Do you ever feel tired of the never-ending chores at home? Other than the extensive washing, brushing, and wiping, we might even encounter some tricky cleanups that take HOURS to resolve!
Whether you’re spring cleaning your house or doing some last-minute tidy-ups, knowing a few tricks can make your cleaning process a lot easier. To help you save energy and time, we’ve compiled a list of easy cleaning hacks you can DIY using common household items. Keep on reading to find out how you can tackle tricky cleanups in no time!
1. For foul-smelling fridges: water + vinegar + vanilla extract
Spilt food, condensation, and humidity in the fridge can cause bacteria to multiply, resulting in foul odours. The smells can be persistent, even after removing old food and drinks from the fridge. Other than making you sick and nauseous, these odours can also speed up the expiration of fresh food! ?
How to clean:
- Unplug the fridge and remove everything from it.
- Leave the refrigerator door open and air it out for 15 to 30 minutes.
- Mix the following in a spray bottle:
- 1 cup of lukewarm water
- 1/2 cup of white vinegar
- 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
- After airing out the fridge, spray the mixture all over and wipe it down with a cloth.
2. For thick grease in the kitchen: vinegar + water + lemon juice + dish soap
From opening cabinets with greasy hands, to accidentally spilling sauces on countertops, messy moments that come with cooking are often inevitable. ? Over time, it is likely that our kitchen cabinets, countertops, and stoves will be covered in sticky grease. More often than not, they’re pretty hard to get rid of!
How to clean:
- Mix the following ingredients in a spray bottle:
- 1 cup of cleaning vinegar or white vinegar
- 1/2 cup of water
- 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon of dish soap
- Spray greasy surfaces with the mixture and let it sit for 5 minutes.
- Wipe it down with a cloth.
3. For mould growth in the bathroom: vinegar + clove oil + tea tree oil
The moist and warm bathroom makes an ideal environment for mould spores to grow and spread. Even when we’re not showering, the lack of ventilation, leaky pipes, and damp sink can still produce lingering moisture that encourages mould growth. If left untreated, the mould in the bathroom can even cause respiratory infections and allergies! ?
How to clean:
- Create a DIY spray mixture consisting of:
- 1 cup of white vinegar
- 20 drops of clove oil
- 20 drops of tea tree oil
- Spray the mixture on the affected area and brush off the mould.
- Let it sit for 20 minutes and rinse off using hot water.
4. For limescale or water stains on mirrors and glass: vinegar + dish soap + lemon juice
Having a mould-free bathroom is not enough, as its cleanliness can still be affected by water stains on glass and mirrors, as well as limescale buildups on taps and showerheads. While limescale is not harmful to our health, it might restrict water flow if left uncleaned. At the extreme, it can even lead to cracked pipes and blocked boilers! ? It’s also not very aesthetic. ?
How to clean:
- In a spray bottle, mix:
- 1 cup of white vinegar
- 1 tablespoon of dish soap
- 1 teaspoon of lemon juice
- Spray the mixture on the affected areas and let it sit for 30 minutes.
- Wipe or rinse off the mixture.
Be sure to always do a patch test before you start spraying extensively. Avoid spraying the mixture on porous stones too!
5. For smelly carpets: baking soda + essential oil
Carpet fibres and backing materials tend to capture and store contaminants such as dust, dirt, and wastes, resulting in foul odours over time. ? Besides, excess moisture from spills, sweat, and high humidity can encourage mould growth on the carpet, which can quickly cause foul smells as well.
How to clean:
- Mix 10 drops of essential oil with 1/2 cup of baking soda.
- Sprinkle the mixture evenly on the carpet, and leave it for an hour.
- Vacuum the carpet thoroughly to remove the mixture.
6. For stinky washing machines: baking soda + water + vinegar
Leftover soap scum, standing water, and mildew in the gasket are the common culprits of a smelly washing machine. Worse yet, the foul odours can be transferred to your clothes! ? If the washing machine door is constantly closed, the damp and warm interior will even make an ideal breeding ground for bacteria and mould.
How to clean:
- Mix 1/4 cup of baking soda with 1/4 cup of water and pour the mixture into the detergent compartment.
- Pour 2 cups of white vinegar into the drum.
- Run the machine on a full, high-temperature cycle.
- Wipe the interior of the machine thoroughly using a dry cloth.
We hope you find these cleaning hacks helpful! Besides saving you time and energy, they also cut down your cleaning costs as you’re making your own cleaning agents. These DIY cleaning concoctions are also safe to use as they don’t contain any harsh chemicals!
Do you have any go-to cleaning hacks to share? Let us know in the comments below!
