Cleaning

Here's a condensed version of the health agency's recommendations for how healthy people should be cleaning their homes right now.

Knowing how easily and quickly I could wash up turned a switch on in my brain that kept committed to hand-washing.

Sturdy and stiff enough to thoroughly clean, yet gentle enough to not strip away that seasoning.

For as often as we use laundry detergent to keep our washables clean, we might be making silly mistakes.

Some people are taking sanitizing matters into their own hands (pun intended). Here's why that won't work.

Brand loyalty is great, but the best product is the one you can find (or already have at home).

Let's get introspective.

After countless commutes, you might wonder: Do I need to clean something that sits so close to my ear drum? The short answer is yes. The long answer is yeeesssssssssss.

This could be a good option for those who choose to use free and clear detergent—but would like their laundry to be mildly scented and aren’t bothered by essential oils.

Maybe this says more about me than I should admit, but at the age of 35, laundry has become a very big deal.

I recently tested name brand dryer sheets against two other fabric softening alternatives, and while the difference in softness was significant, it wasn’t enough to convert me to start buying dryer sheets. I know too much.

It can be used to store liquid soaps, too.

When you really need to go the extra mile, cleaning-wise.

This cleaning technique harnesses the power of "small wins" in a very visual way.

This condiment does more than just make for tasty sandwiches.

Rags, over paper towels, are my preference from both a waste and an efficiency standpoint—except in these three instances.

Here's some cleaning feeds to scroll through that'll inspire you to tidy the digs you stroll through.

Washing and drying clothes uses a lot of energy and water in a typical house. Here are 10 ways you can reduce your consumption of water and energy while doing laundry.Move the dryer closer to an outside wall The farther exhaust air has to travel from your dryer to get outside, the more energy your dryer will use on every cycle. If you can, move the dryer as close to its exhaust port as possible. Can you reduce the number of elbow bends in the exhaust pipe?

Here are three tracks based on doable time limits—designed to give you a bathroom that's clean, cleaner, or cleanest.

Uncovering some eye- and leg-opening research.

There's one major component of our kitchens that may not be getting the attention it needs to stay clean even though we use and see them every day.

It's amazing what this tiny tool can do!

One survey says it's probably more time than you think, and even worse if you live in the UK.

It's holding up 4.5 stars with nearly 5,000 reviews, so I had to see what the fuss was about for myself.

Whether you're in a pinch, or just trying to streamline your cleaning cabinet, there’s no need to buy specialty cleaner. We called on Kristin Griesel of New York City’s Catbird for advice.

It's better to be dirty than useless. Some cleaning methods can permanently damage your device, or maybe even render it unusable.

It’s warm and soothing for your body, but did you know you can also use black tea to clean your hardwood floors? Tannins in the tea add a light, warm “stain” and help to bring out the wood’s natural warm tones. In addition to it’s beautifying qualities, black tea derived from the Camellia sinensis plant contain polyphenolic compounds that prevent microbial growth.

A dirty garbage disposal is often the culprit for bad smells in the kitchen. Food bits can cling to the disposal and pipes and create extremely unpleasant odors. The best way to de-stink your kitchen is with a healthy dose of all-natural ingredients that will loosen tough food particles and get the pipes moving! Any time I’m cooking or baking with lemons, I try to squeeze out any excess or leftover juice down my drains for that added smell of freshness in the kitchen.

Are you wasting space and not realizing it? Find out what mistake you may be making, plus get two great IKEA storage product recommendations from tiny home dwellers.

The cleaning up part certainly isn’t as fun (or as tasty) as the cooking part, but it’s a job that must be done. Check out these handy tips for a stovetop your mother would be proud of! Cleaning as you go truly is the best way to save yourself from having to cleanup a disaster of a mess like the one above. But sometimes life gets busy and there just isn’t time between the cooking and the eating and the evening’s engagements to wipe down that stove.

Step away from the smelly sponge, I've got just the solution for you!

People give their cars annual inspections—why shouldn't a sofa get the same treatment?

If I were a better person, I’d be cleaning my grout right now, but instead I’m gathering tips and tricks to help you clean your grout. Pay it forward!

Cleaning the house not on your list of favorite ways to spend your time? You might want to check and see if you’re unintentionally making things worse on yourself. From spending more time on cleaning tasks than you need to, to just not being efficient, peruse this list of seven things you could be doing that’s making it harder to keep your house clean, and see if you can eliminate one to make cleaning the house easier or faster! 1.

January 16 is the new January 1, and there's never a bad time to get excited for a fresh start at home.

Spotless floors in a jiffy, and you're not even touching the grossest part of the mop!

You know the type.

IKEA's new collection is meant to tidy up your home in no time.

Without proper care, makeup sponges can harbor bacteria and even mold.

These eight quick tests will tell you if a used vacuum works well, and if it had a rough past life.

One more reason to do the dishes.

I’ve started a new routine of taking 10 minutes each night, to tackle 5 things that have since made a world of difference in the overall upkeep of our home. It makes mornings easier and nights more calming… 1. Do The Dishes – It’s a proven fact that we’re more likely to eat at home and make dinner ourselves if the area in which food preparation happens is clean.

