50 ingenious cleaning hacks for a sparkling home

From keyboard cleaning to cleaning makeup brushes

Walking into a cluttered room can be an absolute mood killer. Life’s demands—work, kids, and those irresistible naps—often seem to get in the way of a pristine home. But do not worry! With a bit of ingenuity, cleaning can become much easier and more effective.

If you are ready to transform your home into a gleaming haven, check out these clever cleaning hacks that will change how you tidy up forever.

1. Freshen up your oven with baking soda and vinegar. Skip the unreliable self-cleaning function and use this natural method instead. Mix ½ cups of baking soda with a few tablespoons of water to paste. Spread it on the oven’s interior and let it sit overnight. Wipe with a damp cloth and spray some vinegar to remove any residue. A clean oven is just a swipe away!

2. Revive wood cutting boards with kosher salt and lemon. Maintain your cutting board by scrubbing it monthly with kosher salt and lemon. Cut a lemon in half, sprinkle coarse salt on the board, and wash with the lemon. Let it sit for five minutes before wiping it off with a sponge.

3. Remove paint stains with disposable razors. Paint stains on clothes can be annoying, but a disposable razor can help. Place the garment on an ironing board and gently scrape off the paint. Use an old razor to avoid damaging the fabric.

4. Refresh your sofa with baking soda. To clean and deodorise your sofa, sprinkle baking soda and let it sit for 20 minutes. Vacuum it to remove odours. For stains, mix a tablespoon of white vinegar, dish soap, baking soda, and warm water, then clean the area.

5. Clean blinds with vinegar and water dust. Grease accumulates on blinds over time. Use a 50/50 mixture of white vinegar and warm water. Dip a sponge in the solution and wipe each slat. Avoid soaking wooden blinds.

6. Erase oil stains with baking soda. Grease and oil stains can be challenging, but baking soda makes it more accessible. Sprinkle the stain with baking soda and let it sit for 1-2 hours. Soak the garment in hot water with baking soda, then wash gently.

7. Remove water rings from the wood with a hairdryer. Use a hairdryer set on medium heat to tackle water rings on wood furniture. Hold it 2 inches from the stain and use a napkin to clean the mark. Finish by rubbing a few drops of olive oil into the wood.

8. Clear hard-water stains from faucets with lemons. Cut a fresh lemon in half and press it onto the faucet to remove hard-water stains. Secure it with a small plastic bag and rubber band, and let it sit for a few hours.

9. Scrub your tub with baking soda and liquid soap. Mix a teaspoon of liquid, baking soda, and a few drops of antibacterial soap into a paste for a safe and effective tub cleaner. Apply it to your tub for a sparkling clean.

10. Shine stainless steel with cream of tartar. Cream of tartar is not just for baking. Mix it with water to make a paste and clean stainless steel, removing any grit and restoring its shine.

11. Clean cast iron with sea salt. To clean cast iron dishes, sprinkle a tablespoon of sea salt and scrub with a sponge. Rinse with warm water for a spotless finish.

12. Dust baseboards with dryer sheets. Used dryer sheets can easily clean dusty baseboards. Swipe them over them to clean and repel dust and pet hair.

13. Remove grease stains with chalk. Chalk is great for absorbing grease stains. Rub white chalk on the stain, let it sit, and then brush it off before laundering.

14. Tidy up toilet bowls with vinegar and duct tape. To simplify toilet cleaning, tape off the siphon jets under the rim with duct tape, pour vinegar into the toilet tank, and let it sit for an hour. Remove the tape before flushing.

15. Clean your keyboard with an old toothbrush. Use an old toothbrush to remove dirt from beneath the keyboard keys. It is a simple way to make your keyboard look brand-new.

16. Revitalise cabinet doors with baking soda and vegetable oil. Mix baking soda and vegetable oil equally to clean stubborn stains on cabinet doors. Rub the paste with a soft cloth for a fresh look.

17. Erase nail polish stains from carpets with alcohol. For nail polish stains, pour a small amount of alcohol or nail polish remover onto a microfiber cloth and gently scrub. Rinse with water and let it dry.

18. Use a squeegee to extract pet hair from carpets. A squeegee is excellent for this. Move it back and forth to gather up the hair.

19. Clean curling irons with steel wool. Steel wool effectively scrubs away buildup on curling irons, making it a powerful way to keep styling tools clean.

20. Remove coffee stains with baking soda. To clean coffee stains, sprinkle baking soda on the area, add a few drops of water to form a paste, and scrub with gentle abrasion.

21. Pick up glitter with Play-Doh. After crafting, use Playdough to pick up scattered glitter. Press it over the glitter to lift it away.

22. Scrub glass baking dishes with aluminium foil. Fill glass baking dishes with water and dish soap, then use a ball of aluminium foil to scrub away the grime.

