85 Genius Cleaning Hacks for Your Home

As much as I want to just skip a deep clean this year, I know it’s not a great idea. I checked the filter in the washing machine, and it was filled with an ungodly sludge that needed to go ASAP. You should check yours too…it’s gross.

Maybe you’ve got a weekend on the calendar already for a serious deep cleaning, or maybe you’re like me and keep putting it off. Either way, giving the house a deep clean is just about the last thing I want to be doing now that it’s finally gorgeous enough to spend an afternoon outside in the sun with my kids. I’ll take all the help I can get!

Most of these cleaning hacks help you save time, money, and in a lot of cases, are eco-friendly. What’s not to love about that? Check them out in the slideshow.

More Cleaning Tips:

101 Cleaning Hacks for Your Home

Clean Your Cutting Boards With Lemon and Salt

Make your cutting boards look like new (almost) with some lemon and salt! It's amazing what this combo can do.

Tutorial and image via All Kinds of Yumm.
Toss Your Blinds in the Tub

Why go through the tedious task of cleaning blinds one slot at a time? Throw those suckers in the tub and give them a bath!

Tutorial and image via Creatively Southern.
Quickly Clean Your Blender

Add soap and water to the blender and turn it on. My mom first showed me this trick. It works like a charm!

Tutorial and image via The Burlap Bag.
Use a Lint Roller To Clean Your Purse

Use a lint roller to clean your purse. Inside and out! I know I need to try it.

Tutorial and image via Hella Wella.
Unclog Drains with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Use some baking soda and vinegar to unclog those stubborn drains. I love when common household items save the day.

Tutorial and image via Mom 4 Real.
Use a Pillowcase to Clean Your Fan

Dusting the ceiling fan and having the dust fall all over is not ideal. Next time, try using a pillowcase to clean them! Sounds genius to me.

Tutorial and image via The House on Hillbrook.
Easily Dry Out Your Toilet Brush

For years I have been sticking the wet, disgusting brush back into its holder and ended up buying a new one because it would get so nasty. This trick will help you out!

Tutorial and image via A Real-Life Housewife.
Clean Your Dishwasher with Vinegar

Use vinegar to clean your dishwasher! Yes, things that clean need to be cleaned.

Tutorial and image via The Pin Junkie.
Make Homemade Mattress Spray

How do you clean a mattress? With homemade spray, of course!

Tutorial and image via The Lone Home Ranger.
Get Rid of Your Bathtub Ring with Grapefruit

Remove that pesky (and disgusting) bathtub ring with grapefruit and salt! I'm sure it will smell amazing too.

Tutorial and image via Apartment Therapy.
Remove Grease With Chalk

Take out grease stains you thought were permanent with a little chalk.

Tutorial and image via One Little Project.
Use Dryer Sheets on Furniture

It turns out, dryer sheets aren't just for the dryer! You can use them to clean up your furniture too.

Tutorial and image via Happy Money Saver.
Use Dryer Sheets on Soap Scum

Take soap scum down with some dryer sheets!

Tutorial and image via Happy Money Saver.
Clean Your Microfiber Couch with Alcohol

With a little rubbing alcohol, you can have your microfiber couch looking like new. Amazing!

Tutorial and image via Dimitrajc.
Safely Sweep Up Shards of Glass

Get all the tiny pieces up safely with a piece of bread.

Tutorial and image via Real Simple.
Clean Your Toaster with Tartar

Not just the eternal crumbs inside, but the outside of the toaster deserves some love too! Try tartar to get it shining in no time.

Tutorial and image via A Real-Life Housewife.
Fight Oil with Oil

It's just crazy enough it might work. I'll try anything to clean up my kitchen oil!

Tutorial and image via One Good Thing by Jillee.
Make Your Own Cleansing Wipes

Who knew you could make your own cleaning wipes? Also---they're reusable. Win-win!

Tutorial and image via DIY Natural.
Clean Bathroom Grout With Vinegar

Good old vinegar to the rescue! It's amazing what a difference clean grout can make.

