I am not the best homemaker there ever was when it comes to cleaning. I would rather be cooking and baking than scrubbing baseboards and toilets. I also really wish that I could just hire someone to clean for me! Until I hit it big I guess that I’ll just have to settle for these brilliant spring cleaning hacks especially made for people that loathe spring cleaning. These tips make me (just a little) excited to get a jump on getting the house in order just in time for warmer weather. From a way to prevent your sofa cushions from ever getting stained again, to how to erase scratches from dishes, check out these genius spring cleaning hacks in the slideshow.
More Spring Cleaning Tips:
- 11 Spring Cleaning Apps That Make Tidying Up Suck Less
- Spring Cleaning By Ages And Stages
- 15 Filthy Things in the Kitchen You’re Not Cleaning Properly
Spring Cleaning Hacks for People that HATE Cleaning
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Clean oil with oil
An oil spattered kitchen is just the worst to clean, because try as you may, the soap just never seems to be enough to clean it! So instead, use oil to pick your oil up! Add a few drops of vegetable oil to paper towel, then wipe the greasy surface and watch the oil disappear! When you're done, simply wipe it with a clean towel and stand back to admire your shiny surfaces!
image: Getty
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Combat sofa cushion stains before they happen
Is your sofa a stain magnet? Put a Glad Tall Kitchen ForceFlex® Drawstring Bag between the cushion fabric and the cushion itself, then spot clean. The bag prevents moisture from drawing the stain into the cushion. This tip and more spring cleaning advice via Glad.com
image: Getty/Roger Wright
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Clean hard water stains with vinegar
Hard water stains can be both an eye-sore and nightmare to get rid of! Approach them in the future by being super lazy, and watch them disappear! Just soak a few paper towels in white vinegar, then place them on the hard water stains in question: on your faucets, your bath tub, or the drip pan for your refrigerator's water dispenser! Come back an hour later and wipe clean with a towel, and witness the sparkle!
image: Getty
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Dryer sheets do double duty
These little pieces of cloth are pure magic, even after they've been used in the dryer! A used dryer sheet can buff out water spots from your mirrors and bathroom/kitchen fixtures, tackle waterspots on your shower doors, and even get rid of that loathsome ring in the toilet that just won't budge! Use new dryer sheets to wipe your baseboards clean, and you'll be not only be cleaning them but adding a dust-fighting layer to them as you go!
image: Getty
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Clean your dishwasher with vinegar and baking soda
We don't often think about cleaning the appliances that clean everything else, like your dishwasher, but it needs to be done! Place a container filled with white vinegar in the top rack of your dishwasher and run it on its hottest cycle with nothing else inside. Then, sprinkle some baking soda along the floor of the dishwasher, and run it again on a short-hot cycle, and you'll have a super clean dish washing machine!
image: Getty
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Make your microfiber couch look like new
Want to remove the evidence of kids and pets from your microfiber couch? Rubbing alcohol is your answer! Use a spray bottle to cover your couch with rubbing alcohol, then use a clean white sponge to rub the couch. You'll see the dirt and grime coming off on the sponge, so use a few if you need to! Once the couch is dry, use a stiff scrubbing bristle brush to fluff up the fibers and get it looking like new!
image: Getty
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Clean blinds with a sock & vinegar solution
I was noticing the other day that the blinds in my laundry room have about an inch of dust on them! I better use this innovative method to clean my blinds from Keep Home Simple.
Image: Keep Home Simple
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Turn your dishwasher or washing machine into a toy sanitizer
Have a play date at your house and need all those toys de-germified? Stick the plastic ones in the dishwasher for an easy sanitizing job, or pile them up in a mesh bag and throw them in the washing machine on no-spin! Then rinse and repeat after the germy play date kids leave your house!
Image: Getty
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Sanitize sponges in the microwave
Next time you're worried about spreading germs in your kitchen or bathroom, just throw your sponges in the microwave! Make sure they're wet, then toss them in (preferably on a microwave safe surface), and turn the microwave on high for 2 minutes. You'll be eliminating 99% of all the little microbes that might be living in there (don't trust me -- the Journal of Environmental Health discovered this fact!) instead of spreading germs while you clean!
Image: Getty
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Clean your shower while you shower
The bane of my existence is my glass shower. I'll spend a lot of time cleaning it and then it looks nice for a day. Then I'm back to hating it. Why not keep this cleaner in your shower and clean as you shower---brilliant! Thanks, Joyful Homemaking!
Image: Joyful Homemaking
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Use a pillowcase to clean your ceiling fan
I don't think I've cleaned my ceiling fans since I moved into my house two and a half years ago. Guess I'll be pulling out a pillow case to do this trick from Passion for Savings.
Image: Passion for Savings
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Erase scratches from dishes
I know I have several dishes that have scratch marks...I didn't know it was possible to get them out until I read this tip from Mom Outnumbered. I am totally going to use this tip!
Image: Mom Outnumbered
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Easily clean your microwave
If your microwave looks anything like mine does most of the time this easy trick from Practically Functional will get it looking spotless.
Image: Practically Functional
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No fogged mirrors = no mirror streaks ever again
I'm definitely going to use this trick because my husband loves to take steaming hot showers while I'm trying to use the mirror to put on my makeup. Check out How to Keep Your Bathroom Mirror Fog-Free from The Creek-Line House.
Image: The Creek-Line House
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Get your tub looking like new again
I must admit that I am NEVER able to get the bottom of my tub clean and it bothers me. I've scrubbed and let bleach sit in the bottom, but it never looks great. I'm so glad to have found this tip from The Manly Housekeeper.
Image: The Manly Housekeeper
