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Slideshow: Cleaning and Organizing for Parents

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Keep Your Cleaning Supplies Handy

On every floor of your home, keep a caddy stocked with an all-purpose cleaner, sponges, soft cloths, rubber gloves, paper towels, and any other supplies you might need. Hang a broom or store a vacuum in a closet on each floor, too.

Clean A Little Every Day

Staying neat and organized is an ongoing process. Spend a few minutes every day tidying up the "hot spots" in your home where messes happen often. Wipe up spots around the kitchen sink. Pick up clothes off the bedroom floor and toss them into the hampers or back in the closet. Put away mail, backpacks, and shoes that collect in the front hallway. Separate stacks of papers into smaller "to-do" and "to file away" piles.

Weekly Wipe-Down

Make a schedule for bigger tasks. They're easier to tackle if you do them regularly. Vacuum rugs and under sofa cushions and the kitchen table. Rinse off items that get covered in sticky fingerprints, like booster seats and toys. And throw out any old foods before they turn your fridge into a giant science project.

Find Little Helpers

Get your children in the habit of being Mom's -- and Dad's -- little helpers early on. At age 3 or 4, they can start matching socks on laundry day or putting toys away. By age 6, kids should be ready for bigger chores -- like setting the table or folding laundry.

Kid-Level Storage

Staying neat and organized should be easy for kids, too. Put storage bins for their books or toys on low shelves or the floor. Install hooks for little hands to hang jackets and backpacks. And let them make some decisions themselves, such as choosing the next day's clothes the night before.

Chores That Pay Off

Put all your kids' tasks in writing. Create a chart of chores with each child's name on it and let her choose a chore of the day. Tasks can include setting the table, making her bed, or washing dishes. Kids who get their chores done on time can win a prize -- like a trip to the movies or to get ice cream.

Seasonal Cleaning

Once every six months, plan a day to declutter your house. Get rid of outgrown clothes and shoes, and books, toys, and household items you haven't used in more than a year. Give your kids a reason to pitch in by organizing a yard sale and letting them keep the profits, or by taking them with you to donate items to charity.

For more WebMD tips to keep your house neat and organized, click "Next."

Forgotten Areas

Don't forget these germ and dust magnets:

Refrigerator walls, shelves, and ice/water dispenser
Light fixtures and tops of ceiling fan blades
Telephone receivers
Computer keyboards

Greener Cleaning

You can make your own line of green products at home. Combine equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle, or mix up a paste of baking soda and water to scrub stains off surfaces like countertops. Give windows a streak-free shine with 1 cup rubbing alcohol mixed with 1 tablespoon vinegar. Always test your cleaners to make sure they don't scratch or damage surfaces.

Use Unwanted Items for Cleaning

Old items can get a second life as cleaning supplies.

Worn socks make handy mitts that wipe away dirt in tight corners.
A pencil eraser can erase scuff marks off floors.
Wrap an old T-shirt around a ruler, spray with cleaner, and use it to clean the inside of blinds.
Wipe a used dryer sheet over your TV screen to remove dust.

Swiffer Wet and Dry Refills with the Fresh Scent of Gain

Swiffer glides into corners and traps & locks dirt with wet mopping cloths that clean better than a mop and bucket in half the time.

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