Clean the windows.

Window cleaning is one of the most dreaded tasks homeowners must contend with, but dirty windows can make your whole house look old and tired. Ditch the elbow grease and wadded up newspapers and instead do it like the pros: Fill a bucket with warm water, and add just a few drops of dish detergent. You don’t want a lot of suds. Use a good quality squeegee to wash the windows, then use the rubber blade to remove the water. After each pass, wipe the blade with a lint-free cloth, and use it to also dry any moisture left behind.

Have the carpets steam cleaned.

According to ServiceMaster in Minneapolis MN, your carpets collect and trap all sorts of chemicals and allergens, from the motor oil on the bottoms of your shoes to pollen that hitches a ride inside on the dog’s paws and fur. A twice-yearly professional steam cleaning will go a long way toward improving your indoor air quality to reduce allergy attacks and extending the life of your carpets.

Dust the ceilings and light fixtures.

The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology notes that dust mites are the most common allergy triggers in the typical home, and they proliferate anywhere dust is present. Unfortunately, while most homeowners regularly dust most of the surfaces at home, they often forget the ceilings and light fixtures, which gather dust, insect parts, and other allergenic particles. Use an electrostatic dusting cloth on an extendable pole to remove dust from the ceilings. Remove light fixtures and wash them in warm, soapy water.

Clean the drains.

Over time, your drain walls collect soap residue, mold, and sludge that can eventually lead to clogs. Cleaning the drains a couple of times a year can help prevent clogs, and it’ll help keep your drains from developing unpleasant odors. Cleaning the drains is simple, and you can do it chemical free. Pour a pot of boiling water into the drains, then sprinkle 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain hole. Allow it to sit for five minutes, then pour a cup of vinegar down the drain. Let the baking soda and vinegar do their bubbling thing for a few minutes to loosen the grime, then pour another pot of boiling water in the drains to rinse it away.

Clean behind the stove & fridge.

Out of sight, out of mind, right? Sure, until you develop an insect infestation due to all the delicious, greasy tidbits behind your stove and until your refrigerator coil is so dirty that it affects its ability to keep your food optimally cold. Twice yearly, pull the stove and fridge out and clean behind them. First, vacuum up loose particles and dirt from the floor and from the back of each appliance. Scrub the floor and wall behind each unit with hot, soapy water. Use a sponge to gently clean the refrigerator coil attached to the back, and rinse it well.