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.
Hate housekeeping? Here are some tips to make your life easier!
Cleaning Tips for People Who Hate Housework
If housework is a hated chore for you, and you're looking for some lazy housekeeping inspiration, here are some cleaning hacks to get it done quickly so you can get on doing what you'd rather be doing.
Items Needed
Lemon Juice | Cream of Tartar | Dryer Sheets |
Rubbing Alcohol | Distilled Vinegar | Baking Soda |
Hydrogen Peroxide | Baking Powder | Salt |
1. Effortless Garbage Disposal Cleaning
- Make a tray of ice cubes made of 1 part vinegar and 1 part water.
- Drop a couple of cubes in your garbage disposal.
- Let them melt. It'll be clean and the bad smells will be gone.
2. Soda Toilet Cleaner
Pour carbonated soda directly into the toilet and allow it to sit for at least half an hour. The carbonation will remove stains and leave it sparkling like new.
3. Vegetable Oil to Clean 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 fingerprints.
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
- Insert the fan blade into the opening of the pillowcase and slide it up to the arm.
- Clinch shut and pull back.
- 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.
Read More From Dengarden
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. Vinegar Bath for Your Shower
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 afterward 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 to 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 a 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
Easily reduce dust and other indoor pollutants by purifying your home's air with a house plant collection.
Top 10 Indoor Houseplants for Air Purification
© 2016 Kim Bryan
Comments
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.
