House Cleaning Tips for your home

These house cleaning tips will help you to keep a neater home without spending your entire weekend mopping and dusting. Easy time saving hacks for every area in your home, including kitchens and bathrooms.

Cleaning is easier when you start small, with any of these home cleaning tips. Gradually, you’ll get your home cleaning plan on auto pilot.

home cleaning tips

When it comes to cleaning your home, you don’t have to spend an entire weekend dealing with the dust and mess. This list of tips will help you to get things back on track with shortcuts, DIY cleaning solutions, and quick fix step-by-steps that take minutes instead of hours.

I am not a fan of cleaning so finding tips that work are my go to solution for any mess in my home.

How often should you clean your home? 

Regularly cleaning your home will help to keep things from getting overly messy. Having a daily cleaning list that is quick and effective will help you to stay on top of things over all.

Focusing on high-traffic areas like kitchens, bedrooms, and bathrooms is a smart approach since these areas see the most activity and can get dirty quickly. 

The Kitchen

Kitchens need daily pickups and after meal clean ups. Weekly you can take care of bigger jobs such as mopping the floors and cleaning out the fridge.

Cleaning tip: Use a plastic wash tub to carry dirty dishes from the table to the sink in one trip.

Bathrooms

Bathrooms need daily wipe downs to keep germs and messes from taking over.

Cleaning tip: Wipe down the sink area every time you wash your hands. Install extra hooks to hold wet towels and keep an open hamper to keep dirty clothes off the floor.

Bedrooms:

Bedrooms need regular reset of the bed and nightstand. Weekly you can focus on washing bedding, dusting and vacuuming.

Cleaning tip: Put a hamper in every bedroom to keep dirty clothes off the floor.

Other places in your home that you don’t use as much can be cleaned less often.

Try to clean based on how much you use each room. This way, your home stays neat and healthy without too much work.

Be sure to grab the FREE Kitchen Cleaning Checklist below!

House cleaning tips for cluttered areas in the home

Let’s map out an easy plan for some common areas that tend to get messy and overlooked in our cleaning plans.

1. Toaster or Toaster Oven

Cleaning a toaster oven is relatively easy, if you do it more often than not. The longer you wait in between cleanouts the more crumbs and mess you will have to deal with.

Each week, clean out the crumb tray and wipe down the outside to remove any smudges.

You can also get rid of the stubborn messes such as scuffs with a paste made from baking soda and water. Be sure to rinse and dry when finished cleaning.

2. Closet

Closets are a room in the home that need to be cleaned routinely to help keep the clothes stored inside looking their best. There is nothing worse than choosing a shirt to wear that has a layer of dust on the shoulders.

Luckily, a cleaning a closet can be quickly done in 15 minutes or less making this a quick chore to get off your list.

Start by putting things away and removing any unused hangers storing them off to the side. Next, wipe all surfaces down including any lights.

Finish by cleaning the floor and removing any unnecessary items you find.


a woman working through clothes on a closet floor
Source: Declutter In Minutes

If you find there are repairs that need to be done, make a note and schedule a specific time to work on them separately.

3. Microwave

Microwaves can get so messy and that means this job will need to be done routinely to keep it from getting out of hand.

Did you know there is a super easy cleaning hack you can do in just a few minutes?

Put lemon slices, vinegar, and water into a microwave-safe container. Place the container in the microwave and heat it for a few minutes, allowing steam to coat all the areas inside. Once done, let it sit a few minutes longer giving the hot steam time to soften up any dirt or food.

Using a damp rag, wipe the inside down until it is clean. The steam really helps to make this project a simple chore that takes just a few minutes.

4. Wood Furniture

Did you know that cleaning wood furniture the wrong way can damage it?

This is because wood is a natural material that can react badly to harsh chemicals, excessive water, or abrasive cleaning tools.

The wrong methods can strip the wood of its natural oils, leading to drying, cracking, or even warping.

Fortunately, you can effectively clean your wood furniture using two simple natural ingredients: olive oil and vinegar. Add both ingredients to a jar and gently shake to mix.

With a soft cloth wipe the furniture with the mixture. This will remove any dust and polish at the same time.

5. Dishwasher

Like the microwave or toaster oven, the dishwasher needs cleaning, too and many times we tend to overlook this task.

Good news, regular cleaning can involve natural ingredients and doesn’t usually require special tools.

If you’re looking for natural cleaning solutions, a mixture of vinegar and baking soda is the way to go to dissolve grime and freshen up the dishwasher’s interior.

Here’s how it works. First, remove any dirt or food from the bottom of the dishwasher or trap. If you can, wash the trap with a brush and rinse.

Next, place a bowl or cup of white vinegar into the dishwasher and set to run on the hottest setting. The vinegar will loosen any dirt and deodorize as well.

Home Reset PagesHome Reset PagesHome Reset PagesMaster Closet Fast FixMaster Closet Fast FixMaster Closet Fast FixHome Cleaning ChecklistHome Cleaning ChecklistHome Cleaning Checklist

 

6. Fridge

Cleaning your fridge is a chore I like to do the day before I run errands. This way I am able to put things away quickly in a neat and clean space.

Here’s how it works. First, empty the fridge to assess and sort the contents. 

Next, remove and clean the shelves and bins with a baking soda paste. Once cleaned, rinse and let air dry.

