Cleaning 101

Basic tips and tricks to get the entire house sparkling, from quick cleaning strategies to supplies to stock.

Cleaning Tricks

Readers' Best Cleaning Tips
Your tried-and-true solutions for quickly and efficiently doing away with the dirt.

Our Best Holiday Stain Removal Tips and Techniques

Don't let holiday spills mess with your spirit. Here are solutions (and soaps and sprays) for every seasonal stain.

Photo: Craig Cutler

Secrets to Faking a Clean House

No time to dust or disinfect? No problem. Use these simple tricks to give any room the illusion of cleanliness.

Photo: Scott & Zoë

Surprising New Cleaning Solutions

Glass spray, scouring powder, and floor wax, sure. But toothpaste, baby oil, and masking tape? Yes, ma’am: All have a place in your arsenal of cleaning products. Learn the aha! use of these everyday items.

Photo: Kana Okada

22 Surprising Uses for Your Dishwasher

22 items you can put in a dishwasher, 13 you shouldn't, plus how to cook salmon in it.

Photo: Rick Lew

Time-Saving Strategies

Quick and Easy Tips

Deep-Clean Your Home
Get drapes, furnishings, floors, appliances, and the rest of your home sparkling.

Keep the Living Areas Cleaner Longer
Tips to make your time spent cleaning more effective (so you won't have to do it again).

Daily Cleaning Checklist

No vacuum-the-fridge-coils deep-cleaning pointers, just a basic plan to get your home neat―in under 30 minutes a day.

Clear out and wipe down the sink (5 minutes). No piles of dirty dishes! Move them into the dishwasher, and wipe the sink with a sponge.
Wipe down countertops and stove (1 minute). Clean splatters and spills with a damp cloth or sponge and an all-purpose cleanser.
Wipe problem spots on the floor (2 minutes). You can save a full-floor mop for the weekend, but use the same cloth (once you’ve finished with the countertops) to quickly clean any spills or sticky spots, which will attract dirt and get more noticeable if left alone.

View The Entire Checklist