Check out 25 genius cleaning tips to save time! Learn quick and easy cleaning tricks, from removing pet hair to deep cleaning your microwave, all using household items.
Hey there, mama, I get it. Between school runs, work, and everything in between, the last thing I want is to spend my entire weekend scrubbing floors. I just want a home that smells clean, looks tidy, and doesn’t take hours to maintain. Sound familiar?
The good news is that cleaning doesn’t have to eat up your day. With the right time-saving tricks, you can keep your home fresh and sparkling without losing your mind. So if you’re like me, juggling a hundred things at once, these 25 genius cleaning tips will help you clean smarter, not harder.
25 Cleaning Tips
1. Use a Lint Roller to Clean Up Small Messes
When cleaning up small debris like dust, pet hair, and crumbs, a lint roller is your best friend. Grab the lint roller instead of dragging out the vacuum, and roll it over your floors, furniture, or even car seats. It’s quick, efficient, and saves time. This is not only a time-saving cleaning tip but also energy-efficient, especially with the sky-high electricity prices these days.
2. Skip the Pre-Rinse When Loading the Dishwasher
Many people rinse their dishes before placing them in the dishwasher, but that can waste time and water. Instead, scrape food scraps off the dishes and let the dishwasher do the hard work. It’s an easy and time-saving cleaning tip that doesn’t compromise cleanliness. According to a cleaning expert, most dishwashers sold in the last 10 to 15 years come with smart sensors that detect how dirty your dishes are. The machine adjusts the water amount, temperature, and wash time to clean everything properly, without wasting extra water or energy.
3. Use Baking Soda to Clean and Deodorize
One of the cleaning tips moms swear by which stuck with me is the use of baking soda. Baking soda is a natural cleaner that works wonders on various surfaces. It helps remove odors and grime from sinks, countertops, and even inside the fridge. Simply sprinkle it on the surface, scrub with a damp sponge, and rinse away.
4. Remove Pet Hair with Rubber Gloves
Our fourth tip is to use pet hair with rubber gloves. As pet hair can be tricky to remove from furniture and carpets, a rubber glove can make the process quicker and more effective. Dampen the glove and run it over your furniture to collect hair. It’s one of the easiest and fastest ways to clean up after your furry friends.
5. Steam Clean the Microwave with Lemon
Microwave ovens need work to keep clean. Imagine when the grime builds up? Microwave cleaning doesn’t have to be a hassle. To remove grime, simply place a bowl of water with lemon slices inside the microwave and heat it for 3-5 minutes. The steam will loosen any food particles, and the lemon leaves a fresh scent behind. Voila! A citrus scent and a whiff of cleanliness.
6. Use a Pillowcase to Dust Fans
Fans are notorious for collecting dust, but cleaning them can be a hassle. Instead of cleaning each blade individually, slip a pillowcase over each blade and wipe it clean. The pillowcase traps the dust inside, making the process cleaner and faster.
7. Clean Grout with a Toothbrush
Grout can be one of the most stubborn things to clean, but it doesn’t have to be. It always looks grubby, no matter how much you mop. But here’s a trick that actually works: grab an old toothbrush, mix up some baking soda and vinegar, and scrub away. It fizzes, lifts the grime, and saves you from hours of pointless scrubbing. Total game-changer for bathroom and kitchen tiles!
8. Descale Your Kettle with Vinegar
If you live in an area that has hard water, your kettle will most likely have hard water deposits. Vinegar is a great way to remove them quickly. Simply fill the kettle halfway with vinegar, add water, and boil it. The vinegar dissolves mineral buildup, leaving your kettle sparkling clean. Now that does not need much scrubbing and talking to yourself about how to clean that kettle. Now that my mother-in-law would have said that is a cleaning tip.
9. Clean Blenders by Blending Soap and Water
Blenders are handy to whizz those soups and make smoothies, but they can be time-consuming to clean. Try this cleaning tip if you haven’t. Fill the blender with warm water and a drop of dish soap. Turn it on for a few seconds, and rinse. The blender is clean, and you didn’t have to do much work.
10. Use a Dryer Sheet to Clean Baseboards
Baseboards or skirting boards often collect dust and dirt, but cleaning them doesn’t need to be a chore. Take an old dryer sheet and run it along them. The fabric softener in the sheet helps remove dirt and dust, and it also leaves a fresh scent.
11. Speed Up Dryer Time with a Clean Towel
Want your laundry to dry faster? Just toss a clean, dry towel into the dryer with your wet clothes. It helps soak up extra moisture and speeds things up, especially when you are drying big, bulky items like blankets or towels. Easy win, right?
12. Use a Tennis Ball to Fluff Pillows
Pillows feeling flat and sad? Who knew that the tennis ball that the house cat likes could be useful? Well, the cat got to keep her ball and I fished a good one out of the basket to follow one of my friend’s cleaning tips. Toss a couple of tennis balls in the dryer with them! They bounce around, break up clumps, and fluff everything up—no extra effort needed. It’s one of those random tricks that actually works.
13. Use a Microfiber Cloth Instead of Furniture Polish
If you’re like me and don’t love dragging out the furniture polish every time your sitting room table looks a little dull, here’s a shortcut you’ll appreciate: just grab a microfiber cloth. Seriously, that’s it. It picks up dust, fingerprints, and all the little smudges without leaving streaks behind. Plus, it’s way faster (and cheaper) than spraying and wiping down every surface. Shiny wood without the fuss? Yes, please.
