*We've got a few nifty DIY tricks to make cleaning your home easier, without breaking the bank. *
Some common household items can be used to perform cleaning tasks to get rid of dirt, stains and grime easily. Take a look at what you could already have in your home to use for cleaning, and how to use these items to make your home sparkle and shine.
1. Kosher salt and lemons to clean a chopping board
It’s as easy as simply digging in your kitchen for salt and lemons, and your cleaning solution is sorted. Rub the salt into the chopping board using half of the lemon, to get rid of food particles that have caked on. The best part about using these natural items is that no chemicals or residue will be left behind on your chopping board. This method is ideal for glass or wooden chopping boards, but particularly for wood as it won’t cause any damage.
2. Remove oil stains from carpets with baking soda
Baking soda is a multi-purpose household item that can be used to clean oil stains, ovens, coffee stains and more. When paired with other items, baking soda is a force to be reckoned with. To remove oil stains from your carpet, put dry baking soda on the carpet (enough to cover the stain), then sit back and watch it soak up the oil.
3. Clean stainless steel appliances with cream of tartar
Grab an old toothbrush and some cream of tartar, add a bit of elbow grease, and you’ve got the solution to getting rid of grubby marks from your stainless steel appliances. It’s the ideal chemical-free alternative, particularly for appliances where food resides. This also works well for those hard to reach places where grime builds up over time.
4. Vinegar to clean shower heads
Tie a plastic bag filled with vinegar around your shower head to remove stains and prevent the holes from getting clogged. Due its acidic nature, vinegar eats into the grime and loosens it. Leave the bag on the shower head for a few hours and wipe off excess dirt once you’ve removed the bag.
5. Clean blinds with water and vinegar
Add equal parts water and vinegar into a bowl, and use an old sock to wipe down blinds. Get rid of dust and dampness between each slat with this simple technique. It’s particularly good for blinds located in areas of the home where dust or mould collect.
6. Baking soda to get rid of grout mould
It’s your friend baking soda once again! To get rid of grout mould in the bathroom, use ¾ cup backing soda, ¼ cup bleach and add some elbow grease. Create a thick paste, with the baking soda mixture and let it stand on the dirt for about 10 minutes. Once you start scrubbing, the mould should come off easily.
7. Get your microwave clean with a bowl of vinegar
Use ½ cup water and ½ cup white vinegar, cook for 10 minutes on high power in the microwave. The steam from the vinegar mixture helps loosen any dirt and food particles caked in the microwave. Wipe the inside of the microwave with a sponge and baking soda, the dirt should come right off.
8. Remove water rings from wood with a hair dryer
Place a hairdryer close to the affected wooden surface and gently blow the surface with the hairdryer to remove water rings. Once the water rings are gone, refresh the wooden surface with a small amount of olive oil, and an old cloth.
9. Lint roller to clean lampshades
A quick and easy solution to getting rid of dust from your lampshades is to run a lint roller over the lampshade. This will pick the dust up the same way it does with clothes, without having to get your hands dirty.
10. Tin foil to clean glass baking dishes
Grab a roll of tin foil, cut a piece off and crumple it into a ball. Add some dish soap into the dirty glass dish and use the ball of tin foil to scrub away the dirt. It’s the perfect solution to getting caked food off your glass bakeware, and preventing stains.