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1. Steam clean your microwave: place a bowl of water inside, heat it for five minutes, then leave it undisturbed for an additional five minutes. This will loosen any stubborn grime, making it easy to wipe away with a paper towel or a damp sponge.
No need for hard scrubbing. You can add some lemon slices for a refreshing scent, but that's totally optional. (Trust me, this method works — that’s my microwave shown above, and I’ve used it many times with great results.)
2. Next, pop your damp or wet sponge in the microwave for one minute to eliminate 99.9% of the bacteria it harbors.
Good Housekeeping confirmed this actually works; aim to do it weekly, or every few days if possible. And if you heard reports a few years back claiming microwaving doesn't work, well — those reports were incorrect.
(Alternatively, running your sponge through the dishwasher, on the top rack with the heat-dry setting, is just as effective if you prefer that method.)
3. And make sure your sponge dries out each night, whether you use a simple binder clip or a stainless steel sponge holder.
This will help extend its lifespan between cleanings! The sponge holder is priced at $11.99 on Amazon.
4. Once you're finished with the dishes, be sure to clean your sink regularly as you would a dish: using hot water, dish soap, and your sponge.
Finish by rinsing it with hot water.
5. Next, give your stainless steel sink a quick shine by lightly dusting it with flour and using a microfiber cloth — it will remove all the small bits of grime that regular washing misses.
On The Kitchn, they perform this task once a month. A set of 24 microfiber cleaning cloths is available for $12.49 on Amazon. (If you're concerned about microplastics when laundering microfiber, consider using the Guppy Friend washing bag, $34.95 from For Days.)
6. Using a gentle cleanser is the fastest way to restore a scratched porcelain sink to its original gleaming condition.
This is Barkeeper's Friend, now in a paste form (as opposed to the powder version you can mix into a paste yourself). A single bottle costs $9.10, or you can buy a two-pack for $13.81 ($6.91 each) on Amazon.
(Alternatively, you could try baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, though it may require more effort.)
7. If your garbage disposal is emitting an unpleasant odor, it could be due to buildup under the splash guard. Use an old toothbrush to scrub it off and push the debris into the disposal where it belongs.
From Family Handyman.
8. If this method doesn't solve the problem, try using a foaming cleaner to thoroughly clean your disposal, including the splash guard's underside and the inner walls of the disposal.
This product will eliminate odors, though it won't unclog your garbage disposal — for that, you'll need to call a plumber. A reader recommends this product (see the review below), and it's available on Amazon for $10.50, with enough for eight uses and a lemon scent.
Promising review: "I was amazed at how simple and fast it was to clean my garbage disposal. I found this through a Mytour article. The instructions were easy, and it took only five minutes, some hot water, and VOILA! My garbage disposal was clean and odor-free. Every time I smelled something, I’d drop one of these packets in the disposal, and the smell disappeared instantly! Plus, watching the blue foam bubble up through the sink was fun." —VadersGirl
9. Use a little mineral oil to wipe off the sticky, dusty buildup on your range hood and other kitchen appliances.
Simply apply a small amount of oil to a paper towel and wipe away the grime effortlessly! If you prefer not to leave an oily residue, follow up with water and dish soap to clean it off. (You can use olive oil, but make sure to wash it off afterward to prevent it from turning rancid and causing a bad odor.) From One Good Thing By Jillee.
10. Create a paste by mixing water with polish cleanser, and use it to easily scrub away stubborn cooked-on food from your stainless or enameled gas stove.
The Amazon reviewer pictured added a few drops of water to the cleanser, making a paste with a glue-like consistency, which they applied to each burner. After letting it sit for a few minutes, they wiped it away. You can purchase a can of this cleanser on Amazon for $11.19. (Unlike the premixed version, this allows you to control the paste's thickness, though both options are great!)
11. For a brand-new look, let your greasy stove (and grill!) grates sit overnight with just a little bit of ammonia.
Simply seal your items in a plastic bag and let the ammonia do its job — but avoid mixing ammonia with other cleaning products, and make sure to check out the tutorials from Fabulessly Frugal and The V Spot before giving this a try at home. A bottle of ammonia is available on Amazon for $11.85.
12. Give your glass cooktop a quick polish in just five minutes: Drizzle Dawn and hydrogen peroxide on the surface, sprinkle with baking soda, and scrub in circular motions using a dish brush.
Next, simply wipe it clean. From My Thirty Spot. Need a dish brush? Pick up two on Amazon for $8.54.
