We hope you love our recommendations! While every product is independently chosen by our editors, BuzzFeed and our publishing partners may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. You can read more about how our affiliate partnerships work in our Editorial Standards & Ethics Guide.

Cleaning marathons can check a bunch of big tasks off your list, but what about maintaining everything afterward? Or what if you know you'll never actually make the time for said marathon? That's where these tips come in: They're all quick, simple things you can do on occasion, either as a habit or when you have five minutes to spare, to *keep* everything clean. And now that it's officially spring, yes, this 100% counts as spring cleaning! 

I lived in a tiny studio for about four or five years, and nothing made my entire space look more neat and put together than quickly straightening my sheets out a bit and throwing the quilt over them. It's the first thing I noticed when I got home in the evenings, and helped me ignore whatever other little mess I had going on elsewhere in the room.

I still endorse making the bed today, as long as you minimize the number of pillows so it doesn't like, become a chore (we have three decorative ones). These days my partner does it most of the time because he likes it done even more, but it still has the same calming, put-together effect on our room despite our ever-present laundry piles and toys our toddler leaves hanging around.

Try to go in order of least-germy to germiest surface. Maybe: counter, faucet, toilet tank, top of toilet lid, toilet handle, sink, toilet seat. They won't disinfect (which — disinfecting wipes won't either, unless you consistently wipe down the surface so it stays wet for four minutes or so), but they will eliminate dirt and grime with just a few seconds of work.

Get a pack of three containers of plant-based, municipally compostable cleaning wipes on Amazon for $15.36. (Municipally compostable means they won't work in your backyard compost pile, but if your city has a curbside compost program, you can send them out with that.)

Promising review: "These are the very best all-purpose wipes. They cut through anything. Grease, tomato sauce, dirt... you name it, these wipe it off, even when it is stuck and dried on. They are gentle on the hands and have a very mild scent." —Angela M

Get a four-pack of Blueland's cleaning concentrate from Amazon for $9.99.

Simply mix it with three cups of water (24 fl oz), and voila! You have cleaner. 

Promising review: "This is all I use as my cleaner for my house. It cleans tough stains and dirty countertops with ease. Love that you reuse your container and are not buying new cleaning containers every time you need to make another batch. It’s a plus that it's eco-friendly and doesn’t waste plastic bottles." —PamLam

This daily shower cleaner prevents *and* helps clean buildup of all kinds of nasties, including the dreaded soap scum and limescale, with no need to scrub — simply rinse the next day, right before you shower again. Get enough to last 12 weeks from Amazon for $19.98.

Promising review: "Does a FANTASTIC job if used regularly. I love this product. I hate cleaning tubs. This product has made our tubs look new. I don't use it every shower...maybe every third. Just spray down everything after the shower, and forget about it. You DO need to rinse tub before the next shower due to product making it slick. The fumes of other cleaners always messed with my asthma. I have noticed that for some reason with this one, I sneeze twice, because I have to spray shower doors while I'm still in the shower...but it never affects my lungs. I would recommend this to EVERYONE!" —Angela GIllaird

This fits over pretty much any drain, whether it pops up, sinks in, or is flat and flush with the rest of the tub. It's made of silicone, which means even if it gets a little mildewy you'll be able to easily wipe the gross stuff off. The weighted top holds it in place, and your hair stays trapped while the water flows through. Get one on Amazon for $11.99.

Promising review: "This is a simple, practical product that saves you the hassle of having to pull hair and clumped up soap from your drain with a plumber's snake. This just prevents all that from accumulating in the first place. You just pick it up and wipe it clean over your garbage can, and you're done." —Gigi 

Just swish once or twice, let it fizz for about five minutes, then scrub for a minute or so with a toilet brush. You'll probably still need a pumice stone to get it clean the first time, but regular use of these can help keep your toilet hard-water-stain-free for longer. 

These are both made and sold by Bombs Away, an Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania-based small business that sells handmade cleaning and bath products. 

Get them from Etsy for $11.99+ (available in six scents and unscented). 

If you can't imagine not using your toilet brush, you can use the small remaining bit of gel to scrub down the bowl before applying more. I used this in college and can personally attest it really does work!

Get enough to keep your toilet clean for up to 20 weeks for $10.98 on Amazon.

