The thing with cleaning hacks is that sometimes they just don’t work and may even leave you with a bigger mess than you started with. Not ideal! If you’re going to spend time cleaning your house, you actually want to have something to show for your efforts, right?

We want to help! So we’ve rounded up 50 of our most brilliant cleaning hacks — including the easiest and laziest way to de-clutter your home, the secret to getting roast remnants out of your Dutch oven, and the DIY vacuum attachment that lets you reach the teeniest cracks and crevices. Ready, set, clean!

No need to go out and buy a special cleaner just for your stainless steel appliances. One of your pantry staples — olive oil — will do the trick! A little dab on a microfiber cloth or paper towel is all you need to keep those appliances looking shiny and new.

Is your fridge starting to smell not so great? After your make your morning pot of coffee, don’t throw those grounds away! Coffee contains nitrogen, which helps to neutralize odors, so leave them on a baking sheet to dry and place them in a small bowl. Then just put that bowl in the fridge and let it do all the work.

Let’s be honest. The space under your oven probably never gets cleaned, and that’s likely because you don’t know how to even get under there. Well there’s an easy trick that will make cleaning that crevice a breeze. Did you know you can remove the bottom drawer? Once its removed, you can clean under there with spray, vacuum, whatever you’d like!

Cooking with an air fryer is super easy and efficient, but the clean up can be a little less fun. Rather than taking all the parts out and scrubbing each one individually, just soak your air fryer basket in baking soda, dish soap, and hot water for about 10 minutes. It’ll be sparkling clean in no time!

You know that little slot in between your oven and countertop that just seems to eat all crumbs and food splatters? If you’ve never tried to clean that hard-to-reach spot (trust me you’re not the only one), try this hack. Wrap a butter knife with a wash cloth and you have the perfect tool for cleaning those nooks and crannies!

When life gives you lemons, use them as a natural way to clean your microwave. Measure about 1/2 cup of water into a cup or bowl. Slice a lemon in half and squeeze the juice into the water. Drop the lemon halves into the bowl. Place the bowl in the microwave and nuke on high power for three minutes so the liquid comes to a boil. Let stand for five minutes. Do not open the microwave door; the steam trapped inside will help loosen food gunk. Once the timer buzzes, then you can wipe it down!

Washing oven racks in the sink can be annoying and messy — especially if you have a smaller sink. Clean them in the bathtub instead. Our method even does most of the work for you — literally while you sleep.

No need to scrub your blender — let it clean itself! Fill your blender about halfway with warm water, add a drop of dish soap, and whiz away. If your blender has buildup or is looking a bit dull, you can also add a drop of vinegar or lemon juice.

Got any old toothbrushes lying around? Before you throw them out, use them to make this clever DIY hack to clean your oven racks. Simply tie two toothbrushes together and get to scrubbing. The tool makes it easy to attack grime from all angles, making this task a breeze.

Turns out, the humble dishwasher tablet can be used for so much more than just cleaning dishes. We love it as a tool for cleaning ovens. Even toilets. Seriously.

Is your wooden cutting board starting to smell like onions or garlic? Get rid of those pesky lingering odors with lemon. Slice one in half, then sprinkle some salt on your cutting board, and scrub it with the cut side of the lemon. It’ll be smelling fresh in no time!

It’s very easy for your kettle to accumulate mineral build up even though water is the only thing you’re putting in it. To break that build up down, simply pop a few lemon slices in your kettle and boil water in it. (This hack also works to clean your coffee pot!)

If you have hard water where you live, you may find that the faucet on your kitchen sink or even your shower head gets clogged from time to time. Just soak the faucet in vinegar, then let the water run. It’ll clear up on its own.

Finding your drain a little slow to, um, drain? Squirt a little dish soap down there and run the hot water. Dish soap is formulated to cut through grease. Usually that grease is on your dishes and cookware, but it can also accumulate in your drain and pipes.

According to Reddit users (and confirmed by us here at The Kitchn), oven cleaner really can remove cooked-on grease and other stubborn residue from the outside of enamel Dutch ovens, without damaging the color or finish.

You know that sponge you use to clean the dishes with? And the other sponge you use to wipe down the walls? Keep track of which one is which with this smart trick: Just cut off the corner of the sponge you use for the dirty work. Now you’ll never get them mixed up again!

If you have a stainless steel sink, the best thing to clean it with is already in your cabinet: flour! Wash and dry the sink, sprinkle the whole thing with flour, then get to polishing. You’ll be surprised at how sparkly the metal gets.

