50 Cleaning Hacks Smart Homeowners Swear By
Start using these tips today to cut your cleaning routine in half!
#1 Make your own 3-ingredient hand sanitizer
Having trouble finding hand sanitizer on store shelves? Don't fret! Take 5 minutes to mix up your own batch and replenish your stock. Get tutorial here
#2 Use vinegar to make your windows and mirrors sparkle
Before you buy another blue spray, try this. Dish soap, vinegar, and warm water will clean your windows and mirrors better than any store-bought spray you've ever tried! Get tutorial here
#3 Try this cotton ball vacuuming trick to make your home smell great
This is the easiest cleaning trick! Just drip a few drops of essential oil onto cotton balls and put them right into your vacuum bag to spread some sweet smelling scents while you work. Get tutorial here
#4 Clean your oven with orange peels
Anyone else feel uncomfortable spraying all those harsh chemicals in the appliance they use to heat up food for their family? If you're looking for a greener alternative, turn orange peels and vinegar into a powerful but gentle cleaner! Get tutorial here
#5 Cut the grease on your glass dishes with tin foil
Once your leftovers are finished, use the foil covers to get your pans spotless once more! Just crumple up that piece of foil and use it in place of a sponge while you wash. Be careful to only use this trick on glass dishes, as it can scratch metal or glaze. Get tutorial here
#6 Try this 2-ingredient air freshener
It doesn't get simpler than this! If your home is beginning to feel a little stale after weeks inside, give it a spritz with a water and essential oil mixture. Just choose your favorite scents! Get tutorial here
#7 Make your silver sparkle and shine with toothpaste
Next time your silver is looking a little worse for wear, grab the toothpaste instead of the polish for an easy way to make it look shiny and new once more! Get tutorial here
#8 Use a 6-ingredient mix to fight stubborn stains
You know all those stained linens you thought were a lost cause? All it takes is dish soap, vinegar, baking soda, rubbing alcohol, club soda and Borax to bring them back from the brink. Try it today! Get tutorial here
#9 Use the steam cleaning method for your microwave
Clean your microwave with zero scrubbing, just by heating up some water and an essential oil of your choice. The steam and oil will loosen the grime and gook, making it easy to simply wipe away. Get tutorial here
#10 Give your mattress a nice, deep clean with baking soda
Give your mattress a refreshing "rinse" by simply sprinkling it with baking soda and then running your vacuum right over your mattress. Use your hose attachments to get inside every nook and cranny. Get tutorial here
#11 Use corn flour for a $1 glass cleaner
Get your windows to their sparkliest with this eco-friendly cleaner. You probably already have everything you need just waiting in your pantry. Mix them up and get to shining! Get tutorial here
#12 Cut up a tee for these DIY non-toxic wipes
Not only are these wipes non-toxic, but they are also made out of recycled materials. Earth-friendly on all fronts! Grab an old shirt and prep a whole stash of wipes in no time. Get tutorial here
#13 Degrease your kitchen top to bottom with vinegar, soap, and baking soda
Mix up Dawn and vinegar to create a simple degreaser that is almost no work at all. You don't even need to scrub, just spray and wipe for a super clean surface! Get tutorial here
#14 Use a new broom to scrub hard-to-reach spots
Whip up a simple cleaning solution and get your tub sparkly clean. Using a broom helps you scrub without breaking a sweat, and is also perfect for getting into those hard-to-reach spots. Get tutorial here
#15 Mix up a 3-ingredient tile cleaner
Cleaning your home doesn't have to be toxic! This easy and inexpensive tub and tile cleaner cleans just as effectively as commercial products, without the addition of harsh chemicals. And it smells great too! Get tutorial here
#16 Use a product to make grout look brand new
Grout goes on the list as one of the toughest to clean spots in any home. No matter how hard you scrub, after a few days, it looks like it's never been cleaned. Use this $14 product and a brush to do the impossible and make your grout look like new. Get tutorial here
#17 Try a rain-repellent cleaner on chrome fixtures
Chrome is stunning, but it also is prone to unsightly water spots. Using a microfiber cloth and a rain-repellent cleaner, you can banish water spots for good and enjoy your shiny chrome fixtures. Get tutorial here
#18 Save a burnt pot or pan with lemons
Leave dinner on the stove a little too long? You don't have to spend hours scrubbing burnt pots and pans. Boil a few cut up lemons in water and you'll have your pan clean and ready to go in no time. Get tutorial here
#19 Make stainless steel sparkle with vinegar
Stainless steel appliances are simply stunning. Unfortunately, they're also prone to unsightly fingerprints. Banish the fingerprints and keep your stainless steel sparkling with vinegar and oil. Get tutorial here
#20 Break down build-up in your tank with vinegar
Step up your spring cleaning with this super simple hack. All you really need is vinegar to get your bathroom in tip-top shape. Give it a try! Get tutorial here
#21 Remove pet stains with these 2 items
If you have a pet, then you've definitely cleaned up an accident at least once or twice. Luckily, all you need is dish soap and hydrogen peroxide to pull up those pet stains and save your carpet! Get tutorial here
#22 Clean blinds with tongs and chopsticks
Blinds are one of those difficult to clean places that just collect tons of dust. Raid your kitchen for chopsticks and tongs, and reach every nook and cranny. Yes, it's that easy! Get tutorial here
#23 Open up your oven to really clean the glass
You can only clean your oven so much before you have to just take it apart. Disassemble your oven door and clean spaces you normally wouldn't be able to reach. Get tutorial here
#24 Blend together a creamy laundry "sauce"
This may look like mayonnaise, but it's actually a super simple, super useful laundry sauce. Customize your sauce with your favorite essential oils. Whip it up and throw some in your next load! Get tutorial here
