Elizabeth Flaherty
By following these extremely smart house cleaning techniques, you’ll have every area of your house spick-and-span in no time.
Dust Bunny Broom Cleaner
Every time you sweep, clumps of dust and hair collect at the ends of the broom’s bristles. To solve this problem, hot glue a wide-tooth comb to the top of a dustpan. Just run the bristles through the comb to remove any excess gunk dangling from the broom.
Make Use of Your Dishwasher
Dishwashers may be used for much more than just washing dishes. Leslie Reichert, founder of The Green Cleaning Coach and author of The Joy Of Green Cleaning, suggests using yours to dust knickknacks such as mason jars and glass candle globes. Almost anything glass or ceramic should be safe to put in the dishwasher, but you should avoid placing meltable plastics in there.
DIY Mason Jar Dish Scrubber
If you are all about ease and convenience when it comes to washing the dishes, check out this DIY Mason jar dish scrubber. It even has a soap-dispensing handle. First, punch a few nail holes in the jar’s lid. Trace the lid onto a sponge and cut it out. Hot glue the sponge to the inner rim of the screw-on part of the lid. Fill the jar with soap, screw on the sponge and you’re set!
Clean Tough-to-Reach Spots on Disturbingly Shaped Containers
If you own a hummingbird feeder or a tall flower vase, you know how tough it is to keep the insides clean. A toothbrush is ideal for cleaning these difficult-to-reach areas. So, when your old toothbrush has served its time in your mouth, give it a new assignment!
For More Than Just the News
If streaky mirrors and glass tug on your nerves, we’ll show you how to get the streak-free glass with a couple of items already lying around your home. To get started, you’ll need a window cleaner and newspaper. Spray window cleaner on your dirty glass and then scrub in a circular motion, using the newspaper. Switch to a vertical, and then a horizontal stroke until all the liquid has dissipated and you’re left with shiny, streak-free windows!
Find Your Misplaced Items
Everyone understands how frustrating it is to be unable to locate a dropped medication or the back of an earring. So, how do you quickly and readily locate these items? Make use of your vacuum. The trick is to snip the end of nylon and secure it to the end of your vacuum line with a rubber band before turning on the vacuum.
Steam for Everyday Spills
The advantages of traditional oven cleaners are power and speed. But for many of us, the disadvantages outweigh the good, specifically, the corrosive chemicals and caustic fumes that this type of oven cleaning can produce.
A simple, more natural way to clean your oven is to place an oven-safe pot or bowl filled with water inside. Set your oven to 450 degrees for 20 to 60 minutes to loosen dirt and grease with the steam. Once your oven is cool, wipe off the condensation and the grease will come with it. If stubborn spots persist, scrub with a paste of baking soda and lemon or vinegar. This steam-cleaning option doesn’t take as long as pyrolytic cleaning and doesn’t produce smoke, either. It’s a win-win! Has company come to visit?
Paint Stick to Clean Lint Buildup
Even if you empty your dryer’s lint trap before each load, there is likely to be a lint buildup surrounding the region that could spark a fire. So it’s vital to deep clean the region every now and then, and this helpful tip will get the job done. Wrap one end of a paint stir stick in a clean towel. Remove the lint trap and use the rag-covered stick to clean the area. Dampen the rag first to assist the lint stick to it.
Drilling Brush
Begin by threading the machine screw through the brush head such that the screw head sits in the brush head hole. Slide the washer onto the opposite side of the brush head and attach it with a nut. Tighten it thoroughly using a wrench. Overtightening, on the other hand, may cause the plastic brush head to shatter. Attach the scrubber head to the drill next. Fill a bowl or pail with hot water and dish soap to clean (or the cleaning agent of your choice). Dip the power scrubber into the solution just enough to saturate the bristles, but do not immerse the drill! Simply point and press the drill to begin, then let the drill brush do the rest.
Dusting Coffee Filters
When you need to wipe a computer display or TV screen, look for a coffee filter from your kitchen cabinet. Thin, cloth-like paper filters are excellent for collecting small dust particles, and one filter will go a long way. While you’re at it, use coffee filters to dust knickknacks and other household items. With a spritz of cleaning solution, the coffee filter will trap even more dust while also disinfecting surfaces.
Remove Hard-Water Buildup with a Lemon
To get rid of hard-water buildup on a faucet, try this natural solution: Cut a fresh lemon in half. Then press the lemon onto the end of the faucet. Put a small plastic bag around the lemon and secure it around the faucet with a rubber band. Be sure that the rubber band is cinched tightly and that the lemon is around the end of the faucet. Leave the lemon in place for a few hours to allow the citric acid to work its magic.
Microwave Cleaner
It’s easy to clean baked-on food and spills from your microwave Here’s how: Partially fill a measuring or coffee cup with water and add a slice of lemon. Boil the water for a minute, and then leave the door closed and let the steam loosen the mess.
Cleaning Your Teeth Isn’t Enough!
An electric toothbrush is one of the many useful cleaning products I own. It’s fantastic for getting rid of stains and filth around the house! I put a dab of baking soda under the spinning toothbrush head to swiftly clean the metal sink and plastic dish drying rack in the kitchen to remove residue and splatters. I also scrub the grout in the kitchen and bathroom with an electric toothbrush, baking soda, and a small amount of water. — Ellis Biderson, a reader
Clean Upholstery with Baking Soda
Use this handy hint if there’s a funky smell lurking in your couch or upholstered chair: Sprinkle a generous amount of regular baking soda onto the fabric and let it sit for at least 20 minutes. The baking soda will help to release odors and break up some light stains in the fabric. After about 20 minutes, remove the baking soda—and the funky smell—with a handheld vacuum or a hose attachment for your large vacuum.
Zip-Tie to the Rescue
When my bathroom sink gets clogged, I don’t reach for chemicals. Instead, I use a long zip tie. I cut several notches on the zip-ties end. It’ll hook the hair clog, allowing you to pull it out. Problem solved. The size of the eye of the zip tie prevented me from inadvertently pushing the tie past the stopper. — reader Rick Holmen
Remove Crayon Marks From Walls
Have your walls been redecorated with some original crayon masterpieces? Don’t lose your cool. Just grab a rag, dip it in some baking soda and lightly scrub the marks. They will come off with a minimal amount of effort and give your young Picasso a fresh, new canvas.
