realsimple For reprints of this chart, go to www.realsimple.com/cleanchart 2005 © Time Inc. All rights reserved. To aid and abet your quest for a (reasonably) dirt-free home, 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. (Tackling tasks regularly keeps grime from piling up and prevents chores from becoming huge, so it ultimately saves both time and hard labor.) Keep in mind that these time frames are suggestions, not hard-andfaas rules. “Some maintenance dates are determined by season or necessity,” says Jeff Campbell, author of Spring Cleaning (Dell Trade, $8.25), “but many are determined by your family and your lifestyle.” Kids, pets, and habits all make a difference, so factor in yours. Then 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 scrubdoown It’s all in the service of getting your cleaning routine down to a science. Fu Furniture Dust all hard surfaces. Fl Floors Vacuum or mop. Sk Kitchen sink Scrub and disinfect. UUpholstery Vacuum. Ap Appliances Wipe down surfaces. Shw Shower Clean and scrub down. Wb Wastebaskets Wipe out and disinfect. Mg Moldings Dust. Bu Stove burner grates Scrub clean. Cn Counters Wipe down and disinfect. Tu Bathtub Clean and scrub down. Dk Doorknobs Wipe down and disinfect. Kc Kitchen cabinets Wipe down fronts. Toi Toilet Scrub and disinfect. Sh Sheets Change and launder. Cf Ceiling fans Wipe off and dust. Mi Microwave Clean and deodorize. Weekly Monthly THE ELEMENTS OF CLEANrealsimple For reprints of this chart, go to www.realsimple.com/cleanchart 2005 © Time Inc. All rights reserved. C-w Curtains (washable) Launder or hand wash. Mt Mattresses Vacuum every 3 months; flip every 6 months. Wi Windows Wash inside and out. Ls Lamp shades Wash and clean. OOven Clean. Fs-w Fabric shades (washable) Wash. Fu-l Furniture (leather) Clean and condition. Hd Stove hood Clean and degrease. U-w Upholstery (washable) Sponge-clean. Cb Cabinets Empty and clean. RRugs Professionally clean. Fl-w Wood floors (polyurethaned) Touch up as needed. Bl-w Blinds (wooden) Wash. Ap-s Appliances (stainless steel) Polish. Sc Slipcovers Wash or dry-clean. Gr Tile grout Scrub. U-u Upholstery (unwashable) Have cleaned every 2 years. Wa Walls Wash. Dr Drapes Deep-vacuum. Re Refrigerator Clean interior. Pw Pillows Launder or dry-clean. Cc Condenser coil (refrigerator) Vacuum or dust. Car Carpeting Professionally clean. Py Pantry Clean thoroughly. Bb Baseboards Wash or wipe down. Cff Coffeemaker Clean and descale. Cm Comforter Launder or dry-clean. Fi Filter (stove hood) Wash and dry. Fs Fabric shades Professionally clean every 2 years. Dr Drapes Professionally clean every 2 years. Every 3 to 6 Months Every 6 to 12 Months Every Year or So