Experts say keeping your home clean and tidy has a number of health benefits. For starters, a clean home can strengthen your immune system and help you avoid illnesses. A decluttered house can also reduce stress and depression as well as help avoid injuries.
And you don’t have to fork out a fortune to keep your room sparkling! Here are a few quick, easy and cheap tips to help you stay on top of things while you stay with us.
Wash away water stains.
To tackle hard water stains on shower walls and bathtubs, grab a spray bottle and mix equal parts of water and vinegar. Then, spritz the solution onto affected surfaces, let sit for at least 15 minutes, then wipe clean. Hard water stains on chrome sink fixtures can also be cleaned with this same mixture.
Clean the oven.
To start, remove your oven racks and let them sit in dishwashing liquid for a few hours before scrubbing with a scouring pad. After removing your racks, create a paste using baking soda and warm water. Use a sponge or brush to spread the paste throughout the oven’s interior, avoiding bare metal surfaces and the oven door. Let it sit overnight and then remove the paste the following day with a scraper, wetting as needed.
Sanitize the sink.
Recommendation is to sanitise your kitchen sink once a week. For stainless steel, use the mixture of baking soda and lemon juice to create a mildly abrasive paste then flush it with cold water.
Make an all-purpose cleaner.
Here’s a DIY cleaner recipe that will make nearly every surface gleam (especially kitchen counters, appliances, and inside the refrigerator). Combine 4 tablespoons baking soda and 1 litre of warm water in an empty spray bottle, and wipe messes away with a sponge.
Toilet Cleaning
Apply a toilet bowl cleaner, and let it sit for up to five minutes before scrubbing with a toilet brush. Then wipe down the toilet seat and handle with disinfectant wipes.
Good Housekeeping shows you how
Restore your shower pressure.
Unclog your shower head by mixing equal parts white vinegar and water and pouring it into a plastic bag. Tie the bag around the shower head to immerse the holes in the solution and secure with a twist tie. Let it soak for up to an hour, then remove and wipe away the loosened deposits.
Freshen the shower curtain.
To banish moldy spots, throw plastic or vinyl curtains in the washing machine with a little detergent and a bit of white vinegar. Add two to three bath towels for extra cleaning agitation, then hang it to dry or put in the dryer on low heat or fluff only. To keep it fresher longer, stretch the curtain out after each shower to help moisture dissipate.
No more smelly sneakers.
Sprinkle some baking soda inside your shoes to deodorise them. Just tap it out before you wear them again.
Clear a slow drain.
When you notice your drain is starting to clog, pour 100 grams of baking soda down it, followed by 200ml of white vinegar. Cover with a wet cloth. Wait five minutes or even overnight and then flush with hot water.
Get stains out of a cutting board.
Run the cut side of a lemon over the board to remove food stains and smells. For extra cleaning power, sprinkle it with salt or baking soda first.
De-greasing kitchen surfaces.
Just like your cooking tools, kitchen surfaces can get grimy when you’re making dinner. Add a little dish soap to a spray bottle with warm water to mist away the grease. Then, rinse with a wrung out cloth and dry.
Freshen up your microwave.
Heat a cup of water, several tablespoons of vinegar, and a chopped-up lemon on high until the microwave’s window is steamy. Let the bowl sit for 5 minutes before you open the door, and wipe the inside clean with ease with a sponge or kitchen towels.
Banish mold from everywhere.
Mold can be removed with a mold remover, or white vinegar. Pour the vinegar into a spray bottle but do not dilute it. Diluting the vinegar will reduce its effectiveness. Spray the moldy areas and let the vinegar sit for an hour so that the mold can absorb it completely. Use clean, warm water to rinse the area. Spray the vinegar again over the area and let it dry naturally to make sure all the mold has been killed.
If using a mold remover, don’t forget to follow the instructions on the bottle accordingly. Open your doors and windows for good ventilation.