17 Simple House Cleaning Tips:
You’ve got cleaning problems! We’ve got cleaning solutions!
Not everyone enjoys the chore of cleaning the house. You have better things to do with your time. That is why you have hired a maid service, right? Well, what about in-between cleanings and daily tasks? Wouldn’t it be great to be able to clean faster, easier, and healthier? We get it. You’ve got cleaning problems! Well, we’ve got cleaning solutions! Here are some house cleaning tips that save time, and money, and the environment. With simple household items, you can ensure a clean and healthy home in between your professional cleaning appointments.
1. Make an all-purpose cleaner.
This all-purpose cleaning formula is made from all natural ingredients and will make every surface of your house gleam. It is safe to use everywhere (counters, appliances, faucets, inside the fridge, and trash cans) and even neutralizes odors! You need a large spray bottle. In it, combine 4 tablespoons baking soda and 1 quart warm water. Use it with a sponge or damp microfiber cloth to wipe messes away.
2. Freshen up the garbage disposal.
Your garbage disposal could be a hidden source of foul odors linger in in the kitchen. Run a few slices of lemon through the disposal followed by cold water to wash away sour odors.
3. Clear a sluggish drain.
Is your drain starting to slow down? Avoid harsh chemicals. Pour a 1/2 cup of baking soda down it, followed by a 1/2 cup of vinegar. Then cover with a wet cloth. Wait five minutes and flush with boiling water.
4. Get stains out of a cutting board.
This trick also works for any scents left behind as well. Rub the cutting board with a cut lemon. Then sprinkle with baking soda or salt. Let sit 10 minutes. Then re-rub with the lemon. Rinse clean. Wash as usual.
5. Remove towel mildew.
Find a damp towel at the bottom of the hamper or gym bag? Is it speckled and smelling of mildew? Don’t despair! Take it outside and brush off any spores. The let it dry in the bright sun. Bring it in and presoak in a bleach water solution (careful with colors here) then machine wash. Viola! Clean and fresh!
6. Create shine with vinegar.
Use white vinegar for a streak-free shine on your windows. You need an empty squirt bottle. Fill it with two tablespoons of white vinegar and a gallon of water. Squirt on windows and wipe away with a clean microfiber cloth, but not paper towels, which can actually cause streaking.
7. Clean porcelain with vodka.
Vodka, it’s not just for drinking. You can use it to get porcelain fixtures shining. Just moisten a soft, clean cloth with vodka, then apply a little elbow grease to any stains.
8. Freshen up your microwave.
Nothing can be more stubborn to clean than caked on food inside the microwave. Here’s a natural remedy: heat a bowl of water with chopped up lemon on high until the microwave is steamy, one minute at a time. Let the bowl sit for 15 minutes with the door closed. Then wipe away grime with ease.
9. Scoop up pet hair with a rubber glove.
Love your pet, but hate the pet hair all over the furniture? Save your money on lint rollers. No need to lug out the vacuum and attachments. All you need is a damp rubber dish glove. Gently rub/wipe the surfaces and be amazed by how much hair you will gather.
10. Make faucets gleam.
Is your faucet spotted with toothpaste and soap scum? Here the problem is also the solution. Rub a bit of toothpaste over your bathroom fixtures with a wet sponge to get the gunk and spots off chrome. Then rinse clean.
11. Clean up carpet stains.
Here, liquid dish soap comes to the rescue. Dissolve one tablespoon of dish liquid into two cups of warm water. Blot the stain with a clean white cloth dipped into the solution. Repeat until the stain absorbs into the cloth and disappears from the carpet. To finish, sponge with cold water, and blot dry with a clean towel.
12. Pet stains on carpet?
Club soda to the rescue! First blot the stain with paper towels. Then pour a bit of the club soda on the area. The bubbles will force the stain to the surface, and neutralize the odor. Blot well with fresh towels. Repeat until stain is gone.
13. Clean Cast Iron Skillets.
If you love to cook, you know the value of a well seasoned cast-iron skillet. Folks spend years perfecting this painstaking process. Never use dish soap to clean the surface. Sprinkle coarse Kosher salt in the pan. Lightly scrub in a circular motion, rinse and repeat until all stuck on food is released and flushed away.
14. Make your shower sparkle.
Stubborn stains in the grout of your shower walls? Sanitize grimy grout with a mix of 3/4 cup household chlorine bleach and 1-gallon water. Use a stiff brush to apply to one small area at a time. Let it sit for a few minutes, then scrub and rinse.
15. Shine plant leaves with mayo.
Note: this trick works on live plants. First, wipe dusty potted plants with some mild soap and water. Next, use a microfiber cloth to rub a bit of may to shine up the leaves. It also works as a dust repellent!
16. Make mirrors gleam.
Want streak-free shiny mirrors? Use coffee filters to polish them. Since they are lint-free, you can swap them out for paper towels to give mirrors a no-streak shine.
17. Combat cooked on stove-top spills.
Gently chip away any loose pieces from the range surface. Then spritz the burnt-on food with ammonia from a spray bottle. Next, sprinkle some baking soda and a few drops of white vinegar. Let it bubble for a minute or two. Wipe away the grime with a sponge.
Maid Healthy offers a variety of residential maid services to make your house a healthy home. We strive to use environmentally friendly cleaners that do not leave harsh smells around your home. We encourage you to use these 17 healthy cleaning tips to keep your house fresh and healthy in between cleaning appointments. You’ve got cleaning problems! Well, we’ve got cleaning solutions! Our focus is to enhance the indoor air quality of your home or business. Contact us today.