Cleaning Hacks to Add to Your Bag of Tricks

Clean Your Cabinets ...

... with your vacuum.

Use your vacuum's brush attachment to pick up dust and crumbs inside. Outside, concentrate on the area around the hardware using a cloth dampened with warm water and Murphy Oil Soap.

-- Debra Johnson, merrymaids.com

Use Your Dishwasher...

...to clean light fixtures.

Run removable glass pieces, such as domes, through the dishwasher. Run a drying cycle, too, to reduce spotting.

-- Amanda Thomas, moxie-girl.com

Use a pillowcase ...

... to clean a ceiling fan.

Slip a pillowcase over ceiling fan blades, one at a time, then wipe. Dust falls into the pillowcase, not on your furniture and floors. 

-- Leslie Reichert, greencleaningcoach.com

Use old socks ...

... to clean blinds.

Put an old sock on one hand and spritz it with water. Grip each panel of the blind and slide sock-covered hand from one end to the other, removing dust from both sides of the slat at once.

-- Melissa Maker, cleanmyspace.com

Use a Paint Roller...

... to clean popcorn ceilings.

Roll a damp high-nap paint roller over the ceiling to pick up dust and cobwebs without knocking down pieces of the ceiling the way sweeping would. 

Spot-Clean Fabrics ...

... with baby wipes.

Baby wipes are surprisingly effective because they contain very little moisture, have gentle cleaning agents, and dry quickly. Just don't confuse them with cleaning wipes, which might contain bleach or other harmful chemicals.

-- Derek Christian, cleaningbusinesstoday.com

Use Tennis Balls ...

... to launder comforters.

You can machine-wash most comforters in front-loaders, as long as the comforter fills only half the washer. Dry with tennis balls to keep the stuffing from collecting in one corner. 

-- Amanda Thomas, moxie-girl.com

Clean Window Treatments Faster By ...

... not taking them down.

Instead of taking them down, just shake them out to remove loose dust. Then vacuum from top to bottom using the upholstery attachment. 

Have Your Kids ...

... clean your mattress for you.

Have your kids jump on the bed to bring up dust from inside. Then vacuum the mattress top. (If your vacuum has a beater bar, turn the bar off first.)

-- Mary Findley, goclean.com

Use Lemon Oil and Vinegar...

...to get woodwork that shine.

To remove dust and dirt buildup from woodwork and leave it looking shiny, wipe down using a mix of 1 part lemon oil to 1 part white vinegar. 

Clean Your Dishwasher...

... with little effort.

Add 1 cup baking soda to the bottom of your empty dishwasher and let it sit overnight. Run the hottest possible cycle using vinegar instead of detergent to clean and deodorize your dishwasher. Remember to remove debris from the filter. Bye-bye, dirt and odors.

-- Melissa Maker, cleanmyspace.com

Remove Hard Water Stains...

... by walking away. 

But first, soak paper towels in undiluted vinegar and place on the buildup. Leave overnight, then scrub and rinse.