To clean glass and mirrors, use coffee filters, not paper towels.
They leave no streaks or lint—and they’re cheap.
To damp-mop wood floors, use plain water or a water-based floor cleaner like Bona.
Don’t use vinegar. The acid in it will pit your polyurethane finish, can void your warranty, and may reduce shine over time.
Get Tile Floors Looking Like New Again
Once you’ve vacuumed the floor, grab a bucket of water, some light detergent and a rag. Then start scrubbing! Make sure to clean the rag and water frequently to make sure you aren’t just pushing dirt around on the floor.
If you really want to get the tough spots out, try using a toothbrush! Seriously, it will change your life.
Our biggest secret weapon?
A powdered product called Bar Keepers Friend. We use it on everything. Its active ingredient is rhubarb powder, which really cuts through grit and grime. It cleans glass-top stoves, counters, toilets, porcelain, and more. Your sink will never be shinier.
To clean your microwave oven, microwave a cup of water with some baking soda in it until it’s boiling.
That eliminates odors and makes it super easy to wipe away all that stuck-on stuff inside your microwave.
Clean Your Sponge
Sponges can pick up a lot of bacteria, especially if they’re left in the sink, so you want to make sure you clean them frequently.
Pop the wet sponge in the microwave for 30 seconds to remove any bacteria. Just wait a minute or two before pulling out since it’ll still be hot.
You can also put your sponge in the dishwasher to get it nice and clean.
Clean the Baseboards
If it’s been a while, use a broom or dry rag to sweep off the dust and then vacuum the area. Use a wet cloth or sock to remove any remaining dust or dirt.
To clean the baseboards, you need a sponge (or soft toothbrush) and a bucket of water with a small amount of dish detergent. Once you’ve done the washing part, then use a damp rag to remove any leftover soap residue.
Clean the Blinds
These are also probably pretty dirty if you haven’t cleaned them in a while, so here’s an easy solution:
Combine equal parts water and vinegar in a bowl and get a sock to put over your hand. Dip the sock in the solution and then run it over each slat of the blinds to remove any dirt or dust!
Clean Stainless Steel Appliances
Stainless steel appliances seem to get stained with fingerprints constantly. To give them a good, clean shine, all you need is a microfiber cloth (or just a soft cloth) and some rubbing alcohol!
If you really want to get your stainless steel super clean, you can use a few drops of olive oil! Check out this video to see how it works.
Clean Your Computer (Safely)
There are certain chemicals you should never use on or anywhere near your computer, including:
- Acetone
- Ethyl alcohol
- Toluene
- Ethyl acid
- Ammonia
- Methyl chloride
When cleaning your computer, avoid using paper products, don’t use harsh chemicals and never spray product directly on the screen.
Here’s a safe and easy way to clean your computer:
- To clean the keyboard, pour some white vinegar on a microfiber cloth and scrub the keyboard thoroughly.
- Use a cotton swab soaked in vinegar to clean areas that need more attention.
- To clean your screen, take a microfiber cloth and wipe gently in a circular motion.
- Apply a mixture of light water and vinegar if necessary.
Pick Up Small Pieces of Glass
Don’t try to use your hands to pick up tiny shards of glass. Instead, grab a piece of bread and press it down over the area. It should pick up those little pieces you don’t want stuck in your fingers or the bottom of your feet!
Get Your Rings Shining Again
First of all, don’t use household cleaners that may contain harsh chemicals on your rings. The easiest and safest way to clean an engagement ring or other type of ring with precious metals is to use warm water, a small amount of dish washing soap and a soft toothbrush.
Mix the solution of water and soap and let the ring soak for 10-20 minutes. Then use a soft toothbrush to clean off any excess dirt, makeup or anything else still lingering.
Freshen Up Smelly Sneakers
Just sprinkle some baking soda in your sneakers to keep them smelling fresh, and then when you’re ready to wear them again, just tap it out outside.
Remove Common Household Stains
Most of these will work on both furniture and carpet:
- Juice: Blot with solution of one teaspoon dishwashing liquid (like Ivory) in one cup warm water.
- Gravy: Pretreat with a paste of Fels-Naptha soap, then wash. Repeat if necessary. Don’t put item in the dryer until the stain is gone.
