Tips for Cleaning Your Apartment

Tips for cleaning your apartment without the stress! Fun, easy hacks to keep your space cozy and tidy, even if cleaning isn’t your thing.

Okay, so… Cleaning. I know, it’s the worst. Like, the absolute rock bottom of adulthood activities.

You wake up thinking “Today, I’m gonna be productive and clean my apartment like the Pinterest queen I secretly am” and then you blink and you’re three episodes deep into a murder doc, surrounded by snack wrappers. Sounds familiar?

But listen, You don’t need to become a cleaning wizard to keep your apartment from looking like a tornado hit it. Just some sneaky hacks, a little bit of trickery, and a whole lot of “good enough.” I have some practical tips for cleaning your apartment you’re gonna love!

1. Set a Timer… I Mean It

We’re not deep-cleaning here. We’re surviving! So, grab your phone and set a timer for 15 minutes. Yes, just 15. This is what they call the cleaning “speed round.”

You’d be amazed how much you can do in that tiny window if you focus (or if you just panic-clean because you hate timers, like me). Honestly, there’s nothing like the adrenaline of knowing Siri’s about to call you out.

Here’s the game plan: start with the most visible areas. Living room? Kitchen counter? The floor you haven’t seen since last Wednesday? Hit those first.

People judge clutter faster than dust, it’s science. Or at least, it feels like science.

Even better, Turn it into a challenge. Can you tidy up the entire couch before Harry Styles finishes singing “As It Was”? Can you make your bed faster than a microwave popcorn bag pops?

That’s speedy cleaning, but now with stakes.

2. Weaponize Wipes

Clorox wipes, baby. Or whatever generic brand speaks to your wallet. Keep them everywhere: Under the sink, next to the bed, in the bathroom cabinet, maybe in your car for funsies. Wipes are your magic wand for lazy, low-effort cleaning.

When you see a gross spot, swipe it and forget it. Countertops? Mystery stain on the fridge door? That one time you spilled ketchup and thought, “I’ll get to it later” (spoiler: you didn’t)?

Gone.

The best part? No buckets, no sponges, no guilt. It’s like the one-night stand of cleaning tools – quick, easy, and no strings attached.

3. The Laundry Basket Trick

Picture this: you’ve got crap everywhere… clothes, random mail, a rogue flip-flop (Why is there always just one flip-flop?).

Here’s what you do: grab a laundry basket, throw everything in, hide it in your closet, and done! Clean room, no effort. It’s a modern miracle.

Is this a long-term solution? Absolutely not. Is it effective for surprise guests or your own sanity? 1000%.

Extra points if you use one of those cute woven baskets from Target so you feel fancy while you’re being lazy. When you eventually get around to unpacking the basket, which could be, like, three months from now, you’ll feel like you’re unboxing a chaotic time capsule.

4. Scent is Everything

If it smells clean, it feels clean. I don’t make the rules, it’s just a fact of life. Candles, diffusers, Febreze, or whatever vibe you’re going for, lean in.

If you’re feeling all fancy, hit up Anthropologie for their Capri Blue Volcano candle (it’s what I imagine heaven smells like). If you are on a budget? Bath & Body Works’ three-wick candles are always on sale.

Not a candle person? Get a plug-in air freshener or one of those fancy ultrasonic diffusers that make your place smell like a spa. Trust me, even if your sink is hiding three-day-old dishes, people will walk in and think, “Wow, she’s got her life together.”

A good scent is basically an optical illusion for the nose.

5. Declutter by Lying to Yourself

Here’s a fun game: pretend you’re moving tomorrow. What stuff would you actually bother packing? I bet it’s not the random pile of free tote bags you keep hoarding.

Go through your space and ask yourself: Do I love this? Do I use this? Does this spark joy or at least mild indifference? If not, let it go. Or at least shove it in a storage bin where you can forget it exists.

If you’re too emotionally attached to stuff (hi, it me), make it a one-in, one-out policy. For every new thing you bring in, something else has to go. It’s brutal, it’s heartbreaking, but it works.

6. Bathroom Blitz

Bathrooms are tricky because they’re small but gross… You know this. Here’s the hack: keep a spray bottle of cleaner in the shower. When you’re done showering, spritz the walls and rinse. And just like that, shower clean, zero effort.

For the sink, get one of those 2-in-1 toilet brushes with cleaner in the handle. (Thank you, Scrubbing Bubbles gods). And once a week, scrub the sink. Then swipe a wipe over the sink, faucet, and counter. Done.

If you’re really ambitious, throw down a bath mat that hides everything. Because we’re aiming for functional, not perfect.

7. Hide Your Chaos

Apartment living is basically a game of hide the mess. Get furniture with secret storage like Ottomans that open up, Coffee tables with drawers, and Beds with storage underneath. Oh so clever!

And when in doubt, shove everything behind a closed door and call it a day. Nobody can judge what they can’t see. Honestly, Marie Kondo wishes she’d thought of this.

8. Make It Fun(ish)

Cleaning doesn’t have to be soul-sucking, so blast a guilty-pleasure playlist. I’m talking early 2000s bops, Disney hits, or Lizzo on repeat. Dance around with your Swiffer like you’re in a music video. Suddenly, cleaning feels less like a chore and more like a slightly humiliating workout.

If music isn’t your thing, throw on a podcast or audiobook. That way, you can feel like you’re learning something while scrubbing your stovetop. It’s multitasking at its finest.

9. Vacuum Like a Minimalist

If you have carpet, invest in one of those cordless stick vacuums (hi, Dyson V8, my beloved). They’re lightweight, easy to use, and make vacuuming slightly less annoying.

Got hardwood floors or tile? Get a robot vacuum. It’s like having a tiny cleaning pet that doesn’t ask for belly rubs. Heck, you can even name it if that makes you feel more responsible.

10. Stop Obsessing

Real talk: Your place doesn’t need to look like an HGTV showroom, because, honestly, nobody cares if your apartment is perfect except you.

Life is messy. Embrace it. Clean just enough to feel cozy and comfortable, and then get back to the fun stuff. You know, like ignoring that laundry basket full of hidden junk.