Everything you need to know to cut your weekly cleaning time in half
Everybody loves living in a clean house. Sadly, keeping our houses clean feels like a near-impossible task. You could go to war with the dirt every day and still find new things to clean when you wake up tomorrow.
But that clean house feeling makes it all worth it.
Is there a way to get your house looking flawless without it becoming a full time job for you?
Well, we can’t stop the dirt from building up, but we have the next best thing – 25 hacks that are going to cut your weekly cleaning time in half.
These hacks are for those of you who don’t want to spend hours scrubbing until your elbows ache. For people who only have a few hours spare to clean a week. For those of you who want a clean house without all the hassle.
25 Cleaning Hacks To Make Your Life Easier
1. Use Vinegar To Get Rid of Hard Water Spots
Shiny faucets truly are the sign of a clean bathroom. However, keeping them that way can be the bane of many homeowners’ lives.
If you live in a hard water area then it can take less than 2 days for these spots to reappear on your faucets after you’ve cleaned them.
You can use a chemical limescale remover to slowly break them down but the spots will have built up again in a matter of days.
So, what can you do? You most likely have the solution to this problem in your kitchen cupboards.
We like to add a tablespoon of boiling water to 250ml of any type of vinegar (white wine vinegar has the least potent smell).
Use a microfiber cloth to apply the solution to your faucets. Take extra time over the areas with the biggest build-ups.
Leave the liquid to soak for 10-30 minutes. When you return the limescale will wipe away easily and it won’t come back for at least a week.
2. Clean Your Blinds Easily By Using A Sock And Vinegar
It’s not just your faucets that vinegar can help you clean. It can also help you keep your blinds dust-free.
In this hack, it has an unlikely sidekick – a sock! Yes, you read that correctly, cleaning your blinds really can be done without specialist equipment.
For this hack, you are going to need to water down your vinegar. This is because the vinegar is going to be touching your skin and it can cause people with sensitive skin some irritation if not watered down.
Get yourself a small bowl with 125ml of warm (not boiling) water and 125ml of any type of vinegar.
Submerge your sock in the solution, ring it dry, and then wear it on your hand like a glove. You can now run your hand along the top of each blind and the dust will stick to the damp sock.
While using this hack, you will be able to deeply clean your blinds without worrying about cutting your hands on their sharp edges.
3. Clean The Couch With Baking Soda
This hack features another kitchen cabinet hero. Baking Soda has a surprisingly large range of cleaning applications – one of these is cleaning couches.
Baking Soda is a fantastic tool for removing stains and smells. It’s cheap and it’s non-toxic. Any homeowner should have a jar of it in their cleaning tool kit.
Take any of the cushions and throws off your sofa before you begin this hack.
Sprinkle a healthy layer of Baking Soda onto the area you want to clean.
Now, take 20 minutes to relax (or clean something else) while the Baking Soda works on the stain. After the wait, you can remove the Baking Soda with a vacuum.
If the stain is greasy, then do the above once. Then, add a little water to your baking soda and apply a second layer to the stain. Leave the mixture on the stain and then wipe away after half an hour.
4. Use Salt To Remove Fabric Stains
Here’s another great tip for removing fabric stains. The hero of this hack is another item that you have in your kitchen. Salt!
We have always been told that the best way to remove wine stains from the carpet is to use the opposite color of wine. However, there is a better way that wastes less wine and leaves your carpet looking better.
When you have spilled wine onto your carpet, you should dry the fabric off with a kitchen towel.
Pour a large amount of salt over the stain. You want to cover the whole stain. Leave for 20 minutes and vacuum off the salt.
Once all the salt is gone, use a small bowl of soapy water to scrub away the stain. Your carpet will look brand new at the end of this.
5. Clean Stainless Steel Appliances With Alcohol
Stainless steel is a bit of a misleading name, it should really be called rustless steel. As anyone who has stainless steel in their home will tell you – it definitely stains.
