Nobody likes to do it (except maybe Monica Geller), but it’s just about that time of year when the sun returns and the spring cleaning commences. Sure, you can hang your head and spend hours scrubbing that bathroom without any kind of satisfying result, or you can try one of these fun cleaning hacks and treat this year’s deep clean as more of an experiment than a chore. Here are 15 fun cleaning tips to help you get spring off to a shiny new start.
1. Magic Toothbrush: Time for a new toothbrush? Keep your old one and use it to clean grout or those impossible to reach spaces in your computer’s keyboard. (via Reader’s Digest)
2. Grout Cleaner: And hey, while you’re scrubbing away in the bathroom, make a mixture of baking soda and bleach and scrub it on grout to make it look brand new. (via Practically Functional)
3. Alka-Seltzer Unclogger: If your bathroom sink is draining slowly, drop 4 Alka-Seltzer tablets down the drain, followed by 1 cup distilled vinegar. After 10 minutes, rinse with boiling water. If that still doesn’t work, grab this tool at your hardware store and pull out the collection of hair that’s bound to be caught down there. (via SF Gate)
Kitchen
4. Easy Microwave Clean: Place a dish filled with water and dishwashing liquid in your microwave for one minute. After the water and soap get that microwave all steamed up, wipe away built-up grime with a sponge. (via 7th House on the Left)
5. Foreman Grill Steam Clean: If you’ve ever used a Foreman grill you know they’re super convenient, but a real pain to clean. Next time you use it, try pressing a couple of damp paper towels between the lid and the surface. The leftover heat will steam clean the grill. Wipe it dry with another paper towel and you’re done. (via Judith’s Mama)
6. Brand New Burners: Make those burners look like new by placing each of them in their own bag of ammonia. Simply pour about 1/4 cup of ammonia into a large Ziploc bag and then add a burner. Leave them like this overnight (and maybe outside in case it leaks). Pull them out in the morning and boom! Brand spankin’ new. (via DIY Super Mom)
7. Cream of Tartar’s Secret: Have some cream of tartar in your cupboard? Mix it with a few drops of water and spray it on stainless steel for a glistening clean. (via Quick and Dirty Tips)
8. Easy Fridge Clean Up: Avoid spill residue in your fridge by lining shelves with press-and-seal food wrap. That way when you get the inevitable spill, all you have to do is pull the wrap off and put a new layer down. (via The Virtuous Wife)
9. Smell Free Trash Can: Keep that trash can from getting super smelly by hosing it down outside and then sprinkling some baking soda in the bottom before putting in a new bag. (via eHow)
The Rest of the House
10. Vodka Mattress Cleaner: Pour vodka into a spray bottle and spritz lightly across your mattress and leave it to air-dry. It sounds super weird, but the alcohol kills odor-causing bacteria and disinfects the mattress all at once. Who knew vodka could be used for good? (via Huffington Post)
11. Shoe Polish on Furniture: If you have a piece of leather furniture that could use a little loving, rub some shoe polish on it to hide the scratches and revitalize color (be sure to use appropriate colors and rub off any excess). (via eHow)
12. Easy Air Vent Cleaner: Clean a cruddy or dusty air vent by moistening a clean towel with your cleaner of choice and wrapping it around a butter knife. Now you’ve got the perfect tool to get in between those narrow grates. (via Home Sweet Homebodies)
13. Pet Hair Begone: Get rid of all that pet hair hiding in your house by running a squeegee along the carpet. Watch in awe as you scrape up a full coat of Fido’s hair up from the floor. (via Today)
14. Baking Soda on Couch Stains: To get rid of couch stains, sprinkle on some baking soda. This works especially well when dealing with baby-drool-filled stains. (via POPSUGAR)
15. Wash Your Pillow: Is your favorite pillow kind of nasty looking sans its case? We thought so. Not sure how to clean a pillow? Put it in the washing machine! Easy as that. (via Good Housekeeping)
Do you have any genius cleaning hacks we should know about? Share with us in the comments below.
(Photos via Domaine Home, Jute, Decor8)
