If you’re running on a strict budget and can’t afford expensive household cleaning products every month, or if you just prefer not to use chemicals and cleaning agents around the house, there are some great hacks that you should know.
You can use some common household ingredients to remove tough stains, grease and lime build-up. All you have to do is look in your pantry and cupboard and find the right ingredients, then set to work. You’ll have your house sparkling in no time.
Remove stains with baking soda
If you’ve accidentally spilt some olive oil on a tablecloth or coffee on the carpet, there is a quick and effective solution. Grab some dry baking soda and sprinkle it over the oil stain. The powder will soak up the oil and can be rinsed away easily.
Baking soda can also be used to tackle oven grease, coffee stains and scuff marks on clothing. Add a bit of water for a fizzy, alkaline solution that works its magic on most stubborn stains. The best part is that baking soda is cheap and a really versatile alternative to expensive cleaning agents.
Baking soda can also be used to remove mould in the bathroom. Mix three parts baking soda to one part bleach to create a thick paste. Rub this paste over bathroom tiles (especially the tile grout) and let it sit for 10 minutes. Scrub the paste off to remove the mould and stains as well.
Clean the bathroom with vinegar
Metal shower heads and taps always get a hard white build-up that is difficult to remove. This substance is lime and is more prevalent in borehole water that comes directly from the ground. To get rid of lime build-up, vinegar is the perfect solution.
Pour some vinegar into a plastic bag and tie it around the shower head with some elastic. Leave the shower head to soak for a while and let the acidic vinegar dissolve the alkaline lime. Remove the bag and wipe off excess vinegar and dirt with a cloth.
Vinegar can also be used to clean blinds and surfaces that are susceptible to mould and dust. Simply mix equal parts of vinegar and water to a bowl, and then soak a cloth in the mixture. Ring it out and use it to wipe down blinds and bathroom mirrors.
We’re not done with vinegar yet. Use the water/vinegar mix to clean your microwave. Put the bowl in the microwave and cook it for 10 minutes on high. The steam will spread around the microwave and the vinegar in the steam will loosen grease and tough food particles. Wipe the inside of the microwave with a sponge and a little sprinkle of baking soda to remove the vinegar condensate and dirt.
Clean chopping boards with salt and lemon
Whether you have a glass, plastic or wooden chopping board, this hack is safe and easy. No one wants chemicals to soak into their wooden chopping boards, and glass is susceptible to hard residue. This natural solution is effective and harmless.
Pour some salt onto the chopping board and then cut a lemon in half. Rub the lemon over the salt on the surface of the board. The salt will grind away food particles and the lemon will disinfect the board, as well as leave a fresh citrus scent.
Remove water rings with a hair dryer
Wooden coffee tables and dining room suites often fall prey to water, leaving behind an unsightly white stain on the polished surface. These water stains can be hard to remove if they set in properly.
Use a hair dryer to gently blow the stained surface with warm air. The water rings will dry up in a few minutes. Apply some wood oil or olive oil to the surface of the table with a cloth to restore its shiny appearance.
Clean stainless steel with cream of tartar
This ingredient may not be a household staple but it is easy to find in the supermarket. Cream of tartar can be used to remove marks and blemishes from stainless steel. It works well as a chemical-free cleaner for appliances and utensils that store and touch food often.
Put some cream of tartar on the stainless steel item, whether it’s a fridge, microwave, serving spoon or pot, and scrub it with an old toothbrush. The toothbrush also makes it easy to reach tight corners and crevices.
Remove pet hair with sellotape
Pet owners will know that fur and hair can end up everywhere - the curtains, carpets, clothes and blankets. Washing these fabrics doesn’t always remove the hair either, and not everyone owns a lint roller. There is an easier solution.
Wrap some sellotape around your hand with the sticky side facing outwards. Dab clothes and fabrics to remove the pet hair easily. Wide sellotape and packaging tape works the best. Keep your house and clothes free of hair and dust with this hack.
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