It’s 3 AM. You have to be up for work in five hours, but you’ve just finished your third load of laundry, and the dishwasher is full. You don’t have enough time to clean it all! Fear not! Help is here in the form of this of cleaning tips for insanely busy people.
Table of Contents
1. Don’t let crumbs build up on your bedspread or under your sofa cushions
How many times have you woken up or gotten back from work feeling too tired or lazy to pull out the vacuum cleaner? The next time it does, try taking a towel and brushing off any loose crumbs before they get ground into the carpet fibers. For larger spills like spaghetti sauce, blot with a paper towel to soak up the liquid before it sets.
2. Clean your microwave while it’s still hot
This is a great tip to remember, especially if you have kids. The next time you heat up something in the microwave, take a minute to wipe down the interior with a damp cloth. It’ll be much easier than trying to scrub dried-on food off later.
3. Make your own all-purpose cleaner
The people from BetterCleans one of the best ways to save time on cleaning is to use multi-purpose cleaners. They’re not only cheaper but also more environmentally friendly. If you don’t want to buy a store-bought cleaner, you can easily make your own by mixing water, vinegar, and lemon juice in a spray bottle. Add two teaspoons of borax if you want to give your carpet that fresh-from-the-laundry smell.
4. Get rid of wrinkles in clothes without ironing
Ironing is a pain because it takes so long, and it’s difficult to get everything really flat and wrinkle-free. Fortunately, there’s another solution: the lint roller. You can easily roll up any kind of fabric with one. To make things even easier, attach a string to the handle so you won’t have to bend over all the time! This works on cotton T-shirts as well as silk blouses. Just remember not to use it on delicate materials like wool or cashmere unless they’re labeled “wrinkle-free.”
5. Use hairspray for gunk and hard grimey stuff
This is a neat little trick, especially when you have something sticky or dirty or your shoe but this can be used for any grime in your household. If you would get all sorts of nasty stuff, like paint and glue, stuck on a surface, spray them down with hair spray wait five to ten minutes, then wipe clean with an old rag. This same method works for stubborn adhesives or gunk that gets stuck inside your shoes or other fabrics. Just make sure not to use colored hairspray if it’s going to end up on anything light-colored because it could stain!
6. Dust your blinds with a feather duster
This is one of those tasks that’s easy to put off because it seems like it will take forever, but a quick dusting of your blinds can make a big difference in the overall appearance of your room. Instead of using a traditional cloth duster, try using a feather duster instead. The feathers will grab onto the dust and dirt much better than cloth, and you’ll finish the job much faster.
7. Use an old toothbrush to clean tight spaces
An old toothbrush is perfect for cleaning tight spaces like grout between tiles or the crevices around taps and faucets. It’s also great for getting into small cracks and corners where dirt and dust like to accumulate.
8. Clean your stovetop with baking soda
Stovetops can be a pain to clean because the grease and grime tend to build up over time. The best way to deal with this is by using baking soda. Sprinkle it over the entire surface, let it sit for a few minutes, then scrub off with a wet sponge. Rinse well and dry with a soft cloth.
9. Deodorize your carpets with coffee grounds
This is an old trick that carpet installers use. If you’ve got bad smells coming from your carpets, try sprinkling some coffee grounds on them and letting them sit overnight. The coffee will absorb the odor, and you can vacuum up the grounds in the morning.
10. Keep your shower curtain fresh with baking soda
One of the most annoying parts of cleaning is having to deal with grime that builds up repeatedly over time. One thing that we find particularly irritating is using a clean shower curtain liner only to have it end up smelly and moldy because my bathroom gets too humid (we’re currently renovating our bathroom so there’s no fan or ventilation right now). The best way to keep your shower curtain fresh is by sprinkling some baking soda on it after every shower. It’ll absorb pretty much anything, including dampness, mildew, mold, etc. If your shower starts gently even after you’ve sprinkled the soda on there, just give it a light spray with some all-purpose cleaner and let it air dry.
11. Clean your washing machine with vinegar
If you have a front-loading washing machine, then you might run into problems with mold and mildew because the door seals tightly. The best way to deal with this is by cleaning the inside of the washer at least once every month or two (or after every large load) with white vinegar. It will cut through soap scum much more effectively than laundry detergent, plus its acetic acid will kill off any bacteria that could cause odors or contamination in your clothes. You can also use baking soda mixed with hot water if you don’t want to wait for the vinegar to do its thing.
Conclusion
Cleaning doesn’t have to be a chore. These are just eleven cleaning hacks that can help you finish the job quickly while still getting your house spotless. So the next time you’re feeling overwhelmed by the task at hand, try one of these tips and see how much easier it makes things.