Picture it: you’re about to have guests over on short notice, and you quickly realize that your house is a complete wreck. (Despite your effort at domestic upkeep… it’s easier said than done.) Even worse: you don’t know where to begin.
While a team of professional cleaners, several robot vacuums, and a pressure washer would be ideal, that’s just not in the cards. Your second-best option? Cleaning hacks with several of the items sitting right in your pantry.
So, if you’re looking for a “lazy” version of deep cleaning your place in a jiff, we’ve got you covered. Ahead, we’ll touch on tidying up all those nooks, crannies, and valuables that need some serious TLC.
Scrub your oven with baking soda and vinegar
Cleaning your oven can be a daunting task, given all the debris, food, and who knows what else. Sure, you can utilize your oven’s self-cleaning function, but it’ll only turn everything into ash—A.K.A., another mess to clean.
The solve? Reach for some baking soda and vinegar. Simply combine 1/2 cup of baking soda with three to four tablespoons of water to create a paste. Spread the paste all throughout the inside and leave overnight. Lastly, spritz some vinegar over the dried paste and use a lukewarm, damp cloth to wipe up the residue.
Pre-clean your wooden cutting board with salt and lemon
Rather than going to town on your wood cutting board with a sponge and soap right after use, we recommend a different approach. That is, giving your board a little salt-and-lemon scrub before it heads to the sink.
All you’ll need is half a lemon and some coarse salt (preferably Kosher). Just sprinkle some salt all over the board and then use the lemon half to scrub its surface. After letting the salty-lemony solution sit for five minutes or so, it’ll be ready for a proper wash
Use an old razor to remove paint from fabrics
Whether you’re painting walls or a canvas, things can get messy fast. Instead of throwing away clothing, furniture, or rugs that have suffered some splatters, the solution is quite simple. Hint: That disposable razor you were about to toss is ready for its second act.
First, place the affected piece on a flat surface (preferably an ironing board, if you have one). With the same gentleness you’d use while shaving, use the razor to scrape the paint off the fabric. What’s more? This method also effectively removes pilling from sweaters!
Remove furniture odors and stains with baking soda
Given that furniture is a lofty investment, you’ll want to get the most out of your couches or chairs. But, since not every sofa or recliner has removable covers, it begs the question: how do you clean your furniture?
Fortunately, it’s easy. Scatter a light amount of baking soda on the fabric and allow it to sit for about 20 minutes. Then, give it a thorough vacuuming. In the case of stains, mix your baking soda with a tablespoon of vinegar, liquid soap, and warm water, and scrub it with a damp washcloth.
Get squeaky-clean blinds with water and vinegar
Be it horizontal or vertical window blinds, they’re very good at collecting dust. You may feel inclined to use a feather duster to combat the dusties, but have you considered if that’s really cleaning your blinds?
If you want to take your cleaning even further, combine equal parts warm water and vinegar, dampen a washcloth with the mixture, and wipe each slat. (Just be sure not to use this on wooden blinds!)
Zap oil stains from your rug or carpet with baking soda
While your first inclination might be to opt for soap and water when cleaning an oil stain from your carpet or rug, we have a better suggestion. Just reach for your most versatile pantry staple: baking soda.
Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda onto the stain (enough to cover it completely) and allow it to sit for one to two hours. After time is up, thoroughly vacuum up the baking soda to reveal clean, dry fabric.
Use a blow dryer to make water rings disappear
There are people who use coasters… and then there are people who carelessly allow water rings to form under their drinks. Should you find one of these unsightly circles on your wooden tables, fear not—the solution is simple.
Thankfully, all you’ll need is a blow dryer. Using the medium heat setting, hold it two to three inches away from the ring. As the hairdryer does its thing, wipe up any remaining residue with a paper towel. Once dried, apply a few drops of olive oil to restore your table’s shine.
Opt for a lemon to treat hard water stains
Instead of reaching for bleach (or some other harmful chemical) to remove hard water residue, you’ll find a safer alternative in your kitchen. The secret ingredient? A lemon.
Yes, you read that right. Just quarter a lemon and press it onto the end of your sink faucet, and then wrap a plastic bag around the lemon to hold it in place. After a few hours of contact, the citric acid from this zesty fruit will break down the nasty stuff.
Scrub your bathtub with baking soda and dish soap
Sure, there are myriad cleaning products intended for tubs. But we have a simpler approach, and it requires only two kitchen staples. So, take a trip to your pantry for some baking soda and dish soap.
Next, add a teaspoon of the dish soap to a teaspoon of baking soda, and use the paste to clean stubborn gunk from the tub. Not only is this option safer, but it’ll save you a considerable amount of money in the long run!
