As most of us have spent an unprecedented time at home in 2020, more people than ever before have been trying to declutter, deep-clean, and simplify their domestic lives. While some have taken up baking, others have become obsessed with stress-cleaning since the pandemic started. The “others” in that last sentence is actually just us! But, we’re sure we’re not the only ones! We decided it would be beneficial for all to learn some of the hacks we’ve picked up along the way.
DIY fixes and home hacks are clever tricks to make all manner of tasks easier and to help solve tricky problems. From removing candle wax from furniture and fabric to turning your bathroom into a relaxing spa, here are our favorite home hacks and DIY fixes we now swear by.
Shower Meets Spa
Place some fresh eucalyptus on your shower head for an inexpensive way to achieve aromatherapy and relaxation. The steam from a hot shower releases the essential oils from this stress-reducing plant.
Sink Smells
This is probably common knowledge for most people, but if you’re new to garbage disposals, you need to know this home hack. If your sink or drain starts to smell a little funky or still smells like the dirty dish you cleaned, even after running water, a squirt of lemon or lime juice works like a charm.
If your garbage disposal needs a refresh, chop a lemon or lime into small wedges and grind those babies to a pulp in the disposal. So fresh! So clean!
Plan Ahead
Here’s a great cooking trick that can save you some serious cash if you cook with garlic often. Bulk prepare chopped garlic and preserve it in olive oil or neutral oil of your choosing. Buying those jars of chopped garlic is way more expensive than doing it yourself!
Peel a head of garlic and blitz it in a food processor (or finely chop it by hand). Place it in a jar with a lid and cover with olive oil and store the jar in the fridge. Not only will it keep your garlic good and ready to go, you also get the benefit of garlic-infused olive oil.
Bright Idea
If you live in a home encased in brick, it can be a challenge hanging strands of Christmas lights as the rough texture doesn’t allow much to stick. Hot tip! Use a glue gun! Make sure the lights are unplugged when you hang them!
Smell the Season
Scented candles can become very pricey. A wonderful way to infuse your home with seasonal scents is to simply heat up a pot. Throw cinnamon or vanilla or citrus zest into a pot of boiling water and reduce the temp to simmer. Your life will smell like a dream with this home hack!
Unclog with Coffee
“Coffee grounds can be mixed with dish soap and boiling water to unclog drains,” says Alex Azoury, founder and CEO of Home Grounds. Azoury recommends mixing the grounds with soap and adding the mixture into your drain, following it up with a lengthy pour of boiling water, the combination of which will break up whatever’s clogging your pipes.Â
Also, Get Rid of Rings
Do you have a pesky ring around your tub that won’t come clean? Coffee grounds are a home hack for this as well!
“Rub some coffee grounds into the grease or soap and it’ll gently buff off any residue,” Azoury suggests. Rinse off the mixture with warm water afterward and voila! A squeaky-clean tub.
Toothpaste Meets Wood
Wood is such a warm material for furniture and other home goods. However, it is soft and can be prone to scratches. Before you decide to refinish the whole thing, consider trying to polish it with a little toothpaste. Using a pea-sized amount of non-gel paste, rub the scratch in a circular motion until it buffs out, and then clean the remaining paste with a damp towel.
Hairdryer Remedy
If your toddler doesn’t understand that your white walls are not his canvas, it’s not the end of the world! One way to remove crayon marks from walls is to use a hair dryer. Heat the waxy marks for a few minutes with hot hair and then, wipe clean with a soft cloth or towel. This home hack will save your walls and your sanity!
Cooking Oil Removes the Stick
It’s wild how much oil and vinegar can solve problems at home. If you love reusing old jars and the like, but can never fully get that sticky glue used to attach the labels, we’ve got a fix! Rub cooking oil on the sticky spot and let it soak in for a few minutes. Wipe clean, and you’ve got a new jar!
You can also soak the jar in a bath of warm, soapy dishwater overnight and it will be glue-free!
Microwave Vinegar
Most know that microwaving a sponge helps clean it. However, you can go a step further and microwave a small bowl of vinegar to remove unpleasant smells. No harsh chemicals are needed to get rid of those old food-smells with this home hack.
Streak-Free Windows Too
Vinegar works just as good as window cleaner and it’s ammonia-free! Mix cold water and vinegar in a solution and spray on windows or mirrors. Wipe clean with a smooth cloth and you’ll enjoy some beautifully clear glass.
