15 Cleaning tips for Your Home using household ingredients. 

Life has turned so hectic these days that we are left pressed for time. In between rushing to work and making time for family, we often forgo cleaning our houses. And a dirty, cluttered house can cause us unnecessary anxiety.
The need of the hour is to, therefore, find shortcuts, which will allow us to clean our houses faster and in an efficient manner.
And if you are one of those, who seek to have a clean and tidy house and wish to put in minimal efforts to attain it, then you have come to the right place.
we look at 25 brilliant DIY house cleaning and organizing hacks, which will allow you to clean your house in express time and also help save some money.
The various cleaning and organizing hacks have been designed to help you prepare your own cleaning products using household ingredients.

1-Kitchen cabinet cleaning 

Kitchen cabinets have to bear the brunt of food spills, dust, and dirt, which often leaves them dirty and unhygienic. Here are a few cleaning tips for you to try on a regular basis.
•Remove all boxes present in the cabinet and vacuum it to get rid of dry food spills and cobwebs. Mix 2 tablespoons dish liquid with half a cup of water and use a sponge to dip and wipe inside the cabinet. Follow it up with a dry sponge rub.
•To get rid of the sticky grime that can accumulate on the cabinet doors, mix 2 tablespoons baking soda with 10 drops of mineral oil. Use a toothbrush to dip in it and scrub.
•To get rid of damp smells inside the cabinet, mix 2 parts vodka with 3 parts vinegar and use a sponge to dip and wipe. Follow it up with a dry sponge wipe.
•In order to safeguard your cabinets from spills, place cling film below the boxes or aluminum foil, to help catch the spills.

2 Kitchen sink cleaning.

To attain a clean kitchen sink, here are a few things that you can do on a daily or weekly basis, depending on how much they get used.
•To clean steel/ porcelain sinks, sprinkle some sea salt and squeeze 2 lemons on top. Allow it to stay overnight and the next morning, scrub over the salt using the lemon peels. Wash with warm water.
•To clean a very dirty sink, you can mix 2 parts hydrogen peroxide (35%) and 1 part baking soda and use a toothbrush to dip and scrub.
•To get rid of scuff marks, dip a cotton swab or a Q tip in mineral oil and rub over the scrubs. They will disappear without a trace. If you have large marks then you can add in a little white toothpaste to it if you like.
•To unclog a sink, simply drop in a couple of Alka Seltzer or Pepto Bismol tablets. The sink will not just unclog, but also leave behind a pleasant smell.

3-Cleaning for Tiles/ counters

•To get rid of the sticky grime that forms on top of tiles, dip a sponge in mineral oil and wipe over the tiles. You can also dip steel wool in oil and scrub.
•An alternative to the previous method is to place butter paper on top of the tile and place a hot iron over it. The iron will melt the grime and stick to the paper. Simply lift the paper and discard it. Make sure that you prepare small pieces of paper in advance.
•If you do not have time to spare then simply invest in small pieces of sandpaper (50-80 grain) and use it to scrub away the grime. You can also use a pumice stone if you like.
•To get rid of scuffs on the tiles, make a paste using baking soda and toothpaste and dip a piece of cotton in it and wipe over the scuffs.
•Once all the grime is off, use a sponge to dip in a solution made of 2 parts hydrogen peroxide and 3 parts water to help bleach the tiles.
•You can make a mix of baking soda and vinegar and apply it over the countertop in your kitchen. Allow it to stand for 30 minutes and then use a wet sponge to wipe it away.