23. Clean makeup brushes with baby shampoo. Wash makeup brushes with baby shampoo. After rinsing, hang them using a binder clip to dry, keeping them mould-free and well-shaped.

24. Refresh old trainers with toothpaste. To restore the whiteness of your trainers, soak them in warm water, then scrub them with toothpaste using an old toothbrush. Let it sit for ten minutes before rinsing.

25. Polish your engagement ring with toothpaste. Use some toothpaste on your diamond for a quick ring clean. Gently scrub and rinse to make it sparkle again.

26. Clean hairbrushes with shampoo. Soak your hairbrush in warm water with shampoo for 3-5 minutes. For wooden brushes, avoid complete submersion and shake to remove excess water.

27. Remove burnt food from pans with vinegar. Fill a burnt pan with water and vinegar, boil it, and add baking soda. Let it sit before scrubbing away the burnt residue.

28. Fix leather furniture scratches with shoe polish. Shoe polish conceals scratches on leather furniture. Use matching colours and wipe away excess for a refreshed look.

29. Clean blenders with water and dish soap. Blend warm water with dish soap in your blender for 30 seconds, then rinse. For lingering smells, blend lemon chunks with water.

30. Tackle bathroom grout with bleach and baking soda. Mix baking soda and bleach to clean stubborn grout in your bathroom. This is an effective method for getting grout sparkling clean.

31. Use bread to pick up broken glass. Sponge the area with a piece of bread to safely collect broken glass. This method helps gather tiny shards without risking injury.

32. Clean hot glue guns with aluminium foil. Use an aluminium foil ball to scrub the nozzle of a hot glue gun, effectively removing any residue.

33. Dry wet shoes with crumpled paper. Instead of using a dryer, stuff wet shoes with crumpled paper or newspaper to dry them quickly and preserve their shape.

34. Remove bathtub rings with salt and grapefruit. Cut a grapefruit in half, sprinkle it with salt, and scrub the bathtub rings. This natural method will leave your tub sparkling clean.

35. Clean cheese grates with raw potato. Grate a raw potato to clean your cheese grater. The potato helps dislodge any cheese particles stuck in the holes.

36. Dust lamps with a lint roller. A lint roller is perfect for quick lamp dusting. It removes dust and debris without damaging delicate shades.

37. Clean microwaves with warm water. Place a bowl of warm water and dish soap in the microwave, run it for 5 minutes, then let it sit. Wipe down the interior for a fresh, clean microwave.

38. Use canned air for dusting electronics. Canned air is ideal for removing dust from electronics and preventing overheating and potential damage.

39. Revive old candles with stockings. To refresh old candles, rub them with stockings. This simple trick can make your candles look like new again.

40. Clean screens with coffee filters. Coffee filters are lint-free and will not scratch the surface. They can also be used to clean TVs and monitors.

41. Clean iron soleplates with salt. Run an iron’s soleplate over a piece of foil or paper covered with salt to clean it. Avoid using steam for this method.

42. Remove lipstick stains with hairspray. Spray lipstick stains with hairspray, then rub them with a damp cloth before washing them for easy stain removal.

43. Newspaper absorbs fridge smells. If you are out of baking soda, crumple the newspaper, spray it with water, and place it in the refrigerator to neutralise odours.

44. Clean silverware with baking soda. To polish silverware, dissolve a tablespoon of baking soda in water and soak it for a few seconds.

45. Use a dustpan. Use a clean dustpan to collect small toys scattered around the house quickly. It is an efficient way to tidy up.

46. Keep your bathroom smelling fresh. Want a fresh-smelling bathroom? Pour a cup of laundry detergent into the toilet tank. Every time you flush, the detergent will release a pleasant scent, keeping your bathroom smelling clean and fresh all day long. This trick will not harm your toilet tank, but your nose will appreciate the fresh aroma!

47. Effortless toy cleanup with a dustpan. Use a dustpan to gather small toys scattered around your home. It is a quick and efficient way to tidy up and organise those toys quickly.

48. Prevent jar leaks with a coaster. Coasters are not just for protecting surfaces from drink condensation. You can also use them to prevent jar leaks. Place a coaster between the lid and the jar to keep spills and drips at bay.

49. Clean your toilet with a coke. Who knew Coca-Cola could also be a toilet cleaner? Next time your toilet needs a refresh, pour some Coke around the rim and let it sit overnight. The carbonation will help lift stains and grime. In the morning, flush, and your toilet will sparkle!

50. Wash and fluff your pillows. Yes, you can wash your pillows! Toss them in the washing machine and use a gentle cycle. When drying, set the machine to “air” or “fluff” and add a couple of clean tennis balls. They will help keep the pillows fluffy and reduce drying time while preventing wrinkles.

Featured image: With ingenuity, cleaning can become much easier and more effective. Credit: Tima Miroshnichenk