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Let's be honest: Laundry isn't always on the top of our to-do list. But we do know when it's time to wash our clothes, because they stain, smell, or might seem fine, but we know how many times we've worn that questionable sweater.
But what about the other things around your home—do you know the last time you washed your throw blankets? Have no idea? Neither did we, which is why we were glad to get tips from Joss & Main style director Donna Garlough on how often we should be cleaning some of the most frequently used items around our homes.
Here's her lesson in mid-winter cleaning. Pay attention.
Rugs
The amount of traffic your rug gets will determine how often you should clean it, but when you do, a thorough vacuum and a good shake outside will get rid of most of the dust and dirt. Garlough suggests a good old-fashioned beating with a wooden spoon to really get the deep-packed dirt loose. For stains, Garlough says "most rugs can be treated by blotting the fresh stain (never rub it!) with a white cloth on both sides, then spraying or dabbing it with water, and repeating as necessary."
Pillows
You should vacuum your throw pillows (along with the couch and chairs they're on) regularly to prevent the dust from building up and working its way into the fibers. If your pillows have removable covers, Garlough suggests washing those once a season. You can also wash the feather inserts, but do at least two at a time to balance the load and prevent lumpiness.
Shower Curtains
In a bathroom that's used daily by multiple people, fabric shower curtains should be washed monthly to keep mildew from forming, and the liner should we washed every week or two. Garlough shares her tips on washing those tricky liners: "To clean plastic liners, spray them down with a diluted vinegar solution, let it sit, and then rinse. Fabric liners should be machine-washed (with bleach if they're white, oxygen bleach if they're not) and dried in the dryer. If a mildew smell does develop, fabric liners can usually be salvaged with an extra-hot wash cycle; plastic ones should be replaced."
Bath Mats
If your mat is a darker color that hides dirt, you might not be able to tell how quickly it gets dirty. Read the care instructions, but most cotton and synthetic mats can be tossed in the wash with cold or warm water. Always air-dry them, especially if the mat has a rubber backing.
Throw Blankets
Once a season, wash your fleece and cotton throw blankets separately on a gentle cycle in cold water. Garlough recommends line drying them or using a no-heat setting on your dryer to keep them from shrinking.
Curtains
Curtains aren't something we interact with frequently, so you might think they don't need to be cleaned. {*Guilty! *} But curtains are exposed to sunlight, dust, odors, and other elements that can deteriorate their appearance over time, and should be washed at least twice a year. If they're cotton, running them separately in the washing machine should be fine, but if they're silk, linen, or synthetic, they should go to the dry cleaners.
Comforters and Blankets
You should wash your comforters and blankets used on your bed once a season, and certainly before storing them for the summer if you lighten up the layers during the warmer months. "Wash them on a delicate cycle with a small amount of mild detergent," Garlough says. "Run the comforter through two rinse cycles to to make sure there are no lingering soap particles." And when drying, especially if it's a down comforter, put a couple dryer balls or clean tennis balls in with the load to prevent the feathers from clumping in one area.
Craving more cleaning? Watch Cleaning House With Organizing Expert Marie Kondo.