Stainless steel easily gets covered in fingerprints, dust, and grease stains. However, there is no need to worry because we have a hack that will make cleaning stainless steel a breeze.
For this hack, you will need a microfiber cloth, a few drops of olive oil, and some rubbing alcohol. You may already have some of these items in your home.
Add 10ml olive oil to 100ml of rubbing alcohol and mix together. Dip the corner of your microfiber cloth into the solution and wipe the mess away. All the grime will glide off with little to no effort – leaving your steel truly stainless.
6. Clean Your Computer (Safely) With Vinegar
Many people avoid cleaning their computers and laptops because they are afraid of damaging them. However, it is actually essential that you do clean these machines as cleaning them can add years to their life spans.
Before we dive into the hack, here are some chemicals that you should never use when cleaning your computer:
- Acetone
- Ethyl alcohol
- Toluene
- Ethyl acid
- Ammonia
- Methyl chloride
So, what can you use to safely clean your computer? Well, our good friend vinegar is back again to save the day.
To clean your computer screen, spray the smallest amount of equal parts of water and vinegar onto a microfiber cloth and wipe the screen in circles. If you do this regularly you will be able to just use a dry cloth.
To clean your keyboard, unplug it and use a microfiber cloth soaked in white wine vinegar to scrub it. You may want to remove the keycaps to get a deeper clean.
To clean the more fiddly parts of your computer, you can dip a cotton swab in white wine vinegar and clean the components that way. Make sure to get all the dust out of the fans.
7. Remove Grease Stains from Door Handles, Window Frames, and Extraction Fans With Alcohol And Salt
Now, we have a tip for cleaning grease stains that have really set in. This trick works on pots, pans, stovetops, and even on engine parts.
For this hack, you are going to need a microfiber cloth, rubbing alcohol, and a heavy-duty sponge.
Mix 1 tbsp of salt with 2 tbsp of rubbing alcohol.
Use your microfiber cloth to apply this solution to your grease stains. Then leave for 30 minutes before wiping away with the sponge.
You’ll be left with sparkling results.
8. Remove Cabinet Gunk With Baking Soda And Oil
Now, it’s time to learn about another one of the many uses of Baking Soda. And it is time to say goodbye to all that gunk that has been building up on your cabinets.
For this hack, you only need three items – your Baking Soda, vegetable oil, and a toothbrush.
Mix small amounts of the vegetable oil into a bowl of Baking Soda until it reaches a toothpaste-like consistency.
Use the toothbrush to apply a small amount of the mixture to your cabinet. Brushing in small circles will help the gunk to lift off without any rough scrubbing on your part.
After you have finished scrubbing all the gunk away, take a microfiber cloth that has been soaked in warm water and use it to wipe away the cleaning mixture. You don’t want to let any of the oil soak into your cabinets.
9. Clean a Burnt Pan With Vinegar, Water, and Baking Soda
For this hack, we are combining the cleaning powers of two of our cabinet heroes – Baking Soda and vinegar.
If you are fed up with scrubbing your pans for hours to get rid of burnt-on stains. Or you have just resigned yourself to living with burnt pans – then pay attention to this hack because it is literally life-changing.
Place your pan on the hob and fill it with warm water.
Add a cup of white wine vinegar. Bring the whole thing to a boil then take it off the heat.
While the mixture is still hot add two tablespoons of Baking Soda.
Leave the whole mixture to cool. When it has cooled, pour the water away and wipe down the sides of your pan. The burns and grease should wipe away with ease.
10. Clean Up Spilled Glitter Pieces With Tape
Forget spilled milk. If you craft with the little ones or even if you craft yourself you know all about the horrors of spilled glitter. Once spilled, glitter is nearly impossible to clear up.
Well, it was… until this hack came along.
The best thing about this hack is that if you have glitter in your house then you will definitely have the tape you need to clean it up. And you can use any type of tape for this hack.
For this hack, you will want to find something to wrap the tape around. If we have spilled a small amount of glitter then we will use a spoon. For bigger disasters, we have wrapped our hands in tape.
