Cleaning your home is an ongoing task. From dusting to cleaning the windows, floors, and walls, there’s always something to be done. The problem with some cleaning tasks – in fact, many of them – is that they are very time consuming and it can be difficult to find time to do all of the house chores you want to be able to complete at one time.
If you want to spend less time cleaning and more time getting on with the rest of your day, check out this list of clever cleaning tricks every housekeeper needs to know.
Cleaning your home is an ongoing task. From dusting to cleaning the windows, floors, and walls, there’s always something to be done. The problem with some cleaning tasks – in fact, many of them – is that they are very time consuming and it can be difficult to find time to do all of the house chores you want to be able to complete at one time.
If you want to spend less time cleaning and more time getting on with the rest of your day, check out this list of clever cleaning tricks every housekeeper needs to know.
STAIN REMOVAL
- Microfibre fabric stains
Microfibre fabric lounges and sofas are really popular, but the only problem with them is that they can be difficult to clean should you spill something on them. Rubbing alcohol is the trick here. Using a white sponge and white bristled brush, spray the rubbing alcohol onto the stain and then use the sponge to rub the stain off. Once the fabric is dry, use the brush to smooth the fibers back using the bristles.
- Carpet stains
Whether it’s a spilt drink, a dirty paw print, or some indescribable mark, it’s easy to remove stains from your carpet using vinegar, some water, an iron, and a clean rag. In a spray bottle mix 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water. Spray this solution onto the stain. After you have thoroughly sprayed the mark, dampen the rag and lay it on top. Then, put your iron onto the steam setting and iron the rag for about 30 seconds. When you pull the rag up off the carpet you should also notice that the stain comes with it. The vinegar is also wonderful for removing odours from your carpet.
- Grease stains
Rub white chalk onto grease stained clothing. This will help to absorb most of the grease and help remove the stain faster. You can also do this with greasy fingerprint marks on walls. Simply rub them with white chalk, wait a few minutes, and then wipe away with a damp cloth.
- Lipstick stains
These can be a real pain, and it’s so easy to mark your clothes with lipstick so many women encounter this problem. Simply spray the lipstick with hairspray and allow it to set for 10 minutes. Then dab with a wet washcloth and wash as normal for brilliant results!
- Coffee cup stains
Coffee cup stains on your coffee table or dining table can be really annoying if you can’t get rid of them. Simply use baking powder to clean them up in just a few seconds.
CLEANING YOUR MICROWAVE
It’s not something we consider doing all of the time, but occasionally when you get a glance inside, it can be hard to ignore the splattered food and distinct smell of last night’s dinner. Thankfully it’s easy to clean your microwave using some steam and vinegar. All you need to do is fill a microwave safe bowl with 2 tablespoons of white vinegar, 1 to 2 cups of water, and a few drops of an essential oil.
Place the bowl in your microwave and turn it on for 5 minutes. If your microwave is extra dirty, leave the bowl sitting there for another 2 minutes after the 5 minutes is up. Once you’ve done this, wiping off even previously baked on pieces of food should be easily with a damp cloth or tea towel.
CLEANING BURNT POTS AND PANS
We’ve all done it. Left something to cook and had it the bottom of the pot or pan. Thankfully, instead of scrubbing for days between soaks, getting those burnt pots and pans clean and sparkling again is really easy. Simply fill the bottom of the pan with water and add a cup of white vinegar. Bring this solution to the boil and take it off the stove. Then add 2 tablespoons of baking powder before emptying the pan and using a scourer to take the burnt residue off.
MAKING YOUR STAINLESS STEEL APPLIANCES SPARKLE AND SHINE
If you have a kitchen full of stainless steel appliances, this is a great cleaning hack that will make your entire kitchen sparkle and shine. Using 1 tablespoon of cream of tartar, mix with water to form a milky looking substance. Rub this onto your stainless steel items and then just wipe any marks, difficult stains and dirt away for good!
NEED SOMETHING DRY IN A HURRY?
Before you turn the dryer on throw a clean, dry towel in with the wet clothes. Once the dryer has run for 15 minutes, take the towel out. The dry towel will help to absorb a significant amount of moisture from the clothes to help them dry faster.
USE COTTON BUDS TO CLEAN WINDOW SILLS AND DOOR TRACKS
When cleaning your windows it can be difficult to ignore the buildup of gunk and dirt that can accumulate on the window sills and in the tracks of sliding doors and windows. For hard to reach places such as these, cotton buds are perfect. Simply dip the cotton into pure vinegar and wipe away the dirt and grime as you go. Having a few paper towels on hand is useful so you can help pull up the grime and dry up the area once it’s been cleaned.
By following just a few of the cleaning hacks mentioned above, you should be able to cut down the time you spend cleaning, so you’ll have more time on your hands to do the things you enjoy.