Get your stainless steel sparkling with cream of tartar
While cream of tartar is a baking staple, did you know that it can also go the distance in your cleaning routine? Rather than choosing harmful chemicals to get your stainless steel parts and appliances gleaming, use—you guessed it—cream of tartar.
Just mix equal parts water and cream of tartar to create a solution that can be scrubbed onto all your steel surfaces. Within minutes, all the nasty grit will be gone, and everything will look perfectly polished.
“Wash” your cast iron skillet with salt
Owning a cast iron skillet can be a daunting responsibility—but a rewarding one if you care for it correctly. Thankfully, all it takes is a bit of sea salt to “clean” this cooking and baking staple.
Simply add a tablespoon of the sea salt into your skillet and use a dry sponge to scrub it over grease and grime. Afterward, rinse off the soiled salt under lukewarm water—no soap needed.
Dust your baseboards with a dryer sheet
Dust is just one of those pesky things that finds its way to every surface. And hair. Sigh. But when it comes to the baseboards in your home, luckily you won’t need to go out and buy a new feather duster.
In place of a duster, opt for a dryer sheet. Not only will this small but mighty laundry essential clean all the icky debris from your baseboards, but it’ll also repel dust and hair for an impressive amount of time.
Get grease stains gone with chalk
Regardless of if you’re the one cooking or eating greasy food, you’re still vulnerable to splatter and stains. Should you find yourself in this messy conundrum, a little bit of white chalk will go a long way.
Simply rub it onto the affected area of your garment and leave it for at least 20 minutes. By then, you should be able to brush off the remnants before you stick it in the wash for a deeper clean.
Use vinegar and duct tape to clean your toilet
Perhaps one of the most dreaded chores, cleaning the toilet is never pleasant. But, if you neglect to clean it for more than a couple of weeks, you’ll be in for a really, really gross task.
First, use some duct tape to seal the siphon jets under the toilet rim. Then, reach for some vinegar and pour a cup of it into your porcelain throne. Let it set for an hour or so before flushing, and don’t forget to remove the duct tape before relieving yourself.
Reuse an old toothbrush to clean your keyboard
If you’re the type that eats and/or drinks by your computer, debris can accumulate quickly under your keyboard keys. Before you know it, there are crumbs and sticky residue all over. Then, to make matters worse, this can also hinder your keyboard from working correctly.
Though this might not stop you from eating by your device(s), we encourage you to clean your keyboard regularly. Just take an old toothbrush, wash it with some soap, allow it to dry, and brush away any lingering remnants.
Try baking soda and vegetable oil for cabinet doors
It might not occur to you to clean your cabinet doors unless there’s a stain or splatter on them. However, you should certainly wipe them down anyway. In fact, the best thing(s) to clean them may be behind one of those doors.
We suggest combining equal parts baking soda and vegetable oil to loosen and soften stubborn grime. Then apply the paste to your cabinet doors with a cloth, and remove the paste afterward with a clean, dampened cloth.
Nix nail polish from carpets and rugs with alcohol
Painting your nails can be a relaxing task until it drips or spills onto the floor. (Oh, the horror.) The good news? Your carpet or rug can still be saved—but you have to act fast.
You’ll need rubbing alcohol and a microfiber cloth. Pour a little less than a capful of the alcohol into the cloth and scrub lightly in a clockwise motion until the stain disappears. Then, rinse the affected area with a bit of water and leave it to dry.
Sweep hair from your carpet with a squeegee
Human hair and pet hair (and any other kinds of hair) can accumulate in large amounts over time. Rather than clogging up your vacuum with excessive hair to clean it, we have a better solve.
You know that squeegee in your bathroom? Give it a quick wash and rinse, then move it back and forth over your carpet or rug to collect all the fallen strands. Though the hairball you’ll end up with is gross, your floor will be spotless!
Clean a dingy curling iron with steel wool
That cleaning iron you’ve had for years? Yeah, it’s probably due for a cleaning. If you’ve never done this before (we’re not judging!), no matter. Just grab some steel wool.
While the curler is powered off and not hot to the touch, use your steel wool to wipe it up and down. The abrasion will loosen any buildup of burnt hair and products that have been left behind from styling.
Choose baking soda to remove coffee stains
If you’re a coffee lover who also makes their brew at home, you’re probably all too familiar with coffee buildup in your mugs, coffee pots, and counters. Instead of scrubbing the heck out of each with soap and water, we have a better solution.
