This is a sponsored post by Shark Vacuums.
Mark your calendars because my favourite day of the year (well, next to my birthday and Christmas) is fast approaching! “National No Housework Day” is on April 7! Yes, this is the day to schedule some special leisure activities with your kids or some reading, running, at-home spa treatments, or gardening to enjoy during your precious alone time. I already have some ideas for how to enjoy the day! There are those who enjoy housecleaning and whistle while they work. I am not one of those people!
To be honest, I have never understood housework. Unlike schoolwork where you complete an essay, test, or course, you then advance to the next level. Even if at work you are usually assigned more difficult tasks once you master your existing ones. But with housework, you do it once and you do a really good job of it and then the next week, you have to do the same thing all over again! Despite my mostly hate relationship with housework, it, unfortunately, needs to be done. So, I am sharing my best cleaning hacks to save time and maybe even some money!
1. Speed up dryer time
Who has time to wait an hour while your clothes dry in the dryer? I don’t! Adding a clean, dry towel to the clothes in your dryer will speed up the drying process. Be sure to remove the towel after 15 minutes into the cycle otherwise the towel will continue to absorb moisture. This not only gives you more time, but it saves on your hydro bill as dryers are one of the most energy-consuming appliances in the household!
2. Use chalk to treat grease stains
3. Let the Shark® AI Robot VACMOP clean floors and carpets
Sit back and let the new Shark® AI Robot VACMOP clean your hardwood and vinyl floors – shop tile and stone here – and carpets! I love my Shark AI Robot VACMOP because it’s easy to use with the Shark Clean app! Being a non-techy person, I was surprised to find how easy the VACMOP was to set up. I am also so impressed with its AI function. I watched it go under my couch to vacuum the floor and I thought, “Oh-oh, that’s a tight squeeze…I don’t think you’re going to make it out that way!” [yes, I was talking to the VACMOP]. But the VACMOP figured that out and came out from under my couch the original way it went in! The VACMOP also provides all-in-one vacuuming and hard floor mopping. Its IQ Navigation™ determines whether the floor is hardwood or carpet and it knows not to mop when cleaning the carpet. You can also indicate in the app which areas are no-go zones, for example, areas of rooms with power cords. When I don’t want the VACMOP to do a full clean, I can control which rooms I want the VACMOP to clean via the Shark Clean app.
4. Spray DIY wrinkle releaser instead of ironing
You’re running late and you notice that the top you want to wear is wrinkled. Instead of pulling out the ironing board and spending 10 minutes ironing your shirt, make a DIY wrinkle releaser. Fill a spray bottle with 2 cups of water, 1 teaspoon of hair conditioner, and 1 tablespoon of white vinegar (white vinegar really comes in handy, doesn’t it?!). Spray on your wrinkled clothes until they are damp, then stretch and pull the fabric until the wrinkles release.
5. Clean blinds with kitchen tongs
We have blinds on our living room, kitchen and bathroom windows. If you have blinds in your home, you know they get dusty fairly regularly. But I find those dusters do not do a good job of cleaning blinds as they leave half the dust on your blinds. A great cleaning hack is to get a pair of kitchen tongs and wrap them in a microfiber cloth. Place individual blind between both tongs and glide tongs along the blind. You’ll notice how much cleaner your blinds are after following this tip.
6. Easy hack to clean microwave
Cleaning your microwave is not only a pain, it can be gross. Choose this easy cleaning hack instead: Slice a lemon in half and place it in a microwaveable bowl of water. Place the bowl in the microwave and heat for three minutes. Leave the bowl in the microwave for five minutes. Wipe the microwave with a paper towel. The steam from the water combined with the juice from the lemon will make wiping dried food in your microwave easy.
7. Easy way to clean your shower
One of the worst household cleaning jobs is cleaning the soap scum from the shower, mainly because it is so time-consuming. Here’s an easy cleaning hack: Once you’ve had your shower, spray some Lemon Pledge on shower doors and tiles and wipe clean. The oils in the Lemon Pledge will prevent soap scum and water stains from accumulating on your glass shower door installation. Following this tip will keep your shower clean for weeks.
8. Easy way to clean blender
I love using my blender for smoothies such as this Spinach Blueberry Smoothie, but I don’t like cleaning my blender! Make cleaning easy by filling your blender with warm water and a few drops of dish soap. Turn your blender on and blend for a few seconds, then simply rinse your blender with warm water.
9. Keep fridge shelves clean
One of my most hated household cleaning jobs is cleaning the fridge. It’s so time-consuming to scrub dried food from fridge shelves. Avoid this by placing wax paper on fridge shelves and on the bottom of the fruit and veggie crisper drawers. Now all you have to do is replace the wax paper when it gets dirty!
