20 Genius Cleaning Hacks for a Tidier Home in No Time

Your vacuum can be a useful tool for cleaning hard-to-reach cabinet areas. Use your vacuum's brush attachment to pick up dust and crumbs inside. For the outside of the cabinets, Debra Johnson from Merry Maids suggests cleaning the area around the hardware with a cloth dampened with warm water and Murphy Oil Soap.

Did you know some light fixture pieces are dishwasher-safe? For this cleaning hack, Amanda Thomas of Moxie Girl suggests running removable glass pieces, such as domes, through the dishwasher. To reduce spots on your light fixtures, run a drying cycle, too.

Leslie Reichert of Green Cleaning Coach shares her cleaning hack for dusting a ceiling fan quickly and efficiently. Slip a pillowcase over ceiling fan blades, one at a time, then wipe. This way, dust falls into the pillowcase, not on your furniture and floors.

This cleaning hack from Melissa Maker of Clean My Space uses socks as a duster. Put an old sock on one hand and spritz it with water. Grip each panel of the blind and slide your sock-covered hand from one end to the other, removing dust from both sides of the slat at once.

Ceilings, especially textured ones, can be a pain to clean. Sweeping them with a broom can knock down pieces if you're not careful. For a more effective cleaning technique, roll a damp high-nap paint roller over the ceiling to pick up dust and cobwebs.

Baby wipes are surprisingly effective because they contain very little moisture, have gentle cleaning agents, and dry quickly. That's why Derek Christian from Cleaning Business Today suggests using them for spots and stains on fabrics. Just don't confuse baby wipes with cleaning wipes, which might contain bleach or other harmful chemicals.

Washing a bulky comforter can be tricky business. Amanda Thomas of Moxie Girl says you can machine-wash most comforters in front-loaders, as long as the comforter fills only half the washer. Add tennis balls to the dryer to keep the stuffing from collecting in one corner.

Keep window treatments on the rod to save time as you clean. Instead of taking them down, just shake them out to remove loose dust. Then vacuum drapes or curtains from top to bottom using the upholstery attachment. Make sure to vacuum floors after cleaning window treatments to pick up any fallen dust.

Jumping on the bed can help freshen up your mattress. Mary Findley of Go Clean suggests having your kids bounce around on the bed to bring up dust from inside. Then vacuum the mattress top. (If your vacuum has a beater bar, turn the bar off first.)

Woodwork and wood furnishings can gather dust and dirt buildup over time. To keep it looking shiny, regular wipe-downs are necessary. For extra sheen, use a mixture of 1 part lemon oil to 1 part white vinegar.

Melissa Maker of Clean My Space shares her cleaning hack for banishing dirt and odors from your dishwasher. First, add 1 cup baking soda to the bottom of your empty dishwasher and let it sit overnight. Then run the hottest possible cycle using vinegar instead of detergent to clean and deodorize your dishwasher. Remember to remove debris from the filter.

The secret to getting rid of hard water stains is simple: Walk away. Soak paper towels in undiluted vinegar and place them on the buildup. Leave overnight, then scrub and rinse.

A 50-foot, 16-gauge extension cord lets you plug in your vacuum at a central location so you can clean a whole level without stopping to find another outlet.

A microfiber mop with an extension pole dusts ceilings and walls quickly and easily. When you're done, just remove the cover and toss it in the wash.

A double-sided squeegee is the best tool for cleaning windows. Dip it in your cleaning solution of choice and work in a tight S-pattern from top to bottom.

Mr. Clean Magic Erasers make short work of soap scum, scuff marks, wayward crayon scribbles, and lots more.

ZEP Heavy-Duty Citrus Degreaser cleans cooking oil from cabinets near the stove. Look for it in the paint section at your home center.

Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser has a combo of mild abrasives and oxalic acid that removes baked-on food, tea and coffee stains, and rust.

Better Life Naturally Smudge-Smacking Glass Cleaner is solvent-free, so you can clean the window trim, sill, sash, and tray without damaging painted or vinyl surfaces.