The 6 Most Dreaded Cleaning Chores (and How to Make Them Easier)

Out of more than 2,000 reader responses, these chores ranked as the least favorite.

We polled our readers on their most dreaded cleaning tasks. Out of more than 2,000 comments, six chores came out on top. Any guesses?

Chances are the most dreaded cleaning jobs won’t come as a surprise, but finding ways to make them, dare we say, enjoyable—or at the very least, less loathsome—might make all the difference. Here are the most dreaded cleaning chores, plus how to make them easier.

1. Dusting

The overwhelming winner of our chore poll was none other than dusting. Dusting ceiling fans, blinds, tabletops, and even clearing out cobwebs are all jobs most of us would rather put off for the foreseeable future (or forever), but unless we want to live in a sneeze-inducing environment, staying on top of dusting is essential.

To make quick and efficient work of the job, start on your highest surfaces and work your way down. Use a dusting rod to reach tall or hard-to-reach spaces like ceiling fans and blinds. And don’t forget to dust on top of door moldings, framed art, and electronics. To eliminate dust without lifting it in the air, you can use a vacuum attachment with a brush or dusting rod with fibers designed to trap and lock dust.

Vacuuming frequently, replacing your air filters regularly, and even keeping your windows closed can all help reduce dust so you can take on this task a little less often.

Related: Why Is My House So Dusty? 4 Common Causes of Dust

2. Ironing

Surprisingly, it's not the actual job of laundry that seems to plague most of us, but instead, the ironing. Some choose to knock it out as needed, while others consider it the final task in the laundry process, while still others choose not to even own an iron at all. Whether you're a frequent ironer or find yourself in the no-iron camp, there are a few things you can do to help keep your clothes less wrinkled, making quicker work of the process.

Ensuring you don't overstuff your washing machine or dryer can help reduce wrinkles. Taking your clothes out of both the washing machine and dryer promptly will also make a big difference. Try to be mindful of fabric care when you are buying clothes, too. Opting for low- to no-iron fabrics can help reimagine your closet into a no-iron-needed haven if ditching the iron altogether is your goal.

Related: We Put 30 of the Best Steam Irons to the Test—But These 6 Are Actually Worth Buying

3. Vacuuming

Vacuuming can be a workout, to be sure. Dragging the vacuum from room to room, moving furniture, and lugging it up and down the stairs are just a few of the reasons why this chore usually falls into the least-loved category. Robotic vacuums have lightened the load for some, but most still rely on manual vacuums weekly, if not daily.

So, how can you make the job just a little easier? Consider vacuuming by zone. Make sure your main living space is vacuumed most frequently—whether that means daily, every other day, or once a week depending on your particular needs and lifestyle. From there, do a quick check of the bedrooms, baths, and less-frequented spaces, vacuuming as needed. You might even choose to do a full-house vacuum once a week while the living room, kitchen, and dining room are vacuumed every morning or evening.

You can also invest in a stick vacuum to speed up more minor vacuuming jobs. Zipping a stick vacuum around high-traffic areas once a day can cut back on the frequency of full-house cleans.

Related: How Often Should You Vacuum? Here's What the Pros Say

4. Cleaning the Kitchen

When it comes to cleaning the kitchen, we're not talking about a few errant dishes. It's the serious cleaning of appliances like the fridge, stove, oven, and microwave that have us wishing we could call in the pros instead. Crusted-on food, expired produce, and grease splatters are all things we'd rather not have lurking around every nook and cranny, but how to best get rid of them and keep them from coming back is another battle all together.

Like many of the tasks on this list, staying on top of kitchen cleaning can make all the difference. Wiping down your stovetop and microwave daily will keep these appliances in top shape so that a deep clean is less frequently needed and requires less muscle. Cleaning out your fridge before every grocery run (or at least once a week) will keep your shelves organized and also cut back on food waste.

Once a month, commit to a full fridge and freezer clean where you remove everything and wipe down the shelves, drawers, and baskets. Do this and you'll be on your way to a fresh kitchen year-round.

5. Cleaning Bathrooms

While bathroom cleaning didn't clock in quite as high on our list of dreaded chores as one might expect, it still made its presence known—specifically when it comes to scrubbing toilets and tubs. One way to make this job a little easier is to create a cleaning schedule, while also committing to daily wipe-downs.

Once a week, give all your bathrooms a thorough cleaning, including showers, tubs, floors, toilets, sinks, and countertops. This can help reduce soap scum, mold and mildew buildup, and other messes that get tougher to remove if left over time. Check toilets, sinks, mirrors, and countertops daily and wipe them down to keep your spaces fresh. Stay on top of this schedule and suddenly your weekly bathroom clean won't be quite so daunting.

6. Changing Bed Linens

Is it the folding of the fitted sheet that makes this task so mundane? Regardless, changing out bed linens is a necessary part of a weekly cleaning routine. Make it easier by sticking to a schedule where you clean linens on a particular day. It’s best to avoid adding this task to a day where you have another arduous chore like bathrooms already scheduled.

Opt to wash and remake beds using the same sheets, which cuts back on fitted-sheet folding, or have an extra set ready to replace the sheets the second you peel off the soiled linens. Choose the path that feels right for your home and process. From there, consider using a lavender linen spray between washes to help make your sleep space a sanctuary and prolong the just-washed freshness.

For more Better Homes & Gardens news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on Better Homes & Gardens.