Buying a home can be all fun and games until you have to start thinking about how you can keep it clean. It can feel like a never ending task, especially in the summer. Our homes can get full of dust and debris, as well as other dirt that comes in from children and pets. Noto to mention sand from beach trips, and crumbs, and other things that will naturally add to the clutter of the home. If you’re not able to stay on top of it all, then there will be a number of cleaning jobs to look at and attend to. However, owning a home isn’t all doom and gloom; there are a number of benefits, and having your own space to do what you want with can be liberating.
If you are facing the summer wondering how you will keep on top of the chores, alongside keeping children entertained if you’re a parent, and still trying to get work done, if you’re working from home, then you need some hacks in your life. So with all of that in mind, here are a number of hacks that can make cleaning in your home much easier, and make you more efficient at doing it.
Rubber gloves to freshen up sofas and fabrics
There is some real science behind this hack, and once you give it a try, you will be wondering how you managed to get so far in life without it! When you rub two areas together, particularly if one of the surfaces is made from rubber, then there is an electrostatic force that is created. As a result, the rubber is then able to lift up any small bits of dust and debris, like small pieces of trash or paper. Pet hair, if you have a dog, is another thing that can be lifted simply by rubbing your hand over fabrics or sofas and making it much easier to collect.
In summer, when things are going to be a little drier, it can make this even easier to do! All you need to do is rub the sofa or other fabrics like sheets or curtains down while wearing a rubber glove. And voila! The hair and dist will simply stick to the glove, containing it all in one place, which you can then clean and dispose of.
Polish using white vinegar
One great hack and something that you are already likely to have in the home (with the added benefit of being a natural cleaner) is using white vinegar. When you are wiping down surfaces, like kitchen units, lamps, sinks, and tiles, you can use white vinegar. Put it in a spray bottle, and spray away, wiping as you go. There aren’t many things that clean better than this. If you are put off by the smell, and you don’t want your home to smell like a pickling factory, then it can be a good idea to add in a few drops of essential oil. Lemon oil is a good idea, as it has antibacterial properties and smells great too. Alternatively, some lemon peel left in the spray bottle can help to eliminate the vinegar smell too.
Essential Oils
Speaking of essential oils, there are a number of them that are amazing for cleaning, as well as for keeping pests away in the home during the summer. They are natural but do have strong cleaning properties. Lemon oil has been briefly mentioned above, but it is so great for cleaning. Not only does it leave you with a fresh scent, but it can clean because of its antiviral and antibacterial properties, essential in summer. Lemon oil will work well as an all-purpose cleaner for your kitchen and your bathrooms. You can use it for giving wooden floors and wooden furniture and good shine too.
Tea tree oil is a strong cleansing oil. It helps to fight germs, bacteria, and viruses. It has been shown in studies to help to prevent the spread of flu and norovirus, so with all that is going on with COVID-19, it could be a great addition to your home this summer. Tea tree oil works best for all of your everyday cleaning. It also works well for must and mildew odors that you could get in attics, basements, and bathrooms. One of the other top choices for cleaning with essential oils is peppermint oil. Peppermint oil is cool, it is refreshing, and it is invigorating. It is also antibacterial and antifungal, which is great for any grime hiding in the home. Not only that, but it can work well to repel insects. Just a few drops in your trash cans and around doorways can prevent ants and spiders from entering the home. For any bigger pests, then it could be worth speaking to a company like Pest Authority, who will be better at getting rid of roaches or rodents, for instance. But generally, peppermint oil is a great choice. It can be used to clean glass and mirrors, and it can work well alongside other oils for a general cleaner, like lavender, and eucalyptus oils.
Baking Soda
Baking soda is something that you might not associate with cleaning. It is normally used in cakes and baking. However, it is an amazing natural cleaning product. It can be a great way to help you to deodorize your home in the summer. How to make it work is mixing salt, water, and baking soda in equal portions. You can use this in a refrigerator to help to deodorize smells, and you can even use it in your dishwasher, with your usual liquid, to clean dishes and get rid of any tough grime and grease.
Old socks for dusting
If you have a Swiffer for dusting and sweeping, but have run out of cleaning sheets, then using old socks can be a better alternative. They work just as well, but they can be washed, unlike the disposable Swiffer sheets. Ideally, you will need the sock to be clean and super-soft. If you have any that are chenille or microfiber, then they work best (but any good moisture-wicking fabric can work). Then you just attach the sock to the Swiffer like you would with a sheet, and get to sweeping and dusting. Dust and debris; be gone! In summer a lot of smaller things can gather, so this is a must.
Dishwasher for toys
Yes, you have read that correctly. If you have children and they have an abundance of plastic toys that can fit in the dishwasher, then you can go ahead and do just that. Toys can harbor a lot of dirt and germs, which can then be spread around the house. And if you can’t remember when you cleaned them last, then now is the time to give them a clean!
Washing toys by hand can take a while, and unless they are soft toys, they won’t work in the laundry. The good news is that you can wash any of the sturdy plastic toys using the dishwasher. Of course, if there are things like batteries in there, then they should be removed before washing. But use your normal detergent, on a low-temperature wash, and they’ll be good to go.
Olive oil for stainless steel
The good thing about so many of these cleaning hacks is that they are using things that are natural, and that you are likely to have already in the home. So you might have to rethink your cleaning products if you like the sound of these. But have you ever tried cleaning with olive oil? It has some pretty magical powers helping to wipe stains away. It can also help surfaces made from stainless steel to really shine. The same goes for any of your stainless steel utensils like knives and forks. If you have some floor tiles that are more porous (rather than shiny), then they can benefit from being cleaned with a little olive oil. Once they have been mopped clean, brush lightly with olive oil and they will shine like new.
Vacuum your mattress
When you spend so many hours of the day in your bed, how often are you cleaning the mattress? If you are looking to clean it, then where do you start? A mattress is huge, after all. To help you to deodorize your mattress, it is a good idea to sprinkle some of that trusty baking soda on the top of the mattress and then leave for a little while. This will help to remove smells and leave it looking like new. Then simply hoover the baking soda away. The mattress will smell great, and any elements of ‘musty’ smells will be gone from your bedroom.
What are some cleaning hacks that you have found, used, and loved along the way? As you can see, there are a number of natural ways to clean your home that do actually work! It would be great to hear what works for you, especially in the summertime.
