Homekeeping Tips & Checklists

With a beautiful and pristine apartment, Kevin intends on keeping it looking like new for years to come. To help, he's collected his own kit of homekeeping essentials that would make a great addition to any home.

Kevin asked Martha Stewart Living magazine's home editor Anthony Santelli to put together a just-in-case kit, providing a one-stop place to hold the remedy for any possible spill, scratch, abrasion, "surprise," or incident that he could think of. Read on to discover the contents of this fantastic "box" of go-to items that are a must for any homeowner.

Kevin keeps Martha's invaulable stain chart in his laundry room for quick and efficient stain removal.

EZ Glides are a must-have for protecting floors.

Desk tape doesn't cut it. Having these adhesives, like painter's tape (left), at your fingertips will make any job -- from painting to packing -- quicker and easier.

Goo Gone, an acetone-free solvent, eliminates all traces of manufacturer's labels or adhesive tags without staining. The citrus-scented product also removes gum, crayon marks, and grease from almost any material, including upholstery, carpet, wood, glass, and most fabrics.

Kevin loves his shoe collection and proper polish is key for keeping all of the pairs looking great. He suggests stocking three colors: black, brown, and tan.

An essential tool for removing pet hair from clothing.

When you mix it with a little water to form a paste, this household staple is an instant silverware shiner and scratch-free cleaner. Or sprinkle it in the bathtub, a trash can, even the washing machine to quell odors.

A product like Guardsman now comes in a low-V.O.C. formula that allows professional cleaning results at home.

This simple and inexpensive drug-store item can be used for quick and easy wooden furniture touch-ups.

Kevin keeps his favorite pens around the house. Whether he is labeling a storage box or writing up quick notes, the permanent markers are helpful to reach for anytime. 

Woolite, Bon Ami, and Brasso are tried-and-true home cleaners.

Woven from superfine synthetic fibers, these delicate cloths safely clean computer screens, stainless steel appliances, and other surfaces that are easily scratched. Fingerprints and other small smudges can be rubbed off with a dry cloth; a damp one will clear away even stubborn marks.

Type and print a label to mark where linens go in the closet, distinguish phone from laptop chargers, and see which switch to flip when a circuit blows.

These mildly abrasive cleaning pads, made by Mr. Clean, can tackle an impressive array of household blemishes. Use them to lift scuff marks from wood floors, restore white baseboards and trim, remove soap scum from bathroom tiles, and make crayon scribbles vanish from living room walls, all with surprisingly little effort.

These are workhorses for your wooden surfaces and fabric-covered pieces.

These natural, fragrance-free products are tougher than they look.

Print and keep these lists handy to stay on track of regular and seasonal cleaning.