Tutorial and image via Apartment Therapy.
Fix Up Burnt Pans Naturally

You thought those burnt pans were done for, didn't you? Me too! Not so, my friends. Vinegar and baking soda to the rescue!

Tutorial and image via Apartment Therapy.
Clean Your Entire Bathroom with Two Magical Ingredients

Give your bathroom a good cleaning with lemon and baking soda. I love cleaning naturally!

Tutorial and image via Greatist.
Replace Harsh Toilet Bowl Chemicals With Vinegar and Baking Soda

Two simple ingredients replace that electric blue stuff full of chemicals.

Tutorial and image via The Stir.
Shine Up Metal Fixtures With a Lemon

Make your metal fixtures shine with a little lemon! When life hands you lemons, right?

Tutorial and image via Andrea Dekker
Use Baby Oil to Make Appliances Shiny

Clean and shine your appliances with a little bit of baby oil. Another bonus, your kitchen will smell like babies! In a non-creepy way.

Tutorial and image via Uncommon Designs.
Clean Out an Old Washing Machine

The first thing I do when we move into a new house with existing washers and dryers is clean them. I wish I knew about this much easier way!

Tutorial and image via Love, Pomegranate House.
Replace Dryer Sheets With Aluminum Foil Balls

This is a trick I have tried and can vouch for. It works and it's amazing!

See the tutorial at Green Idea Reviews.
Get Rid of Sponge Germs

They say microwaves kill nutrients in your food. Well, try sticking your sponge in the microwave to zap the bacteria away!

See the tutorial at Moms Against Cooties.
Dust Before You Vacuum

Let the dust settle to the floor, then vacuum it up.

Tutorial and image via The Homemaking Arts.
Clean Your Clogged Shower Head

Soak your shower head head in a bag of vinegar to get all the soap scum and buildup off!

Tutorial and image via In This Crazy Life.
Prevent Water Spots with Wax Paper

Rub some wax paper on your faucet to help prevent water spots! This is a game changer, folks.

Tutorial and image via In This Crazy Life.
Squeegee Your Rugs to Remove Pet Hair

Use a squeegee to collect your pet hair and get it off your rugs. If this actually works, I might let my son get a dog. Maybe.

Tutorial and image via Pet DIYs.
Add Tang to Your Dishwasher to Make Dishes Sparkle

Sprinkle a little Tang in your dishwasher and watch the magic! The acid in the Tang will remove the buildup to keep your dishes sparkling.

Tutorial and image via One Creative Mommy.
Clean Your Shower Curtain With Salt

Try cleaning your shower curtain with a little salt! It doesn't get much easier than that, right?

Tutorial and image via Home Guides.
Clean Your Computer With a Makeup Brush

Yes, your computer needs to be cleaned too! Use a makeup brush to dust it and get into all those little nooks and crannies.

Tutorial and image via Hella Wella.
Clean Your Electronics Screens With a Coffee Filter

Just make sure it isn't used.

Tutorial and image via LifeHack
Clean Your Iron With Baking Soda and Vinegar

Even your iron needs a little cleaning! Try this out baking soda and vinegar trick to get your iron sparkling clean.

Tutorial and image via Bargain Hoot.
Get the Wax Out of Candle Jars With Boiling Water

If you've got old candle votives around the house, get the old wax out with this boiling water trick.

Tutorial and image via Hella Wella.
Clean Your Stove's Burners with Ammonia

Give your burners a good cleaning with ammonia! Trust me, it's worth it.

Tutorial and image via The V Spot.
Find and Pick Up Small Items You've Dropped With Pantyhose

Dropped a screw or ring on the carpet and can't find it? Cover your vacuum hose with some pantyhose to help you find and pick up small items.

Tutorial and image via Instructables.
Make Homemade Streak-Free Glass Cleaner

Not all glass cleaners are created equally, so make your own! Streak-free windows are in your future.

Tutorial and image via My Frugal Adventures.
Get Your Pans to Shine Like New

Don't buy new pans. Clean off grimy, burned messes with this easy baking soda and vinegar trick.

