Impress your family with these clever hacks.
Some of these tricks are truly ingenious – who knew the incredible cleaning properties of salt mixed with grapefruit or what a hero a piece of bread could be in the battle against glass splinters?
Prepare to be amazed as we embark on the list of a lifetime (or maybe I’m the only person who’s life is this sad).
Ten hacks that will change the way you clean forever
1. Run rings around bathtub rings
Got a ring of scum around your bathtub? Cut a grapefruit in half and sprinkle with salt. Spray the bath and sprinkle additional salt on the bottom. Then use the fruit as a scrubber, making sure to get the juice on every surface. Rinse clean and enjoy.
2. No effort pot scrubbing
Fill the bottom of the dirty pan with water and add a cup of white vinegar. Simmer for a few minutes. Take the pan off the stove and add two tablespoons baking soda. Empty the pan and scrub lightly to remove burn marks.
3. Coffee grinder refresher
I use my coffee grinder to finely chop fresh herbs which is why this cleaning hack is boss. How does one clean a grinder without sustaining an injury? Grind a piece of bread or uncooked white rice to remove old odors, then grind one tablespoon baking soda to clean, and wipe thoroughly.
Via Martha Stewart
4. Eradicate greasy stains on clothes
Apply a generous glob of dishwashing liquid to the stain, work in gently and then pop into a regular wash. Got greased marks on the walls? Cover the stains with white chalk, wait a few minutes and then wipe the chalk away with a damp cloth.
5. How to clean a mattress (while fixing a drink)
Nightmares about filthy, unwashable mattresses haunt your nights? Of course, they do. We spend roughly one-third of our lives on a mattress that can’t be cleaned. Or can it? Pour vodka and a few drops of your favourite essential oil (lavender is said to aid sleep) into a spray bottle, spritz lightly across your mattress and leave it to air-dry. The alcohol kills odor-causing bacteria and disinfects the mattress while the oil will freshen up the whole room.
Via the Lone Home Ranger
6. Hoover up the hurl
For whatever reason, you may at some stage have to get puke out of a carpet. This hands-off approach will make the task marginally more bearable. Make a paste of baking soda and water, and spread it over the affected area (making sure to hold your breath). Let it dry overnight. The following day simply hoover up the paste, et voila – vom be gone. Also works for urine and carpets (BOOM).
7. Broken glass remover
Who knew that the humble sliced pan is a hero in the fight against glass shards? Carefully press a piece of white bread all over the area where the glass was broken, this will remove even the tiniest pieces.
Via Real Simple
8. Steam clean the microwave
This one is especially essential for the office kitchen. Co-workers, please take note if half your meal winds up on the microwave ceiling it is STILL your responsibility to clean it. And here’s how: Halve a couple lemons and put in a glass dish with water. Zap until the water starts to boil. Allow to sit and steam for a minute before opening. Now wipe clean with an ease greater than anything you could’ve possibly anticipated.
9. Watermark time-machine
Got a watermark? Act fast. Soak up excess moisture with a towel, then blast it with a hair dryer while it is still damp.
Via Homemade Mamas
10. Have a baby? Buy this totally awesome, not at all, cruel babygro
Sure they’re down there anyway, they might as well make themselves useful.