Keeping the house clean takes time, energy, and effort; it’s also a never-ending cycle that most of us are tired of. So, any cleaning hack that promises to help us get things done more effortlessly around the house is precious and welcome. So, we’ve collated this extensive list of cleaning hacks for you to use when in need of saving time - and money!
Preserve Your Favourite Old Candles’ Scent
Some people get attached to just about anything, even candles. For such people, when their favourite candles burn out, it will be difficult to let go. Thankfully, with this trick, you can still preserve the scent of your used up candles. Normally, when candles have been consumed, there would likely still be some wax left. This remaining wax and a sock is all you need to create the magic.
Carefully remove the wax from the candle jar, then put it into a sock. Hang the sock in your closet or any other desired location, and watch your favourite candle fragrance come alive whenever you open the door.
Clean the Woods With Microfiber
There is no doubt that wooded furniture gives the whole area a lovely look. Everyone loves the earthy vibes it brings to the room; however, nobody can stand the layer of dust the surface accumulates every day. So cleaning the furniture becomes a must, and that’s when people usually get their hands on fancy wood polish.
Those supplies do the job wonderfully, but they also charge us a lot of money. So, we should be wise in this case and switch to supplies with lower prices that are equally good at cleaning our wood. One such product is a piece of microfiber cloth that will make the furniture shine like it's new.
Use Dryer Sheets to Shield Baseboards
With some dryer sheets, you can be assured of your laundry smelling nice and fresh. Well, what many don't know is that these sheets are also great for cleaning baseboards. It is no news that baseboards can be a hassle to clean. Hence, this trick will save you a lot of stress.
To achieve a great result, ensure you use a damp neat cloth to wipe off dirt first. Then use a brand-new dryer sheet to clean the baseboards. This will offer protection against dirt and grime, therefore ensuring your baseboards stay cleaner for a longer period.
Clean The Showerhead With a Bag of Vinegar
Isn’t it wonderful to have the entire stream of water cascading over you while showering? To keep it that way, the showerhead must be cleaned quite often, for its pores are bound to get clogged with particles with use. Standing under a sputtering shower is no way to begin your day.
All you need is a plastic bag filled halfway with vinegar for cleaning! Tie the bag around the showerhead, secure it with a rubber band and leave it be for a few hours; the acid present in the vinegar dissolves the mineral deposits, effectively unclogging all the holes. You get a super clean showerhead once you remove the bag.
How to Fix a Burnt Pan
It's never a good idea to use burnt pans. In addition to ruining the beauty of your pot collection, it might potentially contaminate any fresh foods being cooked in the pan. Even though the typical cleaning method involves scrubbing them with steel wool after use, it doesn't work as effectively as this hack does.
To get started, pour the same quantity of white vinegar and water to create a thin coating in the burnt pan. Place it on a stove, and bring the mixture to boil for about a mixture. After that, pour out the liquid, and scrub with a clean sponge. Your pan should be clean and spotless once the procedure is completed.
Got Stains on Your White Sneakers?
Nearly everyone has a pair of white sneakers lying somewhere in their house. Some people don’t wear them anymore because they got stained and they don’t want to let go just yet. We understand this because those things never go out of style.
Firstly, sorry about your sneakers, and secondly, there’s a way you can get back to wearing them again. Your toothpaste and old toothbrush are the solution you’ve been looking for all along! For only $5 and ten minutes of letting the paste sit, you will be able to remove stains from your white non-mesh sneakers using a clean sponge cloth to wipe off the paste.
Let Your Lemon Remove the Hard Water Buildup
Hard water buildup can be a nightmare on faucets and other household surfaces. These unwanted marks happen due to the volume of minerals and the high level of calcium and magnesium in hard water. Providing a natural remedy is all you need to remove the limescale buildup, and in this case, lemon is one of the best options.
There are lots of things you can achieve with lemon as it contains citric acid which makes it a natural bleaching agent to eliminate limescale and stains. For this natural solution, cut one fresh lemon in half, take one of the halves and open up the center. Next, press the opened half against the end of the faucet and support it with a plastic bag and rubber band for firmness. Let it sit for hours so the citric acid can perform its magic.