10. Easy hack to clean shower head
Shower heads get neglected because they can be difficult to clean. But no more! Get a plastic sandwich bag and fill it with white wine vinegar. In the evening, place your shower head in the bag and secure the bag with an elastic or twist tie. The end of the shower head (the area you want cleaned) should be totally submerged in the vinegar. Remove bag in the morning and shower head should be clean.
I hope you enjoy using these cleaning hacks. Please let me know in the comment section if you have other hacks to share.
You may be interested in reading, “10 Family Activities While You’re Stuck at Home“.
Okay so I am totally trying the towel in the dryer thing plus the wax paper (at least in the crisper drawers). I would put wax paper on all of my fridge shelves, but I can see it now – my sons whipping stuff out quickly and everything flying. Ha! I loved reading your cleaning hacks and think that they are all a fabulous way to save time! I’m all about being more efficient with the little time I have in the day.
Thank you. Yes, the dry towel in the dryer will save on dryer time! We also just put the wax paper in the crispers and it prevents a huge clean-up job later! Cheers, Lori
These are really great tips. I’m thinking of getting an automatic robot vacuum cleaner. Now I’m convinced to get one. Thanks!
Thank you. Yes, this Shark AI Robot VACMOP is really impressive and it cleans really well! Cheers, Lori
OH yes! Love these. I am all about the hacks and all about our robot vacuum doing the heavy lifting.
Yes! Aren’t they great! Such a timesaver! Cheers, Lori
All wonderful tips , will definitely give a try of the shower head cleaning hack and the wax paper for the fridge shelves. Thanks for sharing am sure it will help many of us.
Thank you. Yes, I love the wax paper in the crispers and the fridge shelves because I do not like cleaning the fridge! Cheers, Lori
Booyah! This is fully awesome! I hate, hate, HATE cleaning, so if I can make it faster, I’m here for it.
I need to try the towel in my dryer. My dryer needs to work faster.
I don’t know that a day like that exists.. hehe. Well for me I love cleaning so much. So thanks for the hacks!
Love all these tips and will definitely try this when cleaning my home. Thanks!
These hacks are great! Cleaning is my least favorite chore and yet the one that is never ending, these cleaning hacks will definitely help speed things up!
These are some great tips. I don’t mind cleaning to much, but at the same time I don’t like it. These will be great tips to follow.
I am always looking for ways to make cleaning easier. Thanks for all the great tips! So hard to keep up with all the cleaning.
I love easy cleaning hacks like these! My son makes smoothies all the time, the blender tip is perfect for us!
wow! Amazing tips! I need a new robot and I need to find out more about Shark AI Robot VACMOP. I will try to use chalk, it’s something new for me.
I sure didn’t know about the chalk for the grease. I’m going to try that next time. Thank you for the tips!
These are some great ideas I have never heard of before. I can’t wait to try the chalk for grease tip.
Thank you. I hope they make housework easier for you! Cheers, Lori
Definitely such great everyday life hacks! This is my first time learning about Using chalk to treat grease stains! Thank you for these tips.
You’re welcome. I hope these tips come in handy! Cheers, Lori
Brilliant! I have to make a shopping list to include white vinegar, chalk, wax paper, lemon pledge and lemon. I can do with cleaner shower walls and door, microwave, blinds and shelves in the fridge.
Yes, it’s amazing that some regular household items can be used for cleaning! Cheers, Lori
I have two dogs in the house and having a roomba makes total sense. I had no idea they made one to mop the floor. I’m going to invest in both of these gadgets after I put hardwood in my house.
I guess your dogs don’t mind the roomba? I would love to hear what you think after you get the Shark AI Robot VACMOP! Cheers, Lori
These are helpful. I’ll definitely use these ideas when cleaning our home.
Wow! I did not know that chalk can help treat grease stains. I am a bit concerned about it and would love to try this hack. Thank you for sharing.
I will try the chalk trick and washing the shower head like this sounds pretty simple, way better than my regular way! Thank you so much!
I’m going to openly admit that in the last 20 years I’ve only ironed a handful of times. Like if we needed dress shirts etc. I don’t iron. If you take things out the dryer and hang immediately you cannot tell the difference. time saving hack!
So many people buy that because not only that it cleans really but its fun to watch! Wahaha! Don’t tell me its just us? lol
This is a wonderful post – lots of amazing tips. Didn’t know about chalk for cleaning grease stains, dry towel in the dryer, and so many other useful info. Thank you so much.
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