You don't always need expensive products to get great results. Some of the best cleaning solutions are already sitting in your kitchen. Here are five of our favourite at-home hacks that actually work.
1. Steam-Clean Your Microwave With Lemon
Cut a lemon in half and squeeze the juice into a microwave-safe bowl with about a cup of water. Drop the lemon halves in too. Microwave on high for five minutes, then leave the door closed for another two minutes to let the steam do its thing. When you open it up, all that baked-on splatter will wipe right off with a cloth. The lemon also deodorises, so it'll smell fresh instead of like last night's leftovers.
2. Unclog Your Drains With Baking Soda and Vinegar
Pour half a cup of baking soda down the drain, followed by half a cup of white vinegar. It'll fizz up — that reaction is what breaks down the gunk. Let it sit for about 30 minutes, then flush it through with boiling water. This works wonders for slow-draining sinks and showers, and it's far gentler on your pipes than chemical drain cleaners.
3. Remove Hard Water Stains With Vinegar
If your glass shower screen or tapware has cloudy white buildup, soak a cloth in undiluted white vinegar and lay it over the affected area for 15 to 20 minutes. The acidity dissolves the mineral deposits. Wipe it off, give it a rinse, and you'll see a noticeable difference. For really stubborn spots, repeat the process or use a paste of baking soda and vinegar for a bit of extra scrubbing power.
4. Freshen Your Mattress With Baking Soda
Strip your bed, sprinkle a generous layer of baking soda over the entire mattress, and leave it for at least 30 minutes — a couple of hours is even better. Baking soda absorbs moisture and neutralises odours. Vacuum it all up afterwards and your mattress will feel noticeably fresher. Adding a few drops of lavender essential oil to the baking soda before sprinkling is a nice touch too.
5. Clean Stainless Steel With Olive Oil
Fingerprints and smudges on stainless steel appliances can be frustrating. Put a tiny amount of olive oil on a microfibre cloth and wipe in the direction of the grain. It lifts the marks and leaves a streak-free finish with a subtle shine. Follow up with a dry cloth to buff out any excess. It sounds counterintuitive, but it works better than most store-bought stainless steel cleaners.
These are all tricks our team has picked up over the years. They're great for quick maintenance between professional cleans. If you'd rather leave it to the experts, get a free quote today — we'd love to help.