Cleaning doesn’t have to feel like a chore. Put on the right playlist and suddenly you’re not scrubbing the bathroom, you’re starring in a music video that happens to revolve around cleaning around the home. There are plenty of songs that make great cleaning companions simply because they’re upbeat, but there’s something especially satisfying about listening to a song that actually has cleaning-related metaphors in the title. From washing machines to soap, these 9 songs have perfect titles for a chore day playlist and bring a little extra motivation to your next cleaning session. 

1. “So Fresh, So Clean by OutKast 

Genre: Hip-hop / Southern rap 

If there were an official theme song for finishing your cleaning routine, this might be it. OutKast’s “So Fresh, So Clean” is built around confidence, swagger and feeling good about yourself—which is exactly the energy you need after you’ve finally cleared the kitchen counters. 

2. Washing Machine Heart by Mitski 

Genre: Indie pop / synth-pop / synth rock 

Mitski’s “Washing Machine Heart” may not actually be about doing your laundry, but it’s impossible to ignore that title when you’re standing in front of a pile of clothes that needs attention. The short, punchy song has an energetic, almost mechanical quality that makes it perfect for chores involving repetitive movement. Throw it on while sorting laundry, loading the washing machine or folding clothes and suddenly the laundry room feels a little more like a dance floor. 

3. Car Wash by Rose Royce 

Genre: Disco / funk / R&B 

You can’t make a list of cleaning songs without including “Car Wash.” Rose Royce’s 1976 classic was written as the theme song for the film Car Wash, and its relentlessly upbeat disco-funk groove practically demands that you get up and clean your own vehicle! 

4. Dance Yrself Clean by LCD Soundsystem 

Genre: Dance-punk / indietronica / alternative dance 

The cleaning instructions are right there in the title: dance yourself clean. LCD Soundsystem’s nearly nine-minute track starts deceptively quietly before exploding into a much bigger electronic section. That build makes it especially useful for a longer cleaning session. You’ll have plenty of time to get started before the song delivers the energy boost that makes you want to move faster.  

5. Clean Up Woman by Betty Wright 

Genre: R&B / soul / funk 

Betty Wright’s “Clean Up Woman” gives us another song where the cleaning terminology is front and center, but with a very different musical feel. Released in the early 1970s, this is a classic slice of funk-inflected R&B with a bright, lively groove that will amp up any house cleaning sesh’. 

6. No Scrubs by TLC 

Genre: R&B / hip-hop 

Here’s where the cleaning playlist gets a little cheeky. TLC’s “No Scrubs” isn’t about cleaning at all. A “scrub” in the song is slang for a guy who isn’t exactly bringing much to the table. But if you’re literally holding a scrub brush, the word suddenly feels extremely relevant. This 1999 hit is classic contemporary R&B with a confident groove to push you through laborious tasks around the house. 

7. Soap by Melanie Martinez 

Genre: Alternative pop / electropop 

Melanie Martinez’s “Soap” is another song where the cleaning connection is more metaphorical than literal, but the title makes it too good to leave off the list. Its electronic pop production gives it a slightly quirky, bubbly quality, making it a fun choice for washing dishes. 

8. Cleanin’ Out My Closet by Eminem 

Genre: Hip-hop / hardcore rap 

If you have ever looked at your closet and thought, “I need to deal with this,” Eminem has the soundtrack for you. The song is obviously not literally about organizing clothes, but uses the idea of cleaning out a closet as a metaphor for confronting and getting rid of emotional baggage. However, the title gives you a perfect excuse to finally tackle that closet you’ve been avoiding. 

9. Clean by Taylor Swift 

Genre: Dream pop / soft rock / synth-folk 

After all the scrubbing, sweeping and organizing, it’s time for something a little more reflective. Taylor Swift’s “Clean” uses the idea of being clean and free as a metaphor for moving on from a difficult relationship. Musically, it blends soft rock, synth-folk and dream-pop elements.  

The best cleaning playlist doesn’t necessarily have to contain songs that are literally about vacuuming, dusting and doing the dishes. Sometimes all you need is a word like clean, wash, soap, shower, scrub or laundry to make an ordinary song feel perfectly suited to the task. Whether you’re blasting OutKast while you mop, dancing to Taylor Swift while you vacuum or dramatically singing along to TLC while attacking the bathroom, the right soundtrack can make cleaning feel a lot less like work. So make a playlist, grab your supplies and press play.