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.
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.
Making bathtubs white again
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
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.
Removing rust
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.
Reducing dust on air vents
Spending a little time waxing all of your vents after washing them is a great way to keep them clean for much longer.
Cleaning the walls and ceiling
Genius lies in simplicity: use your mop to clean the walls.
Making a bathtub sparkle
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.
Getting rid of soap scum on a glass shower door
Use a stiff brush and any window cleaner to clean the soap scum off a glass shower door.
Polishing bathroom faucets
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.
Removing rust stains
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.
Cleaning granite countertops
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.
Cleaning cabinet hardware and doorknobs
Use oil soap and a toothbrush to clean cabinet hardware and doorknobs. Click here for detailed information.
Cleaning tiles
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.
Cleaning your sink
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.
Cleaning your microwave oven
Just fill a microwave-safe bowl with a solution of water and lemon juice, put it in the microwave oven, and enjoy the result!
Cleaning an oven
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.
Cleaning stove burners
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.
Cleaning a gas stove
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
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.
Getting rid of grease stains
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.
Cleaning air-conditioning vents
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!
Cleaning oven vent filters
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.
Cleaning wood cutting boards
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
The best method for keeping plastic chopping boards clean is to soak them in a bleach and water mix for an hour.
Cleaning blinds
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.
Washing the windows
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.
Cleaning the floor
Use ordinary soap and a few drops of hydrogen peroxide to remove stains from your carpet.
Removing carpet stains
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.
Cleaning your iron
You can make a dirty iron soleplate look like new again with the help of vinegar or baking soda.
Getting rid of bad smells in your kitchen sink
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.
Polishing a stainless steel sink with flour
After cleaning your sink, dry it out completely, and shake in some flour. Then simply wipe out any leftover flour with a dry cloth.
Cleaning and deodorizing a smelly washing machine
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.
Cleaning the washing machine drum
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.
Removing stains from furniture
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.
Cleaning leather furniture
Use shoe polish to repair scratches on your leather sofas, ottomans, chairs, etc.
Cleaning microfiber furniture
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.
Cleaning lampshades
Keep your fabric lampshades free of dust with an adhesive lint roller.
Removing dust from the TV screen
Get your computer monitors and TV screens clean and lint-free using a coffee filter.
Cleaning vases
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
Run a handful of white rice grains through the empty grinder to remove the dirt and stale odors. Click here for details.
Cleaning coffee stains out of your mugs
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.
Removing stains from old dishes
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
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.
Cleaning pots and pans
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.
Using toothpaste to clean a variety of plastic surfaces
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.