11 cleaning tasks that take only 5 minutes or less

I love a clean house. It makes me happy and calm. A messy house is a messy mind, in my opinion, and that makes me feel stressed. Keeping it clean without feeling dread or overwhelmed is easy when I take a couple of minutes every day (or several times a day) to clean something. That’s why I came up with a list of 11 cleaning tasks that take only 5 minutes or less.

Taking a few minutes for some quick tasks each week can make a big difference in having a clean home. I’m not talking about dirty dishes, a load of laundry, or even cleaning the inside of the microwave. Those, like kitchen countertops, are all things we always keep clean. 

I’m talking about a to-do list of things you know you would like to stay on top of, but they can easily be forgotten, like cleaning your washing machine. It’s so easy, but easily forgotten or put off for another day.  

Why are some of these things important?

A little maintenance can go a long way. Well-maintained appliances will last longer. Taking on quick cleaning tasks like the ones I’m about to mention is an easy way to keep a clean house all the time. Sure, every house needs a good deep cleaning every few weeks, but the little things take a small amount of time, like a five-minute burst several times a day or week. That way, I’m ready for last-minute guests at a moment’s notice!

1. Load the Dishwasher with Everything but the everyday dishes

Utensil Crocks and Jars

Once I empty the dishwasher in the morning, about once a month, I load it up with the utensil crocks and the stainless utensils. The jars sit next to the stove and can get pretty grimy. I lay all the utensils on the top rack.

Glass Canisters

Take everything out of the glass canisters, pour the contents into bowls, cover them with plastic wrap to keep them fresh, and set aside. Place the empty canisters in the dishwasher. Mine are always full of smudges and greasy fingerprints. This is also a good time to freshen the canisters if the flour has been opened for a long time or the brown sugar is dried out.

Hood Vent Screens

Remove the vent screens or grease filters from your range hood, and either hand wash them or put them in the dishwasher top rack.

2. Maintain Wood Cutting Boards and Spoons

Use food-grade mineral oil to clean and protect wood-cutting boards and wooden spoons. Using a clean cloth and mineral oil takes little time to clean and preserve your wood-cutting boards and utensils. And they look richer when they are well-oiled. I try to do this once a month and even a little more during the holidays when we cook more often. I never put wood spoons in the dishwasher, but they still dry out over time and with everyday use.

3. Polish Copper and Silver

This is more of a personal preference thing, but I do keep a few copper pots on a rack above my range, so cleaning them with a little soapy water and then polishing them with Wright’s Copper Polish is something I do every couple of weeks. Copper tarnishes easily, but bringing it back shiny and clean is a joy! I love to rehang, and what a difference a little cleaning and polishing can make for old copper pots and utensils.

I use Wright’s Copper Cream and Wright’s Silver polish to clean my vintage copper and silver flatware, bowls, candlesticks, and even Tiffany jewelry.

4. Get Rid of the Extra Catalogs and Magazines

I have a basket where I keep a few catalogs and magazines; before I know it, it’s overflowing. This takes less time than just about any of the projects mentioned, but you may have a full bag to put into the recycle in a matter of a few seconds! 

5. Clean Out the Utensil Drawer

This won’t take much time, but it’s necessary occasionally. I simply empty the drawer and wipe it with a damp cloth, removing any crumbs that have made their way into the otherwise neat and tidy drawer.

6. Clean Light Switches

Depending on the size of your house and the amount of light switches you have, it may take you a little more than five minutes. I use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser that I’ve cut down to size. I’m embarrassed to show you how dirty they get from cleaning our light switches!

7. Use a Lint Roller on Upholstered Furniture

Even if you don’t have pet hair, you might need a lint roller for your upholstered furniture. I use this lint roller on our sofa and lampshades.

8. Clean Plant Leaves

Just like any flat surface, plants collect dust. I use an old pair of gloves to clean the broad leaf plant leaves carefully. I use a plant-based all-purpose cleaner that’s safe to use on everything. If you don’t have an old pair of fleece gloves, you can buy gloves intended for dusting.

9. Clean the Electric Tea Kettle

Clean your electric tea kettle with white vinegar. Use about 1/2 cup of white distilled vinegar to two cups of water. Bring to a boil in the kettle, rinse, and repeat if necessary. Rinse several times and then boil a kettle with just water and rinse to ensure no lingering vinegar smell before using for tea.

If your kettle has a lot of build-up like ours did, to descale your kettle, you can also use one tablespoon of citric acid (found in the canning section at the grocery store). Add it to the bottom of the kettle, and add enough water to cover the bottom. Bring to a boil. Turn it off and allow it to sit for 20 minutes. Then rinse and boil a kettle of plain water.

10. Clean the Washing Machine

I clean my machine every month. I try to do it the first few days of the month. It’s so easy to clean your machine with all-natural ingredients that you probably have on hand.

The good news is that your machine will last longer if you take care of it, and your clothes will be cleaner!

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11. Clean the Kitchen Trash Cans

Every few months, I like to clean out my kitchen trash cans. I do line them with plastic bags. However, they still get dirty. If it’s warm outside, I take them to the yard, wash them with soapy water, and dry them out. In the colder months, I wash them in the sink. This keeps them clean and smelling fresh.

Here’s a list of the Cleaning Supplies I use 

• White vinegar
• Baking soda
• Mr. Clean Magic Erasers  
• Wright’s Copper Cream and Silver Polish  
• Sprayway glass cleaner
• Bar Keeper’s Friend
• Glass spray bottle
• Long-handled lint roller for furniture and rugs
• Scrub & Throw all-natural sponges
• Microfiber cleaning cloths
• Dusting gloves
• Citric acid  
• Thieves all-purpose cleaner*
• Lemon essential oil*

*A note about Thieves all-purpose cleaner. I use Thieves to clean everything from countertops to floors and even windows. I love that it’s an all-natural plant-based cleaner with no harmful chemicals. You can use my link to buy a 14.4-ounce bottle of concentrate that will last for a long time. You only need a capful in a 16-ounce bottle mixed with water. 

*I also recommend lemon essential oil for cleaning. It’s amazing for many things, but especially for getting sticky residue off a surface or removing stains on surfaces or clothing. And it smells so good! Here’s a link for the lemon essential oil I use.

I hope you enjoyed reading 11 cleaning tasks that take only 5 minutes or less. Let me know what I missed, and I’ll add it to the list.