A clean home environment is all about habits. A clean house is more about developing a few habits that you follow on a regular basis. The more frequently you repeat the tasks, the fresher your house will be in the long run. Find the very best hacks for keeping a clean home below.
Whether you clean your home on a regular basis or only when guests are expected. These simple tricks can speed up and make the process less painful. You’ll also save money on a slew of unnecessary cleaning supplies.
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Many people dislike living in a cluttered home but despise the task of thorough cleaning. Even if you despise cleaning, there are some simple hacks for keeping a clean home that can help you keep your home tidy.
Here are some cheap and easy hacks for keeping a clean home
1. Start your morning by making the bed every day
Starting your day by making your bed is key, trust me! Research shows that this simple act sets the tone for a productive day ahead. It’s all about those little habits that kick start our mornings and keep us motivated to tackle whatever comes our way.
Once you’ve made your bed in the morning, you’ll probably spot that laundry pile on the bedroom floor and feel more inclined to tidy up. It’s a domino effect! Suddenly, you’re more aware of the dirty clothes accumulating in the hamper and motivated to throw in a load.
2. Keep a basket for every person in the house
Make decluttering a breeze by assigning a basket to each family member. This way, when it’s time to tidy up, everyone can easily gather their belongings. Plus, having designated baskets makes it quick and easy for someone to tidy up by sorting small items into each one.
It’s a game-changer for shared living spaces, ensuring clutter doesn’t spiral out of control, even in households with neat freaks.
3. Clean your dishes after every meal immediately
As daunting as it sounds, this tip is a game-changer for maintaining a tidy home. The key? Tackle dishes right after every meal. It’s a quick task, taking no more than ten minutes, but it instantly boosts kitchen cleanliness. And if your dishwasher’s full, take just five minutes to unload itātrust me, it’s worth it!
4. Always vacuum once a week
If you’re already adept at keeping clutter at bay, vacuuming becomes a breeze since there’s no pre-clean pick-up required. Cleaning isn’t exactly thrilling, but often we make it tougher by waiting until things reach disaster-movie levels of dirty. By incorporating a few easy daily habits, you’ll find yourself spending less time dealing with clutter and mess.
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5. Always keep the blender clean
Fill the blender with hot water and a drop of dish detergent, then run it for a few seconds before rinsing it with warm water. While the sponge is a versatile tool for cleaning, it’s essential to keep it clean as well. After use, microwave the sponge for 30 seconds to eliminate bacteria buildup, ensuring it’s hygienic for future use.
6. Use the dryer sheets
Dryer sheets are a miracle, even after one use in the dryer. This is one of my favorite hacks for keeping a clean home. They can be used to remove water stains from mirrors and door frames, clean baseboards, and disinfect kitchen appliances. Try adding a little vinegar to remove hard water stains. It can do wonders for appliances like kitchen faucets.
7. Clean air vents
Air vents often go unnoticed during cleaning routines, but addressing them is crucial for maintaining a clean home and ensuring better air quality. Neglected air vents accumulate dust and debris, contaminating the air and hindering proper ventilation. Start by using a soft vacuum attachment to remove dust, then, if needed, wrap a rag soaked in detergent around a butter knife to thoroughly clean the vents and improve indoor air circulation.
8. Clean blinds with the Vinegar
Vinegar is incredibly versatile, serving as an effective solution for various household cleaning tasks, including removing hard water spots and cleaning blinds. To quickly tackle dirty or dusty blinds, create a mixture of equal parts water and vinegar in a bowl. Protect your skin by covering your hand with a cloth, then dip it into the mixture and gently wipe down the blinds’ slats to eliminate dirt and dust buildup.
9. Keep cleaning the doormat
When it comes to preventing dirt from entering your home, doormats are indispensable. Make sure to have two: one outside and one inside the house. This hack is particularly handy during winter, when saltwater and snowy boots are constantly coming in and out. Regularly cleaning the mats is essential to prevent them from adding to the mess.
10. Keep a soap dispenser dish brush in the shower
In the shower, keep a soap dispenser brush designated for bathroom use only. Fill it with your favorite dish soap and hang it in the bathroom for convenient scrubbing while you shower. Dish soap works wonders for cleaning the bathroom. Additionally, educate yourself on common bathroom cleaning mistakes to ensure optimal cleanliness.
11. Use a pillowcase as a cleaner
Here’s the cleaning hack you’ve been missing to maintain fresh-smelling pillowcases. Instead of discarding old pillowcases, re-purpose them as handy tools for cleaning ceiling fans. Simply slip a pillowcase over each fan blade to trap dust and prevent it from scattering onto surfaces below.
12. Create an effective cleaning plan
While spontaneous cleaning spurts are common, having a pre-planned strategy will streamline your home cleaning hacks. Prioritize wiping down light switches, garage doors, baseboards, and walls in a systematic manner, moving in a circular motion within each room. This method ensures efficient cleaning without distractions, maintaining a smooth flow throughout your home.
