10 Clever Cleaning Hacks for Busy Professionals

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Written by Jake Michael is a writer for Daily Poppins

10 Clever Cleaning Hacks for Busy Professionals

Keeping a home clean and organised can sometimes prove a difficult challenge for both experienced professionals and new recruits as they may not have time to devote hours to cleaning every week. This is especially true as data from the Office of National Statistics showed that over a quarter of UK adults now opted to work hybrid from home and the office, meaning a significant increase in workers returning to the workplace this year.

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10 Clever Cleaning Hacks for Busy Professionals

As travelling to the office and working on site can seriously impact how often you can thoroughly maintain your home, with 61% of Brits being motivated to tidy up only when they have free time, there are several cleaning hacks to consider that will make the process more effective and efficient.

From using a dishwasher tablet to clean oven racks to applying vinegar to your shower to remove grime, we explore 10 innovative cleaning solutions for busy workers that use common household items that will keep your home in great condition without sacrificing your valuable time and energy.

1 - Clean Your Oven Racks With Dishwasher Tablets

Cleaning oven racks can be a difficult and arduous task but using a dishwasher tablet can make the process much easier. Dishwasher tablets include strong cleaning ingredients that can dissolve difficult stains and grime, making them an excellent choice for cleaning oven racks. Begin by filling the sink with water hot enough to dissolve the dishwasher tablet (30 degrees or more). Place 1 or 2 dishwasher tablets into the water and submerge as much of the oven rack as you can into the sink.

You can either leave the racks to soak overnight or while you are working from the office or at home, which is enough time for the solution to break down stubborn grease and food particles. Once ready, drain the sink of the solution, rinse the oven racks thoroughly with hot water and use a brush to further remove any remaining residue. Either dry the oven racks with a clean towel or via a drying rack before placing them back in the oven again. This hack means that you can benefit from a sparkling clean oven rack without spending too much of your free time removing stubborn stains manually.

2 - Use a Paste to Wipe Dirty Oven Interiors

Continuing on with oven cleaning tips, having to clean the oven can be a difficult and long process, but creating a paste made up of baking soda and water, this chore can be much easier. Pour the baking soda and water into a bowl and mix thoroughly to form a thick consistency. Before applying the paste, remove as much loose debris from the oven interior as possible and then use a scraper to apply the paste to the walls. Make sure to focus on areas where dirt and grease are most prominent.

Be careful not to apply the paste on any heating or electrical elements as this can cause a fire hazard. Let the paste sit for two hours while the sodium bicarbonate works to lift the grime. After two hours, use a damp cloth to wipe the paste away, scrubbing thoroughly in certain stubborn areas. Use another dry cloth to wipe down any remaining residue from the walls.

3 - Use a Lint Roller on Various Surfaces

While working, it is easy to not notice how quickly surfaces and furniture in the home can accumulate dust and dirt, especially if you have a pet at home. Fortunately, using a lint roller on furniture, floors, curtains and even lampshades can make cleaning your home a quick and easy task. The lint roller’s adhesive surface effectively collects hair and dirt without damaging the surface or fabric of the object.

Additionally, using a slightly damp cloth to moisten the surface you are cleaning can make the lint roller more effective at removing stubborn dirt and hair. Overall, using a lint roller regularly on furniture and surfaces in your home as a quick task helps you to easily keep on top of dirt and dust growth, keeping your home fresh and clean and avoiding developing respiratory problems like asthma.

4 - Apply a Vinegar Solution to Your Windows

Layers of debris and grime build up on your windows cause significant issues that many may not realise. Over time, the buildup of dirt can harm the opacity of the window glass and can even lead to allergic reactions in the worst cases. Cleaning your windows and mirrors with a vinegar and water solution is an effective, efficient and environmentally friendly method of removing streaks and grime from your windows. The acidic qualities of vinegar help break down grease and filth, while water dilutes it for a simple application.

The solution is safe to use on glass, chrome and stainless steel, however, you avoid using the mixture on natural stone and marble surfaces as it can cause etching. This method using basic ingredients that can easily be found in your home along with a microfiber cloth will quickly let you clean your windows and mirrors without the need for harsh chemicals.

5 - Use White Vinegar to Rid Your Showerhead of Dirt

As a working professional, keeping your home clean and tidy can often fall to the bottom of your to-do list. You may not notice the mineral deposits and dust accumulating on the showerhead over time, leading to a clogged shower head that creates an overall displeasing appearance, lowers water pressure and can even lead to increased energy bills. Cleaning your shower head is an easy and affordable chore that hosts multiple hygienic and money-saving benefits and simply requires white vinegar.