Cream of Tartar Helps in Cleaning Stainless Steel
Who wouldn’t love to see the stainless steel utensils sparkle in their kitchen? Unfortunately, when used as often as they are in cooking, they lose sheen, becoming dull and lackluster. No amount of detergent helps, but there is one thing that can guarantee an effective scrub - the cream of tartar.
We know the cream of tartar is a must-have for baking purposes, but not many may be aware that the powdered form of tartaric acid effectively cleans stainless steel. Sprinkle some on a damp cloth and get to work on those pots and pans. You’ll see the brightness slowly coming back on the stainless steel surfaces, leaving them spotless and shining.
Get Rid of the Unwanted Smell
Clothes always feel and smell lovely when they are freshly cleaned. The pleasant fragrance of the washing liquid stays, but usually, this fragrance gets converted into a pungent smell when our clothes are not dried properly. The nasty musty smell takes over the entire drawer if we leave slightly wet clothes in.
So, to avoid a smelly wardrobe, ensure the clothes are completely dry before piling them in the closet. We can also drill a few holes in there to let the air circulate, but that might not look pretty. So, putting a box of baking powder or a bag of herbs in the cabinet can help eliminate the smell.
Remove Scuff Marks With Tennis Ball
We all know how much effort we put into getting our floor as clean as possible. Yet, somehow, the floor ends up with scuff marks. This situation becomes very frustrating as these marks do not go away quickly regardless of how much effort we put in.
In this case, a tennis ball can quickly become our savior. Many people do not know this hack—a tennis ball can quickly eliminate scuff marks. To get the floor cleaned as before, rub a clean tennis ball on the stains, and it will clean the floor like magic.
A Quick Fix for Sticky Iron
A sticky iron can make ironing an unpleasant task for us. If your iron is becoming sticky, it could be that you have been using too much starch. This situation does not mean you stop applying starch to your clothes or get rid of the iron. Instead, we have two household items that can put an end to this unease.
Did you know that using salt and aluminum foil is a simple trick to clean your iron? Of course, tin foil is among the versatile assets you have in your kitchen, and it has more use than wrapping leftovers. For stain removal, pour a tablespoon of salt into a piece of aluminum foil. Turn the iron to the highest settings and then iron over the prepared salted foil sheet. This will help remove any dirt that has stuck to the iron.
Use Hairdryer to Fix Water-Stained Wooden Surfaces
No matter how badly you wish otherwise, water stains are inevitable when it comes to wooden surfaces. The cold mugs and hot plates that you place on them leave ring-shaped water marks due to condensation. Thankfully, there is a perfect cleaning hack that’ll restore the wood to its previous spotless sheen.
Grab that hairdryer, plug it in, and spray the hot air over the wooden surface to dry out the water stains. Once it’s dry, use olive oil to polish the entire area. You’ll be surprised to see the previously water-stained wood sparkle as if it were new. Isn’t this a pretty neat way to fix the problem?
Roll Towels to Get Enough Space
Have you been thinking about how to roll towels to create a sophisticated look for a spa, hotel, and stylish bathroom interior? Do you constantly have trouble keeping your towel drawers tidy? We are here to help you with the trick to make your towels look super-chic. Aside from elevating your bathroom, rolling towels is also a space-efficient method to store them.
A rolled-up towel consumes lesser space and creates room for other towels to fit into the available space. In addition, it makes it easy to access all your towels, meaning you can lay your hands on whichever towel you want without hassle. Instead of folding your towels, roll them up when you wash them next and see the beauty they will add to your closet.
Vegetable Oil Removes Permanent Marker Stains
Nothing is impossible, but having a squeaky clean house with little kids is. Parents live with things strewn all around and pencils and crayon marks on the walls. All of these are manageable until your kid gets hold of a permanent marker and makes your favorite wooden showpiece their next target.
We know it sounds like stuff from your nightmare, but simple vegetable oil can be your knight in shining armor. You can drop some vegetable oil on a cloth or a cotton ball, followed by some elbow grease. That will remove the stains in a snap, and a quick wipe on the surface will make your showpiece brand new.
A Lemon for the Water Stains
One of the major stains homeowners struggle with are caused by hard water. Due to the magnesium and calcium in this type of water, these marks are pretty tricky to remove. Most times, they even become a permanent part of your living space. Luckily, though, with this simple hack, we can change all that.