#25 Use vinegar and baking soda in your sink daily
Keeping your sink fresh and clean is as simple as one, two, three with this daily routine. One, sprinkle on a baking soda mix. Two, rinse with warm water. Three, spray on a vinegar mixture to disinfect. Get tutorial here
#26 Remove soap scum with three ingredients
Keep your shower door clear of soap scum without using any harmful chemicals. All you need is borax, vinegar, and baking soda to remove the scum and bring back the shine. Get tutorial here
#27 Make dishwashing detergent from lemons
Looking for an easy, all-natural recipe for homemade dishwasher detergent? This fresh lemon homemade dishwasher detergent uses real lemons, salt, and vinegar to make liquid dishwasher detergent that is effective and non-toxic. Get tutorial here
#28 Take the grates off to vacuum out your air vents
Spring cleaning? Don't forget to check your return air vent to make sure it's not hiding lots of dust bunnies. All you need to do is remove the grates and get on in there with your vacuum cleaner! Get tutorial here
#29 Clean your entire shower with a mop
Reaching the top of your shower can be back breaking work. Save your back and get your shower into tip-top shape by using a mop to help you reach the top! It's that simple! Get tutorial here
#30 Use this easy trick to unclog your drain
Commercial cleaners can damage pipes, besides being toxic. When your sink or tub stops draining, reach for the baking soda and vinegar instead of something full of chemicals. Better for your lungs and for the environment! Get tutorial here
#31 Clean up glitter with this Play-Doh
Glitter is fun, but it gets everywhere. Clean it up with your kiddo's Play-Doh. Added bonus: you end up with some special sparkly Play-Doh. Get tutorial here
#32 Scrub away stains on your microfiber couch
Having kids really puts some real wear and tear on your furniture. It's particularly hard to clean a microfiber couch. Use the Norwex Envirocloth to bring your couch back to its former glory without harming the environment. Get tutorial here
#33 Clean the dirtiest cast iron skillet with baking soda
Love collecting cast iron but stumped as to how to get them clean? Use a cup of baking soda and a copper scouring pad to clean it up before seasoning and cooking dinner in it! Get tutorial here
#34 Make a 4-ingredient cleaner that doubles as spider repellent
Love cleaning and hate spiders? This homemade cleaner is perfect for you. Mix up vodka, baking soda, essential oils, and water and clean basically everything in your house! Get tutorial here
#35 Try the plastic bag hack for your showerhead
At a loss as to how to clean your showerhead? Fill a plastic bag with vinegar and baking soda, wrap it around your showerhead, and secure with rubber bands. Then just sit back and watch the magic happen! Get tutorial here
#36 Make 5-ingredient toilet bombs
You've heard of bath bombs, but have you heard of toilet bombs? You only need 5 ingredients to prep some super cute bombs that will blast the nastiness out of your toilet. Get tutorial here
#37 Get your windowsills dust-free with vinegar
Windowsills are famously difficult to clean. Learn the secret to clearing your windowsills of unsightly dust. All you need is vinegar, baking soda, and a few more common household finds to get it done. Get tutorial here
#39 Whiten yellowed pillows with a tennis ball (no bleach!)
Do you wash your pillows often enough? The answer is probably no. Check out the easy, earth-friendly way to whiten your pillows using the humble tennis ball. Get tutorial here
#40 Keep this simple 3-ingredient cleaning gel handy
Love cleaning with vinegar, but need a product that will more easily stay on surfaces like shower walls? All it takes is three common ingredients from the kitchen to make this gel cleaner. Get tutorial here
#41 Clean your windows with lemon juice
Get your dirty, streaky windows dazzlingly clean with this simple concoction. All you need is water, vinegar, and lemon juice and you're in business! Get tutorial here
#42 And shine your faucets with a lemon
No sponge, no problem. All you need is half a lemon, borax, and baking soda to clean your faucets without exposing them to harsh chemicals. Get tutorial here
#43 Put this in your oven to let it clean itself overnight
This may be our favorite cleaning hack yet. Clean your oven while you sleep! All you have to do is stick a cup of cloudy ammonia in it, shut the door, and come back in the morning to easily wipe away the grime. Get tutorial here
#44 Re-color your grout to fake a renovation
Can't get your grout clean enough? Re-color it! This simple product brings your grout back from the dead and will absolutely amaze your guests. Get tutorial here
#45 Sprinkle salt on your copper-bottomed pots
Copper is beautiful, but tarnishes so easily! Good thing this simple hack exists. All you need is a sprinkle of salt, a splash of vinegar, and a scrub with a scouring pad to have it sparkling in no time. Get tutorial here
#46 Take these steps to fully disinfect your phone
Smartphones are one of the dirtiest things you come into contact with daily, so it's extra important to properly disinfect yours regularly. Use some basic household finds to ensure that your phone is as clean as can be. Get tutorial here
#47 Bleach your grout to make it like new
Bleach pens aren't just for clothing stains. Use one to bleach the grout in your bathroom and get rid of any dinginess that remains after regular cleaning. Get tutorial here
#48 Use a glass of vinegar for a no-effort dishwasher cleaner
Your dishwasher works hard for you, so why not treat it well? All you need is vinegar and baking soda to give it an eco-friendly clean that will leave it bright and shiny. Get tutorial here
#49 Use a pumice stone to take water stains off granite
Bear with us because this one may sound a little weird. Grab a pumice stone and remove water stains on your granite. It really works! Get tutorial here
#50 Cut a roll of paper towels in half for these DIY wipes
Double your cleaning power and make your own wipes at the same time! These easy, DIY wipes are perfect for quick clean-ups in the kitchen or anywhere around the house. Get tutorial here
