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Cleaning your home can be a daunting task, especially if you don’t know where to start or what to use. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with these simple cleaning tips that will help you tackle dirt, grime, stains, and more with ease.
What is a good cleaning tip? A good cleaning tip is one that can make your cleaning process more efficient and effective.
Whether you need to clean your kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, or living room, these tips will make your cleaning routine faster, easier, and more productive. Plus, you’ll learn how to use common household items like white vinegar, baking soda, lemon, and coffee filters to create your own natural, economical, and eco-friendly cleaning solutions. Let’s delve into these simple cleaning tips that will make your home shine brighter than ever before.
Best Cleaning Advice: The Room-by-Room Methodical Approach
The best cleaning advice I’ve ever gotten for cleaning the whole house is to go room by room and within each room, start at one corner of the room and work your way around the room. It’s orderly and it keeps you on task. Keep a basket handy for things that need to be distributed to other rooms in the house, but generally, this methodical way of cleaning is going to keep you focused.
So, then, to keep it interesting and quick, I have tips for you to try as you go through each room. The purpose of this post is to get the big things clean. The large surfaces, the things that are in your face when you walk in the door, and if they are dirty, then the whole place looks dirty. I’ve got more cleaning hacks for the nitty gritty stuff.
Kitchen Cleaning Tips
Keep your sink shiny
Keeping the kitchen sink shiny is an old Fly Lady trick to help spur you into cleaning action. The idea is that you pick one thing at the end of the night to keep clean, which for me is the kitchen sink.
I call it a trick because to make the sink shine, you need to clear out the dishes first. However, if the dishwasher is already full, you’ll need to empty it before you can proceed. So you’ve nearly cleaned the whole kitchen at this point.
This cleaning tip works wonders because waking up to a shiny sink is a refreshing sight. It exudes cleanliness and sets the tone for the day. The Thrifty Couple has some great tips for getting your sink shiny with items you probably already have in your home! Incorporate this simple cleaning tip into your routine, and you’ll find your kitchen transforms into a cleaner and more organized space.
Keep your appliances shiny
While stainless steel appliances may give our homes a sleek, modern touch, they can be notoriously challenging to keep clean. Smudges and dullness can quickly take over, making your kitchen look less than sparkling.
But remember our mantra: shiny equals clean, and dull equals dirty.
Fortunately, there’s a simple cleaning tip that can help. Thanks to a DIY appliance cleaner from Mom for Real, you can restore the shine to your stainless steel fixtures. Embrace this simple cleaning tip and keep your stainless steel appliances looking as impressive and pristine as the day you bought them.
Freshen up your trash can
After emptying your trash can, sprinkle baking soda at the bottom before inserting a new bag. It’ll help absorb odors and keep your trash can smelling fresh.
Steam clean your microwave with lemon
First things first, the humble microwave, is our trusted ally in quick meals and defrosting. It can quickly become a hotbed of spattered food and grime. Fill a microwave-safe bowl with water and add a sliced lemon. Set your microwave on high for five minutes, and let the steam do its magic. The grime will easily wipe off with a sponge or paper towel.
Living Area Cleaning Tips
Polish the wood surfaces
Start your living room cleaning by applying the same simple principle we used in the kitchen – if it’s shiny, it’s likely clean. Focusing on the wooden surfaces in your living areas is key. Granted, this task can be a bit demanding, especially if you have a lot of items on your wood furniture, but it’s an essential step. For those who prefer DIY cleaning solutions, check out Tips Bulletin for five distinct mixtures you can prepare. This easy cleaning tip will leave your living room’s wood surfaces sparkling and inviting.
Vacuum & spot clean the soft furniture
Embrace the fact that your couch doubles as a dining area – we’re all guilty of it. However, the trick lies in maintaining cleanliness after the meal. Regularly vacuum your sofa and other upholstered furniture, perhaps weekly if you frequently eat there. Don’t forget to address those inevitable salsa drips with some spot cleaning. A Brick Home offers a practical method for keeping your fabric furniture fresh and spotless. Furthermore, pay attention to your rug. It’s a hidden dirt accumulator, often containing more grime than your toilet! That’s why I opted for a Ruggable rug, designed to be conveniently machine-washable. Explore my detailed Ruggable review if this sounds like the solution for your living space. This user-friendly cleaning tip ensures a neat and cozy atmosphere, even for those who enjoy their snacks on the couch.
