Lifestyle Illumeably

Simple Tips To Keep Our House Sparkling

March, 29, 2024

Our home state of cleanness is also reflecting on our personality. no one want to be visited by friends while the floor needs sweeping the dishes full with spots and no one can see through the windows any more. A great living space should always be clean and presentable. Often though no matter how much we clean and dust our living space we still cant get it to a spotless level: there are those little places and things we often don’t take notice to.

So no more worries. No need to jealous your next door neighbor and her spotless house and her cleansing secrets she dare not reveal. We have rounded up the best cleaning hacks; say hello to a sparkly new home with our easy (and awesome we might add) tricks and tips below!


1 Dust forgotten places

Some spots are hard to get to clean but can still be seen. If it is a small niche or an ornament filled with small slits. We all can tend to forget those dreaded and hard to reach places. There are a few cleaning tools especially for the unreachable wicked spots. A good feather duster can reach almost anywhere you may want to pick one with a long enough handle to get to those cobwebs at the ceiling. Once finishing with the duster take it outside and get all the dust stuck in the feathers away otherwise it will only make your place even dustier.

And last but not least while you clean you have to take all these places into account next time you clean make sure to check the inside and edges of your lamps and shelf corners.


2 Double doormats

Still don’t understand why your house gets so dirty when there’s a doormat placed outside? While we are all used to seeing doormats welcoming us to our friends' places it’s actually best to get a double doormat and place one on the inside! This way you can be sure that even less dirt is being brought inside the inside mat is less prone to outside weather hazards and the usual outside dust Also don’t forget to rinse and air dry on a regular basis to prevent a build-up of dirt and dust.


3 Load up your dishwasher

Many times thinking out of the box can lead you to creative cleaning solutions don't just stick to the original use of your cleaning appliances. Sure a dishwasher is for washing dishes but it can also wash other various bits and bobs around the house. Next time you wash your dishes don’t forget to put your vase toothbrush holders small toys and plastic stationery holders too. Think ahead when placing these items in your dishwasher as the trays are not made to hold a non-regular item. Some items might need a special cleaning in the machine all on their own (Like a big vase or large size decoration). We promise you will be surprised at how clean some of those can be once they get out of the dishwasher.


4 Revive the mattress

We are not done yet with the out of the box thinking yet. We all love vacuuming right? that time of the day when you watch all the dust being sucked into the vacuum cleaner is so reassuring. Imagine where more you can use it which places can be fresh and clean with your old times' dust warrior. Bed bugs might just bite you at night if you don’t clean your mattress regularly. Vacuum your mattress every time you change your sheets. Bonus- spray your mattress with a disinfectant after vacuuming.

Side tip - You know that terrible white noise of the suction that can sometimes get too noisy? Well just like in the movies take a portable music player plug in some good earphones and choose your very own cleaning playlist. with an uplifting playlist you might don't want to stop cleaning. If no one is around don't be shy and just squeeze in your private dance moves.


5 De-stink dishwasher

It is well-known fact that after a hard day of cleaning everybody needs to take a good shower and clean themselves so what about your appliances? Same as you your dishwasher needs some cleaning and loving from time to time. Simply run an empty cycle with a trusted brand machine cleaner. This will prevent a build-up of grime and food.

Make sure to choose the right plan for this as the long plans tend to be too harsh on the machine and many time the short ones can do the job just fine. Note to choose a plan that uses hot water so even the hard stains will go away. The trays should stay inside during the process as they need most of the cleaning and actually they are the hardest to wash by hand.


6 Reverse carpet dents

Carpets are always a nice supplement to the eye and overall atmosphere of any room. But carpet indents are an eyesore in any living space.

The trick to getting rid of these is rather easy: place ice cubes on the indents and let them soak. Then with a spoon carefully lift the carpet fibers back in place. On those hard cleaning day don't stop at the ones that are being seen move your sofas and coffee table aside and lift those hard indents and give the carpet sometime to heal those spots before you bring the furniture back.


