KEEPING on top of the housework is a never-ending and often thankless task.

But with the dawn of 2023, it's time to blitz those cobwebs and spruce up your home for the New Year.

TV’s Queen of Clean Lynsey Crombie has shared an easy-to-follow action plan for Sun readers.

She says: “If we set ourselves a little plan, a monthly calendar with just a few tasks on, it ensures there’s not too much pressure and we aren’t overwhelmed.”

The This Morning regular says "cleaning little and often, in five-minute bursts" is the best way to stay on top of chores.

Here Lynsey shares her list of how often you should clean items in your home and the common areas most of us forget.

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Bins

Bins can be a fly magnet – especially pesky fruit-flies which are hard to get rid of.

Lynsey says it’s worth rinsing them out and using disinfectant once a week.

Blankets 

Blankets are a must to keep warm during the cost of living crisis.

But they can gather dust. Lynsey recommends cleaning them between once a month and every other month, dependent on your household.

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She adds: “If you have pets, eat dinner on them or sticky fingers touch them, they need to be cleaned a little more often.”

Pet accessories

Lynsey says you should consider your dog’s food and water bowls like human dinner plates and clean them every day.

The task can be lessened by having trays that prevent splashes and spillages on your floor.

Dog bedding should also be treated like a human bed too and cleaned once a week – unless they've been wading in puddles or mud, when it will need to be more often.

Counters and cupboards

To avoid build-up of bacteria and stickiness, Lynsey suggests cleaning work surfaces every day with a hot soapy cloth.

Apart from the odd spillage of coffee granules or salt and pepper, kitchen cupboards shouldn’t get too dirty.

Lynsey recommends cleaning them twice a year and using it as an opportunity to get rid of out-of-date or unwanted tins – some of which could go to a food bank.

Similarly, with display cupboards and bookcases, Lynsey suggests gently dusting the area twice a year.

Curtains

Windows serve as a barrier against dirt and dust coming in from outside, but your curtains still need an occasional clean.

Lynsey says once or twice a year is good enough.

To avoid hefty dry cleaning bills, you can vacuum them lightly, steam clean, and use stain remover on dirty marks.

Dishcloths 

According to Lynsey, kitchen sponges and dish clothes can be "dirtier than your toilet seat".

She insists they must be cleaned daily, and recommends putting them on the top shelf of the dishwasher or in a bucket of boiling water and bleach, or another cleaning agent.

Door handles

Front door handles need to be cleaned twice a week due to being exposed to more bacteria and germs, Lynsey says. 

However, you can get away with cleaning indoor handles once a week, so long as everyone regularly washes their hands regularly.

Electronics 

Lynsey says computer keyboards, monitors and mobile phones are often neglected when it comes to cleaning, despite them “taking just a few seconds” to wipe.

She recommends using a damp microfibre cloth and glass spray for screens, and a wet cloth for keyboards every day.

You could also use a recycled paintbrush or make-up brush to remove crumbs.

Alternatively, Lynsey suggests keeping a packet of cleaning wipes on your desk, adding: “It’s very quick, you can do it while you’re on the phone or in a meeting.”

She also suggests being mindful of the surfaces you put your phone on when in public and washing the case regularly with warm soapy water. 

Fridge-freezer 

Fridges can be a “bacteria breeding ground” due to the variety of food stored there, so Lynsey advises cleaning it once a month.

To cut down on the work, she suggests storing items in fridge trays, wiping up spillages straight away, and keeping a close eye on cheese which can cause bad smells.

Cleaning your freezer is a “time-consuming task” as it requires defrosting, so a quick hack to cut down on the work is to disinfect touch points – like the handle.

Lynsey also recommends putting kitchen towel over a blunt knife and running it around the appliance’s rubber seals to remove black mould and any crumbs.

Kettles

The average Brit makes two to three teas a day, making it a hotspot for bacteria.

Lynsey advises wiping the kettle handle while cleaning work surfaces in the kitchen.

