Six Household Items That Can Be A Part Of Your DIY Cleaning Projects

Did you know that you don’t have to spend a lot of money on stocking up on multiple surface cleaners or on artificial fragrances to make your kitchen smell a little better? Here are some household items that work surprisingly well in solving most of your daily problems!

Did you know that baking soda is probably one of the most useful products that you could stock your shelves with? Apart from helping you bake, it does a whole lot of cleaning jobs that will make your jaw drop. And baking soda is just one item among so many others that can solve those little issues at home. Here is a list that can help you start some DIY home cleaning projects.

What’s That Smell?

Have you lately found a rather strange odor somewhere in your home? And when you did investigate, did you realise that it was coming from your old microwave oven? Well, here’s an easy solution to get rid of that smell – mix half a cup of water with half a cup of white vinegar in a microwave-safe bowl and boil it on high. When you eventually open the door you will realize that the smell has vanished. What’s better, the steam will also loosen up any food splatter on the interiors of your microwave.

The father of natural, eco-friendly cleaners, vinegar is a water-based solution containing about five percent acetic acid. It can also be used to deodorize dishwashers, cutting boards, garbage disposals, wash fruits and to even soften clothes.

The Cola Effect

If you think soft drinks, specifically the colas, are just for you to drink, then think again. They can be used all around the house as effective cleaners. It works great on rust, especially on car bumpers. Just pour some cola on a piece of foil and give your car bumper a good rub. What you’ll get at the end of it is a clean, new-looking bumper. While it works great with brass, copper and other metal alloys, cola may have a corrosive effect on iron, tin and steel.

The phosphoric acid in colas puts up a great fight against grease, making colas a great way to clean baked-on grease from your pots and pans. Simply warm up the cola directly on your sauce pan on a low flame and let it sit for anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour. Then bring out the scour pad and watch the grease come away with very little of your elbow grease required. Though no cola company actually endorses these alternative uses, they haven’t denounced it either and the internet is full of ways in which colas can double up as cleaning solutions.

Baking Soda To The Rescue

What other ingredient do you know of that can bake you a loaf of bread, soak up bad odors, and sweeten a drain? This wallet-friendly ingredient is probably the best solution to most of your household troubles.

It’s greatly efficient when used as a cleaner and deodorizer. Just mix half a cup of water with four tablespoons of baking soda and voila, you have your own multi-purpose cleaner! You can use it to give dirty plastic containers a new life, clean carpets, remove pet odors, clean kitchen counters and appliances, clear a clogged drain, remove urine stains on mattresses and even shine silver! Wasn’t that a long list? Here’s another tip. In case your child uses crayons on your walls, you now know what you can use to remove them with absolutely no hassle.  

A Little Bit Of Toothpaste

If you’re like everybody else, you think of the toothpaste as capable of cleaning just your mouth. However, the humble toothpaste isn’t just for cleaning your teeth and keeping your breath fresh: There’s a long list of other things that can be cleaned using toothpaste too. Do you have scratches on your prescription glasses? Just rub some toothpaste on it and wipe it with a wet cloth.

The same thing goes for scratches on your car. Rub the affected area with toothpaste and let it soak in. Remove with a clean towel. Your leather shoes looking too scuffed up? Rub some toothpaste over the scuff marks and wipe away with a soft cloth. Or, you could use toothpaste to keep your kitchen and bathroom chromeware shining like new – just rub the chrome surface with some toothpaste and use a dry cloth to polish it.   

Toothpaste is an ingredient that’s in constant supply at any home and can be used to clean any metal effectively. It’s also easier than going out to buy something way more expensive but with probably the same ingredients. The tartar remover and the fine abrasive in non-gel toothpastes are the cleaning agents that help us remove dirt from places other than our mouths.

A Pinch Of Salt

Of course, salt has more uses than just being a flavor agent! And of course, this has to take the crown for being one of the least-expensive ingredients in any home. Simple table salt can be used to deodorize and clean counters, carpets, copper and so many more things! Massage salt and vinegar onto your coffee mugs to remove those stubborn coffee stains.

When you want to clean your iron skillet, heat a bit of oil and add a quarter cup of salt to it. Use this paste to scrub away all the grime on your skillet. Has hot water or a hot-to-touch dish scarred the surface of your wooden dining table? Fret not! Just mix a pinch of salt with some salad oil and smear it on the marred spot. Then simply buff the spot while wiping away the paste with a soft cloth. Worried about all that soot building up inside your fireplace? Throw in a fistful of salt into your fireplace every now and then for a cheerful yellow flame and loosened soot that’s a lot easier to clean.

Essential Oils

Yes, these oils are pleasant to smell and also have great healing and cleaning properties, making them perfect for use within the household for various purposes. Two teaspoons of Tea Tree oil and two cups of water will give you a great toilet cleaner that keeps your toilet bowl looking and smelling fresh.

In case your vacuum smells, just pour a few drops of your favourite oil onto a ball of cotton and vacuum it. Got some stubborn grease to clean up in the kitchen? Orange oil is great on grease and leaves the entire room smelling citrus-y. Just pour some drops and scrub your stove top. Then, watch that grease melt away. If you’ve ever had trouble taking off something sticky off a jar or other object, using lemon essential oil is an easy fix. Just drop a few drops on the sticker area, rub it around and then the sticker will scrape right off.

Try And Test

There are a number of other ingredients (like lemon or banana peels) that are just as useful in cleaning things around your home. Take the time to read up on old practices of making cleaners at home and see what suits your home and needs best. These are all natural, chemical-free ways of keep your home clean and safe and are a better option than the concentrated chemical bottles you buy at the store.