Most people think that you need all sorts of fancy cleaning products to keep the home looking sparkling and smelling fresh. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Follow these 30 cleaning tips and you’ll get the job done faster than you ever thought possible. It will cost next to nothing too. From the secrets of salt to the many benefits of lemon juice, this list has all of our favorites.
Learn how to clean your house today using these several common household items that you probably already have laying around. Plus, you’ll uncover several different cleaning hacks for things like doing laundry, removing stickers from new items, and polishing gold jewelry.
Source:
Monfocus
1. Chalk works great for removing grease stains from wallpaper and clothing.
All you need is a little bit of white chalk. Simply rub the chalk over the grease spot, let it sit for five minutes, and then wipe it away with a damp cloth. It’s best to hit the grease stain with the chalk as soon as possible after it occurs in order to have the best chance at success.
Source:
eliza28diamonds
2. Clean a brass surface using lemon juice and baking soda.
Over time, brass has a tendency to get darker and darker. Try mixing the juice from half a lemon with a tablespoon of baking soda, then rub the mixture on the brass surface. It will have it shining like new again after you rinse it off.
3. Clean a grill with a white onion.
Slice the onion in half, then rub it across the grates on the grill while they are still hot. If you are worried about burning your fingers, you can stab the onion first with a long fork and then use that to maneuver it back and forth on the grates.
Source:
ArturLuczka
4. Pretreat a carpet stain before a deep clean.
Combine 1/4 cup borax, 1/4 cup salt, and 1/4 cup vinegar. Massage it into any stains on the carpet, let it dry, and vacuum the powder back up. Then steam clean the carpet or wash it with water to remove any remaining residue.
Source:
Stephani Spitzer
5. Remove crumbs from a knife block with a vacuum cleaner.
It’s pretty much the last place people think to vacuum. However, the crevices in knife blocks often get filled with crumbs, and crumbs lead to bacteria. If you use your vacuum cleaner’s crevice tool, you can suck them right out. A hairdryer works to blow away any remaining food dust that’s leftover.
Source:
Sabrinakoeln
6. Olive oil is useful for polishing wood.
“Olive oil has great health benefits but it is also very useful around the home. Pop a few drops on your duster and use it to polish your wooden furniture,” writes Lynsey Queen of Clean on Instagram.
7. Ice cubes can eliminate furniture marks on the carpet.
You know those little indentations that end up pressed into the carpet after furniture sits on it for a long time? Get the carpet to puff back out by putting ice cubes on those spots. As the ice melts, it will gradually absorb into the carpet fibers and force them to swell back up.
Source:
TheHappiestDogThatEverDogged
8. Create your own reusable cleaning wipes.
The demonstration video shows just how easy it is. Put a few pieces of old fabric in a big jar. Pour in 1 cup of boiling water, 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol, and 2 tablespoons of dishwashing soap. If you want to add some scents to your cleaning cloths, you can add a few drops of essential oil as well.
9. Washing a frying pan when it’s cold will help to preserve it.
If you throw a nonstick pan straight into the sink after cooking while still hot, it will cause any remaining food residue to get burnt to the pan. This means more scrubbing to get it off which will result in the surface of your pan not lasting as long.
Source:
kropekk_pl
10. Use soap flakes and boiling water to clean upholstery.
You’ll need about 6 tablespoons of soap flakes per pint of boiling water. Let the mixture cool into a gel. Then run it through a mixer or blender to get it nice and foamy. The foam can be applied to a couch or other upholstery as a cleaning solution.
Source:
Arcaion
11. Clean the insides of vases with eggshells.
After rinsing the inside of the vase or bottle with warm water, toss a couple of cracked eggshells in there. Pour in a drop of dish soap, then shake aggressively. The eggshells will hit all of those impossible to reach edges. Rinse the vase out again afterward.
Source:
Pezibear
12. Clean stuffed animals with baking soda and cornstarch.
The mixture works for any plush stuffed toys. Combine two parts baking soda with one part cornstarch. Fully cover the toy with the powder inside a Ziplock bag, then shake it. Vacuum off the remaining powder after.
Source:
Pexels
13. Hairdryers can remove stickers from new purchases.
If a price tag or barcode sticker is still stuck to the sides of some of your new dishes or glasses, just hit it with a hairdryer. Direct the hairdryer at the price tag for around 45 seconds. It should heat up the corner enough so that peeling it off is easy.