Tutorial and image via My Frugal Adventures.
Deep-Clean Your Front Loader

Clean that blessed device that cleans your clothes. There are a lot of nooks and crannies that you don't see---and are collecting gunk. You'll want to use this tutorial to REALLY clean it out.

Tutorial and image via My Frugal Adventures.
Clean Microfiber with Windex

Clean microfiber with none other than (drum roll, please)...Windex! And a brush, of course.

Tutorial and image via Making the World Cuter.
Make Eco-Friendly Homemade Furniture Polish

Store-bought cleaners and sprays are overrated. So make your own!

Tutorial and image via DIY Natural.
Safely Clean Your Oven Without Chemicals

Want to clean your oven but without all of those harsh and dangerous chemicals? Try this out!

Tutorial and image via Clean & Scentsible.
Clean Your Windows With a Homemade Spray

Use some household items to really clean your windows and make them shine!

Tutorial and image via t Family Balance Sheet.
Remove Yellow Armpit Stains

Get rid of those yellow pit stains for good. I seriously hope this works!

Tutorial and image via One Good Thing by Jillee.
DIY Laminate Floor Cleaner

Make your own laminate floor cleaner and save money while making your floors shine!

Tutorial and image via Natures Nurture.
DIY Laundry Detergent

I've never tried making my own laundry detergent, but I've always wanted to. It looks easy and totally worth it!

Tutorial and image via One Good Thing by Jillee.
Clean the Microwave with Steam

With a few ingredients, you can steam clean your microwave and get all of that caked on food off. Genius!

Tutorial and image via Pink When.
Clean Crayons off Your Walls with Toothpaste

Use toothpaste (you read that right---toothpaste!) to clean crayon drawings off of your walls. Sounds crazy, but if your walls look anything like mine, it's worth a shot!

Tutorial and image via All You.
DIY Floor Cleaner

Make your own floor cleaner! This would be great to make in bulk and save for later.

Tutorial and image via Mom 4 Real.
Make Your Own Orange Degreaser

Clean tough grease with a little bit of nature. Oranges! The acid in the oranges will do wonders on grease.

Tutorial and image via Mom 4 Real.
Sanitize Your Whole Kitchen

Use these tips to sanitize your whole kitchen. Who wouldn't love that?

Tutorial and image via Mom 4 Real.
Remove Hard Water Deposits Naturally

A few simple and natural ingredients will do the trick, and your dishwasher will be sparkly clean in no time.

Tutorial and image via Mom 4 Real.
DIY Carpet Deodorizer

It's amazing how nasty carpets can get. Make your own mixture to clean and deodorize your carpets and rugs!

Tutorial and image via Mom 4 Real.
Easily Clean Out Your Dryer Ducts

You can clean out the lint catcher, but you'll never get it all. Clean our your dryer ducts with these steps!

Tutorial and image via Pretty Handy Girl.
Clean a Painting with a Bagel

A bagel? Yep! I am dying to try this out. Just be sure you don't eat it afterward!

See the tutorial at The Brick House.
Get Rid of Bathroom Rings With Dryer Sheets

Use a few dryer sheets to get rid of those unsightly bathroom rings. Also, dryer sheets smell amazing, so why wouldn't you want to use them in the bathroom?

Tutorial and image via The Krazy Coupon Lady.
Freshen Up Your Bed With 3 Ingredients

We all know you need to clean your bedding, but what about the bed? Use this to freshen and clean your mattress!

Tutorial and image via One Good Thing by Jillee.
Revive Yellowed Pillows With 4 Ingredients

Turn your yellowed pillows white again with this clever trick and four ingredients.

Tutorial and image via One Good Thing by Jillee.
Clean Small Toys in a Garment Bag

Throw those small toys in a garment bag and get them in the wash! It's a genius way to sanitize your kids' smaller toys without losing them down the drain.

Tutorial and image via Gettin' By.
Remove Sticky Labels With OxiClean

Get those stubborn sticky labels off with ease with this trick. Why do they have to be so sticky?

Tutorial and image via The Busy Budgeter.
Clean Your Air Conditioner With a Hose

Take a hose to your air conditioner and get it clean and working great. I love easy projects!

