How to Clean Whole House

Need to clean your entire house and don't know where to start? We've got you covered with the best, top, and newest projects on cleaning your house. Check out our slideshows and let your voice be heard on our discussion board. Watch a video or two while you're at it. We'll make sure you get your house in tip top shape in no time!

Removing Tough and Odd Stains

Clean Your House in One Hour

Plan your cleaning attack: The key to cleaning your house is to work logically. Work from room-to-room and top to down (e.g., clean countertops before the carpet).
Six-minute bedroom blitz: Start with the bedroom. Replace bed linen and wipe surfaces. Bedrooms are often uncluttered, so this should take around six minutes.
Seven-minute bathroom sparkle: Spray the sink and bath/shower and allow it to sit while you work on the toilet. Rinse the tub and sink, leaving the floor for later.
Clean a living room in 7 minutes: Living rooms can be cleaned in minutes. Start in one corner and dust surfaces from left-to-right. Vacuum chairs and floors to finish.
Re-using saves time and effort: Clean dishes and wipe the hob with warm soapy water. Rinse and reuse the sponge for the countertops. Mop the floor and reuse in the bathroom.

More cleaning categories

Top House Cleaning Projects

Take a look at our top projects on cleaning your house. Get rid of that dust!

How to Clean a Ceiling Fan Without Making a Dusty Mess

Imagine turning on your ceiling fan to have the rotating blades throw dust and pollen all over your room. Odds are, if you run your ceiling fan regularly and haven’t cleaned it in a few months, this is likely the case.Learning how to clean ceiling fans will keep that from happening. And, if your fan is wobbly when it’s on, excess dust build-up on blades and in the motor may be the culprit, according to Home Depot. If you have a lighted ceiling fan, cleaning it will help brighten up the room, too.It can definitely be daunting to look up and wonder how in the world you’re going to reach that contraption to get it sparkling clean; it might even be enough to keep you from using your fan.We gathered all the tips and tricks to make your ceiling fan an efficient source of refreshing air and bright light rather than a convenient perch for floating dust.Use Your Fan to Warm a RoomUse a ceiling fan to cool and warm a room. Switch the direction of your fan’s blades seasonally. Blades that turn clockwise warm a room because it’s pulling up warm air and spreading it around the room. Blades that turn counterclockwise cool a room because it’s pushing a downdraft of cooler air into the room.

How-To Guides

3 Non-Toxic Household Ingredients to Unclog Your Drain in 4 Easy Steps

The only time I remember to clean the drains is when water starts going down slowly. Then I freak out! (Plumbers are one of the least favorite people in my “contacts” list.) Sounds familiar? But keeping the drain clean ’n smooth is easier than you think: All you need to do is to use a couple of my two favorite cleaning ingredients regularly. So. Ready to save some money on plumbing? Read on to find out how to unclog a bathroom sink or tub!

Elena K, Hometalk Team

Get Rid of the Lime Scale Ring in the Toilet Bowl

With just a couple of simple ingredients and a little elbow grease, you can remove the unsightly black ring of lime scale that forms in your toilet bowl. This really works! All you need to do is pour some borax and vinegar into the water in the bowl. Let it sit for a while and then use your muscles and some sandpaper to remove it! No more ugly ring! Just a bright shiny toilet bowl! Use a foam sanding tool with a fine grit so you won't scratch the porcelain. What a difference!

Mary B

How to Remove Sticker Residue From Any Surface

By Alexa EricksonRemoving the sticky residue left behind after peeling off price tags, manufacturer's labels, and novelty stickers can seem like a major task to tackle. Sometimes, it seems easier to just leave behind the unsightly adhesive than it is to put in the elbow grease to scrape it away. The good news is, with a few tips and tricks, you can remove that bothersome sticky residue in no time. This guide will walk you through how to remove sticker residue from just about every surface.

Alexa

Easy and Effective Way to Clean Baseboards and Doors

With spring just around the corner, I like to get a head start on all of my spring cleaning chores. This way I can get some of the more nitty gritty jobs out of the way, and have more time to spend outdoors in the beautiful warm weather. One of my least favorite chores to tackle, is cleaning the baseboards and doors, but after a long winter with the majority of the familybeing indoors for long periods of time, they definitely need a good cleaning. I have tried several different methods and products over the years, however sometimes the simplest methods work the best, and in this case that holds true. Read below to find out my quick yet effective method for cleaning baseboards and doors!

Wren’s Little Nest

Quick Clean Your Window Screens

Who doesn't like to open their windows and breath in the fresh spring air? Get your windows ready for a change in season by cleaning your window screens without taking up too much of your time. No need for a hose, all you need is a bathtub for this one.

Julien K., Hometalk Team

Eco Wood Polish (Just 2 Ingredients!)

