Remove build-up in your humidifier.
Think about it: The water that makes your humidifier run smoothly is also breeding ground for mold and microbes. To clean, pour two cups of undiluted white vinegar into the water tank and swish it around until wet. Place the vinegar-filled tank on the base and allow it to drain into the reservoir for 15 – 20 minutes. Empty it and use a small brush to scrub crevices, removing remaining build-up.
Restore your dishwasher.
Over time, excess food and grime will build up in your dishwasher’s interior. Get in the habit of cleaning any remaining bits of foods — beans, pasta, and so on — after each dishwashing cycle. Pull out the bottom rack to look for any leftover food and remove it with a paper towel to prevent future odors.
Scrub your toilet clean.
Apply a toilet bowl cleaner, and let it sit for up to five minutes before scrubbing with a stiff-bristled toilet brush. Then wipe down the toilet seat and handle with disinfectant wipes. The goal? A sparkling white bowl and germ-free toilet seat.
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Iron clothes when they’re damp.
The moisture helps release wrinkles, so press your peskiest pieces right out of the dryer (or use the spray feature on your iron).
Sanitize your phone.
The icky truth: Your cell might harbor more germs than a toilet seat. Zap germs with an alcohol wipe, and give your TV remote and computer mouse the same treatment while you’re at it.
RELATED: How to Clean Your Cell Phone
Clean out candleholders.
Save a pretty container when the candle’s spent by rinsing it with steaming hot water and scooping out the wax residue inside with a paper towel.
Descale your coffee maker.
Remove caked-on minerals by filling the reservoir with a mixture that’s half vinegar, half water. Let the solution brew halfway, then stop and let it sit for 30 minutes before completing the cycle. Rinse by “brewing” a pot of clean water afterwards.
RELATED: How to Clean a Keurig
Re-season rusty cast iron.
Over-scrubbing cast iron with metal scouring pads can remove the seasoning from your trusty skillet. To restore the finish, use a scrub sponge to remove any rust, clean with a bit of mild dish soap, then rinse and dry well. Coat the inside and outside with vegetable oil and bake upside down in the oven at 350 degrees for one hour. Let cool and remove excess grease with a paper towel.
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Rethink the linen closet.
Tackle an overflowing storage spot by adding an over-the-door rack for extra towels. Shelf dividers stop folded washcloths from toppling over, and baskets corral surplus toilet paper and cleaning supplies.
Restore your shower pressure.
Unclog your shower head by mixing equal parts white vinegar and water and pouring it into a plastic bag. Tie the bag around the shower head to immerse the holes in the solution and secure with a twist tie. Let it soak for up to an hour, then remove and wipe away the loosened deposits.
RELATED: How to Clean Your Shower Head
Make sneakers bright again.
Get your white tennis shoes to their just-out-of-the-box state by hand washing with a mild soap and water, then clean rubber soles and sides with a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.
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Freshen the shower curtain.
To banish moldy spots, throw plastic or vinyl curtains in the washing machine with a little detergent. Add two to three bath towels for extra cleaning agitation, then hang it to dry or put in the dryer on low heat or fluff only. To keep it fresher longer, stretch the curtain out after each shower to help moisture dissipate.
Fight petFluff feather pillows.
Yep, feather pillows can get washed and dried in the machine. Load two pillows at a time for balance and use only a small amount of detergent. Wash them on a delicate cycle with an extra rinse, then tumble dry on low with several clean tennis balls to poof them back up.
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Lift the worst wine stains.
To save your carpet, start by blotting up as much vino as possible. (You can even stand on absorbent cloths if necessary). Then saturate the stain with Wine Away and let set for up to five minutes before blotting again until the stain is completely gone.
Easily buff out floor scuffs.
To save your carpet, start by blotting up as much Protect your hardwood by removing small marks with a sock or clean tennis ball. To erase bigger scuffs, add a little baking soda to a damp cloth and gently rub. Then rinse with a damp paper towel and dry.
RELATED: How to Clean Hardwood Floors
Make an all-purpose cleaner.
Here’s a DIY cleaner recipe that will make nearly every surface gleam (especially kitchen counters, appliances, and inside the refrigerator). Combine 4 tablespoons baking soda and 1 quart warm water, and wipe messes away with a sponge.
Freshen up smelly sneakers.
After spin class, sprinkle some baking soda inside your shoes (and your gym bag while you’re at it) to deodorize them. Just tap it out before you wear them again.
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Banish stray marks from coloring time.
Toothpaste will erase marker stains from wood — a handy trick to have in your back pocket if you’ve got creative kids.
De-stink the garbage disposal.
Run a few lemon rinds through the disposal and follow with cold water to dispel any sour odors.
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De-funk hairbrushes and combs.
Combat build-up from hair products with a sudsy solution of a few drops of dish soap or gentle shampoo mixed with warm water.
Wipe out wall doodles.
When your child’s artistic efforts end up all over your new paint job, scrub lightly with a damp sponge sprinkled in baking soda.
Make a glass cleaner with vinegar.
Mix 1/2 cup white vinegar with 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol (70% concentration) and 2 cups water and dispense into an empty spray bottle. To clean your windows, wait for a cool, cloudy day and squirt the solution onto the glass, wiping with a clean microfiber cloth to avoid streaking.
Make a “right away” laundry bin.
Don’t get stuck with a dirty soccer uniform or ballet costume the day your kid needs it. Add an extra “priority” basket to your routine and never be empty-handed again.
