Clean Your Entire House in Just 30 Minutes: Pro Tips for Quick, Effective Home Cleaning

Do you constantly feel like there are not enough hours in the day to do everything you need to do? Is your to-do list more like a constant reminder of what you haven’t managed to get done? Between work, kids, cooking, shopping, exercising, and the rest, it’s no surprise our homes go by the wayside during the week. This often leaves us with a mountain of housework to do on the weekends but, when we lead such busy lives, the last thing we want to do is waste our weekends or our days off cleaning.

To avoid this and help you save time cleaning the house, expert in cleaning shortcuts, UrbanYou co-founder Elke Keeley, has rounded up her best quick cleaning tips to cut hours from your weekly home maintenance routine and refresh your home with this 28 minute speed clean. Plus, cleaning expert Diana Rodriguez-Zaba, author Leslie Reichert and more share their pro tips for cleaning success. 

1. Kitchen – 8 Minutes

• Load dirty dishes straight into the dishwasher. Soak non-dishwasher safe items in a sink of hot soapy water, including removable stove burner pieces.
• Fill a bucket of warm soapy water and dunk in a microfiber sponge. Squeeze excess water (or you’ll get surface marks) and work top to bottom to wipe down cabinets, counters, and other surfaces. Rinse your sponge between wipes.
• Wipe down any remaining appliances and clear counters.

Countertops are one of the most frequently used surfaces in the home, so it’s worth giving them a quick wipe to keep things fresh and sanitary. “To get counters clean in as little time as possible, I enlist disinfecting wipes,” says Eliana Coca, founder of E.C. House Cleaning (ECHouseCleaning.com). Making your own is easy: Place paper towels (or reusable microfiber cloths) in a jar, add enough rubbing alcohol to saturate the towels, and toss in a few drops of your favorite essential oil for a pleasant scent. Let the towels absorb the solution for a few minutes, then use them as needed. This quick trick not only cuts through kitchen messes but also helps eliminate germs in seconds.

The kitchen sink can quickly accumulate food bits, stains, and grime. For a fast refresh, reach for baking soda, a natural cleaning superstar. “Sprinkle enough baking soda to lightly coat the whole sink, then use a damp scrubby sponge or scrub brush to quickly wipe it down,” suggests cleaning expert Daniel Brown of HandyCleaners.com. “The baking soda is mildly abrasive, so it easily dislodges anything stuck on without harming the surface of the sink.” In just a few swipes, your sink will look polished and smell fresh.

2. Bathrooms – 5 Minutes

• Spray the shower and bathtub with anti-mildew cleanser and allow to sit while you scrub and wipe down the toilet.
• Clear counters and spray with cleanser and wipe dry before replacing items.
• Wash down the shower and bathtub, and rub any stubborn marks with a microfiber cloth.

Toilets may require regular cleaning, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend time scrubbing. “Just pour ¼ cup of hydrogen peroxide and ¼ cup of dish soap into the bowl, then let the mixture sit for 5 minutes while you go take care of something else,” suggests Coca. “The soap helps the peroxide adhere to the sides of the bowl, where it fizzes, breaking down stubborn grime.” After the five minutes are up, just give the bowl a quick brush or flush, and it’ll be sparkling clean without the extra elbow grease.

For a quick bathroom mirror polish, grab a microfiber cloth and a spray bottle with a 50/50 mix of water and white vinegar. Lightly spray the solution onto the mirror, then use the microfiber cloth to wipe in circular motions. Vinegar cuts through smudges and streaks without leaving any residue, leaving mirrors clear and spotless.

3. Bedrooms – 5 Minutes

• Tuck in sheets and pull the corners of your bed cover out to straighten. Then fluff and set the pillows.
• Collect dirty clothes for the laundry hamper and sort clean clothes into a pile or hang in a wardrobe.
• Neaten any books, papers, or lose items on shelves and tables.

If dusting feels like a never-ending battle, try this genius hack with a dryer sheet. “Run dryer sheets along baseboards, shelves, and electronics,” advises cleaning expert Diana Rodriguez-Zaba of ServiceMaster Restore (ServiceMasterRestore.com). “The sheets emit a static charge that holds onto dust, so they will clean surfaces without sending dust particles into the air.” Plus, dryer sheets leave behind an invisible film that prevents dust from settling back down. Not only does this trick help you dust more effectively, but it also keeps surfaces cleaner for longer, making future dusting a breeze!

4. Floors – 10 Minutes for the Whole House

• For best results for wood floors, give the area a quick vacuum first to remove excess debris. Follow with a floor steam clean, or fill a bucket with warm water and wood cleaner, and using a microfiber head mop, rinse excess water then work the floor in a W-motion.
• When vacuuming carpeted rooms, work your way out of the room backwards in quick, swift strokes to minimize time wasted due to overlap.

When floors start to show signs of dirt, mud streaks, or pet paw prints, there’s no need to haul out a mop bucket. Instead, Leslie Reichert, author of The Joy of Green Cleaning, recommends mixing equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Use rubber bands to attach a microfiber cloth to a broom, then spray any messy areas and glide your “mop” over the spots. “Your floors will look like you scrubbed them on your hands and knees—but you’ll be done in minutes!” Reichert promises. This simple mixture cuts through grime without leaving residue, and it’s safe for most floor types, making it a great quick fix.

A version of this article originally appeared on our sister site, Homes to Love.