpose cleaner.

To avoid getting water all over the floor, unroll some paper towels in front of your cabinets, then use them to mop up any drips after you're done.

You can use dish soap or a gentle exfoliating cleanser for pretty much every appliance in your kitchen, as long as you use unscented and non-toxic products in your oven and microwave, as you don't want harmful chemicals cooked into your food.

You might need to use a steel wool pad to scrub your oven and stove grates if gunk is really stuck on them. Finally, if you have them, be sure to wipe all stainless steel appliances in smooth vertical strokes for the shiniest finish.

Last but not least, move to floors and baseboards. Mop first, then vacuum. Be sure to lift up the corners of any rugs and pick up small mats when you vacuum. Wipe down baseboards with a bar mop towel and some all-purpose cleaner.

Bathroom Cleaning Checklist

In your bathroom, start again with high dusting on light fixtures and ceiling fans. Follow the same tips described in the kitchen cleaning checklist.

Next, we'll clean the mirrors. The "less is more principle" applies here more than ever. Often, people get streaks on their mirrors and try to fix them by adding more glass cleaner. Try to hold back and add 1-2 small sprays of glass cleaner to your mirror, then wipe down with a bar mop towel. The less product the less likely you are to get stuck with streaks.

Bar mops are better to use here as they minimize dusty residue that sometimes gets stuck on glass surfaces.

After your mirrors are sparkling and streak-free, move on to countertops and sinks.

• You'll want to use a sponge, dish soap and hot water to wash down the surfaces first, then follow up with an all-purpose cleaner.
• Make sure you've designated different sponges to use in your bathroom and your kitchen.
• You can use the same process in your bathtub, and add a little exfoliating cleanser to your sponge if some scrubbing is necessary to lift spots and grime.
• Start with washing the walls with dish soap, a sponge, and hot water.
• Rinse with a removable shower head if you have it, or just fill up a cup and pour it down the walls to rinse.
• If your shower is glass, finish the surface with glass cleaner to make it shine and avoid water spots.
• Got grout? Get a grout brush, hot water, dish soap, and scrub. Once the grout is clean, rinse it to avoid soap scum.

You'll want to use some disinfectant for this area. Start with the inside first, using a toilet bowl brush and toilet bowl cleaner to scrub the inside. Flush when you're done and store or throw out the brush properly. Next, wipe down the outside with disinfectant cleaner and paper towels.

As with the kitchen, mop first, then vacuum. It helps if you have a vacuum with a crevice tool, especially in your bathroom, as it helps to reach behind the toilet where hair and dust can get caught. And make sure to shake out and/or wash any bathroom rugs or mats if you can.

Bedroom Cleaning Checklist

You guessed it—we're starting with high dusting. Light fixtures and ceiling fans are first. You'll want to be extra careful if your ceiling fan is over your bed, unless you're prepared to wash your duvet cover. To avoid dropping dust here, use a microfiber cloth on an extender pole and wipe in long, slow strokes. The microfiber will actually catch the dust instead of just pushing it off the surface and onto your bed.

After you've done high dusting, refresh your microfiber with a spray of all-purpose cleaner and dust the rest of the room. Bedrooms have items like lamps, nightstands, picture frames, and knick-knacks that collect a lot of fine dust. A microfiber cloth is the most effective and gentlest way to pick up the dust.

Be sure to use a gentle all-purpose cleaner, and when in doubt on really delicate surfaces, just opt for a damp microfiber cloth instead.

Time for the most important step: making the bed. The key to making your bed feel luxurious is the three T's: tight sheets, triple folded duvet, and totally fluffed pillows.

Pull your sheets extra tight, fold your duvet over three times at the foot of the bed, and give your pillows a karate chop in the middle to give them that extra fluffed look.

Last but not least, floors. Mop and vacuum as needed, and be sure to get the dust on your baseboards with a bar mop towel. You can use a round brush tool attached to a canister vacuum first, then follow up with an all-purpose cleaner and a microfiber cloth.

Living Room, Hallway, and Common Spaces Cleaning Checklist

These areas will be done very similarly to the bedroom. Start with high dusting, then dust all the knick-knacks, and finally get your upholstery pristinely clean.

