Cleaning is an art, and every form of art needs a dose of… creativity. Of course, as you wash dishes, do the laundry, or clean your room, you can use the most standard, traditional methods. Boring!
No one’s stopping you. But what if I told you there are some simple tricks that can make cleaning more efficient and less annoying? Keep reading to learn about cleaning life hacks that you wish you knew before!
OLIVE OIL FOR SURFACES
Olive oil is great, but it’s even better than you think. Did you know that it can be used (and used quite effectively!) to clean all kinds of dirty surfaces? Tables, pans, house appliances, you name it. Sounds bizarre, I know, but it works!
VODKA FOR CARPETS
Stainless carpets are the best kind of carpets. But how does one keep a carpet free of any and all undesired blemishes? Well, with alcohol, of course! But just “alcohol” will not suffice. You need something strong and, well, pure. If you thought of vodka, you hit the nail on the head.
Sounds crazy? Well, it shouldn’t. After all, alcohol is used in a variety of cleaning products. Still, using actual vodka is rather… original. Apparently, it’s just as effective though, so if you ever need your carpets cleaned, rub them with some good vodka, and they’ll be as good as new!
USE YOUR SOCKS!
Cleaning can be bothersome in so many ways. Sometimes, you find yourself struggling to clean hard-to-reach spaces. Sometimes, you drop your cleaning sponge or tissue. And sometimes, you just wish you could clean everything with your hands.
Well, there’s a simple fix for all of these – socks! That’s right. Find an old pair of socks you don’t plan on using anymore and turn it into the ultimate cleaning gadget. Just put the socks on your hands, apply whatever detergent you need, et voila!
You’ll be able to clean even the most annoying surfaces (such as blinds, for example), and you’ll have full range of motion. After all, you’re basically cleaning with your hands!
MICROWAVE YOUR SPONGE- A MYTH DEBUNKED
Sponges pick up a ton of bacteria. If you don’t want to buy new sponges every other day, you have to make sure you sanitize the ones you have properly and efficiently. Of course, you could just wash them, be it with your hands or in a washing machine. But if you need your sponge clean ASAP, then there are some people who just put it in a microwave and heat it up! The argument is that a high temperature will decimate all that pesky bacteria like it’s no tomorrow.
However, for this cleaning hack, the science seems questionable at best, so make sure you buy new sponges!
VINEGAR FOR FAUCET HEADS
There are few things quite as annoying as hard water stains, especially if they’re right on your faucet head. Luckily, you don’t have to go out and forage for overpriced cleaning products. There’s a simpler (and cheaper!) solution. Go to your kitchen, grab some vinegar, and spread it over the hard water stains. Let it sit for a little while (30 minutes should do it), wipe the vinegar off, and your faucet will shine like never before!
MILK FOR RED STAINS
Red stains are notorious for being tricky to remove. You might end up trying thousands of detergents before the stain even begins to disappear. Well, if you hate red stains as much as me, I have good news for you. All you need is… milk.
Yup, for some reason, a mix of a regular detergent and milk does wonders when it comes to red stains. Honestly, I don’t care how it works. What matters is that it does work.
MAYONNAISE FOR RUST STAINS
Rust stains are uniquely hideous. That brownish/reddish color is just the stuff of nightmares. Problem is, removing rust stains requires a delicate touch. In fact, regular old bleach might make things even worse!
Now, what does work like a charm is mayonnaise. Yup, the same mayo you put in your sandwich can decimate rust stains better than most (if not all!) detergents. You might need something to neutralize that eggy smell, but hey, what matters is that the rust stains are gone for good.
LEMONS FOR MICROWAVE
Keeping your microwave fresh and free of harmful bacteria is essential, especially if you often eat microwaved food. But what if you’re lazy? What if you just don’t have the necessary detergent at your disposal? Well, I’ve got a quick fix just for you. Cut up a lemon, put the slices in a bowl, and fill the bowl with water. Then, put the bowl in your trusty ol’ microwave, and, well, microwave it for about 3 minutes. Seriously, that’s it. Your microwave will be fresher than when you bought it.
TOOTHPASTE FOR SNEAKERS
This one’s a classic, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less deserving of a mention! Cleaning gurus have for decades hailed toothpaste as the go-to detergent for sneakers. Why? How? Nobody knows (well, maybe somebody does know, but that’s beside the point).
It’s not very complicated either. All you have to do is pretend that your toothpaste is a legitimate shoe cleaner. Trust me, putting toothpaste on your shoes will become a habit in no time. Once you try it once, there’s no going back!
