11 low-effort tricks for a cleaner house

Cleaning has become an unlikely social media obsession . From viral “reset” routines to fridge organisation and deep-clean transformations, “CleanTok” now has billions of views on TikTok. Professional cleaners and home experts now attract audiences once reserved for beauty influencers.

But while many Britons feel inspired to tackle their homes during summer, the warmer months can also make cleaning harder: heat, humidity, dust, pollen and lingering smells can all build up faster.

Lynsey Crombie, also known as the Queen of Clean, says the hotter months can increase mould , musty smells and, of course, sweaty clothes. The expert and author of The 15 Minute Clean , who starred on Channel 4’s Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners 15 years ago, has built a following of 345K on Instagram by sharing her practical cleaning hacks. Here, she shares the tips she lives by.

Clean your washing machine every 30 uses

A study of 1,000 UK residents by Domestic & General revealed that almost one in ten Brits have never cleaned their washing machine, yet it could be grubbier than the toilet seat.

Crombie says how often we need to clean the machine depends on how many washes the household does, but she recommends cleaning it every 30 uses. “If you do a wash every single day, you should average once a month,” says the expert, who sets an alarm on her phone for the first of every month to remind her.

“At this time of year, now it’s getting hotter, mould can build up quickly, so make sure to always leave the door and drawer slightly ajar for around 10 minutes and let it dry out before closing it.”

She tries to stay as eco-friendly as possible and uses soda crystals to wash out the drum of her machine. “You need 500 grams, pour it directly into the drum and run the hottest wash. If you haven’t cleaned your machine much, you may find that sludge comes through the holes of the drum, so it’s a matter of repeating it again or running a quick rinse cycle with some white vinegar to clean it out.”

But what about if you’ve left your clothes in the machine and forgot about them? Take them out the next day and dry them as normal? Crombie says that after an hour to 90 minutes of clothes sitting damp, you should run a quick cycle again before removing and drying them to avoid smells.

And for hand-wash items, only use the machine if you have a quick rinse, cold water cycle or specialised hand washing one.

White vinegar can clean most things

The pantry item is Crombie’s go-to. She primarily uses it to descale the kettle and taps and deodorise places in her home. “It’s great for washing sportswear and gym kits. Always pre-soak them in water with white vinegar to break down odours, or use it to refresh fabrics.

White vinegar is also a great stain remover, and Crombie recommends it for fake tan and tough marks.

“People hate the smell, and I get that, but it dispenses after 10 minutes. It cleans everything; everybody needs a bottle in their cleaning caddy.”

Table salt is great for tough stains

When it comes to spilling red wine on the carpet, she says the myth of pouring white wine on it does not work. “You need cold water and ice cubes to soak out the stain.

“Then use the salt you put on your dinner, rub it into the stain and leave it overnight. The next day, rub washing up liquid in and wash it as normal.”

Cold water can be better than hot

“Imagine you have a wooden floor and you’re chucking buckets of hot water in like people do on TikTok. What you’re doing is damaging the floor, making it expand, stretch and cause gaps. Cold water is much better, and if you’re using the right floor cleaning product, it’s still going to be clean.”

During hot days, Crombie says to avoid cleaning with hot water altogether to avoid adding humidity to the home. “There’s a big argument about this one, but I think cold water and bleach also work better than hot water and bleach.”

Use a lemon for hard water marks

For hard water stains, Crombie has her favourite home hack. “ White vinegar does work well if you use it regularly but if the marks are really stubborn, get a juicy lemon, cut it in half and sprinkle bicarbonate of soda onto one side to make your own scrub. Don’t worry if pips come out, leave it on for 30 minutes and rinse it off. It’ll be beautiful.”

Wash towels after three uses

One debate that Crombie comes across often is how often we should replace towels. “I don’t think we need to wash them every single day,” she says. “Thinking of the environment and the fact you’re clean after a bath or shower, I would keep it to every two to three uses. Every use is more washing and more strain on the environment.”

It’s important to dry them correctly, whether they’ve been washed or not, though. Crombie leaves them in a room with an open window so it dries properly before its next use.

Clean hotspots daily

Every day, Crombie cleans what she calls the “high traffic areas” of her home. Every day she vacuums the hallway, cleans her toilets and sinks, and…