31 Genius Apartment Cleaning Hacks No One Tells You About
Need help cleaning your apartment? Here are 31 tested and approved apartment cleaning hacks that will make your life 100x easier.
Cleaning your apartment might not be what you look forward to at the end of a long week. But there are definitely ways to make the whole process a lot easier and less time consuming!
If you’re someone who feels like they are constantly cleaning their apartment and spending a lot of time doing it, first, I feel your pain, and second, you’re in the right place because these apartment cleaning hacks are seriously SO helpful and will keep your apartment cleaner, for longer! And who doesn’t want that?
You’re going to learn the hidden secrets all apartment-owners should know, from best cleaning hacks apartment, easy cleaning hacks apartment, time-saving cleaning hacks for first apartment, and more.
These are seriously the holy grail cleaning hacks! So grab a notepad, or open the notes app on your phone, and jot them down! You’re going to want to go back to these and be able to have quick and easy access to these game-changing cleaning hacks.
If you want a printable version that you can print out and have handy (my kind of gal!), you can download the apartment cleaning hacks printable below!
This post is all about the best apartment cleaning hacks that will save you so much time.
The Best Apartment Cleaning Hacks:
How to Clean Your Apartment
You might be thinking, “I know how to clean my apartment, it’s not that hard!” And while yes, you probably know how to clean your apartment, do you know how to do it well?
These cleaning tips are crucial to follow to clean your apartment as efficiently as possible. I don’t know about you, but I would rather spend less time cleaning my apartment and have it look better in the end.
1. Clean from Top to Bottom
This is something a lot of people don’t even think about, but it actually makes such a huge difference! You always want to start at the top, no matter what you’re cleaning.
Shelves, furniture, cabinets, whatever it is, always start at the highest point and work your way down. That way any dust or dirt that comes off of those pieces won’t get on anything that’s already cleaned.
That’s why you always want to finish your cleaning routine doing the floors. Because whether you see it or not, there’s going to be dust and dirt that falls off of your furniture when cleaning and goes onto the floor.
2. Use Microfibre Cloths Instead of Paper Towels
This is helpful for two reasons: 1. Microfibre cloths will pick up a lot more dust and dirt than paper towels. No matter how absorbent your paper towels are, microfibre cloths will always do a better job.
This also means you won’t have to go over the same piece of furniture again and again to get everything up. Two swipes is all you need to clean counters and surfaces with a microfibre cloth. It will end up saving you a lot of time!
2. It’s a lot less wasteful! Think of how many paper towels you go through cleaning your apartment. It’s A LOT.
Not to mention the amount of money you’re spending on all of those paper towel rolls. For some situations, yes, paper towels are the way to go. But for cleaning, there’s a much better alternative…
I use this microfibre cleaning cloth roll from Amazon, hands down one of the best cleaning purchases I’ve ever made! It looks like a paper towel roll, but is made of reusable microfibre cloths that you can just stick in the washer when you’re done and reuse them.
3. Set Timers
It’s so easy to get distracted by the little things when you’re cleaning and get side tracked from what you’re supposed to be doing.
The amount of times I’ve gotten distracted by “shiny objects” when cleaning is just bad. 🤦♀️
A simple way to make sure you stay on task is to set timers while cleaning. I find setting 15-30 minute timers, depending on how deep of a clean I’m doing, gives me enough time.
It’s almost like a game, trying to finish cleaning that one area or room of your apartment before the time runs out. When you think of it that way, it doesn’t seem so bad!
4. Use a Cleaning Caddy
A cleaning caddy is a total game changer! You can also do a cleaning cart, so it’s easy to roll around your apartment.
Check out this post on 22 Efficient Cleaning Cart Essentials for a Sparkly Clean Apartment here.
That way all of your cleaning essentials are in one place, so you can just grab them and have everything you need for whatever room you’re cleaning.
You’re also going to want to keep this in an easy-to-reach place. I have a small caddy under the kitchen sink that’s easy to grab when I only have time for a quick clean. Super helpful!
5. Spend More Time on High-Traffic Areas
Whether you only have a small amount of time, or a small amount of will to clean (been there before haha), focusing on areas that gather the most dirt and buildup is going to be the best use of your time.
Areas like the entryway, your kitchen (there’s always so many crumbs on the kitchen floor you don’t even know are there!), and maybe even your living room are good places to spend your time.
When you’re doing a full clean of your apartment, you should also dedicate the most amount of time to cleaning these spaces, since they gather the most buildup and dirt.
6. A Quick Clean is Better Than No Cleaning
This is something everyone needs to hear from time to time, including myself.
There have been times where I don’t have enough time to do a full clean or as much as a want to do, so instead of doing a quick or brief version of my cleaning routine, I just don’t end up cleaning. I know I’m not the only one guilty of this.
