Keeping a clean home can feel like a never-ending chore. As a busy person, I’m always looking for ways to clean faster and more efficiently. Over the years, I’ve discovered several handy cleaning hacks that help me get the job done in less time. In this article, I’ll share my favorite time-saving cleaning shortcuts that really work.
Use Dryer Sheets to Remove Pet Hair
One of the biggest cleaning headaches for pet owners is controlling pet hair. Those little hairs stick to furniture, clothes and seem to get everywhere. Rubbing a dryer sheet over surfaces picks up pet hair through static electricity. Dryer sheets are much faster and easier than using a lint roller on every surface.
To use this trick:
- Take a new, unused dryer sheet and rub it over any surface with stuck-on pet hair.
- The hair will cling to the dryer sheet.
- For larger areas, crumple up the dryer sheet and wipe in a sweeping motion.
- When finished, discard the used sheet.
I’ve used this dryer sheet hack on furniture, rugs, curtains, clothes and even the inside of my car. It’s a super quick way to remove hairy messes.
Clean Shower Doors with Shaving Cream
Over time, residue from soap, minerals and humidity causes shower doors to become cloudy and etched. Cleaning shower doors properly takes scrubbing which is time-consuming. Here’s an easier solution:
- Spray shaving cream directly onto the glass doors.
- Use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe off the shaving cream, buffing in circles.
- Rinse the doors well with water.
The oils in the shaving cream break up grime and leave a polished, streak-free shine. This shortcut saves me at least 15 minutes each time I clean the shower compared to scrubbing.
Use Salt to Absorb Spills
Quickly mopping up spills prevents stains and damage. But who always has a mop and bucket handy? Keep a box of plain table salt in the kitchen and use it to soak up wet spills including:
- Juice or wine
- Cooking grease
- Food spills
- Water overflow
Simply sprinkle a pile of salt over the spill and let it sit for 1-2 minutes. The salt will absorb the liquid. After letting it work, you can sweep up the soggy salt and discard it. For larger spills, repeat the process until it’s all absorbed.
Table salt is highly absorbent, inexpensive and easy to keep on hand. I haven’t had to scrub a messy spill since discovering this trick!
Dust With Pantyhose
Duster spray and cloths just seem to move dust around. For a streak-free shine when dusting, an old pair of clean pantyhose works great:
- Cut off one leg of the pantyhose.
- Slip the leg over your hand to use as a dusting mitt.
- Run it over surfaces to attract and grab dust.
- When finished, turn the hose inside out to enclose the dust before tossing it.
The nylon material of pantyhose creates static to pull in and hold dust better than anything else I’ve tried. No need for dusting products – just grab an old pair of hose!
Whiten Tile Grout with Peroxide
No matter how much I scrub tile grout, it still looks dingy. Getting down on hands and knees to whiten grout is back-breaking. Here’s a much easier grout cleaner:
- Pour 3% hydrogen peroxide into a spray bottle
- Liberally spray peroxide on discolored grout lines
- Let it sit for at least 10 minutes
- Wipe up residue with an old towel
The peroxide naturally whitens without harsh chemicals. Though not as effective as heavy-duty grout bleach, it’s an effortless shortcut that makes grout look significantly better. I use this grout brightener monthly to maintain white grout.
Prevent Pet Messes with Pee Pads
Cleaning up pet accidents in the house is nobody’s idea of fun. While training pets, pee pads prevent messes from soaking into floors and carpets. They also protect floors in situations when pets may unexpectedly have an accident, like when left home alone all day.
Simply place absorbent pee pads in areas your pet frequents including:
- Near doors
- In front of food dishes
- On carpeted areas
- Beside furniture
When an accident occurs, simply toss the soiled pad and replace it with a fresh one. Pee pads keep floors pristine and make cleaning up pet mishaps painless.
Conclusion
Cleaning an entire home the old-fashioned way is extremely tedious and time consuming. Implementing shortcuts allows busy people to maintain tidy living spaces without spending all their free time scrubbing. Simple tricks like using pantry staples can save tons of elbow grease. Try out some of these clever cleaning hacks next time you tidy up!
