Time-Saving Cleaning Tricks Martha Editors Swear By

Modern kitchen sink with stylish faucet countertop accessories and green plant by the window — Credit:
AsiaVision / Getty Images

Not all cleaning shortcuts sacrifice actual cleanliness. The best are all about working smarter, not harder—and Martha editors (and our founder’s fans) will settle for nothing less!

Below, the time-saving cleaning methods and shortcuts our editors return to again and again. (They're just too good to keep to ourselves.)

Make Shower Cleaning a "While You’re In There" Habit

When the right tool is already in the room, you’re far more likely to do the 30-second maintenance task that prevents a 30-minute scrub later. The shower is a classic example.

"I keep a Magic Eraser in the shower to give surfaces a quick scrub while I'm in the shower." —Abbie Harrison, editorial director

"I keep a soap-dispensing dish brush in the shower filled with a water and dish soap solution to give the walls a scrub when I'm showering." —Jamie Cuccinelli, senior editor

"Drying your shower after every use will keep it looking spotless for so much longer." —J.C.

That final finishing step will keep the results looking fresh, as does storing a few maintenance tools in the places where messes happen most.

Make Dwell Time Work for You

Many formulas are designed to work with time, which means you can get more done with less effort simply by letting them sit.

"Apply cleansers then move on to a few other 1-minute chores and tasks. While checking more things off your to-do list, the formulas will loosen dirt and grime, saving you even more time (and sweat) when you go back to wipe it away." —J.C.

This tip is especially useful in the kitchen and bathroom: Spray the sink, the stovetop, or the shower wall, then take a quick lap to empty the trash or put away a few items. When you circle back, the grime is already softened for an all-too-easy wipe-down.

Consolidate Your Products

Instead of spending time keeping track of and shopping for a variety of cleaning products, use multi-use products that serve double (or triple, or more!) duty.

"I buy a gallon of Castile soap and use it for everything from dish and hand soap (in a reusable pump dispenser by the sink) and floor cleaner to a multi-purpose spray and more. It may not make actual cleaning quicker, but making a single purchase for so many products saves a lot of time, and I never have to worry about running out of this or that cleaner." —Melissa Breyer, senior editorial director

Also note that with a few reusable pump jars and spray bottles, you will be greatly reducing packaing waste. (And save some money while you're at it.)

Let Micro-Cleans Do the Heavy Lifting

A few seconds here and there adds up quickly—especially in the bathroom, where water spots and toothpaste splatter seem to appear overnight.

"I always wipe down the bathroom mirror after brushing my teeth and washing my face. This keeps the water spots at bay and takes two extra seconds at the end of my routine." —A.H.

"I clean as I go throughout the week, whether it be wiping down the kitchen counters after making each meal of the day, or giving the bathroom mirror a quick wipe when I notice a few smudges. It simplifies your weekly cleaning routine and makes it a lot less daunting!" —Olivia McIntosh, editor

A quick pass with a microfiber towel prevents water spots, soap scum, and mineral buildup from setting up camp on tile and glass. The more you can do in tiny increments, the more time saved in the long run.

Utilize Quick Tools for Quick Messes

Find and invest in tools whose design can help you speed-run time-sucking or more detailed cleaning tasks. And these don’t necessarily have to be speciality or expensive gadgets.

"Use a lint roller to quickly clean lamp shades." —Madeline Buiano, senior editor

"I have a Shark robot vacuum programmed to run every morning throughout my house. It does wonders to keep up with dust and two shedding dogs, and it makes my weekend vacuuming much more manageable." —A.H.

"Get a small handheld vacuum to clean crumbs off the kitchen counters. They’ll be spotless in 10 seconds." —J.C.

The right tools—conventional or not—can make all the difference. Offload some of that maintenance and legwork where you can.

Make Your Kitchen Appliances Clean Themselves

If you frequently use tools that chop and whir, put those functions to work when it comes time to clean them.

"Few things are more tedious to clean than an immersion or countertop blender with dried smoothie or soup adhered to the blades. After use, I immediately give them a quick rinse, add a drop of dish soap and warm water, and blend for a few seconds before rinsing again. It's a game-changer." —M. Breyer

You can also try this trick with bullet blenders, food processors, milk frothers, and any other tools with spinning blades or whisks.

Stack Your Chores

If you’ve ever started laundry and then wandered around waiting for the cycle to finish, you missed a prime productivity opportunity.

"Habit stacking is my go-to cleaning method. Once a week, I tackle vacuuming, mopping, laundry, and bathroom cleaning all at once. While the laundry is running, I start cleaning the bathroom, then vacuuming every room, and finally mopping once everything is in the dryer. I like stacking each cleaning task on top of the others because once one thing is done, it's all done." —O.M.

Starting with laundry creates built-in pockets of time, and the smartest routines use those pockets intentionally for multiple chores checked off in one sweep. Instead of gearing up for four separate chores on four separate days, you’re simply flowing from one thing to the next with tasks progressing in the background.

Harness the Power of Steam

Scrubbing the stuck-on food wallpapering your microwave is a tedious task—unless you soften everything first.

"Steam clean your microwave. It will save you tons of time scrubbing." —J.C.

Fill a microwave-safe bowl with water and lemon juice, place inside, and microwave for about two minutes. Keep the microwave closed to allow the steam to dissipate and loosen grease and grime. Once cooled, open the microwave and wipe the interior. And voilà—both time (and elbow grease) saved!