For the times when you’re busy, or life happens, get in the habit of shortening your cleaning routine, or only choosing a few spots in your apartment to clean (always clean the high-traffic areas first!).
It’s designed for those times you only have 30 minutes to dedicate to cleaning your apartment. No matter how busy you are, you can always carve out 30 minutes for a quick clean. 😉
Kitchen Cleaning Hacks
7. Microwave steam clean
This one is super easy and will make cleaning your microwave so much easier! Fill a small bowl up with water, add some lemon slices, and microwave for 3 minutes.
This is going to help loosen all of the buildup and allow you to quickly wipe down the interior instead of spending time trying to remove the stuck-on gunk.
Your microwave will also be left smelling like citrus, which is always a plus!
8. Aluminum Foil in the Sink
Believe it or not, aluminum foil actually makes for a super good scrub brush. For those dishes with food stuck on the sides, you’re definitely going to need something stronger than you’re regular dish sponge to get the job done.
Crumble up some foil and scrub the stuck-on messes on pots and pans (don’t use this for non-stick pans!). Cleaning dishes won’t seem like such a hassle!
9. Deodorize the Sink Drain
There have been multiple times where I’ve walked into my kitchen and it smells like something died in there! Okay, I’m being a little dramatic, but the smell is awful!
If you’ve had the same problem in your kitchen and you just can’t figure out what the smell is, your sink drain might be the culprit!
To freshen up your drain, and with it the whole kitchen, pour 1/2 cup of baking soda in down your sink drain, add 1/2 cup of vinegar, let it fizz for a minute or two, then rinse with hot water.
It’s like a detox for your kitchen drain and is by far one of the most helpful kitchen cleaning hacks!
10. Line the Fridge with Bins and Mats
When it comes to cleaning out the fridge, there’s almost always a produce drawer or two that has some sort of sticky residue or has a spill. Not to mention all of the little crumbs in the nooks and crannies.
Do yourself a favor and grab some affordable bins and mats for your fridge, so next time you it’s time to clean it out, it’s a whole lot easier and takes less time.
If you’re looking for some good fridge organizers, these clear bins are great for keeping your fridge organized and categorized, and these fridge mats will keep the mess to a minimum.
Bathroom Cleaning Hacks
11. Shower Cleaning While You Shower
Your shower is probably one of those areas you dread cleaning. It’s kind of an awkward spot and it’s hard to get in there and wash away the cleaner without getting wet.
The easiest way to do this is to let your shower soak in cleaner (I’ve found Bar Keepers Friend works the best!) for 15-30 minutes, then when you go to take a shower, you can rinse everything down without worrying about getting wet.
12. Clean Grout with Baking Soda + Toothbrush
Grout is a pain in the butt to clean! It looks nice in the bathroom, until you have to get down on your hands and knees to scrub it.
The best thing I’ve found that works wonders is to create a baking soda paste (mix 1/2 cup of baking soda with 2-4 tablespoons of water and mix until a thick paste is formed). It loosens up the dirt, and makes your grout look brand new.
An old toothbrush is a great go-to for small crevices, like grout. Just use an old toothbrush. I have one that has specifically become a “cleaning only” toothbrush haha.
13. De-Fog Mirrors with Shaving Cream
If you read “with Shaving Cream” and were immediately like “this girl is crazy”, just hear me out. I was skeptical too at first, but the shaving cream helps prevent fog on your mirrors and acts like a cleaner/polish to give your mirrors a good shine.
Once you try it, you’ll never go back!
14. Toilet Bowl Hack
Add some baking soda, vinegar, and a few drops of your essential oil of choice. It’s going to fizz (it’s like creating a small toilet bomb haha), let it sit for a few minutes, and then go in with your toilet brush, and flush.
Who said cleaning your toilet couldn’t be easy?
Living Room Cleaning Hacks
15. Use Lint Rollers on Fabric Furniture
Lint rollers are honestly so helpful for cleaning fabric furniture. Now, if you have pets that shed, it’s going to take a ton of lint roller sheets, so I would recommend going in with this pet har remover instead (a savior for anyone with a furry baby!).
But for removing crumbs, small hair, and dust, a lint roller is going to be a game changer! It’s kind of gross to see how much a lint roller picks up that you didn’t even know was in your couch, but also kind of satisfying to know you’re getting all of that buildup off of your furniture.
16. Dust with a Dryer Sheet
A dryer sheet works really well as a duster. It will also give your baseboards and wood furniture a good shine and leave behind a fresh smelling scent.
I’ve also found that when I use a dryer sheet versus a regular duster, less dust builds up. It’s almost like a repellent so you don’t have to clean the dust off as often.
17. Make Your Own Fabric Freshener
Mix water, a splash of rubbing alcohol, and a few drops of your favorite essential oil, put it in a spray bottle, and spritz your fabric furniture every so often to keep them smelling fresh!
