Keeping your house neat and organised is necessary for a healthy home, and it is much easier to manage today than in the olden days. Nowadays, people have access to efficient & powerful cleaning equipment, ergonomic tools and effective cleaners. You can cut your house cleaning time in half, but using these products/tools is only sometimes economical or eco-friendly.
Most commercial cleaners contain dangerous chemicals and volatile organic compounds. Additionally, many electronic equipment can increase your electricity and water bills.
Therefore,
simplify house cleaning with old-school tricks and tips before you reach for modern options. You can clean sustainably and economically with things already in your house. That’s how people cleaned before commercial cleaners and equipment became popular & affordable.
If you are
ending a tenancy, consider hiring a professional service for bond cleaning in Hobart because the task requires the use of modern cleaning tools & equipment. However, for general house sanitation, look at these 10 old-fashioned cleaning tips that actually work.
1. Always Dust with a Damp Cloth
Dusting with a feather duster or dry cotton cloth is counterproductive because rather than picking the dust particles, this method displaces dust from surfaces, polluting your home’s indoor air and causing the dust to settle on other areas.
Therefore, dust with a damp cloth to prevent dust clouds and
keep your house clean always. Even though it is an old-school cleaning technique, professionals performing bond cleaning in Hobart still use it.
2. Sanitise Your Home with Methylated Spirits
Also known as denatured alcohol, methylated spirit is a pH-neutral cleaner effective against most stains, spots and grime. People have used them for decades to sanitise household fixtures, surfaces and objects.
All you need to do is mix the spirits with water and spray the solution on any dirty surface to clean it effectively and efficiently. After applying the cleaner, wipe with a microfiber cloth to get excellent results.
3. Make a Homemade Cleaner with Washing Soda
Before super-strength washing liquids, many people used washing soda for laundry and house cleaning. It is an economical & eco-friendly product that you can use to make a homemade cleaner. Just add a cup of washing soda in water and a few drops of essential oil. You can use this cleaner for
cleaning laminate floors, countertops, slabs, decks, walls, tiles and almost any surface in your home.
4. Remove Rust & Hard Water Stains with Oxalic Acid
If your area’s water has mineral deposits & iron oxides, your household surfaces and fixtures can develop rust and hard water stains. To remove them without harsh chemicals:
Use oxalic acid crystals as they did in the olden days.
Mix the crystal in water & spray on the stains.
Let the solution dwell for 10 minutes, then scrub the area with a brush before washing thoroughly with water. Since oxalic acid is a natural & effective cleaner, you can also use it during end of lease cleaning Hobart.
5. Brighten Glassware with White Vinegar
Glassware can develop calcium deposits without routine cleaning. Therefore, clear plates, glasses, cups and other items in your cabinets that are occasionally used get cloudy. To make them sparkling and clear:
Spray with white vinegar and leave it for 10 minutes.
Wash the glassware with warm water.
If the need arises, wash the glassware with soap and water after cleaning it with vinegar.
6. Clean Grouts with Cream of Tartar & Hydrogen Peroxide
Grouts can gather grime, mould, and dirt over time and look black instead of their natural colour. To brighten and clean them effectively, mix cream of tartar and hydrogen peroxide to make a runny paste. Apply it on the grouts and leave for 10 minutes before scrubbing and washing with water.
7. Clean Scratched Glass Panes & Table Tops with Toothpaste
Windows and glass table tops can get scratches and swirls from use. To remove them and make the surfaces smooth again, coat them with a simple fluoride toothpaste. Let the paste dry before scrubbing with a damp sponge. Lastly, wipe the residues with a damp microfiber cloth to reveal clear surfaces.
8. Treat Kitchen Messes with Lemon & Salt
Boilovers, splatters and spills are common in the kitchen. You can
get rid of grease and kitchen stains with a commercial cleaner, but try this old-school trick first. Sprinkle salt on the dirty area and squeeze a bit of lemon juice before scrubbing with the lemon. It should treat even stubborn kitchen messes & leave the surface smelling fresh as well.
9. Unclog Drains & Remove Sewer Smell with Bleach
Drains often develop biofilms and gunk, causing them to clog without routine sanitation. If you don’t have the time to unclog drains, use this simple method for removing grime & smells. Pour boiling water into the drain first, then a cup of bleach. Cover the drain for 30 minutes, then wash everything the bleach has loosened with boiling water. This method will clean and sanitise the drains and even keep pests away.
10. Refresh Household Surfaces with Lavender Flowers & Baking Soda
Upholstery, carpets, beds and pillows get smelly due to exposure to dust, dead skin cells, sweat and moisture in the air. You can use store-bought fresheners, but they contain chemicals that aggravate asthma,
allergic rhinitis and other respiratory diseases.
Therefore, use crushed lavender flowers in baking soda as a refresher for fabric fixtures. Sprinkle the mixture on the fixtures and vacuum it after 20-30 minutes to reveal fresh and clean carpets, upholstery etc.
Wrapping Up
Cleaning your home routinely is vital to maintain indoor air quality and prevent household members from falling sick repeatedly. Therefore, use the 10 old-fashioned cleaning tips shared above to sanitise your home without harsh chemicals or commercial cleaners.
