In spite of your regular efforts, dirt has a way of settling in, and that requires more than the cursory tidying up. Sure, you want your guests to think you’re an excellent housekeeper, but more importantly, you’ll rest more comfortably knowing that you’ve looked "below the surface" to clean dirty areas that might not be seen at first glance. It’s not just about looks but your family’s health, too. We’d like to suggest you develop a calendar that includes "deep cleaning" tasks:

 

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You already vacuum your floors regularly. Next time, make sure you scrutinize corners, baseboards, areas behind furniture, your furnace and air conditioning vents and the floors of closets, to name a few often-overlooked dust collectors. Today’s vacuums are made for these jobs and come equipped with attachments, like the brush and crevice tool, that reach the hard-to-reach places. Go ahead: pick up those sofa pillows where the kids snack while watching television, and vacuum away!

No matter how clean you are or where you live, chances are you have dust: most of us do. You’ll want to wipe your furniture with a feather duster, wooly duster or dust cloth — or once again use a vacuum and attachment — then finish the job with polish. A wide selection is available in spray or liquid forms which can make older, war-torn furniture look like it’s had a facelift, covering scratches and small chips. Hint: Try a color-matched "furniture pen" that works like a permanent ink marker.

Let nature help. Sunshine and fresh air work wonders: throw rugs, blankets and curtains respond well to a little "airing out." But take care to do this on a low-pollen day lest you bring allergens back inside with these items, and don't leave textiles in the bleaching action of the sun for too long.

Take a critical look at your bathroom. You already clean the toilet, shower, sink and tub. Remember that germs hide on places hands touch, so clean and disinfect those areas, which include cabinet knobs and shower and toilet handles. Faucets and other hardware need wiping, too.

In the kitchen, you’ll be amazed what’s under the produce drawers and in the freezer bin. Defrost (if necessary for your model), wipe and wash, when appropriate, the inside and exterior components of your refrigerator. Wipe all sides of the microwave interior and wash the revolving plate. (Hint: use that cover when cooking!) The regular oven may require commercial oven cleaner, which means fumes, so ventilate with care and know that this job will make a bit of a mess before you see the finished results.