TikTok provides more than pure entertainment. Instead, it’s chock full of tips from real people on everything under the sun—including one of our favorite topics: cleaning.
We’ve spent dozens of collective hours going down the #Cleantok trail. And while we’ve seen some nightmarish tips (like mixing cleaning products and air frying water), we’ve also found some real gems.
60 Second Hack—”Do, Then Clean”
If you feel overwhelmed on bathroom cleaning day, chances are you’re approaching the situation incorrectly. According to @themotherlikeaboss, you need to “do, then clean.” This tip means wiping out the sink after you brush your teeth, swishing the toilet bowl brush around the toilet every few days, and immediately placing laundry in the hamper. While these tasks seem obvious, they make a massive difference in the daily cleanliness of your home and how long it takes to deep clean a room.
For a cleaner, easier-to-manage house, follow these tips for every room: Clean up your messes as you cook, throw away trash immediately, put away games after you’re finished playing with them, etc.
The Pink Stuff Paste is a Miracle Worker
When you have a nasty shower or sink, there are two good options: bleach or The Pink Stuff Paste. If you don’t like using bleach, the Pink Stuff is your next best option. @KierstynRochelle demonstrates just how effective this inexpensive cleaner can be.
We also used the Pink Stuff Paste on white sneakers and grout lines. While it wasn’t our favorite grout cleaner (too abrasive and hard to rinse), we’ve used it on many hard surfaces around our home with impressive results.
Who Knew Cleaning Baseboards Didn’t Have to Be Back-Breaking?
Cleaning baseboards ranks toward the top of least favorite cleaning tasks—not because it’s hard to do, but because it’s hard on the body.
If you’re looking for the best way to rid your baseboard of dust and grime without bending over or getting on your hands and knees, you’ll like this CleanTok hack from @alisonkoroly. Attach a microfiber cloth to a broom, spray it with an all-purpose cleaner, and wipe it over your baseboards for easy cleaning.
Toilet Bowl Stamps Will Keep Your Trash Can From Stinking
Toilet bowl stamps do more than freshen and deodorize a toilet; they can also keep your trash can from smelling bad.
@Cleaningwithgabie utilizes a toilet stamp at the top of her trash can lid to mask bad smells. However, we caution against placing the stamp on the lid if you have kids. Instead, keep it out of sight (like on the interior side of the garbage can) where little hands won’t be touching and getting the cleaner all over them.
Conquer Declutter with Expiration Date Labels
The more stuff you have in your home, the harder your home will be to clean and maintain. A good decluttering session can rid you of useless belongings and improve the look of your house. The problem, though, is that there are many items that you need to decide whether or not to get rid of. @Newlifestyleabb proposes a solution using expiration dates.
In the video, Alyssa recommends finding all of your “maybe” items, writing an expiration date on a Post-it note, and attaching it to each one. If you use the item before the expiration date, remove the post-it. If not, it’s time to trash or donate your “expired” stuff.
“A Load a Day Keeps the Piles Away,” Plus a Tip on Washing Machine Delays
Laundry is a dreaded task in many homes, including those with children. Follow @brunchwithbabs advice, tackling one load of laundry per day to keep piles from stacking up. She also shares a genius hack to ensure that your laundry is washed at the same time every day so it doesn’t sit too long and develop a musty smell.
“Do you know that most machines have a delayed wash button?,” she asks in her video before showing users how to program it. By utilizing the delayed wash cycle, you can add clothes to your washer all evening as you find them, and it will automatically start running for the time you’ve programmed it.
You Can Hose Off Dirty Blinds
Cleaning blinds is awkward. Even when you take the time to dust or wipe down both sides of the slats, there’s still dirt in the corners near where each slat attaches to the rope. Good thing there’s a better method.
According to TikToker Zapatas, the best way to deep clean extra-dirty blinds is to detach them from the window, take them outside, and hose them off. The hose will remove dirt on both sides of the slats and in all crevices. Then, hang the blinds outside to let them dry before reinstalling.
