These cleaning hacks are really cheap and easy and can save you time and money. I've got cleaning hacks to help you clean almost everything in your house.
Crayon Marks
This is what some of the walls in my house look like. There are 2 ways to remove crayon marks, depending on the surface that you need to clean.
On Wood: Slather mayo on the crayon marks and let it set for 10 minutes. The combination of oil and egg dissolves the crayon wax. Then, just wipe it clean with a cloth.
On Walls: Squeeze some toothpaste (not the gel kind) onto a damp cloth and lightly scrub until the marks are gone. This method works similar to the way that toothpaste removes plaque from teeth with out damaging enamel.
Stained Mugs
To get rid of coffee and tea stains on coffee mugs, squeeze half a lemon into the mug. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then add a spoonful of salt and scrub it with a lemon wedge.
Stickers on Glass
Little ones putting sticker on mirrors and windows? You can get remove them by covering the glass surface in vegetable oil or baby oil. Let this sit for 15 minutes, then scrape the stickers away using a metal spatula.
Rusty Metal Pots, Pans, Tools, Etc.
Submerge rusty stuff in a cola bath for a few hours. The cola's combination of phosphoric acid and carbonic acids eat away at the rust. If you need extra help removing the rust, cut a raw potato in half, dip the cut end in baking powder and then scrub. The oxalic acid in the potato is also a great rust remover.
Stains on Microfiber
If you have a microfiber couch, like I do, then you know how hard it can be to get stains to come out of it. The reason for this is that Microfiber is 80% polyester, a plastic that absorbs stains much like Tupperware absorbs spaghetti sauce. There is a trick for getting those stubborn stains out, though. Take some foaming shaving cream (not the gel kind), and dab it on the stain, let it sit for 10 minutes, then blot it with a dry cloth. You may need to repeat it a second time for a particularly bad stain. Unlike liquid cleaners, the shaving cream's thick consistency prevents the spot from spreading while you are trying to remove it.
Baked on Food in the Oven
I confess that I've let my oven get to this level of griminess more than a few times. It's just so much work and so time-consuming to clean an oven, but there is an easier way. With the oven off, place a half of a cup of ammonia on the top rack and a cup of water on the bottom rack. Leave both containers in the oven overnight, and then remove them in the morning. Now, you should be able to easily remove residue with a plastic scraper or a spatula.
Blinds
To remove the dust and grime from your blinds, wrap a cloth around a spatula and secure it with a rubber band. The, dip it into a solution of one part rubbing alcohol and 4 parts water. Close the blinds, facing downwards, and drag the spatula from top to bottom. Then, repeat this moving from left to right.
Stains on Leather
You can use artist's gum to rub out smudges and stains on leather surfaces. You can find artist's gum at any art supply store. If you need to restore your leather's shine, cover the surface in egg whites and let sit for 10 minutes, then wipe off.
Wax Dripping on Tables and Surfaces
On all hard surfaces, you can use ice cubes to freeze the wax. Then, you can remove it using a scraper or spatula.
Dishwasher Scum
To clean the mildew and scum out of your dishwasher, fill the container with powdered lemonade mix, then run on the rinse cycle without dishes. The citric acid can remove mineral deposits and iron stains that accumulate inside your dishwasher.
Carpet Stains
For pet urine: Pour club soda on the stain and blot with a towel. Then, spray with vinegar and sprinkle on some baking soda. Vacuum up the baking soda when it dries.
For Gum: Apply a analgesic heat rub, like Bengay, to the gum, then heat it with a hair dryer. Press a plastic sandwich bag on the gum and pull it away from the carpet.
For Clay: Fill a Ziploc bag halfway full of water and freeze flat. Place this on top of the clay for five minutes until frozen, then use a spatula to scrape it up.
For Coffee Stains: Beat an egg yolk and work it into the stain with a wash cloth for about a minute. Let it sit for 5 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
Acrylic Paint on Clothing
Just dab the paint with some rubbing alcohol and wash as you normally would.
Air Vents
Use a multi-surface cleaner, like 409, a metal butter knife and a cleaning rag to clean air vents. First, wrap the cleaning rag around the knife. Next, spray the vent with the cleaner and insert the cloth-covered knife in between the slats. Clean them from side to side.
Armpit Stains on Clothing
For these stubborn stains, make a mixture of 1 tsp. dish soap, 3-4 Tbsp. of hydrogen peroxide and 2 Tbsp. of baking soda. Then, scrub it until the stain comes out.
Bath Toys
To clean rubber duckies and other bath toys, mix 1/2 cup white vinegar with a gallon of water and let the toys soak for an hour. Then, squeeze all of the water out of them. You can also add a dab of hot glue to the air hole of bath toys to keep water from collecting inside and growing mold.
Bathroom and Oven Exhaust Fans
Use canned air to blow the dust and debris out of exhaust fans. Dusty exhaust fans are a common cause of household fires.
Burnt On Food On Pots and Pans
Fill the bottom of the pan with water and add a cup of white vinegar. Bring this to a boil. Then, take the pan off of the heat and add 2 Tbsp baking soda. Finally, empty the pan and scrub.
Charcoal Grill
To clean the grates of a charcoal grill, take a white onion, peel it, cut it in half, and stab a fork into the small end of one half of the onion. Use the fork to rub the onion back and forth over the grates of a hot grill. The onion will deglaze the grates and it will even add a little flavor to the next meal you make on your grill.
Curling Iron
Just rub a piece of plain steel wool onto the metal rod of your curling iron to buff out stains.
Cutting Boards
The best way to clean your cutting board depends on what material your cutting board is made of.
