9 Things You Should Clean Every Week, According to Cleaning Pros

Every night, your sheets collect germs, dead skin, sweat, body oils and dust mites, so it's a good idea to send your sheets and pillowcases for a spin in the washing machine every seven days or so. (Duvet covers and comforters, mattress protectors and even your mattress can go a little longer between cleanings.) If you let pets sleep in the bed or anyone in your home has dust or pollen allergies, sweats excessively or has an infectious illness, consider washing your sheets even more frequently.

Wipe down high-touch appliances like the refrigerator, cooktop, microwave and coffee maker. Regularly go over the handles and knobs with a disinfecting wipe, and use a microfiber cloth and a stainless steel cleaner to remove fingerprints, water spots and grease splatters. Alternatively, you can mix 1 teaspoon of a grease-cutting dish detergent, like GH Seal star Dawn, and 1 quart of hot tap water. Dip a microfiber cloth into the solution and rub any marks in the direction of the metal’s grain. Rinse with clean hot water and dry with a clean cloth.

For weekly cleaning, a pass over rugs and carpets with a vacuum is adequate. This will pick up any dirt and debris or pet hair tracked in the house. Save the carpet cleaner for stain removal, and aim to schedule professional cleanings once per year.

To keep your hardwood floors in tip-top shape, you should sweep every few days with a dry microfiber mop or electrostatic sweeper, like GH Seal Star Swiffer. You can save deeper wet cleans with a hardwood floor cleaner for every one to two months or as needed, depending on how much daily use your floors get.

Countertops, sinks, and other high-traffic areas of your bathroom should be cleaned weekly. Spray a disinfectant bathroom cleaner all around the bathroom sink and wipe with a cloth or sponge. Don't forget to spray or wipe faucet handles with a disinfectant spray or wipe, too. And always allow the surface being cleaned to remain wet for the required time on the package to kill germs.

Generously apply a toilet cleaner to the bowl and let sit for up to five minutes before scrubbing a stiff-bristled toilet brush, then flush. Next, wipe down the toilet seat and handle with disinfectant wipes or spray, making sure to let the surface remain wet for the amount of time indicated on the product's packaging. And don't forget: Toilet brushes need cleaning, too. Spray the toilet brush with a disinfectant and let it dry out of the caddy before replacing it.

Use a damp cloth to wipe off any dust and grime. (When cleaning switches, be careful not to let any liquid seep behind the switch.) Then, use a disinfecting wipe or cotton ball dampened with 70% isopropyl alcohol and wipe down. Let air dry.

Bath towels can be used three times (or even more!) before you toss them in the laundry, but weekly is a good bet, since washing and drying towels too often will make them wear out faster. Launder them in the hottest water that's safe for the fabric, and add in ¼ to ½ cup fabric rinse, like GH Seal Star Downy Rinse & Refresh.

You should be dusting your furniture once per week, but can save a deeper dust — think light fixtures and blinds — for once per month. Every three to six months, it's a good idea to clean under and behind furniture, vacuum mattresses and wash pillows and comforters.

For basic dusting, you'll capture more dust with a soft microfiber cloth lightly dampened with water or a furniture dusting spray, a microfiber duster or an electrostatic duster.