I'm always looking for great eco cleaning products that are cheap, easy to use, and non toxic, and this homemade cleaner is the best furniture polish I have ever used. It's made out of liquid (fractionated) coconut oil and lemon juice. Step 1: Gather Your Materials

Shawna Bailey

How to Clean Silver Easily With Baking Soda & Aluminum Foil

My tarnished silver was getting me down, but there was no way I was doing all that polishing! Instead, I decided to try this baking soda silver cleaning trick I've been seeing all over the internet. I'm sure you've seen it too, but there are several versions of it, and I wanted to know which version was the one that actually worked - and why. So, after doing some research, I chose to use baking soda, aluminum foil, and a pot of boiling water. Here's how...

Shawna Bailey

The Easiest Way to Clean a Burnt Pot or Pan - With Lemons!

I hate doing the dishes...like I really hate it. But there's one thing that makes doing the dishes truly unbearable and that's when food gets burnt to the bottom of a pan. Instead of fighting and scraping the pan til it's spotless, here's my favorite method to clean a burnt pot or pan. All it takes is a few cut-up lemons and water. The acid in the lemon and the boiling water get off all the really tough gunk, plus the lemons get rid of any burnt smell and replace it with a sweet citrus scent.

Shawna Bailey

How to Clean a Ceiling Fan Without Making a Dusty Mess

How-To Guides

3 Non-Toxic Household Ingredients to Unclog Your Drain in 4 Easy Steps

Elena K, Hometalk Team

Get Rid of the Lime Scale Ring in the Toilet Bowl

Mary B

How to Remove Sticker Residue From Any Surface

Alexa

Easy and Effective Way to Clean Baseboards and Doors

Wren’s Little Nest

Quick Clean Your Window Screens

Julien K., Hometalk Team

Eco Wood Polish (Just 2 Ingredients!)

Shawna Bailey

How to Clean Silver Easily With Baking Soda & Aluminum Foil

Shawna Bailey

The Easiest Way to Clean a Burnt Pot or Pan - With Lemons!

Shawna Bailey

House Cleaning Videos

Here you'll find videos to help you clean your house and get it sparkling in no time!

The Natural Cleaner Your Nasty Toilet Needs

I'm a huge fan of eco-cleaning products. With two little kids running around, I'm always looking for any natural cleaning product that cuts down on harmful toxins in my house and makes cleaning easier. And few cleaning products are as packed with toxins as toilet cleaners. Instead, I went to my pantry to grab supplies for this baking soda and vinegar cleaner. The result? My toilet has never sparkled like this!Start by gathering vinegar and baking soda from your pantry. You can also pick up some essential oil to add a fresh touch. Then, head on over to that dingy, dirty toilet...

Shawna Bailey

Dawn Dish Soap Hacks

Dawn is great for cleaning dishes - did you know it's great for other things too? I have used it to clean my carpet, as a laundry spot cleaner, and here are a few more ways I wanted to share with you... You can see more of my crazy creations here

Chas' Crazy Creations

Copper Cleaning Hacks

I have some copper pots and a strainer that are just plain dingy looking. I decided to try a bunch of copper cleaning hacks to see what would work best to clean it. You can see more of my crazy cleaning and organizing hacks here

Chas' Crazy Creations

Unclog a Toilet Without a Plunger

This is the coolest trick to unclog a toilet. It's so much cleaner than using a plunger. I can’t promise it will work every time for you, but it worked every time I tried it. All you need is dish soap and hot water.

Shawna Bailey

Hometalkers' Favorite DIY House Cleaning Projects

Looking for the best projects on cleaning your house? You've come to the right place.

How to Clean Window Screens Like a Pro

By Marilyn SyartoCleaning window screens is probably a must-do on your to-do list. But you may wonder—isn’t cleaning the windows enough? The screens actually protect your windows by grabbing all the dirt, dust, and pollen that gets blown around in the air during rainstorms, dust storms, and any other times during the seasons when allergens are floating in the air. But thanks to all of that protection, in the end, screens are a lot like bed pillows—they harbor all kinds of gunk and grime that you really don’t want to inhale.This guide will take you step by step through the best methods to clean your window screens like a professional.

Marilyn Syarto

How to Clean Blinds Quickly and Easily

By Judy SchumerTrendy window treatments get all the glory, but the hard-working blinds need a little bit of love now and then too. Knowing how to clean blinds will not only make your home look cleaner, but getting rid of dust, dust mites, pet hair, dirt, and grime that can build up on your blinds makes for a healthy home.While the thought of cleaning all those horizontal or vertical surfaces may make you want to hyperventilate, there are easy ways to clean blinds. Most of the time, you won’t even have to take them down.Whether they’re vinyl, wood, or fabric, you can get your blinds sparkling in no time with just a few tools and DIY cleaners. This guide will show you how to clean blinds when they’re dirty and how to keep your blinds clean for the long run.