Dust
Ironically, to me, dusting is the easiest chore, yet I never want to do it. The magic tool that comes to my rescue, particularly when unexpected guests announce their arrival, is a Swiffer Duster. Its convenience and efficiency make it an invaluable cleaning companion. However, if you run out or prefer a DIY approach, check out Pop Sugar‘s recipe for homemade Dusting Wipes. This is a simple cleaning tip that enhances your space’s freshness and cleanliness in mere moments. Embrace it to keep dust at bay, whether in anticipation of visitors or just for your own comfort.
Freshen up your carpets
Sprinkle baking soda on your carpets before vacuuming. The baking soda will absorb any odors, and vacuuming will pick up any dirt or pet hair, making your carpet look and smell fresher.
Vacuum your blinds for dust-free views
Keeping your blinds dust-free can often be an overlooked part of maintaining a clean home. However, I’m here to share an easy cleaning tip to tackle this often tedious task: employ your vacuum cleaner! The brush attachment on your vacuum is an ideal tool for swiftly and effectively eliminating dust from each individual slat of your blinds. This method is far more efficient than manually dusting them with a cloth. This simple strategy can significantly improve your cleaning routine, ensuring you maintain a dust-free, pristine home environment.
Clean windows and leave no streaks
White vinegar is a great solution for cleaning windows without streaks. Mix equal parts white vinegar and hot water in a spray bottle. Spritz it on the windows and wipe it off with paper towels or coffee filters. Coffee filters are particularly effective because they don’t leave lint behind, unlike some paper towels.
Quickly wipe away pet hair
If you have pets, you know the struggle with pet hair. One simple and effective way to get rid of it is by using a dryer sheet. Dryer sheets can collect pet hair from furniture and clothes easily. You can also dampen a rubber glove and run it over the surfaces to gather pet hair.
Tackling carpet stains
For stubborn carpet stains, consider a mixture of dish soap, white vinegar, and hot water. Apply the mixture to the stain and use a brush to scrub gently. Finish the area with warm water and blot dry with paper towels. This is simple and quick. No need to go get a carpet cleaner. Save that for a different day.
Keep your baseboards clean
Clean baseboards might not be the first thing you think about, but they are present in every room and can easily accumulate dust. It’s easy to overlook, but once you’re aware, it can be startling to see how much grime has collected.
That’s where this simple cleaning tip comes in. Country Chic Cottage has a fantastic method for cleaning baseboards, which can help you keep every room in your house dust-free and looking tidy.
Incorporate this simple cleaning tip into your cleaning routine, and you’ll be surprised by how much of a difference clean baseboards can make to the overall appearance of your rooms.
Bathroom Cleaning Tips
No Scrubbing: Clean toilets and sinks on auto-pilot
The bathroom is one of those places you do not want to allow to get built up with filth. It will be way, way harder to clean. So stay on top of things with these easy tips.
I keep a canister of wipes under the sink so I can clean toothpaste as it hits the sink! Therefore, I don’t have to chip away at old hard toothpaste.
For my toilets, I’ve been using a Kaboom Toilet Cleaning Systems in each one that I get from Amazon. It keeps it clean all month long without having to scrub! That’s about as simple as it can get! You get to enjoy a consistently clean bathroom without the usual hassle.
Revitalize your shower doors
If your shower doors are covered with soap scum and hard water stains, you can make them shine again. Fill a spray bottle with white vinegar and spray it generously on the shower doors. Let it sit for about 15 minutes, then wipe it off with a sponge or cloth. Rinse with hot water and dry with a squeegee or paper towel. It’s acidic and can dissolve mineral deposits and soap residue without damaging the glass.
Keep the shiny surfaces… shiny
Start with the mirror, but don’t forget the faucets, toilet bowl handle, and other fixtures like towel holders. If those things are dull, the bathroom won’t look really clean.
For an effective and economical solution, try a homemade glass cleaner like this one from The Frugal Navy Wife. This easy cleaning tip will ensure a polished look for your bathroom, giving the space a clean, sparkling finish that’s truly eye-catching. Incorporate this tip into your routine for a clean, dazzling bathroom.
Clean the grout and other small crevices
When it comes to bathroom cleanliness, the condition of your tile grout can make or break the overall look. If it’s dirty, it can leave your bathroom seeming gross.
But, with this basic cleaning tip, you can restore the freshness of your grout lines. I recommend the grout-cleaning method from Practically Functional, which involves using bleach – a powerful stain remover and germ killer that also has a clean, crisp smell that I love.
Just take a look at the before and after pictures and you’ll see how effective this method is. This simple cleaning tip can give your bathroom tile a whole new lease on life.