7 Revamp your vac

They say that it is always about location location location. When speaking about cleaning it is more about maintenance maintenance maintenance. You have to keep your house clean on an everyday basis and have to keep your cleaning aids clean as well. For example Remember to give your vacuum some TLC too. Be sure to clean the filters and brush and also empty the vacuum bag. The bag of course is the easiest to remember as you can't vacuum with a full one. But don't neglect the other parts cleaning it will gain more effectiveness each time you use it and will make the machine last longer. There is no such thing as cleaning it too often but we do suggest doing so at least every 3 to 4 vacuuming sessions.


8 De-lint the drying filter

Some may not actually know this but it's extremely important to remove lint from the dryer after every cycle. Why? Not only will it aid in drying your clothes faster but lint is actually a fire starter. So safety first kids!

The way the dryer work will have enough lint after every use. Believe us you don't want to be one of those folks who call the technicians that all he is doing is cleaning up 6 months of lint and takes a lot of money for that not to mention how disgusting 6 months of lint is looks like. Note that wool and similar kind of clothes make much more lint than any other kind of cloth.


9 Dig into grout

It doesn’t just help to clean your tiles on the surface; dirt gets stuck between the tiles too. Once in a while scrubbing the grout with a stiff brush ( or old toothbrush) with bleach and water will do the trick!

A few words of warning: when dealing with bleach always wear heavy-duty gloves your hand and skin can be severely damaged when working with this kind of material. If you are cleaning in a windowless space make sure to wear a dust mask so you will not inhale the fumes from the toxins.


10 Clean your drawers

It seems as if there is one place that no one remembers to clean. Don't take it for granted even when closes most of the time they pick dust and can get moisty. This is an awesome spring cleaning trick. Air out your drawers and vacuum them to remove dust. While you’re at it it’s a great opportunity for you to clean out your clothes and give away unwanted clothes. While cleaning the drawers place what was inside it in large plastic bags so it won't get even dustier while waiting outside of course we won't stop you from just putting it all in the washing machine if we are cleaning then anything goes.


11 Wash your washing machine

Just like the rest of our handy machines washing machines need some cleaning maintenance too. Here we added some secret ingredients that can come helpful in many of the cleaning tasks. Run an empty cycle with some hot water and add some (are you ready for it?) vinegar and baking soda. Wipe it down after and let it air dry before the next use.

Choose the right plan in your machine for this the long ones are not necessary for this action just make sure that the plan involves a hot water cycle and choose the shortest one available.


12 Attack the drains

Drains also need to be flushed out remember everything basically goes down there and can be very nasty if leftover time. Simply mix half a cup of baking soda with 1.4 of table salt and pour the concoction down the drain. Next heat a cup of vinegar and pour it down as well. Let it foam for a while and rinse after. Don't forget to put your gloves on and a dust mask to avoid the toxic fumes. When rinsing wash with perfumed soap nothing like a good smell to finish any cleaning job.


13 De-gunk your microwave

Now this tip will change your life. No matter how many times you heat your food in closed plastic boxes the microwave always gets dirty and with time it can get a lot of grease stains on its inside. Clean your microwave by using a microwave-safe bowl filled with water and fresh lemon pieces and vinegar. Put it on high until the water boils. After 15 minutes open the door and wipe away the inside with a dry cloth. Don't neglect the outside wash it with a wet cloth and pay special attention to the opening handle and the operating buttons. Do this every time after you make a dinner that required a lot of work or on regular use once or twice a month can be sufficient


14 Suck up the crumbs

Oh Crumbs! Who hates them? We all do. Especially the crumbs that fall into a wooden knife rack. It is easy to ignore such an item and we usually skip it during our cleaning routine but a dirty rack can be a health hazard as being home to unattended germs. But you probably wondering how can you clean those small slots? This is where we suggest getting creative our own secret is to simply use your vacuum to suck them up not much hassle right? don't forget to clean the outside too with water and soap once in a while.


15 Clear vents

Another spot that usually we skip while cleaning. Who would have thought? Vents do trap dust and over time it can be a mission to clean. Make sure you clean your vents regularly. Use a toothbrush to get between the spaces easily. Note that the air conditioner cannot be working at the time and do your best to avoid making large chunks of dust fall on the inside of the venting bars as it can clog the system. Once finished with the toothbrush go over the bars with a wet cloth just to give it some nice sparkling finish.


