Home and Garden

By Arianne Cohen Hotel maids clean so quickly because they carry key tools right on their bodies, says Tanya Gonzaga, housekeeping manager at the Sanctuary Hotel New York in Manhattan. All you need: 1. A Cleaning Apron Get one with a loop large eno...

By Arianne Cohen Hotel maids clean so quickly bec...

By Arianne Cohen How, exactly, do you clean a toaster? Or store your winter coat? Or quickly get a duvet back in its cover? House cleaning is full of tasks you don’t always know how to do efficiently. Here’s your speedy guide courtesy of me and Cher...

By Arianne Cohen How, exactly, do you clean a toa...

By Woman's Day Staff SALAD DRESSING As soon as you see it: Sprinkle on baking soda or cornstarch to absorb as much oil as possible. After the party: Apply a stain remover. If it's still there: Launder in the hottest water that’s safe for the fabric ...

By Woman's Day Staff SALAD DRESSING As soon as yo...

By Woman's Day Staff "Help, I ran out of... " Just used up the last of your cleaning products? Before you dash off to the store to pick up more (and lose the motivation to mop your floors or finish dusting), reach for these kitchen staples, suggests...

By Woman's Day Staff "Help, I ran out of... " Jus...

By Arianne Cohen Allow me to predict your future: At some point in the next year, a special person in your life—perhaps someone you married or birthed—will dump food all over your favorite sofa/carpet/chair. It’s inevitable. But what if your favorite...

By Arianne Cohen Allow me to predict your future: ...

By Arricca SanSone Scrubbing and scouring is the key to keeping a tidy home, right? Though you may have the best of intentions, some cleaning blunders can actually end up doing more harm then good. For example, washing your windows on a sunny day may...

By Arricca SanSone Scrubbing and scouring is the k...

By Erin Dailey Nope, it's not just for taming your tresses. 1. Detach a photo from an album. To work a delicate photograph off one of those sticky pages, blow warm air onto the back of the page while gently tugging the photo free. 2. Dust tough-to-re...

By Erin Dailey Nope, it's not just for taming your...

By Arianne Cohen The kitchen can be home to many sweet-smelling feasts, but when those aromas are overpowered by a reeking appliance or accessory, the family would probably prefer to stay hungry. If you’re battling offensive odors from your garbage d...

By Arianne Cohen The kitchen can be home to many s...

By Arricca SanSone Sure, your dishwasher makes quick work of dirty plates and cups. But lots of other stuff will get squeaky-clean in there, too. “Dishwashers are real time-savers for cleaning many household and personal items,” says Liz Trotter. Rea...

By Arricca SanSone Sure, your dishwasher makes qui...

While spring cleaning, perfect your dust-busting techniques with these helpful tips for household items that usually collect dust. Sofas Use your vacuum’s small upholstery brush or, better yet, an attachment with a gentle beater brush to help dislod...

While spring cleaning, perfect your dust-busting t...

By Arianne Cohen Dentists recommend throwing out your toothbrush every three months. Disinfect it in a cup of antiseptic mouthwash, then toss it—right into your cleaning caddy. 1. Stove Burners and Kitchen ControlsA stiff toothbrush helps caked-on f...

By Arianne Cohen Dentists recommend throwing out ...

By Arianne Cohen A few years ago, I found out that I’ve been cleaning all wrong. I was in a hotel room, when a maid came in and sprayed a solution on every surface…and then left. Right when I thought she’d forgotten, she returned. She wiped for less ...

By Arianne Cohen A few years ago, I found out that...

By Susan Sulich I love that serene “ahhhhh” moment when you can sink into a comfy chair, look around your sparkling house and breathe a sigh of relief. Now, if I could just figure out how to get there without the hours-long top-to-bottom scrubathon. ...

By Susan Sulich I love that serene “ahhhhh” moment...

By Arricca SanSone If you’re tired of wasting time scouring the stove and scrubbing the tub without getting results, we’ve got you covered. “Knowing a few cleaning tricks helps you get the job done right the first time,” says Liz Trotter, owner of Am...

By Arricca SanSone If you’re tired of wasting time...

By Arianne Cohen No matter how conscious you are about cleanliness, sometimes there’s no good way to avoid common household spills. But with a few stain-busting tips, fighting back can be a cinch. From what kind of paper towel to use to the amount of...

By Arianne Cohen No matter how conscious you are a...

By Arianne Cohen Household odors. Just the thought of them makes you blush in shame: Something in your house…smells. But odors are, in a way, good news. They’re a helpful early alarm system—your home’s way of telling you that there’s a problem. Here’...

By Arianne Cohen Household odors. Just the thought...

By Angela Ebron No time to tidy up the house? No sweat. You can get a ton done in well under half an hour. Here, 15 cleanups that take 15 minutes or less. 15-Minute Tasks Swipe and sweep the kitchen.“Use disposable disinfecting wipes to clean kitche...

By Angela Ebron No time to tidy up the house? No s...

By Brynn Mannino If you don’t have time for the big, top-to-bottom seasonal ritual we call spring cleaning, you can still get the job done by tackling tasks that, when completed, send cleanliness vibes reverberating throughout the whole house. We spo...

By Brynn Mannino If you don’t have time for the bi...

By Matt Hickman Q: My husband and I get a kick out of entertaining, whether it's intimate gatherings or large dinner parties. The period from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Eve is particularly active when it comes to inviting others —some being slop...

By Matt Hickman Q: My husband and I get a kick out...

By Arricca SanSone Not everyone likes to clean, but everyone loves a clean house. “The key is maintenance so things don’t get out of control,” says Diana Henley. “Tackling little messes right away prevents them from becoming big messes later on.” Her...

By Arricca SanSone Not everyone likes to clean, bu...

By Chanie Kirschner Q: I was recently taking a shower in my bathroom when I looked up and noticed what I think was black fuzz and dots growing on my ceiling! I realized it was actually mold. Why does mold seem to like the bathroom the most and what c...

By Chanie Kirschner Q: I was recently taking a sho...