(BPT) – Let’s face it — being an adult is hard. The overflowing laundry basket and tomato soup splattered microwave aren’t going to magically disappear. Whether you are graduating from school or moving out of home for the first time, with the fun of living on your own also comes the responsibility of keeping it tidy. But it doesn’t have to be all gloom and doom!

A few easy solutions and tips can make cleaning go by quickly and it can even be relaxing. Research findings show that simply by being in a clean space, 80% of people are more relaxed and 60% of people are less stressed. You may even find yourself heading to spin class more often or checking things off that to-do list because in a clean space 72% of people are more productive.

“Keeping your apartment or home clean makes it that much easier to be spontaneous and have people over without stressing about it! You can enjoy time with your friends and feel great about being independent,” says cleaning expert Mary Gagliardi, aka Dr. Laundry.

Bathroom cleaning easy as 1-2-3

When grout that used to be white is starting to look shades of gray or black, that may be mold. First, you may want to clean that shower more often, but when you do, make time to scrub the tiles. Mold can easily be removed with bleach. Rinse well with clear water and allow it to dry before showering.

And if you have a distinctive dirty ring around the toilet bowl, it’s time to give it a scrub. Cleaning faster than a toilet brush, Clorox ToiletWand disinfects to kill 99.9% of germs and the disposable heads power through tough stains.

Make dried toothpaste spills on the counter a thing of the past by keeping some Clorox Ultra Strength Disinfecting Wipes in an easy-to-reach place, allowing for easy clean-ups.

Keep your trash in check

Overflowing trashcans create a breeding ground for germs and attract bugs and critters. Wash garbage cans with soapy water and rinse. Then to deodorize and sanitize, swish a solution of 1/2 cup of bleach and 1 gallon of water inside of the trash can. Let the solution stand for 5 minutes before rinsing. Hint: Use this trick for coolers too.

Say bye-bye to stains

From yellow stains at the pits to food and wine stains from a great night out all over your best white T-shirt, learning how to do laundry is so much more than separating whites from bright colors. Using detergent alone can leave behind stains, dirt and unseen “body soil” made up of body oils, dead skin flakes and sweat. Adding liquid bleach to your laundry will remove more of this gunk than detergent alone, plus it gets rid of odor-causing germs.

While you are doing that load of whites with bleach, give a favorite pair of summer canvas sneakers a new glow with bleach and water. Use 1 tablespoon bleach added to 1 quart of water. Dip your toothbrush in the diluted bleach solution and scrub the shoes gently for 5 minutes. Rinse with warm water when you’re finished. And for your color load, turn to a bleach-free stain remover and brightener like Clorox 2 for Colors.

Make it pretty

“No home design project can truly begin without a clean start. You can really visualize the area you want to design better when it’s clean and organized,” says interior design expert and Clorox spokesperson, Sabrina Soto.

You don’t have to break the bank to make a space feel truly like your own. “My number one design tip that takes very little effort is to add fresh flowers or a potted plant to a room. Natural elements instantly bring harmony to a home,” adds Soto. “And if you’re looking to change things up in a space, I recommend colorful accent pillows. They can pull together your color scheme and breathe life into a space. Just play around with different scaled prints.”

Use these simple tips and tricks, and you’ll look like you’ve achieved some semblance of adulthood. For more tips, visit Clorox.com.