You’ll want to get a lemon fruit, which costs about $1 and use it directly on the particular surface. This will also work if you wrap the lemon juice in a paper towel and use that to wash out the water marks. Just give the surface a little rinse afterward, and voila! Your space is as good as new.
Shaving Cream Remedy for Stain-Free Shower Glass
As long as you’re taking your bath and using soap products, you cannot guarantee your shower glass will remain stainless. The next time you want to remove foamy splatters from your shower door, using shaving cream is all you need to restore your glass to its sparkling state.
Plop down a good quantity of shaving cream onto the stained areas and let the solution sit for a few minutes. Next, give it a quick wipe with a paper towel or clean fabric, and then use water to rinse off the grime. The result you'd get from this simple home remedy is a stain-free shower glass.
Lint Rollers Can Keep Your Lamps Clean
When dusting the furniture in our homes, little do we realize the amount of debris the lampshades collect over time. The heat generated from the light bulb accumulates dust that stubbornly settles on the fabric, making it an allergen hotspot that needs to be cleaned often. Unfortunately, getting rid of the particles can be bothersome if you don’t know the right way.
Lint rollers can do wonders for your lampshades. Use one to gently and thoroughly roll it over the fabric, inside and out. You’ll be shocked at the amount of dust the roller pulls off from the lamps. It’s also a great relief to finally be able to see the lamps restored to their original look.
The Multi-Functional Swiffer Sweeper
There are a number of tools that make regular housework less tedious. A good example is the multipurpose Swiffer Sweeper. It is excellent for cleaning dirt from surfaces, particularly hardwood and linoleum floors. Nonetheless, this cleaning equipment has more to offer.
It turns out that you can clean dusty walls, ceiling fans, baseboards, and even areas of the house that look too high and difficult to access using these Swiffer sweepers. To achieve this, fasten a neat dry cloth to the sweeper's rectangular end. This will make it easy to remove cobwebs and dust from the ceiling corners.
Use Raw Potato to Clean Cheese Graters
There is no doubt that grated cheese adds tons of flavor and texture to a dish. The problem arises when cleaning the graters after shredding the cheese. It takes painfully long to get rid of the sticky mess from the grater holes, and the effort of scrubbing them away with steel wool and soap is worse.
Fret not, for there is another way - much easier than the rest. After grating cheese, use the grater to grate some raw potato on both sides. It pushes the cheese through the holes, making it a peach to clean, removing all the sticky, gooey stuff from the grater with little to no effort whatsoever.
Cola Makes the Floor Shine
Coca-Cola is undoubtedly one of the most popular beverages that is available around the world. Many people like to quench their thirst for its fantastic flavor. Surprisingly, however, Coca-Cola has another benefit than simply being everyone’s go-to drink. This drink can be used as a cleaning supply to clean stains from concrete floors.
All we need to get those nasty stains off the floor is a standard-size can of Coca-Cola and a nylon scrub brush. Pour the soda on the mark and work it using the scrub brush. After a few seconds, the stain will no longer be visible.
Keep Coal and Newspapers in Your Fridge
Sometimes we are so excited about a vacation that we forget to take care of certain things before leaving the house. Then, when we return with a refreshed mind and a nice tan, the rotting food inside the fridge is there to welcome us with an overpowering stench. Even throwing away the food and using a disinfectant doesn’t drive away the smell that hangs around like a ghost.
Instead of throwing the whole fridge away in such cases, what you can do is get charcoal and newspapers. Fill the shelves with crumpled newspapers, and coal goes into the freezer and the fridge drawer. One must continue this for a week to get the old odorless fridge back without missing any day.
Dryer Sheet for Burnt Pans
We know the pain of those afternoons and nights you have spent scrubbing that stubborn burnt food off the pan. Unfortunately, all that hard work turns the dishes ugly instead of just cleaning them. So let us give you a nice and easy tip to ease that dreaded walk to the kitchen sink after a sumptuous meal.
All you need is some dryer sheets and warm water. The process involves pouring the warm water into the dirty container and then placing a dryer sheet on top of the water. Keeping it overnight removes burnt scraps like magic, and your pretty hands will get the rest they deserve.
