Even though most of us dread them, there’s something satisfying about house chores. Perhaps it’s an area of life where your efforts show immediate results – or maybe it’s just more pleasant to live in a clean home.
With that said, the sooner your cleaning chores are finished the better! In this article, I’ve put together four tips for cleaning your home in less time.
Always Use Your Vacuum Cleaner’s Attachments
Let’s start with a simple tip – making use of the attachments that come with your vacuum. All vacuum cleaners have them, although basic models often only have a crevice tool and dusting brush. Advanced vacuums may include motorised upholstery tools and extension hoses.
As Spotless Vacuum notes, you should use your vacuum’s attachments every time you clean. They are especially important for getting rid of dust and dirt above the floor. Here’s a quick overview of when to use each type:
- Crevice tool – use this anywhere the standard hose can’t fit. It’s particularly useful for cleaning behind radiators, refrigerator coils, and in corners. This is the perfect tool to use if you’re removing dust and debris from narrow areas in your home. The use of this tool can get the job done fast without the need to use other cleaning tools during the process.
- Dusting brush – this is the perfect tool for cleaning lampshades, blinds, and bookshelves. It’s also great for delicate items. Instead of using a feather duster, attaching a dusting brush to your vacuum is a better option. This can also provide better results than merely using a feather duster as the pressure from the vacuum can easily remove dust from delicate and fragile valuables.
- Extension wand – this is one of the most obvious tools, but there are a few neat tricks you can use it for. If you’ve dropped an earring down a crack, for example, try stretching a pair of tights over the end of the hose. You’ll be able to suck up the jewellery without it disappearing into the vacuum. You can also use your vacuum’s extension wand in cleaning hard-to-reach areas such as your ceiling, and overhead cabinets.
- Mattress tool – as the name suggests, this is a handy tool for getting rid of the dust on mattresses. It’s not as common as other tools on this list, but it’s great if you often suffer from allergies at night. Regardless of how often you change your linens, dust and bacteria can still live in your mattress, which is why you should exert extra time and effort in cleaning your mattress. By using your vacuum’s mattress tool, you can easily tick this task off of your to-do list.
- Turbo tool – this is one of the most useful vacuum attachments, especially if you own pets. Unlike a standard upholstery tool, it has rotating bristles to remove more dirt.
Clean Your Sponge With a Microwave
Sponges are an essential cleaning item – but they can become covered in bacteria. This is especially common for sponges left in the sink. If that happens, there’s an easy way to clean them using nothing more than a microwave.
When you go to swiftclean.com or other similar websites online, you’ll know that there are easy hacks for you to clean your sponge. Simply put the sponge in the microwave and “cook” it for 30-60 seconds on full power. The sponge should be slightly wet before it goes in. Leave it to cool for a few minutes before taking it out, as it’ll become very hot during the process. By the end, nearly all the bacteria will have been killed.
If you want to get rid of bad odor coming from the sponge, put in a few drops of apple cider vinegar or lemon before putting the sponge in the microwave. These household products will not only keep your sponges clean; it can also make your sponges smell good.
A word of warning though – never use this tip for sponges that contain metal.
Remove Sofa Odours with Baking Soda
Baking soda is one of the most versatile cleaning substances. But did you know it can be used to remove odours too?
Start by using your vacuum cleaner to remove any loose debris on the sofa. Then sprinkle the baking soda over any area of your sofa that doesn’t smell fresh. Leave it for around 30 minutes to absorb the odour, before using your vacuum to suck it up. This process can also help loosen stains so they are easier to remove.
You can use the same technique to remove odours from carpets too.
Removing odours using baking soda is very helpful especially if you have pets peeing on your sofa and carpet. As long as you regularly use baking soda in these areas, you won’t have to worry about bad odours because of pee anymore!
Unblock Your Drain Without Expensive Products
You don’t need expensive cleaning products to unblock your drain. There’s an easy way to unclog it using nothing more than 1 gallon of boiling water, ½ a cup of baking soda and a cup of vinegar. Here are the steps:
Pour all the baking soda into the clogged drain.
Follow it up with the cup of vinegar and cover the drain. This starts the chemical reaction that clears the blockage.
Allow the mixture to sit for around 15 minutes or if you believe that your drain is clogged with bigger materials, consider leaving the mixture overnight.
Clear out the vinegar, baking soda, and blockage by pouring boiling water down the drain.
If only part of the blockage is removed, you can repeat this process several times. It may not dislodge the worst blockages, but the process is often as effective as store products. This mixture is also safe and won’t weaken your pipes regardless of how often you use it. Products sold commercially often contain chemicals that can melt or weaken your pipes after long-term use.
Quickly Clean Your Microwave’s Interior
It doesn’t take long for a brand new microwave to become covered in splattered food. Fortunately, there’s a quick method you can use to clean it without spending hours scrubbing.
Start by making a mixture of vinegar, lemon and water (make sure you do this in a microwavable bowl). Add a wooden item, such as a toothpick, as this prevents the water boiling. Then microwave on full power for around five minutes.
After a few minutes to cool, open up the microwave and gently wipe the sides. You’ll be amazed at how easily dried food comes off.