Over two years old and the price tag is still stuck on the bottom of my boot.
by inmildlyinteresting
14. Talc powder is the secret to lifting oil stains.
Any oil or grease stains that settle into your fabric won’t be easy to get out. However, talcum powder can certainly help. Let it sit on the stain on your clothes overnight, then toss the item in the washer in the morning.
15. Clean gold jewelry with beer.
Soak a cloth in a light beer like a lager, then polish away. Clean and dry the jewelry afterward with a separate cloth. The beer will have your gold pieces sparkling again, just like when you bought them.
Source:
Nawalescape
16. Vodka is perfect for cleaning glasses and windows.
It has the ideal properties that we typically look for in a glass cleaner. It will clean your glass surfaces such as mirrors and windows without any risk of streaking. For extra oomph, try this recipe: 1 cup of vodka, 1 cup of water, and 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda.
Source:
Squirrel_photos
17. Clean baseboards without bending over using a broom.
Wrap a microfiber cloth around the base of a broom. You can attach it using rubber bands or string. Then simply run the broom along the baseboards and dust as normal.
18. Don’t forget to utilize hydrogen peroxide.
It’s an overlooked cleaner that is great for disinfecting surfaces in the kitchen, bathroom, and pretty much anywhere. Hydrogen peroxide is anti-bacterial and can stop mold and mildew dead in its tracks.
Source:
midascode
19. Add salt to your laundry to prevent colors from bleeding.
If you are washing new, brightly colored items, a pinch of salt added to the load will help to keep them looking bolder for longer. Add around a 1/2 cup of salt to the load and the colors of the dyes will get locked in.
Source:
Mikes-Photography
20. Coffee grounds will keep your fridge odor-free.
If you are a coffee drinker, save those used coffee grounds after you make your morning cup. Store them in a mason jar with a piece of cheesecloth secured over the top. Then place the jar in the fridge to deodorize it with the scent of coffee.
Source:
eliasfalla
21. Grapefruits and salt are the key to clean sinks and bathtubs.
Cut the grapefruit in half and coat it with table salt. Then use it to scrub all of the mildew and limestone deposits around the bathroom fixtures. It can also make brown rusty areas shine like new again.
22. Combine lemons, vinegar, and salt for a natural dishwasher detergent.
Mix the ingredients according to this recipe. You’ll want to simmer the lemons and water in a saucepan for around 20 minutes. Then add the vinegar and salt and boil for another ten minutes until it thickens.
Source:
Melissa-Anna
23. Wash a blender the easy way by turning it on.
Why not make use of the blender’s actual function in order to clean it easier? Simply put a drop or two of dishwashing soap into the blender, add some water, and blend it for a few minutes. Then wash it out in the sink afterward.
Source:
opaye
24. Descale a tea kettle with vinegar.
Combine equal parts vinegar and water in the tea kettle and boil it on the stove. Boil it once again with only water after to get it clean before the next time that you use it.
25. Cat litter is useful for deodorizing and absorbing moisture.
Place a bowl of kitty litter in the fridge to deodorize the fridge. Pour a little bit in the bottom of a trash can to soak up any excess moisture, dampness, and eliminate the garbage smells.
Source:
Deedee86
26. Clean baking trays and pans with baking soda.
Coat the baking tray with the baking soda, then pour a little boiling water over the top. It should start to bubble and clean up all of that baked-on gunk. Let it sit for an hour before rinsing.
27. Freshen up a mattress with an alcohol spray.
You can’t just throw a mattress in the washer as you do with clothes. However, you can clean the surface pretty easily and get rid of some of the stains. Mix one part warm water with two parts isopropyl alcohol, then sponge or spray the solution on.
Source:
congerdesign
28. Coca Cola is a good toilet boil cleaner.
It’s a tasty soda, but also, a very effective cleaner. It is super acidic! Plus, the carbonation will help lift up the dirt. Just pour the Coke over the rim and bowl of the toilet and let it do its magic.
Source:
stevepb
29. A lemon on the tap can eliminate limescale.
If you live in an area where hard water is a problem, lemons are your best friend. Place them over the tap to help dissolve the hard water stains. The lemons will keep the stream of the tap unclogged and flowing smoothly.
30. Deodorize pet beds with baking soda.
Pet beds tend to get a little funky smelling over time. Spread the baking soda across the bedding and allow it to sit for 30 minutes. It will absorb all of that unwanted odor. Shake the excess baking soda off after and run a vacuum over it to clean up what’s left.
Source:
jeremy8
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
Article Sources:
To learn more read our Editorial Standards.