It sure seems daunting when you think of cleaning your house top to bottom. Real Simple breaks it up into little segments according to how much time each task takes to complete.

GOT 10 MINUTES?
DUST: If you have a few minutes to spare, break out the furniture polish for extra shine.

DOOR AND SWITCH PLATES: Clean with a damp microfiber cloth.

CEILING FANS: Place a pillowcase over a fan blade and pull it towards you to collect dust. The debris will stay inside the pillowcase. Then wipe the blades with a microfiber cloth dipped in warm, soapy water. (If you try washing the blades before dusting, the surface will become muddy and harder to clean.)

BASEBOARDS: Wipe with a microfiber cloth dampened with a solution of a few drops of dishwashing liquid and warm water.

GOT 30 MINUTES?
KITCHEN
1. Degrease the backsplash, cabinet fronts and handles, and anywhere else suffering from greasy buildup with olive oil or bath oil. Apply it to a microfiber cloth and buff until clean.

2. Clear off counters. Remove small appliances like toasters, shake out crumbs, and wipe down knobs and handles. If you have granite or marble countertops, try this all-natural cleaner: Combine 3 tablespoons rubbing alcohol, 1 ½ cups water, and 1 teaspoon Castile or dish soap. (Avoid vinegar, which could etch the surface.) Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and use with a microfiber cloth.

VENTS: Remove the covers and scrub them with soap and warm water in a utility sink or bathtub. Let them dry before putting them back. Got a few more minutes? While the covers are off, use the hose attachment on your vacuum cleaner to remove dust bunnies from inside the vent. If you don’t, that dust will continue to be blown out into the room.

DECK: A hose with a spray nozzle attachment will help remove the top layer of debris from patios, decks and furniture that was left outside over the winter.

MATTRESSES: Remove the bedding and sprinkle baking soda across the surface of the mattress. It should sit for 15 minutes. After each mattress has been treated, return to the first bedroom and vacuum up the baking soda. Move to each subsequent room and do the same. Now visit each room (in the same order) to rotate the mattress 180 degrees.

BATHROOMS: In half an hour, you have enough time to deep-clean three bathrooms. Complete each step in each bathroom before moving on to the next step.

1. Drop three denture tablets into the toilet bowl. Let them sit for about 30 minutes. The nonabrasive chemicals lift away stains and kill bacteria without damaging the porcelain.

2. While you wait, collect bath mats and fabric shower curtains and pop them into the washing machine.

3. Dust vents and surfaces. Start at the ceiling and work your way down.

4. Spray cleaner on all hard surfaces: counter, sink, toilet, shower, bathtub. Letting the cleaner sit while you spray the other bathrooms gives it time to disinfect.

5. Go back to the first bathroom and wipe everything down with a microfiber cloth (toilets can be wiped with paper towels or a cloth that goes straight into the wash). Scrub toilet bowls.

6. Wash floors. Start at the back of the room and work your way toward the door. Use your favorite spray cleaner and damp microfiber cloth, or opt for a steam cleaner for a chemical-free shine.

GOT 1 HOUR?
WINDOWS: In an hour you’ll likely have enough time to clean the windows on one floor. If you’re really pressed for time, clean just the outside, where most of the dirt is.

1. Make your own cleaning solution for the interior: Mix together 1 ½ cups water, 1 ½ tbsp. white vinegar, 1 ½ tbsp. rubbing alcohol and 3 drops of your favorite essential oil. Using a funnel, pour into a spray bottle.

2. People tend to oversaturate a surface with cleaning solution. When you spray too much, you spend more time wiping off excess than actually cleaning. Instead, simply mist the windows, then wipe with a squeegee or a microfiber cloth folded into quarters. Quarter-folding maximizes the surface area, so when one side of the cloth is dirty and wet, you can flip it over to use the reverse side, then unfold and fold to use the other sides.

3. You need a stronger cleaning solution for the exterior: Mix together 4 tbsp. Castile soap, 4 tbsp. rubbing alcohol and ½ gallon warm water. Using the sponge side of a double-sided squeegee, apply the solution (again, do not oversaturate). Roll up a towel and place it at the base of the window to catch excess drips as you wipe the window with the squeegee’s rubber edge. Work from left to right, top to bottom.

KITCHEN: In addition to degreasing surfaces and clearing off the counters, tackle the inside of the fridge and freezer, the sink and the countertop. Using a microfiber cloth moistened with hot water and a few drops of dish soap, wipe down refrigerator and freezer shelves and crisper drawers. Deep-clean the sink using a cleanser like Bar Keepers Friend and a wet scrub brush. If your counter needs to be resealed annually, now is a good time.

BLINDS AND CURTAINS: Going room to room, swipe blinds with a dusting wand and vacuum drapes using the upholstery attachment.
— Cook’n