Use Bread to Clean up Broken Glass
Would you have thought that bread had another use other than being munched on? We wouldn’t either. It can be quite functional off the stomach environment! So the next time glass breaks around the house, don’t get super worked up about it.
We know how stressful it is to clean it up, especially with jumpy kids and oblivious pets; but we bring you this hack for your sanity’s sake. Clean up those microscopic pieces of glass with a piece of soft bread. Press the bread onto the floor area where the glass broke and it will pick up the tiny pieces of glass with zero hustle.
Hair Spray Is Also a Lipstick Stain Remover
Is there anything more annoying than a red lipstick stain on your favorite white blouse? It completely ruins your mood for the day. Not only is it a huge inconvenience at that moment, but also later on when you throw the blouse into the wash and it comes out with the stain.
There’s a way to rid lipstick stains off your blouse without much struggle. Simply spray your hair spray on the affected part and allow it to stay for 15 minutes before using a wet cloth to wipe the remaining bit of stain off. You might have to do this more than once but eventually, the blouse will be as good as new.
Let Your Oven Clean While You Sleep
Cleaning your oven and microwave is one of the simplest tasks in the house. You can decide to do it during the day or overnight, so it's easy to solve the problem out of sight and out of mind. The truth is, doing it overnight is straightforward and results-yielding.
First thing is to make a liquid paste from bicarbonate of soda, dish soap, and water. You can add some more water if it appears too thick. Then spread it all over the inside of your microwave or oven until you achieve an even distribution. Next, close the compartment and go to bed. In the morning, remove the paste with vinegar.
Make Your Carpet Sparkling With Vodka
Vodka is widely known as a very strong alcoholic beverage that people drink, or can be used to prepare other cocktails. Nevertheless, one trick you should know is that vodka can also be used to get rid of stains. Wondering how that's possible? The potency of the alcohol is responsible for its cleansing power.
When cleaning your carpet, pour some vodka on a neat, damp cloth. Wipe the cloth on the stain, and keep it in place for about two minutes. Similarly, you can spray the stained area with vodka. After that, smear it with a dry cloth, then use a clean wet cloth next. You should see a sparkling outcome once the area is dried.
Your Carpet Needs Some Red Wine and Iron
If you love keeping everything spotless like us, red wine being a cleaning agent might not be news to you. Still, in case you didn’t know, it helps to remove stains from the carpet. This popular method has given mixed results, however. What many forget to add to this little cleaning hack to work correctly is a steam iron.
After spraying the red wine on the stain, one has to place a towel over it. The last step is to steam through the towel using the iron. You must repeat this step several times, depending upon the severity of the stain. Nonetheless, rest assured that you will get your spick-and-span carpet back.
Vacuuming Your Dog Is More Effective
Pet care is a demanding responsibility. From feeding, regular walks, and vet appointments to giving them abundant love, it’s no less than having a child. That also comes with the unavoidable mess of having your pet’s hair on every possible surface in the house. How many times have you changed your outfits last minute after finding your dog’s hair all over them?
Pet owners often clean and vacuum their houses to remove these stubborn hairs. Regardless, we have a better suggestion; why not vacuum your puppy with the upholstery nozzle instead? This will be a win-win situation; your house will get cleaned while your dog gets its belly rubs and the attention it never can get enough of.
Bid Farewell to Grout Stains
Tiles on the floor or walls are easy to clean. Yet, no matter how spotless they are, the surface looks old if the grout in between them is still dirty. So how can you keep the grout forever new? Well, just get hold of the old electric toothbrush that you've saved for cleaning.
Battery-operated toothbrushes are effective in cleaning our teeth, but they can do more. You only have to make a thick paste of baking soda and water. Then, apply this mixture to the grout using an electric brush and scrub it gently for some time to see the magic.
The Latest Toilet Bowl Cleaner in Town
There is no time that you will hear vinegar and duct tape and think, “those two make such good cleaning products together” because this is a hack that most folks don’t know about. If you’ve been wondering how to get rid of grime from your toilet bowl, this hack is for you.