Wooden Cutting Boards: Cut a lemon in half. Then, rub down the cutting board with the lemon half (pulp side down) and set aside. Next, cover the cutting board with kosher salt and let that sit for 10-15 minutes. Finally, use the lemon half and rub the salt into the cutting board with it. Rinse with water and dry off.
Plastic Cutting Boards: Soak these in a mixture of bleach and water in the sink for at least an hour to remove germs and stains.
Dryer Ducts
Dirty and clogged dryer ducts are one of the leading causes of house fires. Here is an easy way to clean your dryer ducts, without having to pay a professional. First, unplug your dryer and turn off the gas if you have a gas dryer. Remove your lint trap, along with any lint from the screen. Then, using a stiff, flexible brush (a brush designed to clean vents), bend the brush and run it inside the lint trap. Use a shop vac or vacuum with attachment to suck up the dirt and lint you loosened with the brush. Pull the dryer from the wall and disconnect the exhaust duct tube from the wall and the dryer. Use you vacuum to clean out both the dryer and wall parts of the duct. Finally, use the vacuum to clean out the dryer exhaust tube.
Glass Bakeware
To clean baked in stains on glass bakeware, crumple up a ball of aluminum foil, add some dish soap, then scrub.
Grease Stains On Clothing
I love this tip because this happens to me so often from getting splattered by grease while cooking. Rub plain white chalk over the grease stain. The chalk should absorb the grease. Then, wash as normal.
Grout Mildew
Use Cellucotton Cotton Coils from a beauty supply store and soak them in bleach. Lay them on the mildew and mold in your tub and let sit for a day.
Hair Brush
First, remove all the hair that is trapped in the brush. Fill a bowl with hot water and add some drops of dish soap or shampoo, then start scrubbing. Leave your brush in the sink or bowl for 10 minutes. Take the brush out, rinse it off and dry it out on a clean towel.
Keurig Coffee Maker
To clean out your Keurig (or similar coffee maker), fill the water reservoir about halfway with vinegar. Run a cycle through without adding a filter or K-Cup. Then, run two cycles of water through to get rid of the vinegar completely.
Lipstick Stains On Clothes
Spray the lipstick stain with hairspray and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then, dab with a damp cloth and wash as normal.
Makeup Brushes
You can clean your makeup brushes with baby shampoo. Once you've rinsed them well, hand them up to dry.
Mattress
Sprinkle baking soda all over your mattress and let that sit for about 30 minutes. Then, just vacuum it up.
Microwave
Here's a super easy way to clean your microwave: Heat a bowl of water and vinegar for 5 minutes in the microwave. The steam will dissolve stuck on stains and make them easier to remove.
Mirrors & Glass
Make a mixture of 1/4 cup vinegar, 1 Tbsp. cornstarch and 2 cups warm water and put into a spray bottle. Spray onto the glass surface and wipe down with newspaper. Better than Windex!
Moldy Water Bottles & Sippy Cups
I think every mom struggles with this problem. Plastic water bottles and sippy cups are notorious for harboring mold and slime. They're tough to clean, but here's an easy method: Soak the bottle in warm water with a little bleach. Let it sit for 10 minutes, then scrub it inside and out with a dish brush or toothbrush. Stick a q-tip into the mouthpiece and scrub there too. Rinse the bottle well and put a Tbsp. of baking soda in the bottle. Fill the bottle with hot water. Let it sit overnight. In the morning, rinse the bottle and wash as you normally would.
Oil Stains On Garage Floor
To get rid of oil stains on your garage floor, driveway or any other concrete surface, use cola. Just pour a few cans of room temperature cola on the stain and let it sit overnight. In the morning, blot it with some old towels and rinse off the remains.
Dirty Oven Racks
Ok, I've kind of went over this with the oven but to clean the racks, specifically, there is another really good method. Place your oven racks in the bathtub and fill it with super hot water until the racks are submerged. Add about 6 dryer sheets and a 1/2 cup of dish soap to the water. Let this sit overnight. In the morning, remove any remaining buildup with the dryer sheets.
Scuff Marks on Linoleum
To remove these marks, rub them with a plain old pencil eraser.
Shower Head
To clean your shower head, pour distilled white vinegar in a plastic bag and fit it over the shower head. Secure this with a rubber band. Let it soak for an hour, then remove the bag and wipe with a cloth or paper towel.
Sneakers
To clean Converse sneakers, or sneakers of the same style, apply toothpaste (not the gel kind) onto a plain steel wool pad. Scrub the sides of the shoe, then rinse. Scrub the sides of the shoe and then rinse again.
Stove Burners
Pour a thick coat of baking soda, followed by a Tbsp. of hydrogen peroxide onto each burner. Wait for 15 minutes, then scrub away all the grime.
Toaster
Mix 1 Tbsp. cream of tartar with a few drops of water and rub it into the toaster. Then, wipe it down with a damp paper towel.
Wicker Baskets
Give your wicker baskets a rinse in the shower, or with a hose. Set them out to dry in the sun. You can also spray them with cooking spray to keep them looking shiny.
Whiten Yellowed Pillows
Before you do this, make sure that your pillow can be machine washed by checking the care instructions. Remove any pillow case or pillow protector. Fill your washing machine about 1/3 full with hot water. Add 1 cup of laundry detergent, 1 cup powdered dishwasher detergent, 1 cup bleach and 1/2 cup borax, then start the machine and allow it to agitate for a few minutes. Once the detergent is dissolved, add the pillows and then allow the washer to fill the rest of the way with hot water. Run the pillows through the wash cycle and rinse cycle twice.
Yoga Mats
Fill a spray bottle with 3 parts water and 1 part distilled white vinegar. Spray and wipe down the solution.
Hope you guys like these cleaning hacks. Try them out for yourself and let me know in the comments how they worked for you.
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