5 Cleaning Hacks You Haven’t Heard Of

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No one likes having a dirty house. Even the self-proclaimed slobs would probably prefer it if their home was clean. Actually cleaning it, however, is not something that most people enjoy. For most people, there is at least one cleaning necessity that they absolutely loathe. They might be perfectly happy to vacuum, but dusting makes them want to throw things out the window. They might be perfectly content to polish the mirrors, but scrubbing the toilet makes them want to retch. Others might have no problem with the nasty parts of cleaning such as toilet scrubbing, filter changing or oven cleaning, but for some unfathomable reason they truly hate taking the dishes out of the dishwasher. Everyone has something they hate to clean, but for many people their least favorite cleaning task is the one that is the hardest. All houses have those difficult to reach spaces and those tiny cracks that seem to attract dust like a magnet. Some people all but stand on their heads to get a wet wipe in those corners. Others give

up entirely and let the dust bunnies grow to be dust jaguars. You don’t necessarily have to choose either option. You might just need to get a little creative. Here are five creative cleaning hacks you haven’t heard of.

Bag of Vinegar

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Vinegar has rejoined the cleaning supply list. This pungent liquid is as versatile as it is smelly. White vinegar can be used to descale coffee makers and, if you wipe down your cabinets with it, it will act as a natural ant repellent. It can also be used to keep your shower clean.

Next time you take a shower, take a look at your showerhead. Most people don’t like to think about it, but showerheads aren’t normally terribly clean. They need to be descaled regularly and checked for mildew or mold. The problem is that they can be difficult to clean unless you get creative. To clean a scaly showerhead, fill a sandwich bag with white vinegar. Put the showerhead in the bag, and tie the bag shut around the showerhead. Let it sit like this overnight, and remove the bag in the morning to find a sparkling clean showerhead.

Dryer Sheets

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Dryer sheets are another common household item that is far more versatile than most people realize. They can do much more than just keep your clothes soft in the dryer. Dryer sheets help keep lint from sticking to clean clothes, but they also do a good job of attracting dust and hair when they are used as a cleaning device. Use a dryer sheet to get the dust, dirt and pet hair off your baseboards. Simply pull out a dryer sheet and swipe it over the baseboard. The dust and hair will stick to the dryer sheet.

Dryer sheets can also be used to get stubborn grease and baked on food off of dishes. Put the dirty dish in a pot of hot water. Put a non-toxic dryer sheet in the hot water and let it soak. The food will come off much easier without all the harsh scrubbing that would be needed without the dryer sheet.

Clever Dishwasher

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The dishwasher is a tragically underused tool. It can clean a week's worth of dishes in an hour, but have you ever thought of what else it can do? A dishwasher, after all, is effectively another washing machine. Use your dishwasher to wash just about anything that will fit inside it. Put plastic toys in it if you know they won’t melt. You can also wash hats and shoes inside it. Simply lay the shoes inside the dishwasher as if they were plates. Put your dirty hats on the top rack and run a wash cycle. The water pressure and soap will get your things squeaky clean.

It may seem odd to put clothing in the same device that washes your dishes, much less shoes. The reality is, however, that the hot water, soap and steam inside a dishwasher will kill just about any germs on your things. Cleaning shoes that have clay caked on them with anything but a garden hose is a disaster in the making, but there is nothing wrong with running a pair of flip flops through the dishwasher.

Blender Cleaning

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Blenders and food processors can be a pain to clean. They have a terrible combination of sharp edges and tiny crevices. In the event that your blender or food processor comes apart easily, they also take up a ton of room in the dishwasher if they fit at all. Some blenders and food processors can only be washed on the top shelf of the dishwasher, but they may be too tall to fit there. In that case, you have to try and wash them by hand. This requires a lot of maneuvering to reach all the tiny spaces and really get rid of the caked on smoothie. There is, however, an easier way to get blenders and food processors clean. Set up your blender or food processor as if you were going to use it to make another sauce or smoothie. Pour some dish soap in the blender or food processor. Add some hot water, put on the lid and turn it on. The blender or food processor’s blades will drive the hot and soapy water into all the crevices and get it nice and clean for you.

Lint Rollers

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Most people own a lint roller. These handy, sticky rolls likely live in a drawer until they are needed. You probably don’t need a lint roller very often unless you are the unfortunate soul who wears a lot of black and owns a Golden Retriever. Then, you probably use a lint roller several times a day. The same is true if you wear white but own a black cat. Most people, however, only need their lint roller occasionally. After they use it, it gets tossed back into the drawer for weeks or months. You can use your lint roller more often than that, though, if you use it as a duster.

Lint rollers are made for picking up hair and fuzzies that attach themselves to wool coats and nice suits. The same sticky coating that allows a lint roller to keep your coat clean, however, can also be used to pick up dirt and dust from a couch or bookshelf. Save yourself the sneezing fit that comes when you use a feather duster and kick up all the dust. Simply run a lint roller over your furniture to get the dust up.

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