Keeping your home clean and nice can be a pain. There are so many things to be done and it keeps piling up.
There are a lot of hacks that can help you manage this, that unfortunately, not all landlords will tell you. In order to save time and money in the long run though, you should learn about them. So because of this, we’ve decided to compile a list of helpful tips to help you around the house.
Make your home smell good
Create your own, homemade air freshener so you can cut out the chemicals. It’s easy: just combine 10 drops of your favorite essential oils, 2 tablespoons of witch hazel and six tablespoons of water in a spray bottle. Shake and you’re done!
Clean your windows without streaking
All you have to do is take a dry, clean chalkboard eraser and wipe the streaks away.
Clean mold from grout
Simply try a baking soda paste made from 3 parts baking soda and 1 part water. Apply the paste and wait 1-2 hours before rinsing and drying. You can also scrub with a tooth brush for a stronger effect.
Clean your pop-up drain stopper
If your sink isn’t draining properly, fear not. All you have to do is use a needle-nosed plier to take out some of the clogged materials. Vinegar and baking soda can also help clear up some clogs before they get bad.
Get rid of stubborn rust
A simple mixture of borax and lemon should work wonders on your bath tub.
Make your air smell fabulous
Just add essential oil to your air filter.
Clean your yellow pillows
Whiten and clean up your yellow, oily pillows real fast with this recipe. 1 cup powdered laundry detergent, 1 cup powdered dishwasher detergent, 1 cup bleach (or bleach alternative), and 1/2 cup borax.Soak the pillow in warm water for 30 minutes. Then, add the above ingredients with more hot water to create a cleaning solution. Finally, let your pillow soak in that for about 30 minutes and then wash it like normal in the machines.
Get greasy film off of your kitchen cabinets
It’s easier than it sounds. All you have to do is mix 1 part coconut oil with 2 parts baking soda until they form a slightly thick paste, then rub the mixture onto the cabinets with a sponge or your finger. Then wipe everything off with a damp cloth.
Fix your stinky fridge
First, clean your fridge (this way, you can hopefully find what’s causing the smell). Then, fill up the fridge with crumpled newspaper and add a generous amount of charcoal. Wait a couple of days and then it should be odor-free.
Clean out your rain gutters
It can be easy to overlook this, but you want to make sure you clear out any leaves, dirt, and other fallen things so that when winter rolls around, you’re set up for success.
Repair wood rot
Instead of replacing a wooden door frame, repair and restore the rotten wood. It’ll save you time and money. Do this by either using a polyester filler or epoxy.
Sharpen garbage disposal blades
If you want it to properly dispose of the garbage you put in it, you’ll want to make sure your garbage disposal blades are sharp. Do this by dropping in an egg shell, turn on the water and run the disposal. If there’s a lingering odor from that, just drop in a few chunks of lemon.
Fix Squeaky Floors
Try using talcum powder in between the boards. You can also fix the problem from above by getting a hammer and driving two nails into the floor from opposite 45-degree angles.
Unclog the toilet… Without a plunger
Sometimes you don’t have a plunger, or you do, but it’s not working. And if you keep flushing, you will end up flooding your bathroom. Instead, use a combo of extremely hot water and dish soap. That will help break down the clog and lubricate the toilet.
Fill small holes in a wall
Fixing a tiny hole in the wall is easier than you think. All you need is a putty knife, a Q-tip and some wall repair compound. Dab a little bit of the product onto the hole. Then clean up any excess.
Get rid of heat stains on your furniture
Using an iron and a light-colored towel, remove the unsightly white mark left behind from the heat damage.
Also get rid of water spots
Start with fine wire wool. Buff out the water mark, and then use varnish to even out the appearance of the wood.
Fix a wobbly ceiling fan
Its blades are probably bent, so first, try to bend them back into shape. Of course, to avoid breaking them, you want to do this slowly and carefully. If they are too bent to fix, by replacement blades and install them.
Apply caulk
First of all, you want to make sure you properly remove the old caulk (the process on this can differ). Then you want to make sure you prep the surface before you caulk. Remove any present mold. Then invest in a proper caulk gun as well as caulk itself.
Remove fingerprints from stainless steel.
Using the right cleaning cloth is key. A microfiber is ideal, as it removes dirt, grease, and grime from surfaces quickly.
Car scratches? No problem
You can’t completely hide light-to-medium car scratches with WD40, but it can definitely help hide them. After you wash your car, spray the scratches with the WD40, and then gently buff with a microfiber cloth.
Clean your chimney
You’ll want to clean your fireplace every now and then if you actually use it. Save money and do it yourself. Invest in protective goggles, a ladder, a large chimney brush, and enough plastic sheeting to block off the rest of the room.
Clean your carpet
Borax can really come in handy for when it’s time to clean your carpet. Mix it with salt and vinegar (all 1/4 cup each) to create a paste that can then be used to fight stains. Just apply it and then leave it to dry. When it’s dry, vacuum over it. Running a steam cleaner to finish is great, but not always necessary.
Clean refrigerator coils
They’re either behind or at the bottom of the unit, and even if you don’t see them, they are important to clean. All you have to do is unplug the fridge, get rid of the dirt and hair with a vacuum hose, and clean off any other gunk simply with soap and water.
Clean your mattress
All you have to do is sift baking soda over it, let it sit for 30 minutes, and then vacuum it up with a clean upholstery attachment.
Keep mirrors clean
Do this simply by dampening a soft rag with rubbing alcohol and wipe over the mirror’s surface.