How to go about it? Cover the siphons with tape, pour vinegar into the toilet bowl, then flush. Make sure to wait until morning before removing the tape from the siphons. Now you will have saved the extra $9 you would have spent on a toilet bowl cleaner.
Lemons Can Fix Your Stinky Garbage Disposal
You don't need us to tell you that garbage disposal isn’t the healthiest place in the house. Despite being diligent about food scraps while using the garbage disposal, smelly particles are likely to get amassed over time. This aids bacterial growth and emits an unwelcoming stench.
Well, don't worry because we have an inexpensive but effective home remedy to get rid of odorous disposals. You only have to cut up some lemons and plop them in your garbage disposal. The lemon juice acts as a natural deodorizing agent by absorbing odors in the disposal and leaving a fresh citrusy scent in the kitchen.
Get Rid of Grease Stains With Chalk
The feeling of joy is unparalleled when we buy a piece of clothing we have wanted for a long time. Whereas this joy turns into frustration when that shirt gets stained, and things turn worse when the stain is as stubborn as grease.
No matter how many times we wash it, the stain remains intact. So, this is where we should switch to a much better cleaner; chalk. Yes, chalk can absorb oil and grease, making it perfect to use in such situations. Just rub the chalk on the stain, and it will do the job. If the stain doesn’t disappear, wash it with the chalk still on.
DIY Long-Reach Vacuum Cleaner
Dusting above wardrobes is no easy feat. We often stand on a chair, dangerously holding the vacuum at an angle to reach the corners. This risks breaking not only the appliance but also our bones after an apparent fall. Yet, we do have a safer and more innovative way of doing this.
Turns out that a PVC pipe can perfectly fit over a vacuum hose. Now, PVC piping is incredibly cheap, and with only 10ft of it, you can easily clear all cobwebs in the nooks. Also, buy a rubber reducer coupling along with it to attach the vacuum hose to the pipe, and it's ready for cleaning!
Freshen up Toilets With Toothpaste
Among all household chores that people hate doing, cleaning the toilet undoubtedly tops the list. Still, no one likes using a filthy, stinky lavatory. Here's an amazing hack for a spotless toilet bowl and an extra dose of freshness in the loo.
At first, you have to pierce holes all along the sides of the toothpaste tube. Next, place the tube in the drain tank of your toilet. The idea is that with every flush, a small amount of toothpaste will ooze out of the holes into the bowl. This will act as a disinfectant besides emitting a minty, refreshing scent.
Plunge It Right, Without a Plunger
We've all encountered that awful moment when on flushing the toilet, the water doesn’t go down. In that case, the only best step is to keep plunging with the plunger. Yet, what if you don't have one at hand? Before you start fretting, we'll spill some unclogging secrets to fix toilet clogs in no time.
Wearing a pair of gloves, first lift the toilet seat. Then, drape the top of the toilet bowl with plastic wrap. You have to repeat this step until the cover gets firm. Now, when you flush the toilet, the air pressure from the plastic wrap will create adequate suction and easily remove the clog.
Two Doormats Are Better Than One
If you don’t want to ask your guests to take off their shoes when they drop by, you don’t have to. Let’s face it; making that kind of request might just annoy them. To avoid that, though, you just need to give them a gentle nudge in the right direction, by using an extra doormat.
Once guests wipe their shoes clean on the mat you already have outside, make sure there’s another one placed indoors to remind them to clean their shoes the second time. This way, your floors won’t get dirty and your friends won’t like you any less. Perfect!
A Plastic Bag Keeps the Litter Away
While you definitely need to clean your pet’s litter pan, that’s not the most interesting job to do, no matter how much you love your furry best friend. Since this isn’t something you can just ignore, we’ve found the perfect way to help you out.
You’ve probably heard that plastic bags are very important, and here’s another reason why. Keeping your litter boxes clean is just as easy as lining the base of the box with a large enough plastic bag, and throwing that bag out when it’s time for clean-up. After that, just disinfect the box to combat any nasty odors or harmful bacteria.
Some Home-Made Air Freshener
Who says you have to buy your air fresheners? Think about it. The industrially produced ones might cover up bad smells, but they’re not exactly fresh and sweet smelling in themselves. Sometimes, you just end up dunking your apartment with an even worse fragrance that is downright irritating.