Tutorial and image via Family Handy Man.
Fix Scratches in Wood With Vinegar and Olive Oil

This looks amazing, and I need to try it! Who doesn't have some scratched up furniture that could use a little face lift?

Tutorial and image via Domestic Bliss Squared.
Get Rid of White Heat Marks With...More Heat

Who would have thought you could get rid of those heat marks on your dining table? Surprisingly, it takes an iron and moisture.

Tutorial and image via Green Little Notebook.
Clean Your Bathroom Vents With Canned Air

Use canned air to clean your bathroom air vent. Pretty clever, right?

Tutorial and image via Family Handy Man.
Remove Scratches from Ceramic Plates with Bar Keepers Friend

I have to admit, I am a little skeptical about this one. But it's worth a shot, right?

Tutorial and image via Mo Mo Outnumbered.
Get Rid of Stains With an Iron

Did you know you could iron out stains? It's true! Check it out!

Tutorial and image via Pintester.
Easily Clean a Cheese Grater With a Potato

I love cheese as much as the next person. Maybe a little more. But cleaning a cheese grater is almost enough for me to go without cheese. Follow up with a potato, and all traces of cheese will be gone!

Tutorial and image via Household Magic Daily Tips.
Remove Coffee Stains and Rings With Baking Soda

Who wants to start their day looking at a stained mug? Remove those pesky coffee stains and rings with baking soda.

Tutorial and image via Step by Step.
Deep Clean a Vaccum With Compressed Air

If you treat your vacuum right, it will be good to you. That is, if you clean it, it will clean your house. Seems like a good deal.

Tutorial and image via Daily Mom.
DIY Granite Cleaner

Why over spend on store-bought granite counter cleaner when you can make your own? Seems like a no-brainer to me!

Tutorial and image via 320 Sycamore.
Clean Nail Polish Stains Off Carpet With Alcohol

Don't use nail polish remover---it could bleach your carpet. Try this trick with alcohol instead.

Tutorial and image via Just Between Friends.
Make Your Own Citrus Vinegar Cleaner

Make your own citrus vinegar cleaner that is sure to do the trick and leave your surfaces sparkling! Also, the citrus will smell amazing.

Tutorial and image via For the Love of Food.
Get Rid of Floor Squeaks With Baby Powder

Sweep some baby powder off your squeaky wood floors to help shut those squeaks right up!

Tutorial and image via The Creek Line House.
Clean and Defog Your Mirrors With a Bar of Soap

This is amazing. Taking a bar of soap and rubbing it on your mirrors will both clean them and keep them from fogging up. Try it!

Tutorial and image via The Creek Line House.
Clean Silver with Toothpaste

Make your silver shine with a little bit of your favorite toothpaste! So much better than silver cleaner.

Tutorial and image via Creek Line House.
Make Your Own Natural Air Freshener

Make your home smell fantastic with this DIY air freshener! I love it because it's natural.

Tutorial and image via The Creek Line House.
Unclog the Tub With a Plunger

De-clog your tub with the ultimate de-clogger. The plunger!

Tutorial and image via The Creek Line House.
Get Rid of Dried Paint With Rubbing Alcohol

And here I thought you had to use paint thinner or some other harsh chemical to get dried paint up! Just a little rubbing alcohol should do the trick.

Tutorial and image via The Creek Line House.
Clean Your Garbage Disposal With Lemons and Vinegar

These little ice cubes are the key to a fresh smelling disposal.

Tutorial and image via One Good Thing by Jillee.
Clean Your Toaster With Soap and Vinegar

Clean your toaster, the right way. Get out all of those crumbs and make that baby shine.

Tutorial and image via The Kitchn.
Clear Out Space Under Your Sink With a Rod

Save some space and hang your spray bottles on a tension rod under your sink! Another stroke of genius.

Tutorial and image via Little Bit Funky.
Use Newspaper to Dry Windows

Drying windows with newspapers is a great way to make use of old papers; plus newspapers shed very little lint (way less than paper towels).

Tutorial and image via Space Case Design.