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When you think of your favorite things to do, home cleaning doesn’t leap to the top of the list for most of us. These tips may not make home cleaning a good time, but they’ll certainly make it simpler, more organized, cheaper, and less toxic for children and pets.
From the living room to the kitchen, to the laundry and playroom, there are more than 55 cleaning tips to meet your household cleaning challenges in new and sometimes surprising ways.
Living Room
Clean your ceiling fan with a pillowcase
If you are like most of us, you don’t clean your hard-to-reach ceiling fans as often as you do the rest of the house—which means more dust and grime when you do dig out the ladder. Slipping a pillowcase over the blade and using the inside of the case to wipe it clean means dirt stays inside the case rather than falling to the floor or worse, onto you! More…
Get Kool-Aid (and other stains) out of the carpet with an iron
Anybody with small kids will appreciate that colored carpet spills can be disastrous. It might surprise you to know that with a simple mixture of one part ammonia and one part hot water, plus a clean white towel and an iron you can pull even red Kool-Aid stains out of the carpet. Spray ammonia mixture liberally over the stain, lay the towel over top and rub with your iron. Repeat the process until your stain is gone. More…
Keep rugs and carpets fresh with a homemade dry carpet cleaner
To clean your carpet and get stains out you can either use one a homemade carpet cleaning solution or you mix together baking soda, cornstarch, cornmeal, bay leaves, cloves, and borax in a blender to grind all ingredients to a powder. Pour into a sprinkle-top container and shake powder into carpets and rugs to set for at least two hours. Vacuum up and know that this powder is safe for kids and pets. More…
Make non-toxic fabric freshener with essential oils and vodka
Many people are bothered by the smell of artificial fabric fresheners, but making your own naturally scented fabric freshener is inexpensive and easy. Mix two teaspoons of vodka with one cup of water, one teaspoon of cornstarch, and five drops of essential oils like lemon or lavender and pour into a spray bottle. More…
Clean Air Vents Easily
A quick and very easy way to clean those dusty air vents around the house is by using a knife and a regular cleaning rag. Spray some cleaner on it and those air vents are cleaned in no time. More…
Use hairspray to remove nail polish from your coffee table or carpet.
You can’t use nail polish remover on most wood surfaces without removing the finish along with the polish. But if you spray the nail polish with hairspray and allow it to dissolve, you can gently remove all traces of polish from wood surfaces with soap and water. More…
Catch unreachable cobwebs with your broom
You can see the cobwebs lurking in the corners of your ceiling, well out of your reach, but how do you get to them? You could find a ladder and climb high to get at hard-to-reach cobwebs, or you could attach an extension pole for painting to a regular broom and clean up cobwebs from the safety and stability of the floor. More…
Clean your blinds with a sock
Cleaning blinds may be one of the most hated household chores ever. Using an old sock dipped in a vinegar and warm water solution to quickly clean dirt and grime way will get you past this unpleasant task as fast as possible. More…
Dust lampshades with a lint roller
If you’ve ever wondered how to quickly and effectively dust your fabric lampshades, here’s the answer. Dusting clothes never seem to do the job and vacuum cleaner attachments are awkward and ineffective. But a lint roller picks up dust so fast and easy you’ll wonder how you ever dusted without one. More…
Remove Pet Hair with a Rubber Glove
Clean any pet hair by simply putting on a rubber glove. Rub the glove a few times to clean the upholstery and it will trap the pet hair. It works very well, especially when you are in a hurry. More…
Clean your TV or computer screen with a coffee filter
Microfiber cloths are expensive and paper towels leave lint behind when cleaning electronic devices like TV and computer screens. Coffee filters are an inexpensive and lint-free way to keep your TV and computer monitors clear and dust-free. More…
Keep baseboards clean with dryer sheets
Baseboards are easily scuffed, attract dust, and require kneeling down on the floor to clean. Who has time for that? If you have cleaned your floors with a good homemade floor cleaner you can then start using a dryer sheet to dust your baseboards, you will find yourself spending less time on the floor. Using dryer sheets to clean your baseboards will repel dust and hair. More…
Restore scratched wood with vinegar and olive oil
 Sometimes even expensive furniture oils can’t restore a severely scuffed piece of wood furniture. But mixing one part vinegar and three parts olive oil creates an effective furniture repair solution. Use a rag to rub into any wooden furniture surface with scuffs and scratches to clean and restore to its original glory. More…
Use old nylon stockings to clean your candles
Dusting candles is particularly difficult because dirt and dust clings to wax and resists removal traditional dusting methods. Just grab an old pair of nylons to wipe down the surface of your candles, removing dust and soot in the process. More…
