Ladies let’s face it, we’ve got loads to do with so little time. It almost seems that the mighty list of to dos becomes longer and longer and we’re left to figure out how to figure it out…I’ve found and implemented these incredible time saving spring cleaning hacks that will be sure to deliver on saving time and money.
Your secret weapons are not tools and cleaning equipment that cost loads of money. It’s the things you already own and currently replenish weekly. Like lemons, vinegar, old cloths and baking soda.
Clean Your Tools You Use To Clean:
Sponge:
Ever wonder what’s on that sponge? I mean we’re cleaning debris and remnants of food off our dishes with it and all that yucky residue is sitting and creating bacteria that spreads to our dishes and cutlery. And our cutlery goes where? Ding! Ding! Ding! Yes, our mouths!
Here’s what to do, zap your sponge that’s filled with water and a drop of dish soap for two minutes in the microwave and watch the bacteria disappear.
Broom:
Cleaning your broom can be a fantastic outlet of release some pent up tension and stress. Hit the broom on the pavement, side of the house or on a tree. Just don’t go full superwoman on that broom. We’re cleaning it, not breaking it. Apply a few drops of liquid soap to the bristles of the broom and wash it thoroughly.
Used Cloths:
We can be very wasteful in first world nations. Think of how many perfectly good articles of clothing or towels that get tossed daily! It’s mind boggling!
An effective step in saving the environment would be to utilize the used cloths and towels you already own. Don’t throw them out, repurpose the usage of these tools. I rewash my cleaning towels and cloths in the washing machine or you can soak them in a bucket with one part vinegar and one part hot water for an hour. Rinse, wring and set to dry.
Citrify (which isn’t a word, but sounds quite nice) Your Garbage Disposal:
Lemons that already have been squeezed are a great cleaning agent to freshen your garbage disposal. Drop them in there and run your garbage disposal for a tad longer than you usually would and enjoy the fragrance that permeates your garbage disposal and your sink.
Dish Washer Pro Tip:
I never put caked on food dishes in the dish washer. It always seems that I’m washing before I run the dish washer (terrible habit) or now I’m maximizing my time by rinsing and running the dish washer.
But, for those of us that run the dish washer with food on our dishes, pots and pans; here’s what you do; mix vinegar and water (1:1 ratio) and add it to the base of the dishwasher without dishes and run it for a normal cycle.
I like to also regularly wipe the inside of the dishwasher and the base especially. Plus, your dishwasher has a filter that collects all the gunk from the dishes. That needs to be emptied and sanitized.
Coffee Grounds Will Eliminate Smells From Fridge:
Old food tends to leave a lasting stench in the fridge. After you empty the old food and wipe down the shelves preferably with vinegar and water, leave fresh coffee grounds in a tray. Only remove once the smells have vanished. And vanish they will!
Glass Stove Top Residue Remover
Whether you say (aluminum or aluminium), it’s the best scrubbing tool to clean the top of your glass stovetop. Use any glass stovetop cleaner like Weiman and just use a small square of aluminum folded over to scrub the surface. It doesn’t scratch and it’ll remove all the pesky stuck on foods.
If you haven’t cleaned it in a while, then you’ll need to repeat the process a few times to get everything off.
Streak Free Windows:
If you don’t fancy cleaning your windows on a sunny day and you abhor streaks on your windows. Then, clean them on a cloudy day! Use your traditional cleaner or vinegar and water and wipe clean with newspaper.
Reusing your sales papers and newspapers are a simple yet innovative way to recycle and reuse. It’s the little things that we can do everyday for our environment that makes a huge compounded difference.
Freshen Your Carpet With Baking Soda
Next time you shop at BJ’S or Costcos, buy a large baking soda. It’ll save you money, eliminate chemicals in your home and your bodies. Baking soda is multifaceted and multi use.
Instead of buying carpet deodorizer or if you don’t have any, you can sprinkle baking soda on your carpet along with drops of your favorite essential oils. Allow to sit for at least thirty minutes and then vacuum.
Clean Bar Stools and Upholstery in Under 30 Minutes:
Having kids in the house is a joy and a big mess! Nothing is uglier than stains on bar stools and couches. There are some tools I recommend you buy. The hoover upholstery cleaner can be found on amazon for $115. Trust me, it’s totally worth it.
If you have 30 minutes, then it’ll save you hours and endless cleaning time.
If you found these spring cleaning hacks useful, please comment and share them. I would be most grateful!