House Cleaning Hacks And Tips – Forget fancy cleaning products. Ingredients you already have on hand — like lime and baking soda — also work great for cutting. BSIP/UIG/Getty Images/Collection Mix: Sub
Although the frequency of cleaning depends on our lifestyle and whether or not we can take care of the household, it is a task that can tire us with increasing pressure.
House Cleaning Hacks And Tips
I have some serious house cleaning to do right now, but I’m short on time and the last thing I want to do after work is spend an hour scrubbing the tub or stove. Do I put it all off until the weekend and deal with the inevitable dust and grime all day? I was leaning toward a big fat “yes” until I consulted a handful of cleaning experts and realized I could do a lot without investing hours into my day, and better yet, I already had one for cooking. I can use those ingredients etc.
Kitchen Cleaning Hacks
Here is a list of cleaning hacks for those who want to save time, money and of course sanity.
Olive oil has many nutritional benefits (and may even extend life). Turns out it can even help you clean the house.
“Olive oil is a great option for cleaning stainless steel, such as pots, pans and appliances. Put olive oil on a soft cloth and rub in a circular motion to remove any grime,” says Matt Franken, director of Whole Home Ingredients, Food-Based Cleaning and CEO and Founder of Aunt Fanny’s, a manufacturer of pest solutions
Garbage disposals do a lot of dirty work on a regular basis, so it’s important to keep them clean and uncluttered.
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“To clean and deodorize drains, use fresh lemons or limes,” says Franken. “Cut citrus fruits into quarters, and while your water is running, place lemon slices one at a time down the drain.”
Rubbing alcohol, clear vodka (which has many cleaning benefits!) and white wine can also be used for this cleaning hack.
“Wash the stain first. Second, pour any type of cleaning alcohol (rubbing alcohol, vodka, white wine) over the stain,” says Greg Shepard, owner of house cleaning service Dallas Maids. “It’s better than over-the-counter products.”
Who would have thought that shaving cream could be used for cleaning? Sheppard vouches for this as a great way to remove water stains from shower glass.
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Janice Findlay, director of marketing for the newly launched Fins Property Maintenance, which offers a variety of professional cleaning services, recommends the following 10-minute plan of attack for tubs.
“[Mix] one cup of vinegar, half a cup of baking soda with hot water and pour into the [empty] tub and let sit for five minutes,” says Findlay. “Start filling the tub with hot water until it’s about a quarter full, and let it sit for an additional five minutes. Then drain and rinse thoroughly.”
You can use the same detergent to freshen your toilet, notes Findlay. Soak for a while, then flush and clean the seat.
Dowell James, president of Mr. Rooter Plumbing, Neighborly Co., recommends using essential oils in a DIY toilet cleaner.
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“Mix a cup of baking soda with 15 drops of tea tree essential oil and 15 drops of lemon or orange essential oil. Leave the mixture on the bowl for 30 minutes and scrub with a bowl brush before flushing.”
James suggests brightening your sink or tub by mixing baking soda, drops of lemon and basil essential oil, and dish soap. “Sponge the mixture on your bathtub and bathroom sink surfaces for 10 minutes. After rising from the water, [they] will shine.”
“Add 15 drops of lemon essential oil to one and a half cups of water in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave on high for five to 10 minutes, allowing the steam to condense on the inside walls/ceiling of your machine,” says Doug Rogers, president of Mr. Appliances, Neighborly Company. Once done, clean the soft food with a sponge.”
Another way to clean your microwave is by placing a clean, damp sponge or cloth on the tray and setting it on high for two minutes.
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“It will kill the bacteria,” says Jennifer Rodriguez, chief hygiene officer at Pro Housekeeper. “Then use a sponge or cloth to clean the microwave.”
“If you don’t feel like running to the store for more glass cleaner, it’s easy to make your own,” says Larry Patterson, Glass Doctor, franchise owner of a Neighborly company. “Mix white vinegar, distilled water, essential oil drops and shake. It’s a cheap and easy way to clean your windows, mirrors or even shower doors if you’re in a pinch.”
“In addition to its aroma benefits, lemon essential oil is a great degreaser and can be a great tool to naturally remove stubborn grease stains,” says Rogers.
“Spray a mixture of one cup of water, one cup of vinegar and lemon essential oil on your stove and simply wipe. For tough stains, sprinkle baking soda first, then spray and wipe. You can use the same technique to clean your stove—which will help prevent kitchen fires—many of which are caused by grease.”
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Carol Marshart, a registered dietitian and owner of Appleton Home Services, touts baking soda as the stove-top cleaner of choice.
“When your standard vacuum can’t seem to get all of your pet’s hair, rubber gloves will get the job done,” says Leanne Stephoff, VP of Operations for The Cleaning Authority. “Just slide them on and rub anywhere that needs extra cleaning. When the rubber is pushed against the fabric, it can create elasticity to collect the remaining pet hair. When you’re done, rinse the glove under running water and the hair will be sticky.”
Joshua Miller, director of technical training at Rainbow International, a Neighborly company, recommends cleaning pet odors and other odors from upholstery by mixing vinegar, water, and your favorite essential oil (they recommend lavender).
“Furniture is often the culprit for persistent odors in the home, since upholstery often traps odors,” Miller notes. “Pre-test the solution in an inconspicuous area and allow it to dry to test the coloration before using the rest of the upholstery.”
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If everything is fine, spray the mixture on the rest of the upholstery and once dry, vacuum the area.
We tend to wash our bedding regularly, but we can’t throw our pillows in the washing machine. Luckily, we can keep it clean with our kitchen essentials.
“It’s important to clean your mattress frequently to avoid dust mites, dead skin cells, etc.,” says Stephoff. “For stain removal in particular, try sprinkling the rug with vinegar and sprinkling baking soda on top. You can place a towel over the area and let it sit for one to two hours. Then grab your vacuum and head over to the mattress for a final clean.
“Coffee filters are useful items to have around your living room and office, not just in the kitchen,” says Stephoff. “They’re perfect for cleaning dust from TV screens, computer monitors and any other screen around the house, leaving no lint behind like a towel.”
Lazy Girl Cleaning Hacks You Need
“Instead of using a rag to clean your ceiling fan, which usually blows dust onto your furniture and floor, try using your pillow,” says Stephoff. “Slide it between the fan blades and do one swipe at a time.”
“Blinds often have many facets and shapes, so they can sometimes be difficult to clean,” notes Stephoff. “With this simple and kid-friendly hack, it doesn’t have to be! Take a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water with an old clean glove, swipe the glove over each part and the embedded dust and dirt will come right off your blinds.
“If you’re only using your dishwasher to clean dishes, you’re not using it to its full potential,” Stephoff emphasizes. “Check out this list of items you can safely wash in the dishwasher:
Want more tips like this? NBC News is busy discovering easier, healthier and smarter ways to live better Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. ‘There should be no frills in the house’ – this was Good Housekeeping’s mission nearly 100 years ago and we still rock it today! Every year, GHI experts test countless cleaning products and gadgets, collecting brilliant tips from Internet legends to help you get to work faster! Here’s the latest round-up of some of our favorite cleaning hacks to save you time and effort.
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Sterilize the cloths and sponges you use every day to keep them sterile. First clean them in warm soapy water, wrap them, then soak them in a disinfectant such as Milton disinfectant liquid for 15 minutes (or soak them in freshly boiled water). Rinse again and allow to dry thoroughly. Some fabrics and sponges are machine washable but you need to be able to use the hot cycle
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