Those hangers-on who cozy up to the bosses, lavish praise on them. Those same people who, unfortunately, often get the promotion over those who don’t do well at office politics.

But the suckup success rate lends credence to the idea that there may be something to being the office brown-noser.

Yet what if you just don’t have it in you to volunteer to wash your manager’s car?

Don’t worry. There are more effective ways to curry favor with your boss, without drawing the ire of your colleagues.

Barb Lakin, account manager at the branding company Brainstorm, says it’s not about laughing at the boss’s jokes, but being honest and sincere.

“If your schmoozing is over the top, the boss won’t believe you,” she said. “Your efforts need to be genuine.”

Find a real connection with your boss — namely common points of interest, be it kids, sports or video games. Then, focus on the topic in casual conversation.

“Take an interest in their interests,” she said. “Chat them up in casual office settings.”

But if you really want to make headway, produce. Make them look good to their boss, and you’ll look good to yours.

“Communicate what you’ve accomplished, milestones in your project, or goals reached. Give them something positive to report,” Lakin said.

Sonda Sorg, branch manager at Robert Half International, said that active participation in extracurricular activities — those “team builders” that everyone hates — also goes a long way.

“You always want to be a team player,” she said.

This attitude extends to your colleagues as well. Don’t push them under the bus just to get a leg up. If you disrespect your co-workers, your boss will notice — and bitter peers don’t translate to office harmony.

The best way to get in good, though, is to make your boss’s job easier.

“If you see something that needs to be done, do it,” Lakin said. “Don’t wait to be asked. Then, casually mention it to your boss. ‘Oh, that? I already took care of it. It’s off your plate.’”

Your boss will love you, and you’ll be in her veritable circle of trust.

And you won’t even have to wipe your nose off.