Photo by Mark McCammon from Pexels Wiping surfaces, keeping an eye on the fridge, and cleaning dishes on a daily basis can save you time in the long run.

Keep your dishes clean

If you have a habit of leaving dishes in the sink to avoid cleaning them, try this easy approach to put the labor required into perspective: Set a timer before you start washing the dishes for a few days and keep track of how long it takes to clean up. If you know the chore would just take a few minutes, it will be easier to persuade yourself to do the dishes right now.

To clean a severely charred saucepan without scrubbing, sprinkle the burned surface liberally with baking soda and pour in enough hot water to fill the pot a third to halfway up. When the water is cold enough to touch, go in with your sponge and scrape away the scorch with the baking soda solution. Dump the solution and thoroughly clean the saucepan with hot, soapy water.

The Dishwasher Debate: While there is no definite perfect method to load a dishwasher (and what would couples argue about if such a command were set in stone? ), there is one universal rule: loading from back to front is significantly simpler.

Clear Out Your Sink

An all-purpose cleaner may be used to clean the sink, particularly the faucet, of germs and food particles. And, given that we all touch the faucet with raw chicken-covered hands, we should definitely clean it more often.

Sponges should also be cleaned on a regular basis, either in the dishwasher or in the microwave. If you use a microwave, first make sure the sponge is free of metal, then get it extremely wet and nuke it for two minutes; be cautious while removing it, as it will be quite hot.

Is there mold or bacterial growth on your sponge holder? Scrub mold away with a toothbrush soaked in bleach or white vinegar — but never both, since the combination causes a deadly chemical reaction. The sponge caddy should then be washed in hot, soapy water or run through the dishwasher.

Keep all surfaces clean

After usage, wipe off your counters and stovetops with an all-purpose cleanser. Stovetops, in particular, benefit from frequent, rapid cleaning since splatters, drips, and oil gets baked on if left too long.

To remove baked-on splatters and greasy film from a cooktop, use a rough scouring pad. A Dobie Pad, a non-scratch scrubbing sponge, paired with a soft powder cleaner can quickly remove tough problems. To prevent scratching, scrub with the grain rather than in a circular motion, and use a delicate touch, allowing the product to perform the majority of the cleaning job rather than force.

To minimize the development of splatters and greasy film from cooking, the outside of small appliances such as toasters, coffeemakers, and blenders that sit out on counters should be washed down periodically using all-purpose cleaners. Remove all detachable pieces and wash them by hand or in the dishwasher for a deeper cleaning. Apply an all-purpose cleaning to the outside, using cotton swabs or an old toothbrush to get into tight corners and other hard-to-reach areas.

Take on the Refrigerator

Add one basic job to your garbage day routine to keep track of your refrigerator:

Open the fridge and inspect the contents while bagging the rubbish. Are there any spoiled leftovers? Throw them away. Are there any liquefied vegetables in the crisper drawer? Remove it. Are the carton's final few eggs ready to spoil? Make a point to eat omelets for supper and applaud yourself for being careful of food waste.

How to Clean Refrigerator Spills: When sticky accidents occur in the fridge or pantry, make quick work of cleaning them by creating a compress. Soak a sponge or cloth in extremely hot water (be careful not to burn your hands) and wring it out so it's not leaking. Then, press it on the sticky place until the compress loses its heat. If the sticky spill has been sufficiently loosened, wipe it away; if it is still stubbornly sticking, repeat as required until the material loosens up, and then wipe clean.

Take Out the Trash As Soon As Possible

Here's a harsh reality: Time will not improve your waste issue. Take care of it right away.