You don’t have to spend all day mopping, dusting and vacuuming to have a clean, tidy house. By sneaking in these quick cleaning shortcuts throughout the day, you’ll keep clutter at bay and feel in control of your surroundings.

Blinds: Anyone who’s ever tried to clean blinds individually knows how time-consuming and tedious the task is. To remove surface dust in a jiffy, use your vacuum’s hand-held attachment instead of a cloth. This is also a quick way to remove lint, pet hair and dust from draperies and headboards.

Electronics: Television and computer monitor screens are magnets for dust. A used dryer sheet doubles as an effective duster for screens, with the added bonus of removing static electricity to prevent attracting more dust.

Upholstered Furniture: No time to vacuum up lint and pet hair? A lint brush or damp rubber glove are handy tools for quick touch-ups.

Carpets: If you’re pinched for time, vacuum only the most highly trafficked areas each week. Seldom-used rooms can be done bi-weekly or on an as-needed basis.

Floors: To apply floor wax quickly and easily, try using a paint roller on an extended pole.

Baseboards: Walk around the perimeter of the room and use the handheld vacuum attachment to remove dirt and debris from along baseboards.

Downtime: Waiting for a pot of water to boil? Take the opportunity to organize a refrigerator shelf, wipe spatters off the backsplash or clean out the microwave. After a week of these quick mini-cleanings, you’ll be amazed at the difference in your kitchen.

Quick Rinse: Rinse dirty dishes and stack them in the dishwasher as you prepare meals. This will eliminate a sink full of dirty dishes and cut down on the amount of post-dinner cleanup.

Refrigerator: Every week on the day before trash collection, take a moment and go through the fridge, discarding anything you’re unlikely to use or that has less than a single serving left. You’ll prevent unsavory smells and will make more room for the bounty from your next grocery shopping trip. (This is also a great time to make a shopping list, as you take note of what’s running low.)

Bags: Keep extra trash bags in every room that has a garbage can. When you notice the can is on the full side, you can easily swap out for a fresh liner. For bigger cans, you can store the roll of trash bags in the bottom of the can for easy accessibility.

Wipes: Keep pre-moistened cleaning wipes at strategic locations for quick cleanups, along with plastic grocery bags in empty tissue boxes. After using the wipes, you can toss them in one of the bags for easy disposal.

Nightly Routine: Every night before turning in, take a couple of moments to tidy up the bedroom: carry drinking glasses back into the kitchen, clear dressers of miscellaneous debris, and put remote controls and coasters back in their designated spots. Your days will begin on a brighter note when you wake up to a clean room.

Nightstand: Cut down on the amount of reading material that accumulates on the nightstand — keep only a select few books and magazines, storing the rest in the bookcase.

Looking Good: After brushing your teeth at night, do a quick wipe-down of the mirror, counters and sink basin.

Shower Power: Keep a bottle of tile spray cleaner in the shower. After showering, spray all surfaces to prevent dirt and mildew buildup. For tubs, do a quick rinsing after each bath.

Wash as You Go: In between errands or during a TV show, try to squeeze in a couple loads of laundry throughout the week to avoid a huge pile on the weekend.

Keep It Clean: When throwing in a load of dirty clothes, take a moment and wipe down the top and sides of the washer and dryer with a wet rag, then toss the rag into the washer.