With only so much time in your schedule to clean, you probably concentrate your efforts on the kitchen, family room and other rooms where your family congregates. Areas like the mudroom, laundry, hallway and basement are often put off until another day—but fall is a great time to thoroughly clean these hard-working spaces. Here are some easy tips to get them looking bright, clean and uncluttered.

Before You Begin

Secondary rooms and hallways can become catchalls for the stuff you want out of sight, like the recycling pile and your kids' off-season sporting equipment. So first things first: banish the clutter. You'll have a much easier time organizing and cleaning these areas if floors and other surfaces are clear.

Mudroom Management

The mudroom takes the brunt of the grime and dirt that people and pets track in. It can also serve as an entryway for guests, so you want it to look inviting. Start at the top and work your way down by vacuuming cobwebs from the ceiling perimeter and corners. Because the floor in here takes such a beating, you'll want to concentrate your efforts there. Get everything off the floor so you can vacuum thoroughly, including corners and baseboards.Once you've removed the surface dirt, mop with Pledge® Multi Surface Floor Cleaner. It cleans all types of flooring, including linoleum, tile and wood. For ground-in dirt and grime, spot-scrub ceramic tile floors with Antibacterial fantastik® All Purpose Cleaner Heavy Duty.

Laundry Lifts

Doing laundry is certainly more pleasant when the laundry area is clean and organized. If you don't already have a three-section laundry sorter, invest in one so you can separate whites, darks and colors prior to washing. It will streamline the laundry process and keep dirty clothes off the floor, which is half the battle.When you vacuum, pay particular attention to the area behind your dryer. Even if you regularly empty the filter, lint can accumulate and clog the vent, creating a fire hazard. If the outside vent also has a lint trap, empty it regularly or remove it completely to maintain airflow and maximize energy efficiency.Moisture, lint and detergent drips can create a sticky residue on your washer and dryer. To get them sparkling clean, wipe down the outer surfaces and inside lids with Pledge® Multi Surface Wipes.

Halls of Fame

Why do kids need to touch the walls when they walk down the hall or up the stairs? We can't explain that age-old mystery, but we can tell you that warm water and a damp sponge will clean stubborn, grimy fingerprints off painted or wallpapered surfaces. Spot-test in an inconspicuous area first and then rub stains gently in a circular motion.And if your kids aren't always so vigilant about wiping their feet, try fantastik® OxyPower® Multi-Purpose Cleaner to remove spots and stains from rugs and carpets. Just spray it on, give it a few minutes to work and then blot with a clean, damp, colorfast cloth.

Cellar Strategies

It's easy to take an "out-of-sight, out-of-mind" approach to cleaning the basement, but make no mistake: the dust and musty odors are still there.Because the basement is probably your primary storage area, it may be harder to declutter. If you have large or numerous items to dispose of, look into renting a dumpster for a week from your local waste-management company. When it's filled, they'll haul it away, saving you countless trips to the dump or recycling center. Make sure to dispose of hazardous materials such as paint cans according to your town's ordinances.Once you've got it pared down to the bare minimum, give the area a thorough ceiling-to-floor vacuuming (using a wet-dry vacuum for areas with sawdust or other debris), and dust any wooden furniture surfaces with Pledge® Lemon Clean.If moisture is a chronic problem, you may need to invest in a dehumidifier. Then to get rid of those damp, musty odors, use Glade® Tough Odor Solutions Surface Disinfectant & Air Sanitizer. It eliminates odors by killing odor-causing bacteria in the air, and it kills greater than 99 percent of germs on hard, non-porous surfaces. You can rid your basement of many germs while keeping it smelling clean and inviting.