Cheap But Effective Cleaning Tips

Walk down the cleaning aisle of any supermarket and chances are, you’ll find someone reading the back of a bottle or a box.

There are so many products proclaiming to do so many things, it can be difficult to know what to buy. Problem is, they all come at a hefty price. If cleanliness is next to Godliness, it’s also pretty close to penniless.

Here’s some cheap and effective cleaning tips that will cost you nothing but a bit of elbow grease.

Smelly Trainers

Sprinkle baking soda inside and it will absorb both sweat and any unpleasant odours. Just remember to give them a shake before you put them on. You can do this inside a gym bag too.

Felt-tip pen marks

If you’ve gone out of the edges colouring in and left marker pen on your wooden table, try removing with some toothpaste.

Dog hairs in the car

Don’t drag the hoover out to tackle your hairy car seats. A lint roller will work much quicker and is far easier to get into all the nooks and crannies.

Grubby cutting board

If you’ve chopped garlic or onions on a wooden cutting board, everything else you put on it will pick up the smell. Sprinkle it with salt and rub it with the cut side of half a lemon.

Microwave magic

Stick the other half of your cut lemon in a bowl of water and put it in the microwave until it fills with steam. Any splatters will be easy enough to wipe off and it will smell fresh and clean.

Grease stain on your clothes

If you’ve been a bit gung-ho with your spaghetti carbonara, try gently rubbing the stain with washing-up liquid then rinse with clean water. It’s gentle enough to spot-treat most fabrics and is cheaper than stain removers.

Tarnished copper

If you’ve got any copper pans or kitchen utensils (check you) and they’re looking tarnished, give them a rub with tomato ketchup and you’ll have them gleaming in no time.

Dull porcelain

Moisten a soft, clean cloth with vodka and give it a good going over to bring back the sheen on dull porcelain.

Hairy carpets

If you tend to shed a lot of hair, the best way of gathering it up is by wearing rubber gloves and ‘brushing’ the carpet with your hands. You’ll be amazed (and slightly disgusted) by the amount you gather up.

Stained mugs

If the inside of your mugs are looking a little brown and no amount of washing will shift it, rub the insides with toothpaste. Rinse well before making a brew!