10 Fast Fixes That Give Your Home a Cleaner Feel

Perhaps guests are on their way and you have just 10 minutes to deal with a cluttered living room, or perhaps you simply dislike cleaning enough that you will only do it in 10-minute bursts. Either way, turning your space into one that feels, looks and smells tidier does not require hours of working through a 100-point checklist or scrubbing crevices with a toothbrush. Instead, direct your energy toward quick fixes that address the most visible parts of your home, and leave the thorough cleaning for another time.

1. Clear Clutter From Main Living Areas

Removing clutter can quickly change the appearance of a messy room. Walk through the space with a garbage bag and pick up anything destined for the trash. Then go through again with a laundry basket or a sturdy bin, gathering items that are not in their proper place. (When tidying a messy bedroom, keep clean and dirty clothes in separate laundry baskets so they do not get combined.)

Put the basket out of sight in a closet until you can deal with it. Later, when time allows, empty everything onto a table and sort the items by where they belong.

2. Take Care of Scuffs and Marks on Walls

Walls endure plenty of wear over the years, particularly in homes with energetic children or unsteady pets. Oily fingerprints, drink splashes and streaks whose source is unclear often gather on the lower two-thirds of walls. These blemishes stand out sharply when sunlight strikes them at the right angle.

Begin with a damp sponge for wall cleaning. If marks persist, dish soap or a paste made from baking soda and water can also lift spots from painted walls. On stained wallpaper, dish soap or an all-purpose cleaner may be an option, but test it first in a hidden area to confirm the paper will not be harmed.

3. Clean and Disinfect Light Switches

Dirty fingers touch light switches and their plate covers continually. A close look will likely reveal that your switches appear somewhat soiled, and the germs they may carry are unpleasant to contemplate. Use a clean microfiber cloth to wipe the switches and plates, then go over them again with a microfiber cloth that has been lightly misted with a disinfecting cleaning spray. Since liquid and electricity are a dangerous combination, never spray cleaner directly onto a light switch or wipe the area with a wet cloth.

4. Dust Light Fixtures and Lamp Shades

Lamps and other light sources naturally attract the eye, which makes dusty shades and fixtures difficult to overlook. Beyond appearance, cleaning grimy lamp shades or fixtures may let a bit more light into the room. Remove dust from lamp shades by wiping them with a dry microfiber cloth, then follow with a slightly damp cloth if the shade still appears dirty. For ceiling light fixtures or ceiling fans, reach them with a long-handled duster.

5. Wipe Down Windows, Mirrors and Picture Frames

Much like cleaning lamps and light fixtures, wiping windows and mirrors can instantly give your home a brighter, better-kept appearance. A fast, streak-free method for mirrors and windows is to spray them with a solution of equal parts vinegar and water from a spray bottle, then wipe with a microfiber cloth. Picture frames also draw attention because they catch sunlight when dirty. A quick pass with a damp cloth removes dust and smudges from them.

6. Scrub Grubby Baseboards

Dirty floors can make a whole room seem unclean. Dust and dirt commonly collect along baseboards, especially where hardwood flooring is installed, so concentrating on this strip is a fast way to create a noticeable improvement in a messy room. Pull up dust and pet hair by wiping baseboards with a damp washcloth, a dryer sheet or a dry microfiber cloth. For grubby baseboards, scrub with a cloth dipped in a solution of warm water and dish soap, then go over them with a clean damp sponge. If you would rather not bend over or kneel, a new toilet wand can be used to scrub them.

7. Brighten Grout With a Magic Eraser

Many DIY approaches can effectively clean dingy grout on tile floors and backsplashes. Severely neglected grout can be deep cleaned using oxygen bleach or a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. That method, however, takes time: you must apply the solution, let it sit for at least 10 minutes, scrub it into the grout and then rinse. A damp Magic Eraser (or a generic melamine foam sponge) offers a far faster route to whiten and brighten dull grout.

8. Wipe Down Appliances

Appliance handles, like light switches, are frequently touched surfaces in your home. As a result, they tend to collect both visible smudges and unseen bacteria. Giving all your appliances a quick clean takes only a few minutes. For stainless steel appliances, use stainless steel cleaner wipes or a paste of baking soda and water. To clean white or black appliances, spray them with a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water, then wipe with a sponge dipped in warm, soapy water, and finish with a clean, damp sponge.

9. Use a Squeegee to Lift Pet Hair From Furniture and Carpets

Anyone with furry, shedding pets knows how persistent the battle is to remove hair from upholstered surfaces and carpets. No matter how adorable your pets may be, you probably do not want their shed fur to be the first thing a guest spots when entering your home. Once fur has been pressed into carpet and upholstered furniture, a vacuum cleaner by itself may not be enough to extract it all. A squeegee can be used to scrape stubborn pet hair from these surfaces.

10. Conceal Messes, Odors and Stains

A full spring cleaning routine, or even a deep clean of one room, cannot be completed in 10 minutes, but 10 minutes is enough to do some camouflaging of trouble spots. Drape a throw blanket or arrange toss pillows over upholstery that is stained or faded. Shift large, leafy potted plants to hide a dirty carpet or shield a cluttered corner. To mask odors, combine distilled water with a few drops of essential oils in a spray bottle for a quick homemade room spray.