How to Maintain Cleanliness in Your Apartment: Pro Tips

Deep cleaning isn't the most pleasant task, especially when it requires spending your well-deserved weekend on it. However, if you maintain cleanliness regularly, cleaning won't take much time or energy. We'll tell you how often to pay attention to different corners of your apartment to keep it clean all the time.

Kitchen Countertops

To keep order on the kitchen counter, wipe it down with a damp cloth and soapy solution after each cooking session — this will only take about two minutes. Once every 1-2 weeks, use cleaning products.

Areas to Focus On: junctions with walls, zone near the sink, places where appliances and dishes are stored.

How to Clean: Use eco-friendly cream-based cleaning products. They are safe for children and leave no odor.

Refrigerator

Store different types of food in sealed plastic containers to prevent odors from mixing. Once a week, wipe shelves with a soft sponge soaked in soapy water. Once a month, perform a deep clean: unplug the refrigerator and remove all food items. Occasionally, clean the condenser with a vacuum cleaner using a fine nozzle.

Areas to Focus On: distant walls, all corners and recesses.

How to Clean: With baking soda dissolved in warm water. Do not use aggressive cleaning agents on the refrigerator as they can damage rubber gaskets or contaminate food.

Microwave Oven

The easiest method is to use the steam cleaning mode. If your microwave doesn’t have this feature, do it manually: mix 0.5 cup of water and 0.5 cup of vinegar in a heat-resistant dish and bring it to a boil. Then just wipe the microwave with a damp cloth.

How Often to Clean: Once every one to two weeks.

Bedding

Sleeping on freshly washed bedding is much more refreshing. To avoid chemical smells from laundry detergent, choose the most neutral one for bedding and set your machine to double rinse cycle.

Store sheets with aromatic sachets — for example, lavender scent promotes calmness and deep relaxation.

How Often to Clean: Once a week.

Rug

You can vacuum a rug every day, but it's much more effective to do regular steam cleaning. Alternatively, you can hire a professional rug cleaning service, but it's more economical to buy a steam cleaner.

Make sure your rug can be washed (for example, handwoven wool rugs shouldn't be washed). Also, don't overdo it with water to prevent mold growth due to excessive moisture.

How Often to Clean: Once a month, more often if you have pets.

Bathroom

To make the toilet shine, apply a stain remover around the rim and let it sit for five to ten minutes, then scrub with a brush.

Equally important is cleaning the tank and flush button — this area has the most microbes. To avoid doing it by hand, spray the cleaning product from a dispenser and then wipe with a damp cloth.

How Often to Clean: After every use, thoroughly once a week.

Don't use harsh sponges or scrubbers on the bathtub to avoid damaging the enamel. Eco-friendly cleaning products in paste or gel form work well. For acrylic tubs, there is a special line of cleaning products (after using aggressive cleaners, the tub may yellow).

How Often to Clean the Tub: Weekly.

What About Towels? If you have problematic skin, it's better to use paper tissues instead of changing face towels daily. Towels for hands are easier to manage — change them every three days.

How to Easily Maintain Cleanliness in Your Home? + 5 Rules by Marie Kondo

Make tidiness part of your lifestyle — then you won't need to force yourself to clean. Easily get rid of unnecessary items. If something doesn't bring you joy, it's no longer needed. Clean categories rather than specific rooms: for example, start with all window sills and then move to wardrobes. This speeds up the process. Don't postpone it: it's easier to do small cleanups regularly than wait until you have enough clutter to make a big one. Use vertical storage systems, so your wardrobes always stay organized.