A new year calls for clean sheets and grime-free bathrooms. If you’re unsure what cleaning supplies to get after your New Year’s Eve party, search the kitchen. You’ll find items like vinegar and baking soda that can be used for more than cooking. They’ll help you spend less time and money on your next trip to the nearest grocery store in Draper. Know what these items are and how to use them with these cleaning hacks.
Stock Up on Baking Soda and Vinegar
Baking Soda and vinegar are more than just for the kids’ science project volcano. They can be used to clean your sink, floor, bathroom tiles, carpet, and even clothes. Just remember that when it comes to cleaning larger surfaces like carpets, it’s best to hire a carpet cleaning service instead.
Baking soda can be used to clean tough stains from pots and pans. Sprinkle a generous amount of it on your cookware and soak them in dish detergent and water for a while. Baking soda can also be used as a deodorizer for your dishwasher, fridge, and even shoes. The reason behind baking soda’s cleaning powers is its ability to help grease and dirt dissolve in water, and neutralize smells. It also acts as an abrasive that makes scrubbing easier.
Vinegar might be great at naturally cleaning and deodorizing a handful of things like clothes and your windows, but it has its limits. Its acid is too strong for materials like granite, marble, and even hardwood. In any case, it’s best to dilute it with water. A 1:1 ratio will work well. You can always adjust it by adding more water if it’s too acidic for your preference.
While you can try making a cleaning solution out of baking soda and vinegar (some people swear by it), there’s no solid evidence that it’s great as a cleaning agent. You’re better off using them separately.
Always Clean Top to Bottom
While cleaning, it’s always important to have a “top to bottom” principle in mind. It might be easier to scrub the floors now and dust the ceiling later. But the dust and dirt from your ceiling cleanup will eventually end up on the floor. You don’t want to waste time and energy on scrubbing the deck twice. Apply this fundamental technique even when cleaning smaller surfaces like cabinets and shelves so you’ll get used to it.
The Versatile Coffee Filter
You rely on your disposable filter to deliver you the magic elixir of awakening known as “coffee.” But it’s more than a sift for your caffeine fix. It actually works great as a substitute for paper towels when it comes to cleaning windows, mirrors, and TV screens. You can also keep one in your bag as a smartphone screen cleaner.
Spray It, Not Soak It
Don’t you just hate it when you’re making a mess rinsing your mop in a bucket? Use a spray bottle to dampen the floor instead. This way, you’ll have more control over how much water you’re using, and you won’t end up with a mini-flood after you’re done.
While these cleaning hacks are effective at doing their job, they’re more of a supplement than a substitute for traditional cleaning materials. Vinegar alone can’t disinfect a surface like bleach can. And baking soda is more of a last resort after you’ve used soap to clean your cookware. The next time you find yourself scrubbing a pan to no avail, look no further than your kitchen cabinet.
