Cleaning is tedious, time-consuming, stressful, and sometimes just darn right expensive. For those reasons and many others, we’ve put together a list of cleaning hacks to improve your home and life.
So, if you ever feel like it’s getting the best of you, then you might want to take a look at the info we have in store for you today.
The Stress Behind Cleaning
If you spend a lot of time online, it’s easy to acquire the impression that other people live in immaculate homes while you’re wondering why cleaning is so stressful.
First rule: never take everything you see on social media seriously; you’ll never get out of it alive.
Additionally, there is some science behind the association between cleanliness and lowered anxiety.
According to a small study published in the journal Mindfulness, people who washed their dishes in a mindful way (that is, taking a second to inhale deeply the scent of the dish soap and feeling the warm water on their skin) reported a 27% decrease in nervousness and a 25% increase in “mental inspiration.”
Also, temporary worry can result in more attentive cleaning. The researchers hypothesized that during times of stress, people tend toward repeated behaviors (such as cleaning). Why? It’s all about exercise of control.
18 Home Cleaning Hacks and Tips
Cleaning doesn’t have to be tedious or stressful, and we’re going to give you an inclusive list of hacks and tips that will make cleaning less of a chore and more fun.
Microwave cleaning hack: Use lemon
What you’ll need:
- 5 cups of water
- 15 drops lemon essential oil
- Microwave-safe bowl
- A clean sponge
In a microwave-safe bowl, combine 15 drops of lemon essential oil and 1.5 cups of water. Microwave on high for five to ten minutes, letting the steam condense on the interior walls/ceilings of your microwave. Once finished, simply use a sponge to wipe away any potential food residue.
But also, for the stove oven
What you’ll need:
- 1 cup vinegar
- 1 cup water
- Lemon essential oil
- Clean sponge
- Baking soda
Apart from its fragrance benefits of essential oils, lemon oil can serve as a very efficient degreaser and may be used to naturally clean stubborn grease stains. Spray one cup water, one cup vinegar, and a few drops of lemon essential oil in your stove oven or even stovetop and wipe clean.
Sprinkle baking soda on the stain first, then spray and wipe. You may use the same procedure to clean your oven, which will aid in the prevention of kitchen fires, which are frequently caused by grease.
Baseboard cleaning hack
What you’ll need:
- Pail of water
- Dry towel/broom
- Vacuum
- A clean sponge
- Wet towel
If it has been a while, sweep the area with a broom or dry towel and then vacuum it. Remove any leftover dust or grime with a damp cloth. To give your baseboards a thorough cleaning, a sponge and a pail of water containing a tiny amount of dish detergent are required. After you’ve completed the washing, use a wet towel to remove any remaining soap residue.
Use vinegar for smelly upholstery
What you’ll need:
- Vinegar
- Essential oil
- Vacuum cleaner
Combine the essential oil of your choice with water and vinegar to remove pet odors, but also other unpleasant smells from your furniture’s upholstery. Furniture is frequently to blame for persistently foul odors in the home, as upholstery frequently retains odors.
Make sure you apply a small amount of cleaning solution on a hidden area and allow it to dry before applying to the remainder of the upholstery. If everything is in order, spray the liquid on the remaining upholstery and vacuum the area after it has dried.
Learn how to vacuum
What you’ll need:
- Vacuum cleaner
You might think there is nothing complicated about vacuuming, especially if you have a good vacuum, but there is actually a right and a wrong way to do it. You should vacuum the room horizontally and then vertically, as this ensures you will get rid of all the dirt trapped.
Always use a clean sponge
What you’ll need:
- Microwave
- Dishwasher
Sponges can accumulate a lot of bacteria, particularly if left in the sink, so it’s critical to clean them periodically. Microwave the damp sponge for 30 seconds to kill any bacteria. Simply wait a couple of minutes before removing, as it will still be hot. Additionally, some sponges are dishwasher safe, which makes it pretty easy to clean them.
Clean your air vents
What you’ll need:
- Vacuum cleaner
- Soft vacuum brush tool
Air vents are something that people neglect when it comes to cleaning the house, which is pretty important because they can get dirty really fast. Not only does this introduce dust into the area, but it also prevents air from escaping.