16 Get rid of extra stuff

Unless you are a hoarder and find it OK to have Vogue’s 2000 millennium addition still lying in your house it would be a good idea to get rid of things that are of no use anymore. It takes up space and attracts more dust. Recycle old magazines and give away unused coffee mugs hangers and books. Nothing like having space to light up your house after you manage to clean all the unused stuff. These days you can find so many places where you can give that stuff starting with second-hand stores second-hand sales websites and of course a benefit organizations.


17 Wash your whole bed

When washing your sheets also remember that from time to time your duvet and pillows need a good wash too. See the tags to see how it should be cleaned and air out in the sun to dry. you can add to that your bathroom rug and your curtains. This daily artifact are used to be ignored but once there are washed and dry their old colors and shine will come back. Note that many of the items you can wash in this category should be handled with a manual wash only. Some people are hiding a2 sets of bathroom rug duvet and pillows so they will have backup once the regular set is being washed.


18 Remove stains from cutting boards

It doesn't matter from wood or plastic. We all know how cutting boards can acquire nasty stains. Actually researchers have found that the place where most germs can be found is the cutting board. Instead of throwing them away you can actually remove the stains by rubbing half a lemon on the board then sprinkle with salt and baking soda and rinse after a while. repeat this action every month or so to keep the board as clean as possible do not forget to wash and rise it after your daily regular use.


19 Prep your outdoor furniture

No matter what season it is there is nothing quite more embarrassing than dirty and dusty outdoor furniture. although high maintenance you have to keep those clean. with the harsh weather you might find one day that it is too late and some stains are there to stay. Stay on top of the ball by spraying your furniture down with dishwashing liquid and water and finally hosing it down with a garden hose.


20 Shine copper

The copper looks great but it needs to be cleaned properly. Water and soap won't do the trick they can actually harm the copper with too much use here you need another one of our secret surprise ingredients our star for this one is non-other than - ketchup. Massage the ketchup onto your copper and add a little salt to polish. Tomato is acidic and therefore helps remove stains. You Will just love the way the copper shines like new.


21 Attack the stove

The stove can be an eerie place especially if it has not been cleaned. Make it spotless by spraying ammonia inside the stove sprinkle with baking soda and drops of vinegar. Once it bubbles scrubs away with a sponge.


22 De-clutter your purse

Women are major culprits - having the whole world in our handbags can often lead to major dirt and clutter. Make sure you clean your handbag often and wipe it with a disinfectant too.


23 Freshen your sink

Kitchen sinks need to be freshened up too and can be stained with a variety of hard to clean food leftovers. simply run some lemon rinds through the garbage disposal and clear out with cold water too.


24 Wipe down the fridge

We all tend to mess and spill when taking out contents from a fridge. These stains do not go away on their own and are therefore important to get your fridge cleaned on the inside. Take out shelves and give them a good rinse with warm soapy water.


25 Swipe away fur

Although we love our furry friends to bits they can also leave their furry marks on your sofa. Simply remove fur from your upholstery with rubber gloves. So easy!


26 Decrease kitchen cabinets

Give your kitchen cupboards a wipe down at least every week. Take a damp towel and wipe down the surface of the cupboards and drawers including the hood above the stove.


27 Make stainless steel shine

Stainless looks great when it's clean and shiny. Get it to shine by mixing dishwashing liquid with hot water and clean the stainless steel with a sponge or cloth rinse with hot water and wipe dry with a cloth.


28 Clean your broom

To have spotless floors means you need to have spotless brooms. Clean your broom by running it under warm water and letting it air dry. For extra cleanliness vacuum any extra bits out.


29 Wash windows on cloudy days

It's best to wash windows on cloudy days this way the water and detergents won't dry so quickly thus preventing any streaks.


30 Care your bags

Keep your food clean by keeping your shopping bags clean. Wash your linen grocery bags too! If possible in the washing machine if not you can vacuum those too.