• For upholstery, grab a lightweight canister vacuum with an upholstery attachment. Most canister vacuums come with one included, so look online or check out your local superstore to find one.
• Remove each furniture cushion and vacuum them one by one on all sides.
• Vacuum underneath all the cushions, the back and sides of the furniture, replace the cushions, fluff the pillows and fold any blankets.
• If you have some furniture stains, try gently scrubbing them with some mild soap or upholstery shampoo.

You'll finish up with floors and baseboards, just like the other rooms.

Tips for Keeping Your Entire Home Clean Longer

• Regular light maintenance in between deep cleans is crucial.
• Dusting is your best friend when it comes to maintaining a clean home. Consider taking one a day week to dust one of the rooms in your house (and remember, ceiling to floor).
• Not to sound like your grandmother, but taking your shoes at the door off does help in keeping those floors clean longer.
• Remember that a tidy home is a clean home. Have a spot for your things and always put them back—you'll thank yourself later.

More from The Spruce

• 5 Places You Shouldn't Forget to Clean, in Honor of National Cleaning Week
• 5 Spaces You Should Always Start With During Spring Cleaning, According to Pros
• The Perfect Kitchen Cleaning Checklist for a Tidy Space
• The Ultimate Bathroom Cleaning Checklist
• How to Rid Your Entire Home of Dust
• How to Clean Your Entire Bathroom
• The Ultimate Cleaning Supplies List: Here's What to Have on Hand
• We Asked An Expert for Her Best Tips to Help You Conquer Spring Cleaning
• Bedroom Cleaning Checklist: How to Clean Your Bedroom Efficiently
• Our 30-Day Spring Cleaning Checklist Is Here to Save Your Home from Mess
• A Complete Guide for Deep Cleaning Every Room in Your Home
• Ceiling Cleaning: How to Clean a Ceiling
• How to Clean Your Bedroom in 15 Minutes
• How to Clean a Mirror Without Windex Using an Eco-Friendly DIY Solution Instead
• How to Clean Every Type of Wallpaper
• How to Clean Walls Without Damaging Your Paint

How to Deep Clean Your Home

By Tim McKeough Nov. 25, 2020

• Share full article

How to Deep Clean Your Home 🧽

There’s no way around it: The pandemic means that you’re leaving home less often, so things are getting dirty faster.

Now is the time to clean house, and not in a superficial way →

First, gather your supplies.

You’ll need a few key items: a vacuum, a mop, microfiber or cotton terry-cloth rags, or paper towels, and an all-purpose cleaner.

If you don’t have an all-purpose cleaner, you can make your own by mixing:

a half-cup of white vinegar

one pint of rubbing alcohol

one teaspoon of dish soap

enough water to make a gallon

Start in the dirtiest room and look up.

Dust falls to the floor during cleaning, so start high and work your way down. Vacuum away cobwebs, dust and use your all-purpose cleaner on ceiling fans and light fixtures.

Focus on high-touch surfaces.

Doorknobs, light switches, faucets and cabinet and appliance pulls tend to collect grime. Wipe them with a cloth and an all-purpose cleaner, and polish until they look new again.

Degrease the kitchen.

Start with the top of upper kitchen cabinets, then clean the fronts and insides. Use soap and water or degreaser. Remember the trash bin and the area under the sink, which is often the source of odors.

Give bathrooms extra attention.

Drains often go ignored: Put on gloves and pull out the gunk. Pour in a few spoons of baking soda and vinegar, let it bubble up and drain with hot water. For tiles, use a specialty tile-and-grout cleaner.

Don’t forget windows and picture frames.

Wipe away the dust, then use a cleaner. Finish with the glass, using Windex or white vinegar. For windowsills, use a cloth with soap and water, and scrubbing brush, if needed.

Finish with the floors ...

Ceramic and stone should be vacuumed, then mopped. On hardwood floors, use a floor cleaner or a mix of equal parts white vinegar and water, never allowing floors to be more than damp.

... and don’t forget the rugs.

