Here Are 11 Brilliant Cleaning Shortcuts That Only Professionals Know

A clean home is one of life’s simple pleasures. It can be very cathartic to rid your home of dirt and clutter. It’s as if you are restoring order and beauty to the universe itself, which you sort of are — at least on a small scale.

Small scale or not, our homes are where we live, work, play and love, and as such, they should reflect an ambiance of peace and calm. It can be hard to feel that ambiance if the dishes are overflowing or the bathroom looks like a crime scene.

Keeping a clean home requires effort, but with a little know-how and some elbow grease, you can enjoy an orderly abode year-round. Here are some tips from professional cleaners and other cleaning experts to help you keep your nest spic and span.

1. Use Olive Oil To Wipe Up Fingerprints

As revealed by Real Simple, a drop or two of olive oil can help you wipe up fingerprints from the fridge or any other stainless steel surface. Best of all, it won’t leave behind any stench of cleaning products.

2. Use Vinegar To Clean The Microwave

Microwaved a bowl of soup without a cover? There’s an easy way to fix splatters and spills in the microwave, even if they have cooked and hardened. Put vinegar, lemon and water into a microwave-safe bowl, then set the microwave for five to 10 minutes.

When it’s done, the set-on stains and bits of food will be softened. Hence, you can simply wipe up with a sponge quickly, instead of scrubbing away or using chemical-laden cleaners.

3. Make Your Oven Sparkle With Baking Soda & Vinegar

A dirty oven doesn’t just look gross, it can give off foul odors that could even seep into your food. Ew! Luckily, it is so easy to clean your oven, even if you have baked-on gunk from three Thanksgivings ago. Mix a solution of equal parts baking soda, vinegar and water in an oven-safe bowl. Swipe some on the bottom of the stove and on the racks if they are messy, too. When it’s done, let the oven cool a bit, then simply wipe up the mess with a sponge. Yep, it’s really that easy. Watch the full video from Cleverly below.

4. Clean Baseboards With Dryer Sheets

Hate keeping your baseboards clean? From hair to dust to grime, baseboards can get filthy fast, yet no one wants to be scrubbing on their hands and knees.

But here’s the good news: You can easily wipe up baseboards with dryer sheets. Dryer sheets are also awesome for cleaning gunk and grime off washer/dryer appliances, whether you spilled a few drops of laundry detergent or simply want to defeat a few dust bunnies.

5. Use A Ziploc Bag & The Fridge To Kill Odors

If you have an item that reeks but cannot be put in the washing machine or dishwasher (think sports equipment, such as a helmet), stick it in a Ziploc bag and put it in your freezer. As reported by Real Simple, the odor is caused by bacteria, and being put in freezing temps will kill the smell.

6. Clean Your Blender In The Push Of A Button

Solve your blender woes. A fruit/veggie smoothie is a great way to start your day, but if you don’t clean your blender right away, you are going to have a huge mess on your hands later on.

Here’s a solution: Put a few drops of dish soap in the blender along with hot water. Run the blender for minute or so. Then simply rinse — brilliant!

RELATED: 6 Times You Should Never Use Vinegar When Cleaning

7. Easily Clean Oven Hood Filters In The Dishwasher

If you have a hood range above your oven, chances are that your filters are filthy. Don’t worry. You don’t have to attack them with a scrub brush. Simply pop them out and put them in the dishwasher!

8. Stick Placemats In The Fridge To Clean The Shelves Less

Hate cleaning the fridge? You are not alone. Use a bucket of hot, soapy water and a sponge to wipe things down quickly. We know, it’s gross, but here’s the best part. You will never have to do it again if you follow this next step.

Lay plastic placemats inside your fridge. Put your food and other items on top. Now, when spills and stains happen, you just have to remove the placemats and quickly rinse them, or even pop them in the dishwasher.

Check out this easy DIY version on Hometalk. Definitely a game-changer! You can also buy inexpensive ones on Amazon.

9. Clean Faucets & Hard Water Stains With Lemons

Don’t scrub and scrub at hard-water stains with smelly cleaners full of bleach and other harsh chemicals. Instead, go all-natural. Cut a lemon in half and rub it all over any sinks, faucets or other areas in your home that have hard-water buildup.

The acid in the lemons will naturally break down that grime and leave your home sparkling—and smelling fresh!

10. Soak The Shower Head In Vinegar

The shower is where you are supposed to wipe off the dirt and sweat from the day, but if your shower head is filthy, it can definitely ruin that relaxing mood. But, it is possible to clean your shower head with minimal effort.

Easily get rid of that nasty gunk by tying a Ziploc baggie of vinegar around the shower head. The next morning, you should easily be able to wipe off that built-up goo.

RELATED: The 12 Simple Habits Of People With Homes That Are Always Clean

11. Turn Your Vacuum Into An Air Freshener

Got a smelly vacuum? Put Downy Unstoppables into your vacuum bag. Every time you vacuum, it will release a fresh scent as you clean the carpet.

There you have it! These 11 cleaning hacks will definitely make your home even more, well, homey. Now it’s time to relax and reward yourself with a nap!

MORE: This easy waxed paper hack makes cleaning a bit easier