13 Savvy Hacks for Cleaning Every Nook and Cranny of Your House
Maintaining a spotless home is a never-ending job. There’s always a corner out of reach or a surface too tricky to clean. But with a little help, it doesn’t always have to be that way.
Dust and dirt can find the smallest, most annoying hiding places. But with the right tools for the right job, you can clean them without spending all day on them. It’s about working smarter, not harder.
You would be surprised to find what simple, everyday items can do. With these 13 savvy hacks, your home will look spotless in no time. Every nook and cranny of your house will be clean, and you’ll still have time to watch your catch your favorite cooking show.
1. The Pillowcase Ceiling Fan Hack
Ceiling fans usually don’t exactly get the princess treatment during regular cleaning sessions. They’re up there, just quietly spinning away. Use this simple pillowcase trick instead of spreading that dust all over your living room.
Slide an old pillowcase over each blade, gently squeeze it, and slowly pull it back. The pillowcase will trap all the dust instead of letting it drift down onto your surroundings (or worse, your eyes). Pro tip: Spray a little dust-repellent inside the pillowcase before you start, and you’ll be saying goodbye to dust for much longer.
2. The Microwave Steam Clean
After a few too many food explosions, your microwave probably looks like a battlefield. But before you start scrubbing, let steam do the hard work. Pour equal parts vinegar and water into a microwave-safe bowl and nuke it on high heat for about five minutes.
The steam will loosen all that stuck-on gunk, and you can then get down to scrubbing. Give this a go, and your microwave will look and smell so clean that you’ll almost feel bad about reheating leftovers in it—almost.
3. Brush Your Tiles’ Teeth
Grout is the bane of every tile owner’s existence. After all, these lines might be the hardest-working part of your bathroom, but they don’t have to look like it. Over time, tile grout can become discolored and grimy and take all the shine away from your super-expensive tiles.
Mix baking soda and vinegar into a paste and grab an old toothbrush to bring it back to life. Apply the paste to the grout lines and scrub like you’re brushing the tiles’ teeth, except it won’t scold you for missing a spot.
4. Broom and Wet Towel for Baseboards
Baseboards can be a pain to clean, especially if you’re not a fan of getting down on your hands and knees. To make this task easier, attach a wet towel or a dryer sheet to the bottom of a broom or mop and run it along the baseboards.
You’ll pick up dust and dirt without bending down, while the dryer sheet leaves behind a residue that helps repel dust buildup. For more stubborn baseboards, add a bit of all-purpose cleaner to the cloth. Do this regularly and notice how long it takes for dust to gather to keep your boards cleaner for longer.
5. Use Baking Soda for Mattresses
Your mattress might not look dirty, but it’s probably hiding more than you’d like to think about, and it’s not like you can just toss it in the washing machine. Start by vacuuming the surface to remove any visible dust or debris. Next, sprinkle a healthy amount of baking soda over the surface and let it sit for 15 minutes (or overnight).
This will get rid of all the odors and moisture soaked into the mattress. After the baking soda has done its job, thoroughly vacuum it to remove the powder. You’ll sleep better knowing your mattress is as clean as your sheets.
6. Remove Pet Hair with Rubber Gloves
Pet hair can find its way into every nook and cranny. But with a pair of rubber gloves, you can reclaim your furniture from the fur. Slip on a dampened rubber glove, then run your hand over the surface. The pet hair will start to stick to the gloves like it was never meant to be anywhere else, allowing you to gather it easily.
Use a squeegee in the same way for larger areas. However, if you find yourself cleaning up after your pet’s excessive shedding too often, it might be a health or grooming issue.
7. Lemon-ize Your Faucets
Your bathroom faucets work hard to keep you clean, so the least you can do is return the favor. Over time, hard water stains can dull their shine. But instead of reaching for harsh chemicals, grab a lemon. Then, slice it in half and rub it directly onto the affected areas.
The citric acid will break down the mineral deposits and leave your faucets shining like the day they were installed. After rubbing, wash the area with water and dry it with a cloth. For more stubborn stains, let the lemon juice sit for a bit longer before scrubbing.
8. Clean Small Spaces with Q-tips
Some places are just too small for regular cleaning tools: the space between your keyboard switches, window tracks, and faucets. That’s where Q-tips are a godsend. Dip one into a cleaning solution and get into those tight areas where dust and grime love to hide.
However, you must be careful and gentle because Q-tips can be fragile. And the last thing you want is to have to fish out a broken tip from a tiny space.
9. Alka-Seltzer as Toilet Cleaner
Let’s be honest: toilet stains are nobody’s favorite cleaning task, but they don’t have to be a nightmare. Alka-Seltzer tablets, also known for soothing upset stomachs, can work wonders on your stubborn toilet bowl. Drop two tablets into the bowl and let them fizz for 15 minutes.
The bubbling action will break down the tough stains and make scrubbing a lot easier. Finally, grab a toilet brush, give the bowl a quick scrub, and flush to rinse.
10. Narrow Vase Cleaning with Rice
Narrow vases are beautiful, but they are a real headache to clean. How do you reach past those long necks? The answer is in your pantry. Pour a little uncooked rice into the vase, add warm water, cover the opening, and shake it like you’re mixing up the perfect cocktail.
The rice acts will scrub the insides of the vase and dislodge any dirt without scratching the glass or ceramic. Then rinse the vase thoroughly to remove the rice and any gunk. It is a simple and harmless little trick to get your vases cleaned. Plus, you get a little arm workout in the process.
11. Tennis Balls for Cleaning the Tub
Scrubbing the bathtub is up there with cleaning grout on the list of back-breaking chores. To make it easier, attach a tennis ball to the end of a broom handle or mop. Use the broom to apply pressure and scrub the tub without bending over.
The texture of the tennis ball will break down the soap scum and grime, and the long handle will let you reach every corner of the bathtub comfortably.
12. Use Coffee Filters for Screen Smudges
TV and computer screens are notorious for attracting dust and showing every fingerprint. Instead of using a cloth that might leave further smudges on your device, try a coffee filter. They’re gentle enough for electronics but tough enough to pick up dust and fingerprints.
To clean, simply wipe the screen in a circular motion and apply light pressure. You might even notice that the show you binge-watch isn’t in HD after all. But hey, at least the screen’s clean.
13. Plastic Wraps for Easy Fridge Cleanup
There’s no way around refrigerator spills. Start lining your fridge shelves with cling film or plastic wrap to catch spills before they become sticky messes. Don’t think of it as overkill. Trust me, when the spills happen, you’ll be glad you did this.
If you spill something, simply remove and replace the plastic wrap; no scrubbing is required. For more peace of mind, use thicker plastic that is less likely to tear.