Daily Times

If you want to do the big jobs less often, it’s time to go small and smart. When it comes to cleaning, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of scrubbing.

The refrigerator – a strong refrigerator odour is not only gross but can also be aggressive, seeping into the flavour of milk, eggs, and butter. Newspaper absorbs odours, so scrunch up a few sheets and spritz them with water. Tuck the news balls into corners and drawers overnight to soak up the stench. For odour prevention, use sheets of newspaper to line drawers; replace every couple of weeks.

The toaster oven – a non-stick liner made for a full-size oven can be trimmed to accommodate its little cousin. Remove the drip tray to use as a size guide, cut down a liner with scissors, and place on the bottom of the oven. Grease spills will wipe right off with a damp cloth.

The shower – the key to keeping soap scum under control is to wipe off moisture and soap residue before it dries and hardens. Hang a spare towel in the bathroom for drying fixtures and corners where water tends to gather. Soap scum develops when calcium in water mixes with fatty acids, so switching to a liquid body wash may help the cause, too. A surprising way to get rid of soap scum that has already built up? A damp dryer sheet.

The stove – the longer spills sit on a stovetop, the more likely they are to fossilize and become a permanent exhibit. Since stove surfaces are prone to scratching when scrubbed, saturate a few cloths in hot water and lay them flat on the stovetop. Let sit for 10 minutes, then wipe off the softened grime with the cloths.

The floor – a scary number of germs hitch a ride on the bottoms of shoes and end up in your home. To help fight the bacteria that you track in, enforce a no-shoes policy. A basket near the door ‘baited’ with a couple of pairs helps to convey house rules. Slightly more extreme; clean the bottoms of shoes with antibacterial wipes when you enter the house. Keep the wipes stashed in an entry console.