Fortunately, making your own air freshener is not hard to do. All you’ll need is some rubbing al$$hol, a glass of water, your favorite essential oils, and a spray bottle. Simply mix a few drops of your choice oils in water, add the rubbing al$$hol and pour the mix into the spray bottle to dispense the pleasant fragrance. Your old air fresheners can retire now.
Say Goodbye to Greasy Build-Up
If you do a lot of cooking in your home, then you might have a problem with greasy buildup on your sink, cabinets, and maybe even the walls. Though there are a number of ways to handle this, none of them is as quick and inexpensive as the orange oil and hot rag technique.
First, spray the greasy spot with an all-purpose cleaner that contains orange oil, and let that soak in for a few minutes. Now, you’ll want to microwave a wet rag for a few seconds before using that to scrub the infected area. This can work on all kinds of surfaces, and you’ll see how the heat and orange oil combo easily washes away the grease.
No-Touch Trash Can Cleaning
One of the reasons people detest the task of cleaning a trash can is filth. The inside (and sometimes the outside) of the trash can has millions of bacteria and germs waiting for you to touch the surface and transfer diseases. You can avoid this nightmarish situation by using a pair of gloves, a multi-purpose toilet cleaner, and a toilet brush.
Wear your gloves and take the trash can outside. Spray it with toilet cleaner inside and out, and let the liquid do its magic. After a while, grab the toilet brush and scrub the trash can until no residue is left behind.
Cut Grapefruit for Those Bathtub Rings
Nobody loves seeing soap scum or rings on their bathtub and tiles but that hatred alone doesn’t hold them off. If anything, these things form quite easily and there is a high chance one may spend the rest of their life scrubbing them away.
To ensure this doesn’t happen, cut grapefruits in half and sprinkle rock salt on the flesh before scrubbing the stain with the grapefruit. Citrus, having powerful cleaning properties, will leave the tub sparkling clean and your bathroom with the fresh citrus scent it so deserves for as low as $2.50. We just saved you a few coins, so you’re welcome!
Cheap and Non-Toxic Shower Cleaner
Money is usually the reason people do not hire professional bathroom cleaners. If that’s not it, they are wary of the chemicals that professionals use. There are already so many chemical agents in our environment that avoiding one more is simply being eco-friendly. This is why this homemade shower cleaner is a good idea.
Mix 3 tablespoons of dish soap with two-thirds vinegar and shake it well. Use a squirt bottle to make cleaning easier once the mixture is ready. Squirt it on the surfaces you want to clean in the bathroom, especially the shower. Now just wipe away the grime and the solution after letting it sit for a few minutes.
Grimy Sink? WD-40 to the Rescue!
People have all sorts of hacks for cleaning stainless steel sinks ever since they discovered that the material is not actually ‘stainless.’ You can experiment all you want, but the one thing that gets the job done is an inexpensive can of WD-40. It rids the sink of dirt and stains, giving it the shiny look your kitchen deserves.
Unlike fixing squeaky doors and sewing machine wheels, the use of WD-40 for sinks is a bit different. Instead of spraying directly onto the surface, spray the substance on a rag and use it to wipe the stainless steel surfaces. Make sure to wipe along the grain for the best results.
Sprucing Up Old Baking Sheets
Love baking cookies? You’ll need reliable baking sheets to get you through spontaneous baking sessions, but some sheets do not last more than a few sessions. Aluminum baking sheets often look older after a few times, and you are left wondering how to solve this matter without spending money.
If your sheets can’t keep up with your obsession, you do not have to throw them away. Use baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to clean the sheets and wipe the stains off. Sprinkle the products on the baking sheets and let them sit there for a couple of hours. This combination is a lifesaver for baking enthusiasts!
Tube Up the Gaping Void
No matter how much you plan out the kitchen, you can't avoid the gap between the fridge and countertop. The gaping void sucks in small edibles like grapes and crumbs, making you wonder how to avoid it in the future. The solution is more simple than you know!
Grab nearly invisible plastic tubing from your nearest home center and fit it into the gap between the fridge and the countertop. The ‘nearly invisible’ part takes care of the aesthetics and does not make you look foolish in front of your family or friends. It also stops small objects from falling into the gap.