20 Tried-and-true cleaning methods

The tarnish on your old silverware doesn’t mean it’s time for a new set. It’s just time for a good cleaning. Place silverware on an aluminum tray, and then sprinkle 1 cup baking soda (or less, depending on the amount of silverware) over the items. Then, add boiling water on top. The reaction will cause the varnish to melt away.

Burnt pans don’t need to go in the donation pile. Simply add water to the bottom of the pan, add 1 cup of vinegar and bring the pan to a boil. Once boiling, remove the pan from the heat and add 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Scour with a rough sponge as normal.

Faucets get water specs and grime so easily! Prevent it by buffing them with a car wax. Seriously! The wax will leave a protective barrier behind, so water is no match.

Want your whites even whiter? Add up to 1/2 cup of lemon juice to your laundry bleach for an extra-white finish.

Forget that fabric freshener. Add equal parts water and cheap vodka into a bottle and spray. The vodka smell will disappear as soon as it dries, leaving behind fresh, fabulous fabric.

Clean for just 15 minutes per day, and you’ll never have a dirty home. Dust one day, and vacuum another. Splitting up the work is quick, simple and effective so you never get burnt out.

Citrus makes a fantastic sponge. Next time you clean your tub or sink, slice an orange, lemon or grapefruit in half and mix a cleaning paste of baking soda, a squirt of dish soap and water. Dip the citrus in and scrub! It will leave behind a refreshing scent and a sparkling finish.

Create your own furniture polish with a combination of water, olive oil and lemon juice. Just a teaspoon of each, mixed and dabbed onto a rag, does the trick.

Your used coffee grounds still have a use. Need to scrub pans free of grime? Add in your old coffee grounds and scrub. The grounds will lift stuck-on food in a snap.

It’s just as simple as a teaspoon of fabric softener and a cup of water. Shake ingredients together in a fine mist spray bottle, mist your fabric and tug. Wrinkles are out of your clothes and on-the-go!