House cleaning can be a daunting task for many of us, but for neat freaks, it’s a passion. You may be one, know one, or live with one. If you love a tidy house, these house-cleaning hacks are for you!
For those that aren’t familiar with the term, these are the people who clean everything and anything in sight, even if it’s not particularly dirty. Generally, they live for cleaning anything and everything!
I dance the fine line between being one and not, depending on the season! As time has gone on, I’ve found ways to clean smarter and faster, making the whole process even more enjoyable.
The little things can make a big difference in keeping your home looking clean and tidy. There are no fancy tricks here–most hacks involve cleaning items you most likely already own!
That’s why we’ve compiled a list of 20 house-cleaning hacks for anyone willing to step into their inner neat freak to make your house look great.
1. Degrease Kitchen Cabinets
Kitchen cabinets can quickly become greasy and dirty from cooking oils and food residue. Mix white vinegar, olive oil, and water to degrease your kitchen cabinets.
Apply the mixture onto the cabinets, let it sit for a few minutes for any harder spots, then wipe clean with a damp cloth. Revisit any stubborn areas with the same steps until gone.
2. Keep Shower Doors Clean with a Magic Eraser
If you have glass shower doors, you know how quickly they can become covered in soap scum and water stains.
A magic eraser like this pack can quickly clean these surfaces–a tried and true favorite tool here.
Wipe down any troubled surface with an old pair of pantyhose and then take a damp eraser, wring out the excess water, and scrub.
Rinse the surface clean with water, and your shower doors will sparkle.
3. Steam Clean Your Oven with Vinegar
Ovens can be challenging to clean, especially if not cleaned regularly. A simple and effective way to steam clean the interior is by using vinegar and water.
Start with a pot of water on the stovetop and let it come to a boil. Add white vinegar to the container, and then simply place the whole thing in the oven for an hour (with the door closed).
After the hour, pull out the mixture and wipe everything down. The steam from the vinegar will loosen up any baked-on grease or grime, making it easier to wipe clean with a damp cloth.
4. Disinfect Sponges in the Microwave
Sponges are a breeding ground for bacteria, so it’s important to disinfect them regularly. If you’d like a tray similar to mine–this one looks like a winner.
Wet your sponge and then let it go in the microwave for 30 seconds. This will kill most bacteria and leave your sponge fresh and clean.
5. Easily Clean Window Blinds
Window blinds can quickly accumulate dust and dirt, making them look dingy and unattractive. A simple way to clean them is to use a pair of tongs and a microfiber cloth.
Wrap the cloth around each side of the tongs and run them along the blinds to quickly and easily remove dirt and dust.
I like this pack of tongs for the job and these microfiber towels are a great deal!
This hack is a great addition to your window cleaning routine!
6. Remove Stains from Carpets with Ease
Carpets can quickly become stained, especially in high-traffic areas.
Mix 1 cup of this Lysol Surface Cleaner, 1 cup of Dawn dish soap, and 1 cup of vinegar in a spray bottle to remove stains from your carpet.
Spray the stain and let it sit for a few minutes, blot the stain with a clean cloth until the stain is removed. Repeat the process for any nastier to remove areas.
Check out these other frugal ways to use dish soap!
7. Clean the Glass with Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol is a powerful cleaner to clean glass surfaces, such as windows and mirrors. Mix equal parts rubbing alcohol and vinegar in a spray bottle and use it to clean your glass surfaces.
Spray everything down as normal and return with a microfiber towel, rag, or sponge to wipe away like any other cleaner.
The alcohol will quickly evaporate, leaving your glass surfaces streak-free, making for less of a chance of having to do any touchup work.
8. Clean Those Baseboards
Baseboards are often overlooked when cleaning but can quickly accumulate dust and dirt. First, use a bristled tool to remove debris and sweep away dirt from the area.
Return with a damp cloth or a sponge to clean them, or spray down the area with a bit of water and come in with a towel or sponge.