Judy Schumer

4 Hacks for How to Clean Out a Candle Jar

By Brooke RessellFinding a candle with just the right scent is one of the quickest ways to upgrade your decor and create a cozy vibe at home. From a pleasant lilac bouquet in the spring to a beachy perfume in the summer, a cinnamon fragrance in the fall, and a pine aroma in the winter, candles are a must-have in every season.Of course, you eventually get to the end of the wick and the candle just won’t stay lit anymore. But nowadays, candles come in such gorgeous jars it feels like such a shame to just throw them away. The good news is that you can actually clean out candle jars quickly and easily, giving them a whole new life. And who doesn’t like a good DIY project for repurposing materials you already have at home? Here’s our guide to cleaning wax out of a candle jar after a candle burns out.

Brooke Ressell

How to Clean AirPods in a Few Steps

By Alexa EricksonApple AirPods have made listening to music, podcasts, talking on the phone, and more that much easier. The wireless earbuds connect to your phone using Bluetooth, so you can slip your phone in a bag or pocket and enjoy hands-free entertainment and communication without a tangled cord getting in the way. Aside from having to charge the earbuds, AirPods couldn’t be more convenient.Like any high-tech investment, AirPods aren’t cheap, however, and should be treated with care to protect their integrity. One of the most overlooked ways to keep them working well is to clean them. This guide will teach you everything you need to know to get your AirPods clean—and keep them that way.

Alexa

How to Clean a Burnt Pot or Pan Easily Using Household Items

If you have a burnt pot or pan, don’t throw it out! Although it may feel like a disaster at the moment, it’s not a hopeless situation. You may have had the heat on too high under your white sauce or forgot to tend to your steamed vegetables which created the blackened mess, but now you have the chance to learn a new skill—how to clean a burnt pot.If you’ve scoured the internet (no pun intended) to find solutions to clean a burnt pot, you'll have found plenty of ways to clean scorched cookware. But in this simple guide, we’ll get right down to the way that’s proven the best while offering tips and hacks for handling the more difficult cases. If you’re interested in experimenting, we’ll even let you in on a few alternative ways to bring your stainless steel, cast iron, or yes—even a non-stick pot or pan, back to life.Disclaimer: Hometalk may receive a small affiliate commission from purchases made via Amazon links in this article but at no cost to you.

Marilyn Syarto

How to Clean Silver and Keep It From Tarnishing

By Alexa EricksonSilver is a staple in home decor and fashion. From flatware and plates to platters and jewelry, silver is everywhere. The silver you know and love is broken into two categories: sterling silver and pure silver. Sterling silver is a combination of 92.5 percent silver and 7.5 percent alloy (usually made of copper or zinc), while any item made of fine silver is made of 99.9 percent pure elemental silver. (Real silver is usually stamped with a marker like "999" or ".999" or "99.9" to indicate that it’s 99.9 percent silver.)This guide will teach you techniques for how to clean silver, both pure and sterling. You’ll also learn the best tips for caring for silver, and how to keep it from tarnishing so you can keep your silver treasures safe and clean.

Alexa

How to Clean Window Screens Like a Pro

Marilyn Syarto

How to Clean Blinds Quickly and Easily

Judy Schumer

4 Hacks for How to Clean Out a Candle Jar

Brooke Ressell

How to Clean AirPods in a Few Steps

Alexa

How to Clean a Burnt Pot or Pan Easily Using Household Items

Marilyn Syarto

How to Clean Silver and Keep It From Tarnishing

Alexa

Popular House Cleaning Discussions

Got something to say? Let us know on our popular discussions board on house cleaning.

Black scratch marks on sink

/> Vicki Wagner

We have a new white porcelain sink and somehow someone made marks that look like scratches, but you can't feel them, it's just that they are visible. I have tried everything to clean them, but nothing works.Best tough stain removerWhen everything else fails this Bar Keepers Friend is the cleaner that Amazon reviewers swear by!

View discussion

How to steam clean blinds?

/> Danielle Segev

Hi, I was wondering if it is possible to clean blinds with a handheld steamer and what process I should follow.

View discussion

How to get my cat to stop peeing on the bed?

/> Danielle Segev

My cat keeps peeing on my Egyptian cotton sheets. I have tried using vinegar and bicarb to eliminate the smell and then washing them in the machine but nothing seems to remove the smell and stain. Even after I have washed them he will pee on the sheets again. I would love some help!!!

How to get my cat to stop peeing on the bed?

View discussion

New House Cleaning Projects

Peruse our collection of new house cleaning projects to whip your house into shape.

