39 Of The Most Helpful Cleaning Tips You’ve Ever Heard

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Baking Soda

Like cornstarch, baking soda has so many practical uses! 

• If your window tracks are gross, and chances are they are gross, The Intentional Mom has a fabulous trick using baking soda and vinegar to clean them!
• To remove water rings from wood surfaces, make a paste of baking soda and toothpaste (regular, not gel) and buff out the stain. Be sure to wipe the paste off when the ring is removed.
• Use a paste of baking soda and hot water to clean greasy grimy countertops. 
• Have a slow drain? Pour 1C of baking soda down the drain, follwed by 1C very hot white vinegar. Cover with a rag and let volcano-science go to work. After 15 minutes, flush the drain with a kettle of boiling water and your drain should drain faster. (Don’t do this if your drain is clogged- only if it’s running slow.)
• When you change your sheets, freshen up your mattress with baking soda. Sprinkle baking soda over the top of your mattress and let sit for 30 minutes. Vacuum up the mess and your mattress will smell fresh and new again.
• You can do the same thing above on pet beds, too! Those tend to get stinky quickly!
• Scour the residue off of ceramic cooktops with a paste of warm water and baking soda.

Lint Rollers

• Use a lint roller to remove dust and webs from window screens and screen doors. 
• Use a lint roller to clean dog hair from car interiors.

Gas Range Burners

Food spills tend to get baked on to range burners pretty regularly. Clean them overnight by putting the burners and caps in a Ziploc bag filled with ammonia. In the morning wash them off and they are good as new!

Garbage Disposal Cleaning

If there is an unpleasant smell coming from your disposal, start with cleaning the splash guard with a toothbrush. Food debris and gunk splashes up onto the rubber and will eventually start to smell. After you’ve loosened the debris, rinse the sink with hot water. Finish by putting lemon wedges and ice cubes in the disposal and letting it run with the water on. It will smell lemony fresh in 30 seconds or less!

Toilet Brush

The toilet brush is BY FAR the most disgusting cleaning tool in anyone’s home. 

• After cleaning the toilet, place the brush between the bowl and the lid and let the water drip off. Better to drip into the toilet than have nasty water sitting in the bottom of the brush holder.
• Before returning the brush to the holder, pour a little Pine-Sol in the bottom so keep smells at bay.

Q-Tips

Q-Tips have so many uses! 

• Clean along the tops of baseboards.
• Clean around faucets.
• Clean between the keys on your keyboard.
• Clean the air vents in your car.
• Remove grime from light switches.
• Clean picture frames that have tiny details the dust cloth doesn’t reach.

Squeegee 

Squeegees can be used for more than just cleaning your glass shower doors!

• Remove pet hair from upholstery quickly and easily with a squeegee. (This works especially well in cars!)
• Pull pet hair trapped on carpeting away from the wall using a squeegee and then vacuum as usual. 

Dryer Sheets

Dryer sheets are a super useful, and inexpensive, tool for your cleaning caddy!

• Polish chrome faucets.
• Clean hard water from glass shower doors using dryer sheets.
• If you get deodorant on your clothing, wipe it off easily with a dryer sheet.
• Clean grimy oven racks by filling your bathtub with hot water and adding 6 or 7 dryer sheets. Set the racks in the tub and let them soak overnight. In the morning, wipe them off with the dryer sheets and they will be clean as new. 

Did I miss anything amazing? If so, let me know in the comments! I love cleaning tips and tricks!

Do you read Real Simple? It’s one of the only magazines I still subscribe to and I love it! They have a great article on How to Remove Every Type of Stain – you should check it out!

Looks Like Happy’s Favorite Cleaning Items

Kenmore Canister Vacuum I LOVE canister vacuums. They are so much more versatile than uprights and the Kenmore’s are capable of handling kid dirt and dog fur. I love that the big head is for carpeting and area rugs, and that it pops off and there is another head for wood flooring & tile. The cords are super long, and they are easy to use on stairs. You can get into every corner and crevice, and easily reach under sofas, chairs, beds and media consoles. The hose/wand extension is perfect for window sills and ceiling fan blades. 

Cleaning caddies are perfect for keeping all of your cleaning supplies in easy reach & accessible. Mine holds cleaning solutions, a sponge, rag and toothbrush, and feather duster. I love a feather duster for a quick breeze through the main level if unexpected guests decide to come over.

The Libman Wonder Mop is awesome. For one, it does a fantastic job picking up dirt and dust. But the best part is that the head pops off and can be thrown in the washing machine. That way the next time you clean you’re actually cleaning, and not spreading nasty bathroom germs all over your kitchen. <gag>

Ready for more cleaning tips & tricks? Then you won’t want to miss these posts! 

Clever Decluttering Solutions to Whip Your House Into Shape
10 Clever Cleaning Hacks for Lazy People
The One Hour Power Clean That Will Change Your Life

For more organization and decluttering ideas, visit our DIY for the Home: Cleaning & Organization Tips board on Pinterest. There are hundreds of ideas from other great bloggers! 

Happy cleaning!
Allison

 

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