Daily Cleaning
In the UK, many people don't rinse these - relying solely on the power of the cleaning agent's disinfecting capabilities and drying methods.
Dirty Dishes
Helpful tip: thoroughly wipe out any solid food remanence from dishes to prevent plumbing issues before washing dishes in the kitchen sink (unless you have a garbage disposal - in which case please research what to not put down the garbage disposal). If you have a dishwasher, please do not put dishes with any food remanence larger than a grain of rice in there - it clogs the filter faster!
You have this in every room of your house, but you may need different tools to clean all of its variations properly.
Floors
Helpful tip: Start by sweeping along the baseboards & underneath appliances/counters/furniture for hard floor surfaces (wood/laminate/tile), then vacuum all hard floor surfaces and carpet, and finally mop (NOT SWIFFER) hard floor surfaces.
If you feel like these are closing in on you, it may be advisable to make sure they are residue-free and without smudges!
Walls
Helpful tips from Ash: This is the only situation where I would condone the use of a Swiffer. Use dry clothes to gather any dry debris or dust from your walls, then use the Swiffer Wet pads to help remove any residue. On bathroom walls: try to use a disinfecting solution along with your Swiffer Wet pads - just check that it won't harm the paint.
In the summer, cleaning this could be sweltering, but in the winter it'll feel cozy and warm!
Oven
Helpful tip from Ash: if you have an oven cleaning cycle - use it! Just make sure you're going to be home for the entirety of the cleaning cycle. For stuck on grime, use a pumice stone to lift the stubborn remanence, then wipe the inside of the oven using a damp rag with white vinegar.
You may touch this object an average of 72 times a day (more if you're very popular) - and it carries 20x more bacteria than a toilet seat.
Cell Phone
Helpful tip from Ash: You can order individual screen cleaning wipes from Amazon (240 for $25.99) to use on the go - they also work for eyewear!
You can rest easy knowing that you wash this every week.
Sheets & pillow cases.
Helpful tip from Ash: using fabric softener or dryer sheets on your bed linens is not only bad for the fabric - it's also not great for your skin. Deodorize linens by adding 1/2 cup of baking soda to your washing cycle - just be sure you're washing in warm/hot water.
WAKE UP! This necessary morning item needs to be descaled monthly.
Coffee Maker:
Helpful tip from Ash: Bar Keepers Friend makes a Coffee Maker Cleaner & Coffee Maker Descaler that I have found to be the most effective method for keeping my morning coffee as delicious as possible. Just be sure you thoroughly rinse all parts of the coffee maker before use! You don't want to descale your insides. This is also a great opportunity to change any filters that you may have in your coffee maker.
Do you want to be sprayed with mold and bacteria? No. Clean this every season to avoid gross showers and support having good water pressure.
Shower Head:
Helpful tip from Ash: The most effective way to clean a shower head is to soak it in white vinegar for several hours (or overnight), then scrub the nozzles with a toothbrush to remove mineral buildup and restore water flow. Your skin will thank you!
You might have to clean & sanitize these surfaces MULTIPLE times a day if you're the Barefoot Contessa - or if you have very nosey cats.
Kitchen Counters
Helpful tip from Ash: Disinfecting wipes aren't the best way to deep clean your countertops, but they are great for in-between cleans.
Using a damp microfiber cloth with an antibacterial multi-surface cleaner is the most effective way to accomplish this task - neglecting it can be HISTAMINE NIGHTMARE FUEL.
Dusting Furniture
Helpful tip from Ash: Air purifiers greatly reduce household dust.
These household appliances make sure you don't walk around with dirty underpants and wet shirts.
Washing Marching & Dryer
Helpful tips from Ash: Watch the next 2 videos.
Cleaning these every season will really help to light up your life.
Lamp Shades
Helpful tip from Ash: Use a damp microfiber cloth with fabric softener spray to remove dust from lampshades. For pleated lampshades, use the soft brush vacuum attachment.
You can microwave this kitchen item for 1-2 minutes to sanitize it, just make sure it is not dry when you do it or you can set your microwave on fire.
Kitchen Sponge
Helpful tip from Ash: Place sponge in a bowl of water with a tablespoon of white vinegar while microwaving.
Soaking this in hydrogen peroxide can effectively disinfect this item - and can save you from avoidable trips to the dentist.
Toothbrush
Helpful tip from Ash: Store toothbrushes without a cover further than 6 feet from your toilet. Toilet aerosols can travel up to 6 feet when the toilet is flushed and covering your toothbrush encourages bacterial growth.
If you don't frequently clean this item, cleaning your floors is really going to SUCK (or WILL it?).
Vacuum
Helpful tip from Ash: I have found that cannister vacuums are the easiest to clean/maintain. Empty the cannister after every use, even if it isn't full. When doing your monthly clean, use dish soap and hot water to clean the cannister - and let it air dry.
These decorative window coverings will be noticeably absent if neglect to finish cleaning them when the morning sun rises.
Curtains
Helpful tip from Ash: Machine wash most curtains on the delicate cycle of your washing machine. You don't even need to dry them or iron them, just hang them back up and they will fall beautiful in front of your windows so that you can live a life of soothing darkness.
This household object boasts being sat on an average of 10-50 times a day depending on family size - and is often falsely considered to be the dirtiest thing in your home.
Toilet Seat
Helpful tip from Ash: Keep disinfecting wipes handy to make quick sanitation easy. Just don't flush the disinfecting wipes.
If you have cats, you may need to vacuum this non-floor item more than once a week.
Upholstered Furniture
Helpful tip from Ash: A damp microfiber cloth with fabric softener spray is a great way to remove pet hair & other debris from upholstered furniture in between vacuuming.
Tiny dust mites and skin cells end up on this household item - especially as you sleep. It seems like it would be impossible to clean, but you CAN TAKE COMFORT in the fact that it's not.
Mattress
Helpful tips from Ash: Mattress covers aren't just to prevent bed bugs. These items protect the mattress from dust mites and fallen skin cells - and preserve the life of your mattress (I just saved you like $2000). The best way to clean your mattress is to spot clean any stains (which you shouldn't have because you're using a mattress cover like I told you), spray the surface with disinfecting spray, sprinkle baking soda on the sleep surface, wait 10-30 minutes, and vacuum it thoroughly.
Not cleaning this every season can expose you to mites, fungi, and bacteria while you sleep. It can contribute to respirator issues, skin problems, and weakened immunity.
Pillows
Helpful tip from Ash: Use the care instructions on your pillow to determine how to maintain/clean your specific pillow. It is always advisable to buy new pillows every 2 years even if you clean them every season.