If you’re a busy mumpreneur, the last thing you probably want to do is spend your precious time on your cleaning. Dusting, hoovering and other household tasks can seem like a big chore, so aside from calling in professionals like Molly Maid, here are ten cleaning hacks that’ll make your life easier.
1. Wash up as you go
It might sound simple but washing up as you go is a lot easier than spending thirty minutes trying to remove dried Weetabix from a bowl. And if something does get stuck – soak it in warm soapy water and deal with it when you get home.
2. Use lemon juice as an all-purpose cleaner
If the work surfaces could do with a clean but you’re out of all-purpose cleaning spray – fear not. Simply squirt half a lemon onto a dishcloth and use it as a natural disinfectant.
3. Unblock drains with baking soda and vinegar
Is the water taking ages to drain after a bath or shower? If so, put three heaped teaspoons of baking soda down the plughole followed by several glugs of white vinegar. Wait for the fizzing to stop before flushing through with warm water.
4. Use baking soda to neutralise smells
Believe it or not, baking soda can neutralise bad smells so if your fridge is a little on the stinky side, then pop a small bowl of this raising agent inside to get rid of the pong – you can even put some next to your shoe rack or cat litter tray.
5. Use olive oil as furniture polish
Shopping for cleaning products can be difficult if you’ve little time to spare – after all you probably don’t want to be picking up bleach on a Saturday. The good news is you’ve probably got some olive oil lying around so use this as a natural furniture polish.
6. Use salt as an abrasive
Got a tough stain you want to remove? Out of scourers? Then use salt as an abrasive. This works on many cast iron surfaces including pots and pans, so why not give it a go?
7. Use salt and lemons to clean your chopping board
Salt can also be used to clean chopping boards, which, as you probably know tend to get very dirty (and sometimes smelly). Simply sprinkle some onto half of a chopped lemon and scrub away.
8. Clean the oven with vinegar and baking soda
Shop-bought oven cleaners tend to be full of toxic chemicals which can sting your throat and burn your eyes. They’re expensive too, but there is an alternative – vinegar and baking soda. That’s right, pour some vinegar over the inside of the oven before sprinkling in some baking soda and let the chemical reaction work its magic before wiping clean.
9. Use an old toothbrush to clean your keyboard
Incredibly, researchers have discovered that computer keyboards contain far more bacteria than a toilet seat – with swabs even detecting faecal matter. With this in mind, try scrubbing your keyboard gently with a slightly wet toothbrush.
10. Clean your grater with potato
If you love grated cheese, carrots, apple and such like but hate all the bits that get stuck in the grater, try cleaning it using a raw potato. This will remove anything that’s lodged in the small holes allowing you to prepare your meals quicker.
With these hacks, cleaning doesn’t have to be a chore so go ahead and give them a go.
Love it, Helen! Definitely going to try the oven tip as I hate using the shop bought oven cleaners.
Very useful tips! Thanks for sharing! For neutralizing smells I use vinegar: 50:50 vinegar and water and a 1/2 tsp baking soda. It works great, it removes the bad smell instantly! I will try out your tips as soon as possible! Greets!