You know those mesh produce bags you get when you buy a dozen lemons? Or a bunch of potatoes? Well, don’t toss them! Instead, place an old sponge inside the bag, secure it with a zip tie, and clip the ends. Voila! You’ve got a DIY pot scrubber.

This method for cleaning your enameled cookware is so simple and effective. Just boil water, add baking soda, and give everything a good stir. After a few minutes of simmering, use a wooden spoon to scrape off any baked-on bits, and your Le Creuset will look as good as new!

Get that silverware looking shiny and new! Here’s what you need: a glass baking dish lined with aluminum foil or an aluminum baking dish, baking soda, salt, and boiling water. The science-project-like reaction should begin to remove the tarnish immediately. (Note: heavily tarnished pieces may need to soak a little longer.)

Do your coffee mugs have stubborn brown stains that just don’t want to come out? Try baking soda. Sprinkle some on the bottom of your stained cup, add just enough water to form a paste, and scrub. The gentle abrasion of the baking soda will get rid of stains in a matter of minutes. Simply rinse, wash, and enjoy that next cup of joe.

When you think of all the gross stuff that goes down your drain, it makes sense that it’ll start to smell eventually. Try this DIY drain de-clogger to keep your pipes clear of gunk and smelling fresh. Flush your drain with hot water, then slowly pour a cup of baking soda down. Finish it off with about a cup of lemon juice and wait for the fizzy chemical reaction.

If your sink still stinks and you have a garbage disposal, make a bunch of ice cubes from white vinegar and small chunks of lemon. Put one or two down the drain, and run your disposal. It’s an instant deodorizer — just don’t plop one in your cocktail.

Potatoes can do no wrong and are great in a wide variety of forms — including as a cleaner. Here’s how it works: Cut a potato in half, dip the cut end in dish soap or baking soda, and rub it over the rusted area. If the end of the potato gets slick, slice it off and dip the newly cut end. Repeat until rust is removed! (This hack works on other rusty things too.)

If there’s a space between your upper cabinets and your ceiling, consider lining the surface with sheets of wax paper. The wax paper acts like a magnet to collect dust and grime. You can change it a couple of times a year. Plus, it’s way easier than getting up there to clean the cabinets by hand. (Newspaper also works too and will decompose quicker in a landfill.)

Lots of recipes call for chopped garlic, and while delicious, you probably don’t want to smell like it all day long. There are tons of hacks out there for getting rid of the stink, but the easiest one is just rubbing your hands on your sink faucet, or anything that’s stainless steel.

Buff scratched dishes with a generous amount of cream of tartar and they’ll look as good as new. Just add a few drops of water and rub gently with a wet dishcloth. Let the dish sit for a minute or two, scrub, and wash the plate with soap and water.

You probably don’t microwave your sponges anymore (because it’s actually pretty ineffective), but you should zap your cleaning rag. Just make sure it’s damp before you put it in and figure out how long it needs to be nuked in order to be hot but not scalding. Once it’s steamy and hot, the rag will be way more powerful when it comes to cutting through messes in the kitchen.

It’s time to take out the trash and the last thing you want to do is rummage around for a new bag to replace it with. Or even worse — you forget and throw your trash directly into an unlined bin. Take the guess work out and just keep a roll stocked at the bottom of your can at all times for easy access. It’ll make the chore just a tad more enjoyable.

When was the last time you did a full wipe down of the shelves in your refrigerator? This often neglected task can be sped up by just putting them straight in the dishwasher. Less effort, cleaner fridge.

Before you toss that aluminum foil, crumple it into a ball and throw it in your dishwasher. The reaction between the foil and the dishwasher detergent will remove tarnish from your silverware and make it extra shiny.

Skip the dish rack — it takes up too much precious counter space — and use your dishwasher’s empty racks to dry your hand-washed dishes. Your dishwasher holds more than a dish rack, anyway, so you can clean a sink full of hand-wash-only dishes in no time.

The next time you go to run the dishwasher, gather up all those little items — water bottle tops, lids to tiny food storage containers, etc. — and put them in a mesh laundry bag. The bag keeps small and fragile items from getting lost in the fray, while still allowing hot water and soap to do their magic.

If you live in an area with hard water, you are probably pretty frustrated with dirty-looking dishes that come out of your dishwasher. Place a bowl right-side-up in your dishwasher and pour in some vinegar. Run the dishwasher — the vinegar will help combat that hard water so your dishes come out looking spotless.