4-Kitchen appliances cleaning 

•To clean the stove and grill, sprinkle baking soda over it and dip a sponge in vinegar to wipe. It will not just help you get rid of burnt stains but also help you in getting rid of bad odors.
•To clean the insides of the oven, sprinkle sea salt at the bottom and drop 2 Pepto bismol tablets in a cup of water. Pour the water over the salt and allow it to stay overnight. Use a dry sponge to scrub it and your oven will be as good as new.
•To clean silverware, place 2 tablespoons of wood ash in a bowl and add in a few drops of lemon. Dip a toothbrush in the mix and scrub the silverware.
•To keep the fridge smelling fresh, place a small bowl of baking soda in both the fridge and the freezer compartment. You can also place dryer sheets under the shelves to help keep the fridge clean.
•To clean the toaster, first, dust the outsides using a pastry brush and then make a mix of 2 parts cream of tartar and 2 parts 1 part water and use it to clean the outside of the toaster.
•To clean the dishwasher, empty a small pack of Tang or Kool-Aid (lemon or orange) and run the washer for 1 cycle. Alternately, fill two small bowls with vinegar and drop a couple of orange or lemon peels in it. Place one on the top shelf and one on the bottom and run the machine for 1 cycle.
•To clean a blender jar, simply drop in 2 tablespoons of dish liquid and a little water and whizz for a couple of seconds.
•To clean the insides of your oven, simply lace wet tissues inside and run it for a couple of minutes.

5-Cleaning for couch

•To get rid of all the hair and other dry dust from the crevices of your couch, cover a small twig with double sides tape and use it to run across the length of the couch. All the dust and dirt will stick to it.
•To get rid of stains from pale-colored sofas, use a mix of baking soda and vinegar to wipe it away.
•You can also use a mix of hydrogen peroxide and water to clean a white couch.
•To remove stains from leather couches, use a coarse sandpaper or pumice stone. If the stain is small then you can also use a nail file.
•To make an instant couch freshener, mix equal parts rose essential oil and lavender essential oil and add in a couple of drops of lukewarm water. Use a sponge to dip and wipe the couch or simply place the mix in a spray bottle and spray over the couch.
•To get rid of food stains, use equal parts vinegar and dish liquid and use a sponge to dip and wipe. The stains will disappear. But if it is an oily stain then sprinkle some talcum powder over it before using the above method to clean it.

6-Floor cleaning 

•To clean the floor mix half cup vinegar and half cup hydrogen peroxide and place it in a bucket. Fill the bucket with warm water and use a mop to dip and wipe. If you do not find hydrogen peroxide then you can substitute it with 1 cup of lemon juice.
•To get rid of extremely tough stains on the floor, mix 1 part nail polish remover with 2 parts water and pour it over the stain. Allow it to stay for an hour and wipe away with a damp cloth or sponge.
•To get rid of oil stains on marble/ granite flooring make a paste out of baking soda and vinegar and apply it over the stain. Allow it to stand for 30 minutes to an hour before rubbing over it using a wet sponge.
•One of the best ways to sparkle floors is to add in 1 teaspoon baby oil and 2 teaspoons baby shampoo to the water before using a mop to dip and wipe.
•You can disinfectant your floors by pouring 2 cups of alcohol in a bucket and adding in about 5 cups of warm water. Use a mop to dip and wipe.

7-Cleaning for carpets

•Simply run the pet comb against the grain of the carpet to get rid of all the dust and dirt.
•If there is a lot of dirt then you can use a window squeegee to push all the dirt away. You can also wrap the double-sided tape around a twig and use it to wipe away all the dust from the carpet.
•A good way to get rid of vomit or food spills is to sprinkle some flour or powder over it and allow it to coagulate. Once it does, use a vacuum cleaner to suck it all up.
•You can disinfect your carpet by placing 10 drops eucalyptus oil and 5 drops clove oil in a small spray bottle and add in 2 tablespoons of water to spray over the carpet. This will effectively get rid of insects such as ticks and fleas and also keep mosquitoes at bay.

8: Cleaning for windows/ ceilings/ ac/ fans/ walls.