Promising review: "I bought this product after reading about it in one of those BuzzFeed must-have product lists. While it doesn't replace manual toilet bowl cleaning, it does a great job at extending the time between the dreaded task. The first couple of times I used this stamp, there was a bit of a learning challenge, but now that I have the hang of it, it is pretty simple to use." —Jane and her Dragons

It really is like magic: It can also remove rust stains from color-safe fabrics, among many other surfaces. One reviewer who mentioned BuzzFeed said they needed to leave it for a while for it to really work on their stains, but it did! Get a bottle on Amazon for $11.33.

Promising review: "This stuff is a miracle! We have VERY hard water, and it makes orange stains on everything, especially our shower and dishwasher. We have tried everything the internet suggested, and nothing worked. We saw this on a BuzzFeed article and decided to give it a try. Sprayed it on, within literal seconds the orange stains kind of liquified and wiped up perfectly clean. Amazing!" —kmart82 

I've tried this, it 100% works: Those are literally my before and after pics above! (The exception? If you have incredibly hard water — then you may need to use something stronger than vinegar, like CLR, $5.22 on Amazon.) Simply guide the bag over the showerhead, bunch it on the pipe at the back fo the head, and loop a rubber band around that bunched spot a few times until it seems like it'll hold. Read my full review of Pinterest Hacks for more.

You do have to let it sit for four to five hours (or even overnight), but the results, as proven by the review photos like the one here, are worth it. The gel formula lets it stick and stay exactly where you put it down, which is why it works better than just spraying with regular bleach: The bleach stays right on the mold stain until it's gone, without drying up or running off. My best friend bought some of this from one of my posts and said it worked exactly the way I said it did — and when I saw her shower, all the grout and caulking were perfectly white!

Get two bottles from Amazon for $26.99 ($13.50/bottle) or three bottles for $36.99 ($12.33/bottle).

Promising review: "Our shower caulk had terrible mildew stains, and we tried EVERYTHING. No matter what concoction we mixed from Pinterest or the cleaning product we used, they looked terrible. I knew they were clean, but it looked SO GROSS. Saw this product in a BuzzFeed "must have cleaning miracles on Amazon" article and thought, "What the hell, let's try this before we pull up all that silicone." One tube and the results were amazing. I would recommend this a thousand times over. So satisfying to see the difference, and it was as easy as putting on toothpaste!" —E. Smith

Of course these only really work on hard floors like wood or tile. And even then, they'll pick up *some* stuff, but not everything — to pick up more dust, crumbs, and debris, you have to put a little effort into using your feet as brooms and sweeping everything into one pile. But when I wore them for a week, I did that way more often than I expected to, and my floors were cleaner because of it!

The pair I got from Amazon initially is sold out, but you can get the pictured bear version from Amazon for $13.59 (available in 3 colors and 8 designs) or a pack of 5 brightly-colored elastic pairs that slip over socks on Amazon for $9.89.

Promising review (for the bear version): "So worth it! I love having clean floors but sometimes I'm lazy and I live near the beach, so sand can be a hassle on the hardwood floors in my apartment. I love these so much and have pretty much worn then every day since I got them. They are super comfy and help clean! These are such a great addition to my routine." —Laura J

This vac moves between hard floors and low-pile carpets/rugs without a glitch and can pick up all the accumulated dust, dirt, and hair left strewn about your home while you go do literally anything else. The reviewer who took the pic on the right above says that with a goldendoodle in the house, it picks up that much dust and hair EVERY DAY. Omg. 

Promising review: "Best housekeeping hack! I have to empty it almost everyday because it does it's job so well! I call her Mrs. Doubtfire and may purchase a twin to work upstairs as well. Timer was easy to set after reading the directions. Cleaning her out is a regular occurrence. She rarely gets stuck but usually only if the floor is cluttered worth cords or something. She also stops when she's full and needs to be cleaned instead of burning out her own motor which I think is nice. I have two Great Pyrenees and she handles the hair beautifully as well as the mess I track in from the barn." —Amazon Customer

And if you're in the market for a good vacuum of any kind — full-size, stick vacs, robo vacs, and more — check out The Best Vacuums For Tackling Pet Hair Around The House. 

You can find lots of options for indoor doormats out there, but I'm currently loving these beautiful, premium sisal mats from Indie Art Home on Etsy — they partner with artisans in Colombia who handweave all kinds of colorful, fun striped designs. Get the pink and red one pictured for $43.78+ or shop all the colors here. 

