Cleaning Hacks for the Clean Freak in You!

Maintaining cleanliness can be addictive. The clean freak in you pounces on every opportunity of cleaning the house. 

After all, who does not want a sparkling and awe-inspiring home that brims with positivity and exudes charm? 

Let’s discuss some smart cleaning hacks that not only make your cleaning effortless and proficient but also save your valuable time for optimal work-life balance.

Cleaning drains using vinegar and baking soda

Being a clean freak, the drains are amongst your primary targets. The dirty drains can be really upsetting with their suffocating odor and serving as breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

To tackle this, prepare a solution of baking soda and vinegar. Pour this mixture down the drain till you see oozing bubbles coming out. 

These bubbles would clean the drain and also kill the mosquitoes and other germs.  Do this before bedtime at night so that the solution can act throughout the night. 

Ensure that you don’t run the water in the sink till the morning.

Dusting before vacuuming

Try dusting your house before vacuuming. It would cause the dust and dirt particles to fall on the floor which is easily captured by the vacuuming.

Cleaning difficult to reach areas

Cleaning difficult to reach areas can be challenging even with a vacuum cleaner.

For this, cover the top of your vacuum nozzle with toilet papers and hold it. It would make it flexible and enhance its reach in the tough to clean areas. You can even opt to purchase additional cleaning accessories to reach the difficult areas. 

Cleaning microwave easily

Cleaning a microwave is not an easy task. To do it effortlessly, prepare a solution of water and lemon juice in equal quantity. 

Heat the mixture for 2-3 minutes inside the microwave and leave it for an additional 5 minutes to cool down. The steam from the mixture settles on the inside surfaces of the microwave.

Now open the microwave and wipe its walls using a cloth dampened with the water-lemon juice. Clean the turntable using a dishwasher solution for completing the task.

Cleaning windows

Begin with vacuuming glass windows for removing dirt, dust, and debris. Now spray water or cleaning solution on the glass fixtures and wipe them out using a dry cloth. 

Cleaning fridge coils

The best way to clean the fridge coils of your refrigerator is by using a vacuum cleaner. These coils accumulate tons of dust and remain hidden from our eyes. Vacuuming the coils extends their life and keeps them dust-free. 

Use aluminum foils inside ovens and refrigerator shelves

To keep your ovens and refrigerators clean from inside, try line their bottoms and shelves using aluminum foils, cookie sheets, or oven liners. It will maintain the cleanliness of the fridge and oven from inside. 

The lining of the fridges and oven also makes them more accessible. 

Remove stains using a solution of hydrogen peroxide and dish soap 

Prepare a solution of hydrogen peroxide and dish soap. Apply it on hard stains like bloodstains. Keep it for a few minutes and then wash it to remove the stain completely.

Cleaning speakers and keyboard

Vacuuming your speakers and keyboard is the best way of cleaning your speakers and keyboard. Avoid dusting as it would only penetrate the dust into the keyboard and speakers.

Clean your kitchen sponges

The sponge you use to clean your utensils gets dirty easily. Use a dishwasher safe sponge that can be cleaned daily after you are done with cleaning your dishes. 

Wash your sponge with a dishwashing solution and maintain a sanitized and clean sponge daily. 

Sanitize your garbage disposal

Prepare frozen cubes of vinegar and lemon; use them for sanitizing your garbage disposal. It not only cleans the garbage disposal but also leaves them smelling better. 

Cleaning your dishwasher 

Clean your dishwasher by using a white vinegar wash followed by baking soda wash. 

The white vinegar eradicates filth and sanitizes your dishwasher while baking soda solves any drainage problems, makes it shining clean, and leaves it smelling great.

Clean your carpet with a home-made cleaning solution

Prepare a home-made cleaning solution by using white vinegar, 1 capful Lysol concentrate disinfectant, 1 cup rubbing alcohol, and warm water. 

Apply this solution onto your carpets for cleaning the germs, dirt, and stains from its surface. It also effectively deodorizes your carpets making them healthy and fluffy as ever.

Clean your combs and hairbrushes

Your hair brushes not only collect your hair but also deposit oils, dust, dead skin, and other hair products that build upon its surface over time. 

Soak your hair brushes in warm and soapy water for loosening the build-ups, rinse them thoroughly and air dry them before placing them back in your cabinet.

Clean your bath towels

Treating your towels with detergent and fabric softener leaves them smelly and non-absorbent.

You can work around this issue by washing your towels with 1 cup of white vinegar in the washing machine. Follow this up with a second round of washing with ½ cup baking soda in the machine. 

Dry your towels completely using a dryer or leave them drying in the sun.

It will dissolve the oil and dirt buildups, remove the odor, and restore the freshness of your towels.

Clean your stove burners

Cleaning your stove burners by scrubbing is a tedious cleaning task.  Due to their exposure to constant high heat and food spills, they got hardened greasy residues deposited on their surfaces. 

To clean them, you need zip-lock bags and an ammonia solution. Spray the insides of zip lock bags with ammonia solution, place the stove burners and its parts inside them, seal the bags and leave them overnight.

In the morning, take out the stove burner parts; wipe them using a soapy sponge to clean any greasy residue.

Clean your ceiling fans quickly

You can clean your ceiling fans easily by using pillowcase covers. 

Use these covers to slide over each fan blade individually and gently press the cover with your fingers and move towards from one end of the blade to another. It will clean the fans within seconds.

Now remove the covers and wash them in the washing machine.

Clean your mattress

Prepare the cleaning powder using 1 cup of baking soda and a few drops of essential oils in a glass jar. Close the jar and shake it well. 

Spray the mixture over the mattress to evenly spread it out across its surfaces. Leave the mattresses for at least an hour. The baking soda de-odorize the mattresses and absorbs the moisture. 

After an hour, vacuum the mattresses slowly and thoroughly for removing the powder, dirt, and dust. It will render the mattresses clean and fresh to be used again.

The ever increasing dust, pollutants, and contaminants in our environment demand an organized, disciplined, and dedicated approach for maintaining stunning cleanliness round the clock. 

Vacuuming your entire house using a vacuum cleaner may sound tiresome; your cleaning need not be an exhausting and sweating experience for you.

Using the above hacks coupled with effective usage of vacuum cleaner would ensure long-lasting cleanliness and sanitization of your house.