Quick and Easy Cleaning Tips

FLOORS
The key with floors is to focus on high-traffic areas. If you keep those clean, your floors will stay fresh-looking forever, well, almost.

Weekly
Each week, attend to the most heavily traveled areas of your home, says Cobb. These include the hallways and entryways where your family walks all the time, and of course, the kitchen floor.

For wood floors: Vacuum with an appropriate vacuum or dust with a good microfiber dust mop to pick up dirt before you wash it. Then put hot water and up to six tea bags in a bucket. "Make it strong," says Cobb. And wash the floor with that. "The tannic acid in tea is really, really good for wood floors. It doesn't stain, it's inexpensive, natural, and it's safe for pets and kids," she adds. When you wring out your mop, wring it until it's just damp-you don't want to put a lot of water onto your floor.

For vinyl: Again, vacuum with an appropriate vacuum or dust with a good microfiber dust mop. Then put a gallon of plain water, or water with just a tablespoon of borax, into a bucket. And wash your floor with that same microfiber mop, advises Cobb.

For tile: As with all hard flooring, vacuum with an appropriate vacuum or dust with a good microfiber dust mop first. Cobb warns that ceramic tile owners stay away from vinegar-based cleaning products, "It's an acid and can etch your grout," she notes. Instead, you can use an all-purpose cleaner or a tablespoon of borax in water, and remember to wring out your mop well as you're working.

For carpet: Use the beater on your vacuum, set it for the appropriate height of your carpet and vacuum in different directions, says Cobb. "If you do this twice a week, move horizontally once, vertically next. If it's once a week, vary your stroke," she suggests. To save time, remember to keep the canister or bag cleaned out, since you lose suction when it's filled up. "Make it a habit to dump it after you vacuum," says Cobb.

Monthly
Clean the floors of the low traffic areas in your home, such as guest bathrooms or guest bedrooms that don't get much use.