Cleaning the house can be a tedious chore, but there are ways to make it much simpler. From using shaving foam—yes, that stuff used for smooth stubble!—to de-allergizing window blinds, these incredible hacks will reduce household cleaning time significantly. Full instructions can be found over at the National Trust’s Tenement House blog.
1. Use an old mascara wand.
Wildlife sanctuary volunteers often come across injured and orphaned wildlife, such as opossums, squirrels, and rabbits, that need bathing services. Picking out fly eggs and larvae from their coats with your fingers can be tedious work, but using an old mascara wand makes quick work of this task while simultaneously recycling an item that would normally end up going to waste. You can find full instructions at Domestic Bill Squared.
2. Spruce up busted wood.
Wood furniture or projects may become damaged over time and need filling in the gaps to restore them. Items you have at home, such as mayonnaise and petroleum jelly, can help remove moisture and revive wood grains; mineral spirits can also help remove penetrated stains from wooden items. For full instructions, please click here.
This post originally appeared on Domestic Bill Squared.
3. Make a toilet brush cleaner.
Most toilet brushes harbour bacteria and provide an ideal breeding ground for them, which is why it is necessary to regularly disinfect both the brush and the holder.
Fill a bucket with hot water, mix in two cups of bleach, and submerge your brush and holder before leaving them soak for one hour before rinsing and drying completely. This will keep your home free of nasty germs!
4. De-allergy window blinds
Selecting window treatments that do not attract allergens is crucial to keeping your home allergy-friendly. Instead of heavy drapes, consider hard window coverings like blinds or shutters, which can easily be wiped down using damp cloth to prevent dust and allergens from gathering in corners.
Vertical blinds can also be an excellent option. Their slats don’t provide spaces where dust settles, making them easy to wipe down with either a duster or vacuum attachment.
5. Pull the hair out of the plug hole.
Fishing hair out of the plug hole may not be one of the more enjoyable tasks, but it must be done if you want to prevent blockages. Tweezers work best, although wire coat hangers bent into hook shapes could also work for this task if hair has lodged itself further down in your drains.
6. Clean the bottom of your cups.
Coffee stains can leave their mark on any mug you own, but there are easy and natural solutions available for cleaning them off quickly and completely. No chemicals need to be included with your beverage!
Simply rub a cut lemon wedge around the inside of your mug to effectively clean it—lemon has excellent clarifying properties! This method will quickly restore your beverage.
7. Removing Sweat Stains from Your Shirts
If your shirt is covered with sweat stains, soak it in a stain removal solution before washing for optimal results. Be sure to choose a solution compatible with the fabric type used.
Armpit stains caused by deodorant and sweat are difficult to eliminate, but not impossible. If caught early enough, they should be easy to treat; for the more stubborn spots, try dabbing on hydrogen peroxide (it won’t alter their colour), then washing as usual afterwards.
8. Clean your rugs.
Rugs are an essential feature in many rooms and must be regularly cleaned to address spillages, dust mites, and everyday wear and tear. Luckily, this can be accomplished easily at home.
Start by vacuuming and beating out any stubborn debris with a broom handle, followed by testing any cleaner (store-bought or homemade) on a small corner to make sure colours do not run.
