19 Simple Cleaning Hacks Pros Hope You Never Find

Professional cleaners have many smart tricks that can make your home shine and your life easier. But hiring them can get very expensive.

In 2024, cleaning services cost $25 to $80 per hour, or about $117 to $235 per visit. The good news is, you can still have a clean home without spending a lot.

I love finding easy, safe, and natural ways to save money, so I’m excited to share 19 tips that pros usually keep to themselves.

Get ready to clean in a much smarter way!

Toothbrush Detail Cleaning

Got some hard-to-reach spots that always seem dirty? I mean those tight corners, cracks, and small spaces that never get fully clean. This tip is perfect for that.

Just take an old toothbrush and scrub those tricky areas. The small bristles reach every little space, leaving them shiny and clean. No more fighting with big brushes or sponges.

This tip costs about $1 for a toothbrush, while professional cleaning for the same spots can run around $10.

Rice Vase Cleaner

Got a vase that’s looking a little worse for wear? Maybe it’s got some tough stains or mineral buildup that just won’t budge? Remove stuck-on grime from the inside of vases by adding uncooked rice and warm water, then swirling and shaking.

The rice gently scrubs away buildup without scratching for around $0.50, far cheaper than $10 vase cleaning fees.

Rubber Glove Glass Picker-Upper

If you drop a glass and don’t want to cut your hands, just put on a rubber glove and pick up the pieces. The glove keeps your hands safe from sharp edges, making it easy to clean even the biggest mess.

This $1 trick stops injuries and saves you the $10 or more you’d spend on professional glass cleanup.

Baking Soda Thermos Cleaner

If your thermos appears a little funky on the inside, maybe it’s got some tough stains or odors that just won’t go away, try this simple solution: mix some baking soda and water, and give it a good shake.

The baking soda works as a gentle abrasive for $1 versus $10+ for standard thermos cleaning.

Lemon Cutting Board Freshener

Is your cutting board looking worn out? Maybe it has stubborn stains or smells that won’t go away no matter how much you scrub. No worries! Just take half a lemon and scrub the board.

The lemon’s juice helps get rid of stains and odors, leaving your board clean and fresh for just $0.50, instead of paying $10 for professional cleaning.

Coffee Ground Pot and Pan Scrubber

Are those baked-on food stains in your pots and pans refusing to budge? Don’t reach for harsh abrasive cleaners just yet. Used coffee grounds make an excellent, gentle scouring agent that can tackle even the toughest cooking messes.

Not only is this cleaning hack incredibly affordable, costing around $0.50 for used coffee grounds, but it’s also eco-friendly, compared to the $10 or more you might pay for a professional pot and pan cleaning service.

It Is East To Clean A Coffee Maker

Mineral buildup can gather in coffee makers over time. Run a mix of vinegar and water through a brew cycle to remove the deposits and freshen the machine.

Using vinegar costs just $1, saving you the $10 you’d pay for professional coffee maker cleaning.

Say Goodbye to Hard Water Stains

Alright, let’s start with one of the toughest rooms in the house, the bathroom. Hard water stains on toilets can be unsightly and difficult to remove. A simple and cost-effective solution is to use a pumice stone.

Gently scrub the stains with the pumice stone, and they will disappear, leaving your toilet looking fresh and clean. A pumice stone costs around $5, while professional toilet cleaning services can cost upwards of $10.

Shower Head Sparkle

Mineral deposits can build up on shower heads over time, making the water flow weaker. Soaking the shower head in vinegar will help remove this buildup.

Let it sit for a few hours, then wipe away the loosened deposits. Vinegar costs around $1, much cheaper than the $10 you’d pay for professional shower head cleaning.

Microwave Marvel

Next up, let’s tackle the heart of the home, the kitchen. We’ve all been there, you pop something in the microwave, and the next thing you know, it’s a big mess. Splatters, spills, and who knows what else.

To clean the microwave easily, place a bowl of water with a few lemon slices in the microwave and run it for 2-3 minutes. The steam will help loosen stuck-on grime for easy wiping.

This natural method costs around $0.50 for lemons versus $10 for professional kitchen cleaning services.

Oven Overhaul

Cleaning the oven is probably one of the most dreaded household tasks. It’s a real workout, and let’s be honest, who wants to spend hours on their hands and knees scrubbing away? But this hack will make it a whole lot easier.

To clean your oven simply make a paste with baking soda and water, spread it all over the oven, and let it sit overnight. In the morning, wipe it all down, and your oven will be sparkling like new. No more elbow grease required.

At about $1 for the baking soda, this hack is a bargain compared to professional oven cleaning services that can run you around $20.

5. Crystal Clear Windows and Mirrors

Now, let’s talk about those tricky windows and mirrors. They can get covered in fingerprints, smudges, and streaks really fast.

Vinegar is a strong cleaner that can make glass shine without streaks. Just mix vinegar and water in a spray bottle for an easy, effective clean.

Vinegar costs about $1, much less than the $5 you’d pay for professional window cleaning.

Newspaper or Microfiber Magic

Speaking of streak-free windows and mirrors, did you know that you can use newspaper or a microfiber cloth to wipe them down? These materials are amazing at leaving a crystal-clear finish without any pesky streaks or smudges.

Plus, they’re eco-friendly and super affordable, costing around $0.50, leaving glass pristine without the added expense of professional services at $5 or more.

Tennis Ball Scuff Buster

Now, let’s talk about floors. Ugly scuff marks on vinyl or linoleum can be removed with a surprising tool—a tennis ball.

Just rub the tennis ball on the marks for an easy, $1 fix instead of paying $10 or more for professional floor cleaning.

Vinegar Tile Trick

Tile floors can be a real pain to keep clean, but this hack will make it a breeze. Just mix some warm water and vinegar, and you’ve got yourself an effective and affordable cleaning solution.

This hack will cost you about $1 for the vinegar, while professional tile cleaning services can cost around $10.

Mesh Bag Magic

Tired of your delicate items getting all tangled up and stretched out in the wash? Well, this hack is for you. Just toss them into a mesh bag before throwing them in the washing machine, and they’ll come out looking as good as new.

This $5 laundry hack protects garments and saves money compared to $10 or more for professional laundry services.

Vinegar Softener

Speaking of laundry, did you know that adding a cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle can help get rid of soap buildup and make your clothes soft?

This tip is cheap and much safer for the environment than chemical fabric softeners.

At $1 per bottle, vinegar costs far less than the $10 you’d pay for professional laundry services.

Lint Roller Pet Hair Buster

If you are a pet owner, you’re probably all too familiar with the constant battle against pet mess, particularly the pesky problem of pet hair. A simple lint roller quickly picks up stray fur from furniture and clothing.

This $5 solution eliminates the need for expensive $10+ professional pet hair removal services.

Olive Oil Stainless Steel Shine

Stainless steel appliances can be tricky to keep clean. Fingerprints and smudges show up so fast. This tip makes it easy to keep them shining.

Just mix olive oil and vinegar for a streak-free cleaner that makes your appliances look like new.

This $1 trick replaces expensive polishes and saves you the $10 you’d pay for professional appliance cleaning.

Clean and Save

Professional cleaners usually keep their best tricks secret. Now, you can use 19 smart hacks to make your whole home sparkle without spending a lot.

Easy DIY cleaners, low-cost household items, and simple strategies give you control. These hacks stop messes from piling up and make cleaning much easier.

Say goodbye to expensive cleaning services. With a little effort and these insider tips, you can do it yourself for far less. Get ready for a fresh, clean home without the big bill!

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AI was used for light editing, formatting, and readability. But a human (me!) wrote and edited this.