Cleaning the house is either something you love or you hate. As adults with our own homes we don’t have the option of letting our parents do it for us, and this means that every week or two we need to spend time cleaning the Home thoroughly to keep it hygienic and prevent any mold or issues.
Whether you are a new homeowner or a seasoned adult, it’s always nice to gain some easy tips and tricks for cleaning, and these ones will make sure your home is always looking and smelling fresh.
- Use cola in the drain
Cleaning our drains can be difficult and it can be a pretty horrible job, and this is why it is good to find methods which don’t involve using a pipe cleaner. Cola is an acidic drink and this is ideal for reacting with grease and grime and washing it away. Pouring a bottle of cola down the drain can be a helpful way to clear any blockages and keep it clean.
- Baking soda and vinegar
If the cola doesn’t quite shift the clog in your drain you will need something a little stronger. Baking soda and vinegar react strongly together and foam up to help eliminate grime. Pour some baking soda into the drain and then pour vinegar in and place the plug on top. After 15 minutes rinse with boiling water.
- Clean the dishwasher
It is important with any appliance that you clean it now and again, and when it comes to the dishwasher, it should be cleaned once a month to stop the pipes becoming clogged with food waste. You can use a tablet to clean the dishwasher and run it with nothing inside on the highest heat for an effective clean.
- Easy microwave clean
Cleaning the microwave is a job which we all dread, especially if people in the house sometimes forget to put the lid on their food. To clean the microwave easily, all you need to do is place half a lemon in the microwave and run it for 1-2 minutes. The acid will evaporate and start to dissolve the grease and you simply need to wipe it afterwards and the microwave will be good as new.
- Freshen the carpets
Cleaning the carpet is a once or twice a year task and it can take a long while as you will need to move the furniture out of the room and let the solution dry. To make the carpet smell super fresh, add some drops of lemon oil to the carpet cleaning solution before you add it to the machine and you will end up with fresh smelling carpets for weeks.
- Deodorise the bin
Not only a cleaning tip but also a good Pest Control method, deodorising the bin is a must for the home. To keep the bin smelling fresh, you can add bin buddy to the bin which will release fresh smelling scents even as you start to fill up the bag. You can also make a disc out of a cotton wool pad and essential oil to make it smell fresh!
- Boil your brush
Over time our hairbrushes and combs will end up collecting dead skin, hair products, and strands of hair itself. Every so often it is a good idea to clean it and you can do this by placing it in a bowl of boiling water with vinegar for 30 minutes before wiping clean.
- Clean your cutting board
If you have a wooden cutting board, this can be a lot harder to keep clean than glass or plastic and over time it can absorb herbs and juices from food. To clean this board, you can create a simple spray out of lemon juice, vinegar and water, and use this once a week to deep clean the board.
- Freshen bath towels
Bath towels are one of those household items which over time can become stale due to water building up in the fibres. However, there is a super easy way to keep these smelling fresh all year long. Wash your towels as normal in the laundry, and then once they are clean. Hang them in the garden. Hanging clothes and fabrics in the garden is a great way to keep them smelling fresh because pollen from flowers will penetrate the fibres for naturally fresh floral smell.
- Use a sock in your swiffer
A swiffer mop is one which has a small spray bottle attached and can be used to keep the kitchen and bathroom floors clean. If you are looking to replace the pad on your swiffer without spending money, you can use a fluffy sock and wrap this around the end to clean your floors instead!
- Clean your oven racks
Cleaning the oven is a daunting task and it is something which can be difficult for us to approach. However there is a pretty simple way to clean the racks of your oven and get rid of any grease and crust in minutes without using too many chemicals. Grab yourself some dryer sheets and use these to clean the oven racks in minutes with minimal effort. It is super easy to do and you can save a lot of money on expensive cleaners.
- Cleaning inside the oven
The most common way to clean the inside of the oven is to get scrubbing and use your muscles to get rid of the grease and crust, but this is not the only way. Instead of this you can buy an oven cleaning solution to dissolve the grease and make your life so much easier. When you apply this make sure to open all of the windows in the kitchen because the fumes can be a little strong. Once you spray the cleaner in the oven, place some newspaper underneath the oven and close the door, then leave for a few hours. Once you have done this, you can open it up and wipe away the dirt in minutes.
- Clean your makeup brushes
One easy way to clean your makeup brushes is to use baby shampoo. There is no need for you to fork out for expensive makeup brush cleaners, because you can work some baby shampoo into the fibres and this will keep the bristles soft and supple and will get rid of dirt without damaging the brush. Leave out on a towel to dry afterwards and voila!
- Steam it away
If you have a tough stain or two in the carpet which won’t go away easily, the best thing that you can do is use steam to get rid of it. Steaming the carpet is an effective way to get rid of most stains and will leave the carpet super clean and hygienic.
- Clean your showerhead overnight
Cleaning the showerhead is a task which can be difficult to do, and if you leave it for too long it can be a lot of effort to scrub. However there is a simple way to clean the showerhead overnight without spending too long using elbow grease to do it. All you will need to do is get a ziplock bag and fill this with bleach and water. Place the showerhead inside and seal, leaving it overnight to soak. Wipe in the morning and run the shower for a few minutes to rinse away excess bleach. It will be good as new in no time and it will stay clean for a lot longer too!
This post was contributed by Simone Devonshire.