The only thing better than finishing cleanup duty? Not having to do it again for a while. These techniques will make your efforts last longer.
Keeping the Kitchen Clean
Cabinets
Set jars of liquid or jelly on coasters, or line shelves with nonadhesive cork liner. When drips occur, just replace the coasters or the lining.
Countertops
To repel stains on countertops, twice a year apply grout sealer (available at hardware stores) to tile, and stone sealer (also at hardware stores) to stone countertops. Follow the package instructions.
Instead of using wood cutting boards, switch to plastic. Since wood shouldn’t be sanitized in the dishwasher (wood can warp when wet), it can harbor bacteria, which gets on knives and can invade your food-prep area. Pop plastic boards into the dishwasher after every use to kill germs.
To make cleanup faster when you cook, cover countertops with sheets of wax paper, parchment paper, or butcher paper before preparing food. Juices from meats, chicken, and fish never hit the counters, so there’s no need to disinfect. When finished, crumple up the paper and toss.
Freezer and Refrigerator
Place a box of baking soda in the freezer and another in the refrigerator to absorb and neutralize smells; replace them every three months. Alternatives: a mound of charcoal; coffee beans in a bowl; or a cotton ball soaked in vanilla extract and kept in the refrigerator until dry.
Every month or so, dump ice cubes from the trays and make a new batch. Stale ice traps odors, like those from frozen fish or meat.
Sink
Grind the skins of oranges, lemons, and limes in the garbage disposal with a handful of ice cubes. The rock-hard texture of the ice cubes sharpens the blades; the citrus scent of the grated peels clears the air. Or make ice cubes of vinegar instead of water. The vinegar will deodorize the disposal.
Stovetop
Reduce grease splatters on the stovetop and the hood by putting a mesh splatter screen over pans when cooking.
Keeping the Bathroom Clean
Shower
After showering, run a squeegee down the shower doors and walls in long, vertical strokes. (No need to use any cleaner.) Soap scum, mildew, and hard-water marks are less likely to materialize on a dry surface.
Spread out the shower curtain after use. Mildew grows faster in bunched-up folds. Another idea: Turn on the fan while showering to dissipate the steam in the room. That way, mildew has less chance to grow.
At the first sign of black mildew in tile grout, soak a cotton ball in bleach and dab it on the spot. In about 30 minutes, the mold will most likely be gone. Apply a sealant (available at hardware stores) to grout twice a year, following the manufacturer’s instructions, to prevent staining. Stone vanity tops also benefit from the application of a sealant once a year.
Toilet
Pour a cup of water and a splash of bleach into a plastic or porcelain toilet-brush caddy (metal-trimmed caddies tend to rust). From then on, your disinfected brush will be at the ready to swish the bowl anytime.
Tub
Before you throw away that empty can of peanuts, save the plastic lid and set it underneath a can of shaving cream to prevent rust from forming on the rim of the tub. Or brush clear nail polish on the metal ring around the bottom of the can to ward off rust altogether.
Smooth white paste car wax (available at hardware stores) onto a cloth and rub it on the sides of a porcelain-enamel tub, but not on the nonslip surface. (If you wax the areas on which you walk, they could become dangerously slippery when wet.) Not only will it leave a shine but it will also create a protective barrier against water-and-soap buildup.
Keeping the Living Areas Clean
Artwork
Before rearranging paintings on walls, slip on white cotton gloves. Natural oils from your fingertips can seep onto artwork, damaging the color over time.
Floors
Eighty percent of dirt in the home is the dry, tracked-in kind. Set a doormat of toothed, bristly material, such as Astroturf, outside the door to leave dirt and grit where they belong — outdoors. (Muddy shoes can stay out there, too.)
Slice wine corks into disks and glue them to the bottoms of furniture and heavy pottery, or stick on adhesive felt pads. Dust settles into gouges made by furniture on floors and turns into grime, making it tougher to clean.
Furniture
Keep a dusting cloth in various handy places throughout your living spaces — on a nightstand, in a coffee-table drawer — so you can grab it to dust furniture anytime you notice an accumulation.
Opt for patterned upholstery, which conceals dirt better than solid fabric.
Wipe pets with a microfiber cloth, a dry-cleaning sponge, or a specialty pet wipe each day to reduce the amount of dander on the upholstery.
