Cleaning your home can feel like a never-ending task, but with a few clever hacks, you can make it easier, faster, and more efficient.
Here are the best cleaning hacks you will ever need to know to keep your home spotless with minimal fuss.
1. Use Baking Soda and Vinegar for Clogged Drains
Forget harsh chemicals—baking soda and vinegar can unclog your drains naturally and effectively.
These two ingredients create a fizzy reaction that breaks down gunk and removes buildup.
How to Use:
- Pour 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain.
- Follow it with 1 cup of vinegar.
- Let the mixture sit for 10-15 minutes, then pour boiling water down the drain to flush it out.
This simple hack works wonders for slow drains and prevents clogs from forming.
2. Remove Water Stains with Lemon
Hard water stains can make your faucets and sinks look grimy, but lemon’s natural acidity can cut through the buildup and leave your fixtures shining.
How to Use:
- Cut a lemon in half and rub it directly on the water-stained surfaces, such as faucets or shower heads.
- Let the lemon juice sit for a few minutes, then wipe clean with a damp cloth.
Not only does this method remove stains, but it also leaves a fresh citrus scent behind.
3. Steam Clean the Microwave with Vinegar
Cleaning a dirty microwave can be a tough job, especially when food splatters have dried and hardened. But steaming it with vinegar makes the job much easier.
How to Use:
- Fill a microwave-safe bowl with 1 cup of water and 2 tablespoons of vinegar.
- Microwave on high for 5 minutes. Let it sit for a few minutes after it stops.
- Carefully remove the bowl, then wipe down the inside of the microwave with a damp cloth.
The steam will loosen stuck-on food and deodorize your microwave.
4. Remove Carpet Stains with an Iron
Stubborn carpet stains can be a nightmare, but an iron and some household items can lift stains with ease.
How to Use:
- Mix 1 part vinegar with 2 parts water in a spray bottle.
- Spray the solution on the stain, then lay a damp cloth over it.
- Set your iron to steam and place it over the cloth for about 30 seconds.
The heat and moisture will transfer the stain from the carpet to the cloth, leaving your carpet clean and fresh.
5. Polish Stainless Steel with Olive Oil
If your stainless steel appliances are covered in fingerprints and smudges, olive oil can restore their shine and prevent future marks.
How to Use:
- Dab a small amount of olive oil onto a soft cloth.
- Gently rub the oil onto your stainless steel surfaces, following the grain.
- Buff the surface with a clean, dry cloth to remove excess oil.
This hack not only polishes your appliances but also creates a protective layer that repels fingerprints.
6. Clean Shower Heads with Vinegar
If your shower head is spraying unevenly due to mineral buildup, vinegar can help dissolve the deposits and restore water flow.
How to Use:
- Fill a plastic bag with vinegar and secure it around the shower head using a rubber band.
- Let it soak for a few hours or overnight.
- Remove the bag and run the shower to rinse away the loosened deposits.
This hack keeps your shower head clean and functioning optimally without scrubbing.
7. Deodorize the Garbage Disposal with Ice and Lemon
If your garbage disposal has developed an unpleasant odor, use ice and lemon to freshen it up and sharpen the blades.
How to Use:
- Drop a handful of ice cubes into the disposal, followed by a few lemon peels.
- Run cold water and turn on the disposal for 20-30 seconds.
The ice helps clean the blades, while the lemon peels deodorize the disposal, leaving your kitchen smelling fresh.
8. Clean Blinds with Tongs and Microfiber Cloths
Cleaning blinds is often tedious, but you can speed up the process with a pair of tongs and some microfiber cloths.
How to Use:
- Wrap two microfiber cloths around each side of the tongs and secure them with rubber bands.
- Use the tongs to pinch and slide along each blind slat, picking up dust on both sides.
This hack helps you clean both sides of your blinds at once, cutting down on cleaning time.
9. Use Dryer Sheets to Dust Baseboards
Dryer sheets aren’t just for laundry—they’re also great for dusting baseboards and keeping them dust-free for longer.
How to Use:
- Grab an unused dryer sheet and wipe down your baseboards.
- The dryer sheet will not only remove dust but also leave behind an anti-static residue that helps prevent future buildup.
This trick works wonders for keeping baseboards clean and free of dust for weeks.
10. Clean Your Toilet with Alka-Seltzer
If you’re running low on toilet cleaner, Alka-Seltzer tablets can do the trick. The fizzing action helps break down stains and clean the bowl.
How to Use:
- Drop 2 Alka-Seltzer tablets into the toilet bowl.
- Let them fizz and dissolve for about 15 minutes.
- Scrub with a toilet brush and flush.
This hack is perfect for a quick and easy toilet refresh.
11. Get Rid of Pet Hair with Rubber Gloves
Pet hair on furniture or clothes can be tough to remove, but rubber gloves provide an easy solution.
How to Use:
- Put on a pair of rubber gloves and run your hands over the furniture or fabric.
- The static electricity from the gloves will attract pet hair, making it easy to gather and discard.
This hack works wonders for removing stubborn pet hair from upholstery and clothing.
12. Deodorize Your Mattress with Baking Soda
Mattresses can harbor odors over time, but baking soda can help neutralize any unwanted smells and freshen up your bed.
How to Use:
- Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over your mattress.
- Let it sit for at least 30 minutes, then vacuum it up.
This will help eliminate odors and leave your mattress smelling clean and fresh.
13. Use Newspaper to Clean Glass
For streak-free, sparkling glass, try using newspaper instead of paper towels. The newspaper’s texture polishes the glass without leaving behind lint or streaks.
How to Use:
- Spray your glass surfaces with a vinegar and water solution.
- Wipe clean with a piece of crumpled newspaper for a streak-free shine.
This hack is especially effective for mirrors and windows.
14. Clean Grout with Baking Soda and Hydrogen Peroxide
Dirty grout can make your bathroom or kitchen look grimy, but a paste of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide can lift stains and whiten grout lines.
How to Use:
- Mix 1 part baking soda with 1 part hydrogen peroxide to form a paste.
- Apply the paste to the grout lines and let it sit for 10-15 minutes.
- Scrub with a toothbrush or grout brush, then rinse clean.
This powerful combination will leave your grout looking brand new.
With these cleaning hacks, you can tackle tough household chores with ease and efficiency.