Justine Zwiebel / BuzzFeed
1. Hang your brooms and mops instead of storing them on the floor.
This keeps them from getting mildewed and bent.
3. Make the steel plate on your iron smooth and shiny again.
All you need is salt. Get the directions here.
6. Use Pledge to really clean your stainless steel.
Your fridge is so bright, you gotta wear shades. Get the full instructions here.
7. Invest in a “Purifying Light Sanitizing Cutting Board System.”
It costs $129 but just think of all the germs from old food that could be embedded in your cutting boards.
8. Clean your clean machine: the washer.
This page gives you a step-by-step way to get the grime off the nooks and crannies of your washing machine.
9. Use a dish scrubber filled with dish soap to clean the gunk off your cabinets.
So much faster than using a toothbrush.
10. To kill the germs and viruses that have gathered on your nasty sponges, microwave on high for 2 minutes and let cool.
Note: This only works for non-metal sponges!
11. When your toaster gets all sticky and gunky…
Use a few drops of water, cream of tartar, and a sponge to get your stainless steel appliances looking brand new again.
12. Clean your sink drain.
Your sink drain is home to some of the grimiest dirt and germs. Get directions on how to use baking soda, a toothbrush, and citrus fruits to get your sink smelling and looking fresh.
13. Clean your window tracks.
Dip a q-tip in white vinegar and run it along the track. For more window cleaning tips, check out Ask Anna.
14. Refresh your mattress.
Once you sprinkle the ingredients on, you’ll also need to vaccuum the bed. Get the full instructions here.
Hint: you can also use fabric softener instead of lavender oil if you DON’T want to do this the all-natural way.
16. Dust first, then vacuum.
That way you can vacuum up all the fallen dust. On a sidenote, did you know that dust is made up of 80% human skin?
18. Unscrew light bulbs and wipe off with a microfiber cloth.
Dust builds up on those things.
19. Rub a faucet with waxed paper to prevent water spots and finger prints.
You can also remove mineral deposits easily with white vinegar.
20. Snip off a slice of a Magic Eraser and drop it in the toilet.
Let it float overnight and it’ll remove any toilet ring. No scrubbing! No one wants to be touching toilet germs, not even with gloves on.
21. Use Resolve to get your grout back to white.
Claire over at It’s the Little Moments discovered (via her husband) that Resolve completely lifts up the old grime.
22. Keep a Scotch Brite dishwand in the shower filled with 1/2 vinegar, 1/2 dishwashing detergent.
This will make it easy and convenient to wipe down the walls while you’re in the shower.
23. Deep clean your water bottles if they’ve started to smell a little moldy.
Use a vinegar or a very weak bleach solution if your water bottle isn’t dishwasher-safe (or if you don’t own a dishwasher). Get the directions here.
24. Clean your hairbrushes if you really want a good hair day.
Get the full directions here.
27. While cleaning the bathroom, fill the tub up with a couple of inches of the hottest water you can draw from the tap.
Heating up the bathroom 10 degrees above the normal air temperature “doubles the effectiveness” of alkaline cleansers. It’s a trick hotel staffers use. Let disinfectants sit for at least 5-7 minutes, and always rinse off cleaners to prevent build-up.
29. Use foil in your George Foreman grill or panini maker to prevent mess.
Electrical appliances are a pain to clean, and you can’t just dunk the whole thing in soapy water. Prevent disgusting drips and messes by either covering the insides of the grill with foil, or wrapping the item you want to grill in foil.
31. Pour a packet of lemonade Kool-Aid into the detergent cup of your dishwasher.
It’ll remove lime deposits and iron stains.
Cream of tartar is another natural cleaning agent. Get more tips on how to use cream of tartar here.
And here’s an effective but natural recipe for Martha Stewart’s Tub Scrub.
32. Start cleaning out your dryer vents.
You’ll prevent fires by cleaning out the dryer vent every six months. Get the full directions here.
33. Behold, the sanitizing vacuum cleaner.
It’s $120 from Verilux. They also sell a UV sanitizing wand that kills E. coli, dust mite eggs, and other germs and allergens.
34. Use a solution of 1/2 coconut oil and 1/2 baking soda to remove sticky residues.
It’s the non-chemical equivalent of Goo Gone.
36. Know your uses for vinegar and natural cleaning agents.
If you’re paranoid about chemicals, white vinegar is an ideal alternative. It kills 99% of bacterias, 82% of molds and more than 80% of viruses. You can use it with tea tree oil, hydrogen peroxide, or baking soda to increase its antibacterial effectiveness. However, hydrogen peroxide and vinegar should be applied separately, not mixed together. Also, don’t use vinegar in your microwave or oven — your kitchen will smell like vinegar for days when using those appliances. And never mix bleach with vinegar in hopes of amplifying the cleaning power — it creates a dangerous chemical reaction.
37. The ultimate organization tip: anything and everything should have a place.
This seems to be the #1 organization tip from neat freaks: everything you own should have a place to be put away, and should always be put back to that place after use. Sounds simple, but it’s a practice that takes getting used to if you’re an inherently messy person.
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