Before you spring into action with your dusters and mops, check out new tips and techniques to make your cleanup a breeze! Accidental Housewife author Julie Edelman points out some frequently overlooked places in your house where dirt and grime are hiding, and offers simple strategies to get them shining like new! Plus, click on the video for her demonstrations of some new products that can help cut your cleaning time in half: the Eye Vac Pro, Cyber Clean and Mint Automatic Floor Cleaner.

Refrigerator Drip Pan You probably clean out your fridge frequently, but don't forget about the drip pan underneath, which can collect mold and mildew and attract roaches. Julie says vodka, a natural sanitizer, will do the trick. Fill a spray bottle with the alcohol, spritz it on and use a toothbrush to scrub the pan clean.

Chandelier If you struggle to reach all the crevices and areas on a hanging chandelier, Julie has the solution for those hard-to-reach places: Use a hairdryer and blow the dust off. Before you get started, hang an open umbrella under the light fixture. "It will actually collect all of the dust! And you can also do this not just for chandeliers, but for your ceiling fans," she suggests. If any dust remains, use a microfiber dust glove to clean the rest, and always use caution with electrical units. "Remember to turn the lights off while you're doing this, just in case!"

Laundry Machine If you notice your laundry machine has an odor of its own, you could have residue built up in the system. Julie suggests tossing in Tide Washing Machine Cleaner for one cycle. "It comes in these little handy dandy pre-measured packs," she explains. "Just put it in the powder dispenser. One cycle and it will get rid of the smells and the residue that's in there!"

Related Links

Cyber Clean

Eye-Vac Pro

Mint Automatic Floor Cleaner

The Accidental Housewife