Don’t leave your cleaning time to just once a year when spring rolls around. Of course, it can be time-consuming and tedious, but it is necessary. When you use these handy hacks, you won’t dread the time to clean, and you can use these tips throughout the entire year, and they will alleviate the pain of the big spring cleaning.
1. Cream of Tartar to Clean Your Toaster
Any small stainless steel appliance can be cleaned and shined with cream of tartar. Simply mix 1 tablespoon with enough water to make a milky consistency. Rub this mixture onto the appliance. Then, just wipe it away to remove stains, dirt, or other buildups.
2. Club Soda and White Vinegar
This simple trick will get rid of tough carpet stains. Mix one part vinegar and one part water and store it in a clean, unused spray bottle. Blot the stain first, and then spray the solution and let sit for up to 15 minutes. Apply a clean sponge to the area to soak up the stain as well as the mixture. Rinse the area with water and blot with paper towels.
3. Microfiber Stains and Alcohol
All you need to do to remove stains from a microfiber cloth is to spray rubbing alcohol onto the stained area and then rub the stain off with a sponge. Then, brush the fibers smooth with a bristle brush.
4. Blinds and Vinegar
Mix equal parts of water and vinegar, and use an old sock to wipe the blinds clean. The sock can be worn like a glove for ease of use.
5. Dryer Sheets on the Baseboards
You can keep dirty baseboards at bay with this simple laundry item. All that you need to do it take the dryer sheet and dust the baseboards. This will repel dust as well as hair and keep it on the floor so that it can be swept away.
6. Sorting Old Clothes
Rather than spending hours upon hours going through your old clothes, start fresh and hang all of your clothes in the closet with the hanger facing backwards. When you wear this item, hang it up with the hanger the right way. In 6 months, check your closet and donate any of the items that were not worn, as indicated by their backward hanger.
7. Clean Shower Heads Overnight
It can take forever to clean a gross shower head, but this tip will save you so much time. All that you need to do is pour plain white vinegar into a plastic grocery or Ziploc bag and then tie it around the showerhead, rubber bands or bread ties will be sufficient. This should be left overnight. Then run cool water through the shower the next morning. The residue will rinse right off, and anything left can be whisked away with a toothbrush.
8. Cleaning Your AC Unit
The AC unit is something that is easily overlooked, but should never be skipped when doing a thorough cleaning. Turn your unit off before beginning, and use a shop vacuum to remove all of the debris and dust that has collected through the months. Don’t forget to replace your filter regularly as well.
9. Lemons and Stainless Steel
Simply cut a lemon in half and rub it on the stainless steel. This will work on hard water stains as well as rust. Rather than opting for harsh chemicals, use something that you know is safe.
10. Cleaning the Bathtub Naturally
Mix 1 teaspoon of liquid soap with a few drops of any essential oil. The best would be peppermint, rosemary, eucalyptus, or tea tree oils, as these are antibacterial. Add 1 cup of baking soda as an abrasive to remove tough stains. Mix all together and spread on the tub. Wipe clean.
11. Salt on Cast Iron
Simply add some coarse salt to a dampened cast iron skillet and proceed to scrub with a soft sponge. The salt acts as an abrasive and rinses away easily.
12. Steam Clean Your Microwave
Fill a bowl or measuring cup with 1 or 2 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of white vinegar (a few drops of essential oil is optional). Microwave for 5 minutes and then wipe your microwave clean with a damp cloth or towel.