If you live in a hard water area, you can also remove limescale by boiling water with two slices of lemon and a splash of white vinegar – instead of spending a fiver on posh tablets.

Kitchen extractor

Lynsey says this is one of the most forgotten-about spots in the kitchen and it’s often the cause of lingering bad food smells.

“You need to clean kitchen extractor hoods a couple of times a month," she explains.

"It gets full of grease and sucks up all the dirt while you are cooking, so it can be really disgusting if not taken care of.”

The best way to tackle it is with warm salty water and white vinegar, which is a degreaser – and it also banishes odours. 

Lights

To avoid dust building up, use a make-up brush over light bulbs and a lint roller on lampshades every other month.

Light switches should be cleaned with disinfectant on a cloth once a month, and may need to be done once a week in “high traffic areas” like the kitchen.

Microwaves

Ensuring microwave cleanliness is up to scratch relies on “common sense” according to Lynsey.

She advises cleaning up any spillages or explosions straight away.

Lynsey recommends regularly wiping them with a warm, soapy cloth to remove grease and dirt, and deep clean it four times a year.

Pillows and duvets

Due to their size, pillows and duvets aren’t the easiest items to clean or dry, but Lynsey has an easy hack to freshen them up.

“Put them in the tumble dryer – the heat kills the germs and it will also bring back their bounce too as a quick fix,” she says.

“When the weather is good you can put them on the washing line for an hour. Sunlight is a natural disinfectant and the breeze will air them out.”

Lynsey recommends cleaning pillows four times a year and duvets twice a year.

She says good quality, quilted protectors for your pillow and duvet are a must to avoid them getting too dirty. 

Bathroom towels 

They are used daily and without regular cleaning can be “a breeding ground for bacteria", especially once wet as it encourages mould.

Lynsey recommends changing towels every couple of days – if you live on your own, twice a week will suffice.

Air vents

To avoid dust building up, Lynsey recommends cleaning filters with a make-up brush or paint brush once a month.

Once a year, give them a deep clean with a damp cloth.

Radiators

With energy bills through the roof, Lynsey says it’s worth checking if your radiators are dusty. 

“If it is, you may not be getting all the heat you can from your radiator and it may not work to its full potential,” she adds. 

Blasting air from a hairdryer down the back of the radiator will remove loose dust, while a steam cleaner or pouring water down there will help too – but remember to put a bowl underneath.  

Lynsey says ensuring your radiator is free of dust can also help those suffering from asthma or other breathing issues.

Rugs and mats

When it's rainy, Lynsey recommends washing doormats and rugs once a week – but at other times of the year you can get of way with doing it less often.

She says: “During summer there’s less coming in from outside so once a month is enough.

"You should vacuum them twice a week and give them a deep clean four times a year."

Skirting boards

While they are often out of our eye line, skirting boards shouldn't be out of mind, according to Lynsey.

They can easily pick up dust and pet hair, which can be avoided by dusting every other week. 

Sofa coverings

Lynsey says you can cut down on how often you need to clean sofa coverings by having throws, which are easier to take off and need to be washed once a week.

As for cushion covers, they need to be put in the washing machine four or five times a year, dependent on how many people use the room.

To tackle the sofa, Lynsey advises regularly vacuuming and steam cleaning to break down bacteria and then using a carpet cleaner to remove stains.

Tea towels 

Lynsey admits she changes her tea towels every single day, but admits it can be less often.

“Chuck them in the washing machine or put them in a bucket and clean them all together instead,” she adds.

Windows

Lynsey recommends considering your home like “a piece of cake that’s divided into slices” to make window cleaning seem less of a chore.

For the majority, they need cleaning every four to six weeks.

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But in “high traffic” areas, like the living room, they may need to be done every week – especially if you have pets or children.

Lynsey Crombie is a cleaning expert who regularly features on TV shows including This Morning. Follow her tips and cleaning rota here.

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