How to Wash Silk Pillowcases So They Stay Soft and Smooth

By Sharon BrandweinComing in at upwards of $50 per case, silk pillowcases are a bit of an investment. To be honest, though, we spend one-third of our lives sleeping, so when you think about it, there is perhaps no better investment than your bedding.And while they may be a bit pricey, you may find that silk pillowcases are actually worth the purchase. This sleek and silky indulgence comes with some serious beauty benefits like keeping split ends and frizzy hair at bay, and they might even be good for your skin. Not too bad for a pillowcase, right?But, price tag aside, silk pillowcases require a bit more TLC than your run-of-the-mill cotton cases, which can be a deal-breaker for some. Silk has a low wet and dry resiliency, which means it wrinkles easily when wet and doesn't recover well, either. That's not to say that washing a silk pillowcase at home is impossible; it just means that you'll need to know how to do it right. If you’re not sure whether you want to make the switch to Team Silk Pillowcase, we have all the deets ahead.This guide walks you through everything you need to know about silk pillowcases: why they’re so great, how to care for them, and how to keep them looking like new even with regular use.

Sharon Brandwein

How to Clean Fireplace Brick Soot Marks and Grime

By Stacey KelleherIf you love the look of your brick fireplace, but find it’s a bit dingy and discolored lately, it probably needs to be cleaned. Over time, dust and soot collects on brick not only inside the firebox but also on the front-facing bricks, dulling the beauty of what is one of the most beautiful fixture’s of a home. Because bricks (and mortar) are porous or full of tiny holes that trap dirt and ash, you can’t just wipe the soot away with a damp cloth—you’ll need something a little stronger.Here are a few tried-and-true methods to deep clean your fireplace bricks, along with tips to reduce soot buildup in the future so you can cuddle by the fire without worry.

How-To Guides

6 Tricks to Get Coffee Stains Out of Mugs

By Sharon BrandweinDevout coffee lovers would likely tell you (and anyone who’ll listen) that coffee tends to wear many hats. In addition to being the perfect companion to a good book, coffee is also a warm, delicious way to shake off the cold and a great power-up for the 2 pm slump. And while it’s hard to argue that coffee is chock full of robust flavors and aromatic goodness, it has one drawback: stains.If given the opportunity to sit for a minute or ten, coffee will definitely leave behind a (not so pleasant) reminder that it was there. If they’re honest, coffee lovers will also tell you that their favorite mugs bear the telltale signs of a healthy coffee habit.While stains are almost a given, rest assured that there are a few ways to remove them and restore your favorite cup. This guide covers cleaning coffee stains from cups using some tried and true pantry staples.

Sharon Brandwein

How to Clean a Wood Cutting Board, Disinfect It, and Lift Pesky Stains

By Hannah TwietmeyerIt may just look like a slab of decorative wood on your countertop, but cutting boards are actually quite complex. They often aren’t listed somewhere between the Instant Pot, KitchenAid mixer, or Keurig when it comes to our favorite products, but the truth? Your cutting board is one of the most important gadgets in your kitchen.Wood cutting boards are not only great kitchen accents, but they’re also designed to perform hand-in-hand with sharp cutlery every time you need to chop, slice, or julienne — all while being battered with stains from your grocery haul. Tough stuff! A quality wood cutting board isn’t cheap either, which is why it’s so important to take care of the one you have.To help, we’ve put together a list of things you should be doing to clean, wash, and disinfect your wood cutting boards below.

How-To Guides

How to Clean a Wood-Burning Fireplace With Ease

By Stacey KelleherNothing compares to the warmth and crackle of a wood-burning fireplace, especially on a chilly night. If your fireplace gets a lot of use, it's important to clean it properly to keep it safe and working efficiently.A dirty fireplace will send ash, soot, and debris into your home, and leave unsightly stains around your hearth and mantle. It’s equally important to clean your wood-burning fireplace chimney and remove creosote residue to prevent chimney fires.With a bit of time, a few tools, and some elbow grease, you can keep your cozy fireplace burning smoothly all winter long. Here are all the steps, tools, and materials you need to clean and maintain your wood-burning fireplace and chimney.

Stacey

How to Clean Walls With Flat Paint and Get Rid of Stubborn Marks

By Hannah TwietmeyerColor aside, choosing interior paint for the walls in your house can feel overwhelming. Durability is another characteristic to consider when it’s time to paint your walls, and with that comes the detailed talk of paint finishes.Generally speaking, flat paint is a popular choice for coating interior walls due to its matte nature, high pigment, and ability to absorb light, which means no reflections. However, flat paint isn’t the most durable of paint finishes; it’s more prone to scuffs or scratches than high-gloss paints.High-gloss paints are also easier to clean when it’s time to scrub down the walls and rid them of the unavoidable marks and scrapes (via Glidden). Flat paint needs a little more special treatment; scrubbing too hard can wear down the paint faster, making for a splotchy finish.If you have flat paint coating the interior of your house, don’t panic. There are still ways you can clean them without ruining the color on your walls. This guide will help you identify flat paint and then walk you through the gentle approach to cleaning flat paint walls.