21 Clever Cleaning Tips That Actually Work

Hate cleaning? Never fear, the internet is here to help.

1. Hack your power drill to scrub down everything in your life in half the time.

Jenny Chang, Natalie Brown, Nifty / BuzzFeed

This (unlike lots of stuff on the internet) is a true ~life hack~. If you use soap and water, make sure to thoroughly rinse the soap off when your spot is clean. You'll need a drill, a long machine screw, nut, and bolt, and a soap dispenser brush refill.

Here's the tutorial.

2. Sanitize your makeup brushes daily with a three-ingredient spray.

yourbeautyblog.com

Get the recipe and directions here.

3. Whiten your favorite pair of faded shoes using baking soda and hydrogen peroxide and the power of the ~sun~.

Jenny Chang, Natalie Brown, Nifty / BuzzFeed

You'll want to pick a bright, warm day to try this, so it can be super effective.

Get all of the supplies you need (plus plenty of extra!) here for $21.62. Here's the tutorial.

4. Scrub the gunk off of your car's interior using a toothbrush and a little dish soap.

popularmechanics.com

Just make sure to sufficiently wipe or rinse the soap off afterward, otherwise the soap residue could attract more dirt. Get more car-cleaning tips at Popular Mechanics.

5. Steam off the grime in your microwave to make wiping it down extra easy.

Jenny Chang, Natalie Brown, Nifty / BuzzFeed

For everyone with irresponsible roommates, spouses, or kids. You can also do this with just water in a bowl (and literally zero lemons), although it won't smell ~lemon fresh~.

Get a microwave-safe bowl here for $4.07. Watch the full video here.

6. Wrap a pair of tongs in an old T-shirt and rubber bands, then use them to clean your blinds.

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You get to give a tee new life and get all the dust off of your blinds. Read the tutorial (which has lots of helpful tricks for doing this successfully) here.

7. Run your lint roller over lampshades to dust them instantly.

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The same trick works for dirty window screens. Read more cleaning tricks here.

8. Clean your rusty tools (and that rusting plant stand you got from your grandma's backyard) with the magic of vinegar.

Jenny Chang, Natalie Brown, Nifty / BuzzFeed

Really anything that is just a little rusty (except any cast iron in your kitchen). For the final step, you could also use linseed oil, WD-40, or even a cooking spray oil.

Get more than enough of all of the supplies you need (except the hair dryer) here, $35.90. Here's the tutorial.

9. Save money on dry-cleaning bills by freshening stinky clothes with a vodka spray.

beautylish.com

As long as it's only smelly (and doesn't have stains on it), there's no need to pay to get a dress or jacket cleaned. Get the recipe and tutorial here.

10. Slip a pair of tights over your vacuum cleaner's hose to help you find lost items.

Jenny Chang, Natalie Brown, Nifty / BuzzFeed

For the next time you drop the back of your earring in someone else's couch. All you need is a vacuum, a pair of hose, and a rubber band. Watch the video here.

11. De-grime your oven using an overnight baking soda paste and spritzes of vinegar. And elbow grease.

Jenny Chang, Natalie Brown, Nifty / BuzzFeed

It takes time and a little effort, but it smells MUCH better than using that self-cleaning cycle or an oven cleaner.

Get all of the supplies you need here, $37.20. Here's the tutorial.

12. Improve your toilet-scrubbing experience by dropping one of these homemade toilet bombs in the bowl every couple of days.

Jenny Chang, Natalie Brown, Nifty / BuzzFeed

You will still have to actually scrub and clean your toilet every once in a while, but these can will help it be less gross in the meantime.

Get all of the supplies you need here, $35.73. Here's the tutorial.

13. Banish the scum in your bathtub with just two ingredients.

Jenny Chang, Natalie Brown, Nifty / BuzzFeed

If you hate the smell of white vinegar, sprinkle in 2-3 drops of your favorite essential oil (like eucalyptus or lavender).

All you need is vinegar, dish soap, and a spray bottle. Here's the tutorial.

14. Shine up your silver-plated costume jewelry using a simple soak made of salt and baking soda.

Jenny Chang, Natalie Brown, Nifty / BuzzFeed

Very little scrubbing necessary. Make sure all of the salt and baking soda is dissolved in the water first, so they don't scratch your jewelry!

Simple: salt, baking soda, water, and a foil-lined bowl. Here's the tutorial.

15. Wipe up all that greasy kitchen dust with the help of a little bit of whatever oil you have on hand.

onegoodthingbyjillee.com

Then, clean the oil off, which will come up much more easily than the dust. Read the full tutorial here.

16. Scrub any hard water stains in your kitchen with a citrus fruit and salt.

Jenny Chang, Natalie Brown, Nifty / BuzzFeed

Grapefruit, lemon, limes: They'll all do the trick. Kosher salt works best, because it's chunkier than table salt, but not too chunky.

Get a big box of kosher salt here for $8.29, then also start using it in baking (wherever it's called for). Watch the full video here.

17. Scrape up pet hair from any upholstered surface with the help of your shower squeegee.

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drsfostersmith.com

It works on carpet, chairs, giant beanbags...you get the picture. You can either buy one specifically used for the purpose, or just grab the one in your shower. Watch the video here.

18. Polish up an old pan using water and cream of tartar.

Jenny Chang, Natalie Brown, Nifty / BuzzFeed

This is especially great for pans with lots of cooked-on grime.

Get some affordable cream of tartar here, $5.99.

Here's the tutorial.

19. Dust your TV and other LCD screens using a coffee filter.

Natalie Brown / BuzzFeed

It's so cheap and easy, and it's exactly what I do — this is me doing it.

20. Wipe up small kitchen and bathroom messes with homemade cleaning wipes.

Jenny Chang, Natalie Brown, Nifty / BuzzFeed

You could also use a cut-up T-shirt or old washcloths instead of paper towels, although they won't be as easy to pull out of the can as a roll of paper towels.

Get all of the supplies you need to make this here for $40.91. Here's the tutorial.

21. Freeze citrus peels in vinegar to clean your garbage disposal on the regular.

helloglow.co

You'll still want to scrub out your disposal with a toothbrush every so often, but these are great for those in-between times. Read the recipe and tutorial here.

Enjoy your new sparkling-clean life!

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