Sometimes, life gets in the way of cleaning. You might have a busy schedule, or you might just be a little lazy. But it’s important to keep your home clean and tidy, and these hacks will help you do just that.
Whether you’re looking to get the bathroom sparkling or banish dust from every corner of your home, there are tons of great cleaning tips out there but some are better than others.
From cleaning the shower to polishing your jewelry, these 35 cleaning hacks will help you get your house in order in no time.
Here are our favorites:
Get rid of soap scum in the bathtub
To get rid of soap scum in your bathtub, mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide together in equal amounts and rub onto the surface with a sponge until it is clean! This works great on glass shower doors too.
If there is any residue left behind after washing the tub or shower door down with soap and water after using the baking soda mixture, try using some lemon juice instead of water when rinsing off the residue left behind by the baking soda mixture.
Clean your microwave with a lemon
When you want to clean the microwave, simply heat up some water and drop in a few slices of lemon. Let it sit for about 15 minutes, then wipe away the grime with a sponge and paper towel or cloth.
The citric acid in lemons is great at cutting through grease and dirt, so it will leave your microwave looking as good as new.
Use baking soda as a scrubber
Baking soda is abrasive enough to scour off tough stains without scratching up your pans or dishes (or skin), so try sprinkling some into your sink or bathtub and scrubbing with an old toothbrush to remove soap scum or rust stains from porcelain sinks or tubs.
Vinegar works wonders on hardwood floors
But don’t just pour it on there! Mix 1 part vinegar with 3 parts warm water in a spray bottle first, then use that mixture as you would store-bought wood cleaner (on both unfinished wood floors and old finished ones). Be sure not to mix it with mineral oil.
Make your own dryer sheets
If you use dryer sheets (and most people do), then you know they can be expensive! But did you know that you can make your own dryer sheets for pennies? It’s true! All you need is a few drops of essential oils, like lavender or rosemary (or both), and some fabric softener (which also acts as an odor neutralizer).
Mix together until blended well and pour into an old empty fabric softener container or other small container with an open top. When using this mixture on your laundry, add it directly to the dryer along with your clothes.
Clean Cabinets with a Vacuum
If you have cabinets, use a vacuum attachment to clean them. The brush will remove dust and dirt from the corners and crevices of your cabinets. It’s much easier than using a rag or paper towel to wipe down each shelf individually.
Remove Pet Hair with Rubber Gloves
Pet hair can be tricky to remove from fabric items like furniture or clothing without damaging the fabric itself. However, if you wear rubber gloves while petting your dog or cat, all of that pet hair will stick to your gloves instead of being transferred onto your clothing or furniture. You can then simply remove it from your glove by wiping down the surface where you petted your furry friend.
Use an Old Toothbrush for Dirty Spots on Walls
You can use an old toothbrush in place of a scrub brush when cleaning walls in your home because toothbrushes are small enough to fit into tiny spaces that would otherwise be hard to reach with larger brushes and sponges.
If you want even more cleaning power, try using baking soda as an abrasive agent along with vinegar as an acidic cleaner (both products are highly effective at cleaning.
Clean Cabinets with a Vacuum
Vacuuming is a great way to clean your cabinets. Just vacuum the top of the cabinets, and then wipe the dust with a damp cloth.
This will remove dust, food particles, and all sorts of other things that can build up on the surface of your cabinets.
Remove Pet Hair with Rubber Gloves
Rubber gloves are great for removing pet hair from furniture, carpets and other surfaces in your home.
Simply put on rubber gloves and rub them against any area where pet hair is visible. The rubber glove will pick up any loose hairs that may be stuck to your furniture or carpeting.
Clean the Toilet Without Scrubbing
If you want to clean the toilet without scrubbing it first, try using a bathroom cleaner like Clorox Clean-Up Spray Gel or Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner. Spray it onto the toilet bowl dirt ring, let it sit for about 15 minutes, then wipe away anything that doesn’t come off easily.
