Shutterstock©Get off to a great start this spring by refreshing your home using some brilliant cleaning tips that our grandmothers and great-grandmothers used…
Supermarket shelves are now groaning with cleaning products, but in years gone by our older relatives used everyday items to keep their homes spick and span.
Vinegar, lemon, baking soda and old toothbrushes are all eco-friendly and you probably have them in your cupboards at home. Use these products to make the jobs around your home even easier!
15 spring cleaning tips:
1. Clean surfaces with water and vinegar
Mix water and vinegar together with a 50:50 ratio to create an efficient and cost effective cleaning solution. Plus, you can use it on a variety of surfaces.
2. Steam clean microwave
Clean your microwave the easy way by mixing two tablespoons of white vinegar and a few drops of your favourite essential oil with water in a bowl. Blast it for five minutes. You’ll be left with a shiny clean microwave that smells amazing, with zero scrubbing required.
3. Clean iron with salt and foil
If you’ve got a build up of dirt and grime on the bottom of your iron, then simply turn it on (no steam) and iron a piece of aluminium foil with some salt sprinkled on top. The salt will attract the grime and remove it.
4. Use a toothbrush for cleaning keyboards
Instead of a wipe, take a damp (not wet) toothbrush and use it to clean between the keys of your keyboard. The bristles can reach all the difficult spots with very little effort.
5. Use a lemon to clean stainless steel
Pic: Shutterstock / New Africa
Annoying water stains on your tap and sink? Halve a lemon and use it to scrub stainless steel. It will also make your kitchen smell fresh and citrusy.
6. Clean TV and computer screens with coffee filters
Using paper towels or cloth wipes can create static and attract more dust to your TV or computer screen when cleaning. So use a standard coffee filter instead as a way of leaving your screen clean and clear.
7. Restore water-marked furniture with a hairdryer
If water rings have damaged your coffee table, or other wooden surface, then try holding a hairdryer close to the stain, on a high setting, and watch it disappear.
8. Use cola to clean the toilet
You’ve probably heard about this one but never tried it. Simply pour cola around the toilet bowl and flush for a sparkling result.
9. Clean your bathtub with grapefruit
If you have an issue with bathtub rings and soap scum, simply cut a grapefruit in half, sprinkle some rock salt on top and then scrub away. Not only will it have your tub sparkling in no time but your bathroom will smell divine too.
10. Use lint rollers on lampshades
Pic: Shutterstock / New Africa
Lampshades can collect a large amount of dust without you even realising. Use a standard lint roller to remove any dust with very little effort required. Also great for removing pet hair and dust from fabrics and cushions.
11. Clean awkward sized vases with rice
If you struggle to clean certain vases, bottles or wine glasses due to their strange size then fill with uncooked rice, water and washing up liquid, cover and shake until clean. Rinse and leave to dry.
12. Refresh plastic containers
Get the leftover curry stains out of plastic containers by putting a solution of washing up liquid, bleach and water in them and microwaving until boiling point. Once cooled, pour away and rinse.
13. Deep clean your shower head
After having a shower, fill a sandwich bag with baking soda and vinegar and tie it around the showerhead using an elastic band. Leave this to soak overnight then any debris will come off easily with an old toothbrush.
14. Use a pastry brush to get crumbs out of toaster
Toast crumbs are notoriously difficult to get to but using a pastry brush can help sweep away the annoying trapped bits. Obviously make sure the appliance is cool and unplugged before you start!
15. Vinegar and baking soda for oven cleaning
Create a paste using baking soda and water and apply to the inside of your oven. Leave overnight and then spray vinegar around the oven. The chemicals will react and allow you to wipe away any grime.
Now take a look at 20 more spring cleaning tips from “The People’s Friend’s” readers…
Allison Hay I joined the "My Weekly" team thirteen years ago and, more recently, "The People's Friend". I love the variety of topics we cover both online and in the magazines. I manage the digital content for the brands, sharing features and information on the website, social media and in our digital newsletters.
