Keeping your home clean and tidy can feel like an endless chore. Dirt, dust and clutter can quickly accumulate, leaving your home feeling disorganized and dull. However, with the right cleaning tips and habits, you can easily keep your home looking fresh, sanitized and inviting every day.
Here are 50 of the best cleaning tips and tricks for keeping your entire home clean, fresh and tidy all year long:
Kitchen Cleaning Tips
The kitchen is often the hub of activity in most homes. As a result, it tends to get dirty and messy very quickly. Follow these tips to keep your kitchen spotless:
1. Clean as You Go
Don’t wait for a mountain of dirty dishes to accumulate. Wash utensils, pots and pans immediately after using them. Wipe down countertops frequently to avoid stains from setting in.
2. Pay Attention to Appliances
Appliances like refrigerators, ovens and dishwashers need frequent cleaning. Set reminders to deep clean your appliances every few months. This improves their efficiency and lifespan.
3. Organize Your Fridge
A tidy fridge helps save time when cooking. Designate shelves for different food groups and use containers to organize leftovers. Throw out expired items weekly.
4. Scrub the Microwave
Food splatters can make microwaves very dirty. To clean it, mix baking soda and water into a paste and scrub the interior. Then wipe it down with a soft cloth.
5. Descale Your Kettle
Hard water leaves mineral deposits that can clog up kettles over time. Keep yours working well by regularly descaling it with a store-bought descaling solution or white vinegar.
6. Deep Clean the Oven
Burnt food and grease build up quickly in ovens. Deep clean yours quarterly with a store-bought oven cleaner. Let it sit overnight before scrubbing the oven clean the next morning.
7. Keep the Faucet Sparkling
Faucets easily get water spots and rust stains. Prevent this by regularly scrubbing them with a cloth, baking soda and vinegar. Rinse and dry well afterwards.
8. Clean Cabinetry and Handles
Kitchen handles and cabinets get smudged with fingerprints and food. Keep them looking good by wiping down with a mix of warm water and dish soap using a microfiber cloth.
9. Use Paper Towels
Keeping paper towels on your countertop makes wiping messes easy. Look for eco-friendly recycled ones to reduce waste.
10. Set a Kitchen Cleaning Schedule
It’s easy to overlook certain cleaning tasks. Make a weekly or monthly kitchen cleaning checklist of all areas and appliances that need attention.
Bathroom Cleaning Tips
As one of the most used rooms, bathrooms require frequent cleaning. Here are useful tips for keeping your bathroom fresh:
11. Clean the Showerhead
Hard water causes mineral build up that clogs showerheads. Remove this by filling a plastic bag with vinegar and wrapping it around the showerhead overnight. Then scrub clean.
12. Use a Squeegee
Prevent soap scum build up and water marks on your shower walls by using a squeegee right after showering to wipe the walls and glass doors clean.
13. Deep Clean the Toilet
Use a toilet brush and an all-purpose cleaner weekly to scrub the interior of the toilet. Let it sit before flushing to rinse away grime.
14. Prevent Mildew
Mildew thrives in damp bathrooms. Keep it away by spraying shower curtains and tile grout with a mix of baking soda and water. Rinse afterwards.
15. Clean Bathroom Mirrors and Faucets
Mixing equal parts water and vinegar in a spray bottle allows you to easily wipe fingerprints, hairspray and toothpaste spittle off bathroom mirrors and faucets.
16. Refresh Towels Regularly
To prevent mold and mildew, wash bath towels, hand towels and bath mats frequently on a hot sanitizing cycle. Replace them every few years.
17. Clean Exhaust Fans
Exhaust fans prevent mold growth by minimizing moisture. Clean dust and grime out of bathroom fans regularly with a small vacuum nozzle attachment.
18. Use a Toilet Brush
A toilet brush is essential for scrubbing under the rim and all sides of the toilet bowl. Look for one with an extended handle and stiff bristles set in a triangle shape for better scrubbing.
19. Set Bathroom Cleaning Reminders
Schedule monthly, weekly and daily bathroom cleaning sessions on your calendar to stay on top of scrubbing showers, sinks, mirrors and toilets.
20. Wipe Down Walls and Floors
Bathroom walls and floors accumulate stains from mildew and splashed water. In addition to regular mopping, also go over them monthly with a multi-surface bathroom cleaner.
Bedroom and Living Room Cleaning Tips
Bedrooms and living rooms require regular tidying and cleaning for a polished look. Follow these tips:
21. Vacuum Frequently
Make vacuuming carpets in high traffic areas like hallways, bedrooms and living rooms a priority. For deeper cleaning, use a carpet shampooer every six months.
22. Rotate and Flip Mattresses
Flipping your mattress helps it wear evenly and last longer. Do this along with rotating it head-to-foot every six months for better sleep hygiene.
23. Wash Sheets Weekly
Wash sheets, pillowcases and comforters weekly to remove dead skin cells, sweat and oils that accumulate over time. Use hot water to kill dust mites.
24. Dust Often
Dust the tops of ceiling fans, lighting fixtures, ledges, skirting boards and windowsills at least weekly. Microfiber cloths attract dust magnetically.