Renew your towels and shower curtains
It’s a common scenario – despite frequent cleaning, towels over time can lose their freshness, becoming less fluffy and even developing a mildly unpleasant odor. It’s ok; it happens to everyone and we have an easy solution for it. A soft, revitalized white towel can make a strong statement saying, “This bathroom is like a spa!”
Passion for Savings has a great tip for getting old towels to look brand new again. This simple cleaning tip can make a world of difference to your bathroom’s appearance.
Don’t overlook the shower curtain and liner either. They may seem ‘clean’ at a glance but they often harbor soap scum – a tricky mix of soap residues, body oils, and dirt. Hometalk has a great tip for getting the somewhat delicate shower curtain liner nice and clean for you. So ensure you tackle these as part of your routine cleaning regimen for a sparkling clean bathroom.
Bedroom Cleaning Tips
Clear the Clutter – Use Your Bed as a Sorting Spot
Put everything that is either on the floor or otherwise out of place, on your bed. This one sounds nuts; I know. But if you’re the type who starts cleaning and gets distracted easily, then my simple cleaning tip is for you. Obviously, if there is trash, throw that away first. Then, start going through it bit by bit and get that stuff to its proper home! This works because you won’t be able to get in your bed at night until you’ve dealt with it. So you have no choice but to stay focused and put everything away!
Put away your clothes
All of your clothes are making your bedroom a mess. It’s essential to get in the a habit of putting clean clothes away every time you do laundry. If you neglect this during the week, you’ll face an intimidating mountain of laundry on Sunday night.
If you’re already dealing with a heap of laundry, don’t worry. Dedicate just 10 minutes per day to arranging and putting away your clothes. This efficient cleaning tip not only declutters your room but also makes the task manageable, keeping your bedroom neat and tidy.
Strip the Bed
Relishing the feel of clean sheets is one of life’s simple pleasures, contributing to a refreshing and relaxing sleep environment.
To make this chore a bit more manageable, always have an additional set of fresh sheets “on deck”. This efficient cleaning tip means you’ll always have a set on your bed and a backup set in your linen closet.
This approach saves you from the hassle of washing and drying sheets just before bedtime. Here’s a practical tip for storing your sheet sets from Four Generations One Roof.
Refresh Your Mattress
Enhance the freshness of your mattress with a simple and effective cleaning tip involving baking soda. By dusting your mattress with baking soda and leaving it to sit for a few hours, you can effectively eliminate unwanted odors and absorb excess moisture. Once the baking soda has done its job, simply vacuum it up, ad you’re left with a fresher mattress. For a deeper clean, we’ve written a guide on how to clean a mattress properly, with detailed instructions, for you!
How do you simplify house cleaning?
Keeping your house clean can feel like an overwhelming task, but by incorporating a few simple strategies, you can simplify the process significantly. Here are some tips:
- Create a Cleaning Schedule: Rather than saving all your cleaning tasks for one day, spread them out over the week. This can prevent the process from becoming too daunting. You might dust one day, vacuum the next, and so on.
- Clean as You Go: One of the simplest ways to keep your home clean is by cleaning as you go. This could mean wiping down the counter while you’re cooking, putting items away as soon as you’re done using them, or washing dishes right after a meal.
- Keep Cleaning Supplies Handy: Store your cleaning supplies in the rooms where you’ll use them. Having everything you need within reach will make it easier to clean up a mess as soon as you spot it.
- Declutter Regularly: A cluttered space can make cleaning more difficult. Make it a habit to regularly sort through your belongings and get rid of items you no longer need or use.
- Involve Everyone: If you live with others, make sure everyone is involved in keeping the house clean. Assigning specific tasks to each person can make the workload more manageable.
- Use Multi-Purpose Cleaners: Instead of having a different product for each room or surface, use a multi-purpose cleaner. This can save you money and storage space.
- Set a Timer: Cleaning can sometimes seem never-ending. Try setting a timer for each task. You’ll be surprised how much you can get done when you’re racing against the clock.
- Focus on High-Traffic Areas: Concentrate your cleaning efforts on the areas of your home that get the most use, like the kitchen, bathroom, and living room. These spaces typically need more frequent attention.
In conclusion, maintaining a clean home need not be an overwhelming task. With these straightforward cleaning strategies, you can tackle every room of your home. With the utilization of basic cleaning tools and the application of easy-to-follow routines, your residence will radiate freshness and cleanliness. Remember, the key to a well-maintained home is regularity and consistency. So go ahead, incorporate these simple cleaning tips into your routine, and watch as your home transforms into a cleaner, fresher, and more comfortable space.
If you found this helpful, share with your friends and family and let us know what your best tips are!