These Genius Cleaning Tips Do Not Disappoint

By  Laurie Gunning Grossman Updated
Pink glove wiping couch Ana Stanciu for Hunker

First, I told you about the genius cleaning product that literally changed my life.

Now, I'm sharing seven cleaning tips that took me by surprise from Hunker's brilliant cleaning experts. Some simple hacks, some clever tricks, and one "I can never unknow this" idea.

Have you tried any of these yet?

1. How to get your white towels to look really white.

Bowl of washing soda near washing machine.Ana Stanciu for Hunker

Boost your detergent with washing soda. It's more alkaline than baking soda — and it's the alkalinity that will help your detergent to loosen up the towel fibers and clean dirt and grime. Also, if you add distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle, it'll help lift stains and soap residue.

2. The most hygienic thing you can do in your bathroom to keep it clean.

White bathroom with bull skull on wallBrandon Stanley for Hunker

Shut the lid when you flush. Why? Because of this particular detail that has been haunting me all year: fecal matter, bacteria, and other invisible substances can spray up to six feet away when you flush. So, if your toothbrush is hanging out on the sink near your toilet? Yeah, you know where I'm going. This is a do-not-forget tip.

3. How you should be treating your mattress.

Deodorizing a mattress with a DIY cleaner.Ana Stanciu for Hunker

Turns out, our mattresses should be deep cleaned every six months. We're talking vacuumed, deodorized, aired out. And mattress covers should be washed once a month. A clean bed needs to extend beyond the weekly washing of your linens. (Do you ever do this?!)

4. The recommended way to clean sponges.

Sponge getting rinsed under waterAna Stanciu for Hunker

Microwaving kills 99.99999 percent of bacteria from sponges, according to the USDA. But you can also soak in vinegar. The acid kills 99.6 percent of bacteria. Bottom line: you need to clean your sponges ... and, replace them every couple of weeks.

5. The best thing for cleaning your wood cutting board.

Lemon on a wood cutting boardAna Stanciu for Hunker

It's lemon. Lemon is naturally antibacterial and antiseptic, so it helps to disinfect, eliminate odors, and even bleach out stains on wood cutting boards. And, you can either use the actual fruit, or lemon essential oil — both work.

6. When you have too much pet hair on your couch.

Pink glove wiping couchAna Stanciu for Hunker

Just put on a rubber kitchen glove, get it slightly wet, and gently run it across your furniture. The tension attracts and catches the hair. Boom! So simple, so easy, so clever.

7. How you should be cleaning your ice maker.

Ice maker on refrigeratorJessica Kielman

A toothbrush (dipped in vinegar) is the perfect tool for keeping your ice maker clean. Actually, a toothbrush seems to show up as the perfect tool for many cleaning hacks, such as washing your showerhead.

Recommended