Light Fixtures
Once a week, mist a few squirts of room deodorizer on cool lightbulbs. (A note of caution: Moisture can seep into the light socket and damage the bulb, so spray from about a foot or so away.) The next time you turn the light on, the heat from the bulb will activate the scent.
Walls
Arrange furniture six inches from walls instead of flush against them so there will be fewer smudges from bumping to tend to later. You’ll also have easier access to dusty corners that need a visit from a dust mop.
Window Coverings
Open and close window treatments (blinds, curtains, shades) often to displace dust from the fabric instead of letting it sit until you get around to cleaning it. When it falls to the floor, run a dust mop over the surface.
Keeping the Laundry Room Clean
Dryer and Washing Machine
Leave the lid of the washer open for at least an hour after using the machine to let moisture evaporate and discourage the growth of mold and mildew.
When you’ve accidentally left a lipstick or a crayon in the pocket of a garment, squirt a bit of WD-40 onto a cloth, then rub it on the oil-based marks inside the washing machine. One note of caution: WD-40 is flammable, so don’t use this trick inside the dryer. Instead, use a cloth drenched with water and dishwashing liquid.
Floor
Put a rug or a carpet swatch in front of the sink to sop up splashes when you hand wash items. A highly absorbent material, like cotton chenille, is easy to care for; just toss it in the washer. A rug made from a natural fiber, such as jute or sea grass, will conceal water stains.
Consider purchasing a small water alarm, which will alert you if the washing machine leaks or overflows. It sits on the floor, and a battery-operated sensor sounds when water touches it. Basic models sell for less than $20 at home-improvement centers.
Shelving
Stack liquid detergents, stain-removal solutions, and anything else that can leak in plastic bins or caddies to contain drips. Because these liquids are highly concentrated, drips can deteriorate the paint on shelves and the finishes on appliances.
Carve some fun into fall with a day of pumpkin picking, jack-o’-lanterns, and treats to get everyone in high spirits.Legends of the FallGrown on every continent but Antarctica, the pumpkin was once thought to be a cure-all for freckles and snakebites. But what this vine-grown fruit does best is symbolize everything magical and spooky about the season. If you don’t believe that, just ask Ichabod Crane.How to Select a Pumpkin to CarveWhen choosing a pumpkin for carving do, be sure to:Examine the rind. It should be firm, uniform in color, and free of cuts, bruises, and blemishes.Make sure that the stem doesn’t look brown and dry. And don’t use the stem as a handle, since even a healthy one can break off. Pick up a pumpkin by its base instead.Give the pumpkin a knock. A thumping sound means the pumpkin is solid, with no internal defects, rot, or soft spots.How to Carve a Jack-o’-Lantern1. With a serrated knife held at an angle, carefully cut an opening around the stem, making a small notch in the back (to guide you when replacing the lid).2. Use a large spoon to remove the pulp and scrape the sides clean of stringy bits.3. Draw on a face (washable markers allow kids to draw, rinse, and repeat).4. Carve, then add a tealight.*Pumpkin-Carving Tip*Don’t carve your jack-o’-lantern too early or it won’t survive until Halloween night. Once cut, a pumpkin lasts about four to five days, then starts to rot.Toasting Pumpkin SeedsGive kids the job of separating the seeds from the pumpkin innards while adults handle the carving. Put aside the seeds to be toasted later for a crowd-pleasing snack of roasted pumpkin seeds. Click here for the recipe.Music to Carve By“Beetlejuice: Main Titles,” composed by Danny Elfman”Ghostbusters,” Ray Parker Jr.”In the Midnight Hour,” Wilson Pickett”I Put a Spell on You,” Nina Simone”I Want Candy,” Bow Wow Wow”Spooky,” the Classics IV”That Old Black Magic,” Ella Fitzgerald”Thriller,” Michael Jackson”Werewolves of London,” Warren Zevon”Witchcraft,” Frank SinatraHow to Make Your Pumpkin LastPumpkins don’t need to be carved to be decorative, and left intact, they should last until U.S. Thanksgiving (and are perfect for cooking).But they do need warmth on cold nights: When pumpkin rinds freeze, the insides deteriorate and then collapse. Cover them with a blanket or bring them inside. A display on the mantel can be as charming as one on the porch.And last but not least: 4 Recipes perfect for Halloween Parties.
