Do you want to find something that will save you time and help you clean a whole house easily and quickly? Do you have prospects coming in soon or a photoshoot for real estate agents to pitch?
In this post, you’ll find some of the simplest solutions, which can help you clean faster than usual, are situated in your kitchen, but not in the form you’d expect. You don’t need expensive products which might be too harsh on the indoor environment and produce dangerous fumes. Sometimes all you need is a few household ingredients and clever tricks.
Here are 19 clever tips from the C4D Crew on how to effortlessly clean your house:
1. Oils Can Help You Clean
Essential oils are widely used in various DIY cleaning recipes. They have can benefit your life in many ways, from removing buildup and disinfecting the surface, to making homemade cleaning mixtures smell better.
The essential oil of lemon can do miracles with wooden furniture. It will clean out all kinds of stains and spots. Olive oil is often used on wooden surfaces as well, but mainly with a polishing purpose.
A few drops of olive oil on a soft cloth can polish all kinds of wood, and even mask superficial scratches.
2. Cleaning Hardwood Floors the Easy Way
A cloth soaked in soapy water can make hardwood floors shine, but it’s not always a good idea. Using soapy water on wooden surfaces always leaves the risk of suds. And no matter how much water you use afterward, there’s no guarantee you won’t miss a spot.
According to Jane Wilson, Australian cleaning professional, white vinegar is the most efficient cleaner for hardwood floors. It’s also natural, safe, inexpensive and doesn’t produce foam. All you need is to mix one cup of vinegar in a bucket of warm water. The smell of vinegar disappears quickly, but if it bothers you, just add a few drops of essential oil of your choosing.
3. Cleaning the Microwave
If there are unpleasant traces of oil and food in your microwave, you could just place a bowl of water with vinegar in it, and turn the appliance on for five minutes.
The vinegar will do the hard part of softening all the burnt grease and dried food particles. After that, you’ll simply have to wipe the inside of the microwave with a dry cloth. If you encounter stubborn grease, you can try to scrub it away with a paste made of baking soda and water, then wash away with plain water.
Experienced cleaners advise being careful not to get the mica cover wet because the microwave can explode when turned on. The mica cover is a small rectangle paper-like cover placed on one of the walls of the microwave.
4. How to Clean Stainless Steel
Avoid using steel wool or any abrasive cleaning detergents on stainless steel, because the surface is very smooth and scratches easily.
Instead, use paper towels with some vinegar in a spray bottle for any stains and dirt. It easily removes buildup and it doesn’t leave any smudges. After that, you can polish the surface with a microfibre cloth and some olive oil. The olive oil will provide a smooth finish and glow to the surface and will cover any small imperfections.
5. Cleaning House Plants
How you arrange plants could make cleaning the leaves of your plants difficult but it can also happen faster. Instead of cleaning leaves one by one, take the entire plant to the bathroom or kitchen sink and gently wash them with the shower handset.
Be careful not to flood the plant itself, though, because this will lead to mold in the soil. After that, let the plant dry naturally on the terrace or near an open window.
6. Glass Surfaces
Glass surfaces can be easily cleaned with a mixture of white vinegar and water instead of a window cleaner. Just put 4 cups of water and a quarter cup of white vinegar in a spray bottle, and use it instead of a window detergent. If they’re a lot of dust and stubborn dirt, you can also add a quarter cup of rubbing alcohol.
As for the choice of cloth, t-shirts are a great alternative to newspapers and other materials, because they don’t leave lint. And cotton swabs are perfect for quickly cleaning the corners and any hard to reach spots.
7. Granite Surfaces
If you have such surfaces at home, then you should no longer wonder how you could clean them.
The answer is simple:
- Prepare a bucket of soapy water;
- wash the surface with a cloth soaked in it;
- Wipe with a dry cloth.
Since granite is a porous natural stone, all kinds of acidic cleaners like vinegar, lemons, or anything with ammonia or bleach in it, should be avoided.
Sponges and abrasive tools or detergents are also not recommended.
8. Cleaning Dirty Pans
Dirty pans will shine again if you treat them with hydrogen peroxide and baking soda.
- First, you should put a layer of baking soda on pans and pots,
- Then, add hydrogen peroxide and after that some more baking soda.
- Leave it for half an hour and then just wipe off the gunk.
This mixture will probably dissolve all kinds of stubborn grime. It’s not recommended to use it on gentle surfaces, and it’s not a good idea to breathe in the emissions, because the odor can be suffocating.
9. Take Care of Mattresses
Mattresses are often is neglected because people think it would take ages to clean. Humans produce over 26 gallons of sweat each year during sleep, so cleaning your mattress is a matter of health.
You need to do is vacuum the mattress thoroughly once a month, then sprinkle some baking soda all over it. Leave for about an hour or two. It will soak all the oils and odors. Then you just need to vacuum the mattress once more.
This method not only takes care of the smells and the moisture, but it also disinfects the surface, making it less appealing to pests such as bed bugs and dust mites.
10. Dirty Blenders
Blenders are often considered difficult to clean, because they have many parts, and food gets stuck to every crevice of the appliance.
Fortunately, there is a very easy cleaning trick:
- Pour soapy water hot enough.
- Turn it on for two minutes.
- Rinse with water afterward.
This way the blender will clean itself by using the power of the centrifuge.
11. Cleaning Blinds Easy
The best way to clean the blinds is via a sock.
- Place it on your hand and dip the tip into a bowl of vinegar.
- Squeeze out any excess.
- Run your fingers along both sides of every slat.
Vinegar is perfect for disinfecting; it picks up the dust and any buildup. It also works wonders on static electricity, so the blinds will pick up less dust.
Just make sure you rinse the dust off of the sock every here and there.
12. Crystal Candle Holders
Everyone loves candles because they bring luxury and make a home homier. However, wax dripping all over them can be very stubborn and difficult to remove.
Fortunately, there is a very cool trick, which will help you remove it quickly and without scratching the gentle surface.
- Put object harmed by wax in the fridge
- Leave it for a few hours
- Peel off the wax afterward.
Once the wax hardens, it’s very easy to take it off the smooth surface.
13. Cleaning Blackened Silver Utensils
Many homeowners have old classical silver utensils. Silver is a gentle metal, and it can be scratched by practically everything. This is why you shouldn’t throw your silver utensils in the sink when you want to clean them. Instead,
Place them in an aluminum pan or a container lined with aluminum foil.
- Sprinkle with ordinary baking soda.
- Pour boiling water enough to cover all the utensils.
- Buff them with a cotton cloth when the stains disappear.
- Store each piece of silver separately.
- Don’t let pieces to touch each other, because this only fastens the process of oxidation.
14. Cleaning Tiles Quick
To have your tiles perfectly cleaned, you’ll need only a few general ingredients, which will make them shine with perfection. That said, you might want to hire house cleaning services, but if not, here’s the list:
- Put 4 cups of warm water in a spray bottle. You will use it to dilute all the other ingredients in it.
- Then add a quarter cup of white vinegar, one-third cup of household ammonia and a quarter cup of baking soda.
These are strong and yet natural products. Make sure all the dirt is off your tiles without scratching them. Be careful, because it will fizz a lot in the beginning.
After you fill the spray bottle, you should use it to apply the tile and grout cleaner on the tiles. After the surface is well covered, you can wait for a few minutes for it to work its magic on the dirt, and then wipe it with a sponge or a damp cloth. If the dirt is stubborn, try removing it with a scrub brush. Repeat the process if needed.