It can sometimes feel like you could spend the rest of your life trying to clean and organize your home and never actually cross every item off your to-do list. However, just because you’re short on time doesn’t mean you have to ignore those projects you’re eager to get done. Whether you’re looking to get your house spotless in a hurry or just want to add some extra aesthetic appeal to your space, there’s an easy way to tackle all those tasks while saving yourself time along the way.
And here are the best easy DIY home hacks that will help you get rid of your mess in home.
Using coffee grounds as a degreaser
Have some leftover coffee grounds after your morning pour-over? Use them to tackle that ring around the tub. “Rub some coffee grounds into the grease or soap and it’ll gently buff off any residue,” says Azoury. Rinse off the mixture with warm water afterward and voila! A squeaky-clean tub.
Essential oils to polish furniture
No furniture polish on hand? No problem!
According to Jane Wilson of Fantastic Cleaners Melbourne, essential oils are great for freshening up wood furniture.
“You can use lemon essential oil to quickly polish any dark wood and effectively clean stains and spots.” Wilson also notes that tea tree oil is another effective furniture polish and has the added benefit of being a bug deterrent. However, she cautions against using this trick of food preparation surfaces, as many essential oils are not safe for consumption. Sanitizing your space?
Remove small scratches on furniture with toothpaste
We all end up with small scratches in the finishes of our furniture from time to time. However, before you go spending hundreds of dollars to get your couch refinished, try using some toothpaste to get those marks out. Using a pea-sized amount of non-gel paste, rub the scratch in a circular motion until it buffs out, and then clean the remainder with a damp towel.
Use a hairdryer to get crayon marks off the walls
If your kids like to use your white walls as their personal crayon canvas, all hope is not lost. Simply heat the offending portion of the wall with a hairdryer for a few seconds to soften the crayon’s wax and then wipe any marks away with a soft cloth.
Use cooking oil to get rid of sticky label residue
Anyone who’s ever peeled a label off of a jar knows how frustrating it can be when the spot remains as sticky as honey. Thankfully, cooking oil makes it easy as pie to get rid of that residue. Using a cotton pad and some cooking oil, rub the sticky area and let it sit for a few minutes. Once the oil has sunk in, it’ll wipe away easily.
Limit the amount of water your toilet uses by putting a heavy item in the tank
Is your water bill outrageously high? On overly full toilet tank could be the problem. To help reduce the cost, put a brick or other heavy item inside the tank. This will displace at least a few cups of water, helping you reduce the amount you use with every flush.
Clean your toilet bowl with mouthwash
When your toilet bowl is in dire need of a good clean, grab your mouthwash instead of heading to the store to pick up yet another expensive and unnecessary cleaning product. Simply pour a capful of the stuff into your toilet bowl and let it sit for half an hour. When you’re ready to give the bowl a scrub, any grime will come off easily.
A mosquito catcher
Coca Cola can lure mosquitoes into its depths, where they plunge to their deaths! What to do: cut the plastic bottle into thirds and put the top part upside down into the base. An instant insect trap!
Keep your toothbrush off the dirty countertop with a clothespin
Your bathroom counter is teeming with germs, so it’s the last place you want your toothbrush to be. And if you don’t want to spend money on a whole slew of new bathroom accessories, a clothespin is just as effective at holding up your toothbrush, far away from all that bacteria.
Use a second shower rod to store toiletries
Instead of letting your sponges, loofahs, and smaller toiletries languish in your damp shower and inevitably become a breeding ground for bacteria, hang them up. All you have to do is install a secondary tension rod in your shower and attach some mesh bags on S-hooks to keep those shower supplies from getting waterlogged. It’s one of those simple DIY home hacks that saves you time and money in the long run!