Mix a small amount of baking soda and a few drops of water and add it to the stained area. Once a paste has formed, gently scrub the affected area(s) so the abrasion from the paste can lift and clean those stubborn stains.
Clean up spilled glitter with play dough
Glitter is one of those craft essentials that is arguably messier than paint, stickers, or clay. Unfortunately, your broom and dustpan just aren’t going to cut it when it comes to cleaning up. But a more unconventional item will.
Before the sparkles begin to spread, roll or press a ball of play dough into the areas that have been glitter bombed. And, hey, if you need to use the play dough for other debris, it should be equally effective!
Clean glass dishes with aluminum foil
Despite your best efforts to remove stubborn stains from your glass baking dish, the residue remains. Thankfully, you can upgrade your cleaning game with not just warm water and dish soap—but a bit of aluminum foil.
After you fill your baking dish with some water, add a few drops of your go-to dish soap. For the next step, set your sponge aside and ball up some aluminum foil. Use it to scrub your dishes and watch those stains come right off.
Cleanse your makeup brushes with baby shampoo
Those of us who wear makeup are likely guilty of waiting a little too long to clean our brushes. By putting this tedious task off, you risk putting myriad amounts of bacteria (or mold) on your skin, which can lead to acne, rashes, and more.
So, when you get around to it, we recommend using unscented baby shampoo to scrub your brushes. Once you’ve finished getting all the makeup residue out, be sure to dry the brushes upside down with a clip.
Banish garage oil stains with Coca-Cola
As a car owner, you’re probably aware of how difficult (and irksome) those oil drip stains can be. But before you call upon a professional cleaner to take care of the issue, may we suggest a quicker, cheaper fix?
If you have a can of Coca-Cola in your fridge, just crack it open, pour it over the stains, and leave it overnight. The carbonic acid will break up the stains, and then you can finish washing them away with a bucket of hot water.
Get rid of shower head stains with vinegar
It’s easy to forget to clean your shower head when cleaning the rest of your bathroom. However, it deserves just as much attention as everything else you’ve tended to. Lucky for you, it’s incredibly easy.
Fill a large plastic bag (be sure to check for holes first!) with several cups of vinegar and secure it to the showerhead with a strong rubber band. For the best results, leave it overnight and remove the bag in the morning. Then, give your shower head a quick wipe-down with a dampened washcloth.
Eliminate odors from your coffee grinder with uncooked rice
Though coffee smells amazing as it’s being made, a buildup of the residue it leaves behind can be anything but pleasant. If you’re wondering how to rid of the foul odors within, we have an easy answer.
All you have to do is add some uncooked white rice to your coffee grinder—about the same amount of coffee grinds you would normally add. Allow the grinder to pulverize the rice, and the grains will remove the stink as they exit the grinder.
Disinfect earbuds with alcohol
Regular use of earbuds can lead to an accumulation of earwax and other debris. If you’re looking to clean them but don’t know what to use, it’s simple. Try a cotton swab or cotton ball with a small amount of rubbing alcohol.
Once again, we want to emphasize that you should use a small amount of rubbing alcohol. This is because using too much can penetrate the mesh of your earbuds as you clean them, which can damage them beyond repair.
Spot-clean dirty sneakers with toothpaste
White sneakers are essential to any wardrobe, but of course, they’re prone to getting (and looking) dirty easily. Given that this is inevitable, you may be looking for ways to spot-clean your sneakers rather than taking them to a professional cleaner every time they become soiled.
The simple DIY approach is to soak your sneaks in warm water for a short amount of time. Next, use an old toothbrush and some toothpaste to lightly scrub the affected areas. You’ll want to leave the toothpaste there for about 10 minutes, then wipe it off with a dampened washcloth.
Polish your ring with toothpaste
While some may tell you to take your ring to a jeweler to have it professionally cleaned, that won’t be necessary. If you want to have your prized piece shining again, you’ll need some toothpaste.
We know what you’re thinking: Who knew toothpaste was so versatile? Anyway, just use a little less than a pea-sized amount and scrub very gently with an old toothbrush. After a thorough rinse, it should look as good as new.
Cleanse your hairbrush with shampoo
It’s a no-brainer that you should wash your hair regularly, but you should also wash your hairbrush. Yep, your brush is susceptible to the buildup of hair products, dead skin, oils, and other detritus. So, how do you clean it?
With a bowl of warm water and about half a teaspoon of shampoo, your brush will be ready for its bath. Dunk the brush into the bowl and leave it submerged (except for wooden brushes—only submerge the head) for round five minutes. Give it a good rinse and it’ll be good to go.
