Cleaning
15 brilliant cleaning hacks that are simple but make all the difference
These cleaning hacks pack a serious punch.
Marilyn Caylor
11.29.22

If you hate cleaning and you wish there was a much easier way, here are the best cleaning hacks to get the job done fast. Even better, each one only costs $15 or less!

Clogged Drain

To clear a clogged drain, remove the stopper and use a pair of tweezers to grab as much gunk as possible. Next, dump 1/2 cup of white table salt, followed by 1/2 cup of baking soda down the drain, and chase that with a 1/2 cup of white vinegar. It’ll bubble up to let you know it’s working.

Wait 10 minutes, and then pour 2 cups of boiling water down the drain. Congrats, you’re officially a DIY plumber!

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YouTube - Hometalk

Dirty Showerhead

It’s not always practical or easy to clean a showerhead that requires specialty tools to remove it from the main unit. Thankfully, there’s a much easier way to remove all the crusty mineral buildup.

Grab a plastic zipper bag and fill it with 1 cup of white vinegar and 3/4 cup of baking soda. Tie the bag around the showerhead, wait 12 hours, and then get ready to make it rain!

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YouTube - Hometalk

Moldy Grout

Spray the moldy grout with hydrogen peroxide, apply baking soda to the wet surface, then use a toothbrush to make all that mold go away.

Dirty Grout

Combine 1/2 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide, and 1 teaspoon soap in a bowl. Use a spoon to spread the mixture on the dirty grout, then let it sit for a few minutes before wiping the dirt away.

Stained Grout

Cling bleach toilet bowl cleaner can be used on more than just toilets. Grab a scrubby brush and squeeze the gel onto areas that are stained. Rinse with water, and it’ll kill all the mold and make it look bright and shiny!

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YouTube - Hometalk

Crusty Water Jets

Over time the nozzles in whirlpool bathtubs can get clogged with soap scum and mineral buildup, but that’s where white vinegar comes to the rescue yet again.

First, scrub baking soda all over the surface of the tub, then fill it with water to immerse the jets. Pour 3 cups of white vinegar into the water, run the jets for 3 minutes, then get ready for spa time!

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YouTube - Hometalk

Rusty Pan

If you have a rusty baking pan that has seen better days, introduce it to a can of Coke. The acids will dissolve it in no time! Soak the pan in a 2-liter bottle of Coke, then scrunch up some aluminum foil to use as a scrubber.

Burnt Pot?

Not anymore! Quarter some lemons and boil them inside the pot for a few minutes. Let it cool down, then pour everything out and it’ll be so much easier to scrape up burnt food residue.

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YouTube - Hometalk

Oven Spray-Cleaner

This natural orange cleaner is just as good as the stuff you can buy on the shelf. Fill a mason jar with orange peels, cover it with white vinegar, and then soak it for 5 days. When it’s ready, strain the liquid into a spray bottle.

Sprinkle some baking soda over the bottom surface of the oven and then spray liberally with the orange-vinegar solution. Wait 20 minutes for the bubbles to do their job, and it’ll be so much easier to wipe away all that gunk

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YouTube - Hometalk

Baking soda and vinegar are so good at cleaning because they create a reaction when combined that breaks up dirt. That’s why it’s important to keep the two separate until it’s time to clean. No bubbles = no good.

Nasty toilet?

Use a spray bottle filled with vinegar to liberally coat the bowl, then pour a few drops of essential oil in there for some added freshness. Sprinkle it with baking soda and then use a toilet brush to create all those wonderful cleansing bubbles that tell you it’s working. The difference is like night and day!

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YouTube - Hometalk

Crusty Baking Dish

Baked-on food is no fun, but you don’t have to do any hard labor trying to scrub it all away. Coat the dish with soap (Dawn is your friend here), and while holding the dish underneath running water, use balled-up aluminum foil as a scrubber.

Dirty Cookie Sheet

Mix together hydrogen peroxide and baking soda in a bowl, then spread it over the cookie sheet. Let it sit for a while until it solidifies, then scrape it off to reveal a sparkling clean pan underneath.

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YouTube - Hometalk

Dull Wood

Make your own version of Murphy Oil wood cleaner by combining 1 cup of lemon juice and 1.5 cups of coconut oil in a bowl. It’s both conditioning and cleansing at the same time.

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YouTube - Hometalk

Stinky Carpet

Mix baking soda and clove spices together in a blender, then sprinkle the mixture on your carpet before vacuuming. It’ll smell like the holidays all year round!

Stinky Room

To make a natural odor-eliminating air freshener, mix together baking soda, essential oil, and water in a spray bottle. The air will thank you!

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YouTube - Hometalk

There are lots of great ways to use baking soda and vinegar to clean your home. Which one is your favorite?

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