Promising review: "Beautiful vibrant colors and thick strong material." —Julia Anderson

It works for all kinds of shoes, of course! This one's made by Forge and Flower, a small Massachusetts-based family-owned business. 

Get it from Forge and Flower on Etsy for $60. 

Promising review: "This is a gorgeous piece of work; it arrived just in time for our next storm, which leaves things very muddy and dirty. So now I can scrape my shoes so that the welcome mats don't get overloaded! Thanks!" —Sean

- Large cabinets that'll look like any other piece of furniture ($162.99 on Amazon)

- Big cubbie benches that could be the start to a DIY mudroom ($106.83+ on Amazon)

- Smaller shoe ottomans for tiny apartments ($96.82+ on Amazon)

- Basic racks that could sit just inside the back door ($24.87 on Amazon) 

- Over-the-door cubbies you could stash inside your coat closet ($32.97 on Amazon)

Enlisting an old beach towel really can work wonders to keep your floors cleaner, especially if you're consistent about giving them a quick wipe-down.

But if you deal with lots of mud or sand that gets embedded between their toes, a paw washer could help. Its silicone bristles are super gentle, so many dogs don't mind them, and they help rinse off most dirt and mud with just a quick dip or two (for particularly muddy days, you may have to change the water once or twice, but that will still be easier than pulling out the hose). Just imagine how much cleaner your floors would stay if your dogs stopped bringing dirt inside with them, period!

Get one on Amazon for $13.49+ (available in two sizes and five colors).

Promising review: "This product is an absolute work saver. In certain weather, my dog gets very muddy paws. I was trying to clean them with wet and dry rags, but the mud was so hard to remove. I bought this "MudBuster" and now cannot get along without it!!!! It is so easy to use! My dog, I think, actually enjoys it, and it cleans paws in seconds." —Sedona Sue

All you have to do is spritz it on the stain (fresh or old), gently massage it into the carpet, wait a couple of minutes, then blot it up. The stain pictured above is liquid lipstick (an oil-based stain), but the product also removes food, coffee, ink, wine, ketchup, and pet/child stains. Since having a baby, I've used this stuff on my carpet at least once a week. First, it was spit-up, now it's food stains from when he decides to throw pasta sauce or blackberries. (We're working on it.) 

Get a 32-ounce bottle on Amazon for $15.99.

Promising review: "Saw this on BuzzFeed and it works wonders! Our older dog had an accident, so that was our first test, and it cleaned the carpet so well that it looked brand new (like, better than all of the surrounding carpet in the living room). It picked up YEARS of deep grime that regular vacuuming hasn't lifted. We've almost gone through a whole bottle using it for all kinds of stains now. My dad and brother are both mechanics and are known for tracking in grease and grime from the garage — it's all gone now! What do they put in this stuff? It's magic!" —K Geer

Get a pack of 20 from Amazon for $27.47.

Promising review: "I love this product! It's a game-changer. I have an older dog that is now starting to have accidents. I rent my place, and I was carpet cleaning every other week. Now with this, I don’t have to as much. She went on my new rug, which is white, and I was convinced it was gonna be ruined, but it’s not! The Stomp 'N Go did its job! My rug is perfect and no urine stains or odor. If you have a puppy or older dog, I highly suggest this product." —Sandra E.

My colleague Jenae owns this and swears by it:

"I picked this air purifier up a while back to help manage the ~smell~ that sometimes wafts from my cats' litter box when it starts to get full, and to help keep my NYC apartment air cleaner in general. I'm also (lol) extremely allergic to cats, and though I get allergy shots for this, it's also nice to help cut down on the pet dander for myself and any visitors with allergies. This thing makes a DIFFERENCE. It cuts down on any noticeable smell from the cats, my air feels cleaner, and my allergies are usually non-existent in the apartment.

I was *especially* grateful to have this when Canadian wildfires brought smoke all the way down to NYC, where the AQI (air quality index) was over 400 at some points (for those who don't know, that's BAD). It helped keep the air inside my apartment as clean as possible, which made me feel better for myself and my kitties. Since I have a one-bedroom, I'll likely pick up a second one just so I don't have to move it back and forth at night. Oh, and it's fairly quiet — it basically functions as white noise, which can be handy if you run this at night in the bedroom too.

Depending on your usage and environment, it's recommended to replace the filter every 3–6 months — replacements are available on Amazon. (You can see the difference between my old filter and a new replacement one above!)"

Get it from Amazon for $56.99 (available in two colors).

