Chores, cleaning and home care

Cleaning schedules and the words people use for keeping a house in working order.

B

Baking soda cleaningUsing baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) as a mild, alkaline scrub and deodorizer on sinks, tubs, grout, trash cans and carpets.

Baseboard cleaningDusting and wiping the trim where walls meet the floor. The American Cleaning Institute puts a wipe-down in fall cleaning and a vacuum before the holidays.

Bath toy cleaningKeeping bath toys free of mold by squeezing and drying them after every bath and cleaning or tossing any that show mold inside.

Bathroom deep cleanA top-to-bottom bathroom cleaning that reaches grout, tub, toilet, floor and fixtures. The ACI's routine puts it every two weeks.

Blind cleaningRemoving dust and marks from window blinds and shades, usually with a monthly dusting and a deeper clean about once a year.

C

Capsule wardrobeA small set of essential, versatile clothes and accessories chosen so most pieces combine with each other into many outfits.

Car interior detailingA thorough cleaning of a car's cabin: vacuuming, cleaning seats, dashboard, screens and the surfaces hands touch, each with a cleaner that won't damage it.

Carpet shampooingDeep cleaning a carpet with a cleaning solution and a machine, most often by hot water extraction, to lift dirt that weekly vacuuming leaves behind.

Ceiling fan cleaningRemoving the dust that builds up on ceiling fan blades and housing, which Hunter Fan suggests doing every 1 to 3 months.

Chlorine bleachHousehold bleach made with sodium hypochlorite that whitens, removes stains and disinfects, but can fade colors and damage some fibers.

Chore rewardSomething a person earns for finishing a household job, such as points, money or a privilege, often tallied on a chart and cashed in later.

Cleaning caddyA portable tote that holds your everyday cleaning supplies, so you can carry them from room to room and store them safely in one place.

Cleaning checklistA written list of household cleaning jobs, often split into daily and weekly tasks, that you tick off so nothing gets missed.

Cleaning serviceA business or person you pay to clean your home, usually by the visit or by the hour, on a one-time or regular schedule.

Closet auditGoing through everything in a closet piece by piece to decide what you wear and keep, what needs repair, and what leaves the house.

ClutterA crowded, untidy collection of things, especially things that aren't useful or needed, spread over the surfaces and spaces of a home.

Clutter hotspotA spot in the home, such as the kitchen table, where things without a permanent home get dropped and keep piling up.

CompostingTurning food scraps and yard waste into a dark, crumbly soil amendment by letting them break down in a managed pile or bin.

Cutting board cleaningWashing a cutting board after every use and sanitizing it now and then, using USDA's mix of 1 tablespoon bleach per gallon of water.

D

DeclutteringClearing out what a home no longer needs by sorting belongings into what to keep and what leaves the house, one small area at a time.

DegreasingRemoving built-up cooking grease from cabinets, stovetops and range hoods, usually with dish soap and warm water or a cleaner labeled as a degreaser.

DescalingDissolving the mineral scale that hard water leaves inside kettles, coffee makers and other appliances that heat water.

Dishwasher filterThe screen at the bottom of a dishwasher that catches food and grit, which makers say to rinse every 3 to 6 months, or about every 2 weeks with daily use.

Dishwasher loadingArranging dishes in a dishwasher so water and detergent reach every dirty surface: big, messy items below, cups and plastics on top, nothing blocking the spray.

Dryer vent cleaningClearing built-up lint out of the duct that carries a clothes dryer's hot, damp air outdoors. NFPA advises cleaning the vent pipe at least once a year.

Duvet vs comforterA duvet is a filled insert that lives inside a removable, washable cover; a comforter is a single filled piece used on its own.

E

Enzyme cleanerA cleaner or detergent that uses enzymes to break down stains: protease for protein, amylase for starch and lipase for fats and oils.

F

Fair share of choresThe portion of a household's chores each person takes on, judged against what everyone agrees is fair given their other work and commitments.

Fridge deep cleanA full clean of the refrigerator with the food and shelves out, the parts washed, and the inside cleaned and sanitized, beyond wiping up spills.

G

Garage organizationSorting a garage into zones with a set place for tools, gear and supplies, and storing hazardous products safely in their original containers.

Garbage disposal cleaningKeeping a sink garbage disposal clean and odor-free by using it often, scrubbing under the rubber baffle, and grinding only food.

Grout cleaningScrubbing the lines of grout between tiles with a brush and cleaner to lift dirt, soap film and mildew stains.

Grout sealingBrushing or rolling a sealer onto grout lines so they soak up less water and fewer stains. Makers suggest resealing about every year or two.

H

Hand washing clothesWashing garments in a basin or sink with gentle detergent and slow, careful handling, for items whose care label says hand wash or that a machine could stretch or damage.

Hard water stainsWhite, chalky marks left on glass, faucets, tile and toilets when hard water dries and leaves its calcium and magnesium behind.

High-efficiency detergentLaundry detergent made to clean with low suds in the small amount of water a high-efficiency (HE) washer uses, marked "HE" on the package.

K

KonMari foldingMarie Kondo's way of folding clothes into small rectangles that stand upright in a drawer, so every item is visible at once instead of stacked.

L

Laundry sortingDividing dirty laundry into loads that can be washed together safely, by color, how dirty it is, lint and the care each fabric needs.

