A Variety of Tips to Clean Around the House

We all want to make cleaning as painless and inexpensive as possible. After years of practice, Mrs. Clean is here to share a few of our tricks of the trade. Most of these tips are using things you’ll find around the house. Expensive cleaners are not necessary in most cases.

So, if you’re looking for some house cleaning tips to make cleaning a little easier, just keep reading. And the best part – you don’t have to use harsh chemicals.

Cleaning Up Around the Kitchen

The kitchen can be a challenge at times because of the variety of cleaning needs. Take grease for instance, if you slop a bit it can be absorbed, while still fresh, by throwing a bit of flour, cornstarch or baking soda over the grease. Let cool a bit (so it’s not hot when you wipe up), then wipe away and clean as usual.

If you have hardened grease, mix a few tablespoons of baking soda with one cup water, mix well. Dip a sponge in the cleaner and lightly scrub away. Baking soda will also clean dirty pots and pans quite nicely.

Baking soda is slightly abrasive, so be sure you mixed the cleaner completely and use it carefully on surfaces that could scratch such as a colored cooktop.

The stove top can be treated once a month or so with car wax to protect and keep the surface easy to clean. Completely clean the stovetop, make sure it’s cool and then wax. Use a wax that contains carnauba and follow the instructions on the container. Use a soft cloth to completely buff out. When I tried this, I only cleaned the stovetop. I did not clean close to the burner itself.

Oven and Microwave Cleaning

Let’s face it, if we wiped down all appliances after using them, we wouldn’t have to worry about any major cleaning of gunk and grime. But sometimes life happens and we don’t always get to cleaning when we probably should.

Cleaning the Microwave

Microwaves can easily be cleaned by putting one cup water in a microwave safe bowl with either orange, lemon or lime slices placed in the bowl as well. Microwave this for about three minutes. You want the water to boil and create steam inside the microwave. Don’t open the microwave for about five minutes then wipe down the inside.

If the inside was pretty dirty and after wiping down it looks like there is still a greasy residue, mix a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water and wipe down again with a paper towel or clean sponge. You can also try using water and Dawn dish soap if you prefer.

If there is still stuck on food, try a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser.

Cleaning the Oven

Prior to cleaning the oven, remove racks. If they look like they need cleaning, put an old towel down inside the bathtub and place the racks on top. Run hot water, add in a little dish soap (like Dawn) until it covers the racks. Let those sit while you are cleaning the oven then you can come back and scrub them with a stiff brush.

To clean the inside of the oven, mix a paste of baking soda and water. You need the mixture spreadable but not so thick it doesn’t stick to the walls. Put on some kitchen gloves and spread the paste then let this sit for up to 2 to 12 hours depending on how dirty the inside is. Take a bowl and pour warm water then use a cleaning rag to wipe down the inside of the oven. When dry look for any areas where baking soda may still reside and wipe that down again.

Removing Fingerprints from Stainless Steel

I really like the look of stainless steel but I don’t like the fingerprints that get left behind. For many people, because stainless steel does get fingerprints almost daily, wipe down appliances every night or every couple of days.

It isn’t that hard. Just take a lint free cloth, spray plain white vinegar on the cloth, and wipe down the appliances. To polish, either buff with another clean, dry lint free cloth for shine or apply a small amount of mineral oil to a clean lint free cloth and wipe down.

Always go in the direction of the grain.

Bathroom Cleaning

Bathrooms can be a source for all sorts of cleaning problems. Keeping mildew and mold under control in the bathroom can be a challenge. But if you keep on top of it, not so much so. Clean the bathroom at least once a week.

Be sure to run the fan and/or open a window if you one and keep them running or open for at least 30 minutes after you have finished in the bathroom. It’s also a good idea to keep a squeegee in the shower to run over the walls and floor of the bathtub before getting out of the shower to reduce standing water.

Cleaning Mildew

If there is any mildew, mix together one cup borax with one gallon water. Either put in a spray bottle or dip a cleaning rag in the mix to clean surfaces. Use a scrub brush where necessary. This mixture can also be used to clean vinyl or tile floors.

White vinegar can be sprayed directly on surfaces with mold as well. It’s a natural disinfectant and deodorizer. Let sit about 10 minutes then wipe down. No need to rinse. Any vinegar odors will dissipate after a short time. If you use vinegar to wash the floors, mix 1/4 cup vinegar to one gallon water.

Do not use vinegar on natural stone surfaces as it is acidic and can damage the surface.

Cleaning Grout

If the grout is dirty make a paste by mixing together 3/4 cup baking soda, 1/4 cup hydrogen peroxide and 1 tablespoon dish soap.

Apply paste to the grout and use an old toothbrush to clean the grout. Let sit 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Shower Door

Simply wipe down the doors with a fabric softener sheet and watch the cloudy soap residue lift off.

Bathroom Odors

Bathroom odors can be controlled by making your own bathroom spray. In a spray bottle mix 3/4 cup water, two tablespoons rubbing alcohol then mix in six or seven drops of your favorite essential oil.

What else?

1. Put a few drops of essential oils inside the toilet paper roll to release a fresh scent each time it’s used.
2. Put baking soda or a fabric softener in the bottom of the trash can, can help absorb odors.
3. Make your own poo-pourri.
4. Clean the sink trap.
5. Keep the fan clean.

Removing Stains

Kool-Aid

If one of the kids spills Kool-Aid on the counter and it happened to sit awhile, you may be left with a dye stain. Make a thick paste or poultice of baking soda and water. Apply a bit of the mixture to the stain and lightly rub it in then cover the stain with a thick layer of the mixture. Let sit for most of the day or overnight. Completely rinse area clean with water.

Stuck on Food

For food stuck on pots and pans, put a dryer sheet in the pan, cover with just enough hot water and leave overnight. In the morning the food will wipe right out.

Tarnished Silverware

For tarnished silverware, heat 2 cups water then add 2 tablespoons of baking soda, stir to mix together. Put silverware on a sheet of aluminum foil in a pan with the silverware making contact on the foil. The combination of metal and baking soda will cause the tarnish to disappear.

Cleaning Ceilings

Ceilings are one of those cleaning jobs that never gets done and for good reason – they’re hard to tackle. Unless you are 9 feet tall, the odds are good this is a job you do not regularly accomplish. But there’s an easier way to wipe down those ceilings than dragging a ladder around the house. Simply get a long-handled paint roller and roll the dust away. Just be sure to regularly swap out or wipe off the roller.