X
    Categories: lifehacksforu

45 Brilliant Cleaning Tricks for Every Occasion That Really Work


There’s nothing better than a spotless house. But, to tell the truth, for many of us cleaning our house is not on our list of our favorite ways to spend time.

Today, we here at Smalljoys would like to share some ingenious tricks to help you make your living area sparkling clean. You’ll be amazed at how many household items double as cleaning products and home improvement tools.

ADVERTISEMENT

Making bathroom faucets shiny

Simply saturate paper towels in vinegar and wrap them around the faucet for 30-40 minutes. This easy trick will help you keep your faucets extra shiny and free from water spots.

ADVERTISEMENT

Making bathtubs white again

ADVERTISEMENT

One great way to make your bathtub snow-white again is by placing bleach-soaked cotton balls along the edges of the tub where the mold is. Let them sit overnight, and enjoy the result in the morning.

Cleaning mirrors

ADVERTISEMENT

Clean mirrors with a solution of half vinegar and half water. You can also add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the mix if you’d prefer a scented cleaner.

ADVERTISEMENT

Removing rust

ADVERTISEMENT

To get rid of rust stains, cut a lemon in half, dip one half into some table salt, and rub it over the rusty area.

ADVERTISEMENT

Reducing dust on air vents

ADVERTISEMENT

Spending a little time waxing all of your vents after washing them is a great way to keep them clean for much longer.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cleaning the walls and ceiling

ADVERTISEMENT

Genius lies in simplicity: use your mop to clean the walls.

ADVERTISEMENT

Making a bathtub sparkle

ADVERTISEMENT

Fill a bathtub with hot water, and add a scoop of any oxygen bleach. Let this solution sit overnight, and your bathtub will look like new again.

ADVERTISEMENT

Getting rid of soap scum on a glass shower door

ADVERTISEMENT

Use a stiff brush and any window cleaner to clean the soap scum off a glass shower door.

ADVERTISEMENT

Polishing bathroom faucets

ADVERTISEMENT

To make your chrome faucets gleam and shine, try putting a dab of baby oil on a cotton ball and polishing the faucet with it. You’ll see your reflection smiling back at you.

ADVERTISEMENT

Removing rust stains

ADVERTISEMENT

A mixture of some cream of tartar and lemon juice does a great job in removing rust stains found on any surfaces. All you need to do is dip a lightly dampened toothbrush into the mixture and scrub the rust spots.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cleaning granite countertops

ADVERTISEMENT

Granite countertops can be easily cleaned using warm water and a mild detergent. Just mix 2 cups of water with 1/4 cup of rubbing alcohol and 5-6 drops of dishwashing liquid, and rub the granite surface with this solution.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cleaning cabinet hardware and doorknobs

ADVERTISEMENT

Use oil soap and a toothbrush to clean cabinet hardware and doorknobs. Click here for detailed information.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cleaning tiles

ADVERTISEMENT

One way to remove water stains and mildew from tiles is to use baking soda. This simple trick also prevents the sponge from sticking to the oily tiles.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cleaning your sink

ADVERTISEMENT

Begin by sprinkling some baking soda over the wet surface of the sink. Then, using a clean sponge dampened with hydrogen peroxide, wipe the sink gently. In a few minutes all the stains and scratch marks will disappear without a trace.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cleaning your microwave oven

ADVERTISEMENT

Just fill a microwave-safe bowl with a solution of water and lemon juice, put it in the microwave oven, and enjoy the result!

ADVERTISEMENT

Cleaning an oven

ADVERTISEMENT

Mix a paste of 1 cup baking soda, 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap, and water. The paste should resemble a thick pancake dough. Spread the mixture evenly over the dirty areas, and let it sit for 15 minutes before wiping dry.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cleaning stove burners

ADVERTISEMENT

Mix baking soda with your dish soap and water to make a thick paste. Apply the resulting mixture onto the burners, and let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Then wipe with a soft damp cloth and dry thoroughly.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cleaning a gas stove

ADVERTISEMENT

In a bowl, mix some baking soda with enough water and hydrogen peroxide to make a paste. Spread this cleaning solution around the stovetop and leave for 5-10 minutes. Use a clean dry sponge or towel to wipe off the cleaning mixture. Ta-da! Your gas stove is sparkling clean!

Cleaning an oven door

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

If your oven door is grimy, sprinkle some baking soda on the surface and cover it with a damp cloth soaked in soapy water. Leave for 15 minutes, then wipe the area with the same towel in a circular motion.

ADVERTISEMENT

Getting rid of grease stains

ADVERTISEMENT

Put a couple of drops of mineral oil on a paper towel. Wipe the paper towel over the dirty surface, and watch the oil splatters come right off. When you have finished cleaning, simply wipe down the surfaces one more time with a clean cloth or a new paper towel.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cleaning air-conditioning vents

ADVERTISEMENT

Wrap a damp towel soaked in cleaner around a knife, and run it through your air vents. You’ll be amazed how easily it picks up the dust!

