Smartphone: Daily

You touch your phone countless times a day. And the fingerprints you leave on the screen are a grease trap for gunk and germs. Get in the habit of wiping it clean at least once a day. Studies show alcohol is best for killing bacteria, but check with your device’s manufacturer to see what it recommends to avoid damage. Clean the case, too!

 Kitchen Counters: Daily

The problem with dirty counters isn’t as much about what you can see as what you can’t. Wiping down and sanitizing kitchen surfaces after each time you use them ensures stray germs from last night’s dinner prep don’t end up in your next sandwich.

 Dishwasher: Monthly

Over time, buildup in your machine can keep your dishes from getting the cleaning they need and deserve. Once a month, toss in a cup of baking soda on the bottom and set 1/2 cup of white vinegar in the top rack; then run a regular cycle.

  Refrigerator: Quarterly

Funky forgotten leftovers in the back of your fridge can leave behind mold spores after you’ve tossed them. To keep germs at bay, empty your refrigerator every 3-4 months, and clean the shelves and walls with a tablespoon of baking soda dissolved in a quart of water. Rinse and let dry before replacing food.

 Kitchen Floor: Weekly

If you’ve got kids, chances are you’ll need to sweep up after every meal. But unless there’s a sticky spill, the mop and bucket can go a week between rounds.

  Carpets: Weekly

Vacuum large carpets and toss small area rugs and floor mats in the wash once a week. Keeping your floor coverings clean is key for cutting back on allergy triggers in your home.

Furniture: Monthly

Spills should be spot-cleaned right away, but for upholstery upkeep, once-a-month vacuuming across the cushions and into nooks and crannies should do. Steam cleaning once a year or so can also extend the life of your furniture and keep you sitting pretty.

Knickknacks and Stuff: Weekly

Anywhere dust settles needs a regular swipe with a dust-grabber like microfiber cloth or a damp soft rag: bookshelves, trinkets, picture frames, lamp bases, mirrors, side tables — you get the idea

 TV Remote: Weekly

Take the batteries out first! Then use cotton swabs dipped in mild soapy water to get off sticky, oily fingerprints and crud from around the buttons. Wipe down the whole thing with a solution of one part vinegar and two parts water to kill bacteria. Make sure the battery compartment is dry before you put the power back in.

Ceiling Fans: Quarterly

These whirring dust collectors also gather grease when they’re in the kitchen. You can give them a wipe whenever you notice buildup, but use a damp cloth and all-purpose cleaner to clean the blades and body well every few months.

 Window Treatments: Quarterly

Hit up your blinds and shutters during your weekly dusting, but tackle long-standing grime on the slats every 3-4 months with warm, soapy water. Take down curtains once each season, and run them through the washing machine.

Toilets: Daily

The more action your porcelain throne sees in a day, the more reason to squirt your cleaner of choice into the bowl and give it a swish with a long-handled brush. Save the deeper scrub-down for your weekly round-up.