25. Clean Window Treatments
Fabric curtains and blinds trap dust. Deep clean them twice a year by taking them down and washing them according to manufacturer’s instructions.
26. Use Door Mats
Placing door mats inside and outside entryways keeps dirt, pollen and grass clippings from being tracked inside. Vacuum and shake them out weekly.
27. Rearrange and Declutter
Clutter quickly accumulates on coffee and side tables. Maintain tidiness by putting items away and rearranging knickknacks and accessories seasonally.
28. Clean Out Fireplaces
Scoop out ash, use a handheld vacuum to remove soot and grime, and scrub the glass doors of fireplaces after the winter season ends to prepare them for next year.
29. Use Ceiling Fans
Turning ceiling fans on and changing the direction helps circulate fresh air and reduce dust build up. They also eliminate odors better than air fresheners.
30. Spot Clean Walls
Use a sponge mop with warm sudsy water to spot clean walls. This removes grease, fingerprints, scuffs and food stains while keeping painted walls fresh.
Floor Cleaning Tips
Floors take a constant beating. Follow a regular cleaning schedule to keep them looking pristine:
31. Sweep First
Before wet mopping hard floors, always sweep first to remove loose dirt and debris. This prevents spreading mud and grit around.
32. Use Floor Cleaners
Multi-surface cleaners help remove foot traffic marks, food stains, and grime from tile, vinyl, and sealed hardwood. Check labels and never use them on unfinished wood.
33. Clean Grout
Mix baking soda and warm water into a spreadable paste. Use an old toothbrush to scrub the paste into tile and grout. Rinse thoroughly afterwards.
34. Try Dryer Sheets
Used dryer sheets can lift carpet scuffs, wax buildup and dirt from vinyl floors. Attach one to a mop head and wipe over the floor.
35. Seal Grout
Applying grout sealer helps keep grout on tile floors protected from stains. Reapply it once a year for longevity.
36. Address Pet Stains
Lift fresh pet urine stains from carpets and floors by blotting immediately with paper towels. Then spray with an enzyme cleaner made specifically for pet stains.
37. Rinse Floors Thoroughly
Always rinse floors well with clean water after using any cleaning solution. Residue left behind causes streaks and haziness.
38. Clean Under Appliances
Use crevice tools, microfiber cloths and vacuum attachments to clean dirt and dust under appliances like refrigerators, stoves and washing machines monthly.
39. Replace AC Filters
Dirty air conditioner filters cause dust and allergens to accumulate indoors. For cleaner living spaces, replace the filters on your central AC and window units every three months.
40. Buff Hard Floors
Every six months, buff sealed hardwood and tile floors using a specialty floor buffer machine rented from your local hardware store. This removes built up grime and protects the floor finish.
Furniture Cleaning Tips
Upholstered furniture and mattresses require special care to keep them clean and well-maintained:
41. Vacuum and Rotate Cushions
Vacuum both sides of sofa and chair cushions weekly. Rotate and flip them occasionally to prevent uneven wear and stains on the undersides.
42. Spot Clean Fabrics
Immediately blot fresh stains on upholstered furniture using a clean cloth and water. For tougher dried-on stains, use an upholstery foam cleaner. Test on an inconspicuous area first.
43. Deodorize Regularly
Freshen up sofas, chairs and pet beds by periodically massaging a baking soda rub into the fabrics using a soft brush to lift odors trapped in the fibers.
44. Disinfect Mattresses
Use a mattress spray cleaner every few months to kill dust mites and bacteria. This prevents allergens and keeps mattresses cleaner between rotations. Let dry completely before replacing sheets.
45. Spot Clean Leather
Dab leather furniture scuffs and stains gently with a clean, barely damp microfiber cloth. Avoid using any polish or harsh cleaners which can crack leather over time.
46. Shampoo Carpets
Foot traffic and dirt dull carpets over time. Shampoo or steam clean carpets and area rugs every six months to revitalize colors and remove deeply embedded dirt.
47. Wash Removable Covers
Regularly machine wash couch covers, pillowcases, cushion covers and slipcovers according to manufacturer’s instructions to keep fabrics fresh and clean.
Outdoor Cleaning Tips
The exterior of your home deserves care and cleaning too:
48. Dirt and Grime
Use an exterior surface cleaner every few months to remove accumulated dirt, bird droppings, tree sap and grime from vinyl siding, stucco walls, decks and patios.
49. Check Gutters
Clogged rain gutters can cause water damage. Inspect them when cleaning the exterior and remove debris. Install gutter guards to prevent future clogs.
50. Power Wash
Using a rented power washer annually does wonders for cleaning painted surfaces, brick and concrete. Always follow directions to avoid damaging siding or wood.
Conclusion
Staying on top of cleaning is much easier when you break chores down by room and set a schedule. Little daily tasks like wiping surfaces and decluttering keep things manageable. Use these 50 tips to add cleaning regimens specific to kitchens, bathrooms, living areas, floors, furniture, and the outdoors.
Implementing these simple but effective cleaning routines will help you maintain a cleaner, healthier home while preventing dirt and grime from taking over your living spaces. With a tidy house, you can better relax and enjoy time with your family.