Life Hacks For Home Cleaning
Life Hacks For Home Cleaning That Will Make Your Chores Easier
Simple Strategies To Keep Your Home Sparkling Clean
Admit it household chores are like a never-ending routine. Before you even finish wiping down the countertops or mopping the floors, it’s already time to do something else. That’s so tiring.
But the best thing is—it takes absolutely no time at all. There are so many home cleaning life hacks to make life easier so it’s faster, easier, and even a little fun. From dirty kitchens to dust baseboards to how to clean up after animals and kids, these hacks will keep it in check so you never lose your grip.
1. Dryer Sheets to Control Dust
Dryer sheets are not only used to get clothes softer. Dryer sheets are absolutely ideal to dust non-porous surfaces like baseboards, blinds, and even your television screen. The dust and pet hair are repelled by their static-repelling powers and are never transferred to other places.
They also leave a light clean scent so that your environment is clean and smelling nice without resorting to using air deodorizers.
Tip: Put an old dryer sheet in drawers in your dresser to deodorize and refresh clothing in between launderings.
2. The Lemon and Baking Soda Scrub
This is a life-changer. If your kitchen sink is a bit worse for wear (or stinks), give it a go with a lemon and some baking soda.
Cut the lemon in half and submerge the cut side in the baking soda. Use it to clean your sink—especially at the faucet and drain. The natural combination dissolves grease, deodorizes, and gets the whole thing sparkling. It works on stainless steel surfaces, ceramic surfaces, and even trash disposers.
Pro tip: After scrubbing, toss the lemon peel into your disposal, turn it on and enjoy the citrus zing.
3. Microwave Your Sponge (Seriously)
Sponges are likely the dirtiest thing in your kitchen, and no one ever remembers to wash them—period. But it is extremely easy to sanitize them by sticking a damp sponge in the microwave oven for 60 seconds.
Make sure there’s no metal in it (obviously), and be present close by to avoid any possibility of catching on fire. The heat kills germs, stretching out your sponge a little and keeping the kitchen cleaner. Replacing them on a regular basis is ideal, but it’s beneficial in between.
4. White Vinegar: The Kitchen Secret Instrument
There is one product to always have in inventory: white vinegar. It’s inexpensive, it’s natural, and it’s insanely versatile.
Here are just a few things it can do:
• Polish up your showerhead: Put a ziplock bag full of vinegar over your showerhead. Leave it overnight to break up the buildup of calcium and minerals.
• Streak-free windows: Mix equal parts of water and vinegar in a spray bottle and clean windows with a microfiber cloth. No streaks, no expensive cleaners.
• Rejuvenate the microwave: Heat up a bowl of vinegar water for two minutes and then wash the interior with it—grime spots will come off.
The smell dissipates once it dries so do not be concerned about having a home smelling like salad dressing.
5. Dust Before You Vacuum
One of the common ordering errors in cleaning is to vacuum and then dust. Don’t.
When dusting your furniture, fans, and shelves, a lot of dust will be on the floor. You will only have to redo it if you vacuum first. You always dust from top to bottom—start with dusting and wiping down surfaces and vacuuming at the end to pick up anything that has fallen.
It’s so easy to switch it up but it matters so much.
6. Microwave Steam Hack (No Scrubbing Needed)
Microwaves get dirty—quickly. Splattered soup, congealed oatmeal, mystery crusty lumps… you get the idea.
Instead of scrubbing away forever, add a bowl of water and a few tablespoons of lemon juice or vinegar to the microwave. Microwave five minutes and then let it sit with the door closed another two.
The steam relaxes all the food stuck on it and you will be able to wash it off with zero elbow grease. It is like a mini steam cleaner in the microwave.
7. The 15-Minute Rule That Changes Everything
You do not have to deep clean the entire home in one sitting. That is the strength of the 15-minute rule. Use a timer and turn it to 15 minutes and clean one area—the bathroom sink, the hallway, or the floor of your closet.
Many times once you begin, you will be encouraged to continue. But even if you do 15 and then quit, well you still completed something. And little victories quickly add up.
8. The Pillowcase Ceiling Fan Trick
The ceiling fans accumulate a ridiculous amount of dust and dusting them is always a snowstorm of debris raining down everywhere. Not cute.
Instead, it’s time to grab an old pillowcase and draw it over each fan blade. Then pull the fabric to you so the dust is caught. No mess on the bed, no clumps on the floor. Just throw the pillowcase in the wash afterwards and you’re done.
9. Baking Soda on Carpets and Rugs
If your carpets are smelling musty or stale, do not be tempted to reach for one of these very scented sprays. Sprinkle liberal amounts of baking soda over the surface, leave it to stand at least 15 minutes (the longer the better), and then vacuum it up.
It deodorizes naturally and will not leave behind the odd chemical smell. You might even add a few droplets of essential oil to the baking soda to add a subtle aroma kick.
10. Make Your Bed — First Thing
This is a small habit but it’s extremely effective. Waking up and making your bed is a great way to get the entire day started. It will make the room look spotlessly clean even if it’s messy elsewhere.
And studies show doing one’s household chores is associated with being more productive, sleeping well, and feeling relaxed in one’s space. It’s basically free therapy.
11. Mirror Fog-Shaving Cream (And Much More)
This is odd, but hear me out. Use a small amount of shaving cream and squeeze it on to your bathroom mirror and then wash it off with a microfiber cloth. The remaining film will prevent the mirror from fogging up for days.
As a bonus, shaving cream is wonderful on stainless steel appliances as well—apply it, wipe it off, and voila: streak-free finish.
12. Invest in Baskets — Lots of Them
Baskets aren’t just decorations. Having some stylish storage baskets at home means you can have quick cleanups and don’t need to be concerned about where it all ends up.
Use one for occasional mess in the family room (remote, mail, chargers), one by each door, or a hamper in each bedroom so dirty clothes are not strewn on the floor.
Mess is so much sweeter when it’s channeled into being cute.
Real Talk: You Don’t Have to Do It All
The thing is—life is messy, both physically and metaphorically. Your home doesn’t have to be spotless and perfect and you don’t have to do all these hacks at once.
Start with one or two hacks and add them to your routine and witness the transformation. Cleaner areas are brighter, quieter, and honestly… more livable. And the fewer hours given to scrubbing, the greater time to spend admiring one’s residence.
