Deep Cleaning Hacks for People Who Hate Cleaning

By Attique Ur Rehman December 11, 2025

If you hate cleaning, you’re not lazy—you’re just human.

Scrubbing skirting boards, washing walls, moving furniture… it all sounds exhausting. The good news? Deep cleaning doesn’t have to be a big, painful, all-day mission.

With the right hacks, you can get your home genuinely clean using short bursts of effort, smart tools, and “lazy” strategies that still work.

In this guide, we’ve put together deep cleaning hacks for people who can’t stand cleaning, but love the feeling of a fresh, tidy home.

💡 Want a basic weekly routine as well? Check out our post on creating a simple weekly cleaning schedule that doesn’t take over your life.

Rule #1: Think “Micro-Tasks”, Not “Deep Clean Day”

The phrase “deep clean” already sounds exhausting. So don’t think in terms of an entire house; think in micro-tasks you can do in 5–15 minutes:

Clean one drawer, not the whole kitchen
Scrub one shower, not all the bathrooms
Dust one room, not the whole house

This way, you’re always making progress without needing a massive burst of motivation.

Try this:
Make a list of 10–15 “tiny deep clean” tasks (e.g., “wipe skirting boards in hallway”, “clean under the couch”). When you have 10 minutes, pick one and just do that.

Hack 1: Let Products Do the Hard Work

If you hate scrubbing, let chemistry be your friend.

In the bathroom

Spray your shower, taps and tiles with bathroom cleaner or a vinegar solution.
Leave it to sit for 10–15 minutes while you scroll your phone or make tea.
Come back, lightly scrub, then rinse.

The soaking time does most of the heavy lifting, so you don’t have to.

In the kitchen

For greasy oven trays or racks:
- Put them in the sink, add hot water and dishwashing liquid, and walk away for an hour.
- Come back and wipe; the grime will be much easier to remove.

🔗 If your kitchen needs extra love, see our guide on how to deep clean your kitchen without feeling overwhelmed.

Hack 2: The “One Basket” Method for Clutter

Clutter makes deep cleaning feel impossible. You can’t mop floors or dust properly if every surface is covered.

Instead of trying to put everything away perfectly:

Grab a laundry basket or large tub.
Walk through each room and throw anything that doesn’t belong there into the basket.
Once the surfaces and floors are mostly clear, do your quick deep-clean tasks.
Later (or another day), sit with the basket and put things away while watching TV.

You’ve separated cleaning from organising, so it feels less intense.

Hack 3: Focus on High-Impact Areas Only

You don’t need to deep clean everything to make your home feel dramatically fresher. Focus on high-impact spots that make the whole place look better:

Entryway (floor, door, and a quick wipe of switches)
Bathroom surfaces and mirrors
Kitchen counters, stovetop, and sink
Living room coffee table and visible skirting boards

If these look clean, your home feels 80% better—even if the spare room is chaos.

🔗 Doing an end of lease or moving soon? You might need a more complete clean. Check out our End of Lease / Bond Cleaning guide.

Hack 4: Use Timers (So You Don’t Lose Your Soul)

If cleaning feels endless, your brain will resist even starting.

Set a 10-minute timer on your phone and promise yourself you’ll stop when it rings.

You’ll be surprised how much deep cleaning you can do in tiny time blocks:

10 minutes: wipe skirting boards in one room
10 minutes: vacuum under beds and couches
10 minutes: quickly wash inside microwave, oven door, and stovetop

Once the timer goes off, you can stop guilt-free. If you feel like continuing, that’s a bonus—not an obligation.

Hack 5: Deep Clean While Doing Other Things

“Double-duty cleaning” is ideal if you hate setting aside separate time.

While you shower

Keep a magic eraser or sponge in the bathroom.
While your conditioner sits, quickly scrub one wall or the shower floor.
Rinse before you get out.

While dinner cooks

Wipe down cupboards or clean one drawer while you wait.
Quickly scrub the sink or splashback while something is in the oven.

While you’re on the phone

Dust shelves, door frames, or light switches as you wander around.

Small actions add up, and you avoid “cleaning sessions” altogether.

Hack 6: Use the Right Tools (So You Work Less)

If you hate cleaning, the wrong tools make everything worse. A few smart upgrades can cut your effort in half:

Microfibre cloths: pick up dust better than old T-shirts and leave fewer streaks
Extendable duster: lets you clean ceiling fans, lights and corners without climbing
Scrub brushes with handles: save your back, especially in bathrooms
Vacuum with attachments: great for edges, skirting boards, vents and upholstery

🔗 For a full house approach, see our deep cleaning checklist for busy households.

Hack 7: “Zone” Deep Cleaning – One Area Per Week

Instead of trying to deep clean the entire home in one weekend (which usually leads to burnout), create zones:

Week 1: Kitchen
Week 2: Bathrooms
Week 3: Bedrooms
Week 4: Living areas & hallway

Each week, pick 2–3 deep-clean tasks in that zone only. Over a month, you’ll have rotated through the whole house with minimal pain.

Hack 8: Cheat with Covers & Shortcuts

If you honestly hate cleaning, build your home in a way that needs less of it.

Use washable couch covers you can throw in the washing machine instead of scrubbing upholstery.
Put mats at every entrance to reduce dirt tracked through the home.
Use baking paper/liners in ovens and air fryers to reduce scrubbing.
Choose darker bathroom mats and hand towels, which don’t show every mark.

The less mess you make, the less deep cleaning you’ll need to do.

Hack 9: Have a “Company-Ready in 15 Minutes” Routine

For people who hate cleaning, the real nightmare is surprise guests.

Create a quick, high-impact routine that takes 15–20 minutes:

Throw clutter into a basket and hide it in one room.
Wipe bathroom sink, mirror, and toilet seat.
Clear and wipe kitchen benchtops.
Fluff cushions and fold throws in the living room.
Do a fast vacuum on main walkways.

Then, when you have more time, you can go back and do targeted deep-clean tasks without panic.

Hack 10: Know When to Call the Professionals

Sometimes the most efficient “hack” is to not do it yourself at all.

If you:

Work long hours
Have a big family or share-house
Are moving out or preparing for an inspection
Have let things go for a while and feel completely overwhelmed

…it might be time to call in help.

Professional cleaners can tackle:

Full deep cleans
End of lease / bond cleans
Post-renovation or new build cleaning
Regular maintenance cleans so things never get out of control again

🔗 Want to skip the hard work? Learn more about our professional deep cleaning services and let us handle the heavy lifting for you.

Simple “Deep Cleaning Starter List” for People Who Hate Cleaning

If you only do a few things this month, make it these:

Clean the shower and bathroom sink properly
Wipe kitchen cupboard doors and handles
Dust and wipe skirting boards in your main living area
Vacuum or mop under beds and couches
Clean light switches and door handles (germ hot spots)

Even this small list can make your home feel significantly fresher.

Final Thoughts

You don’t need to love cleaning to have a clean home.

By:

Breaking tasks into tiny chunks
Using the right tools and products
Focusing on high-impact areas
Letting the pros help when needed

you can keep your space comfortable and presentable without sacrificing your weekends—or your sanity.

Start with one small hack today. Your future self (the one not tripping over clutter or staring at soap scum) will thank you.