iMag Slide Show

Cleaning can be a drag anytime of year ... but there'e no better time than now to give your home a big time scrubbing. Thelma Meyer, the inspiration behind Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day products (her daughter started the company!) shares her tried and true tips for getting your home sparkling clean.

Q: How often should I dust and vacuum?

A: Dust at least two times a week. Don't use sprays; rather use a damp cloth or furniture cream. How often you vacuum depends on the traffic in your house. You should be vacuuming at least twice a week, but again, it depends on how much dirt you're bringing in. If you typically don't wear your shoes in the house, vacuum the entryway first, where all the dirt is, and save yourself the trouble of spending a lot of energy on the rest of the house.

Q: I'm having company over, but I don't have a lot of time to clean. What can I do quickly to make the house look presentable?

A: If you're having dinner guests, but don't have a lot of time to clean, run a quick vacuum over the entryway. Make sure your kitchen has no crumbs on the floor. Put your shoes and coats away. If you keep surface wipes under all the sinks in your bathroom, all you have to do is wipe down the sinks and the toilets (nothing on your hands and knees or anything). Just a quick wipe-down; you'll have it done in 5 minutes. Then all you have to do is keep the lights around the house on a dimmer!

Q: How can I break up cleaning so it's not so time-consuming?

A: You can divvy up your chores by the time of day. Say, "In the morning I'll do the countertops, at night I'll do the bathroom". Just do whatever works with your schedule. You can tackle big projects in segments, "I'll do the closets this weekend," or, "the baseboards next week". Keep a notebook of what you cleaned and when.

Q: Can cleaning help alleviate allergies?

A: If you have allergies, change your pillows and flip your mattress. Change your bed linens at least once a week. Dust lives up high, so take down your curtains every few weeks and clean them and air them out. Get the top of the blades on your ceiling fan. Fans in general collect a lot of dust. For regular fans, pop off the front cage of the fan and wipe down the blades. Avoid feather pillows and down comforters, heavy perfumes and smoke

Q: What kinds of products are good to use if you have allergies? 

Products with heavy odors can worsen your allergies. A lot of products these days avoid heavy chemicals. Look for plant-derived products.

Q: Do any items in the pantry double as cleaning products?

A: Vinegar: Since it's an acid, vinegar will lift dirt easily. It doesn't have the best scent in the world, so I don't use it for much. I will run vinegar and tap water through the coffee pot two or three times through every once in a while to clean out the insides.

Lemon: While they are also acidic, lemons have a refreshing, nice fragrance. Cut one in half and run it around the faucet.

Baking Soda: This kitchen staple is naturally abrasive for getting out really tough stains.