You already know that you can use your dishwasher as a dish-drying rack (see above), but did you know there are all sorts of other things (besides dishes) that you can clean in your dishwasher? Flip flops, hairbrushes, sponges, plastic toys. Yup, they can all go in there.

Let’s face it — we don’t know why but our washer and dryers simply eat socks. The next time that happens, don’t fret. Use that mismatched sock as a duster instead. Since you can slide it over your hand, it allows you to better get into nooks and crannies or clean around fragile items that you wouldn’t be able to with a traditional duster.

Ever tried to clean your ceiling fan but all the dust just ends up falling all over the room — or even worse on you? Use a pillow case. Simply stand on a stool (or whatever you need to reach your ceiling fan), and slide a pillowcase fully onto one of the fan blades. Then pull the fabric so all the dust falls directly into the pillowcase. Repeat with each blade and you’re done! Just make sure your fan is turned off first.

A weird-but-effective way to clean your bathroom? PAM cooking spray. Not only will it remove soap scum from your tub, but it can also shine your faucets, clean your glass surfaces, and even stop your bathroom door from squeaking!

Here’s something we bet you didn’t know: Chalk is super-absorbent which makes it an excellent stain stick. Remove any excess food and oil from the soiled garment with a clean paper towel, and cover the entire spot with chalk. Then, before you toss your oil-stained item in the laundry, rub the spot with a little stain remover or laundry detergent, wash it in hot water, and voila! Your oily spot will be gone.

You may have seen this viral hack on TikTok but the verdict is in! You can give your sofa a refresh with just a dishwasher tablet, a pot lid, and a dish towel. Dissolve the dishwasher tablet in hot water, soak your dish towel in it, and wring it out to get rid of the excess water. Then wrap the towel around the pot lid, holding all the edges by the handle, and get to cleaning!

Garbage stinks. It’s a fact of life. But here’s a trick to make it a little less smelly — or rather, smelly in a good way. Take a cotton ball, soak it in essential oil, and drop it in your bin (underneath the liner or the bag). It’s an easy and inexpensive odor-fighter that helps keep your trash from getting too pungent. Your nose will thank you.

Technically meant to de-wrinkle your clothes, a steamer can also help make quick work of cleaning grimy stovetops, cabinet doors, and more.

We all know how annoying it can be to toss something in the trash just for the bag to slip and fall into the bin. Stick a Command hook to the outside of the bin and hook the trash bag on it to keep it in place and prevent unwanted messes.

The secret to a clean shower? Cleaning it on a regular basis. And the secret to cleaning your shower on a regular basis? Having a soap-loaded dish brush ready to go in your shower caddy.

It happens: You gesture a little too enthusiastically and down goes your wine glass. The big pieces are easy enough to pick up, but the tiny shards? Not so much. No fear — all you need is a slice of bread. Just press it gently over the glass and the little fragments will stick to the soft dough. (They don’t call it Wonder Bread for nothing.)

Your rubber kitchen gloves are good for more than keeping your hands protected while you do the dirty work. They’re also great for opening jars and getting rid of excess pet hair. Just slip on a glove and rub over whatever you want de-fuzzed. The rubber does a surprisingly good job of gathering up hair! Who knew?

There are so many things that dryer sheets can do — most notably the fact that soaking one in a pot can help un-stick burnt messes. You can also use already dried ones to clean up spills, or pop a few to freshen your trash can!

Chances are, your vacuum came with a bunch of different attachments. And chances are that even the smallest attachment still doesn’t help you with teeny-tiny crevices. Here’s how to fix that: Just remove the attachment that’s on your vacuum cleaner’s hose and put the top of a squeeze bottle in its place. Now you’re ready to tackle all those hard-to-reach spots.

If you’ve got little piles of clutter everywhere, a laundry basket is a brilliant way to consolidate all the things that are out of place. If you’re in a hurry (say, company’s coming), just stash the laundry basket out of sight; then when you have more time, put all the things in the laundry basket back where they belong.

Feeling overwhelmed by seemingly never ending list of chores you have to do? Set a timer and work until the buzzer goes off. You may finish the dishes early and, at the very least, you’ll know exactly how long you have to subject yourself to some mundane task. Plus you’ll feel more accomplished afterwards.

Phew! You made it to the end! Do you have any of your own hacks or tips to add?