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Put a tidy bath on autopilot.
Shed expired and unused items as well as bulky packaging. Instead, store products in easy-in-and-out jars, bags, and baskets.
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Clear a slow drain.
When you notice your drain is starting to clog, pour a 1/2 cup of baking soda down it, followed by a 1/2 cup of vinegar. Cover with a wet cloth to contain the science fair-like effects. Wait five minutes and then flush with hot water.
Clean the car without a vacuum.
Stash a lint roller in the glove compartment to pick up stray crumbs and pet hair. It can fit in nooks and crannies where your vacuum attachments can’t reach.
Untangle a knotted necklace.
Never waste time desperately tugging at tangled jewelry again. Loosen the knot by sprinkling a little baby powder on it and then using a pin to pull it apart.
Soften fuzzy towels.
If you’ve got hard water, mineral buildup can make your towels extra scratchy. To lift deposits, wash the towels in the hottest water possible, and add 1 cup of ammonia and nothing else.
Get stains out of a cutting board.
Run the cut side of a lemon over the board to remove food stains and smells. For extra cleaning power, sprinkle it with salt or baking soda first.
Shine silver in a pinch.
Notice your favorite ring, bracelet, or serving spoon looking a bit dull? Wet it, rub with a little toothpaste, rinse, and dry with a clean cloth for instant sparkle
RELATED:The Best Ways to Clean Silver
De-grime patio furniture.
Add a squirt of dish detergent to a bowl of warm water, and use it to wipe down your outdoor tables and chairs. Then, rinse clean with the garden hose.
Freshen musty towels.
Is that wet towel you left in your gym bag speckled? First, take it outside, brush off the mildew spores, and sun-dry the item for about three hours. Then, pre-soak with a bleach and water solution (check the care tag to be sure it’s safe), and machine wash.
Make your white shirts bright again.
To keep your whites truly white, sponge white vinegar on sweat stains and then pretreat with an enzyme prewash stain remover like Carbona or liquid enzyme detergent like Tide. Then wash on the hottest cycle safe for the fabric, adding regular Clorox Bleach for especially stubborn marks.
De-grease cabinets
Just like your cooking tools, cupboards can get grimy when you’re making dinner. Add a little dish soap to a spray bottle with warm water to mist away the grease. Then, rinse with a well-wrung cloth and dry.
Nix furniture nicks.
Got a scuff or a scratch on your wood furniture? Rub it with a walnut (shell removed) to mask the damage.
Freshen up your microwave.
Make caked-on grime easier to wipe off by heating a cup of water, several tablespoons of vinegar, and a chopped-up lemon on high until the microwave’s window is steamy. Let the bowl sit for 5 minutes before you open the door, and wipe the inside clean with ease.
RELATED: How to Clean a Microwave
Scoop up pet hair with a rubber glove.
After you’re through washing dishes, don’t remove your damp gloves. Take a detour through the living room and quickly pick up errant fur.
Wipe down your purse.
It’s kind of remarkable how some things we touch daily, we rarely clean — your purse is another one of those. About half of all women’s bags have fecal bacteria on them, so give it a swipe with a disinfectant wipe.
Fight musty smells.
Just like in the fridge, an open box of baking soda placed near your sheets and towels can prevent a dank linen closet.
Fill your dishwasher — but not with dishes.
Plastic toys, toothbrush holders, and pet bowls are just a few of the items that can get clean the hands-off way.
Ungunk wooden counters.
The course texture of table salt can erase stains from butcher-block countertops. Just sprinkle over light marks, then scrub with the cut side of a half of lemon. Let sit overnight, then rinse with water.
Remove coffee stains from mugs.
When your favorite ceramic cup contains a stubborn unsightly ring, squirt a little dish soap in it and add some baking soda for additional abrasion, then clean as usual. Or you can use Mr. Clean Magic Eraser to wipe off marks.
RELATED:How to Get Rid of Unwanted Odors
Make a “right away” laundry bin.
Don’t get stuck with a dirty soccer uniform or ballet costume the day your kid needs it. Add an extra “priority” basket to your routine and never be empty-handed again.
RELATED: Genius Laundry Room Accessories You Can Buy on Amazon
Iron clothes when they’re damp.
The moisture helps release wrinkles, so press your peskiest pieces right out of the dryer (or use the spray feature on your iron).
Make your bathroom sparkle.
To clean grimy grout, mix 3/4 cup household chlorine bleach with 1 gallon water and use a stiff brush to apply to one small area at a time. (Wear rubber gloves and eye protection.) Let it sit for several minutes, then scrub and rinse.
RELATED:How to Clean Grout
Shine plants with mayo.
Take a tip from professional florists: Clean dusty potted plants with some mild soap and water, then use a paper towel to rub a drop of mayo into the tops of leaves to make them extra vibrant.
Remove pills from sweaters.
Textured scrub sponges are perfect for tidying up a worn sweater. Gently run it across the garment to banish fuzz.
Make a mirror gleam.
Since coffee filters are lint-free, you can swap them out for paper towels to give mirrors a no-streak shine.
Zap oven spills.
If you don’t own a self-cleaning oven, try Easy-Off Professional Fume Free Max Oven Cleaner to effectively remove any gunk. Caught empty-handed? Sprinkle table salt to absorb fresh spills and wipe it up with a damp sponge or cloth once the oven is cool.
RELATED:How to Clean an Oven Quickly
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