Cleaning is something we all have to do from time to time, but it can often stop us enjoying some of the things that make us happy. But what would you say if there were ways of cutting down on cleaning? What would you say if there were a few simple ways to make household chores easier? You’d probably say “where do I start.”
Cleaning is never going to be a breeze, and it is always going to involve a certain amount of organisation and hard work. But by using a few cleaning secrets the professionals use, you could free up time for doing more exciting things with the people you love.
1. Banish bin odours
A kitchen bin is usually one of the biggest sources of bad odours in a home. If you struggle to keep yours smelling fresh, save yourself a great deal of time by lining the bottom with old newspapers or paper towels. Add a sprinkling of baking powder, and drop in a little of your favourite essential oil for good measure. Not only will odours be absorbed, your bin will emit one of your favourite smells.
2. Remove pet hair with ease
If you have a cat or a dog, you will probably know how difficult it is to keep your home hair and dander free. Instead of painstakingly trying to lift hair from carpet and upholstery, put on a rubber glove and rinse it with water. Rub your gloved hand over affected areas, and pet hair should stick to it like glue. Alternatively, you can use the Shark Rotator Lift-Away True Pet Slim-Light Upright Vacuum Cleaner, which is specially designed to pick up pet hair — as well as perform all your household vacuuming tasks.
3. Use Coca Cola as a cleaner
If you ever need to clean in a hurry, you’ll be amazed how easy Coca Cola can make it. The famous carbonated drink contains phosphoric acid, which cleans oxides. Pour a single cup down your toilet basin to remove rings. Or if you have any brass or copper to clean, the acid in Coke can remove it in a matter of minutes.
4. Make stainless steel shine in an instant
Removing smudges, streaks and fingerprints from stainless steel can be a painstaking job. But you can cut it down to seconds by using baby oil and a napkin. Just drop a little oil onto the napkin, and rub it onto the surface you’re cleaning. This is perfect for getting rid of stubborn marks on fridges, cookers, extraction units and various stainless steel appliances.
5. Remove crayon in seconds
If you have small children in your home, you’re probably used to removing a huge variety of substances from walls and furniture. The next time you need to remove crayon from walls or furniture, simply soak a paper towel in some milk and start rubbing. The crayon should come off with the minimum of effort.
6. Remove gum residue with ease
If you have ever stuck decorations onto your walls or appliances with sticky tape, you may be familiar with the stubborn residues that get left behind. Instead of scrubbing furiously for hours, add a few drops of eucalyptus oil to the residue, wait for 10 minutes, and then wipe it away with a damp, microfibre brush.
7. Avoid hairspray
Dust loves hairspray, and takes every opportunity to attach itself to it. Try not to use hairspray in your home, but if you have to, use it near wipeable surfaces. Try to limit the flow of hairspray to a localised area, and be ready with a microfibre cloth to remove it as quickly as possible. A so-called magic eraser is great at removing hairspray from a range of surfaces. This simple sponge is perfect from getting rid of stains and a range of substances from almost every surface in your home.
8. Clean skirting with tumble dryer sheets
Tumble dryer sheets provide the perfect solution to dirty and dusty skirting boards. Simply wipe them along your skirting once a week to keep the nastiness at bay. One sheet should be good for at least two metres.
While there are some cleaning jobs that require lots of elbow grease and a significant amount of your time, there are ways to make life easier for yourself.
