Only Professional Cleaners Know This

A few of our favorite cleaning pros share some of their best tips for stubborn spots around the house. From stains in the laundry room to fingerprints on the refrigerator to the (dreaded!) toilet bowl, they have a solution for it all. Only Professional Cleaners Know This!

Drop of Olive Oil

Are fingerprints all over the fridge driving you crazy? Melissa Maker, founder of the Clean My Space cleaning company, YouTube channel, and blog has a solution.

“I use a drop of oil (olive oil or even baby oil will work) on a paper towel to shine stainless steel to get rid of any fingerprints I missed in cleaning and to keep the surface cleaner for longer. Buff the oil in—going with the grain of the stainless—and wipe off any excess with a clean paper towel. This trick is magic.” She once once got a standing ovation for this hack at a family dinner.

White Chalk

“I tell people to keep a piece of white chalk in the laundry room to rub on grease stains and absorb the oil. Launder as usual and the piece should come out clean,” says Becky Rapinchuk, creator of Cleanmama.net.

This should do the trick on butter, salad dressing, cooking oil, and more. No chalk on hand, but need an immediate solution? Break out the cornstarch from your baking caddy or talcum powder from the medicine cabinet and sprinkle it over the stain, let sit for for 10 minutes to soak up the oil, and wash.

Pull the Vacuum Cleaner Slowly

Here’s what some people might not realize: pushing the vacuum forward is mostly about getting it into the right position. It’s pulling it that actually removes any soil. “So slow down on the pull pass for cleaner carpets!” says Donna Smallin Kuper, certified house cleaning technician and author of Cleaning Plain & Simple ($17, amazon.com).

When cleaning hard floor surfaces, vacuums can blow around a lot of the debris you are trying to clean up. Avoid the hassle by sucking up dust and furballs using the vacuum’s wand attachment first. Then give the floor a pass with the machine on the hard floor setting.

If your floors still don’t seem to be coming clean, it may be time to invest in a new machine. See some of our hardworking favorites here.

Steam Clean

“When you use a product or chemical to clean, there’s often residue left behind. Soil and dirt adhere to the residue, requiring further cleaning. A steam cleaner, however, uses a vapor of hot water to remove soil and dirt without any sticky residue,” says Debra Johnson, manager of the training program at Merry Maids, a national cleaning company.

You can even use a steam cleaner to freshen carpets. Donna Smallin Kuper’s favorite model for sanitizing her space is the Reliable Steamboy Pro because it reaches up to 248 degrees and has a washable, removable microfiber pad to prevent waste.

Cornstarch

“I add a teaspoon of cornstarch to a cup of white vinegar and a cup of water (my standard window cleaning solution) and the results are incredible,” says Melissa Maker. “The glass becomes so shiny and crystal clear. The cornstarch is the magic ingredient—it’s a very fine natural abrasive that helps work away grime and leave behind a streak-free shine.

” Along with the secret ingredient in her window and glass cleaner, Maker also says that cornstarch comes in handy for tackling smelly odors and grease stains and even cleaning stuffed animals.

White Vinegar

“Water spots and mineral deposits on bathroom and kitchen faucets and fixtures are eyesores and tough to remove,” says Becky Rapinchuk. “Saturate a paper towel or microfiber cloth with white vinegar and place over the deposits. Let it sit for five to 15 minutes, then wipe away. The acid in the vinegar breaks down the deposits, leaving your faucets and fixtures shiny.

” Use a similar trick for your showerhead: fill a shopping bag with vinegar, tie it around the showerhead, and leave it overnight to soak. Run the shower in the morning to rinse clean. If the shower curtain needs a refresh as well, toss it in the washing machine with a towel to help slough off any soap scum.

Brillo Pad

“I wet a Brillo pad to clean my glass shower doors—it cleans soap scum and water spots faster and easier than anything else I’ve tried. (And no, it won’t scratch the glass),” says Donna Smallin Kuper. Every three months or so, she applies Rain-X Original Glass Treatment in order to repel water spots in the first place.

Another way to avoid buildup is to squeegee the glass shower doors after you hop out of the shower. All of these methods come in handy to help prevent having to do more work scrubbing later on.

Ceiling Fan

“You should always clean a room from top to bottom so that you never have to clean a surface twice. And always start at the corner furthest from the room’s entrance, working your way out the door,” advises Debra Johnson. Map out your routine so you take the most efficient route for the time you have allotted.

In the bedroom, for example, start by dusting the ceiling fan blades (so much dust!), then move to the tops of furniture, and make your way down to the sheets, and ultimately the floor. As you go, dust that doesn’t collect in your duster or on your microfiber cloth, will fall to the floor, which you will tackle last. Looking for the fastest route to a cleaner kitchen instead? Here’s your plan.

Source: Real Simple