Use a magic eraser to wick the moisture and wipe away scuff marks easily.
These other magic eraser hacks will blow your mind!
9. Keep Your Stainless Steel Clean
Stainless steel appliances can be a challenge to keep clean, but there is a simple trick you can use.
Use a microfiber cloth to wipe down your stainless steel surfaces, and then apply a small amount of Dawn dish soap to a damp cloth and buff the surface.
This will leave your stainless steel looking shiny and new.
10. Pop a Lemon in Your Fridge
If you want to keep your fridge smelling fresh and clean, simply cut a lemon in half and place it on a plate in your fridge.
The lemon will absorb unwanted odors and leave your fridge smelling citrusy and clean.
11. Clean Your Toaster with a Pastry Brush
Toasters can be tricky to clean, especially if crumbs and other debris get stuck in the small crevices. A pastry brush is a simple and effective way to clean your toaster.
Simply use the brush to sweep away any crumbs and debris.
12. Descale Your Kettle with Vinegar
Kettles can quickly become covered in limescale, affecting the taste of your tea and coffee. To descale your kettle, mix equal parts water and white vinegar and fill the kettle with the mixture.
Bring the vinegar mixture to a boil and let it sit for a few quick minutes or overnight. Rinse the kettle with clean water, and your kettle will be limescale-free.
Put your vinegar to use with these other mind-blowing vinegar cleaning hacks!
13. Disinfect the Dishwasher with Vinegar
Dishwashers can harbor bacteria and odors, so it’s important to disinfect them regularly.
To disinfect your dishwasher, place two cups of regular white vinegar on the top rack and run your dishwasher on the hottest cycle. This will kill any bacteria and eliminate any unwanted odors.
14. Remove Sofa Stains with Shaving Foam
If you have a stain on your sofa, shaving foam can be a simple and effective way to remove it.
Apply a bit of shaving foam to the stain and let it sit out for a few short minutes. Then blot the stain gently with a clean cloth until the stain is removed.
15. Shine Up Tiles with Vinegar
Vinegar is a versatile cleaner used to clean many surfaces, including tiles. Mix water and white vinegar equally in a spray bottle to clean your tiles and apply the solution.
Let the mixture sit for a few short minutes, and then wipe the tiles clean with a damp cloth. If you have a textured or glossy finish, you may need extra prep or tools to get into crevices.
16. Shake Your Rugs Outside
Rugs can quickly accumulate dirt and debris, making them look dingy and unattractive. A vacuum can only clean them so much.
A simple way to deeply clean your rugs is to shake them outside every season.
Take your dirty carpet outside and give it a good shake to remove dirt and debris–even using a tennis racket or handheld item to beat the microdust out.
17. Use a Grout Pen
Grout can be challenging to clean, especially if it’s stained or discolored. A grout pen is an easy and effective way to restore your old grout to its original color.
Simply apply the pen to the grout and let it dry. The pen covers any stains or discoloration, leaving your grout bright and clean.
18. Dust Your Ceilings
Ceilings can quickly accumulate dust and cobwebs, so dusting them regularly is important.
Use a long-handled duster or a microfiber cloth to brush your ceilings gently. This will help keep your home looking clean and tidy.
19. Keep Your Keyboard Clean
Keyboards are a breeding ground for lots of bacteria and germs, so keeping them clean is important.
While using a can of compressed air to blow away any crumbs and debris are a great way to get in there, I have an alternative.
As we all know, Magic Erasers are a beloved cleaning implement, and I use little bits of them to get in between the spaces in my keys.
Add a very light amount of disinfectant to get your keyboard super clean.
20. Dust Your Lightbulbs
Lightbulbs can quickly accumulate dust, which can affect their brightness and performance.
Use a soft cloth and a bit of rubbing alcohol to give them a new life. This tip will help ensure that your lights are always bright and clean.
Keep your spring cleaning going with these other deep cleaning hacks!
