10 Cleaning Tips I Just Learned And You Should Too
Cleaning can be a difficult job, especially when you have a career outside of the home or other responsibilities like looking after pets and children. Everyone loves cleaning tips, but sometimes those tips aren't feasible or don't get the job done more efficiently. You can try these cleaning hacks to see if they improve your daily or weekly routines.
1. Use Dryer Sheets on Stubborn Pots
You might be guilty of allowing a difficult dish to "soak" before you tackle the grueling task of cleaning it. Once you learn how to soak it the right way, you'll never go back. If you have burnt-on food or grime on your dishes, fill them with soap and water and drop a dryer sheet in. Complete other chores, and when you return to it, you may find that the stubborn food pieces will be more willing to budge.
2. Clean Floors With Vegetable Oil
If you have hardwood floors, the hardest thing you may experience is trying to keep them clean and shiny. Wood floors are features that nearly everyone covets, but not everyone knows the easiest way to maintain and clean them.
You can create a simple cleaning mixture of equal parts vegetable oil and vinegar, which can eat away at some of the grime on your floors. Once you've let it sit for a while, mop up the solution. Don't forget to follow up with a microfiber drying cloth.
3. Apps Make Things Easier
Nearly everyone has a smartphone these days. Since people always carry their phones around, they're the perfect tools to use for cleaning. While a smartphone can't physically clean anything, it can download several apps that make it much easier to keep a cleaning checklist, no matter how complicated.
Try out several cleaning or reminder apps and see which one works best for you. If you're a more organized person, you may prefer an app that breaks down chores by day. Otherwise, something with a general checklist, so you don't forget anything, might work best for you.
4. Clean the Agitator
If your washing machine has an agitator in the center of it, you need to clean it regularly. If you don't, you'll find that powder detergent or dirt could build up inside it, leaving your laundered items with an unpleasant smell.
Try to clean out your agitator once every three months, though it could handle more washing if you're able to. Cleaning it should remove any funky smells in your top-loading washing machine.
5. Rely on Professionals
If something seems like it's above your level of expertise, consider hiring a professional instead of doing it yourself. While DIY projects and cleaning have their places, opt for a professional and do searches online like “Custom Cleaning of the Palm Beaches, island fl” in cases where you're not sure you can handle it on your own.
For example, hiring a professional plumber to see to any leaks and the corresponding messes will save you more money and time than if you had tried to do it on your own. Leave the fixing to professionals while you worry about trying new cleaning techniques.
6. Cornstarch Breathes Life Into Silver
After some wear and tear, your silver may seem kind of dull or grimy, even if the utensils are clean. To restore some life back to your silverware, create a paste of cornstarch and water. It can make a bit of a mess, so spread your utensils out or work in batches.
After you apply the paste to your silverware, let it dry. Then, you can wipe it off and your silverware may have a brighter appearance.
7. Oil Stains Can Vanish
Oil stains are some of the trickiest to remove and they end up smelling horrible even if they aren't super noticeable. No matter how many times you run something through the washing machine, you may not be able to lift the stain. Next time you notice an oil stain, all you need to do is treat it with equal parts baby powder and dish soap. That should lift the stain, and you won't have to worry about its appearance or odor anymore.
8. Throw a Lemon in Your Garbage Disposal
Lemon in your garbage disposal can give you an all-around clean feeling in your kitchen. All you need is half of a lemon, and you can freshen up your garbage disposal. Let the garbage disposal eat the lemon, which will clean out the pipe while spreading a fresh, citrusy scent throughout your kitchen. Even better: the whole process is natural!
9. Mayonnaise Can Fix Scuffs
Mayonnaise is well-known as something that can cause tricky stains, especially because it's so oily. But it can also remove some issues. Using mayonnaise, you can remove scratches and scuffs on your wood floors and furniture. You can use a wet rag to remove the mayo the next morning, and you should see an improvement. Its cleaning properties are a perfect reason to keep mayo in the home, even if you don't eat it.
10. Repel Water on Your Shower
If you're tired of all the water spots staining your glass shower door, you'll be happy to know there's an easy solution. It’s one of the products you may use on your car. Rain repellent that is applied to car windshields can serve the same purpose for your shower. You can watch the water run right off it without leaving any residue.
Try to Balance Your Cleaning
If you're regularly implementing tips and life hacks and still find yourself tired out, consider transitioning your chores to different days of the week rather than all at once. That way, you can complete a few daily chores and have a perpetually clean home. If you don’t have time during the weekdays, dedicate one weekend morning for cleaning. The routine is up to you, but now you have plenty of skills to carry you through a smooth cleaning schedule.