26 Clever Cleaning Tips You’ll Love

Here are 26 awesome tips that will make you a cleaning rock star.  These clever tips will save you hours and hours of heartbreak cleaning your home.  I was shocked at how many things I could make sparkly new again.

1. For really tough carpet stains use an iron and damp washcloth

Want to get rid of those nasty set-in carpet stains? I use an iron and damp washcloth. The warmth from the iron and dampth of the cloth attaches to dirt and breaks it apart.

2. Cutting boards

To get all those pesky food particles on cutting boards halve a lemon and sprinkle some kosher salt to rub along the board. This works magic getting those deep lodged in particles to dislodge. After, take a little warm water and dish soap to rinse your board off.

3. Cookie sheets

Want those old cookie sheets to sparkle like new again?  Take a mixure of 1/4 cup baking soda and add enough hydrogen peroxide to make a paste. Next rub the paste all over your sheet in small little circles. Let it sit for 2-3 hours and then rinse. Like new again.

4. Shower head

A Real-Life Housewife

A quick way to clean and de-clog shower heads is to grab a small plastic bag and fill it with white vinegar. Get a twisty tie and wrap it around your shower head. Leave it there for 2 hours and then wipe down with water after you remove the bag. Your shower head should be off-the-shelf new again.

5. Mattress

One simple tip for cleaning mattresses is to first vaccum everything on the surface and then sprinkle baking soda over the top. Let it sit for 2 hours and come back and vaccum off the baking soda.

6. Cheese grater

Rachel vs. Ramen

Instead of destroying a perfectly good sponge, grab a potato. The oxalic acid in potatos quickly grabs onto and dislodges the gunk and residue. You can use the shredded potatoes for hash browns :)

7. Microwave

Got a grimy microwave? Simply fill a bowl with 1 part water and 1 part vinegar and microwave at high for 2 minutes. This will steam clean the microwave from the inside. Then simply wipe down and the grime will come right off.

8. Toys

Brady Lou Project Guru

Want a quick way to clean piles of plastic toys? Throw them into your washing machine. Just make sure the plastic isn’t too thin or flimsy or it could melt. I use the short wash cycle.

9. Coffee maker

Fill your coffee maker’s chamber with equal parts white vinegar and water. Brew, using a paper filter, until half of the chamber is empty. Turn off the machine for 30 minutes and let sit. After 30 minutes, finish brewing. Use a new paper filter to brew a pot of clear water. Then repeat this step. That’s all you need to enjoy mold free coffee.

10. Blinds

Forget the vacuum attachement. Simply take an old but clean sock and dip it in a mixture of  1 part vinegar and 1 part water. Then wipe down each individual slat. Use another sock to dry off.  It’s a perfect way to use those old socks with holes in them that you were going to throw away.

11. Cast iron pans

 

the kitchn

Want to clean your cast iron pan but don’t want to harm the flavor magic. Simply use kosher salt and olive oil. Don’t believe us? Check out this 30 second video.  How to Clean a Cast Iron Skillet

12. Paintings

 

The Brick House

Strange, I know. But rubbing half a bagel over a painting removes the dust and lint that settles on it.

13. Gunk remover

 

Use a solution of 1 part coconut oil and 1 part baking soda to remove sticky residues.

14. Blender

Let your blender clean itself. After you’re done making smothies simply add some warm water and a few kisses of dish soap and turn your blender on for a few seconds. See this in action:  How to clean a blender

15. Toothbrush

Livestrong

To clean your toothbrush simply mix 1 part vinegar to 2 parts water and let sit for 30 minutes. Then rinse in the tap.

16. Toaster

A Real-Life Housewife

Don’t neglect the outsides of appliances. To clean grime and gunk off appliances, simply mix some water and cream of tartar and get scrubbing.

17. Oven

 

Enlightened Consciousness

Want an all natural way to clean your oven just as well as store-bought cleaners like 409? Check out this all-natural oven cleaner recipe that will get your ovens sparkling like new again:  Oven Cleaner Recipe

18. Keurig

There’s a pretty simple method for cleaning your Keurig. You only need to do it once in a while and it makes a big difference in the quality of your cup o’ Joe. Just grab some regular white distilled vinegar and follow these instructions.

19. Stove Burners

You thought these were impossible to get completely clean, but there’s a simple solution that works wonders.

20. Tile Grout:

Mix together 3/4 cups of baking soda together with 1/4 cup of bleach to create a thick paste. Then using the brush, apply the paste to the dirty grout and let sit for about 10 minutes. After that, work the cleaner deeper into the grout with the brush. Allow to sit for another 5-10 minutes, then rinse the cleaner off of the grout. Once the grout has completely dried, you’re sure to be stunned by the effectiveness of this cleaning technique!

21. George Forman Grill

This great cleaning method involves zero scrubbing of the grill. We love it!

22. Oven Racks

Make your oven racks sparkle again with this simple 5-step method.

23. Jewelry

Try this homemade cleaning solution to bring jewelry back to its former luster.

24. Toilet Bowl

Freshen up your toilet with very little effort by using these homemade fizzies.

25. Coffee Grinder:

Just throw some regular uncooked white rice into the coffee grinder to clean it right up. After you’ve run it, just dump the rice and wipe clean.

26. Gunky Cabinets

Just mix together 1 part vegetable oil with 2 parts baking soda. Mix ingredients together with a spoon. Then, use a sponge, an old toothbrush or your hands to work the cleaner into the cabinet doors.