30 cleaning tasks that take 5 minutes or less

Typically my house-cleaning is a last-minute endeavor.

Maybe the day before someone comes over (and that’s if I’ve planned well), you’ll find me scrambling to tidy up, wipe dust from the mantle, sweep, clean the toilets, etc, etc.

My husband is the more organized out of the two of us. He’s the type of person to unpack his suitcase right when he gets home from a trip. And because of osmosis, now I am, too. But typically, I’m the messy one.

And rushing through the cleaning has become a typical thing for me. I’m used to my habits.

But there is an easier way to do it.

It’s called cleaning as you go.

I don’t always have all day to clean, but I usually can find good five-minute chunks of time. And if you utilize those moments, you can actually get a lot accomplished.

That way when it comes time to really clean, you don’t have to be overwhelmed. You can save it for the big jobs – the things like windows, scrubbing the tub, etc.

And then I can get back to straight chilling. And by “straight chilling,” I mean chasing my kids around the house and cleaning up after them as they go. 

Here are 30 cleaning tasks that each take 5 minutes or less.

Take advantage of a few minutes here and there to get these tasks out of the way, and cut down your preparation time for when friends come over by a lot.

1. Empty small wastebaskets.
2. Put away clean dishes.
3. Make your bed.
4. Clear the dining room/main eating table.
5. Sweep one room’s floor.
6. Clean just-used dishes.
7. Take out the trash.
8. Spray and wipe down kitchen countertops.
9. Dust surfaces of one room.
10. Put in a load of laundry.
11. Put away personal belongings in one room.
12. Organize shoes.
13. Spray down plastic toys (I use a half-vinegar, half-water mixture) and let dry.
14. Throw away old receipts and mail.
15. Dust ceiling fans and lighting fixtures.

16. Surface-clean toilet and faucets in the bathroom.
17. Put away laundry (folding is another matter).
18. Spray and wipe down mirrors.
19. Mop/wipe down floor of one room.
20. Tidy shelves on a bookcase or bedside table.
21. Gather grimy washcloths, towels and dishrags and add them to the laundry basket; replace with fresh ones.
22. Surface-clean top of oven.
23. Disinfect doorknobs and handles.
24. Rearrange kitchen cabinet shelves (or just one).
25. Take down outdated items from the refrigerator door.
26. Take off old sheets and replace with fresh ones.
27. Clear cobwebs.
28. Vacuum the carpet or spray and wipe down the hardwood floors of one room.
29. Run a clean cycle on the dishwasher or clean kitchen items you use every day, like drying racks and water pitchers.
30. Clear old or expired food from fridge and shelves.

Of course some of these things depend on your house, and how you clean typically.

How about you?

What 5-minute cleaning chores can you think of to knock out ahead of time?

Photo Credit: 

1 – Paige Cody on Unsplash

2 – Uliana Kopanytsia on Unsplash

3 – Good Soul Shop on Unsplash