The Best Cleaning and Organizing Tricks We Learned This Year
The Best Cleaning and Organizing Tricks We Learned This Year
The art of improving one's house is never done. There are always more tricks to make your fridge feel twice as big and another method that promises to get gum out of carpet. And since it's our job to keep a pulse on home hacks, we wanted to share the highlights of what we learned in 2016.
Clean keyboards with sticky notes.
We should officially use office supplies to de-crumb our keyboard. First, turn over your keyboard and tap out any crumbs. Then, run the sticky side of on a Post-It Note between the keys to grab debris.
Hide things inside your drawers.
Ironing boards are bulky, so why not stash yours inside a slender drawer? This one completely rolls out of sight when not in use and doesn't take up valuable door space. Or if you're a steamer person, we found plenty more ideas for how to make your drawers work harder.
Use tongs to dust your blinds.
If you don't want to get your hands dusty, use tongs! All you have to do is secure a microfiber cloth onto the tool with rubber bands, then pull the cloth across each strand.
Put a lazy Susan in your fridge.
Move over, salt and pepper passer. This passer is just as useful in the fridge. Put jars of food you use less frequently (think horseradish verses mayo) on a lazy Susan so you can maximize shelf space, but keep everything in easy reach.
Dust car vents with a sponge paint brush.
Nothing makes a long drive feel longer than dust blowing into your face. So stash one of these paint brushes in your glove compartment so you can wipe vents clean when in need.
Clean crevices with toothbrush bristles.
Mildew and bacteria, you're no match for an old toothbrush. Just use warm water, soap, and bristles to get into the deepest, dirtiest places you can't even see.
Use six pack containers to organize your fridge.
These cardboard boxes are ideal for storing similar-sized items, like mustard or hot sauce. Even better: You can carry your condiments to the table in one fell swoop.
Add a bonus shelf to make more space.
Instead of storing tall juice or milk jugs standing up, lay them on their side and add an extra shelf to create more storage in a refrigerator that's lacking in size.
Hide your printer in a drawer.
When you put the front of a dresser drawer on a hinge, you can keep your printer in your bedroom without feeling like you're still at the office.
Hang shelves on wasted wall space.
The narrow wall between the pantry shelves and the door is usually totally forgotten — but narrow cubbies add extra storage for your favorite spices and sauces.
Remove wrinkles with ice cubes.
The next time your shirt is wrinkled, but you're already running 10 minutes late, throw a few cubes in your dryer along with your garment. The ice will melt, creating moisture and steam that will zap creases.
Use shoe organizers all over your house.
This hanging caddy makes it easy to find all of your sprays and cleaners when messy situations arise. They're also useful for storing extensive makeup collections or even spices in your kitchen.
Keep remotes within reach using Velcro.
Where has this idea been all our lives? No more losing the remote in the black hole that is your couch cushion (again).
Hide important papers in a bench.
Swap file cabinets (read: total eyesores) out for a white bench with a pretty floral cushion on top. Just add file folders to keep your most valuable papers out of sight.
Wrinkled linens are no match for misted water.
No, you don't need an iron or steamer to smooth out crinkled sheets. Spritz the liquid evenly across your almost-made bed (the corners should still be sticking out). Then shake the top layer until you can see the creases start to settle.
Consider your biggest clutter problems solved.