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Household chores can often be an arduous task, which is why I'm always seeking effective tips and tricks to literally cut my cleaning time in half. More often, what can seem like a quick task can take me a few hours to complete. Often, a task that seems so simple ends up taking me several hours to complete.
Luckily, I asked an expert to discover her secret cleaning hacks that promise to make chores incredibly easy and a breeze. What’s more, one is so bizarre yet ever so clever! Here are her three top cleaning tricks to make cleaning a breeze.
1. Clean your shower while you’re in it
Cleaning the shower is a daily chore that’s best tackled immediately, especially if you want to avoid soap scum and grime build-up. In fact, searches for "cleaning shower" tips increased by 70% in February, meaning that many of us find this to be a time-consuming task.
Article continues belowYet our cleaning expert revealed a bizarre yet clever time-saving hack: she cleans her shower while she is still washing, effectively cutting her chore time in half.
“Leave a dishmatic style sponge in your shower, along with washing up liquid, and wipe down the sides of your bath and shower screen while you’re waiting for your conditioner to settle in,” advises Lisa O'Hanlon, cleaning expert at The Shutter Store.
“The same applies for your sink. If you keep a dishmatic in your bathroom, you can use it to wipe down your sink after cleaning your teeth or washing your face, and that can become as embedded in your routine as brushing your teeth.”
For more top tips, stop scrubbing your shower glass the hard way — these 3 household items remove limescale instantly.
2. Dust both sides of your blinds at the same time
One of my common gripes is dealing with the dusty buildup on my window blinds, as this chore typically takes up most of my day. I must admit, I usually concentrate on cleaning only the visible side of the blinds, neglecting the side facing away from the room – which is a big no-no. So what is the quickest, expert-approved tip to tackle this in seconds?
“Instead of using a duster or wipes, the quickest way to clean each blind or shutter slats is by using a tool that can wipe both sides down at once,” advises O'Hanlon.
“Create your own by attaching a microfibre cloth to each end of a kitchen tong and securing with elastic bands. Clean the blinds by wiping both sides at the same time.
“You can also use a long sock, one that folds over so you can wipe both sides of the blind at once. Always wet your cloth or sock before dusting so that it traps the dust rather than circulating it into the air.”
Just be sure not to make this simple mistake with bathroom blinds that invites condensation and mold. And if still in doubt, check out blinds vs curtains: which is better?
3. Clean drains and remove limescale while you sleep
Perhaps my least favorite cleaning task is removing stubborn limescale from the bathroom or shower drains.
Luckily, there is an easy way to clean your drains without even breaking a sweat. You simply leave your homemade cleaning products to soak overnight, and it will literally do all the hard work for you, while you’re sleeping.
Leave your homemade cleaning products to soak overnight, and it will literally do all the hard work for you, while you’re sleeping.
“You can easily keep drains unblocked and smelling fresh in your house through minimal effort,” states O'Hanlon. “Simply pour baking soda around sinks and the shower drain, and leave it for five minutes while you’re getting ready for bed or watching television. Follow it with some white vinegar after those five minutes are up, before leaving it overnight. In the morning, just boil the kettle and pour hot water down to leave your drains clean and fresh.”
This is a great no-scrub method that tackles limescale, allowing you to wake up to drains that are clean and spotless.
“The same goes for any parts of your bathroom or kitchen that are experiencing limescale build-up, especially shower heads and taps,” adds O'Hanlon. “You can easily clean and remove buildup overnight with white vinegar.
“Use a plastic bag, half fill it with white vinegar and dilute with a bit of water, and wrap it around the tap or shower head in question, securing with an elastic band or any other implement you have. In the morning, it’ll be easy to rinse off. Double check the material it’s made from first, as brass, gold, or nickel can be damaged by white vinegar if it’s left on for that long.”
Plus, if you're looking for an alternative to white vinegar, check out this household hack dissolved limescale in minutes.
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