You wouldn’t dream of leaving your sheets unwashed for weeks at a time, but the sofa never really gets that sort of deep clean.

To help you avoid a costly mistake, we asked the pros to set the record straight.

Designer and organizer Amelia's current home is short on space, but rich in smart small space storage ideas

Professional organizer Rachel Rosenthal reveals what most people get wrong when it comes to getting their home organized.

I'm set to make 2020 my most streamlined cleaning year yet.

Elbow patches: Not just for professors! Okay, so I’m not going to pretend I didn’t get an eye roll when I presented my husband with his cute little heart shaped buffalo check elbow patches, but I didn’t really get that much resistance either! I think he secretly loved it. I know I did, and isn’t that really all that matters? Whatever the shape may be, elbow patches are a great way to gussie up an old favorite with items you already have around the house.

No matter what price I pay for dark denim jeans, they always seem to bleed. Some are worse than others (one brand in particular seems to hemorrhage indigo) but they all are culprits. Here’s how to protect your furniture from a tough-to-remove stain: It may not seem like that big of a deal, but just wait until you leave your (very unwanted) mark on a friend’s white Barcelona chair. Ever tried to remove indigo from white leather? Make sure that doesn’t happen!

We left off yesterday with a half-reorganized junk drawer. I’d done the easy part, putting away cooking utensils that were grouped according to their use, and had the “junky” portion left to tackle. Check out my final result, and read how I got there: After putting all the cooking utensils away on the right side of the drawer, it was time to tackle the big pile of junk that was left.

It involved hardly any hands-on time at all, and that is the way I like to work: set it and forget it.

Happy to report: It IS possible to remove a red wine stain, at home, without paying a pro to do it for you.

To boil or not to boil, that is the question.

We’re still in love with our Eames chairs and recently inherited a couple more that are covered in naugahyde. They’ve been sitting in storage for about 20 years and they’re dull and sad. We want them to look shiny and new like the picture above. Jump below for hot to restore them to their original lustre.Here’s our baby, a dull pink with water stains and sadness.

When you have to pack clean clothes with dirty clothes, everything ends up smelling slightly less than fresh. But there's a hack for that!

A weekend shower tile refresh that's both transformative and cheap.

Cast iron skillets get better with age- as long as you’re consistently cooking with them, and as long as you don’t clean them with soap. If it’s been ages since you’ve actually used your skillet, chances are it’s in need of some TLC. Covered in rust, you say? No problem! Reach for these three simple kitchen staples to help you return your pan to its former glory. Coarse saltOil (vegetable, olive- even Crisco works!

Five free things you can do to make any room look nicer.

Have you noticed your clothes smelling… musty? Even if you’ve switched the load from the washer to the dryer immediately after the cycle has ended? Before you run out and buy a strongly scented laundry detergent to cover the smell, give your machine a thorough cleaning. Taking care of your washing machine can help it stay clean and prevent walking.

A while back Abby and I got some tips from Danny Seo on how to be smarter about how we did laundry. He had some great simple (green) tips that we implemented right away. He also was one of the first to point out the importance of maintaining the machines so that your clothes get clean, the machines stay efficient and you get the most out of your investment.

As much as people love their cats, and we know that love is boundless, there are certain aspects of life with pets that can be a challenge — odors being top of the “arrgh” list for many. We dug through our archives for some reader intelligence on the issue and according to our commenters, here are three top tips to try.

What you do today depends on the anatomy of your home.

If you’ve ever owned anything suede you know how much of a hassle it can be to keep clean—but you also know how durable and long-lasting the fabric is. So if you’ve tucked away furniture or clothing because you’re stumped as to how to clean up those stains, get up and gather these three tools, because DIY suede stain removal is easier than you could ever imagine. The first step in stain removal is to identify your stains.

Can't we all just get along?

The ushering in of spring on Tuesday may have gone unnoticed due to the lack of a proper winter in many regions of the US, but it is here, nonetheless! And with the change in seasons comes longer days, outdoor dining, blooming flowers, and an opportunity to renew and refresh your space. Take a break from preparing taxes and consider these 10 tips for reviving your abode; and please share your tips!

One way to prevent those creep-up-on-you, whole-house disasters is keeping this rule: "If it takes less than a minute to finish, do it right away."

For hundreds of Amazon's 5-star reviewers, there’s one stain treatment that stands out from the rest.

Mold is just waiting to grow in the bathroom if you don't take preventive measures.

It’s no secret that probiotics are one secret weapon for healthier digestion and overall wellness. But this popular wellness remedy is now making its way into the world of cleaning products, too.

“Traditional non-stick coatings are very thin—typically around 1 thousandth of an inch.”

This tip will not only save you money on dry cleaning, but it’ll also help you save money on buying clothes. It’s an all-around life hack, really.

Here's how to get your witchy wardrobe through the laundry without bringing harm to everything else in the process.