ADVERTISEMENT

Cleaning oven vent filters

ADVERTISEMENT

Simply fill a bowl with hot water, add a few drops of borax, drop in the filter, and let it soak for 15 minutes. Then rinse the filter thoroughly using warm water and allow it to dry.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cleaning wood cutting boards

ADVERTISEMENT

To disinfect and clean your cutting board, sprinkle it with coarse salt and rub it all over with the cut side of half a lemon. The lemon will help eliminate bad smells, and the salt will remove stubborn stains.

Cleaning plastic cutting boards

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

The best method for keeping plastic chopping boards clean is to soak them in a bleach and water mix for an hour.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cleaning blinds

ADVERTISEMENT

One way to clean blinds is to use elastic bands to wrap a damp cloth around a pair of tongs. This will allow you to quickly and easily wipe your blinds clean.

ADVERTISEMENT

Washing the windows

ADVERTISEMENT

Did you know that onion makes a great window-cleaning solution? Simply cut an onion in half, and rub it over the glass. You will be amazed with the results.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cleaning the floor

ADVERTISEMENT

Use ordinary soap and a few drops of hydrogen peroxide to remove stains from your carpet.

Removing carpet stains

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Dilute 1 part white vinegar to 2 parts water to prepare a cleaning solution. Soak a towel in the resulting mixture, and cover the stain with it. Finally, place a hot, steamy iron on top of the damp towel for 30 seconds.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cleaning your iron

ADVERTISEMENT

You can make a dirty iron soleplate look like new again with the help of vinegar or baking soda.

ADVERTISEMENT

Getting rid of bad smells in your kitchen sink

ADVERTISEMENT

Use an old toothbrush to scrub off any dirt that tends to accumulate on the garbage disposal, and you’ll get rid of those disgusting odors immediately. Click here for details.

ADVERTISEMENT

Polishing a stainless steel sink with flour

ADVERTISEMENT

After cleaning your sink, dry it out completely, and shake in some flour. Then simply wipe out any leftover flour with a dry cloth.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cleaning and deodorizing a smelly washing machine

ADVERTISEMENT

There are several ways to remove limescale that builds up in your washing machine and extend the service life of the equipment. Add some bleach, citric acid, or vinegar to an empty washing machine, set the hottest wash cycle, and let it clean itself.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cleaning the washing machine drum

ADVERTISEMENT

Clean out the drum of your washing machine thoroughly with a solution of water, baking soda, and vinegar. Pay special attention to the rubber seal around the door while cleaning the drum.

ADVERTISEMENT

Removing stains from furniture

ADVERTISEMENT

Evenly sprinkle some baking soda on your furniture. Let it sit for 20 minutes, then brush off with a stiff brush and vacuum clean the furniture.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cleaning leather furniture

ADVERTISEMENT

Use shoe polish to repair scratches on your leather sofas, ottomans, chairs, etc.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cleaning microfiber furniture

ADVERTISEMENT

Spray some rubbing alcohol onto the dirty area, and rub with a clean sponge. Let the wet spots dry, and then go over the entire surface with a stiff brush. Make sure you use a white sponge and a white brush so that there is no accidental color transfer onto the couch when you are scrubbing.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cleaning lampshades

ADVERTISEMENT

Keep your fabric lampshades free of dust with an adhesive lint roller.

ADVERTISEMENT

Removing dust from the TV screen

ADVERTISEMENT

Get your computer monitors and TV screens clean and lint-free using a coffee filter.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cleaning vases

ADVERTISEMENT

Use broken eggshells from hard-boiled eggs to clean the hard-to-reach places in vases. Drop some crushed shells into the vase, add warm water and a drop of dishwashing liquid, and give it a good swirl. The shells will scrape off the gunk you can’t get to.

Using rice to clean a coffee grinder

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Run a handful of white rice grains through the empty grinder to remove the dirt and stale odors. Click here for details.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cleaning coffee stains out of your mugs

ADVERTISEMENT

A great way to remove those pesky coffee and tea stains from your mugs is to scrub them with a lemon peel dipped in salt.

ADVERTISEMENT

Removing stains from old dishes

ADVERTISEMENT

Discolored old dishes will sparkle again if you clean them with a mixture of baking soda and water. This method will also help you get rid of all the stains. Here are the detailed instructions.

Cleaning burnt pans

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

Make your burnt pans look new! Simply add vinegar to your pan, and bring it to the boil. Then rub baking soda around the pan thoroughly with a dry cloth or sponge.

ADVERTISEMENT

Cleaning pots and pans

ADVERTISEMENT

Sprinkle your pan or pot with salt and rub thoroughly with a raw potato. After that, rinse with clear water and air or pat dry with clean paper towels. Next, put a small amount of oil into the pan and rub it in with a paper towel. Finally, set the pan on the stove on low heat for about 30 minutes to let the oil soak into the pan.

ADVERTISEMENT

Using toothpaste to clean a variety of plastic surfaces

ADVERTISEMENT

Surfaces, which we often touch, quickly become covered with sebum and dust. To get rid of this, wipe the dirt with a damp cloth and toothpaste.

ADVERTISEMENT