•To clean fans, place an old pillowcase over the blade and pull it outwards to collect the dust.
•You can clean air conditioners by using pressure cans to blow out the dust and dirt.
•A brilliant way to get rid of dust and cobwebs from the ceiling is to apply some baby, mineral, or any other roil on top of a helium balloon and allowing it to float to the ceiling. It will stick to the balloon and you can wipe it with a cloth or tissue and repeat.
•To get rid of dust and dirt on window grills, simply use the blow function in your vacuum cleaner to blow it all out of the house.
•To get rid of stains from wallpapers, take a small piece of freshly baked bagel and rub it over the paper.
•To remove stains from the wall, you can dip a small piece of sponge or tissue in a bowl containing 2 parts lemon oil and 1 part vinegar.

9-Closet cleaning

 •To clean your closet thoroughly, remove all the clothes and vacuum it. You can then dip a sponge in a mix containing 2 parts dish liquid and 1 part vinegar and use it to clean the insides.
•Simply place a bottle of shower gel in the closet with the top open, in order to promote a pleasant smell. You can alternately place an unopened bar of soap under a pile of clothes.
•To prevent mold from forming, place a few dryer sheets below your clothes. They will absorb the moisture and prevent mold from the building.
•To get rid of dirt and dust from drawers, roll a piece of double-sided tape around a twig and use it to roll inside the drawer. All the dust and dirt will stick to it.
•You can alternately use a dry sponge to corner all the dust and then dab a wet sponge or one dipped in baby oil to successfully remove it.

10-Cleaning for beds/ mattresses

•Remove or lift the mattress every now and then to vacuum the bed. This will prevent dust from accumulating and also help remove insects and their eggs.
•To polish your bed, mix 2 parts baby oil and 1 part water and use a sponge to dip and wipe.
•To get rid of the dampness from mattresses, sprinkle some talcum powder over it and allow it to completely soak up the moisture. You can then vacuum all the powder.
•You can get rid of the wet smell from mattresses by mixing 2 parts flavored vodka and lemon juice. Use a sponge to dip and wipe.
•To remove bed wet stains from mattresses, sprinkle a mix of coarse sea salt and baking soda over it. Once it absorbs the stain, vacuum it.
•To get rid of small pieces of glass, you can make a little dough by mixing flour and water and using it to pick up the dirt. You can also make a small ball out of play-doh to do the same.

11-Cleaning for clothes.

•Clothes stains are often some of the most unsightly and hated stains in the world as they can cause you to not wear your favorite outfits. In this section, we look at the various ways in which you can get rid of the stains from your clothes.
•You can also use nail polish remover to do so, but be careful so as to not allow the stain to spread.
•To remove ink stains from clothes, you must pour some milk over the stain and then use a slice of fresh lemon, to rub over it. The lemon will cause the milk to curdle and the process will help in loosening the stain. You can then wipe it away using a Q tip or wet sponge.
•To get rid of sweat stains from collars and armpits, you can dip a small sponge in hydrogen peroxide and use it to wipe over the stain. The stain and the germs will vanish.
•If you urgently need to wear clothes that are not washed then you can either spray some vodka over it or simply use a sponge to dip in it and wipe the surface of your clothes.
•A brilliant way to wear unwashed jeans is to pop them in the freezer for 30 minutes. The cold will kill all the germs present on it and also remove the unpleasant odor.
•A good way to clean leather jackets is to use close grain sandpaper to scrub all the dirt and stains away. You can then dip a sponge in baby oil and polish your jacket. You can also use glass polish to clean your leather jackets.
•You can make a mix of baking soda, toothpaste and lemon juice to clean your jewelry.
•If you are in a hurry and need to wear an unwashed dress urgently then simply dab some vodka on it.
•To remove alcohol stains from your clothes, pour some white wine over it and allow it to stand for a few minutes. Pop it into the washing machine and wash as usual.
•One great way to remove sticky stains like dried chewing gum is to place a piece of butter paper over it and place a hot iron on top. The gum will melt and stick to the paper. Alternately, you can sprinkle some salt over it and place the iron over the salt. The stain will stick to the salt. In the process, you will also end up cleaning the surface of your iron, as it will cause the stain on it to stick to the top surface of the salt.
•Alternately, you can make a mix of vinegar and baking soda and use a piece of steel wool to dip and wipe.
•To wash baby and infant clothes, place them in a bucket containing 5 cups water and 1 cup vinegar. Allow it to soak for 20 minutes and rinse in clean water.

