No one wants to clean in this heat. Things are sweaty enough as it is without scrubbing limescale off the shower door or mopping scuffs and stains from the kitchen floor. So, we postpone the chores, telling ourselves that we’ll tackle them as soon as the weather cools. The problem is, we’ve been saying that for the last month and our delaying is starting to take its toll on our homes.
Surfaces are caked in clutter, dust bunnies blow across the hallway like tumbleweeds and the sweat is starting the catch up with the bed, resulting in gross yellow stains. The question is, how can we rectify all this while the temperatures are still hitting 30 degrees around the UK? That’s why we’ve pulled together this list of 7 low-effort ways to clean your home in the heat – so you’ve got a solution you can rely on throughout the summer.
1. Switch up your routine
Your standard cleaning routine isn’t going to work in this heat – it needs time and energy that you just can’t give right now, and the conditions in your home are far from normal. So, you need to step back and reconsider your priorities.
Ask yourself which chores mean the most and will make the biggest difference to your day. Those should be at the top of your to-do list. Then, consider the order of things, so there’s not too much physical exertion at once. This will help you to create a new reliable routine, which is more realistic in a heatwave. Remember, even if you don’t get everything on the list, it’s better than doing nothing at all, and feeling guilty about it later.
2. Work with the weather
Next, you need to consider the time of day you clean. It feels strange at first, but you need to start cleaning in the early mornings and late evenings to take advantage of the cool air outside. This will make your home cooler, which in turn makes it easier to clean.
It’s even worth taking a look at the weather forecast and finding the coolest days over the next week so you're strategic. Whatever you do, avoid cleaning at peak times of the day (between 12pm and 4pm), which will tire you quickly and put you off the work.
3. Remember to take breaks
Even with this new cleaning routine, it is still essential that you have regular breaks. In fact, seeing that the conditions will likely be hotter than you’re used to, breaks are all the more important.
Depending on the manual labour involved, you can easily become dehydrated, tired and then give up on the process altogether. So be sure to schedule in regular breaks to switch off, reward yourself and appreciate the work you’ve done so far.
This is essential when you’re decluttering. It’s all too easy to pull everything out, make a mess and then feel overwhelmed and defeated – especially in this heat. So declutter bit by bit, or shelf by shelf, and break up the work for the best mindset.
Here's 7 things to declutter during the week to get you started.
4. Take advantage of the sun
You might be a little fed up with the sun by now, but it does have its advantages come laundry day! One thing the sun and steep temperatures are good for is drying laundry. What would take days to fully dry in the winter can take mere hours, whether you dry outside or indoors. That means, there really is no excuse for a laundry bin that never gets fully emptied.
Empty it out completely and break it up into pre-planned wash loads, e.g. whites, colours, denim, delicates, sportswear etc. Then mark the days you plan to run them in the diary and stick to them. In the meantime, you can use duvet covers and pillowcases to contain each load in the hamper. If you have somewhere to hang items outside, the suns UV rays can help to brighten whites, disinfect as well as deodorise, so use them while you can!
Right now, you’ve also got the ideal conditions for drying bedding, rugs and curtains, so it’s worth washing these awkward items while you can!
5. Buy the right tools
Some cleaning tools leave you wiping the sweat from your brow. But others do make life easier by taking away the elbow grease. Electric cleaning brushes are such a tool; it’s essentially a large and powerful electric toothbrush that does the scrubbing for you.
These devices are handy for removing limescale from around the sink, mould from the detergent drawer housing, and even burnt-on grease from the oven floor. The GHI’s current winner is the Bosch UniversalBrush with a score of 93/100.
You can also get hard floor cleaners which vacuum as well as mop – two chores for the price of one! The work is much easier compared to the manual scrubbing and bucket manoeuvring that comes with a traditional mop. The GHI’s current winner is the Vax ONEPWR Glide 2 Hard Floor Cleaner, with a score of 97/100.
Of course, you could also invest in a robot vacuum and mop to do the work for you. The GHI has tested a range to find those with the best pick-up that leave floors streak-free. However, you should avoid tools that will amp up the temperature, such as steam cleaners and garment steamers, for obvious reasons.
6. Give the cleaners time to work
A small point but an important one. If you want to make life a little easier as you clean, give your cleaners time to work – they’re designed to be used as such. With a bit of time, they’ve got more of a chance to dissolve the stain. Whereas, if they’re wiped away pre-emptively, they won’t be as effective and you’re just making more work for yourself.
So apply the cleaner, leave it alone for as long as recommended by the instructions, and then return for an easier chore.
7. Ask for help
There’s no need for you to struggle alone in this heat. If you really need help, voice your concerns to other household members. Tell them what chores would mean the most for them to help with and delegate the workload where possible.
Children can help with smaller jobs, especially where it involves their rooms and toys. You can create a reward system for encouragement, such as choosing family days out and movies for movie night. You can also play music or podcasts during for entertainment.
The GHI’s Best Cleaning Products 2026
Score: 95/100
No one likes having to deal with a dripping mop, but Leifheit’s spin technology means you can say goodbye to puddles. You simply push the mop into the sturdy basket, press the handle and it will make light work of anything from spillages to nasty stains. The microfibre swivel head can get into every nook and cranny and the bucket also has wheels for speedy cleaning from room-to-room.
Score: 89/100
Claiming to be tough and long-lasting, our team found these double-sided sponges effective at removing grease and expert at cleaning items such as glasses and cutlery that typically trap food or grease in their grooves. The sponges are also easy to clean in the washing machine or dishwasher (in the top drawer), keeping them bacteria-free.
Score: 87/100
This all-in-one washing machine sprucer is designed to eliminate odours, remove detergent and grime from the drum, and leave the machine’s surface sparkling. Our panel found it delivered on its promise.
Score: 91/100
Our best oven cleaner scored full marks for its performance in the lab. Burnt-on food melted away from the racks with ease after soaking, needing just a quick rinse to get rid of all the residue. It was a similar story on the base of the oven, which was left shiny and spotless with minimal scrubbing required – something other oven cleaners often struggle with.