Vacuum, but beat them outdoors first, if possible, to first remove any embedded dirt. Sprinkle baking soda on them and let them sit before vacuuming to leave them smelling great.

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How to Buy a Home

With careful research and determination, the keys to that dream house can be yours..

Start by organizing your finances  and asking the right questions: Is homeownership right for you ? What are the best markets for first-time buyers ? And can you afford to buy a house ?

From buying real estate with friends  and family  to owning a house before finding a spouse , people are exploring creative paths to homeownership  that also make financial sense.

For most, the down payment is the primary hurdle keeping them from buying a home, but you may have options .

Are you confused by all the new mortgage gimmicks being offered by lenders? Don’t worry, our guide can help .

Buying a vacant lot offers the chance to build a home on your own terms. Here is what to know if you choose that option .

To those looking to buy property as an investment, a tenant-occupied apartment can be appealing. Weigh the pros and cons carefully .

Bad credit? No savings? There are still ways for you to buy a home .

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Don't stress, here's how to clean your whole house

Sunday reset, done

Living room

Whether you’re hosting overnight guests, having a party, or just freshening up for the week ahead, knowing how to clean a house is a life skill that will serve you well. Even if you live in a small space, like an apartment or condo, learning how to clean efficiently and effectively can be tricky. I mean, you might not even have space in your rental to store cleaning supplies .

Even if you were raised to keep your room tidy, moving into a space that’s solely your own can create some relaxed (read: lazy) tendencies. Leaving dishes in the sink or neglecting that towering pile of laundry may seem like a luxury now that no one is on your case, but these habits can create a much bigger mess when it comes time to clean. 

We hate to break it to you but the longer you leave your chores waiting to be taken care of, the worse the cleaning and organization process will be. This can leave you feeling overwhelmed and confused as to where to even start. 

Whether you’ve dug yourself into a hole of cleaning chaos (or lack thereof) or you simply need a thorough checklist on how to clean a house, this guide will help. Clear some time in your schedule, turn on your favorite playlist, grab your supplies, and get ready for your place to look sparkling. 

A few house cleaning must-haves

Before you jump into your cleaning checklists, you'll want to make sure you have some good cleaning supplies and tools on hand. I’ve listed a few key products below that you’ll need to get started.

The perfect everyday spray, this cleaner is great for all around your home. Affordable, well-scented, and cruelty-free, it's an essential for your cleaning caddy. The spray is a golden pick because it's made with plant-derived ingredients and avoids artificial colors, parabens, and glycol solvents. Well-scented and thoughtfully made, what could be better to spritz your home with? 

Don’t be fooled by the budget-friendly price tag of this simple dry and wet mop. While it’s not electric, it’s the perfect manual cleaning tool for small apartments and dorms and is backed by our editor-in-chief and 50,000 five-star reviews. Swiffer has set up a recycling program for the pads. And you can even buy ones for wooden floors or pet owners.

These microfiber cloths are my fave to use. The cute colors just make me so happy and put me in a good cleaning mood. They're super soft, don't leave stray fibers, and are easy to wash. I'm a fan of the classic rainbow set, but it's worth having a peep on Amazon to see if any patterns match your aesthetic. Because I know that's important, people.

TikToker Vanesa Amaro introduced us to the Scrub Daddy Damp Duster and it's a true game-changer. You can use it to clean and dust anywhere from shelves to baseboards to blinds, only using the tool and water. This rippled sponge also manages to catch pet hair at the same time. Magic!

One of our staff writers swears by the Method eucalyptus and mint bathroom cleaner for cleaning her sink, shower, and bathroom surfaces. She says it leaves them feeling super fresh and pristine. The smell is beyond invigorating, and the spray itself is perfect for daily maintenance. She says to spray and let it sit for about 10 minutes before wiping your surfaces down. It dissolves soap scum and better yet, it works on mold and mildew.

You get a hand duster and an extendable duster in this set. The fluffy head quickly traps dirt and chemicals, so you won't be flinging dust around your bedroom. It also extends up to 53 inches, so you won't have to stretch or wobble on a chair while cleaning.

