The House the Seal Built

Since 1900, Good Housekeeping Institute scientists have tested top home-improvement products for you — and now it’s possible to outfit (almost) an entire house backed by the iconic Good Housekeeping Seal. From the roof to counters, cleaners, and more, peek inside this stunning home for some trusted GH Seal stars you can rely on to transform your space— all backed by GH’s limited warranty.

We’ve run thousands of cycles and found the best way to arrange things so every dish will come out sparkling:

1. Face dishes inward. Load plates with the dirty sides facing the center, where the spray is the strongest.
2. Arrange utensils up or down. Forks: prongs up. Spoons: some up and some down to avoid nesting, which makes them harder to clean. Knives: always with blades down for safety.
3. Keep platters along the sides or back. Placing these large dishes along the front of the bottom rack can prevent detergent from being fully dispensed and force you to run a second cycle to get everything clean.
4. Nestle glasses and mugs between tines. Many people think glasses should go over the tines, but that could lead to drops drying where the tines touch them. Even more worryingly, glasses could shift and crack during the wash cycle.
5. Separate wine glasses. Place them in the rack’s stemware holders or nestle them securely between unbreakables. This will keep them from bumping into one another (or anything else!) and possibly breaking.
6. Stop stacking. While it’s tempting to try to squeeze in as many dirty dishes as you can, this defeats the purpose: The water spray won’t be able to reach (or clean!) the dish that’s on top.
7. Secure plastic items. Blasts of water could cause lids or other small items to be dislodged and fall to the bottom. If there’s an exposed heating element, they might melt.

Are your stairs in need of some TLC? Every interior designer who visits GH is #teamrunner! Not only does a carpet like Roger Oates’ Flaxman Runner in Pewter tie a look together, but it protects wooden treads from scuff marks and other wear and tear. Here are some more products and GH Seal Stars to tackle tricky problems and make your foyer shine:

Our GH Blinds and Shades live up to the rigorous standard of the trusted Good Housekeeping Seal and, of course, there’s an option for every decor. Shop these styles and more made-to-measure window treatments.

Our favorite laundry room tidying tip: Swipe baskets and bins from other rooms to keep folded laundry and cleaning supplies neat and accessible. Here are more ways to speed up your laundry process:

Get everything from your tile to your tub looking great in no time with Good Housekeeping Seal star Mr. Clean Magic Eraser bath scrubber. In Cleaning Lab tests, our home care pros found that this version of the iconic eraser (with cleanser built in!) erased soap scum with little effort, leaving surfaces clean and shiny.

From surfaces to skin solutions, stock your bathroom with top-tested Good Housekeeping Seal stars that work overtime:

GH Seal star Poo-Pourri toilet sprays solve stinky bathrooms.

Beatriz Da Costa

Whether you have guests visiting or you just want to keep things smelling fresh, add Poo-Pourri toilet spray to your bathroom arsenal. A Cleaning Lab go-to, the Good Housekeeping Seal star’s essential-oil formula traps odors and freshens the air. Spritz it on the water before doing your business, and you won’t need to worry.

Your mudroom floors are bound to get dirtier than any other place in your home. No matter what kind of floors you have (or want), here’s how to keep them looking great.

• WOOD: For a classic look, you can’t go wrong with hardwood. While not delicate, the floors do need extra TLC to stay looking new. Vacuum often to remove abrasive dust and dirt. Use a bare-floor brush attachment or turn off the vac’s rotating brush to prevent scratching. For wet cleaning, use a product formulated for wood and dry the floor right away.
• TILE: Ceramic and porcelain tiles are much easier to keep clean than other flooring options: Simply vacuum to remove dust and hair, then wash with a floor cleaner and your favorite mop. Grout looking dingy? Spruce it up with the same brush and cleanser you use in the bathroom.
• CARPET: Get ready to be a vacuuming pro! To keep carpet looking new, vacuum it at least once a week. This fluffs the pile and removes ground-in dirt. Stains should be treated and removed ASAP; schedule deep cleaning by a pro (and reapplication of stain treatment) every 12 to 18 months.

Have some tricky spots to clean? For hard-to-get-at places like around chair legs and under furniture, our experts always reach for the same tool: a Swiffer Sweeper! There’s a reason it’s been a Lab favorite and Good Housekeeping Seal star for 20 years. It consistently performs well in our tests, leaving vinyl, tile, and wood floors clean with little effort. Look for wet-mopping, dusting, vacuuming, and steam-cleaning versions too.

Photographed by Beatriz Da Costa. Styled by Sarah Jean Shelton.

Source: Home Ideas - goodhousekeeping.com