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The Routine:

• Appliance faces: Don't scratch those pretty surfaces with rough scouring pads or harsh cleaners with bleach. Use a mild cleaner or make a paste of baking soda and water to clean, then apply a kitchen-appliance or car wax to keep them shiny. Dissolve grease on the stovetop with a sponge soaked in white vinegar.
  
• Microwave: Soak the turntable in sudsy water while you wipe up interior splatters with a paper towel and an all-purpose surface cleaner. Want to get fancy? Try a steam clean. It's easy: Fill a microwave-safe glass with 2 cups of water and either 1 teaspoon of vanilla or a few slices of lemon. Run on high for 5 minutes, remove cup, and wipe the sweet-smelling interior clean with a paper towel.
  
• Countertops: Spray on an all-purpose cleaner (or run disposable wipes over the surface) and let it be for at least 10 minutes. The product works best when it sits, so don't wipe immediately (use that wait time to tackle the sink or stovetop).
  
• Sink: Keep the drain fresh and clear by pouring down several quarts of boiling water to flush out grease. Do double-duty by adding 1 cup of baking soda followed by 1 cup of white vinegar down the drain; then sprinkle more baking soda in the basin to scrub clean.
  
• Floors: Food spills, dust, and dirty footprints make the floor filthy (help keep down the ick factor by not wearing your street shoes while you cook). Ceramic tile or stone floors can be washed with a mixture of 1 cup vinegar and 1 gallon of water (soap can dull the surface). Now, for grimy grout: Start simple by working at it with a small piece of sandpaper or a pink pencil eraser. For tougher jobs make a super spray of 1 tablespoon bleach and 2 cups warm water, then scrub with an old toothbrush.
  [Nest Note] Be careful when working with chlorine bleach. When it mixes with ammonia (found in many cleaners), it can produce a noxious gas that will burn the lungs.

• Oven: The self-clean cycle is a masterful invention, but it can release fumes that are toxic to birds and dogs. If spills do accumulate and you don't have a self-clean oven, sprinkle salt on the residue while the oven is still warm. When it cools, scrape it up with a spatula and wipe clean with a cloth. Got stuck-on crud? Use a nylon scrubby sponge dipped in soapy hot water for a heavy-duty clean (just be sure nothing drips into the vent openings).
  [N] You won't need to do this much if you place a silicone liner on the oven floor: When something boils over or splatters, you can just wipe off the liner with a dishcloth.
  
• Stove: Line the drip pans on the stovetop with foil and replace monthly or when very dirty. It might not look neat (you're not creating tinfoil swans or anything), but it's easier than cleaning exposed nooks and crannies later.
  
• Fridge: How old is that sour cream? Check everything in the refrigerator and toss anything that is past its expiration date -- or that is just sad looking (wilted lettuce, shriveled limes). Wash the interior with a solution of baking soda and warm water, about 1/2 cup of baking soda for every gallon of water. It's also smart to clean the drain pan and vacuum underneath the refrigerator.
  
• Garbage can: It's inevitable that some coffee grinds or a few drops of soy sauce will land inside the pail. Hose down the can outside or in the tub, using hot soapy water; then spray with a disinfectant like Lysol and let it dry before rebagging.
  
• Cabinets: Purge old, stale, or unusable foods(the rock-hard brown sugar you used once). Before restacking packages, vacuum up food particles and dust, then wipe with a damp cloth. Make the outside surfaces sparkle by wiping them with 1/2 cup white vinegar or a solution of 1/4 cup liquid oil soap and 1 gallon of warm water (don't soak the cloth; just dampen it enough to remove dirt and grease).
  
• Dishwasher: Run a complete cycle with an empty machine (just detergent, of course) for a clean, deodorized space.

Tricks of the trade:

• Sponges carry tons of bacteria. In fact, the average sponge contains about seven billion germs*. Zap a wet sponge in the microwave on high for 1 minute every day. This will kill the germs that have been festering, so you won't spread them onto your countertops and dishes.
  
• Instead of using a sponge, use a clean rag (we like ones from Simple Solutions). Designate one rag for each room, and rinse it with hot water every 2 minutes as you clean.
  
• Start cleaning areas with the least germ potential (like where you eat) and work your way toward the areas with the highest concentration of grime (like food-prep spots).
  
• Keep garbage bags in the bottom of the can so replacing them is easy.
  
• Sometimes a delicious home-cooked meal can leave behind a lingering unwanted odor (but hopefully not from indigestion). Eradicate the offending smells by setting out a bowl of vinegar on the counter to absorb them. Or drop your favorite herb or spice into a pot of boiling water to fill the kitchen with a pleasant scent (we love cinnamon or dried rosemary).

* According to a University of Arizona study.

>> Get bathroom cleaning tips too!

[Nest Experts] Jerri Farris, author of Home Improvement 101, and Donna Smallin, author of Cleaning Plain & Simple.

by Grace Jidoun
1/31/08

See more: cleaning & organizing, Decor Tricks