KITCHEN
• WORKING FROM THE TOP DOWN,
dust cabinets, countertops, and
other solid surfaces, taking care to
hit the spots that don’t often get a
lot of TLC (like the top of the fridge).
- CLEAN GREASE BUILDUP and debris
from wood cabinets with Murphy Oil
Soap ($4; homedepot.com). Dilute
about half a cup of oil soap in a gallon
of warm water. Dip a sponge or cloth
in the solution and wipe the cabinets,
focusing on the area around knobs,
which tends to get the dirtiest and
is at guests’ eye level.
- TACKLE STOVETOP SPILLS. Dip a
sponge in soapy water, squeeze it
over the spill, and let the water sit
for 10 minutes. In that time, the
spill will soften and become easy
to wipe up with a cloth.
- REFRESH THE MICROWAVE. Heat
four tablespoons of vinegar in a
bowl for four minutes to loosen
gunk, then wipe up the gunk with
a paper towel.
• REMOVE ITEMS FROM THE FRIDGE
and pantry one shelf at a time and
wipe the shelf with all-purpose
cleaner. Clean condiment bottles
and jars so sticky residue doesn’t
undo your work. As you replace the
items, take a moment to relocate
anything that would make more
sense in a different spot.
• WIPE DOWN STAINLESS-STEEL
APPLIANCES with a microfiber
cloth dampened in vinegar. Follow
with a water-dampened cloth to
remove excess.
- REVIVE YOUR COFFEE MAKER by
running a cycle with equal parts
white vinegar and water. When half
the liquid has brewed, stop the
machine. Let it sit for an hour to
loosen any oily coffee-ground resi-
due. Finish the cycle, then run it a
few more times with plain water
until you can’t smell vinegar any-
more. If you have a single-serve
machine that takes pods, use a
descaling solution (like Keurig’s
Descaling Solution, $13; keurig.com),
which is odorless and removes
calcium deposits that can muck
up your cuppa.
• MOP SEALED WOOD OR STONE
FLOORS with a diluted solution of
Mrs. Meyer’s Multi-Surface Concen-
trate ($9; target.com) or a neutral pH
soap; wring out the mop so excess
water doesn’t sit on the surface.
Dry-mop laminate flooring, and give
tiles new life with a steam cleaner
(like the PowerEdge Lift-Off 2-in-1
Steam Mop, $70; bissel.com), which
kills bacteria and removes dirt.
DINING ROOM
- WIPE DUST from all surfaces, includ-
ing the buffet and bar cart. Give the
table and chairs a good once-over and
wipe up any splatters with a damp
cloth. Launder table linens.
- VACUUM CRUMBS from upholstered
dining chairs, then use a stain-
treatment spray, like Folex Carpet
Spot Remover ($10; bedbathand
beyond.com), on any visible marks.
Blot with an absorbent cloth to
remove excess. If you’re in the
LIVING ROOM
- VACUUM CARPETS AND RUGS, then
spot-treat with Hoover Professional
Strength Instant Stain Remover ($8;
amazon.com), which can lift stains
you may not have noticed.
- LAUNDER THROW BLANKETS and
pillow covers (check the tags to
make sure yours are machine wash-
able). Let them air-dry to prevent
shrinking. Use a handheld steamer
to refresh your upholstered couch
and curtains.
- DUST SURFACES, including book-
cases and the top of the TV console,
with a microfiber cloth. While you’re
at it, reorganize books into neat stacks
and water wilted houseplants.
(Pretty spaces just look cleaner.)
- REMOVE FINGERPRINTS from the TV
with a soft, dry cloth. For more serious
smudges surrounding the screen, add
a drop of dish soap to a quarter cup of
water; barely dampen a soft cloth to
wipe. Follow with a water-only cloth,
then a dry one. Wipe remotes with
the lightly dampened cloth.
THE REALIST
44 REAL SIMPLE NOVEMBER 2019