Especially good for when guests are coming over!
18. Pillowcase Fan Blade Cleaner
Take a pillowcase (an old one you don’t mind getting dirty), put it over one of your fan blades, then pull it off. The dust will stay inside of your pillowcase, and won’t get on the floor.
19. Use a Squeegee on Carpet
A squeegee isn’t just for your shower. Turns out, it also works really well to pull up hair, pet fur, and lint from your rugs and carpet. This hack definitely works better with a rubber squeegee (at least where the tip is rubber).
20. Vacuum with Baking Soda to Deodorize Carpet
Every once in a while, your carpets need to be deodorized. Especially if you have pets, this one is a must! Sprinkle some baking soda over your carpet before vacuuming for fresh, clean-smelling floors.
Use this hack once a month and incorporate it into your deep clean routine.
Bedroom Cleaning Hacks
21. Vacuum Your Mattress
Your mattress, just like any other piece of furniture, needs to be cleaned. When you take your sheets off to clean them, also take off your mattress protector and go over your mattress with the vacuum.
This will get up all of the dust and hairs that might be lurking on the surface!
22. Put Dryer Sheets in Pillowcases
In between washing your pillowcases, of you’re pillow could use an extra scent boost, places a dryer sheet between your pillow and the pillowcase for a fresh scent.
I would recommend putting the dryer sheet where you’re not going to be laying on the pillow, just to be safe!
23. Use an Old Sock on a Broom for Dusting Under Beds
Talk about hard to reach places! Under the bed is like another dimension. You really never know what you’re going to find under there!
But, that doesn’t mean you can’t keep it clean! Take an old sock, put it on the end of a broom, and use it to dust under your bed. It’ll help you reach all of the corners and areas under your bed, and clear out any lingering dust.
Time-Saving Tips
24. Magic Erasers = Instant Stain Busters
If I could only choose one cleaning essential, these Magic Erasers would definitely be at the top of my list! Anywhere that has a stain, try using a magic eraser. There is no stain that I haven’t been able to get rid of with a magic eraser!
They’re also good for cleaning the rubber soles of shoes and making them look brand new!
25. Rub a Lemon on Hard Water Spots
You know those hard water spots around your faucets or shower doors that don’t go away with a simple spray and wipe?
Try rubbing a lemon on them, letting it sit for a minute, then wiping it off. Viola! No more water spots!
I also like to go in with some cleaning spray after just to make sure there isn’t any residual lemon juice.
26. Use Vinegar on Windows
Vinegar works SUPER well on windows and glass surfaces that have streaks. It’ll leave your windows looking so clean, you almost won’t be able to tell there’s glass there!
27. Have a Mini Vacuum for Quick Cleanups Throughout the Day
Even if you have a regular vacuum, I would also recommend having a mini vacuum on hand as well. Get one like this that’s affordable, but does a good job getting up crumbs and dust.
Throughout the day, or at the end of every day, use your mini vacuum in high traffic areas (the kitchen especially!) to cleanup crumbs and anything else that’s gathered on the floor.
When it comes time to do your weekly clean, you’ll notice there’s a lot less for you to vacuum. Spending five minutes a day, is so worth it. So don’t put it off! Grab your cute little vacuum, set a timer for five minutes, and see how much you can get up off of the floors.
28. Keep a “Clean As You Go” Basket
No matter how many systems you have to keep your home clean and clutter-free, throughout the day, you’re bound to have some random clutter here and there.
Toss any random clutter into a basket, and at the end of the day, take a few minutes to put all of those items back in their home where they belong.
It’s a small maintenance task that will help make sure you don’t have too much piling up to where it becomes a big task that you keep putting off.
29. Use a Toothbrush for Tight Spots
Like I mentioned before, a toothbrush is a great tool for getting in between those tight spaces and small crevices. This will help you get a good clean in those small spots that a cloth or sponge just don’t fit in.
30. Clean Air Vents With a Butter Knife and Cloth
Air vents gather SO much dust! It’s actually kind of crazy. But, it’s nothing that a butter knife and cloth can’t fix! Preferably a microfibre cloth (or dryer sheet), because it holds onto the dust so it doesn’t just fall onto your floor.
31. Daily 10-Minute Reset
A 10-minute reset at the end of every day will be a game changer. Make it a part of your evening routine. Set a timer for 5 minutes to go around with your mini vacuum. And another 5-minute timer for cleaning surfaces with some spray and a microfibre cloth.
It’s super easy to incorporate into your daily routine, and at the end of the week when it comes time to do a deeper clean, you’ll be glad you spent those 10 minutes doing a small clean.
Trust me on this one! 😉
This post was all about the best apartment cleaning hacks that will save you so much time.
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