We don’t think that many people are happy about cleaning
their homes, but even this task can be done in an interesting way if you do it
cleverly. So instead of spending an entire day cleaning, you can try a few
tricks that will make your life easier.
their homes, but even this task can be done in an interesting way if you do it
cleverly. So instead of spending an entire day cleaning, you can try a few
tricks that will make your life easier.
Bright Side shares some secrets of keeping your place clean
from people who don’t know what dirty shelves look like.
from people who don’t know what dirty shelves look like.
1. Soap vs. shower gel
Cleaning the tiles in the shower is no fun at all, but you
won’t have to do this as often if you follow this piece of advice and
substitute soap for shower gel or liquid soap. Regular soap contains fats and
oils, which is why it’s more difficult to clean the foam afterward. And the
foam from shower gels doesn’t accumulate so easily in the tiles.
won’t have to do this as often if you follow this piece of advice and
substitute soap for shower gel or liquid soap. Regular soap contains fats and
oils, which is why it’s more difficult to clean the foam afterward. And the
foam from shower gels doesn’t accumulate so easily in the tiles.
2. Use all the power of your dishwasher
Very few people know that a dishwasher can be used for more
than washing dishes. The list of things you can wash is quite long: lampshades,
baseball caps, hairbrushes, vent grates (as they explain here), makeup brushes,
stove grate plates, refrigerator shelves, stationery holders, toys made of
metal or plastic, and even artificial flowers.
than washing dishes. The list of things you can wash is quite long: lampshades,
baseball caps, hairbrushes, vent grates (as they explain here), makeup brushes,
stove grate plates, refrigerator shelves, stationery holders, toys made of
metal or plastic, and even artificial flowers.
3. Blinds
In order to clean the dust from your blinds more quickly,
use a sock as shown here. Just put it on your hand, and hold one of the blinds
from both sides.
use a sock as shown here. Just put it on your hand, and hold one of the blinds
from both sides.
4. Fridge shelves
Put some Press’n Seal on your fridge shelves as recommended
in this blog. It will be much easier to clean them, especially if something
spills.
in this blog. It will be much easier to clean them, especially if something
spills.
5. Lint brush roller
As they show here, you can use a lint brush roller for more
than cleaning your clothes. Try it on some other things, such as lampshades,
furniture, and shelves.
than cleaning your clothes. Try it on some other things, such as lampshades,
furniture, and shelves.
6. Knife stand
We don’t forget to wash the dishes, but there is one
important thing we do neglect: food leftovers in knife holders. Here they share
a useful trick of cleaning the holder with the narrowest vacuum cleaner nozzle.
If you don’t have such a thing, just use a hair dryer to blow the food out.
important thing we do neglect: food leftovers in knife holders. Here they share
a useful trick of cleaning the holder with the narrowest vacuum cleaner nozzle.
If you don’t have such a thing, just use a hair dryer to blow the food out.
7. Shower curtain
To avoid having mold on shower curtains, here they recommend
machine washing them with a few towels. Then dry them well in the fresh air or
on a balcony.
machine washing them with a few towels. Then dry them well in the fresh air or
on a balcony.
8. Soft toys
Put your soft toys into a plastic bag, and add a glass of
baking soda (or 2 tablespoons of baking soda for each toy if you have more then
one). Shake the bag well, preferably outside. To get even better results, you
can keep the bag in the fridge for 40 minutes, as recommended here, or add a
few drops of essential oil. Baking soda and static electricity will do the
trick and pull the dust and dirt out of the toys. Take the toys out one by one,
and then clean them with the smallest nozzle of your vacuum cleaner.
baking soda (or 2 tablespoons of baking soda for each toy if you have more then
one). Shake the bag well, preferably outside. To get even better results, you
can keep the bag in the fridge for 40 minutes, as recommended here, or add a
few drops of essential oil. Baking soda and static electricity will do the
trick and pull the dust and dirt out of the toys. Take the toys out one by one,
and then clean them with the smallest nozzle of your vacuum cleaner.
9. Cleaning the most difficult places
Sometimes even the smallest vacuum cleaner nozzles turn out
to be too big for some gaps in your apartment. The problem is easily solved
with a toilet paper roll. Put the roll on the vacuum cleaner tube, like this
reddit user did, and squeeze its end so that it’s small enough for those gaps.
to be too big for some gaps in your apartment. The problem is easily solved
with a toilet paper roll. Put the roll on the vacuum cleaner tube, like this
reddit user did, and squeeze its end so that it’s small enough for those gaps.
10. Nail polish
If you have metal glasses or holders for soap or sponges,
there can be some unpleasant rust. To avoid this, put a small amount of clear
nail polish on their bottoms, as advised here, and the problem will be solved.
there can be some unpleasant rust. To avoid this, put a small amount of clear
nail polish on their bottoms, as advised here, and the problem will be solved.
11. Air conditioner
Before you clean your apartment, turn on the air conditioner
to make the filters suck in the dust. This will help prevent the dust from
going up in the air when you start cleaning. Here they say that this makes
cleaning easier with better results.
to make the filters suck in the dust. This will help prevent the dust from
going up in the air when you start cleaning. Here they say that this makes
cleaning easier with better results.
12. Kitchen stands
Sugar, coffee, tea, and other granulated products that we
use a few times a day should be kept on shelves or plates with boards. Even if
you spill something, it won’t fall onto the table (and later on the floor). And
the plate or the shelf can easily be cleaned in the sink.
use a few times a day should be kept on shelves or plates with boards. Even if
you spill something, it won’t fall onto the table (and later on the floor). And
the plate or the shelf can easily be cleaned in the sink.
13. Plastic bottle and duct tape
To clean cushions or furniture quickly, a brush or a lint
roller might not be enough. Put double-sided duct tape around a bottle, and try
cleaning the dirty spots. Hair, fur, dust, and dirt will come off much faster,
and the furniture will look way better.
roller might not be enough. Put double-sided duct tape around a bottle, and try
cleaning the dirty spots. Hair, fur, dust, and dirt will come off much faster,
and the furniture will look way better.
14. Pet bowls
When your pets eat, they don’t care much about cleanliness.
They move their bowls, and the food falls on the floor. Stick your pet’s bowls
to the floor using double-sided tape to keep your kitchen clean.
They move their bowls, and the food falls on the floor. Stick your pet’s bowls
to the floor using double-sided tape to keep your kitchen clean.
15. Grapefruit with salt
A grapefruit half can be a great detergent for your sink and
bath if you put a lot of rock salt on it.
bath if you put a lot of rock salt on it.
SOURCE: BRIGHTSIDE
Kayode Emmanuel Ojo is the Co-Founder and Managing Director at SHEFFA Limited. He is presently studying Computer Science at the National Open University, Victoria Island, Lagos.