Clean the Things You Never Do*

*But ShouldMore chores? Don't worry. Just add an item or two to your regular routine, and your home will thank you.

- By Emily Goodman and Jamie Novak. Photographs by K. Synold

You routinely change your sheets, but when was the last time you refreshed your mattress?

And you run your dishwasher regularly, but how long has it been since you gave the machine itself a wash? Chances are, you haven't thought to clean certain household items in a long while—and might not think to clean them at all, until they become bigger projects than they would be if you'd given them a little regular TLC.

If you feel you have already spend too much time cleaning, don't despair. Many of these tasks are easy to tackle, especially if you tack them on to existing chores.

We suggest routines for each, but these are simply standards to shoot for, not literal homework. To start, it's enough to notice these frequently overlooked items more often than you perhaps have before. The nicest part? As you build them into your cleaning routine, you won't have to pay much attention to them.

APPLIANCES

COFFEE MAKER

How to clean Over time, the oils from all your cups of joe build up inside your coffee maker. To remove them, along with any limescale, first check the manual (or manufacturer's website) to see whether either advises against using any particular descaling agent. If not, mix one-part white vinegar and nine parts water (or two parts lemon juice and eight parts water), fill the reservoir with the mixture, and run a drip cycle. Pause it halfway to let the solution sit for about half an hour to break down any buildup. Then finish the brewing cycle and run two more full cycles with plain water to remove any lingering traces of vinegar or lemon.