12-Cleaning for shoe

•A mixture of hydrogen peroxide and some dish liquid can be used to clean canvas shoes. And if they are extremely dirty, then you can soak them in a bucket containing 5 cups water and ½ cup dish liquid. But be sure to dust away all the dry dust and dirt using a paintbrush.
•You can soak your socks in a jar containing a little water and vodka to prevent them from smelling bad. You can also place a small tissue paper inside your shoe to absorb the sweat.
•Use a piece of sandpaper or a nail filer to simply file away all the dirt and dust from beneath your suede shoes. You can then polish it using some body lotion.

13-Cleaning  for shower/ tub

Showers and bathtubs tend to quite dirty owing to their regular use and exposure to soap scum and oils. Here are the various ways in which you can keep your showers and bathtubs clean.

•To clean shower heads, unscrew it and place it in a plastic bag containing vinegar. You can also tie the bag around the showerhead using rubber bands.
•To get rid of the germs from the shower area, you can mix together baking powder and borax and sprinkle it all over the bathroom. The borax is capable of getting rid of all sorts of disease-causing germs.
•You can get rid of rust stains in tubs by pouring a little vinegar over the stain and scrubbing using a piece of steel wool.
•To successfully remove tough stains, sprinkle a little coarse sea salt and citric acid crystals over it and squeeze a little lemon over it. Allow the bubbles to settle before using steel wool to scrub it away.
•To prevent the bathtub from developing rings, you can add in a few drops of baby oil or mineral oil and then fill it with water.
•You can prevent platforms from becoming dirty by placing cling film over it. It will also prevent cans from creating rusty rings. You can also apply transparent polish under each can to prevent rust from forming and staining the platforms.

14-Cleaning for taps/ mirrors.

•To remove hard water stains from taps, you can mix baking soda and vinegar and use a toothbrush to dip and scrub.
•To remove and prevent fingerprints from appearing on taps and faucets, you can wipe over it using wax paper.
•To get rid of rust stains, you can dip a sponge in lemon juice and wipe over it.
•To clean dirty mirrors, you can use a piece of newspaper to wipe it horizontally from left to right.
•To prevent mirrors from getting foggy, you can apply a thin coat of shaving cream over it and spread it using a piece of tissue. You can then wipe it away and your mirror will not get foggy for a minimum of 3 weeks.
•To get rid of scuff marks on mirrors, use a little toothpaste to dab over it and wipe using a wet sponge.

15-Cleaning hacks for the garden.

•You can keep your garden clean by investing in a small vacuum. It will help you suck up all the dried leaves and also allow you to blow all the dust and mud into place.
•Be sure to trim your plants every now and then to improve the aesthetics of the garden.
•You can place plates under each pot to help catch the spare water. Once you water a plant, wait for the water to release and then pour the same water into another pot.
•You can use lemon rinds as makeshift nurseries.
•You can clean old rusty tools by soaking it in a tub containing linseed oil and black tea.
•You can add a little baking soda to your tomato plant to make the tomatoes sweeter.

16-Cleaning for garage

•To get rid of the oil from your garage, sprinkle a little talcum powder over it and allow it to soak it up. You can wait for it to coagulate and then use a vacuum to suck it up.
•If the stain is old and extremely dried then you can place a small piece of blotting paper over it and use a hot iron to run over it. The iron will help in melting the stain and the paper will soak it.
•Use a mixture of warm water and alcohol and use a sponge to dip and wipe all the surfaces in your garage. This mix can even get rid of tough stains such as rust and grease, which can be tough to remove.
•To get rid of the bad smell in your garage, you can place a bowl full of instant coffee powder in the center of the garage. Alternately, you can also mix a couple of drops of rose essential oil in half liter water and spray it all over the garage.
•You can mop the floor of the garage using a mix of lemon juice, baby oils, rubbing alcohol and warm water to keep it clean.