Wrap up your item, with the sticky side of the tape facing outwards. Then press the tape into the glitter gently. If you press too hard, you may send some of the particles flying into the air.
You can repeat this process until all of the glitter has been picked up. When the tape has picked up all the glitter it can, put it into the trash straight away to avoid spreading the glitter around the rest of your home.
11. Clean the Microwave With Vinegar
Is there anything vinegar can’t clean?! We’ll let you know if we find out.
Cleaning the microwave is definitely one of the worst cleaning jobs in the kitchen. What if we told you that you could make a paste that would do all the hard work for you overnight? All you have to do is wake up in the morning and wipe away the paste.
We know it sounds too good to be true, but it’s not. This hack will show you how to do that.
Mix 3 tablespoons of water and half a cup of Baking Soda. If you need more, then use the same ratio.
Unplug your microwave and spread your freshly made paste across the inside of the device. You will want to detach the turning plate and wash it separately.
Leave the paste to work its magic for 12-15 hours. When this is done, wipe away and enjoy your beautifully clean microwave.
12. Clean The Dishwasher With Baking Soda And Vinegar
A lot of people don’t realize that items in our homes that do the cleaning also need to be cleaned themselves. If your dishwasher is clogged or dirty it won’t work as well as it should and it is more likely to break.
Some brands offer expensive dishwasher cleaning solutions that are full of chemicals. But, don’t worry, we have a solution for you that only requires Baking Soda and Vinegar.
Firstly, you will want to remove the bottom rack of your dishwasher. Check that the drain is not clogged by any food. If it is blocked, you can use a spoon to clear it.
On the top rack, place a cup of vinegar. Do not put any other items in your dishwasher. Run a long cycle.
Remove the empty cup from the top rack and pour a cup of Baking Soda into the bottom tray of the dishwasher. Put it on a short cycle.
We would recommend doing this once a month.
13. Use Lemons to Sanitize Your Garbage Disposal
There is nothing worse than a garbage disposal that smells bad. Once it starts smelling, it only gets worse every time you use it. Thankfully, this hack offers an easy solution to this stinky dilemma.
Why do garbage disposals smell so bad? Well, this happens because lingering bits of food get stuck to the blades and start to rot.
By cutting up slices of lemon and running them through your garbage disposal you can solve two problems at once.
The lemon will cover up any bad smells. We also like to use this trick before guests come over to make our kitchen smell a little bit fresher.
The other benefit of using lemons is that they are very acidic. This acid disinfects the garbage disposal and will help to break down any bits of food that are stuck inside it.
It’s a win-win.
14. Use Baking Soda & Vinegar to Unclog Your Sink.
Anyone who has had a clogged sink can tell you the following two things:
- Unblocking a sink by hand is a time-consuming and disgusting process that normally ends with a sink full of rotten food.
- Using chemicals to unblock your sink is expensive and half the time the chemical solutions don’t solve the problem.
Thankfully, this job can be done without using those chemicals or a plunger. This hack will show you how to unclog your sink with just Baking Soda, boiling water, and Vinegar.
For this hack, you will need 1 gallon of water, ½ a cup of Baking Soda, and 1 cup of Vinegar.
Start by pouring all your baking soda down the drain. Then, pour all your vinegar down the drain too. Quickly use your sink stopper to prevent any overflow.
The reaction created by mixing these two ingredients will break down the blockage. While this is happening, boil your water.
After 15 minutes, remove the stopper and pour all of your boiling water down the sink. Now that it is unblocked the water should smoothly drain away.
15. Clean Your Oven The Easy Way
Cleaning your oven can be a disgusting and time-consuming job. But don’t worry, we have a solution for this problem too.
Remember that paste we made when we were cleaning our microwaves? Well, it works for ovens too. The paste can be made by mixing ½ cup of water and 3 tablespoons of Baking Soda. If you need more, stick to this ratio.
