Have you ever heard the joke, “every time I get the urge to clean, I lay down until it passes”? Sometimes (or lots of times), that joke can be far too relatable. Especially with the busy schedules we all like to keep, cleaning can become one of the most dreaded activities.
Consider this though: what if you have been approaching cleaning all wrong?
Seriously, what if cleaning has become one of those things that could be done entirely differently, to the point you might even be able to enjoy it?
These cleaning hacks might be the lifesavers you’re looking for. They are ridiculously simple, but also crazy effective. They can help save you some bucks and keep your home more chemical-free. If you don’t believe me, give them a try for yourself!
Shake Things Up with These Cleaning Hacks
#1. Baking Soda/Vinegar vs Bathtub
Sick of the nasty stains forming at the base of your bathtub? No need to spend time awkwardly kneeling on the rim and scrubbing till your hands are sore. All you need for the job is baking soda and vinegar.
Mix one cup of vinegar with a half a cup of baking soda and hot water, then pour the mixture into the empty tub. Let sit for 5 minutes. Start filling the tub with hot water until it’s about a quarter of the way full. Let sit for another 5 minutes. Allow to drain, then wipe the tub down. Boom, shiny tub. (1)
#2. Lemon Oil vs Microwave
Nobody likes to open the microwave to see explosions of food crusting on the sides. Again, you don’t need to tire yourself trying to scrape or scrub it out. Just grab yourself some lemon oil.
Drip about 15 drops of lemon oil into one and a half cups of water (make sure it’s in a microwave proof bowl). Microwave the water and lemon oil on high for 5-10 minutes, depending on how dirty the microwave is. Once complete, simply wipe down the inside of the microwave, and you’re done! (1)
#3. Squeegee vs Carpet
This one is especially excellent if you have pets. Getting hair out of the carpet can be a nightmare to the point vacuums can barely get the job done. Don’t stress, just grab a squeegee.
Simply raking the squeegee across the carpet can pull up all sorts of hair. Once the hair starts balling up, you can easily clear it off the floor with a vacuum or even your hands and a trash bag. Get ready for a hair-free floor! (2)
#4. Tin Foil/Baking Soda vs Oven
That oven door can get so dirty, you can’t even peek through to see how your cookies are doing. Don’t lose hope though, this solution will do just the trick.
Open the oven door so it lays parallel to the floor. Pour about ¾ cup of water over the surface (adjust depending on oven size) and sprinkle it with baking soda. Let it sit for about 30 seconds to a minute. Ball up a piece of tin foil and start to scrub the surface. Once done scrubbing, dry off with paper towels. If there is some baking soda still remaining, get a few damp paper towels to clear it away. Now you’ll have a beautifully clear over door. (3)
#5. Vinegar/Water/Essential Oil vs Upholstery
Do you ever smell a vague stench in the air around your house that just won’t seem to go away? Sometimes the culprit of this can be furniture/upholstery. No need to worry, we’ve got a solution for that too.
Grab a spray bottle and fill it up about halfway with water. Add a few drops of vinegar and then a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil (I recommend lavender). Shake it up, test the solution on a small unseen patch to make sure it dries alright, then spray lightly over furniture/upholstery. Let sit for a few minutes to dry, then run a vacuum over the area. Your house should start smelling much nicer.
There are, of course, tons of other cleaning hacks to try, but these are some great ones to get you started. Get the family involved in your cleaning endeavors and have some fun!