Remove coffee stains from mugs

When your morning cup of coffee leaves a stubborn unsightly ring, use a little toothpaste to clean it off.

 

Iron clothes when they're damp

The moisture helps release wrinkles, so press your peskiest pieces right out of the dryer (or use the spray feature on your iron).

 

Make a mirror gleam

Since coffee filters are lint-free, you can swap them out for paper towels to give mirrors a no-streak shine.

 

Make sneakers bright again

Get your tennis shoes to their just-out-of-the-box state by scrubbing with toothpaste.

 

Get stains out of a cutting board

Run the cut side of a lemon over the board to remove food stains and smells. For extra cleaning power, sprinkle it with salt or baking soda first.

 

Add shine with vinegar

Use white vinegar to brighten your windows. Mix 2 tablespoons of white vinegar with a gallon of water, and dispense into a used spray bottle. Squirt on and wipe away with a clean microfiber cloth (not paper towels, which can cause streaking).

 

Make faucets gleam

Rub a bit of toothpaste over your bathroom fixtures with a wet sponge to get gunk off chrome.

 

Banish garlic odor from your hands
When the scent of dinner lingers on your fingers, rub your hands with toothpaste and rinse. This also works well on fishy smells.

 

Place a coffee filter in the bottom of a flower pot

Before you pour potting soil into your container, place a filter in the bottom hole. This way, excess water can escape, but the dirt stays in its place.

 

Dust your TV with a coffee filter

A coffee filter is great for grabbing debris from screens both big (your television) and small (your iPhone).

 

Absorb excess oil with a coffee filter

Drain French fries or bacon on a filter to help pull away excess fat, or cut one into smaller pieces to use as a face blotter in a pinch.

​

Clean and polish stainless steel with a coffee filter

Just like coffee filters can leave your windows gleaming (no lint left behind!), they also work magic on your appliances and faucets.

​

Repurposing Old Clothes

Wear an old, unmatched sock on your hand when you have to dust the house. Then run your hand along chair rails, crown moldings, and doors until the sock is dusty enough to discard or wash and reuse.

 

Cleaning Glass

Use old newspapers instead of paper towels to clean mirrors and windows. They work great, and you're recycling.

 

Circulate Air

To discourage mildew growth in the bathroom, increase the amount of air circulation and light to decrease moisture. Use fans during the shower and for roughly 30 minutes after, air conditioners, dehumidifiers, and open windows.

​

Overlook the Little Things

That thimble collection or brass animal display needn't get a complete wipe down every single week. Save time by giving yourself the OK to skip the little stuff and instead focus on the big picture. Treating small things to a good dusting once a month is just fine.

 

Squeegee the Shower

Use a squeegee on the shower walls and door after every use. This quick, immediate act saves time battling soap scum and water spots later. Also, keep the shower door slightly open after use to promote airflow and hamper mildew buildup.

​

iPad Screen

To clean your iPad screen, all you need is a clean, soft, lint-free cloth, slightly dampened with water. Do not use any chemicals; no window cleaner, no general purpose cleaners, no aerosols, no solvents, no alcohol, no ammonia and no abrasive cleansers. Just water. The iPad screen has a special coating on it which repels the oil left there by your fingertips. Over time, this ability to repel oil diminishes and you will find that you cannot clean the fingerprint marks off your iPad screen as well. If you use any cleaning chemicals on the screen, you can further reduce the screen's repelling abilities.
 

Clean Your Ceiling Fan

Place a pillowcase over the blades of your ceiling fan to clean them from inside the pillowcase. Doing it this way means no more dust in your face or dust getting around your house.

 

To clean your computer keyboard

Run the sticky edge of a sticky note between the keys to pick up any crumbs.

 

For your earbuds

Wipe the grime off, then disinfect them with rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball.

​

Clean your coffee maker

Wash the removable parts of your coffee maker after every use to remove coffee, grinds, and oil.  And don't forget to wipe down the outside and the warming plate where spills can burn on.

 

Rain?
Make sure to have an extra garbage bag inside your laptop bag. It may just save your computer one day during a sudden thunderstorm.