20 Spring Cleaning Tasks You Can Do in 1 Minute or Less

Fill your dishwasher—but not with dishes

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Got a minute? Go around to each room in your house and gather up items you probably never clean, such as plastic toys, hairbrushes, and even flip-flops. Believe it or not, all of these things are dishwasher safe. Just toss them in your trusty dishwasher and let it work its magic—no matter how busy you are. Here are more spring cleaning tips to get it done faster.

Spiff up your space with a lint roller

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Between soccer games, dance lessons, and PTA meetings, it’s tough to give our homes the deep clean they deserve. If you’re tight on time, take a lap around your home with a lint roller and run it over everything in sight. These handy gadgets can remove dirt and crumbs from couches, lamp shades, and any other hard-to-reach spots. Here are 9 more things you can clean in 5 minutes or less.

De-stink your furniture

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There are some household odors that even a heavy dose of Febreze can’t kick. Instead, sprinkle baking soda onto smelly carpets, upholstered furniture, or mattresses, and then leave it while you make dinner or fold laundry. Vacuum it up after 15 minutes, and your home will feel (and smell!) fresher almost immediately. Use this cleaning schedule to clean your whole house in just one day.

Search coat pockets and purses for trash

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You use your coats and purses every day, but they are probably one of the last things you regularly clean. While you’re sitting in traffic or waiting for the oven to preheat, toss out any gum wrappers, old receipts, and other junk that have piled up over the months. You aren’t cleaning these 11 everyday items nearly enough, either.

Refold clothes in a messy drawer

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Reorganizing your entire dresser probably seems like a daunting chore. But if you break it down into smaller, more manageable tasks, you might be more likely to get it done. Start by choosing one cluttered drawer and refolding all of the clothes inside. It will only take a minute, but you’ll be one step closer to getting your home in tip-top shape. While you’re at it, follow these folding tips to double your drawer space.

Move winter coats to off-season storage

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No need to display bulky outerwear year-round. If the weather has recently warmed up, corral your winter coats and move them out of sight. You can box them up and put them in the attic, or simply hang them in the back of your closet. Either way, you’ll be thankful to have extra space for your spring and summer wardrobe. Learn more storage hacks to finally get organized.

Declog your showerhead

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Has your shower’s water pressure seen better days? Here’s a handy hack: Fill a plastic bag with white vinegar, place it over the showerhead, and fasten it with a rubber band. Letting the bag soak overnight allows the vinegar to break down anything that blocks water flow. Your shower will work like new in no time (and you won’t have to lift a finger!)

Clean your car’s grimy cup holders

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Say goodbye to the nasty layer of gunk inside your car’s cup holders. Months of soda spills and sweaty water bottles can be erased in one minute; just give each holder a quick scrub using Clorox wipes. Lazy people will appreciate these quick cleaning tips, too.

Toss that unsightly stack of magazines and newspapers

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Not only is that huge pile of magazines gathering layers upon layers of dust, but it’s also a serious eyesore. As you take out the trash one night, bring the stack with you and toss it in the recycling bin. Trust us, your home will thank you. Try more tips to organize every room in your house.

Declutter your coffee table

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Another fast way to tidy up a messy space is to clean one central item in each room, such as your coffee table. You can stash remotes in a drawer, gather small items into a classy bowl, and neatly arrange the other decor. Check out more effortless things clutter-free people do every day.

Sanitize your gadgets

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Bad news: Your toilet isn’t the germiest thing in your house—your smartphone is. In fact, a study found that tablets have up to 600 units per swab of staphylococcus (commonly known as staph) and phones have up to 140 units, on average. The typical toilet seat, by comparison, has less than 20 units. All the more reason to spend a minute scrubbing your gadgets with an alcohol wipe. And if you have a few more seconds, wipe down other electronics like your TV remote and computer mouse, too.

Unsubscribe to junk emails

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Spring cleaning calls for tidying up every aspect of your life, including your electronic one. Between meetings at work, quickly unsubscribe to any newsletters or junk mail that you have ignored for months. You will be way more productive once your inbox isn’t cluttered with spam. Learn even more unexpected health benefits of spring cleaning.

Wash your silverware tray

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You probably wash your forks and spoons every day. As for the tray that holds them? Not so much. That little bin can get grimy, so take out the dishes and give it a scrub. If you’re really short on time, simply toss it in the dishwasher and run a hot, soapy cycle. Check out all of the surprising things you never knew you could clean in the dishwasher.

Untangle your cords

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Let’s be honest: No amount of fancy decor can hide that ugly, tangled ball of wires behind your TV or computer. Plus, it makes your space look sloppy. Take a minute to organize the cords, using some Velcro, zip-ties, or rubber bands to neatly wrap them up. Don’t miss more effortless ways to finally get organized.

Freshen up a smelly sink

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It’s time to face that funky odor coming from your kitchen sink. To banish the smell in seconds, simply place a few lemon peels into the drain, turn on the garbage disposal, and run cold water from the tap. Voila! No pricey plumber required. Next, tackle more germy kitchen items you probably don’t think to clean.

Dust a fan

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Your fan is a dust magnet—but don’t wait until you flip the switch to find out. Do a favor for your allergies by cleaning your fans before the weather gets too hot. And for a more efficient way to trap falling lint, try dusting each blade inside an old pillowcase. You should never, ever skip these spots when spring cleaning, either.

Wipe down door handles and light switches

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Think about how many grubby hands have touched your home’s door handles and light switches. Like it or not, the spots that we clean the least can carry thousands of germs. Spend a minute wiping down the door handles and light switches in one room. For a particularly greasy spot, a damp rag dipped in dishwashing soap should do the trick.

Use a tray to store odds and ends

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Tidying up a cluttered space doesn’t need to break the bank. Find a decorative tray at your local secondhand store, place it in a central area of your space, and fill it with random items that don’t already have a home, such as keys, sunglasses, or even mail. Learn more genius tips to make your home look more expensive.

Make your bed

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Because your bed is the focal point of your bedroom, it will set the tone for the rest of the space, minimalist Joshua Becker writes in The More of Less: Finding the Life You Want Under Everything You Own. So take one minute to make your bed; your mom would be proud.

Create a donation spot

No need to hang on to a shirt that is too small or pants that are too big. Instead, carve out a small section in your home for storing items you plan to donate. It could be a bin, a shelf, or even a corner of a closet—anything that separates unwanted apparel until you can make a trip to Goodwill. To start the purge, here are 43 items you need to get rid of in the next 43 days.

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