Apply your paste all over the oven and leave to soak overnight or for 12-15 hours. Remember to put a towel underneath your oven door. This mixture is very effective and some of the greases it has removed might leak out of the door joint.
After the paste has done its job, wipe it away. Then get a microfiber cloth soaked in hot water and gently wipe everything down for a second time.
16. Clean The Kitchen Cabinets With Two Ingredients Only
This is another cleaning hack that only uses two ingredients but will leave your cabinets looking brand new.
For this hack, you will need to mix 1 part coconut oil with 2 parts Baking Soda. Before you get started you will also need to grab a spare toothbrush that you are no longer using.
Add half a teaspoon of the mixture onto a microfiber cloth and apply a liberal layer over the surface of the cabinet. Then take a toothbrush and gently rub the paste into the cabinet, using circular motions. Leave for 15 minutes and then use a warm cloth to wipe away the mixture. It will need to be warm to break down the coconut oil.
This mixture is perfect for cleaning those greasy kitchen cabinets. It sounds crazy to use coconut oil to remove another type of oil, but trust us, you’ll be shocked by how well this works.
17. A Hack To Clean Your Baking Trays to Look Like New
Did you know that baking trays don’t have to look blackened with grease and burns? We didn’t either until we tested this hack.
The best thing about this hack is that it even works on trays that have been stained for years.
Note: if any part of your baking tray has non-stick coating then do not use this hack. It will strip the tray of that non-stick coating.
For this hack, you will need Cream of Tartar and White Wine vinegar. You will want to mix them into a paste that is ⅓ of a cup of vinegar and 1 cup of Cream of Tartar (or 1 part vinegar to 3 parts Cream of Tartar for smaller batches).
You will then want to coat your baking tray with a thick layer of the paste. Leave for an hour before taking some steel wool to the tray. The stains and grease should come away with very little effort.
After this, you should use very hot water to rinse the tray before cooking with it again.
18. Clean Your Cast Iron Pan Using A Potato
Most people think we’re joking when we bring up this hack. But it is one that we swear by. If you need to clean a cast iron pan, then a potato is going to be your new best friend.
For this hack, you will need some coarse sea salt and half a potato. It is the starch in the potato that works wonders when it comes to removing stains without damaging the coating on the pot.
Dip the damp half of the potato into the salt and then gently rub the potato on the sides of the pans. Spending extra time on the stained areas. After you have finished rinse away any residue with warm water.
19. Hacks To Remove Carpet Stains
Here are three mini hacks for removing stains from your carpet.
- To remove deep odors from carpets you should add a few drops of essential oil (in the scent of your choice) to ½ cup of baking soda. Sprinkle this mixture over your carpet. Leave for an hour and then vacuum away.
- If you want a carpet cleaner without a bucket load of chemicals in it – then try out this recipe. Add 2 gallons of water to a bucket, along with 2-3 cups of white wine vinegar, and 3 teaspoons of dishwashing detergent. Pour this into a spray bottle and saturate your carpet with the solution. Scrub the whole carpet before rinsing. Allow to dry.
- To remove old stains from a carpet, mix 3 parts Hydrogen peroxide with 1 part dishwashing detergent. Spray onto the stain and leave for 10 minutes. Spray a little more onto the stain and then scrub it away. Don’t forget to rinse afterward.
20. Make Your Couch Look Like New By Rubbing Some Alcohol On It
If you have furniture with microfiber upholstery then this hack is going to make your day. It is so simple and it will leave your furniture looking brand new.
You will want to fill a spray bottle with pure rubbing alcohol.
Then, working on a 5-inch square area at a time, spray a good amount of alcohol onto the fabric. Blot the alcohol away with a microfiber cloth until it is dry. This will lift off any of the dirt with ease.
After you have finished the whole thing, you will need to take a soft brush and rub it over every area you have washed. This will leave the furniture looking soft, fluffy, and brand new.
This is such an easy hack that will leave you with breathtaking results.