13. Use your dishwasher well
Dishwashers are useful for much more than simply washing dishes. Almost anything glass or ceramic should be safe to put in the dishwasher, but melt-able plastics should be avoided. If your dishwasher had also developed a foul odor, use this cleaning hack to eliminate it in a single step.
14. Speed clean
Finding out your in-laws are coming over can be stressful, but knowing how to speed clean is a lifesaver. Start by tackling the most visible areas like kitchen countertops and the bathroom. You can skip less noticeable spots like the top of the refrigerator and behind the coffee maker to save time. Prioritize what’s visible to make a quick but effective cleanup.
15. Keep floor Swiffer for wall
The Swiffer floor mop is not just for hard floors; it can also tackle interior walls. Attach a dry cloth to the end of the rectangle and run it along the walls to pick up dust, cobwebs, and grimeāall without needing a ladder. It’s a convenient way to keep your walls clean and fresh.
16. Always try to move heavy furniture yourself
Moving heavy furniture without damaging your hardwood floors is easier than you think. Lift one side of the furniture at a time, then slip socks onto the legs to protect the floor. With the socks in place, slide the furniture across the floor smoothly, avoiding scratches and marks.
18. Keep your exhaust fan clean
If your shower room exhaust fan grille is clogged with dust, try a quicker and more efficient cleaning method than vacuuming. Simply turn on the fan and use canned air to blow out the dust. The fan will carry the dust outside, leaving your grille clean and clear.
This trick also works for central heating/cooling system return air grilles. Just start the system to carry the dust to the filter with the return airflow. You can find canned air at home improvement stores in the electrical supplies section.
19. Clean dust from the dryer
Along with trapping household dust, textiles like blankets, pillows, slipcovers and draperies also generate it as they shed and degrade. Curtains and drapes, in particular, accumulate dust from outside humidity and airborne particles. To remove dust buildup, invest in machine-washable textiles and launder them twice a year. This ensures a cleaner and fresher home environment.
20. Clean the grout with a bleach pen
While it may be time-consuming, using a grout pen yields neat and clean grout lines without bleaching the tiles. For stubborn stains, a second application may be necessary. Utilizing a toothbrush to scrub the bleach into the grout before allowing it to sit for 10 minutes can enhance effectiveness.
To minimize skin contact, wear gloves and ensure the bathroom fan is running for ventilation. Light or white grout is most suitable for this method. For colored grout, conduct a patch test before proceeding. The grout cleaning solution may already be available in your bathroom, eliminating the need to purchase a bleach pen.
21. Clean with microfiber
Microfiber products are indispensable for dusting, as they harness an electrostatic charge to attract and retain dust. Unlike traditional rags and dusters that merely disperse dust, microfiber cloths effectively absorb it. Opting for machine-washable microfiber items can be cost-effective compared to disposable alternatives, as they can be reused multiple times.
Simply air dry them without bleach or fabric softener to maintain their effectiveness. Many retailers and online platforms offer a wide range of microfiber dusting tools tailored for various surfaces and cleaning needs.
22. Keep clean the sluggish toilet
If your toilet’s water flow seems sluggish, mineral buildup might be blocking the rinse holes beneath the rim. Utilize a handheld mirror to inspect the holes beneath the toilet rim. Then, straighten a wire and gently insert the tip into the holes to dislodge any deposits. This method allows you to clear clogged holes without getting your hands dirty.
23. Bottle cleaning
To clean vases or jars with narrow necks, fill them one-third with water and add a handful of tiny gravel. Shake and agitate the container to allow the gravel to scrub the interior thoroughly. Then, pour the gravel into a sieve, rinse it quickly, and set it aside for future use. It’s a simple yet effective trick that will leave you wondering why you didn’t think of it sooner.
24. Always vacuum first, then scrub
Enhance your bathroom cleaning routine by vacuuming the restroom before bringing out your cleaning supplies. Begin by vacuuming dust from the tops of window casings and light fixtures, then work your way down gradually. Ensure thorough coverage by carefully vacuuming the floor to remove any loose hair or dust particles before applying cleaning solutions.
Opt for a vacuum with a soft-bristle upholstery brush for this task to achieve the best results.
25. Use a dustpan to pick up small dust all over the home
Some tasks are best left to the experts, particularly those involving the use of poisons, such as pest control for rats and bugs. Likewise, entrust the cleaning of your air conditioner to knowledgeable professionals to avoid potential increases in electricity costs or breakdowns. However, for everyday cleaning tasks, following these suggestions will grant you more free time and ensure a spotless home.
In conclusion…
Every house, no matter how big or tiny, whether an apartment or a second home, becomes dirty. There is a more efficient approach to cleaning your home, even though there isn’t just one way to go about it. Explore every room of your house, from the bathroom and kitchen to the living room and bedroom.
Start right away by learning the fundamentals of cleaning as well as some tricks and quick cuts that will enable you to clean fully and effectively.
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