Your Guide to Keeping House Cleaning Under Control

Daily
For sorting: "You should have three containers for your laundry– they can be laundry baskets, hampers, whatever fits into your lifestyle," explains Cobb. "When people take off their clothes, they should separate them into darks, whites and delicates." This pre-sorting will make fast work of wash day.

For stains: Keep a supply of clip-type clothespins by the hamper, Cobb suggests. "If people have spilled, they should take a clothespin and clip it to that spot before throwing their clothes into the hamper," she explains. That way, instead of looking for spots, you just have to look for the clothespins and launder appropriately.

Weekly (or as needed)

For wrinkles: Cobb recommends keeping a hanging rack in your laundry area. "Pull things straight from the dryer when they’re still a little damp and hang them on the rack–the less ironing you have to do, the better life is!"

For dry-cleanables: Cobb also suggests keeping home dry cleaning kits on hand, "It doesn't put a fresh press in your suit, but it cleans and leaves a fresh scent. You can use it with home furnishings and bedspreads and save a ton of money and time."