Hate housework? Try these 10 speed-cleaning tips

Some people love to clean and glory in gleaming porcelain, burnished wood and sparkling glass. For most of us, though, cleaning is a time-eater and anything but fun. Try these speed-cleaning tips to ease the pain and improve your results:

1. Mop windows clean. If you have tall windows, chances are you dont clean them very often, and when you do, its not easy. If you dont have the time or inclination to drag out a ladder for those hard-to-reach spots, try this trick instead: Take a cleaning pad mop and fasten a microfiber cloth to the mop head. Spray lightly with a quality window cleaning spray, then mop your windows until they shine.

2. Dont let scratches detract from your furniture. Simple fixes such as lemon oil will camouflage scratches and gouges. Dont have any lemon oil? Just grab a walnut and rub it into the scratch. The nuts natural oils will do the job.

3. A smelly sponge makes your whole kitchen smell. Whats more, a sour sponge is riddled with bacteria. For sweet sponges all the time, buy a wire sponge caddy to store sponges odor-free. Plastic sponge holders dont let enough air circulate, and sponge never lie flat.

4. Save grease-stained clothes. Did a stick of lip balm go into the wash and stain your clothes? Carbonas Laundry Devil No. 5 for grease will cure those garments of their oily affliction.

5. Dust-busting secret. Baseboard cleaning is easier and more effective using a dryer sheet. The anti-static properties help keep dust and animal hair from accumulating on your baseboards.

6. Organization is key. Use bread bag clips to mark electrical cords. Upended hairspray caps can fill in the space between drawer organizers and corral tiny items like swabs, bobby pins, medicine tubes and flossers.

7. Keep the fridge fresh. Line vegetable crisper drawers with newspaper, then top with old placemats. The paper will absorb odors, and the placemat will keep produce dry and can be tossed in the wash when its dirty.

8. Stale linens? Refresh your linen cabinet and closets with a homemade odor-chaser. Take a canning jar and punch holes in the lid, fill the jar half way with baking soda and add 10 drops of essential oil, such as lavender or eucalyptus. Your closets will smell fresh and clean again.

9. Baby oil your metals. To make stainless and chrome shine, add a small drop of baby oil to a microfiber cloth and polish until shiny. Use a drop of baby oil on a straight pin to unkink knotted necklace chains, and use it in a pinch to silence squeaky door hinges.

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Hate housework? Try these 10 speed-cleaning tips