25 House Cleaning Hacks for the Lazy Housekeeper

I'm a Tennessee-based freelance writer with a passion for true crime, a thirst for knowledge, and an obsession with lists.

Cleaning Tips for People Who Hate Housework

Housekeeping is a hated chore for you. Here are some more hacks to get it done quickly so you can get on doing what you'd rather be doing.

Items Needed

1. Effortless Garbage Disposal Cleaning

1. Make a tray of ice cubes made of 1 part vinegar and 1 part water.
2. Drop a couple of cubes in your garbage disposal.
3. Let them melt; it'll be clean and the bad smells gone.

2. Soda Toilet Cleaner

Pour carbonated soda directly into the toilet and allow it to sit at least half an hour. The carbonation will remove stains and leave it sparkling like new.

3. Vegetable Oil Cleans Stove Hoods

Add a little vegetable oil to your rag when cleaning the stove hood to help easily remove grease-caked dust. As you'll see in another tip, apply car wax to prevent future buildup.

4. Stainless Steel Shine

Mix 1 cup water with 1/4 cup cream of tartar to clean and shine your stainless steel appliance.

5. Wax Paper for Faucets

Wiping faucets with wax paper prevents water spots and finger prints.

6. Lint Roll Your Lamp Shades

Dusting lampshades is a breeze with a lint roller. Just run the roller around the shade a couple of times and walk away.

7. Dust Ceiling Fans With a Pillowcase

1. Insert the fan blade into the opening of the pillowcase and slide up to the arm.
2. Clinch shut and pull back.
3. Dump your pillowcase into the garbage when done.

8. Boil the Stove Hood Filter

Clean your stove hood to "like new" by submerging it in a pot of boiling water and 1 cup of baking soda. Check periodically and remove when clean.

9. Car Wax Detracts Dust

Apply a thin coat of car wax to air returns, vents, stove hoods, and the sorts to keep them dust-free longer.

10. Dryer Sheets Repel Dust From Baseboards

Upcycle a used dryer sheet by wiping down baseboards with it. Doing so repels dust.

11. Soap Scum Hates Dryer Sheets Too

After cleaning your tub or shower, wipe it over with an unused dryer sheet to prevent soap scum.

12. Clean Vents With a Butter Knife and Rag

Make an impromptu vent cleaner using a butter knife and dusting rags. Slide between the slats and wipe.

13. Use Coffee Filters on Glass

Clean your mirrors and windows with coffee filters instead of rags or paper that wells for a streak and lint-free shine.

14. Shower Vinegar Bath

Pour vinegar into a bag and rubberband it close around your shower head. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes and remove to find a calcium and soap scum-free shower head.

15. Canned Air for Exhaust Fans

Quickly and easily clean dust from exhaust fans using canned air. Just direct at vents and spray. Just remember to sweep afterwards since the dust has to go somewhere after all.

16. Unclog Drains With Baking Soda and Vinegar

Unclog slow or stopped up drains with one part baking soda and one part vinegar. Pour in drain and allow to sit. Clogs will be gone in minutes.

17. Water and Vinegar = Coffeemaker Cleaner

Run one part water and one part vinegar through a complete cycle for a quickly cleaned coffeemaker.

18. Paint Brush Dusting

Use a soft-bristled paintbrush to dust knickknacks and collectibles more efficiently.

19. Microwave Vinegar Steam-Clean

The microwave will almost clean itself when you boil one cup of water and one cup vinegar inside. Once the water and vinegar create a grease and grime busting steam, all the iciness wipes away easily with a rag.

20. Mouthwash Mopping

Add a capful of mouthwash to one gallon of water to make tile and vinyl sparkle—not to mention leaving it minty fresh!

21. Dryer Sheets Clean Pans

Easily remove baked-on food by filling the pot with water and tossing in a dryer sheet to soak. Food residue comes right off.

22. Vinegar Soak for Faucets

Remove built up calcium, lime, and rust from faucets by soaking a rag in vinegar then wrapping around it the head, securing with a hair or chip clip. Let it sit for half an hour, remove, and wipe with dry rag to remove residual vinegar.

23. Bathroom Mold Repellent

Mix equal parts lemon juice and baking soda to create a paste that combats mold and mildew on shower curtains and tiles. Spread the paste on the target surface, allow to stand for two hours, then rinse away.

24. Glass Top Stove Cleaner

Make your glass top stove look like new with cleaner made with 1 part hydrogen peroxide and 1 part baking soda.

25. Natural Purification

Reduce dust and other indoor pollutants while purifying your home's air with house plants.

Top 10 Indoor Houseplants for Air Purification

© 2016 Kim Bryan

Comments

feliciafelicia on December 27, 2018:

This is a well written article with great tips, especially for housewives like me! I usually use newspapers to clean my windows. Will be trying out coffee filters on the windows. Your tips will be beneficial to these companies too https://sghomeneeds.com/professionals/cleaning-ser...

Lorraine Douthitt on January 09, 2018:

I just found out about dust mites and I'm losing my voice how do I get my voice back

Michael Savino on March 01, 2017:

Hi there, I like the above cleaning ideas and they really work. Last week my friend shifted to another city and when he moved to a new house he had used this tip and for junk removal someone recommended him professionals of http://movingrightalong.com/ and according to him they provide him good service.

VirginiaLynne on April 14, 2016:

Some interesting ideas. I like the one about cleaning the glass stove top. I'll try that today. I'd love to hear your own stories about using these.