Detach the showerhead, place it in a tub of white vinegar, and leave it to soak overnight or even while you are at work. If you have a fixed showerhead, don’t worry. Instead, place a plastic bag of white vinegar over the head and secure it in place with a rubber band. The acidic nature of vinegar dissolves mineral deposits, leaving your shower head clean and returning the water pressure to normal and possibly saving on your heating bills. This will allow you to start your workday with a refreshing and invigorating shower.

6 - Remove Soap Scum With a Sodium Bicarbonate Solution

Following along with shower maintenance, soap scum and hard water stains will build up in your shower door tracks over time. They are easy to miss or ignore, especially when getting ready for work, however, they can damage the shower glass and cause corrosion. This is easy to prevent by creating a paste made from ¼ cup each of sodium bicarbonate and vinegar, which will act as an abrasive that will dissolve unhygienic mineral deposits.

Additionally, you can use an old toothbrush to scrub hard-to-reach nooks and crannies. Rinse the applied areas with warm water and use a clean cloth to remove any remaining paste and thoroughly dry with a towel to prevent the formation of water spots.

7 - Easily Remove Burnt Food Remnants From Pans With Dryer Sheets

Removing burnt-on food from pots and pans can be a particularly straining challenge that may take you longer than expected. It can be additionally frustrating having to greet dirty and difficult pots and pans after a long day at work. However, by using tumble dryer sheets, you can cut down a significant amount of time cleaning kitchenware. Begin by removing as much of the food or liquid from the pots and pans as possible then filling them up with warm water

Add 2 tumble dryer sheets and let the kitchenware soak overnight or while you are busy working. The fabric softening agents in the sheets will work to loosen the burnt-on food remnants without requiring harsh chemicals. Once you are ready, empty the pots and pans of the water and sheets and use a sponge or brush to thoroughly scrub them. The stubborn spots should now be easily removable, creating an efficient cleaning experience.

8 - Add White Vinegar to Your Washing Machine

Whether you are cleaning your regular clothes or want to whiten your work shirts, a washing machine is a really important appliance for your home, but regular use can cause the machine to acquire filth and grime. Cleaning your washing machine is essential not just for keeping it working smoothly, but also for preventing unwanted odours and ensuring that your clothing and uniforms come out clean and fresh.

One cleaning technique is to pour 2 cups of white vinegar into the drum and let the machine run on a full, hot water cycle. The combination of hot water and vinegar will break down and dissolve any grime in the machine. Once the washing cycle is complete, make sure to wipe down the drum of any remaining vinegar mixture so that your next load of laundry can come out smelling fresh. This hack will not only help to clean your clothes but can also extend the life of your washing machine.

9 - Remove Hair Off Clothes With a Dryer Sheet

Whether your own a dog or a cat there is no doubt you love your pet, but coping with their shedding hair may be a daily challenge that dirties up your work uniform. Use a tumble dryer sheet for an easy cleaning tip that removes pet hair from clothing, furniture and carpets. The sheet’s static qualities aid to attract and remove hair while leaving a pleasant aroma behind. Simply wipe a dry fabric softener sheet over the surface of the clothes or upholstery.

Depending on the amount of hair and the surface area, you may need to use numerous sheets for this task. As you rub the sheet over the surface, you should notice the hair beginning to cling to it. Simply rub the fabric softener sheet over the surface and vacuum out any leftover hair strands for a completely clean surface on your clothes and furniture.

10 - Clean Your Blinds With Vinegar

Cleaning your blinds may be a time-consuming process, but it can be made quick and easy with a simple hack. In a bowl, combine equal parts vinegar and water. After that, soak a microfiber cloth in the solution and wring out the excess liquid.

Wipe each slat of the blinds with the moist cloth, beginning at the top and working your way down. Scrub thoroughly in particularly dirty areas. After cleaning all of the slats, wipe them off with another dry cloth to eliminate any remaining moisture as this could lead to mould developing on the fabric. With this hack, you can quickly clean your blinds without using any harsh chemicals.

Conclusion

Maintaining a clean and tidy home while working a full-time job can be quite challenging. However, there are numerous cleaning hacks that can make the process a lot easier and more efficient. You can make use of common household items like sodium and bicarbonate to clean surfaces, floors, and appliances without the need for harsh chemicals.
In addition to using household items, it’s important to incorporate cleaning into your daily routine. For instance, you can let oven racks soak in a vinegar solution while you work from the office or at home, and then scrub them clean when your shift is finished. By doing this, you can keep your home sparkling clean and organised without sacrificing your work productivity.

Daily Poppins is one of the UK’s largest and fastest domestic and commercial cleaning companies, offering thorough property cleaning and 24/7 customer services.

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