11 Of My All-Time Favorite Cleaning Shortcuts

While I love the feeling of a clean house, I don’t necessarily love spending hours and hours keeping it that way. That’s why I make it a point to identify and incorporate time-saving cleaning shortcuts into my routine whenever possible!

Today I’ll be sharing a list of some of my all-time favorite cleaning shortcuts with you. These shortcuts will help you dust, wash, and wipe your home to a squeaky clean state in less time than ever before! :-)

11 Cleaning Shortcuts That Will Save You Time

1. Streak-Free Windows

I’ve used this particular window washing method exclusively to clean my windows since discovering it several years ago. There’s no need to squeegee, wipe, or even dry your windows afterwards, and it leaves them perfectly shiny and streak-free!

If you’re looking for a faster way to clean your windows that will also save you a lot of effort, check out the full instructions and tutorial here.

2. Pet Hair Hack

Pet owners know that keeping couches and cushions hair-free can feel like a full time job. But as long as you have a rubber glove on hand, it doesn’t have to be!

Swipe at any lingering pet hair with a rubber glove on your hand, and the hair will stick to the glove. This is a quick and easy way to de-hair your sofa without wasting a dozen lint roller sheets!

3. Dryer Sheet Dusting

Some of the design features in our homes can turn into magnets for dust, like baseboards, crown molding, and cabinet details. The next time you dust these areas, rub them down with a dryer sheet afterward to leave behind a thin layer of dust-repelling residue.

It shouldn’t take you more than a couple of minutes to do, and it can help keep those nooks and crannies cleaner for longer!

4. Dust Less With Wax Paper

Here’s another hack for people who hate dusting (including myself!) Keep the tops of your cabinets and your refrigerator clean by covering them with a layer of wax paper.

Then when the wax paper gets dusty, all you have to do is swap it out for fresh paper! No scrubbing through greasy dust required.

5. Fridge Liners

Another preventative measure similar to the wax paper tip above is to line your fridge’s bins and shelves with easy-to-clean fridge liners. You can buy rolls of fridge liner material online and cut it to any size.

Or if you prefer a more thrifty DIY approach, buy a few plastic place settings and the dollar store and cut those to fit our fridge bins and shelves. They work well and they’re easy to wipe clean (though they won’t offer the same grip as the fridge liner material.)

6. Shower Head Soak

Mineral scale buildup and hard water deposits can affect the water flow through your shower head. If your shower head could use a good cleaning, all you need is some white vinegar!

If you can remove the shower head, do so and place it in a ziplock bag full of white vinegar overnight. If you can’t remove it, pull a ziplock bag of vinegar over the shower head and secure it with a rubber band.

In the morning, rinse the shower head with clean water and it will be good as new!

7. Steam Clean Your Microwave

Baked-on messes in your microwave can take a lot of elbow grease to scrub away. That’s why I highly recommend steam cleaning your microwave before you even attempt wiping or scrubbing!

Get the simple instructions for steam cleaning your microwave here. With the help of this handy cleaning shortcut, your microwave will wipe clean in seconds!

8. Caches Of Cleaning Wipes

Cleaning up a mess is always quicker and easier when you have supplies nearby. That’s why I keep cleaning wipes in the kitchen and in both of our bathrooms.

But instead of spending a bunch of money on those expensive store-bought cleaning wipes, you can make your own at home for pennies! Get the tutorial for making your own DIY disinfecting wipes here.

9. Pillowcase Dusting Hack

Make dusting your ceiling fan quick and easy with the help of a pillowcase! Just slide a clean pillowcase over one blade at a time, press it against both sides of the blade with your hands, and slide it towards you.

All the dust will stay trapped in the pillowcase, and you’ll be finished dusting before you know it!

10. Use Your Dishwasher

Your dishwasher can clean so much more than just dishes! Learn about 19 surprising things you can clean in your dishwasher here!

11. Blend It Clean

Instead of washing your bulky blender cup in the dishwasher, why not blend it clean? Just add a couple of cups of water to the cup and a small squirt of dish soap.

Put the lid on the blender cup, then pulse the blender a few times. The soapy water will clean the inside of the blender thoroughly—even the hard-to-reach area under the blades!

What are your favorite time-saving cleaning shortcuts?