14. Clean Your Coffee Maker with Vinegar
Noticed your coffee tasting a little… off lately? It might be time to clean your coffee maker. Over time, mineral buildup (especially from hard water) can mess with both the flavor and how well your machine works. A super easy fix? Just fill the reservoir with a 50/50 mix of water and white vinegar, then run a regular brew cycle. It breaks down all that gunky limescale and leaves your machine fresh and ready for your next caffeine fix. No fancy cleaner needed!
15. Use a Swiffer Duster for Quick Dusting
Dust in a flash without touching every single thing. Let’s be honest—who has time to dust every knick-knack and shelf one by one? Not me. That’s why I swear by my Swiffer duster. The fluffy fibers grab dust like magic, and it’s perfect for reaching up to light fixtures, shelves, and all those tricky spots. It seriously cuts down on cleaning time and keeps everything looking fresh without the fuss.
16. Organize Cleaning Supplies in a Caddy
Cleaning feels like a breeze when you have all your supplies in one spot. Instead of running around the house looking for that bottle of cleaner or missing rag, toss everything into a cleaning caddy. It’s a total game-changer when it comes to saving time and staying efficient. Plus, you’ll never have to waste time searching for your supplies again!
17. Use a Toothpaste to Clean Faucets or Taps
Water spots and stains on taps can be such a pain, but here’s a super simple fix: grab a bit of toothpaste! Yep, you heard me right. Just apply a small amount to the faucet, scrub with an old toothbrush, and rinse it off. In no time, your faucets will be looking shiny and new, with hardly any effort. It’s a quick trick that saves you time and gets the job done!
18. Use an Elastic or Rubber Band to Remove Stripped Screws
Stripped Screw? This Rubber Band Trick Will Save You Here’s a quick fix: grab a rubber band and place it over the screw head. The rubber band gives you that extra grip you need, making it way easier to unscrew. It’s one of those handy tricks you’ll wish you knew sooner!
19. Clean Your Bathroom with a Shower Cleaner
Want to keep your bathroom cleaner for longer? It’s easier than you think! Here is a cleaning tip to remember. Just grab a daily shower cleaner and spray down the walls after each shower. It takes seconds, but it helps prevent soap scum and mold from building up. By doing this every day, you’ll save yourself a ton of time on deep cleaning later. Plus, your bathroom will always look fresh with minimal effort!
20. Use a Dusting Mitt for Floors
If you want to clean your floors fast without dragging out the broom or mop, try wearing a dusting mitt. It’s perfect for quick touch-ups in between your deep cleaning sessions. Just slip it on and go to town—your floors will look great in no time, and you won’t have to break a sweat!
21. Clean Mirrors with Vinegar and Water
Get Streak-Free Mirrors Without the Price Tag. Forget spending money on pricey glass cleaners—vinegar and water are all you need for crystal-clear, streak-free mirrors. Just mix equal parts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle, spritz it on your mirrors, and wipe them down. In just a few minutes, your mirrors will be spotless, and your wallet will thank you!
22. Use Dryer Sheets for Dusting
Did you know dryer sheets aren’t just for the dryer? They’re actually perfect for dusting, too! Use one to wipe down furniture, TV screens, or any other surfaces. Not only will they leave your home smelling fresh, but they also help pick up dust quickly. It’s an easy, no-fuss way to keep things clean!
23. Vacuum Your Mattress
Want to keep your mattress fresh without the hassle of a deep clean? Simply vacuum it, or my husband would say hoover it! This quick cleaning tip helps remove dust mites, dirt, and all the stuff you don’t want lurking in your bed. It only takes a few minutes and will help your mattress last longer and stay fresher in between those bigger cleanings.
24. Use a Dish Wand for Quick Kitchen Cleanups
Want a faster clean after cooking? Keep a dish wand in your kitchen, already filled with dish soap. When you’re done cooking, just grab it and quickly scrub down your countertops and sink. It’s a super simple, mess-free way to tackle those spills and keep things looking neat with minimal effort!
25. A Super Easy Tip to Clean Your Laptop
Most of us use a laptop or computer at home to work or for leisure and it is a must to keep them clean. Laptops can get pretty messy with all the fingerprints, dust, and crumbs piling up. Want to clean it up fast? Grab a microfiber cloth (the same one you use for glasses or screens), dampen it just a little with water or a screen-safe cleaner, and wipe down your keyboard, screen, and the body. For those sneaky crumbs stuck between the keys, use a soft brush or a can of compressed air to blow them out. Your laptop will be sparkling clean and streak-free in no time!
Clean Smarter, Not Harder!
Let’s face it, cleaning can take forever, but it doesn’t have to! These 25 genius cleaning tips will save you time and effort while keeping your home looking spotless. With these clever tips, you’ll be able to breeze through your cleaning routine without breaking a sweat. Whether it’s quick fixes or organizing your supplies, these hacks will help you get your housework done in no time.
Which cleaning tips have you been using or would like to try next?
Here are more cleaning tips just for you.
12 Vacuuming Hacks You Need To Know
15 Habits of People with Really Clean Homes
How to Spring Clean Every Room of your Home
10 Fun and Fast Cleaning Routines
After trying the cleaning tips why not browse through recipes for your next meal?
Browse recipes here or head to Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram for updates on life in the countryside and beyond.
English