via DIY Maniacs
Don't believe me? Check out these 15 things you've been cleaning wrong your entire life:
1. Cutting boards
via Pillsbury
Dish
soap doesn't quite cut it when it comes to cutting boards. Wooden
cutting boards, especially, can trap food debris in their nicks and
cuts, so it's important to do a thorough job. Halve a lemon and grab
some kosher salt to rub along the board to dislodge the particles. Then,
wash with soap and water.2. Cookie sheets
via One Good Thing By Jillee
Scrubbing
with dish soap isn't going to remove all the baked-on grossness. Make
up a mixture of 1/4 cup baking soda and enough hydrogen peroxide to make
a nice paste and then rub it all over your cookie sheets and baking
pans. Let it sit for a few hours and then rinse off. Like new!3. Shower head
via A Real-Life Housewife
A
quick spray and a wipe-down won't de-clog your shower head or really
clean it. Here's how to really clean it: pour white vinegar in a plastic
bag and secure it around your shower head for an hour. Wipe it clean
with a wet cloth and it'll be good as new.4. Mattress
via Life in Ryans'
Mattresses
are a tough one to clean, but they don't have to be! First, vacuum your
mattress to get rid of any crumbs. Then, sprinkle baking soda to cover
the entire top of the mattress. Let it sit for a few hours and then
vacuum the baking soda away. That's it!
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5. Cheese grater
via Rachel vs. Ramen
I
can't count the number of sponges I've shredded while trying to clean
my cheese grater. There is a better way! Right after you've shredded
your cheese, grab a potato and start shredding. The oxalic acid of the
potato will quickly get that gunk and residue right off. And you'll have
shredded potatoes for hash browns!
6. Microwave
Stop
wasting energy scrubbing away at the nuked-on bits of food in your
microwave. Instead, fill a bowl with water and vinegar and microwave on
high for at least two minutes. Your microwave will get delightfully
steamy and all you'll have to do is wipe away the grime.
7. Toys
via Brady Lou Project Guru
Individually
hand-washing your kids' toys is such a pain - but there is a better
way. Round up all the hard plastic toys in the house and run them
through the dishwasher (just make sure they won't melt).
8. Coffee maker
via the kitchn
When
your coffee starts to taste funky, it's time to give it a thorough
clean. Here's how: fill your water chamber with half water, half
vinegar. Then run a half-brew cycle (no coffee grounds) and let it sit
for an hour. An hour later, finish the brew cycle. Empty your coffee pot
and then run a fresh water cycle and repeat a few times until you can
no longer smell the vinegar.
9. Blinds
via Keep Home Simple
Growing
up, we had a blinds attachment on our vacuum, but it was so ineffective
and took a ridiculous amount of time to use. This trick involves
dipping an old sock in a mixture of vinegar and water and wiping down
each individual blind slat. So easy! And to dry your blinds, just grab
the old sock's mate to dry them off.
10. Cast iron pans
via the kitchn
Believe
it or not, some people are still cleaning their cast iron with soap and
water. No! What you should really be doing is scrubbing with a mixture
of coarse salt and water to get rid of stubborn food residue. Then,
thoroughly dry and apply a light coat of oil before storing. It's as
easy as that.
11. Paintings
via The Brick House
This
seems like a tricky one, but you don't have to let your paintings get
dusty! Instead, rub half of a bagel over your painting to pick up all
the dust and grossness.
12. Blender
via Pretty Prudent
Have
you been taking the blender apart to clean it? Be a little lazy
instead. Rinse out your blender, and then fill it with hot water. Squirt
in a little dish soap and give it a whirl, and then rinse. Your blender
should be clean as ever!
13. Toothbrush
via Livestrong / Pohian Khouw / Demand Media
A
surprising number of us don't clean our toothbrushes regularly. Not
only do you have to replace your toothbrush every three months or so,
but you should regularly be cleaning it! Grab a clean cup and fill it
with white vinegar and stick your toothbrush inside. Let it sit for a
few hours and your toothbrush will be less disgusting.
14. Toaster
via A Real-Life Housewife
If
all you do to clean your toaster is give it a few shakes upside down,
you're doing it wrong. The outside of your toaster needs some TLC. So
grab some cream of tartar, some water, and get scrubbing so your toaster
starts looking fantastic again. (And for the inside? Some models have
pull-out drawers so you can remove crumbs easily.)
15. Oven
via Enlightened Consciousness
Do
you spend hours upon hours scrubbing your oven clean? Stop it! Instead,
make a paste using water and baking soda and spread it all around the
inside of your oven. Let it sit overnight, then take a wet rag to wipe
out as much of the baking soda mixture as possible. Next, spray some
vinegar on the inside of your oven and wipe down with a wet rag. Then
turn your oven on low for about 20 minutes to let it dry.
