Even while the amount of cleaning we do depends on our lifestyle and whether we can afford a housekeeping service, the pressure to do it is growing. I need to clean the house thoroughly, but I don’t have much time, and the last thing I want to do after work is spend an hour scrubbing the stove or bathtub. Should I wait until the weekend to deal with the inevitable dust and dirt or should I just put it off? I was leaning toward a resounding “yes” until I talked to a few cleaning professionals and realized that I could accomplish a lot without devoting hours of my day, and even better, I could use ingredients I already had on hand for cooking, etc., saving me money from having to buy new eco-friendly cleaning supplies.
21 Fast and Easy DIY Cleaning Hacks
1. Buff Surfaces With Olive Oil
Olive oil provides a lot of nutritional advantages (and can possibly increase longevity). It turns out that it can also aid in household cleaning.
“Olive oil is a fantastic cleaning solution for stainless steel objects including pots, pans, and appliances. According to Mat Franken, CEO and Founder of Aunt Fannie’s, a producer of whole ingredient, food-based cleaning and pest solutions for the home, rub olive oil on a soft cloth in a circular motion to buff out any stains.
2. Detox The Garbage Disposal With Lemons Or Limes
It’s crucial to keep the garbage disposal clean and free of clogs because it does a lot of nasty labor on a regular basis.
Use a fresh lemon or lime to clean and deodorize waste disposals, advises Franken. “Quarter the citrus fruit, and while the water is running, throw the lemon pieces one at a time into the garbage disposal.”
3. Remove Carpet Stains With Vodka
This cleaning trick works with white wine, clear vodka (which has many cleaning advantages! ), and rubbing alcohol.
“Blot the stain first. Second, apply any clear alcohol to the stain (rubbing alcohol, vodka, white wine), advises Greg Shepard, proprietor of the housecleaning company Dallas Maids. This is superior to any over-the-counter remedy.
4. Eliminate Water Stains With Shaving Cream
Who would have imagined using shaving cream to clean? Shepard attests to its effectiveness in cleaning water stains from shower glass.
Shaving cream should be applied, allowed to remain for 15 minutes, and then removed, advises Shepard.
5. Baking Soda and Vinegar Will Essentially Clean The Tub For You
The following 10-minute strategy is suggested for cleaning tubs by Jenice Findley, director of marketing at the recently established Fins Property Maintenance, which provides a variety of commercial cleaning services.
Findley advises mixing one cup vinegar, half a cup of baking soda, and boiling water. Pour the mixture into an empty tub and let it sit for five minutes. “Begin adding hot water to the tub until it is about one-quarter full, then leave it alone for an additional five minutes. Release the drain after that, and thoroughly rinse.
6. Essential oils for a sparkling toilet
Doyle James, the CEO of Neighborly business Mr. Rooter Plumbing, advises utilizing essential oils in a homemade toilet cleaner.
“Combine one cup of baking soda with 15 drops each of lemon or orange essential oil and tea tree essential oil. Before flushing, clean the mixture with a bowl brush and let it stay in the bowl for 30 minutes.
7. A DIY Aromatherapy Cleaning Solution For Shining Sinks and Tubs
James also suggests using baking soda, dish soap, and a few drops of lemon and basil essential oils to make your sink or bathtub sparkle. “For 10 minutes, sponge the mixture on the surface of your bathtub and bathroom sink. They will sparkle after rising from the water.
8. Steam the microwave with lemon oil
Essential oils can also be used to clean the microwave.
According to Doug Rogers, president of Mr. Appliance, a Neighborly company, “add 15 drops of lemon essential oil into one and a half cups water to a microwave-safe bowl, and microwave on high for five to ten minutes, allowing the steam to condense on inside walls/ceilings of your machine.” Once finished, simply use a sponge to remove the softened food.
9. Nuke A Damp Sponge
Using a clean, moistened sponge or towel on the tray and turning the microwave on high for two minutes is another technique to clean it.
Jennifer Rodriguez, chief hygiene officer at Pro Housekeepers, states that this will eliminate microorganisms. “Then clean the microwave with a sponge or cloth.”
