25 House Cleaning Hacks for the Lazy Housekeeper

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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

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