Begin by vacuuming the area using a soft vacuum brush tool. If that does not work, dip a towel in any available cleaning chemical, wrap it around a stick, and use this contraption to clean the vents.
Sanitize your garbage disposal
What you’ll need:
- Lemons
When the garbage disposals get smelly, the odor can permeate the entire kitchen. However, who does not adore the vivid aroma of freshly squeezed lemon? This technique enables you to always smell that energizing scent. Perhaps even better? It could not be any simpler. Not only will your garbage disposal smell nicer, but it will also perform better.
To clean your garbage disposal, simply cut the lemons or limes in quarters and put them inside the disposal piece by piece. Make sure the water is running.
Use rubber for pet hair removal
What you’ll need:
- Rubber gloves
When a conventional vacuum does not seem to pick up all of your pet’s hair, rubber gloves will suffice. Simply slide them on and touch any places that require more cleaning.
When rubber is pressed against fabric, it generates elasticity, which can be used to collect any remaining pet hair. When finished, place the gloves under a stream of running water to remove any remaining hair.
Clean your mattress
What you’ll need:
- Vinegar
- Baking soda
- Vacuum cleaner
We wash our bedding regularly, however our mattress cannot be as easily cleaned since it doesn’t really fit in the washing machine. Fortunately, with our kitchen essentials, we can keep it clean. It is critical to clean your mattress frequently to avoid problems such as dust mites and leaving all those dead skin cells on the surface of the bed.
You can spray the surface of the mattress with white vinegar and add some baking soda on top for stain removal. You can cover the area with a cloth and leave it for a couple of hours. Then, using your vacuum, thoroughly clean the mattress.
Watch out for shower scum
What you’ll need:
- Vinegar
- Dish soap
- Sponge/old toothbrush
Ok, cleaning the bathroom is probably one of the most tedious parts of having to clean the house, but it must be done! The good news is that there is a simple method for removing soap scum and filth that has accumulated within the shower.
Fill a dish wand halfway with vinegar and halfway with dish soap and begin cleaning! Alternatively, you can use either an old toothbrush or a sponge that has been dipped into a cup of the same solution.
Don’t neglect your keyboard
What you’ll need:
- Microfiber cloth
- White vinegar
- Cotton swab
If you spend a lot of time in front of the computer, whether it’s browsing, working, or gaming, the number of germs that one can find on this surface is astonishing. Avoid using paper items, harsh chemicals, and never spray something directly on the screen when cleaning your computer.
To make sure you have a clean keyboard, dampen a microfiber cloth with white vinegar and scrub the surface thoroughly. Clean spots that require additional attention using a cotton swab dipped in vinegar.
When you’re ready to clean your screen, gently wipe it with a microfiber cloth in a circular motion. If necessary, apply a solution of vinegar and water.
Clean stainless-steel surfaces
What you’ll need:
- Soft sponge
- Mild detergent
- Water
One of the easiest surfaces to clean is stainless steel and maintaining a dazzling finish on your stainless-steel appliances may make a significant impact. All stainless-steel surfaces require water and soap to maintain its cleanliness.
To begin, moisten a soft sponge by dipping it in a mixture of mild dish soap and water, and use it to wipe out the appliance’s surface. Blot away soap residue with a dish towel and then, after thoroughly rinsing the stainless steel, wipe away any leftover water with another dry dish towel.
While soap and water should remove the majority of residue and fingerprint smudges from stainless steel, spray glass cleaner will remove any persistent fingerprints. Never use abrasive cleansers, sponges, or items on the metal surface.
Freshen up your refrigerator
What you’ll need:
- Damp towel
- Mild dish soap
- Non-abrasive scrubber
- Baking soda
To clean your refrigerator correctly, it’s essential to remove and hand-wash all of the shelves inside. You have to dip the drawers and wire racks in hot water mixed with a little mild dish soap. Cover sticky food spills with a warm, damp towel for a few minutes to soften them before scrubbing them (make sure you use a non-abrasive scrubber).