21. Clean Your Ceiling Fans Using An Old Pillow Case
This is one of our least favorite cleaning chores. Why? Because it involves so much work on a step ladder and we always end up getting dust all over our floors.
However, if you skip it for too long the dust will even up on the floor anyway as soon as you turn your fan on.
This hack will turn the fiddly task into a simple job that only takes a few seconds. And all you need is a pillowcase.
Take your pillowcase and put it on one of your fan blades (so the blade is inside the case, like a pillow). Then, you will want to push down gently on the top of the blade and pull the pillowcase towards you.
The top half of the pillowcase will wipe off most of the dust, and any of the dust that falls off will be caught by the bottom half of the pillowcase. Not your carpet. It really is that easy.
Repeat this step on each fan blade in your home.
22. Clean your vents with Turtle Wax
Ever wondered if there is a cheaper way to remove dirt, dust, and debris from your vents? We bet you never thought about using turtle wax to get the job done.
It works so well on our cars, why wouldn’t it do a great job on our vents too.
For this hack, you are going to need a microfiber cloth that you don’t mind getting turtle wax all over and the said turtle wax.
This hack does not require a complex cleaning method. Polish your vents in the same way you would polish your car. After a few seconds of gentle rubbing, the dirt will come right off.
23. Clean Glasses & Mirrors With 3 Simple Ingredients
Glass cleaner is incredibly expensive and full of horrible chemicals that you don’t want your kids, pets, or the local wildlife to go anywhere near.
Not only does this glass cleaner only take 60 seconds to make, but it only contains 3 ingredients. It is also incredibly cheap to make, and you probably have all three ingredients in your house right now.
The three ingredients you will need for this hack are 3 cups of filtered water, ½ cup of white wine vinegar, and 1 teaspoon of dishwashing detergent. These ingredients should be mixed together and then placed in a spray bottle.
You can use this just mixture in the same way you would a traditional glass cleaner.
If you want to add extra shine then you should use newspaper pages. This trick will leave your windows so clean, you might accidentally walk into them.
24. Clean Pet Hair The Easy Way
Anyone who has a pet will agree that pet hair is one of the biggest messes in a pet owner’s home. In the summer we could be vacuuming 24/7 and still not catch all the hair that is malting from our pup.
When we found this hack, we thought to ourselves ‘It really can’t be this easy…’ And then we tried it and it was. Then we thought ‘Why has no one ever told us this before?!’
What is the hack?
Get yourself a rubber glove, there is probably one in the cabinet under your sink. Then put the rubber glove on and run your hand over a carpet or piece of furniture.
The friction of the glove will cause the hair to stick to it with no fuss or exertion required. It really is that easy. You can then transfer the fur straight to the garbage.
25. Detail Your Car with Just These Two Handy Tools
Many people think that detailing their car is something they can’t do at home. Again, we would like you to reconsider and we have the perfect hack to help you do that.
We’ve found that a handheld clothes steamer and a hot water extractor can do everything a professional cleaning team can.
After removing any rubbish and debris from our car, we like to use a hot water extractor to perform a deep clean on the floors and seats of our car. We then like to take our handheld steam to the upholstery to leave it smelling fresh.
After this will use our steamers to loosen and remove any dirt and dust in hard to reach areas of our car. They are amazing at getting dust out of AC vents that are too small for hands.
If you want to remove odors from your car then we recommend sprinkling some Baking Soda mixed with essential oils on your dashboard or the offending area.
Summary
Having a clean home is one of the best feelings in the world. But sometimes it doesn’t feel like it is worth all the time and effort. Especially when we are very busy.
With these 25 hacks, you will be able to cut the time that you spend cleaning in half. You will also save yourself a lot of money by using these hacks.
One of the major benefits of these hacks is that the majority of them use natural ingredients that won’t harm your children, pets, or the planet. But they will still leave your home looking as clean as the day you moved in.
By the time you’ve worked your way through all of these hacks, you will be left with a sparkling clean house. So, what are you waiting for?
It’s time to get cleaning!
Further Reading
