20 CLEANING TASKS THAT CAN BE DONE IN 5 MINUTES OR LESS

QUICK CLEANING TASKS

There is no getting around the fact that cleaning our homes takes a good amount of time. But, if you are feeling behind or don’t want to spend so much time cleaning continuously, it can be a good idea to do a couple of cleaning tasks here and there when you find you have a few minutes free. By adding quick cleaning tasks to your day when you are able to, it leaves less to do during regular cleaning sessions. So, for a quick little episode today, I am going to share 20 different things you can do when you have 5 minutes to spare.

HERE’S THE LIST

1. Wipe down one shelf in the fridge or pantry.  Even though you may think you need to do more to make a difference, it’s not true.  One shelf will make things better.  If you do one each time, before you know it the whole thing will be done.
2. Wipe down the outside of appliances.  This take hardly any time at all.  If you think of it, you can do it quickly while wiping down your countertops.
3. Under the sink: Pull out your trashcan and any cleaning supplies you keep under your sink and wipe down the surface quickly.  You may have some garbage the missed the garbage can too that might need to be cleaned up!
4. Clean out your junk drawer.  Even if your junk drawer needs more work, 5 minutes will still make a difference.  You can usually quickly find somethings that are no longer needed and can be quickly tossed, or something you can regroup or organize in a better way.
5. Shoe rack: Where we store our shoes can sometimes get dirty or dusty.  We often need to give a quick look through our shoes also to see if there are any we no longer use.
6. Sock drawer.  Do you have any socks waiting to get matched up?  If they have not found a match yet, they probably never will.  Take a couple of minute to get rid of them!  You can also take a look to see if any of your socks need to be tossed due to wear.
7. Windows: Grab the glass cleaner and a few paper towels and get pick one window that needs to be cleaned.
8. The microwave.  Fill a microwave-safe bowl with water and microwave on high for 5 minutes, then let it sit for another few minutes. The steam loosens any stuck-on food so you only have to give it a quick wipe down to get it nice and clean.
9. Throw blankets / throw rugs.  If considering the washing and drying time this will take more than 5 minutes.  But, it takes hardly any time to gather up some throw blankets, or washable throw rugs and throw them in the washing machine.
10. The bathroom sink.  Clear the counters give a quick spray and wipe down and this can be done very quickly.
11. The toilet.  The entire bathroom does not need to be cleaned all at one time.  It only takes a few minutes to spray down the toilet, squeeze in some bowl cleaner and get this quick job done.
12. Wipe down a trash can.  Empty the garbage, spray down the can and give it a quick wipe down.
13. Coffee table / end table: Quickly remove any clutter and quick wipe down.
14. The front door.  Grab a damp cloth and some cleaning spray and you can quickly wipe down and disinfect your door.  It will look nicer and get rid of lots of germs.
15. The kitchen sink: I like to do this one when I notice our sink is completely empty.  Depending on how much cleaning is needed, you can just use some dish soap to give it a quick cleaning.  If it needs a deeper cleaning, just apply your favorite cleaner and let it soak for a few minutes!
16. The showerhead: Fill a plastic bag with white vinegar, then tie it around your showerhead so that it is submerged in the vinegar. Let it sit for a few minutes, then remove the bag and run the shower to rinse the vinegar away.
17. Light switches.  Use a disinfecting wipe to walk around your house and give a quick cleaning of the light switches in your home.
18. The baseboards.  Pick a small section of baseboards that could use a wipe down and get it down.  Doing all the baseboards can feel overwhelming, but a small section at a time is much easier to manage.
19. The bathroom fan: Use a vacuum attachment to remove the dust from your bathroom fan.  This is a cleaning tasks we might not always think but makes a big difference.
20. The blinds:  Pick one set of blinds and give them a quick wipe down.  If they are extra dusty use a damp cloth.

Thanks so much for checking in! If you would like to hear the podcast version of this topic check out Lola’s Frugal Life Podcast! Also, be sure to check out my other blog posts on this site!

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