Real Simple has compiled a periodic table of cleaning tasks, from scrubbing down the shower to purging the pantry, handily organized and color-coded by how often they should be done.

Keep in mind that these time frames are suggestions, not hard-and-fast rules. "Some maintenance dates are determined by season or necessity," says Jeff Campbell, author of Spring Cleaning (Dell Trade, $8.25, www.barnesandnoble.com). Kids, pets, and habits all make a difference, so factor in yours.

Tack the chart up on the laundry-room bulletin board before your next weekly load of bedding, or clip it to the refrigerator after its three-month scrub-down. It's all in the service of getting your cleaning routine to a science.