Do you hate to clean? Household chores can be time consuming and tedious. Before you start scrubbing, check out these essential home cleaning tips to save you effort and time. Whether you wash your home religiously or only put in effort when you have company, you'll wish you knew these cleaning hacks sooner!
Transform your routine with homemade cleaning solutions
Save money and limit your use of expensive chemical-based cleaning supplies by using homemade solutions.
- Create an easy, all-natural, and all-purpose surface lemon cleaner with borax, citrus peels and vinegar. The solution is effective for cleaning any kitchen or bathroom surface, such as counters, stoves, refrigerators and non-wood cabinetry. The fresh lemon scent will freshen up the air as well.
- Make natural-based cleansing wipes by combing equal parts filtered water and white distilled vinegar (about 3/4 to 1 cup) with essential oils in a mason jar (any glass container is fine but avoid plastic). Add cut pieces of cloths to jar to absorb the mixture and wring out the rag to eliminate excess liquid before use.
- Used dryer sheets can work magic around your house. Use them to buff water spots from mirrors, fixtures and shower doors. You can also use them to wipe baseboards clean.
- Fill a burnt pan with water and a cup of white vinegar. After bringing it to a boil, remove it from heat and add two tablespoons of baking soda. Let it cool before wiping the mixture and burned debris off your pan.
- Make an all-natural toilet cleaner by combining vinegar and baking soda. Pour the mixture into your toilet and allow it to sit for about 15 minutes. Scrub the sides of the toilet with a toilet brush and flush-you will be left with a pristine bowl without the help of harsh chemicals.
Expand your cleaning routine with unconventional methods
- Remove stains from microfiber with alcohol. Get stains out of your microfiber furniture easily with rubbing alcohol. Fill a bottle with alcohol and spray the stained area liberally. Using a white sponge (colored ones could transfer the dye onto furniture), rub the stain off the fabric. Once the area dries, utilize a white bristle brush to smooth the fibers.
- Remove water rings from wood with a hair dryer. No matter how often you ask guests to use a coaster, you'll inevitably end up with unsightly water rings. Don't worry, your wood isn't ruined. First use a towel to soak up any excess water, then set your hair dryer on high to dry the area.
- Remove pet hair with a squeegee. Removing pet hair from carpeted floors is a difficult and frustrating task. Make it easier with a squeegee-brushing tool across your floors to easily gather up pet hair.
Tips for cleaning your kitchen
Keeping your kitchen clean doesn't have to be a back-breaking chore -- these easy cleaning hacks will help you keep the room and kitchen appliances spotless by using common household products.
- Clean your blender the easy way. Dread cleaning your blender? Fill it with warm water and a drop of dish detergent. Turn on blend for several seconds and rinse well. Let the blender dry without the lid to avoid mildew and mold growth.
- Unclog your drains. Food bits, soap deposits and other gunk can cause clogs in your kitchen sink pipes. Prevent pesky clogs by periodically pouring boiling water down your drain. This will keep your pipes clear, so you can wash your dishes without your sink overflowing.
- Cleaning your microwave with vinegar. Don't scrub haplessly at crusted food stains in your microwave -- use vinegar to make them disappear. Fill a microwave-safe bowl with one to two cups of water and two tablespoons of white vinegar and set microwave for five minutes. The steam loosens the food particles and stains on your microwave's walls so that you can simply wipe the inside clean with a moist towel.
- Clean cutting boards with salt and lemon. Remove build-up from your wooden cutting boards easily with this cleaning hack. Halve a fresh lemon and pour a large amount of salt onto the cutting board. Scrub off food residue with the lemon vigorously until the board is clean. Rinse with plain water and allow to dry.
- Clean glasses with vinegar and paper towels. Are unsightly water spots on your glassware making it look dingy and dirty? Make glasses sparkle with this easy hack. Soak several paper towels in white vinegar and wring out any excess liquid. Wipe down your glassware with the paper towel to eliminate the film, then rinse and let dry.
- Use flour to clean stainless steel. Cleaning stainless steel can leave behind unsightly spots and streaks. Make your stainless steel surfaces and appliances shine easily with flour. Apply the flour to a clean rag and gently buff the steel surface. Use a second clean rag to wipe the steel clean for a sparkling, smudge-free surface.
- Cleaning your dishwasher. Dishwashers are difficult to clean because of the many hard-to-reach places. Make yours spotless quickly and efficiently by filling a measuring cup with vinegar and placing it on the top rack. Run your dishwasher cycle on the highest temperature and then add some baking soda on the bottom. Run the cycle again on high. The reaction caused by the vinegar and backing soda will make your appliance's interior shine.
Tips for cleaning your bathroom
Cleaning the bathroom is a dreaded experience for most. Try some of these bathroom cleaning hacks to make your bathroom glisten with little effort and no harsh chemical products.
- Clean shower heads without scrubbing. Sick of scrubbing your shower head to remove soap scum build-up? Fill a plastic bag with white vinegar and secure it around your shower head using twist ties or a rubber band. The next morning, simply run cold water through your shower and to rinse away the gunky build-up that loosened overnight. Eliminate stubborn remainders with a toothbrush dipped in vinegar.
- Use cooking oil spray to remove soap scum. Can't get rid of scaly soap scum in your shower? Try this odd but effective hack. Grab a can of non-stick cooking spray and liberally spray down your shower. Allow the spray to sit for several minutes before wiping the shower clean. To eliminate slips caused by the oily spray, be sure to use a bathmat when showering.
- Scrub the tub with grapefruit and salt. Get rid of unsightly stains and make your tub look new. Sprinkle the inside of your tub liberally with salt. Halve a grapefruit and scrub the salt into the tub.
- Use tea to clean bathroom mirrors. Eliminate smudges and streaks on your bathroom mirrors easily and effectively with black tea. The tannins in tea work miracles in making your mirrors shine. Simply brew a pot of tea and allow it to cool for a few minutes. Then soak a lint-free rag in the tea and wipe your mirrors till clean (this works great for windows too).
- Clear clogged drains. Pesky clogs causing your shower drain or bathroom sink to fill up with water? Avoid harsh drain cleaners and remove clogs with this simple trick. Drop four Alka-Seltzer tablets into your drain and pour in one cup of distilled vinegar. Wait 10 minutes, and finish with boiling water.
- Make your tile shine. Remove grime and buildup from your bathroom tiles with 1 cup of kosher salt, baking powder, and Borax. Combine the three ingredients in a jar and shake vigorously. Sprinkle the mixture on your tiles, and scrub with a sponge. Rinse to reveal sparkling clean tiles.