11 Diwali Cleaning Hacks That Don't Require a Week Off

Diwali means light, guests, and that feeling when the home looks sharp for puja. You don’t need to clear your calendar for a week to get that shine. Instead, use short, focused blocks, household staples, and quick decisions to make rooms feel festive in minutes. These eleven hacks are built for busy households—people who balance work, commutes, and family roles like Dadi’s kitchen duties or weekend tiffin prep. Each hack lists what you need, step-by-step instructions, a clear time estimate, and one pro tip so you can act fast. Most methods rely on common items: baking soda, lemon, white vinegar, salt, and a soft cloth. Those ingredients are gentle on surfaces yet powerful enough to remove stains, grease, and mineral buildup when used correctly (see India Today and MoneyControl for tested approaches). Where a task asks for a short soak, plan it while you do another quick chore so minutes overlap. For renters, these hacks avoid heavy changes; for homeowners, they remove the visible grime that guests notice first. The goal is practical results, not perfection: a bright puja corner, sparkling glassware, tidy entryway, and fresher textiles will lift the whole house. Read the list, pick two or three hacks for today, and finish the rest across a couple of evenings. You’ll have a festival-ready home without the burnout.

1. 15-Minute Kitchen Utensil Refresh

Materials needed: baking soda, lemon juice, hot water, soft scrubber, dish soap. Start by sprinkling a generous layer of baking soda over the burnt or stained area. Add hot water and a few tablespoons of lemon juice to make a fizzy paste. Let that sit for about 10–20 minutes to loosen char and stains. After soaking, scrub gently with the soft scrubber until the burnt layer lifts. Rinse thoroughly and dry with a clean cloth to avoid water spots. Time estimate: 15–20 minutes, with active scrubbing time under ten minutes. Pro tip: if the pot is severely scorched, bring water and baking soda to a simmer for five minutes before letting the mix cool; this helps lift stubborn carbon. This natural method avoids harsh chemicals and keeps steel and non-stick surfaces safer when used with soft scrubbers (India Today recommends lemon and baking soda combinations for burnt cookware). Use this while other items soak, so your time overlaps and you finish faster.