Line dryingDrying laundry by hanging it on a clothesline, rack or bar to air dry, indoors or outdoors, instead of using a tumble dryer.

Litter box cleaningScooping and changing a cat's litter on a routine. CDC advises changing it daily, before any toxoplasmosis parasite in the waste can become infectious.

M

Mattress cleaningCleaning a mattress itself, not just its sheets, by spot treating spills and giving it a fuller clean about every six months, the timing Cleveland Clinic suggests.

Mattress rotationTurning a mattress 180 degrees so the head end becomes the foot end, which spreads wear more evenly; flipping it over is a different step many mattresses don't allow.

Melamine spongeA cleaning pad of melamine foam, sold as Mr. Clean Magic Eraser and similar, that works like a very fine abrasive when wet.

Microwave steam cleaningCleaning a microwave by heating a bowl of water, often with vinegar or lemon juice, so the steam softens splatters before you wipe them away.

MildewA flat, usually gray or white mold that grows on damp surfaces such as shower grout, curtains and fabric left wet.

Mixing cleaning productsCombining two or more cleaners in one bottle, bucket or bowl. Some pairs, such as bleach with ammonia or with an acid, give off toxic gas.

MoldA fungus that grows indoors wherever moisture lingers. EPA says fix the water problem, then scrub it off hard surfaces with detergent and water.

MoppingWashing a hard floor with a damp mop and a cleaner mixed in water, after the loose dirt has been swept or vacuumed up.

O

Oven cleaningRemoving baked-on grease and food from inside an oven, by hand or with the oven's own cleaning cycle, which KitchenAid suggests once or twice a year for most homes.

Oxygen bleachLaundry bleach that uses hydrogen peroxide or a similar oxygen-releasing ingredient instead of chlorine, sold as color-safe or non-chlorine bleach.

P

Paper clutterPiles of mail, bills, statements, receipts and forms that build up at home, with no system for what to keep, where, and for how long.

Pet hair removalGetting shed dog or cat hair off floors, furniture and clothes, and cutting how much gets there by brushing the pet regularly.

Pet odorLingering smells from a pet's urine, feces, bedding or coat, usually tackled by cleaning soiled spots with an enzymatic cleaner.

Pillow washingWashing the pillow itself, not just its case, which Cleveland Clinic puts on a cycle of every few months to every six months.

R

RecyclingCollecting used materials such as paper, cardboard, glass and some plastics so they can be processed and made into new products.

S

Self-cleaning ovenAn oven with a built-in, high-temperature cleaning cycle that breaks down baked-on food so it can be wiped out once the oven cools.

Sentimental clutterThings kept mainly for the memories or feelings attached to them, such as heirlooms, cards, photos and souvenirs, once they crowd a home.

Sheet washing frequencyHow often bed sheets should be washed. Cleveland Clinic advises at least once a week, with pillowcases in the same load.

Soap scumThe dull, gray-white film that forms on tubs, tile and shower doors when soap reacts with the calcium in hard water.

Sponge replacementSwapping a kitchen sponge for a new one on a schedule, which Cleveland Clinic puts at least every other week, or sooner if it looks or smells off.

Stovetop cleaningKeeping a cooktop free of spills and burned-on food, with a quick clean after each use and a deeper clean with a cooktop cleaner every few weeks.

Swedish death cleaningDöstädning, the Swedish practice of clearing out unneeded belongings over time so the people you leave behind don't have to sort them.

T

Tipping house cleanersGiving a house cleaner extra money beyond the price of the service, either at visits or once a year, which is a choice with no official rule.

Toilet ringA stained line inside a toilet bowl at the water level. A mineral ring from hard water needs an acidic cleaner, since bleach won't lift it.

Toothbrush replacementSwapping an old toothbrush for a new one. The American Dental Association advises every 3 to 4 months, or sooner once the bristles look matted or frayed.

Top-down cleaningCleaning a room from its highest surfaces down to the floor, so dust and crumbs knocked loose land on areas you haven't cleaned yet.

Towel washing frequencyHow often to wash towels. Cleveland Clinic advises at least once a week for bath towels, and more often in a humid bathroom or when someone is sick.

Toy rotationKeeping only a few of a child's toys out at a time and storing the rest, then swapping sets every week or so so the stored toys feel new again.

Trash can cleaningWashing out a kitchen or outdoor trash can on a schedule, with a method that suits what the can is made of, to stop smells and grime building up.

U

Under-sink organizationArranging the cabinet under a kitchen or bathroom sink so cleaners stay in their original containers, locked away from children and easy to check for leaks.

Upholstery cleaningKeeping a sofa or chair's fabric or leather clean with regular vacuuming and spot cleaning matched to the cleaning code on its tag.

V

Vertical storageStoring things upward on walls, doors and tall shelving instead of spreading them across floors and counters, so a small space holds more.

Vinegar cleaningUsing white vinegar, a mild acetic acid, to dissolve mineral buildup and lift grime. It doesn't replace a registered disinfectant.

W

Washing machine cleaningCleaning the inside of a washer, including its drum and door seal, so detergent residue, damp and mildew don't build up. Whirlpool advises about once a month.

Window cleaningWashing window glass, inside and out, so it's clear and streak-free; window makers suggest doing it at least twice a year.

Wool dryer ballsBalls of felted wool that tumble with damp laundry in the dryer to separate the load and let air move through it, often used in place of dryer sheets.