Use paper towels or rags to remove excess cleaner from the base of the toilet bowl before flushing again to rinse away any remaining residue from the toilet bowl cleaner solution. You should be able to get rid of most stains.
Use Socks to Clean Blinds
If you have blinds in your house, then you know how difficult they are to clean. You can use socks to clean them and save yourself a lot of trouble.
First, use a dry sock to wipe off dust and dirt from the blinds.
Then, dampen the sock and gently wipe it over the blinds. This will remove any remaining dust that is stuck on them.
Clean the Range Top Without Messing Up Your Dishes
If you want to clean your range top but don’t want to ruin any dishes, then use an oven mitt or a pot holder instead of a sponge or paper towel.
You’ll be able to scrub away all of the grease without worrying about ruining any dishes that may be sitting on top of it.
Clean Carpet Stains With Baking Soda
Baking soda can be used to remove carpet stains as well as clean upholstery and countertops. Simply sprinkle baking soda over the stain and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes before vacuuming away any remaining residue.
If you have pets in your home, sprinkle baking soda on pet stains before vacuuming them up and then sprinkle more baking soda over the spot so that any lingering odors are eliminated by the baking soda’s odor-neutralizing properties.
Get Rid of Mildew in the Shower, Bathtub and Tile
Mildew is a common problem in humid bathrooms, and it can be difficult to remove. However, there are several ways to do so.
If you have mildew that has already taken hold on your shower curtain or walls, try mixing equal parts vinegar and water together in a spray bottle.
Spray the solution directly onto the mildewed area and let it sit for five minutes before wiping it clean with a sponge.
Unclog a Clogged Sink Drain Without Drano or Other Chemicals
Drano is an effective drain cleaner, but it’s also filled with chemicals that are bad for your pipes. Instead of using Drano, try pouring some baking soda down your clogged drain followed by hot water from the tap.
Let the mixture sit for 15 minutes before flushing it out with more hot water from the tap. This method should clear most drains within 30 minutes.
Clean Your Wallpaper by Spraying it with Vinegar and Water
Spraying your wallpaper with a mixture of water and vinegar will remove any stains from the wall. The mixture will also help to keep your wallpaper looking fresh and new.
The best time to do this is after you have cleaned your windows because it works best when the windows have not been cleaned in a while.
Dishwasher to Clean Light Fixtures
If you have light fixtures that are made out of glass, then you can use the dishwasher to clean them. You need to make sure that you do not put any metal parts into the dishwasher, though, because they will rust very quickly.
The dishwasher works really well at getting rid of any dirt or grime on these types of lights, and it will not damage them either.
Remove Permanent Marker from Wood Furniture with a Magic Eraser
A magic eraser is a great tool for removing permanent markers from wood furniture. It will take a bit of elbow grease, but this method can save you from having to sand down or refinish your furniture.
Use a Paint Roller to Clean Ceilings
You might think that using a paint roller on your ceiling would be messy and inefficient, but it actually makes cleaning easier and faster.
All you have to do is spray the ceiling with water (or even use a wet mop), roll the paint roller over it, and then wipe it off with a dry towel.
Spot-Clean Fabrics with Baby Wipes
Baby wipes are great for spot-cleaning fabrics like couches, chairs, and car seats because they’re made of soft material that won’t scratch surfaces like microfiber cloths can. They’re also super affordable, which makes them all the more appealing.
Use Tennis Balls to Launder Comforters
Tennis balls are great for cleaning comforters because they help remove lint from the material and fluff up the fibers. They work best if you put them in a pillowcase before washing the comforter.
Clean Window Treatments Faster
Window treatments tend to get dusty quickly, but you don’t need to spend a lot of time washing them by hand. Instead, put them in the dryer on low heat with a damp cloth inside and then let them air dry outside when done.
This will remove most of the dust and dirt without damaging your window treatments.
Use Lemon Oil and Vinegar for Shine
You can use lemon oil or vinegar to shine wood furniture or cabinets without using any chemicals at all! Just spray both onto a soft cloth, then wipe down all surfaces until they’re all shiny again.