Wash a burned pan with vinegar and baking soda
Burning a pan is a total bummer, especially if it’s your go-to pan. You might even be tempted to purchase a replacement but wait! Before you splurge on a new one, try this cleaning hack.
Add some water to the pan and then two cups of vinegar. Set it on the stove and bring to a boil, then remove it from the heat. Next, sprinkle two tablespoons of baking soda and allow the mixture to soak for several minutes. After pouring everything out, lightly scrub the pan and rinse.
Restore leather furniture with shoe polish
Leather furniture is undeniably chic, elevating any room in your house. However, it’s prone to wear and tear which leaves it looking unsightly over time. If this sounds like your sofa, we have a solution for you.
As for those pesky scratches, the secret to banishing them? Shoe polish. Simply rub it into the affected spots with a cloth and rub away the excess. (Also, be sure to use the right color for your couch!)
Deep-clean your blender by… blending
Washing a blender by hand can be difficult, given the blades and other tough spots that a sponge can’t quite reach. Cleaning it properly, though, is actually simpler than manually washing.
Just fill the blender cup with water and a few drops of liquid soap, then blend it on the highest setting for 30 seconds. Should you find that it still has a nasty smell afterward, toss half a lemon into the mixture and blend it up for about 15 seconds, then rinse.
Disinfect your bathroom with bleach and baking soda
Removing grout from various areas of your bathroom typically requires a considerable amount of physical labor. Thus, it’s easily one of the most annoying to-dos. If you’ve tried a slew of different products (in addition to lots of elbow grease) to no avail, we have a suggestion.
Mix a little bit of bleach with some baking soda to make a paste-like substance. Then, apply it liberally to affected spots and scrub with a brush until the grout and grime is gone.
A slice of bread will safely pick up glass
Broken glass can cause a bit of panic the moment it shatters. You might find yourself reaching for your broom and dustpan, but you’re still seeing mini shards scattered all over the floor.
Set aside your broom and head to your pantry for some bread. (Yes, bread.) Grab a few slices and use them to wipe us any remnants of the broken glass. And, for good measure, you can swipe a bit of peanut butter over the slice of bread afterward to seal in the glass.
Use aluminum foil to clean your glue gun
It probably goes without saying, but hot glue guns can get messy. (Not just with arts and crafts, but the gun itself.) Therefore, it’s important to clean it as needed. But… how should you touch it up?
Take some aluminum foil, ball it up into an appropriate scrubbing shape—if you will—and wipe it over the metal nozzle of the gun. Any burnt or stuck-on glue should come off with ease!
Speed up drying your shoes with paper
Say you were caught in the rain wearing your favorite shoes. Of course, now you’re worrying about them smelling or getting moldy if they don’t dry quickly enough. Not to mention, you shouldn’t put them in the dryer. What to do?
A little tip: rip out a page from a newspaper, crumple it up, and stuff your shoes with it. This method works surprisingly fast and the newspaper is super absorbent.
Make bathtub rings disappear with salt and grapefruit
If you take baths frequently, you’re probably no stranger to bathtub rings. Getting rid of them is easy, thankfully! And, no, you won’t need any of those expensive cleaners with all the harmful chemicals.
Should you happen to have a grapefruit and some salt on hand, you’re in luck. Halve the grapefruit and sprinkle some salt onto it. Then, use it to scrub those icky rings until they disappear.
Properly clean a cheese grater with a potato
Cheese graters are possibly one of the most annoying (and dangerous) things to wash. Of course, you risk cutting your hand or finger(s) open, which is never ideal. So, how do you get old cheese bits gone from the grater?
Turns out, another food will do just that. Just use a potato or an apple and grate, grate, grate. Then, discard the potato bits, drizzle some soap on the grater, and give it a thorough rinse.
Dust your lampshades with a lint roller
Removing dust from your blinds and baseboards is quite easy since you’re working with a wooden or plastic surface. But how do you remove it from fabric or paper for, say, and lampshade?
Just as you would remove lint from other fabrics, you can use a lint roller to remove dust from lampshades. A word of caution: if you’re using a lint roller for a paper lampshade, be sure to roll it slowly and steadily as to not rip the lampshade.
Steam your microwave to cleanliness
Considering the delicate interior of a microwave, it’s no wonder so many people neglect to clean it. Luckily, there’s a somewhat hands-off and very simple approach to cleaning your microwave.
Add some dish soap to a microwave-safe bowl that’s filled with warm water. Then, stick it into the microwave and let it heat for about 10 minutes. The steam should loosen all the gunk inside, which will allow you to wipe it down with ease afterward.