So, we decided to open up our encyclopedia of crazy yet effective cleaning hacks we’ve used over the years. It is time to redefine “clean” with some out-of-the-box cleaning tips that use everyday household items. If you’re also concerned about saving the earth by reducing your use of harmful chemicals and going green (we should all be), this article will be extremely helpful. 

We’ll start with obvious hacks and crank it up a notch as we go. Keep reading to figure out why you should consider adding aluminum balls to your dryer.

Cleaning With Common Staples

1. Lemons for Stainless Shine

Lemons work wonders and can be used in several ways for household cleaning. It is naturally acidic, quickly cutting through and removing heat stains and streaks from your stainless steel items.

For lemon’s stainless shine on your cooking utensils and household appliances, soak a cleaning cloth with freshly squeezed lemon juice and use it to scrub said item until all marks and streaks are gone. It can also be used for your stainless steel cookware. Simply squeeze some lemon juice onto the offending pot or pan. Add some dishwashing liquid and scrub away. 

The acid from the lemon juice will remove the grease stains and heat streaks, leaving your cookware and utensils looking brand-new.

2. Baking Soda Magic

Baking soda is a jack-of-all-trades and master of all. It is abrasive and can be used for scrubbing and scouring dirt and lifting heavy stains. There are so many ways to use baking soda in your everyday cleaning.

1. Mix baking soda and water to form a paste to scrub grout lines. Scrub away with a toothbrush.
2. To remove coffee and tea stains from your favorite mug, sprinkle baking soda on the stain and gently scrub with a damp sponge.
3. To revive your oven racks, soak them in a tub with baking soda and hot water for a few hours. Then, scrub with a brush.
4. To remove stains and freshen your toilet bowl, sprinkle baking soda and let it rest for a few minutes before scrubbing.
5. To clean your oven, pots, pans, and other cookware, mix baking soda and water to form a paste. Apply it and let it rest for about 30 minutes. Then, scrub away the residue.
6. To deodorize your mattress, shoes, and trashcan, generously sprinkle some baking soda and let it sit. After some time, dust away the powder from your shoes and mattress before using them.

Note: Avoid using baking soda on easily scratched surfaces such as aluminum and glass.

3. Banana Peel for Silverware Shine

With time, silver develops black film or dark stains due to oxidation, making your silverware lose its luster. Thankfully, banana peels can revive them. For your banana peel silver cleaning, buff the silverware with the inside of your banana peel. Leave to sit for a while and then wipe off. You could also blend banana peels with water to form a paste. Apply this to your silverware and leave it to sit for a while. Gently wipe off afterward.

4. Coffee Grounds Odor Absorber 

Coffee grounds are a staple to eliminate unwanted smells in your living space. It has a strong, rich aroma that perfumes the air and contains nitrogen, which helps neutralize odors quickly. Simply put some coffee grounds into different containers and set them at various corners around your home.

Everyday Items Turned Cleaning Superheroes

1. Sock Dusting 

Ever wondered what to do with your mismatched socks? Well, we found a use for them. They can serve as great dusting mitts. All you need to do is slip the clean socks onto your hands. You’ll be surprised at how fast dusting goes by when all you have to do is rub your hands all over the item.

2. Toothpaste for Tiles

Toothpaste is excellent for cleaning your teeth, but do you know what else it is great for cleaning? You guessed it – Tiles! Toothpaste tile cleaning does wonders for dull and dirty tiles. Simply mix with lukewarm water to form a paste. Apply to the tiles and gently scrub with a brush or cloth. Afterward, rinse and dry. It can also remove scuffs, black marks, and light scratches from linoleum floors while adding some much-needed shine.

3. Ketchup 

Yup, things are getting more interesting. While ketchup is excellent for polishing off a plate of French fries, it is also good for polishing tarnished silver and brass items. The acid in the tomatoes reacts with the tarnish and gets rid of it. For your ketchup polishing, generously apply ketchup to your silver or brass item. Let it sit for about an hour, rinse off, and then buff it with a dry rag.

4. Mayo for Removing Pesky Stickers

It’s weird to use mayo on anything other than bread, but word on the street is that it’s suitable for sticker removal. Removing stickers from jars, containers, and other surfaces can often be a nightmare. However, mayo promises to make the process easier. Slather some mayo onto the sticker and leave for about 15 minutes to an hour before wiping it away. How long you let it sit depends on the strength of the sticker.

Unusual Items For Uncommon Tasks

1. Hair Dryer for Water Rings

Water rings and marks on your wood surface can be downright annoying. Your hair dryer can remove these stains in a few simple steps. Set the dryer to medium and hold a few centimeters away from the mark. Buff the stain while simultaneously applying heat with a cloth or napkin.

2. Painter’s Tape for Crumbs

Food crumbs are a frequent occurrence if you have kids and pets. Painter’s tape can quickly come to your rescue, especially if no broom is around. Simply apply the tape to the crumbs, rip it off, and dispose of it in the trash.

3. Vodka Disinfectant 

Like other alcohols, vodka also has excellent disinfectant properties, as it can kill germs and other microbes. You don’t need to pull out the expensive stuff to make your vodka disinfectant spray. Just look for the cheapest, highest-proof vodka that you can find. Mix ¾ vodka and ¼ water in a spray bottle. You can add a few drops of essential oils for a soothing fragrance.

4. Club Soda and Carpets 

While club soda is a refreshing addition to your drinks and cocktails, it is also a great first response for spills and stains on your carpet. It is used to lift liquid stains from carpet and other fabrics, such as wine and coffee spills, primarily if used immediately. Club soda for carpet cleaning works because of its carbonation. The aeration lifts stains and prevents them from settling down into the fibers of your carpet.

Unexpected Tech Solutions 

1. Dishwasher for Platic Toys

Kids' toys are a home for several germs. This is no wonder, as they are often dragged through dirt and other unsanitary places. It is therefore recommended to sanitize toys at least weekly. 

Stuffed toys can be washed in the washing machine. Dishwasher toy cleaning takes care of your kid’s plastic toys. Put them into the dishwasher on a gentle wash-rinse cycle. Be careful not to use heat throughout the process to prevent the toys from melting.

2. Keyboard Cleaning with Sticky Notes 

Food crumbs, dirt, and debris can get stuck between your computer keyboards with constant use. You can easily handle your keyboard cleaning with sticky notes. Fold the sticky note in half, with the sticky side facing outward. Then, run it between the keys. Any dirt lodged there will stick to the note.

Finally… Laundry Hacks!

1. Tennis Ball Dryer Booster

The tennis ball dryer hack is one that everyone should know. Adding a few tennis balls to your laundry while in the dryer keeps your clothes circulating properly.  This keeps your comforters and pillows fluffy, prevents wrinkles from setting in your clothes, and speeds up drying time.

Just make sure the ball is clean, doesn’t remove any dye, and your dryer temperature isn’t high enough to actually melt the balls. Another alternative to this is dryer balls. They’re basically the same as tennis balls, just made of different materials. 

2. Aluminum Foil for Static Cling 

When your clothes are in the dryer, static can build up, causing them to stick to each other. A tight ball or two of aluminum foil thrown into the dryer with your laundry eliminates static cling, separating your clothes properly.

These seemingly crazy cleaning tips will leave your home looking and smelling wonderful at a very low cost to you and the environment. Don’t forget to share them with your family and friends. If you know any other weird cleaning hacks, make sure to share them with us as well ☺.