If you are unable to remove any of the shelves or drawers, clean using a mixture of seven parts water and one part baking soda. Once all surfaces have been cleaned and dried, fill an open container with baking soda and leave it on the bottom shelf of the fridge to deodorize it.
Unclog the drain
What you’ll need:
- Baking soda
- Vinegar
It’s very easy for hair to clog the drain, which makes cleaning it a bit more complicated than just applying a cleaning solution and rinsing. You can use a mixture of vinegar and baking soda on a clogged drain or if you wish to perform just a simple cleaning.
Add half a cup of baking soda and half a cup of white distilled vinegar down the drain. Allow the drain to remain for a few minutes to work out any clogs before flushing it with hot water.
Use essential oils in the toilet bowl
What you’ll need:
- 1 cup baking soda
- 15 drops tea tree essential oil
- 15 drops orange/lemon essential oil
- A small bowl
Combine 1 cup baking soda, 15 drops tea tree essential oil, and 15 drops orange or lemon essential oil in a small bowl. Allow the mixture to sit for about half an hour before scrubbing with a bowl brush. A toilet is obviously a place where bacteria have frequent parties and gatherings, so it’s surely one of the dirtiest spots in the house.
Wipe the mirrors
What you’ll need:
- White vinegar
- Distilled water
- Cornstarch
- Rubbing alcohol
Streaks on mirrors are horrible. Not only are they not aesthetically pleasing, but it makes it difficult to actually see anything in the mirror. What you’re going to need in order to clean the mirror is a mixture of cornstarch, half a cup of white vinegar, and some distilled water, also half a cup.
Grab a clean spray bottle and mix all of these ingredients together. Apply the solution on the mirrors and grab a microfiber cloth to start wiping. Use broad S-like motions, starting from the top of the mirror and working your way down to the bottom.
Before you begin cleaning, use a clean cloth dipped in rubbing alcohol to remove any particularly obstinate debris. Scrub the debris off the mirror glass before cleaning the remainder of the mirror glass.
Dust your blinds
What you’ll need:
- Vacuum cleaner/feather duster
- Microfiber cloth
- White vinegar
- Warm water
- Dish soap
- Furniture polish
Your blinds are a regular duster magnet, and if you or someone in your household has allergies, all this dust will only make it worse. If your blinds are dirty, you can clean them with a vacuum equipped with a brush attachment, a clean microfiber cloth, or even a feather duster. Simply close the wooden slats or mini blinds and wipe or vacuum the dust.
If a more thorough cleaning is required, metal and plastic blinds can be repaired with an equal mixture of white vinegar and warm water, along with a few drops of dish soap.
Soak a sponge in the solution, rinse it out thoroughly, then wipe each slat clean. Use furniture polish on wood blinds, and a solution that uses warm water and mild soap on microfiber or fabric blinds.
FAQ
What is the fastest way to clean a house?
The fastest way to clean a house is by cleaning it in its entirety instead of moving from room to room. It also helps if you have a caddy to keep all your cleaning tools and solutions nearby.
What is the smart way to clean your house?
The smartest way to clean the house is to get rid of all the clutter that’s getting in the way and making sure you do one thing throughout the entire house instead of just cleaning one room at a time. That means that if you’re vacuuming, vacuum all the floors and not just one room.
How can I cleanse my house naturally?
There are plenty of ways to clean different surfaces throughout the house using either natural cleaners or products that you most likely have in your pantry, such as white vinegar, baking soda, or even lemon juice.
How can I clean my house cheaply?
You can make your own cleaning products, using ingredients such as soap, water, vinegar, lemon juice, and even essential oils for that nice after scent.
The Bottom Line
Cleaning your home on a regular basis helps you stay organized. You’re aware of the location of all your belongings and don’t waste time looking for your keys or critical documents.
Not only is it hard to look for misplaced belongings, but a lack of housekeeping adds to the stress. Simply gazing at congested spaces is a source of stress. It serves as a reminder of all the tasks that need to be completed and makes your home appear smaller than it truly is.
If you have more cleaning tips, you’d like to share with us, feel free to use the comments section to do so.
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