13. If your stovetop’s tough, cooked-on stains resist basic scrubbing, consider using a cooktop cleaning kit that contains a polishing cleanser and a razor scraper to tackle the job.
The razor scraper is essential here, as it’s the best tool to remove the stubborn spots that may remain after an initial scrub with the included cleanser (which is part of most kits like these). Don’t hesitate to put some effort into it! The kit that delivered these impressive before and after results is available on Amazon for $8.98.
14. A simple paste made from dish soap, baking soda, and water is probably all you need to clean up those baked-on stains inside your oven.
While a little elbow grease might still be needed, the dish soap will do most of the hard work. This tip is from Ask Anna Moseley and Mytour Nifty.
15. If you haven't kept up with regular cleaning or self-cleaning cycles, a 40-minute spray-on cleaner could be the solution your oven needs.
This version is fume-free and comes highly recommended by our readers (see the review below). You can purchase a can on Amazon for $8.98.
Promising review: "My oven was in terrible shape. After seeing this product mentioned in a Mytour article, I gave it a try, and it actually worked! I let it sit for about four hours, and the grime wiped away effortlessly." —Natalie C
16. Wrap vinegar-soaked paper towels around your hard-water-stained faucets to break down the mineral build-up, allowing it to wipe off in a single pass.
From Lemons, Lavender, and Laundry.
17. Eliminate hard water buildup from the spout of your faucets by securing a plastic bag filled with vinegar around it using a rubber band. For more stubborn stains, swap the vinegar for a stronger mineral cleaner.
I first learned about this method from blogger Two Twenty One, who recommends using CLR (Calcium, Lime, Rust remover). A 28-ounce bottle is available for $6.69 on Amazon ($0.24/ounce), or you can opt for a one-gallon jug (128 ounces) for $24.98 ($0.20/ounce).
18. Revitalize your wooden cutting boards by scrubbing them with salt and half a lemon, then apply a coating of food-grade mineral oil to keep them in top shape.
While you'll still need to wash them with soap and water after each use (never soak them, as that can damage the wood), this method provides a good deep clean and conditioning. A bottle of cutting board oil is available for $9.98 on Amazon.
19. Water spots and unpleasant odors in your dishwasher can be eliminated by running an empty cycle with a cleaner specifically designed for that purpose.
20. Take some time to go through your fridge, freezer, pantry, and any other food storage areas. Dispose of anything that's expired, anything you know you'll never eat, or anything that's just, well, gross and moldy.
For more information about the distinctions between use-by, best-buy, and sell-by dates, check out Women's Health.
21. Next, clean the shelves, drawers, and any other removable parts of your fridge just like you would dishes: with hot, soapy water.
For a thorough clean, you can wipe down the interior, doors, and seals of your refrigerator and freezer using a mixture of soapy water. Just be sure to rinse everything well afterward. If your refrigerator has glass shelves, allow them to reach room temperature before applying hot water to avoid any risk of cracking or shattering. The full guide can be found on Martha Stewart.
22. Fight persistent fridge odors by placing a fabric deodorizer filled with activated charcoal inside.
You can hang the deodorizer using the included hook or simply place it on a shelf; it’s priced at $8.85 on Amazon.
23. Give your fridge and any other stainless steel appliances a polished shine with a coat of Pledge.
This is my go-to method for maintaining stainless steel, and it works wonders! Begin by removing any large dirt or grime using soap and water or a general cleaner. From The DIY Girl. Three cans of Pledge are priced at $16.14 (~$5.38 each) on Amazon.
24. Place a couple of fizzing tablets into your coffee maker to lift stubborn stains that regular scrubbing can't seem to remove.
These tablets are also great for breaking down the gunk inside reusable to-go coffee mugs. A pack of 12 is available for $8 on Amazon.
25. Erase even the most stubborn and severe rust stains with a spray-on cleaning gel that works instantly before your eyes.
This product also works wonders on rust stains from color-safe fabrics and many other surfaces. Some reviewers combine it with a Magic Eraser for added effectiveness. Two bottles are available for $15.59 ($7.80 each) on Amazon.
26. Quickly eliminate hard water toilet stains by gently scrubbing them away with a pumice stone.
Whether you're dealing with calcium, lime, rust, or an impossible mix of all three, the pumice stone handles it with ease. A set of two costs $8.99 on Amazon ($4.50 each), or you can buy a single stone for $6.50.
27. Regularly drop a eucalyptus-scented, citric acid–infused toilet bomb into your toilet bowl (once a week, depending on your water’s hardness) to reduce the need for scraping away lime scale or calcium deposits with a pumice stone.