Return the shelves and add containers to help keep this busy appliance neater.

  1. Produce bins – great for fruit and vegetables.
  2. Turn tables – great for condiments.
  3. Shallow bin – great for bread and rolls.
  4. Clip on drawers – great for eggs

7. Kitchen Cabinets

Kitchen cabinets often get greasy and dirty from cooking, random spills, and fingerprints and marks left by dirty hands. 

This can make the outside dirty and sticky. Luckily, there is a quick way to clean things up.

Mix together baking soda and water to form a loose paste. Gently scrub away any dirt or grime.

If grease is the issue, use Dawn dish soap to help remove it. Be sure to rinse all areas and dry.

8. Pantry

When cleaning the pantry, start with a quick declutter. The less you have on the shelves the easier it will be to clean.

Toss any stale or expired food. Once gone, you can start by thoroughly wiping down the shelves, being sure to get the backs and sides.

Use baking soda and water to remove sticky spills more easily.

Let everything dry before returning items. If you have time, you can organize your pantry using food categories to make it easier. Get our pantry category list for the easy approach.

9. Gas Stove

There is nothing harder to keep clean than a stove and there is nothing worse to see than burnt food or spill.

The good news is, you don’t need expensive products to get it clean.

Mix hot water and vinegar, soak a microfiber cloth in this mixture, and then use it to wipe down your glass stove top. Let it sit for a few minutes.

Next, rinse the cloth with clean water and wipe the stove top again to remove any leftover vinegar.

A flat scraper can help you remove the remaining messes, including severely burnt food. Be sure to use it only if your stove surface is not scratched or damaged.

10. Toilets

Believe it or not, a dirty toilet can be thoroughly cleaned and disinfected using natural solutions.

Pouring clear cleaning solution from a glass measuring cup into a toilet bowl
Source: Live Simply

To make a homemade cleaning powder, mix together baking soda, borax, and salt. Feel free to add a few drops of essential oil for nice fresh scent.

Sprinkle this powder around the toilet bowl and let it sit for about 15 minutes before scrubbing it with a toilet brush and flushing it.

Next, it’s time to disinfect. I like vinegar for this part, and you can add it directly to the toilet bowl, let it sit for 30 minutes to kill germs, and then flush.

11. Air Ducts

Air ducts in a home are part of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, found within walls, ceilings, and floors.

man on an orange ladder removing a vent cover from the ceiling
Source: Home and Hues

They’re crucial for circulating clean air throughout your home, but can get dusty and dirty if ignored.

Remove any vent covers and clean, vacuum inside the ducts to remove dust, and use a brush for any stubborn areas.

If you have an issue that is more than you can deal with, you may want to look into hiring a professional to help.

12. Kitchen Sink

Keeping the sink clean in a kitchen can be tricky, depending on the material it is made out of. Use these cleaning tips to help.

Start by wiping down any debris with mild dish soap and a sponge followed by a good rinse.

If you notice tougher stains, sprinkle Bar Keeper’s Friend on the sink, scrub with a damp cloth until the stains are gone, and rinse well.

Planning a deeper clean? Close the drain and fill the sink with warm water, bleach, and dish soap.

Let it sit for 10-15 minutes, then drain and rinse. This routine keeps your sink sparkling and should be done at least every two weeks or as needed.

13. Air Fryer

A dirty air fryer is one area you want to clean after each use. Leaving it longer than a day can have smells stick and possibly affect what you cook inside next.

Start by letting everything cool completely.

Next, remove and shake off crumbs from the basket or shelves if your air fryer has them. For baskets, you can use hot soapy water and a sponge to clean all areas that are safe to get wet.

For shelves, use a damp sponge to clean the inside, focusing on removing any buildup.

Finish up with a good rinse and dry before reassembling. A shortcut is to use paper liners when cooking to keep things clean and grease-free.

14. Floor

Floors are one of the areas in a home that tend to get pushed off to the weekend, but keeping one floor clean can help to keep all floors clean as it prevents dirt from being tracked all over the home.

The thing is that different floor types require different cleaning methods.

  1. Laminate and tile floors should be swept and then cleaned with a damp mop or with a wet jet.
  2. Carpets should be vacuumed weekly
  3. Hardwood should be swept with a swiffer and cleaned with an appropriate cleaner for the material you have.

A great shortcut is to use a robot vacuum cleaner to keep crumbs and dirt under control.

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15. cleaning your cleaning tools

Did you know that regularly cleaning your tools is a great way to ensure everything stays in good working order.

Here is a quick example.

If you use a vacuum with a removable canister, you will need to clean it routinely, as well as any filters.

Start by removing and emptying the canister. If you are able, give it a wash or wipe it out with a damp rag. Be sure to let it air dry completely.

The filters, if washable, should be cleaned under running water until the water runs clear and left to dry fully before reuse.

For the roller, remove any tangled hair and wipe it down with a damp cloth.

Wipe down the vacuum’s interior and base with a damp cloth, taking care not to wet any electrical components.

Remember to clean the front filter and any non-electrical attachments by washing and drying them thoroughly.

Finding ways to help keep your home clean without it becoming a weekend job is a great way to create a routine for your home care.

Put a few of these tasks on your weekly or monthly chore list and relax, knowing some of the messy jobs are getting the attention they need.

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