You can put kids toys, hair brushes, and dish sponges in the top rack, with glass light covers, some tools, air vent covers, range hood filters, and more in the bottom. One wash later, everything will look sparkling clean, and all you did was load up the dishwasher. From One Crazy House.

If cross-contamination has you concerned, this will cover you! It also helps dissolve any hard water buildup.

Promising review: "Call me lazy. This was simple to use, smelled good, and I was pleasantly surprised — this product actually did what it advertises that it will do! Great results, fairly economical, and by the way, it works!" —Old Southern Charm

I mean, you're still washing dishes and there's no real shortcut for that, but seeing what it did in the above during and after, I don't think that you'll find much that anything requires too much scrubbing when you soak it in this for a second.

In fact, Elizabeth Lilly, an editor here at BuzzFeed, swears by this stuff! She says: "I live without a dishwasher, and I honestly use that as an excuse to order takeout. But, as soon as I got my hands on a bottle of this stuff (regular Dawn is my go-to dish soap, BTW), I put it to use on both a saucepan I used to make homemade enchilada sauce *and* the casserole dish I baked those enchiladas, which had a ton of caked-on food. It really does work like I say it does! Like, scary well."

Get four bottles from Amazon for $16.63.

You shouldn't put foil on the bottom of your oven (that surface gets incredibly hot, and it could very well melt the foil) or, according to GE, even line your bottom rack with foil (it would disrupt airflow and heat, because the heat reflects off of it). But a shallow pan, a cookie sheet, or a heat-safe liner you can cut to size would be OK if it sits on your lowest rack and doesn't touch the back or either edge. 

Get a pack of three of this oven liner on Amazon for $12.99.

This also works with water + vinegar, or honestly just plain water. And of course you can wipe off with a sponge instead. I've been doing this for years, and have yet to find a gross microwave where this doesn't work wonders. Read my full review or watch the Nifty video.

My mom tried three or four different stainless cleaners before I showed her this one, and y'all: she swears by it because it's easier and faster to use than the others (key for lower effort), and makes all of her stainless appliances SO SHINY!

Because this product also includes a polish, besides cleaning off the current fingerprints and smudges, it also helps protect the surface of your stainless from future messiness. The 16-oz bottle comes with a large microfiber cleaning cloth — the key is to spritz the cleaner on the cloth, so you don't end up with too much product on your appliance (which can cause fingerprints) *or* a slippery residue on your floor. One reviewer does note that it needed to be left to dry for a bit after buffing before it was actually fingerprint-resistant.

Get a bottle and the included cloth on Amazon for $19.95.

Promising review: "I bought it on a whim after reading a BuzzFeed article. I’ve tried a bunch of different brands of stainless cleaner/polish, and it always requires elbow grease and going with the grain to avoid streaks. This stuff didn’t need either! I sprayed on and wiped in a circular pattern, and it was shiny and spotless in 30 seconds." —Caitlyn

Or sooner than that if you feel like it, but since I barely get around to scrubbing my cabinet tops once a year, if I did this, I definitely wouldn't change it more often than that.

Instead, you just toss the dirty liner in with that week's towels. You could also totally cut cheap placemats to fit! These just might make it a little easier: They come in a convenient 12"x24" size, so they'll probably fit on your main shelves, and all you have to customize = the liners for the door shelves. 

Get a set of six on Amazon for $14.27+ (available in 25 colors and designs).

Promising review: "These are extremely versatile fridge liners, unlike the rigid plastic variety we used to buy. Easy to cut for fitting drawers, shelves, and door bins. I am happy to find that these will hold up to being washed warm with other kitchen towels and then air-dried or tumble-dried on low. They really save on elbow grease when your lovely, thoughtful children put a dripping, messy jar of chocolate sauce back in the fridge, or an oily salad dressing bottle." —Jammer

You can use it up to once a week or so; basically, it cleans all the built-up coffee residue and oils from the brew chamber and the pour spout, which will keep your coffee tasting more like it's supposed to (especially if you switch between different coffees on a regular basis). It's also good to use right before a tea or hot chocolate K-Cup so that any coffee flavor doesn't contaminate it. Note that you'll still have to occasionally descale with vinegar — these don't touch the water chamber or the other inner parts that get the mineral buildup from water — but you can use this along with that for a truly deep clean.

Get a pack of five from Amazon for $8.09.

