8 Handy Housekeeping Tricks

Cleaning the house can really be a pain when the little things start to add up. If you don't have the right tools or techniques, getting those hard-to-reach spots can take forever, or you might find yourself buying a lot of specialty cleaning supplies for specific items. But  housekeeping doesn't have to be the huge chore we sometimes make it out to be. These 8 tricks for smart cleaning will help you speed up the process, and will save you money on expensive supplies. Say goodbye to coffee stains on your favorite mug and stubborn grime on the soles of your shoes – these tricks are about to make your household items sparkle & shine!

1. Clean The Soles Of Your Shoes

You'll Need:

  • eraser

Here's How:

It's super easy to keep the soles of your shoes clean – just use a standard eraser to rub off any stubborn grime or discoloration!

2. Remove Stains From Mugs

You'll Need:

  • 1 tsp salt
  • orange peel

Here's How:

If you drink a lot of coffee or tea, then you know how impossible it is to keep the inside of your mugs clean. To get rid of stubborn stains, place a teaspoon of salt in the stained cup and use an orange peel to scrub off the dirty areas. Remove the salt and clean out the mug just like normal. All of the stains will magically disappear!

3. Dust Off Paintings

You'll Need:

  • 1 potato

Here's How:

Dust tends to get stuck in old paintings, and it's super hard to remove without damaging the artwork. Luckily, we have an easy cleaning trick! Cut a potato in half and gently rub the painting with it. The potato won't damage the painting, but the dust will come right off!

4. Smart Sweeping

You'll Need:

  • double-sided tape

Here's How:

When things are really messy, brooms tend to collect so much hair and debris that it all gets stuck in the bristles, so you spend more time cleaning the broom than the floor. To sweep more efficiently, stick some double-sided tape to the bristles of your broom. When you sweep, a lot of the dirt will stick to the tape instead of clogging up the broom.

5. DIY Cleaning Wipes

You'll Need:

  • 1 roll of reusable cleaning cloths
  • 1 round food storage container
  • water
  • lemon juice
  • vinegar
  • rubbing alcohol
  • baking soda
  • liquid soap
  • craft knife

Here's How:

5.1 Making your own cleaning wipes from household items couldn't be easier! Start by cutting a roll of reusable cleaning cloths in half using a craft knife.

5.2 Pour water, lemon juice, vinegar, rubbing alcohol, baking soda, and liquid soap into a round food storage container that's slightly bigger than the roll of cleaning cloths. The liquid should end up being about ½ inch deep. Stir everything together and place 1 of the half rolls of reusable cleaning cloths in the container.

5.3 Use a craft knife to cut a narrow rectangle out of the lid of the food storage container, put the lid on, and pull the first DIY cleaning wipe out through the opening in the lid.

6. Disposable Mopping Cloth

You'll Need:

  • 1 maxi pad

Here's How:

If you run out of mopping cloths, you can use a maxi pad instead! Stick the adhesive sides to the mop and clean the floors like you normally would.

7. DIY Bottle Brush

You'll Need:

  • 1 sponge
  • craft knife
  • 1 rubber band
  • 2 chopsticks or wooden skewers

Here's how:

7.1 Use a craft knife to make 3 vertical slits in the sponge. Wrap the sponge around so that the slits are facing outwards, then secure the sponge in place using a rubber band.

7.2 Stick 2 chopsticks or wooden skewers through the rubber band, 1 on the left-hand side and 1 on the right.

7.3 This DIY bottle cleaner works great for cleaning tricky surfaces like the inside a bottle or vase!

8. Cleaning Your Food Processor Or Blender

You'll Need:

  • water
  • dish soap

Here's How:

There's a very simple trick to effectively cleaning your blender or food processor. Pour water and dish soap into the blender or food processor, turn it on briefly, and then rinse the whole thing out with water. Good as new!

Cleaning isn't that bad after all, is it? There's no need for expensive cleaning products or for blocking out a ton of time to get the job done. Our smart cleaning tricks will help make taking care of the house less of a chore, so that you can get back to the important stuff – like relaxing for a change! 

Get the instructions for the Cleaning Tips For Your Electronics and Must-Know Cleaning Tips & Tricks featured in the bonus video.

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