7 Genius cleaning hacks no one ever told you

2023-03-20

If you are like me and are reading this, cleaning up a place is a chore, yet super necessary. The very idea of spending my weekend tugging along a heavy vacuum cleaner around cleaning spaces, organising that bookshelf and dusting corners is boring and tiring. But it is also necessary, and a habit. A clean home gives me a feeling of content bliss.

Over the years, I realised that this therapeutic activity does not have to be a chore. If you know what I mean, you don’t have to push yourself to start. Given today’s pollution, suspended particulate matter and air quality, vacuuming once a week has turned into a must-do.

Here are a few hacks that are borderline genius, that make it super easy to clean your sanctuary.

Keyboards & laptops:

Due to how much we use them in everyday life, keyboards of desktops and laptop screens gather so much dust and germs. A popular fact on the internet, claims that the keyboard has more germs than your toilet seat, that’s just so eww! Isn’t it? This can be a harbinger of tons of health issues. One easy hack to clean your keyboard is to attach the nozzle of a squeezy bottle to the vacuum hose. Watch it pick the smallest of dirt particles.

Dust before you vacuum floors:

Many blogs and YouTube videos I have watched suggest we do a thorough round of dusting after we vacuum using a dusting wand or a cloth. On the contrary, I noticed that this meant the floor surfaces like flooring, tiles and carpets were dusty once again. So if you are removing cobwebs from the walls, which is a common occurrence in India, or dusting corners using a residential central vacuum system accessory, do that first before you clean the floors.

Corners, edges, and behinds:

I am talking about these places that are extremely hard to reach. These are often spaces in the corners where we do not frequent, or there is not enough sunlight. Behind the fridge, under that chest and so on, which accumulate a lot of dust, grime and dirt. Fold a piece of soft muslin cloth or kitchen tissue and watch the magic happen with the crevice extension of your vacuum cleaner.

Windows blinds and grills:

If your windows have glass, make sure you wipe them using a glass cleaner from the store, or you could make it at home by diluting a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid in three litres of water. You can also use a solution of vinegar and water. Wipe it off with squeegees and rubber blades to give clear sparkling glass. The linings of the windows, grills or veneers can be vacuumed with the soft brush attachment.

Wooden Furniture:

You can actually make your furniture look perennially new. If you have wooden furniture, use a weak solution of dishwashing soap vinegar and water. Soak a microfiber cloth, wring it out and wipe the furniture with it. Remember to keep it damp, not wet. Dry it or vacuum it using a blow option of your central vacuum system for the home. Use HEPA filters that reduce dust discharge and improve indoor air quality. Polish and use a wax finishing buff for your wooden furniture to finish off.

Alternatively, if you have furniture made of fabric, first make sure you do a patch test. Use a soft brush attachment and brush in a circular motion to loosen up grime and dirt, and vacuum it up. Vacuum the crevices to clean up any crumbs and food particles. Consider steam cleaning if you want to deep clean. For spills and grime saturate the fabric with baking soda, cornstarch or talcum powder. Once it soaks up and brushes the build-up.

Mattresses and Upholstery:

Traditionally, we clean mattresses, rugs and carpets using the stick method. This involves hanging the upholstery vertically over a wire or wall and beating it with a stick so that the dust and dirt fall off. Now, this method is highly unhealthy, and uncomfortable. Use the carpet accessory with your vacuum hose and get a dust-free carpet, rug and even curtains.

Electronics:

This is tricky because you cannot use damp cloths or wet wipes on this one. And if you dust, it will only make the dust go farther inside. Vacuum cleaners have special telescopic attachments that gently blow or vacuum depending on the mode you use them in. This works perfectly with electronic devices.

With that, I wrap my go-to cleaning hacks. This festive season, I hope you can just keep calm and clean!