People Are Dishing Out Their Genius Cleaning Hacks, And Frankly, My Dingy Surfaces Never Stood A Chance

My favorite part about cleaning is when it's time to light the candle, not only because it smells great but also because it means you're finally done cleaning!

by Conshea Brown

BuzzFeed Contributor

Cleaning can be a totally time-consuming and daunting task to complete. Especially when you need to deep-clean your entire house from top to bottom and shift the vibes for the new season.

Woman sitting on a sofa, looking bored, surrounded by cleaning supplies and holding a phone

So, when Reddit user u/nerdyfoody asked the community in r/CleaningTips about their favorite cleaning hacks, I knew this was the perfect time to get some helpful cleaning tips to dive into my seasonal deep clean. Here's what they had to say:

Note: Not all submissions came from the mentioned thread. I also found responses from this thread and this thread.

1. "Vinegar and dish liquid for shower glass. I put it in a spray bottle, around four parts vinegar and one part dish liquid, then you spray it on and leave it for a few hours. During then, I come back and spray it again when I'm around/remember. It makes the bathroom stink like vinegar, but it works. Sometimes it takes more than one go, depending on how long it's been."

Frosted shower door with a handle; a glimpse of a showerhead is visible in the background

2. "Break It Down. Divide your cleaning tasks into smaller, manageable chunks, and focus on one room or area at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed."

—u/my-financials23

3. "Clean your ceiling fans with an old pillowcase! Just slide it over the blade, pull back, and all of the dust will fall to the bottom of the pillowcase. Shake it out when you're finished."

Close-up view of a dusty ceiling fan blade in a cozy living room with wooden furniture and wall decor

4. "If you can do it (or convince your partner or pay someone to do it), line up your deep clean with an overhaul of minor household repairs. Fix holes, recaulk the tub, replace the cracked light switch plate, etc. Sometimes what makes our house feel dirty isn’t the dirt but the crack in the ceiling that’s been there for months, or that paint job on the trim that never got done."

—u/IamNotPersephone

5. "Reward Yourself! Set small rewards for yourself when you complete tasks. Whether it’s a cup of your favorite tea, a relaxing bath, or a good book, having something to look forward to can keep you motivated."

A person holding a phone and a cup, smiling in a kitchen with cookies on the counter

6. "Pour about 1/2 cup of water in a microwave-safe bowl. Squeeze the juice from a lemon wedge in, and drop the rest of the lemon wedge in. Microwave it until it starts to steam, and leave it in there for a few more minutes. When you open the door, the acidity from the lemon steam will have loosened up any dried food on the inside walls of the microwave. You'll be able to wipe it away easily with a paper towel — even the stuff you couldn't scrub off otherwise. It's very satisfying."

—u/glitterroo

7. "Clean your toilet and keep your hands dry. Don't like getting even clean toilet water on your paws? Get a bucket of water (I use a Pine Sol solution that I use to clean my floors before hand) and then pour it in the toilet. The water will flush and won't refill, leaving you an almost empty bowl to scrub."

A person wearing yellow gloves cleans a toilet with a spray bottle and sponge in a bathroom. Cleaning supplies are visible

8. "Buy a small handheld vacuum, cheap, and keep one on each level of your house. It will suck up all the hair on your bathroom floor, crumbs your kids leave behind, and little lint balls. It is much easier than a lint roller, and much less trash is produced. It will also reduce the number of times you have to pull out the big vacuum to tidy up, which usually helps you postpone vacuuming."

—u/2brats

9. "I play Call of Duty. Between rounds, I pick up dishes, clean them, make my bed, put clothing in the laundry, dust, wipe surfaces, etc. By the end of a gaming session, I have a clean house. Guilt-free gaming, because I'm being productive."

A person loading a glass into a dishwasher with sunlight streaming in

10. "You can use used dryer sheets to clean your baseboards since they're anti-static. They'll also keep them clean longer."

—u/ophelia917

11. "Best degreasing tip for kitchen extractor fans: Remove the metal filters and place in an empty sink. Take dry baking soda and mash the powder into the congealed grease. Plug the sink and pour white vinegar over the filter; the chemical reaction will dissolve grease. Rinse with hot water, and place sparkling clean filters back in the extractor fan."

Person wearing rubber gloves removes filter from under-cabinet range hood in kitchen

12. "I clean clockwise. Whatever room I'm in, I choose what will be '12 o'clock' and work my way around. I find that this is the easiest way for me to stay organized and not get sidetracked while cleaning. It works for me."

—u/Lulusbean

And finally, here's a tip that I love that kind of turns your all-day cleaning session into a fun little game:

13. "When I end up deciding to clean a room, I start a playlist and set a task to finish by the end of each song. i.e., laundry put away by the end of the song, room vacuumed by the end of the next."

Older adult vacuuming living room and dancing around

Well, I definitely can't wait to take hours off of my deep cleaning routine after this. If you have your own hacks or tips you live by when it comes time for a big clean, feel free to let me know down in the comments!

Note: Responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.