Swish the bomb around once or twice, let it fizz for about five minutes, and then scrub for a minute or two with your toilet brush.
These toilet bombs are handmade and sold by Happy Earth Boutique, a small business based in New Jersey offering cleaning and bath products with amazing scents. You can buy a pack of 15 for $13.99 on Etsy (they also come in lemon or lemongrass scents).
28. While cleaning your toilet, make sure to target the water jets beneath the rim. For hard water, consider soaking them in vinegar overnight to break down any buildup.
If your standard toilet brush can't reach underneath, try using a dish brush dedicated solely for that job. For soaking your jets in vinegar, you'll need to drain your tank and seal them off with duct tape. Check out the full tutorial on Lil Luna.
29. Don't forget to wipe down the exterior of your toilet with an all-purpose cleaner or a disinfecting wipe. Be sure to remove the toilet seat every so often to clean every nook and cranny underneath it.
I’ve known about the toilet seat cleaning tip for a long time (thanks to Ask Anna Moseley, who offers a complete tutorial on this). I finally decided to try it myself, as you can see in the pictures above. While I couldn’t get the screws completely off, I managed to loosen them enough that my trusty all-purpose cleaner and I could easily eliminate the disgusting gunk that had accumulated under the spot where the toilet seat screws into the toilet.
30. After your toilet bowl is sparkling clean, a stamp-in gel can help keep it that way for weeks.
The gel works by cleaning a little bit every time you flush your toilet. I used this method throughout college, and it definitely helps keep mildew and toilet rings at bay. When there’s just a small amount of gel left, you can use it to give your toilet a scrub before adding more. (If you have especially hard or rusty water, you might need something stronger, like these drop-in tabs). A pack that lasts up to ten weeks is available for $5.29 on Amazon.
Wrap a plastic bag filled with vinegar around your showerhead using a rubber band to effortlessly remove scale and grime with minimal effort.
Turn your dirty bathtub into a luxurious spa-like experience with the help of a gentle cleanser.
A soft cleanser can easily wipe away mineral deposits and soap scum from glass shower doors, leaving them sparkling clear as if they’ve never been touched by water.
Tackle stubborn mildew on your tub or shower caulking with gel cleaner. The gel stays in place longer than a spray, allowing it to effectively treat the tough spots.
Wash your dirty plastic shower curtain liner with a couple of towels to eliminate any mildew or buildup.
36. Vacuum the dust from the outside of your exhaust fan with a dusting brush attachment, then pull the cover off to wash it well in soap and water.
Practically Functional also vacuums the fan itself before replacing the cover.
37. Wrap your faucet and sink in vinegar-soaked paper towels so stubborn hard water buildup literally just wipes away.
Unclog your slow-draining tub or sink with the help of a simple drain clearer.
Ditch the tough scrubbing and let an automatic scrubbing brush take care of your grout, making it look as good as new.
I use and LOVE this brush, have had it since 2017, and it's hands-down the easiest and quickest way to clean grout (besides bleach, which I prefer to avoid). In just 30 seconds, the dirt lifts and the grout lightens up. While they sell a specialty grout head for it, honestly, the default brush does just as well unless your grout lines are extremely narrow. Some users pair it with a grout and tile cleaner, but I just use Castile soap diluted in water. Haven’t tested if one’s faster than the other!
For my full review of the Rubbermaid Reveal Power Scrubber, check out my post, and it’s available on Amazon for $17.38.
40. To remove stubborn hairspray buildup from your bathroom tiles, scrub the floor with a paste made from Borax and water.
Adventures of a DIY Mom experimented with several methods, and tile seven was the one that stood out as the most effective. A two-pound bag of Borax is available for $12.99 on Amazon.
She used a regular toothbrush, which does the job, but for a more efficient clean, I’d opt for a larger scrub brush that covers more ground with less scrubbing. This one with a handle is priced at $9.99 on Amazon.
41. Go through your shower and cabinets, and discard any items that have passed their expiration date. Yes, even bath and beauty products can expire.
42. Next, simply spray your mirror, sink, and other surfaces with your preferred all-purpose cleaner, then give everything a thorough wipe-down.
You can easily create your own spray cleaner by combining one part dish soap with one part warm vinegar (full instructions available from Goodful); alternatively, you can mix an all-purpose cleaner using concentrates like Simple Green ($12.98 for a gallon) or Mrs. Meyers ($9.97 for a half gallon), both available on Amazon.
If you prefer, feel free to substitute a glass cleaner for your mirror cleaning needs!
43. Dishwasher is a great tool for cleaning various household items made from plastic, glass, and metal: from light fixture shades to vent hood filters and AC vent covers.
