When the days get longer and the birds start singing, most people have a deep urge to throw open the windows and clean house from top to bottom. It’s a great way to push the winter doldrums aside and prepare for warm weather. And though it’s pretty common to view cleaning as a chore, it doesn’t have to be! There’s nothing wrong with making it easier on yourself with methods that save time and get the job done right. We’ve pulled together some of the most ingenious cleaning hacks of all time to help you get your summer-ready in no time!
1. Use a Squeegee to Remove Pet Hair
Pets: They're as cute as their fur and hair is to clean up. Is there anything harder to get rid of? If you’ve got a pet that likes to lay around on your furniture, you’re probably tired of having to use a lint roller every time you stand up. Try a shower squeegee! That’s right; this simple tool is an amazing pet hair remover. Simply rub over furniture and even carpets to remove set-in, hard-to-reach dog and cat hair.
2. Swap Out Your Brillo Pad For Aluminum Foil
If you’ve ever considered swearing off eggs because of the hard-to-scrub mess they leave on your stainless steel pans, this one’s for you! Instead of giving yourself tennis elbow trying to scrub your pans clean, simply run a bit of warm water in the pan, ball up some aluminum foil, and gently scrub your pans. This hack lets you skip the harsh chemicals in Brillo pads to keep your pans egg-ready.
3. A Magic Eraser Cleans Even Shower Scum Like a Boss
If you haven’t tried cleaning your shower with a magic eraser, pardon us for saying so, but your shower could probably be cleaner! Trust us, once you try this cleaning hack, you’ll finally understand why these amazing little things are called “magic.” For a gleaming tub, simply scrub soap scum with a wet magic eraser instead of a regular sponge. Abracadabra: You’ll be amazing by the results!
4. Put Car Wax in Your Toilet Bowl
Keep that stinky, scummy build-up from forming in your toilet by giving the bowl a good scrub — and sealing the deal with car wax. This trick may seem outlandish, but think about it; wax prevents things from sticking, right? And that’s definitely the goal here! In order to pull this one off, you’ll first have to turn off the water to your toilet. Once the bowl is clean and dry, simply apply a thin layer of wax for long-lasting shine without build up. Then feel free to start your engine, if you know what we mean.
5. Spritz Vodka on Your Mattress to Clean and Eliminate Odors
It goes without saying that you should always keep a bottle of vodka on hand for cocktails, but we’re here to tell you that it may be time to keep a second bottle on hand for—wait for it—cleaning! That’s right, you can actually use vodka for a host of household purposes. The one we’re most intrigued by is using a spritz of vodka to refresh your mattress. For a periodic cleanse, strip your bed bare and use a spray bottle to moisten your mattress. Then, leave it bare and allow to air dry for several hours, while you sit back with a vodka martini. The alcohol in the vodka will kill nasties like bed bugs and odors.
6. Dawn Soap, Peroxide and Baking Soda Combine Forces to Make the Ultimate Stain Remover
For a stain remover that has the ability to tackle even the toughest stains in any type of fabric, try mixing Dawn soap with peroxide and baking soda. We love that this trick works just as well for laundry as it does on carpet stains. And speaking of carpets, if you own or rent a steam cleaner, try adding this powerhouse combination to the hot water as you fill the machine for brighter, cleaner, better smelling carpets.
7. Dust Blinds with Kitchen Tongs Wrapped in Microfiber Cloths
Blinds get dirty so fast, don’t they? And if you have the type that aren’t removable, they can be next to impossible to clean. Use too little solution and they still look dirty. Use too much and you end up with a goopy, drippy mess. Don't just turn a blind eye to the mess: The next time you’re faced with this odious cleaning task, trying wrapping a clean microfiber cloth around the tips of regular kitchen tongs and securing with a rubber band. The microfiber will grab any dirt and dust while the tongs provide just the right amount of pressure to get the job done.
8. Peroxide to Make Whites Whiter
Are your whites looking a bit dingy lately? Over time, white clothing can take on a yellow tinge from a build-up of laundry detergent, dye transfer from other clothing, sweat and body oils, and mildew. Yuck. While using a dash of bleach in hot water is certainly effective, the oxidizing power of pure peroxide can’t be beat when it comes to getting those whites crisp and bright again. To use, simply add a few capfuls to a load of laundry or spritz a small amount directly onto a stain.
9. Shoe Polish to Clean and Shine Leather Furniture
Here’s a cleaning hack that can save you some serious cash. If you have leather furniture that’s lost its luster and has some minor scuff marks, don’t relegate it to the rec room just yet; you can use a $5 can of shoe polish to restore its surface. Simply find a polish that matches your couch and follow these instructions for a couch that looks brand new again.
10. Use an Onion to Clean Grill Grates
If your last barbecue get-together left your grill looking worse for the wear, trying using an onion to clean the charred remains off the grill grates. Onions have natural antiseptic and antibiotic properties, which is why this cleaning hack is an amazing and natural way to clean your grill without having to use harsh chemicals. How to? Simply turn your grill on high to get it nice and hot, then skewer half a large yellow onion onto a long grilling fork and rub back and forth over the grates to remove burnt-on food and debris.
