The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and spring is around the corner. That means it is time to roll up your sleeves and whip your home into shape. Here is a list of nine creative cleaning hacks that don’t require spending a fortune on organizers and cleaning solutions!
Schedule smart: Before you get started, create a master list of every part of your home that you plan on attacking. It’s best to make this an old-fashioned physical list so you can post it somewhere you’ll see often — like the door of your fridge. Once you have every area listed, divide the chores according to the amount of time you estimate it will take to clean them. Make smaller sub-lists of 3-hour jobs, 1-hour jobs and 15-minute jobs.
DIY cleansers: Why blow your budget on pricey, toxic cleansers when you can make your own for so much less at home? Try these DIY solutions and hacks for all those hard-to-clean places around the house.
Steam-clean your microwave: Is your microwave plastered with hardened food stains? It’s time to make your appliance shine! Grab a microwave-safe bowl, fill it with 1-2 cups of water, 2 tablespoons of white vinegar, plus a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Heat it in the microwave for five minutes and then wipe those stains right off!
Wash your windows: Use one teaspoon of mild dishwashing soap added to several gallons of water. Pour your homemade solution into an empty spray bottle and use old newspapers to wipe away the grime.
Use coffee filters for your monitors and screens: Get rid of those fingerprints and dust particles on your computer monitors and TV screens. The gentle fibers in coffee filters will leave your screens sparkling clean!
Clean your shower heads with white vinegar: Fill a sandwich bag with white vinegar, and then use a rubber band to secure it around your shower head. Let it soak overnight. The water stains and calcium buildup should wash right off in the morning.
Use a lint roller to dust: Instead of sticking brushes and feather dusters into every little corner of your home, use a lint roller. Run the roller over your furniture, light fixtures, mantels and shelves. It will pick up all those tiny dust specks and leave you with cleaner surfaces in just minutes!
Use your dishwasher for more than just dishes: Stop scrubbing those tiny pieces of Lego and load up your dishwasher instead. You can also throw in your hairbrushes, pet dishes, refrigerator shelves, soap dishes, tweezers and drawer knobs.
Use a hair dryer to get rid of water rings: Is someone forgetting to use coasters? Let your coffee table look beautiful again by blasting a hair dryer over the water rings until they start to fade and disappear. You can also rub olive oil over the area to return the wood to its original shine.
In the spirit of de-cluttering, you should also work on organizing your finances! Start by switching to E-Statements, which enables you to receive your account statements safer and faster through email. Then, keep your finances intact with SeaComm’s online banking platform, NetTeller™, which allows you to schedule recurring payments through Bill Pay, set up account alerts, and track your spending through Personal Finance Manager (PFM). Finally, start building your rainy day fund with a SeaComm savings or club account. Click here to get started or call us at (800) 764-0566 – we are happy to help!