From One Crazy House. You could even clean all your floor and ceiling vent covers at the same time.
44. If you own a rope mop, use the ~slop mop~ technique to give your tile or linoleum floors a thorough clean.
Essentially, you dampen your mop with water, then wring it out and use it to absorb the dirty water from the floor (no more than three swipes per time), and squeeze that dirty water back into the bucket. The Creek Line House offers the full step-by-step guide. You can get a similar easy-wring mop for $21.97 on Amazon.
45. Remove those elusive (and not-so-elusive) stains from your carpet and upholstery with a non-toxic, odorless spot remover spray — simply spray it on, gently rub it in, then blot the stain with a paper towel.
From my own experience — I've used it when needed for about two years — it may take a couple of applications for your carpet to look like new again, but it's totally worth it. This particular spray doesn’t bleach the fibers, doesn’t require vacuuming or rinsing, and won’t attract new dirt once you're finished. It works on a variety of stains, including grease, oil, wine, coffee, rust, food, makeup, and dirt. I personally keep it on hand for the inevitable chocolate chip disaster I find on the couch every six months or so. It also doubles as an excellent laundry stain remover. A 32-ounce bottle costs $6.65 on Amazon.
For more reasons why I love it, check out my Folex Stain-Remover Review!
46. Dust your ceiling fan blades by wiping them down with an old pillowcase to capture all that lingering dust.
By doing this, you'll trap all the dust inside the pillowcase, and then you can dispose of it outside or in the trash. Don’t forget to wash the case afterward! I’ve tried this method myself, and it’s highly effective! This tip is from the now-defunct blog Homemaker Chic.
47. Secure microfiber cleaning cloths with a rubber band to your kitchen tongs to effortlessly gather every speck of dust from your blinds.
This idea is from One Crazy House. You can grab a pack of 24 microfiber cleaning cloths for $9.98 on Amazon.
48. Alternatively, grab an extendable microfiber duster set that lets you follow the golden rule of cleaning: always start at the top and work your way down, so you don’t vacuum first and end up with dust from your fan all over the floor.
This set comes with two types of dusters that you can use with either a handle or an extendable pole, which ranges from 29 inches to 49 inches. You can get it on Amazon for $18.59.
49. Remove all your bedding, wash it, and then give your mattress a quick refresh by sprinkling some baking soda and vacuuming it up.
This technique won’t remove stains, but it will help absorb any lingering odors. For full instructions, check out One Good Thing By Jillee.
50. Wash your pillows in hot water to eliminate all the sweat, skin cells, drool, and other unpleasantries that accumulate where your head rests each night.
Perform this task every few months and you’ll notice the difference! For detailed instructions, visit The Happier Homemaker.
51. Eliminate that unpleasant washer odor by using a cleaning tablet once a month.
This product works for both top-loading and front-loading washers and is highly recommended by numerous reviewers. A pack of six tablets costs $9.34 on Amazon.
(Note: if you have a front loader with mold issues, this may help to some extent but likely won't resolve it entirely. For that, prevention is key: after each wash, dry as many parts as you can with a towel, and leave the door open. Be sure to dry under the rubber seal and pull out the detergent drawer to dry both it and the space it sits in.)
52. In addition to removing the lint from your dryer's screen after each load, make sure to vacuum or use a lint brush to clean the area where the screen sits regularly.
A set of two lint brushes is available for $9.95 on Amazon. These can also be used to clean your refrigerator coils, helping the fridge run more efficiently (check the manual to see if this is necessary for your model).
53. Stubborn mattress stains can be tough, but using a carpet stain remover along with a carpet washer can help make them look better.
This carpet washer, which effectively removed the stain in a before-and-after comparison, has received over seven thousand five-star ratings. It's priced at $149.99 on Amazon. Additionally, a bottle of stain remover costs $12.99. In case you're wondering, the stain was caused by coffee.
If you prefer, you can try using hydrogen peroxide to bleach the stain, but keep in mind it may only remove surface stains. Check out a how-to guide here.
54. Simply use an old squeegee along with water from a spray bottle to easily remove pet hair from sofas, furniture, and nearly anything with fabric upholstery.
Just spray once or twice, use the squeegee, and watch as the hair clumps up. You can find a similar squeegee for $10.99 on Amazon from CareaBearaSara.
Consider using a reusable pet hair roller, which can quickly gather large amounts of hair in one go.
Grab a squeegee broom to effectively sweep up hair that’s stuck in your carpet or scattered across your hardwood or tile floors.