Dishwash the Vents
Dirty HVAC registers are one of the worst things in the world to try to clean by hand. All of those thin crevices are near impossible to thoroughly wash. Let your dishwasher do the work! Usually, a quick rinse cycle does the rick for us. Make sure you allow them to fully dry before reinstalling. This home hack will save you tons of time and effort.
Clean Blinds With Tongs
Cleaning blinds is a similar pain to those vents, but dusting them can be much easier! Attach two small cloths to the end of the tongs with rubber bands and you’re ready to dust blinds of any width.
Pour Mouthwash in Your Toilet
If you’ve run out of toilet bowl cleaner or just want something a little less harsh, mouthwash works extremely well. Toss a cap full of the wash into your toilet and let it sit for thirty minutes. With a light scrub, the bowl will be sparkly clean. This is a home hack we never expected to work, but were pleasantly surprised by.
Magic Erase Ceramic
Ceramic cooktops look fantastic and sleek when you first get them, but you’ll soon learn they’re a complete pain to keep clean. The texture of a magic erasure tackles any grime with ease.
Blend Dish Soap
Washing a blender by hand might feel like a perilous activity as the blades at the bottom are very, very sharp and love poking you! Don’t risk your skin. Instead put about two cups of warm water and a small amount of dish soap (about a teaspoon) in the blender. Turn the blender on and watch this appliance clean itself. This home hack just might save a life!
Organize Bathroom Essentials with a Silverware Tray
Hair ties, makeup brushes, toothbrushes, cosmetics, brushes, tweezers, and so much more can swim around together in a bathroom drawer creating plenty of clutter. Make your mornings easier by having everything you need in its proper place!
Drill Your Trash Can
If your trash bags like your trashcan too much and they create a vacuum-like seal together which can make removing a bag of trash a nightmare. Drill a small hole in the bottom of the can to allow air to escape.
Fix a Screen with Nail Polish
You do not need to replace a screen for a window due to just a small hole. Repair the hole with clear nail polish. Rips and small holes can be painted over with a thin layer of polish to make them good as new.
Protect Delicate Surfaces with Mini Sliders
Ceramic pots and other decorative items can scratch the surface of your furniture. Our biggest offender is the bottom of our houseplant pots. You can remedy this situation by purchasing mini furniture sliders and attaching them to the bottom of the pots. Your windowsill will thank you.
Paper Clip Duct Tape
There’s absolutely nothing worse in the world than finding the seam on a roll of duct tape. Kiss those fiddling fingers goodbye by marking the end of the roll with a paper clip. You’ll find it in an instant and wont waste tape trying to get it.
Remove Wax with Ice
Candles are such a great way to add warmth to any space. However, their wax is one of their downsides. To remove wax from fabric and hard surfaces, do not scrub! It will only make it worse. Instead, fill a plastic bag with very icy water. Place the bag over the affected area and allow to chill for a few minutes. This will harden the wax and allow you to pop it off.
Clean Pans with Coca-Cola or Alka-Seltzer
Simmering coca-cola will remove years of damage. For a pot or sauce pan, add a can of Coke to it and sit it on a burner on low heat. Leave it for 30 minutes to an hour, then remove from heat. Use a scouring pad to scrub away the grime.
If you’re short on soda but have some Alka-Seltzer, fill your pot or pan with warm water and drop in a tablet or two and allow to sit for 15 minutes. The bubbles will scrub the pot clean!
DON’T DO THESE: 25 Hilarious DIY Fails That Will Make You Facepalm
Roll Your Duvet Cover On
Getting an insert inside of a duvet is a challenge that can break you if you don’t know what you’re doing. Just roll it up, instead! It’s nearly impossible for us to describe the process for rolling so, here’s a video with instructions for getting a duvet cover on with ease:
Did that video categorically change you? Did it make you a genius? We think so!
We hope you enjoyed the home hacks, cleaning tips and tricks and will utilize them around your home. Taking small steps to make your life easier, more organized, and cleaner will always make you feel so much better!
Mamas Uncut is THE online place for moms. We cover the latest about motherhood, parenting, and entertainment as well – all with a mom-focused twist. So if you're looking for parenting advice from real parents, we have plenty of it, all for moms from moms, and also experts. Because, at the end of the day, our mission is focused solely on empowering moms and moms-to-be with the knowledge and answers they’re looking for in one safe space.