Promising review (from the person who took the photos above): "I haven’t cleaned my Keurig in years. As you can see, from start to finish, the water was BLACK; now it is CLEAR! I can’t wait to clean my Keurig every week (it’s too easy not to do it), plus enjoy tomorrow’s cup of joe. :) Amazing product." —Amazon Customer

Then just wipe clean to reveal the sparkle. From My Thirty Spot. Get a highly-rated dish brush from Amazon for $11.99.

Get a pack of five lint rollers on Amazon for $19.99.

This one from OXO is very thin so it can squeeze into tight crevices. To clean it you just run it through a gentle cycle in the washer, and air dry.

Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (or one with an extendable handle for $34.97).

Promising review: "Saves time and energy! It’s a bit too big for small, delicate knickknacks, but it’s terrific for large or textured furniture. A few swipes and a dresser, piano keyboard, or TV is dust-free. Its size is also helpful if you’re on the short side and want to reach the top of a door frame or bookcase, or give blinds a quick dusting. I haven’t washed it yet but the fabric unsnaps from the plastic handle easily. I’m very happy with this purchase and wish I would’ve made it a long time ago!" —Olivia D. A.

Just spritz once or twice, squeegee, and watch it clump up. Then use your hands or a vacuum to suck up the clumps. 

 From CareaBearaSara. A similar squeegee is $12.99 on Amazon.

My in-laws and sister both have dogs who shed everywhere all the time, so I have extensive experience using both of these products at their homes. Here's a bit about each to help you decide which one might be right for you!

It's super quick, cheaper, and more compact than the vacuum (so, good if you have a small space), and easily picks up mountains of hair from couches, chairs, and other upholstered furniture! It does require a little bit of elbow grease in the form of semi-rigorous rolling up and down, as the gif above shows. You open up the back to empty the hair out when you're done, and it's ready to reuse, and literally lasts for years, even with daily use. I'd say it takes about four minutes total to pick up all the hair from a regular size couch.

Get it for $24.95 on Amazon (clip the coupon at checkout to get that price).

It's like a turbo-charged upgrade to the roller: all you do is pick it up, turn it on, and run it over the piles of hair to make every last bit vanish! Since it's a vacuum, it's bigger and heavier than the roller, but I'm a five-foot-three thirty-something and have no issues using it with just one hand. You'll probably want a convenient but hidden spot to store it on its charger, which keeps it ready to suck up pet hair at any moment. It has three specialized attachments but the motorized brush head is the key for most upholstery! And like most handheld vacuums, no bags are required; you simply press a button to open the dust compartment and empty it. I can vacuum my in-laws' large sectional with this in about two minutes!

TBH, there's not a bad choice here. Either way you go, you'll have SO much less pet hair in your life!

It has rounded teeth instead of sharper pointy ones, which some reviewers say their dogs prefer the feel of. It works well for cats, too!

Promising review: "If you've ever owned a dog with a double coat, you know that they shed something fierce in the spring and summer! I have a German Shepherd/Husky cross, and his fur is thick and ALL over right now as he sheds the winter coat. This brush does a wonderful job of getting that excess fur out of him! It fits well in your hand, has two sides (one for any mats you might find, the other for pulling out the undercoat), and is perfectly sized for getting a good deal of fluff with each stroke of the brush. Once you're done brushing, just pull any remaining fur from the teeth, rinse it with a bit of water, dry it off, and it's ready to go the next time!" —Composedpuddle

* Lazyish Ways To Deep Clean Your Home You'll Wish You'd Known About Sooner

* Cleaning Products With Before And After Pics That’ll Make You Do A Double-Take

* Cleaning Products To Make Your Kitchen Sparkle And Shine Like It’s On TV

* If A Stain Has Been Bothering You *Forever*, Check Out These Tried-And-True Stain Removers

* Products To Help You Clean Up After Your Pets, Because Boy Do You Love Them, But They Know How To Make A Mess

* Crafty Cleaning Products For All Those Hard-To-Reach Spots Around Your House

* Powerful Cleaning Products That Do Not *Mess* Around

* Stop Procrastinating On Cleaning Your Bathroom, And Use These 27 Products

* Places You Should Probably Clean And Definitely Haven't

BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way.

Natalie Brown, a mom, Senior Editor on the BuzzFeed Shopping team, and BuzzFeeder since 2015, is constantly on the lookout for smart, genuinely effective problem-solvers, especially anything cleaning, home, parenting, fashion, and skincare related.