5 Underrated Cleaning Hacks You Should Use More

Okay, hear me out—cleaning doesn’t have to suck. I mean, yes, scrubbing dried spaghetti sauce off the stove at 10 p.m. isn’t exactly living the dream, but there are little tricks that make it all a bit less painful. Pro cleaners know this. And they’re not keeping secrets, either. It’s just that most of us don’t think to do these weirdly effective things.

So, here we go. Five cleaning hacks that don’t get the spotlight they deserve. Stuff the pros swear by. Stuff that’ll have you going, wait, why didn’t anyone tell me this sooner?

1. Use Dryer Sheets on Baseboards—Even Used Ones

Yeah, I know. Dryer sheets. Baseboards. It sounds like the start of a bad DIY tip. But trust me, this works.

Grab a dryer sheet—used or new, doesn’t matter—and run it along your baseboards. Not only does it pick up dust like a little lint-loving magnet, but it also leaves behind a tiny bit of anti-static residue, which makes dust not want to come back. Like it senses it’s not welcome.

Bonus: it makes the room smell vaguely like “fresh laundry that wasn’t a complete lie.”

And if you’re the type who forgets baseboards even exist (same), this trick makes it fast enough that you can do it while waiting for your coffee to reheat.

2. Shaving Cream for… the Bathroom Mirror??

This one’s weird but amazing.

Smear a thin layer of non-gel shaving cream across your mirror. Wipe it off with a microfiber cloth until it’s clear. Done? Good. Now take a steamy shower and notice how your mirror doesn’t fog up.

I KNOW.

It’s like giving your mirror a tiny raincoat. Pros use this hack in hotels to keep things looking polished without wiping steam every five minutes. It also makes the mirror easier to clean later because gunk doesn’t stick as easily.

And yes, it feels wrong putting shaving cream anywhere that isn’t your legs or face. But then your mirror looks clean and acts like it has self-respect, and suddenly it makes sense.

3. Lemon in the Microwave Trick (That Actually Smells Like Lemon, Not Regret)

You’ve probably heard of this one, but maybe haven’t really tried it. Or maybe you threw in a lemon once, it fizzed a bit, and you were like “meh.”

Here’s how the pros actually do it: Cut a lemon in half. Squeeze the juice into a microwave-safe bowl of water. Toss in the halves, too—don’t be shy. Nuke the whole thing for 3–5 minutes.

Then—don’t open the door right away. Let it sit in there for a couple more minutes. The lemon steam softens everything crusty and terrifying stuck to your microwave walls. You open the door, and it smells citrusy instead of like… that time you tried to reheat fish.

Wipe everything down with a paper towel or cloth, and boom. Clean microwave. No scrubbing. No tears.

4. Vinegar + Dish Soap = Shower Scum’s Worst Nightmare

Okay, soap scum. The mortal enemy of anyone who’s ever owned a shower.

Here’s the cleaner cocktail you need: equal parts white vinegar and blue Dawn dish soap. Warm up the vinegar first (microwave it for 30 seconds—don’t boil it, you’re not making tea). Mix it with the dish soap in a spray bottle.

Shake it up. Spray it on your shower walls—tiles, glass, whatever. Let it sit for, I don’t know, 15–30 minutes? Then come back with a sponge or scrub brush, and the gunk practically melts off.

The vinegar breaks down the minerals; the soap cuts through grease. Together, they’re a power couple. Like the Beyoncé and Jay-Z of cleaning grime.

Only downside? It smells like a salad bar at first. But open a window and that’ll pass.

5. Toothbrushes: They’re Not Just for Teeth (And Yes, You Should Be Replacing Yours Anyway)

There is nothing more satisfying than scrubbing tiny crevices with an old toothbrush. Around faucet bases, the edge of your sink, the tracks of your windows. All those spots where grime camps out, thinking it’s safe. It’s not safe. You’re coming for it.

Professional cleaners keep a toothbrush (or three) in their kit for exactly this reason. Some even cut off half the bristles diagonally to make it more precise—like a little ninja brush.

And if you’ve never cleaned your sink drain ring? Oh man. You’re in for a disgusting but deeply fulfilling ride. The kind where you gag and say “EW” but also feel wildly accomplished after.

Cleaning Doesn’t Have to Be Miserable. Weird, Right?

Look, I’m not saying cleaning will ever be fun. But when you’ve got a few tricks up your sleeve—stuff that makes it faster, easier, or just a little more satisfying—it changes the game.

You start to notice that freshly wiped baseboards feel kind of like a deep exhale. That lemon smell in your microwave makes you smile a little. That the bathroom mirror doesn’t judge you with fog every morning.

So next time you’re elbow-deep in weekend cleaning chaos, try one of these. See if it makes your life even slightly easier.

And hey, if you’ve got a weird cleaning hack of your own—drop it in the comments. Sharing is caring. And honestly? We could all use a little less scrubbing in our lives.