With spring right around the corner, cleaning is on everyone’s mind. Between washing your siding and deep cleaning your oven, you could spend every day of the next few months up to your elbows in soap suds. Instead, knock a few items off your list quickly and easily, with these brilliant cleaning tricks that really work! Thanks to these Hometalk ideas, you’ll be taking a relaxing stroll in the sun in no time.
Soak the grime off stove burners with ammonia
Image: The V Spot
Before you begin battling with burnt on grease and grime, give your stove burners an overnight soak with ammonia. Just pour some into a gallon sized Ziploc bag, add a stove burner, and seal the whole thing up for the night. (Tutorial here)
Get windows crystal clear with dishwashing soap
Image:Chaotically Creative
Get rid of window smudges and make them sparkle instead, using regular dish soap. This gentle wash is a time and money saver, and it helps knock-out marks in a flash. Bring along a squeegee and a microfiber cloth to leave a clear pane when you’re done. (Here’s how)
Steam clean your microwave
Image:Pink When
Mix up a few easy ingredients, add them to a microwave-safe container, and heat them up. The grease and built-up gunk will be steam cleaned clear, so that all you need is a simple washcloth to wipe away the leftover unstuck gunk. (This is how)
Disappear silver tarnish with aluminum foil
Image: Decorated Chaos
This is another one of those ‘start it and walk away’ cleaning ideas. Line a deep sink with aluminum foil and then fill it with your tarnished silver cups, candle sticks, and platters. Then, just let the baking soda and boiling water do its magic! (Instructions here)
Put the shine back in stainless steel with salt
Image: Engineer Mommy
Make your stainless steel pieces shine by scrubbing them with salt and half a lime. It’s really that simple and budget-friendly. When you’re done, toss the lime half down the garbage disposal, add ice cubes, and grind it away — two-in-one cleaning hack! (Get the how-to here)
Scrub rust away with crumpled up foil
Image:Hearts & Sharts
It sounds crazy, but you can lift the rust from metal pieces by scrubbing them with water and crumpled up aluminum foil. Tear off a piece and start cleaning – you’ll love the shining result and the low budget. (Here’s how)
Shine metal appliances and hardware with used cling sheets
Image:Thoughts by Her
Make dull door knobs and faucets bright and shimmery, with this surprising item from your laundry room. After you’ve run a load through the dryer, dig out the bent, used cling sheet, and give your metal pieces a good buffing. (This is the simple tutorial)
Break down hard water build-up with vinegar soaked paper towels
Image:The Organized Life
There’s no way you don’t have vinegar in your pantry – just pull it out, soak some paper towels, and try this clever trick. There’s no scrubbing or brushing involved, but your sinks will sparkle like you’ve been working on them for hours. (Tutorial here)
Keep your toilet cleaner for longer with fizzing tablets
Image:The Kreativ Life
There’s no need to constantly scrub and scour your toilet bowl. Just mix up a batch of these brilliant cleaning tablets that fizz and dissolve in your toilet, and you’ll have an instant, brush free way to clean it every day. Plus, this will help you keep your toilet cleaner longer! (Get the recipe here)
For more amazing cleaning tips and ideas, check out the cleaning tips page on Hometalk!
