If you’re not super into cleaning, you might prefer to do a big cleaning session every couple of weeks or once a month. While that works for some areas of your home, there are parts that need daily attention. But don’t worry, you don’t have to bring out all your cleaning tools. Just a quick, gentle cleaning will do to keep your home looking nice. This not only makes your place feel tidier but also makes the big cleaning sessions less of a task.
Dishes
Though tossing your dirty dishes in the sink and leaving them might be tempting, it’s better to clean them every day. Melissa Poepping, the founder of The Chemical Free Home, advises this because letting dishes pile up can lead to bad smells, and leftover food can get stubborn and stain the dishes, making them harder to clean later on. So, it’s best to wash them daily.
Kitchen Sink
Stainless steel, white composite, and porcelain sinks can get stained if they’re not cleaned. To make this easier, rinse the sink and wipe it dry with a dish-drying towel after washing dishes. This prevents stubborn water stains and mineral deposits. You can save the deep cleaning or polishing for your weekly or bi-weekly cleaning schedule.
Water Bottle
The reusable water bottle you carry around should be cleaned every day. “Definitely wash your water bottle daily with warm, soapy water, or, if it’s safe, in the dishwasher,” says Poepping. “Your bottle can become a breeding ground for bacteria, and your lid can develop mold quickly.”
Kitchen Countertop
Wipe your kitchen countertops and stovetop every evening, especially if you’ve been cooking. “Your kitchen counters are where you prepare food, and your stove catches spills and splatters from cooking,” says Poepping. “If you leave them dirty, harmful bacteria can grow, which can make you sick.”
Kitchen Floor
You don’t have to mop every day, but it’s important to quickly sweep your kitchen floors after cooking dinner. “Sweeping away crumbs should be something you do every day to prevent pests and keep your home clean,” says Marla Mock, the president of Molly Maid, a Neighborly company.
Sponge
Sponges, which clean your dishes, also need a daily cleaning. “In between deeper cleans, just put some soap on them and place them in the top rack of your dishwasher,” says Mock. “And if you can, make sure to let the sponge fully dry before using it again.” If you don’t have a dishwasher, soak the sponge in a mixture of 1 quart water and 3 tablespoons of chlorine bleach, then rinse it thoroughly.
Coffee Maker
Your coffee maker doesn’t have to be deeply cleaned every day, but there are parts that need a quick rinse. After making coffee, clean the part where the coffee grounds go and the coffee pot with warm, soapy water.
Glass Shower Walls
Water stains on glass happen when the water dries up and leaves marks that are hard to clean. To avoid this, use a squeegee to wipe away water from your shower doors every day or after each shower. If you have a tile or fiberglass shower, you can do this less often, like every week or every two weeks.
Bathroom Countertop
After you finish your morning routine, spend a little time wiping your bathroom countertop. Things like makeup, toothpaste, and hair can build up there. Besides this daily quick cleaning, you should also give your bathroom counter a thorough cleaning once a week to get rid of water spots and any buildup. That’s what Mock suggests.
