16 Weird Cleaning Tricks That'll Make Your Life Infinitely Easier

16 Weird Cleaning Tricks That'll Make Your Life Infinitely Easier

Find out how these everyday items, along with a few nifty tips and tricks can help clean your home with minimal effort.

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1. Use a lint roller to dust everything, everywhere

pink lint roller
Everyone should have a lint roller.

Run a lint roller over your lampshades, windowsills, leather sofas and anywhere else that dust accumulates. Unlike a feather duster that moves the dust particles into the air, a lint roller will keep hold of them on their super sticky surface. This could save you from having to vacuum afterwards!

2. Clean your blender in next to no time

For a fuss-free way to clean you blender, whizz up 3 cups of hot water and a few drops of liquid soap together for a few minutes before rinsing out. You'll never have to perilously stick your hand into that jug again!

3. Wash (almost) everything in the dishwasher

inside the dishwasher
Are you making the most of yours?

It’s hot, soapy and washes almost all glass, cloth and plastic, why wouldn't you make the most of this magical cleaning device? For a full list of things you can deep clean the easy way, check out 21 things you didn't know you could clean in the dishwasher.

4. Use a dryer sheet to clean dirty dishes

Soak a non-toxic and biodegradable dryer sheet in a dirty pan or dish with some hot water to remove any baked-on foods. This little trick works better than a scourer, give it a go.

For alternatives to dryer sheets, take a look at our other ideas.

5. Use a butter knife to clean an air vent

Just cover your butter knife (or any blunt tool like a spatula) with a cleaning cloth and moisten with a multi-purpose cleaner then wipe each individual slat.This also works really well with blinds and any small spaces around the home.

For advice on how to clean vertical blinds, check out our other guide. 

6. De-grease your pans with newspaper

Take some old newspapers and scrunch them up to make homemade scourers. Get rid of that first layer of leftover food and grease with newspaper first - it works very well at removing oil  - rinse and finish with a sponge and liquid soap.

7. Use salt to clean your iron

iron and ironing board
Keep it clean to prevent any nasty stains.

Simply sprinkle some salt onto your ironing table and run the iron (medium heat) over it a few times. Any residue should come off and leave a sparkling finish.

8. Remove pet hair with a rubber glove

To pick up those pet hairs more efficiently than ever, stick on a wet rubber glove and wipe your hand over all the surfaces. Hairs will stick to the glove like a magnet.

9. Use baby oil for a foolproof fingerprint remover

Remove grubby marks or fingerprints from your stainless  steel appliances by dabbing some baby oil onto a cloth and buffing surfaces in a circular motion.

10. Baby oil will also prevent soap from sticking to a soap dish or basin, preventing soap scum build-up. Just lay your soap down in a bed of oil!

11. Get streak-free windows with coffee filters

clean windows
So spotless!

Clean your windows with a cleaning solution of one part vinegar to four parts water then buff with coffee filter papers. The tiny fibres won't leave any streaks on your windows.

12. Clean fiddly shaped bottles with rice

Bottles can be tricky to clean, but if you have some rice on hand its a complete doddle. Pour a handful of raw rice into the bottle (make a funnel with paper if you need to) followed by some warm water and a small squirt of washing-up liquid. Screw the lid back on and give it a vigorous shake. Rinse out to reveal a sparkling clean bottle.

13. Deep clean your shower head with a sandwich bag

limescale shower head
Make it easy!

Fill a sandwich bag with two teaspoons of baking soda and half a cup of vinegar then attach it to your shower head using an elastic band.Turn the shower on slightly to let the bag fill up then leave overnight. The next morning any shower scum and debris will fall off effortlessly.

14. Refresh your mattress with vodka

In a spray bottle, mix half a shot of vodka with some water and a few drops of your favourite essential oil. Spray your mattress and let it air dry. The alcohol will help kill the odour producing bacteria lingering in your mattress.

15. Ammonia = oven cleaning made easy

Fill a bowl with 1/2 a cup of ammonia and place it in a completely cold oven. Leave the bowl overnight or for at least 5 hours if you can. The ammonia will work at dissolving any grease and burnt areas, so you can easily sponge clean it the next day. This little trick will save your a fortune in professional oven cleaning.

If you haven't got ammonia at home, you can get an affordable bottle of the stuff from online retailers like Amazon or larger supermarkets and DIY stores.

16. Use an old toothbrush to clean a sink drain

kitchen drain
With a toothbrush, it's easy!

With just a lemon, baking soda and a toothbrush, you can clean a grimey sink drain. Visit Apartment Therapy for direction on how to do it.

Thanks for reading! Please feel free to share your best cleaning tips in the comments section below.

Anushka F

Editor

A keen money-saver and fan of all things natural, Anushka enjoys making her own beauty products and is partial to a bit of crafting. Never short of a clever tip or two, she's always looking for new ways to make her money go even further.

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  1. Author susan bowden on September 2, 2015 at 12:27 pm

    I always use microfibre cloths for windows, mirrors etc. Clean with a damp cloth ( wrung out from water with a few drops of washing up liquid) then wipe with a dry one - easy, quick and no streaks!

    Reply
  2. Author BETTY KHAN on September 2, 2015 at 12:48 pm

    GREAT TIPS . THANKS .

    Reply
  3. Author susan on September 2, 2015 at 1:28 pm

    If you have a stubborn burnt mark on the sloe plate of your iron that you just can't shift. Then warm your iron and hold a longer length pain killer tablet to the mark. As this begins to melt move it around the burnt section and all will melt away. Wipe sole plate with a damp cloth or better still methylated spirt, this really does work like magic, just be careful of your fingers while holding the tablet.

    Reply
  4. Author Audrey on December 10, 2019 at 9:20 am

    Would have thought using ammonia in an oven would be very dangerous due to the toxicity. The vapours destroy lung tissue. Suggest you advise wearing industrial mask, goggles and heavy duty gauntlets if using ammonia in this way.

    Reply
  5. Author Anita on December 10, 2019 at 10:14 am

    The link for what you can put in the dishwasher shows something else, there's nothing about dishwashers 😕

    1. Author Joanne A on December 10, 2019 at 2:48 pm

      Hi Anita! I'm sorry about that - I have now updated the link. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

    Reply
  6. Author josie on December 12, 2019 at 5:48 pm

    Go straight to tip no. 14. and adapt as follows: drink the vodka in bed with a friend (or friends) and have fun. Ignore the cleaning

    1. Author Joanne A on December 13, 2019 at 11:44 am

      Amazing idea!

    Reply
  7. Author Robert on April 11, 2020 at 2:58 am

    Clean sink drains with baking soda and vinegar.

    1. Author Joanne A on April 20, 2020 at 5:05 pm

      Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  8. Author Robert on April 11, 2020 at 3:01 am

    Give your spent dryer sheets one last hurrah by using them to shine your metal faucets and appliances. Shower handle looking dull? Give it a quick shine, totally free. You can even use dryer sheets to dust the surfaces of your home, and because they contain anti-static properties, you might find that doing it helps to lessen future dust build-up.

    1. Author Joanne A on April 20, 2020 at 5:14 pm

      Great idea, Robert!

    Reply
  9. Author Christine Rowland on August 2, 2021 at 2:32 pm

    When the washing machine drains and spins, it releases a strong bad odour. What should I do?

    1. Author Joanne A on January 31, 2023 at 11:50 am

      To eliminate foul odour from the washing machine, clean the drum and door seal regularly with vinegar and run a hot water and vinegar cycle every month. Additionally, leave the door open to let air circulate after use and check and clean the drain pump filter if clogged.

    Reply

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