Seven Household Items You Should Replace Regularly

Buying a mattress to replace common household items. A brunette woman laying on a new mattress.

Many household items need replacing periodically to maintain your home and your personal care. Keeping track of them all can be overwhelming, so here’s a reminder list of seven household items it’s important to replace on a regular basis. HVAC filters Neglected, dirty return air filters cause your heating and air conditioning system to labor […]

Facts and Fiction About Cleaning with Vinegar

Eco friendly cleaning concept. Photo of wooden brushes, lemon, baking soda, and cleaning with vinegar.

Many people have turned to vinegar as an alternative to chemicals for household cleaning. Vinegar is natural and inexpensive, but is it as effective as the hype would have you believe? Let’s review what vinegar is good for — and what it’s not. Versatile vinegar Vinegar has a sharp smell and sour taste because it […]

Don’t Be in the Dark About Cleaning Your Window Blinds

Person Professionally Cleaning Window Blinds From Dirt

Cleaning window blinds is one of those household duties that’s easy to put off or forget entirely. But the task is not complicated, so wait no longer. Here’s our handy guide to cleaning window blinds. The right tools for the job Try cleaning your blinds once a month to keep down the dust and dirt. […]

Clean Area Rugs Differently Than Carpet

Photo showing how to properly vacuum clean area rugs. Vacuum cleaner universal nozzle moving across oriental rug.

When it comes time to clean an area rug, particularly an oriental or antique one, can your carpet cleaner do the job? The answer is probably not. Here are the key differences between carpet and area rug care. Area rug and carpet differences More than 90 percent of wall-to-wall carpet is made of nylon fibers. […]

Your Decluttering Bucket List

Vietnamese elderly women discussing photos of their youth while decluttering a home to prepare for sale.

Books, podcasts and TV shows promote the liberating benefits of decluttering and minimizing your possessions. Swedish author Margareta Magnusson gives you a new reason to declutter in late middle age: to spare your heirs from having to face your mountain of stuff after you’re gone. Lighten the burden We accumulate a house full of possessions […]

5 Fail-Safe Tips to Grill Cleaning

Grill cleaning with blue gloved hands scrubbing grates with a brush.

Before you get started cleaning a long-neglected grill, think about how best to keep from making a bigger mess. First, protect the surrounding area with cardboard or a tarp. Next, consider wearing old clothes or a long apron to protect against grease stains. It’s also a great idea to wear protective gloves while grill cleaning. […]

7 Tips on How to Clean Your Carpets

Person using vacuum cleaner for deep cleaning blue wall-to-wall carpets in a home.

Clean your home’s wall-to-wall carpet before listing for sale. Proper care will, of course, extend its life, but you may need to call in the pros for this job. Here are a few tips on carpet and area rug cleaning to stage your home in style. How often should carpets be cleaned? Most carpet manufacturers […]

5 Forgotten Places to Clean in Your Home

Young woman trying to carefully clean computer keyboard in her home office.

When preparing a home for sale, most of us clean all the hot spots – vacuuming the carpets, scrubbing the tub and shower, wiping down messy countertops, and cleaning mirrors and windows. But what about these five forgotten places in your home where dirt and grime are likely lurking? Trash cans Have you ever taken […]