Your go-to house cleaning checklist

These daily, weekly, and monthly checklists are going to make your house look so clean. Screenshot or bookmark them so you can keep tabs on each room around your living space. 

 Our bedrooms provide a dedicated space for us to relax and catch some z’s each night, but they're often the first room to take the brunt of our sloppiness. You might think of bedroom clutter as  “out of sight, out of mind” but having an unorganized bedroom can make the space feel less zen and more stressful. There’s something to be said about walking into a clutter free, calming room before your head hits the pillow. Here’s how to keep it that way.

• Tidy up any clutter
• Place clothing in laundry basket
• Launder bed sheets
• Dust furniture
• Clean mirrors
• Clean baseboards and moldings
• Dust light fixtures and ceiling fans
• Disinfect light switches and door knobs
• Clean window tracks and screens

 Perhaps the most dreaded room in the house to tidy up, the bathroom is a stomping ground for germs to accumulate if you don’t stay on top of cleaning. On the bright side, it’s also one of the smallest rooms in most apartments, meaning you don’t have to dedicate an entire afternoon to make some headway. Here’s what to clean on the regular.

• Wipe down countertops
• Wipe down sink 
• Organize and put away any products used
• Take out garbage
• Clean and disinfect toilet
• Launder bathroom towels
• Disinfect countertops and sinks
• Vacuum or mop floor
• Launder bathroom rugs
• Scrub shower and/or bathtub
• Launder shower curtain

You don’t have to be a Michelin star chef to know that the kitchen can be prone to a wildly complex mess. Even if you aren’t cooking every day (here’s to looking at you, takeout) there are still tasks you have to stay on top of. Kitchen counters can get cluttered with everyday items like purses and laptops, the sink can become a breeding ground for bacteria, and the fridge can house expired groceries. Add these to-do’s to your list to keep things in order.

• Wipe down countertops and sink
• Run garbage disposal
• Load and unload the dishwasher
• Hand wash any necessary dishes
• Wipe fronts of appliances
• Wipe stovetop, if used that day
• Disinfect your faucet and light switches
• Pick up any clutter that accumulated throughout the day
• Take out trash and recycling
• Disinfect fridge and freezer handles
• Disinfect your sink
• Remove anything expired from your fridge
• Clean the inside of your microwave
• Vacuum or mop floors
• Launder dish towels
• Clean baseboards
• Clean the oven and any other appliances necessary
• Clean your dishwasher, including the filter
• Run the clean cycle on your coffee machine or clean it with vinegar
• Clean stove top burners
• Scrub backsplash
• Launder kitchen runners or rugs
• Dust light fixtures
• Dust the top of your fridge and cabinets
• Remove anything expired from your freezer or pantry
• Disinfect trash and recycling bins
• Clean the inside of cabinets and drawers

 At the end of a long day, the living room is always there to greet you with a soft couch, cozy blanket, and the TV for your binge-watching pleasure. However, when the space is messy it can make it hard to truly unwind. While dusting and vacuuming may be necessary for a deep clean, there are plenty of little tasks that can make a big impact in the overall appearance of this space.

• Fluff couch cushions and pillows
• Fold and put away throw blankets
• Organize TV remotes
• Clean between couch cushions
• Launder any throw blankets
• Dust baseboards and moldings
• Clean fireplace
• Clean window tracks and screen

If you’re lucky enough to work from home (and have a dedicated office at that) then you know it’s crucial for your productivity to keep this room spic and span. Keep your desk clear and your notes in order by following these office cleaning tasks.

• Organize any notes/files used
• Wipe down desk surface
• Wipe down your laptop/computer keyboard
• Take out trash

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About me: 

Kara Thompson is a Denver-based journalist with over five years of experience writing lifestyle content. She has written for a variety of publications, including townandcountrymag.com, elledecor.com, goodhousekeeping.com, and Parents, where she covered all things home, food, fashion, travel, and holidays. During her time on staff at Parents, Kara launched her own home decor and organization column named Save My Space. In 2022, she left her full-time job as an editor and started her own writing, editing, and social media firm, Kara Thompson and Co.

Tennis, New York City, bourbon cocktails, and her sister's German Shepherd are a few of her favorite things.

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