Quiz: What’s Your Spring Cleaning IQ?

A broom will remove some dust and debris, but the vacuum crevice tool is small enough to fit into all of the little nooks and crannies where dust hides in the back of your appliances, and the vacuum’s suction easily removes it, says Katie Barton, in charge of cleaning content for the home design ideas website homedit.com.

The moisture and mineral buildup can harbor mold and bacteria, says Michael Rubino, mold and air quality expert and founder of HomeCleanse, a home air purification company.

Washable rugs can be tossed in the machine and laundered according to the care instructions to remove dirt and odors. For rugs that can’t be washed, sprinkle a liberal amount of baking soda on the rug, let it sit for a few hours, then vacuum it up to get rid of odors, says Barton.

Regular cooking temperatures will kill bacteria, says Haley F. Oliver, a professor of food science at Purdue University. But foods crusted on the bottom of the stove could affect the taste of your food or start a grease fire.

To properly clean a window, vacuum window frames and sills, clean screens with a brush to remove dirt, use products made for cleaning windows, and save the task for a cloudy day; direct sunlight can leave you with streaky windows. Why? The liquid evaporates at a faster rate, leaving streaks behind, according to Consumer Reports.