- Mustard: Apply repeated applications of detergent solution to remove solids. When stain is reduced, rinse and dry in bright sunlight.
- Lipstick: Blot with acetone-based nail-polish remover, followed by the detergent solution, and rinse.
- Wine: Blot with water. If stain remains, try the detergent solution. Three-percent hydrogen peroxide is effective on red wine.
Use a pillowcase to clean a ceiling fan
Leslie Reichert of Green Cleaning Coachshares her cleaning hack for dusting a ceiling fan quickly and efficiently. Slip a pillowcase over ceiling fan blades, one at a time, then wipe. This way, dust falls into the pillowcase, not on your furniture and floors.
Squirt Some Dish Soap Down the Drain
Finding your drain a little slow to, um, drain? Squirt a little dish soap down there and run the hot water. Dish soap is formulated to cut through grease. Usually that grease is on your dishes and cookware, but it can also accumulate in your drain/pipes.
Add a Steamer to Your Cleaning Caddy
Technically meant to de-wrinkle your clothes, a steamer can also help make quick work of cleaning grimy stovetops, cabinet doors, and more.
Cut a Corner Off Your Sponge
You know that sponge you use to clean the dishes with? And the other sponge you use to wipe down the walls? Keep track of which one is which with this smart trick: Just cut off the corner of the sponge you use for the dirty work.
Try the Laundry Basket Method
If you’ve got little piles of clutter everywhere, a laundry basket (you can get a cheap one from the dollar store) is a brilliant way to consolidate all the things that are out of place. If you’re in a hurry (say, company’s coming), just stash the laundry basket out of sight; if you’ve got time, walk around with the laundry basket and put all the things back where they belong.
Polish a Stainless Steel Sink with Flour
If you have a stainless steel sink, the single best thing you can do for it is to polish it with flour. Wash and dry the sink, sprinkle the whole thing flour, and then get to buffing. You’ll be surprised at how sparkly the metal gets!
Keep Some Chalk in Your Kitchen
Here’s something we bet you didn’t know: Chalk is super-absorbent, which makes it an excellent stain stick. Remove any excess food and oil from the soiled garment with a clean paper towel — and cover the entire spot with chalk. Then, before you toss your oil-stained item in the laundry, rub the spot with a little stain remover or laundry detergent, wash it in hot water, and your oily spot should be gone.
DIY Pot Scouring Pads Using Mesh Produce Bags
You know those mesh produce bags you get when you buy a dozen lemons? Or a whole lot of potatoes? Well, don’t toss them! Instead, place an old sponge inside the bag, secure it with a zip tie, and clip the ends.
Use a Mesh Laundry Bag … in Your Dishwasher
The next time you go to run the dishwasher, gather up all those little items — water bottle tops, lids to tiny food storage containers, etc. — and put them in a mesh laundry bag. The bag keeps small and fragile items from getting lost in the fray, while still allowing hot water and soap to do their magic.
Clean Your Disposal with Vinegar and Lemon Ice Cubes
If your sink still stinks and you have a disposal, make a bunch of ice cubes from white vinegar and small chunks of lemon, put one or two down the drain, and run your disposal.
Use a Potato to Clean Your Rusty Cast Iron
You can use this trick on other rusty things, too. Here’s how it works: Cut the potato in half, dip the cut end in dish soap or baking soda, and rub it over the rusted area. If the end of the potato gets slick, slice it off and dip the newly cut end. Repeat until rust is removed!
Use Rubber Kitchen Gloves to Remove Pet Hair
Your rubber kitchen gloves are good for more than keeping your hands protected while you do the dirty work. They’re also great for opening jars and getting rid of excess pet hair. Just slip on a glove and rub over whatever you want de-fuzzed. The rubber does a surprisingly good job of gathering up hair! Who knew?
Get Rid of Garlicky Hands by Rubbing Stainless Steel
Chopping garlic is smelly work — and while some people love the smell of garlic on their hands, other people might not enjoy it so much. There are tons of hacks out there for getting rid of the stink, but the easiest one is just rubbing your hands on your sink faucet, or anything that’s stainless steel.
