It can sometimes feel as if you could spend the rest of your life cleaning and organizing your home and never finish everything on your to-do list. It is important to note that just because you’re limited on time doesn’t mean you have to abandon those tasks that you desperately want to finish. Whether you’re seeking to get your house spotless in a hurry or simply want to add some aesthetic appeal to your space, there’s a simple method to accomplish all of these goals while saving time.
We’ve compiled a list of incredible home hacks with the help of experts that will enhance your life faster than you can say, “Do we have room in the budget for a housekeeper?”. So go on, take a look! Number 3 is super helpful.
1. Unclogging Drains With Coffee
Whether your kitchen sink is overflowing or your tub won’t drain after yet another at-home haircut, there’s an easy fix that doesn’t require a trip to the store. “Coffee grounds can be mixed with dish soap and boiling water to unclog drains,” says Alex Azoury, creator and CEO of Home Grounds. Azoury suggests combining the grinds with soap and pouring the mixture down your drain, followed by a long pour of boiling water, which will break up whatever is obstructing your pipes.
2. Using Leftover Coffee Grounds As Degreaser
Have some coffee grounds left over from your morning pour-over? Make use of them to get rid of the ring around the tub. “Rub some coffee grounds into the grease or soap and it’ll gently buff off any residue,” says Azoury. Rinse off the mixture with lukewarm-to-warm water afterwards and voila! Here you have yourself a squeaky-clean tub.
3. Using Essential Oils To Polish Furniture
What if you don’t have any furniture polish on hand? It’s no problem! Essential oils, according to Jane Wilson of Fantastic Cleaners Melbourne, are excellent for reviving wood furniture. “You can use lemon essential oil to quickly polish any dark wood and effectively clean stains and spots.” Tea tree oil, according to Wilson, is another effective furniture polish that simultaneously serves as a mosquito repellent. She does warn, however, against employing this food preparation surface method because many essential oils are not healthy to consume.
4. Removing Small Furniture Scuffs With Toothpaste
From time to time, minor scratches appear in the coatings of our furniture. However, before you spend hundreds of dollars having your couch refinished, try removing the markings with toothpaste. Rub the scrape in a circular motion with a pea-sized amount of non-gel paste until it rubs out, then wipe away the rest with a moist towel.
5. Removing Candle Wax From Furniture Using Ice Cubes
If you accidentally spill candle wax on a piece of furniture, don’t try to scrape it off since you can harm the finish. Fill a plastic bag halfway with ice cubes, place it over the wax, and leave it to sit for a few minutes. You can easily pick up the wax once it has cooled and solidified without damaging the finish or fabric of your furniture.
6. Removing Candle Wax From Carpet Using A Steam Iron
Have you ever spilled hot wax on your shaggy carpet? It’s not a big problem! Simply place a paper bag over the wax and use a steam iron to lightly run over the area. The steam will assist in lifting the wax from the carpet and causing it to stick to the bag.
7. Using A Hairdryer To Get Crayon Marks Off Walls
If your children enjoy using your white walls as their own personal crayon canvas, don’t fret. Simply use a hairdryer to melt the crayon’s wax on the troublesome area of the wall, then wipe any marks away using a soft cloth.
8. Using Cooking Oil To Remove Sticky Label Residue
Anyone who has ever taken a label off a jar knows how aggravating it can be when the sticky place stays. Thankfully, cooking oil makes getting rid of that residue a breeze. Rub the sticky area with a cotton pad and some cooking oil, then let it sit for a few minutes. The oil will readily wipe away once it has soaked in.