Cleaning

When we try to recycle the unrecyclable, we gum up the whole process. “It’s a waste of time, money, and other resources when recycling centers have to deal with things they don’t accept,” explains Darby Hoover, a recycling expert with the Natural Resources Defense Council. These items can’t go in your recycling bin—but you can still get rid of them responsibly.

How to tidy up, whether you have 10 minutes, 30 minutes, or 2 hours.

As magazine editors, lots of products—from makeup and hair tools, to cleaning supplies and organizational products, to gardening gadgets and even toilet paper (yes, toilet paper!)—make their way across our desks. Some fall flat, others generate temporary buzz, and a select few become staples in our lives. And when we realized that some of these products have become items we simply cannot live without, we knew it was time to share the wealth with our loyal readers. Here, we present you with our editors’ all-time favorite items.

There are only so many hours in a day—these tips will help you get everything done.

When it comes to keeping the house neat and tidy, don’t make sweeping resolutions you’ll abandon long before it’s time for spring-cleaning. Instead, break those dreaded jobs (doing laundry, scrubbing the tub) down into small chores you can squeeze in here and there. These tiny changes to your routine will help keep the house clean and orderly—with minimal time and effort.

It’s the best appliance I own.

In need of a smarter kids’ desk setup? Clea Shearer and Joanna Teplin, cofounders of The Home Edit, school us in their strategies.

Are you a piler? A hate-cleaner? Do you do chores to avoid another dreaded task? Understanding the psychology behind your housekeeping can help you discover ways to do it better and faster. Step into our office...

And it won’t affect the seasoning. 

These brilliant products save time, energy, and maybe even money.