20 Cleaning Hacks to Get the Job Done Fast

There’s nothing better than a nice clean home, but when you have a family (and even when you don’t), it never seems to stay that way for long. There are so many different surfaces that just attract all kinds of messes.

If you’re tired of the never-ending time-consuming task of cleaning your home, there are ways to clean your house fast and efficiently.

If that’s you, then these 20 cleaning hacks to get the job done fast will make your life a little easier.

1. Use Dryer Sheets to Dust and Deodorize

Dryer sheets can work magic in your home for a quick way to dust and deodorize surfaces. It easily picks up particles and adds a fresh scent.

It’s perfect for running along your baseboards.

2. Sanitize Your Garbage Disposal with Lemons

Your garbage disposal is a catch-all for all food waste that doesn’t make it into your trash. The problem? Food particles can linger, growing mold and creating a terrible smell that can overpower your kitchen.

Try this cleaning hack by adding lemons (but not the peel), ice cubes, and salt to your garbage disposal and run. The hack not only cleans your garbage disposal, but it can also make it smell better too!

3. Clean Your Microwave with Steam

The microwave can get pretty messy after continued use and requires regular cleaning. You can easily clean your microwave using the power of steam.

Fill a microwave-safe bowl with water and a few drops of white vinegar, and run the microwave for at least 5 minutes. The steam works wonders to loosen the food buildup making it super easy to clean up.

While you run that, you can move on to another area of your home to start cleaning.

4. Take on Dishwasher Soap Scum

Your dishwasher does the hard work of cleaning your dishes, and you want to ensure your dishwasher stays clean. After all, cleaning the dishes you eat and drink from in a dirty dishwasher may not get them fully clean.

Sprinkle baking soda at the bottom of the empty dishwasher, and let sit overnight. Add one cup of vinegar in the morning, run a hot cycle to clean up the soap scum, and sanitize your dishwasher.

5. Use Shelf Liners or Paper Towels

Line your refrigerator shelves with paper towels, Glad “Press ‘N’ Seal,” or waxed paper as liners.

It keeps your shelves clean and free from spills and messes. When anything spills, you just simply lift, wipe, and replace it!

6. Clean Your Sponge

Your sponge can collect a lot of bacteria. You want to clean them before every use to ensure you aren’t spreading bacteria to clean surfaces.

Place your wet sponge in the microwave to kill any bacteria, and be sure to wait for it to cool down before grabbing it.

7. Wipe Your Baseboards as You Vacuum

Use a broom or a washcloth to wipe down your baseboards as you move through your home to vacuum.

You can use gentle dish soap and follow up with a dry cloth to clear up any residue.

8. Use Pillowcases to Clean Ceiling Fans

Clean your fan quickly and efficiently by wrapping each fan blade with a pillowcase and as you remove it, wipe the fan and collect the dust right into the pillowcase, not on your furniture or floors.

9. Carry a Basket

Take a basket with you as you move from room to room and collect things that are out of place.

You can put things away when you reach the right room or wait until after you’ve completed your cleaning mission and take a moment to return the things where they belong.

10. Use Your Dishwasher to Clean Toys

Toys can be placed on the top rack, with smaller toys in a mesh bag to easily sanitize the toys with warm water.

A small amount of dish soap is plenty, and be sure to avoid running on high heat to prevent the toys from melting.

11. Clean Your Couch Using Baking Soda

Baking soda is an excellent deodorizer. Sprinkle baking soda on your couch and allow it to sit for 20 minutes.

You can knock out another task while you wait! After 20 minutes, vacuum it up with the brush attachment.

12. Use a Lint Roller

A lint roller can be a fun way to pick up dirt, crumbs, and dust on just about any surface.

For a quick cleanup, walk around your home with your lint roller. They even make large lint rollers that are perfect for large surfaces.

13. Clean Mildew Caulk

Mix together baking soda and water to create a paste and smear it on your grout or caulk and let it sit for about 30 minutes.

Then simply scrub with a sponge or a toothbrush and rinse off!

14. Remove Stains with Vodka

Using rubbing alcohol or vodka as a cleaning hack to remove water stains is better than many of the products on the market.

Simply pour the alcohol on the stain and blot clean!

15. Use Baking Soda and Vinegar to Clean Your Tub

Baking soda and vinegar have incredible cleaning power. Truly, you could use baking soda and vinegar to clean just about anything. Mix one cup of baking soda and one cup of vinegar into an empty tub.

Start to fill the tub and let sit for five minutes. It’s perfect for that quick clean when you have limited time!

16. Remove Pet Hair with Rubber

Any pet owner knows pet hair is a challenge to remove from couches, chairs, and carpets.

This cleaning hack has you using rubber gloves or a rubber pet brush that can pick that stubborn pet hair right up.

17. Easily Clean Hard Water Stains with Vinegar

Hard water stains in and around your sinks are easy to clean. Soak some paper towels in vinegar and leave them overnight.

In the morning, scrub and rinse them; they’ll look like new.

18. Run Your Shelves and Drawers Through the Dishwasher

Most refrigerator shelves and drawers are dishwasher-safe. Running through the dishwasher saves you time and energy from having to scrub stuck-on food.

19. Use Socks to Clean Your Blinds, Cleaning Hack

Slide a clean, damp sock over your hands and gently run it between the slats in your blinds.

Once you’re done, throw the sock in the washing machine. You can also use a sock to clean your baseboards and hanging frames!

20. Keep a Dish Brush in Your Shower

You can always maintain a clean shower by keeping a dish brush with a sponge attachment right in your shower. A good cleaning hack is to have it loaded with soap to quickly wipe down your shower every morning before you hop in.

If cleaning your home is too much, there are a few tricks to make it even easier. Try tackling one room a day or setting quick 15-30 minute timers to allow you to focus on cleaning and not take too much of your time.

At the end of the day, be kind to yourself and take your time. You can get your cleaning done without mentally and physically exhausting yourself by implementing even a few of these cleaning hacks for your home and allowing you to spend your time on things you love.

You can make cleaning even easier by learning how to declutter your life.

Check out my YouTube channel for tips on becoming a minimalist and ultimately decluttering your life. Or download my eBook today for an in-depth look at decluttering!

If you need direction on how and where to start on your decluttering journey check out The Declutter Your Home Minicourse!

20 Cleaning Hacks to Get the Job Done Fast