Yes, you can buy the brand name cleaning products for every part of your home. However, they can be costly and take up a lot of room under your sinks and in your cabinets. Instead, use items you already have in your home to make it sparkle and shine. Here are seven surprising items and home cleaning tips for your apartment:
1. Lemons
You can use every part of a lemon to clean your kitchen and bathroom. Start by squeezing out the lemon juice, add it to water and vinegar, and mix up a disinfectant for your floors and countertops. This works for just about any hard surface to help cut down on odors and sanitize the area. Then you can put the lemon peel down your kitchen disposal to sharpen the blades and create a citrus aroma instead of smelling whatever last went down your sink.
2. Toothpaste
If your bathroom fixtures are looking a little dull, whip out a tube of non-gel toothpaste to brighten them up. The small particles in regular toothpaste work to scrub away grime, buildup, and tiny scratches that make your chrome fixtures look lackluster. The toothpaste trick also works well for your car’s headlights.
3. Cola
If you have an extra can of Coke in the fridge, use it to remove grease, rust, and tough stains around your home. Start in the kitchen by soaking your pots and pans in cola to remove grease that has been building up. If you also have grease stains on your clothes, pour some cola on and let it sit. Move to your tools with a can of Coke to remove grime and rust. This home cleaning tip even works on jewelry that is getting rusty.
4. Coffee Filters
If you’re sick of streaky mirrors and windows, all you need is a coffee filter. Unlike paper towels, a coffee filter lets you wipe away water or a cleaning solution without leaving any residue or wipe marks.
5. Ketchup
Similar to the cola section, ketchup is a great product for cutting through grease, grime, and rust. For your pots and pans that have seen better days, coat them in a thick layer of ketchup and let them sit. When you scrub the ketchup away, you should see a nice layer of shine, just like when they were brand new.
6. Cornstarch
One of the most useful home cleaning tips is to keep corn starch in the kitchen cabinet. You can use it to get stains out of your carpet, clothes, kids’ stuffed animals, and other fibrous materials. Simply sprinkle on some cornstarch, let it sit, and then vacuum, scrub, or wipe it up. Not only does it remove stains, but it also works out those gross odors that stick in fabrics.
7. Rubbing Alcohol
Electronics are difficult to clean because you don’t want to leave streaks or residue on the screens. Instead of using water or a specific, expensive product, use rubbing alcohol to wipe down your smartphone, computer, and TV screens. You also can use this handy product to clean blinds, remove a ring from around the collar of your shirts, and defrost windows.
You don’t have to spend a lot of money on specific cleaning products for your home. Use what you already have in your cabinets and enjoy a tidy home.
