Nothing can take away all the good feelings that come with having a clean house, especially when spring rolls around. But not much can make housecleaning a fun task when you despise it.
We want to help you address every nook and crusty cranny in your home, so we’ve collected a list of cleaning hacks that can speed the cleaning process up, slow the dirtying process down, and finally get rid of some of the stains, marks, and smells that have been irking you for a while.
To get things going, make sure you have some gloves, cloths, and a few empty spray bottles on hand to make your own DIY cleaners. Chase the dirty and winter buildup away!
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Showers
Do it better by skipping a regular sponge and using a wand instead.
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Stove Grate Crud
Give your stove grates a bath in an ammonia solution and watch all the crud slide off.
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Bust Tile Grout
No need for toothbrushes with this rigged up grout cleaner. Get ready to grab your drill!
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Master Carpet Cleaning
Clean carpet stains up with something you already have in the house: baking soda and vinegar. Or if you want a one-shot deal, reach for the WD-40.
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Kool-Aid for Dishwashers and Toilets
Pour a packet (any flavor) into your toilet and leave overnight, scrubbing it the next morning. The citric acid will break down and disinfect old gunk. For dishwashers, mix some lemon Kool-Aid with Borax and run a wash cycle while it’s empty.
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Vodka Shots for Mold and Mildew
Either spritz it straight up onto a surface or mix it half and half with water. Let it sit for 10 minutes before wiping. You can clean glass with it too!
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Lint Roll Your Lampshade
A lint roller will pick up the tiniest of dust particles.
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Disinfect Your Disposal
Baking soda and water poured down the hatch will get the job done. Run some citrus rind through as a deodorizer!
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Stainless Steel Shine
Scrub your appliances with club soda or dish soap for cleaning. Work some baby oil into your stainless steel appliances to make them shiny again.
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Mop
For mopping with a microfiber mop, there are a couple of things you can do to avoid streaks. Depending on the type of floor you’re cleaning, dampen it first by either spritzing it with a water/white vinegar solution or a soak in hot water.
In addition to the soap in cleaners, mopping up a solution with a dry mop is what causes streaks. Use a homemade cleaner with white vinegar in it or a smidgeon of all-purpose cleaner.
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No-Scrubs Microwave Cleaning
Get rid of dried-on crud with ½ cup water and ½ cup vinegar in a mug. Zap it for 5 minutes and wipe it away without having to scrub!
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Swab the Deck
Don’t hire the job out. Make your own non-toxic cleaning mix for decks with Oxi-Clean.
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Wood Water Stains
Clear them up with mayonnaise or toothpaste. It really works!
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Dirty Oven?
If you don’t have a self-cleaning oven, no worries! Get yours gleaming by making a paste of baking soda and white vinegar. Sprinkle baking soda in your oven and on the door, then spritz with white vinegar. Let it sit, and follow up with a wipe-down.
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Shine Chrome with Wax
Rub a sheet of wax paper onto your sink faucets to prevent water stains and fingerprints from appearing.
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Clean Furniture Upholstery
Wipe down furniture with either baby wipes or dryer sheets to avoid saturating the fabric with harsh chemicals. If there’s pet fur, run a lint roller over it. For stubborn stains, spray some rubbing alcohol on it and wipe down with a sponge.
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Glass
Make your windows and mirrors streak-free by cleaning them with coffee filters. Newspaper will work too but can leave ink stains on your fingers. Use a DIY 50/50 solution of distilled water and distilled white vinegar to clean.
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Ceiling Fan
Stick an old pillowcase on ceiling fan blades one by one to catch large swaths of dust. This will prevent it from falling onto your furniture or floor.
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Baseboards and Shelves
Run a dryer sheet over them to collect dust and to prevent more dust from piling up.
Do you love or hate spring cleaning? Which of these tricks will you try? What are some of your favorite shortcuts?