Whether you’re a newbie cleaning enthusiast or have taken pride in keeping your home in tip-top shape for decades, it’s never a bad time to brush up on some valuable cleaning hacks that will come in handy on your next big chore day.

Here, we spoke with three experts who share some of the underrated cleaning hacks that they wish more people knew of and utilized in their own homes. Best of all, these hacks are inexpensive and easy to adapt overnight.

Using Vinegar in the Dishwasher—and Beyond

By no means is vinegar just for cooking—it can come in handy while cleaning in a number of different ways, but one of Jenna Arkin’s, the chief innovation officer at ECOS, favorite hacks is using it in the dishwasher.

First, you will want to fill a bowl with a cup’s worth of white vinegar and place this on the top rack of your dishwasher while running a hot cycle.

“It cuts through grease, dissolves buildup, and keeps everything smelling fresh without harsh chemicals,” Arkin says.

But that isn’t all, Arkin notes, explaining that vinegar will keep working its magic in other ways during the cleaning cycle by helping your glassware come out spot-free and works wonders for hard water spots.

Carylanne Brown, senior Grove guide at Grove Collaborative, adds that cleaning vinegar and white vinegar are both great to have on hand and highlight some of their other uses around the house. Brown explains how it can work on a multitude of surfaces like floors and windows and help break down soap scum. Better yet, she adds, unlike ammonia and bleach, vinegar is non-toxic.

“You can still keep your home sparkling clean with vinegar without worrying about exposing yourself, your family, and your pets to harsh chemicals,” Brown says.

Want more cleaning and organizing tips? Sign up for our free daily newsletter for the latest hacks, expert advice, and more!

Microwave Your Sponge

Most people will throw away their sponges every week or two. However, you can work to extend your sponge’s usability by trying this simple cleaning hack: microwaving it for just one minute, Arkin shares.

“It kills most germs and extends the life of your sponge,” she says, noting that you will want to make sure your sponge is completely metal-free before putting it into the microwave. It’s also a sustainable way to reduce waste, Brown says.

Turn Cleaning Into an Entertaining Task

Do you find yourself dreading any and all types of home cleaning tasks? You can easily work to make tackling chores a bit more fun by playing some background entertainment, Maria Mooney, non-toxic cleaning expert and executive brand director at Truly Free Home, says.

“Turn on your favorite podcast or show while tidying up to make the process more enjoyable,” she says. “It’s a great way to multitask, stay engaged, and make cleaning feel less like a chore.”

Declutter on the Go

Your cleaning days may not feel as overwhelming if you’re making a consistent effort to declutter your space all throughout the week.

“Whenever you enter a room, take one item that doesn’t belong and put it back in its place,” Mooney says. “This small effort adds up over time, keeping your home consistently tidy.”

Best of all, keeping up with this habit means that you won’t find yourself scrambling as much as you may have previously when you receive notice of last-minute guests or need to have a worker come by for an inspection.

Skip Single-Use Products

Passing up single-use products is an eco-friendly step that will still allow you to maintain your usual cleaning routine, Brown explains.

She likes to make use of durable dispensers that can easily be refilled as well as concentrated solutions or water-free formulas, including cleaning powders and laundry sheets.

“By opting for these alternative solutions and formulas as well as reusable or refillable systems, you minimize your reliance on single-use plastics and decrease the carbon footprint associated with transporting water-heavy products,” Brown says.