Whether you've got some last-minute guests coming over or want to give your home a quick tidying, there are moments when you just don't have the time or inclination to give your place a full-on cleaning. But if you want to make it shine like your housekeeper just left, we've found some super-quick cleaning cheats that'll have your home sparkling in no time.
Something as simple as cleaning your bathroom faucets or kitchen cabinet doors and handles can give a room a fresh feeling. We even discovered a solution for getting your toilet sparking in a jiffy.
More from CafeMom: 12 Life-Changing Decluttering Hacks (PHOTOS)
Have you ever tried #9? Check out our cleaning cheats and then tell us: How you do make the house look spotless when you're pressed for time?
Images via SFC/shutterstock; Mindscape studio/shutterstock
Give the Kitchen a Facelift
Have you ever noticed how grimy your kitchen cabinet doors get from being exposed to cooking and the dirty hands that are constantly opening them? Give them a quick makeover with a simple solution of vegetable oil and baking soda. Just look at the amazing difference in the before and after pictures above, shared by Jillee of One Good Thing by Jillee.
Quick Toilet Cleaning
Want a clean toilet in a flush, er, flash? Spray in a little glass cleaner and give the bowl and quick swish with the brush, flush, and you're good to go!
Tackling Carpet Stains
Don't feel like hiring a carpet cleaner or renting a rug shampoo-er for a few annoying stains? You can still get your flooring in better shape with the help of a little hydrogen peroxide and lemon oil. The moms at Kids Activities Blog even suggest trying this homemade remedy on the carpeting inside your car — genius!
Quick Oven Cleaning
I typically put off cleaning my oven as long as I possibly can because even though it's self-cleaning, it takes five hours, heats my kitchen up to near-inferno levels and emits a smell I have a feeling isn't good for any of us. But thanks to Emily at Live Renewed, I discovered a much quicker cleaning remedy using a baking soda spray. Don't be afraid to do a little cooking while it coats the walls.
Clean Toys in the Washing Machine
Did you just host a playdate with a little guy with a runny nose who coughed and sneezed all over your child's toys? If you don't have time to scrub 'em individually, consider this trick from the mom who manages Gettin' By. Toss the toys into a mesh laundry bag and drop them in the washing machine. They'll be good as new with very little effort.
Fixed Scratched Furniture
If you've got kids who love to drive their toy cars and trucks on your furniture, chances are you've got some scratches you'd like to hide. Jessica at Domestic Blissed Squared found that a solution of vinegar and olive oil restored her vintage table in no time.
Dusting Blinds
Having an inch of dust on your blinds is a dead giveaway that your home is less than spotless. If you're tired of leaving more lint behind with paper towels, or flinging dust everywhere with more traditional dusters, try this blind-cleaning solution: Mix equal parts warm water and white vinegar in a bowl. Then grab an unmatched sock (who doesn't have a gazillion of these lying around?), slide it over your hand, dip it in your new cleaning solution, and see that dust disappear. It's quick and easy and you can simple rinse the sock and start over when it's loaded with too much dust.
Cheryl at Tidy Mom says she relies on this method for easy daily dusting.
Shine Up Those Faucets Fast
Jen at The Thrifty Home shared this great idea for giving your sink a quick facelift by removing hard water residue from faucets with the help of vinegar.
More from CafeMom: 10 Innovative Uses for Vinegar (PHOTOS)
Sparkling Stove Burners
If you're a busy cook, chances are your burners and grates might be splattered and coated with the remnants of your fabulous meals and sauces. Getting those suckers back into tip-top shape can really give you a workout. Well, now, thanks to this tip from Vivienne of The V Spot, a little ammonia placed in a sealed bag with the burners overnight will get the job done for you.
"Why buy expensive cleaners and/or use a lot of elbow grease? Cheap ammonia and 12 hours equals totally clean," she says.
Light a Candle
Whether your home smells like a wet pet or teenage boys' sneakers, you'll probably want to get that funk out in a flash. So light a candle. Or three.
Trash the Clutter
If you need to declutter in a hurry, grab some trash bags in different colors and quickly divide all those items into categories: garbage, donate, and organize later.
Fix That Microfiber Couch in a Flash
When Julie of 551 East Design discovered that her child had taken a pen to her microfiber couch, she feared she may have to buy a new sofa. But thanks to a little rubbing alcohol and a white sponge, she was able to save her furniture and plenty of money!
