When you’ve been around the Internet block for a while, especially if you like to peruse cleaning videos for fun like me, you tend to see the same things over and over. Vinegar for descaling faucets, a pillowcase on fan blades, a toothbrush for tiny places. But the magic of the internet means there are more unusual cleaning hacks to discover, and find some I did! I polled my friends, followers, and the people of Reddit. Here are some of the things I uncovered!
Irish Spring 5 in 1 to Clean a Fiberglass Shower/Tub
Okay, this one is sort of a joke (and indeed, it started as a joke on Reddit). However, those who have used this hack swear by it. Apparently, you can use a multipurpose toiletry (such as Irish Spring 5 in 1, though apparently Suave Men’s 3 in 1 in “Citrus Rush” works even better) to clean stubborn stains off of fiberglass tub/shower combos.
As the photo shows, it takes some time for this method to fully cook. For best results, use the “wallpaper” method.
- Create a solution of whatever cursed multisoap you choose and the same amount of water (for example, 1 cup water and 1 cup soap). Mix well so the soap fully dissolves in the water.
- Dip a sturdy paper towel in the solution, and stick it on the wall of the shower/tub you’re trying to clean.
- Continue this process until your shower/tub is totally covered in paper towels.
- Leave it to work its magic for a few hours.
- Remove the paper towels, and rinse your shower well.
Keep a Dish Brush Full of Cleaner in the Shower
On a more serious note, it’s generally easier to maintain than to clean. I know I can’t be alone in my deep hatred of cleaning the shower. For the semi-neglectful among us, cleaning the shower means hours of arduous labor, strong fumes, and getting just a little too wet. However, you can make it MUCH easier on yourself with a simple trick.
Keep a soap dispensing dishwashing brush (such as this one) on hand filled with a multi-surface all-purpose cleaner (like this) in the shower. At the end of your shower, simply squirt some on the wall, scrub the walls and tub down with the brush, and know you’ve staved off the inevitable for a while. Similarly, if you have hard water and a glass shower door, keep a squeegee in the shower!
Makeup Remover on Clothes
As a performer, I’ve gotten my share of thick, goopy stage makeup on clothing. Makeup is famously one of the most difficult stains to remove. After all, product developers formulate it to last as long as possible! The secret to removing makeup from clothes? The same way you remove it from your face.
It works best when applied right away, but to remove makeup from fabric, soak the stain in the cleansing liquid.
For best results, do not use a cleansing balm or oil, as they require rinsing! Instead, use micellar water or eye makeup remover (like this one). If you need a little help with residue, dish soap breaks down any oil-based gunk left behind!
Use Steel Wool Soap Pads on Your Oven
Oven cleaner might be one of the worst substances known to man. In my experience, the harsh fumes simply do not make up for the burnt-on grime and oil that tends to accumulate in ovens. I’m not especially precious about using “all-natural” cleaning products (I am chemical-friendly) but after using oven cleaner a few times, I wanted to find a better way.
In my experience, steel wool soap pads (such as SOS or Brillo pads) outperform gnarly oven cleaners every time. They’re tough enough to remove burnt-on food, and work a LOT faster than other cleaners, including oven cleaner. It takes a bit of elbow grease (especially on a crusty oven), but I’ve never found an easy cleaning method for an oven.
You’ll need several pads for an oven. Simply run a little water over the pad, and scrub your oven in a circular motion. Keep wet paper towels or a wet rag on hand to wipe away the soapy residue periodically and check on your progress. Make sure you wipe away all soap with a wet rag when done, and keep your oven open to dry.
Dryer Sheets to Scrub Glass
Those of us in mountainous areas know the pain and struggle associated with hard water stains. These mineral deposits make cleaning difficult. Hard water may not be hazardous, but it clouds any dreams you may have of a sparkling home.
Hard water cleaners exist, and they work reasonably well as far as I can tell. However, relying on single-purpose cleaners will clutter up your cleaning cabinet quick. You already have what you need to clean hard water on glass – only, it’s probably in your laundry room.
Thanks to their tough-yet-gentle composition, dryer sheets are your clean glass secret weapon. Simply wet a dryer sheet (traditional ones work better) and scrub your cloudy glass in a circular motion. Like the soap pads, you’ll need to wipe off the soap residue as you go. It may take a few rounds of scrubbing, but it works!
For hard water on metal (like the water dispenser on your fridge, or your shower handle) Speedy Brite Wheel Cleaner works very well. Designed for use on wheels, it’s formulated for chrome and aluminum. Try it on stainless steel in a small area first, as stainless steel can be very picky.
Use a Potato or Yam on Rust
In today’s episode of “is science magic?” rusty cast iron pans don’t stand a chance against the humble potato. Potatoes and yams contain oxalic acid – the same ingredient that makes Bar Keepers’ Friend the GOAT – with the added benefit of a sturdy tuber to aid in tough scrubbing. This combination will clean a cast iron without damaging its seasoning.
Dip the cut end of potato in coarse salt, then scrub in circles to loosen rust. You may need to periodically cut the end off your potato and reload with more salt. Once your pan (or grill, or what have you) is rust-free, rinse it off and dry it thoroughly to prevent more rust.
Polish Stainless Steel with Flour
Despite its versatility, stainless steel has a bit of a fickle temperament. It can easily scratch, and anyone with a stainless steel sink knows it can be difficult to polish to its full shine, even with stainless steel-specific sprays!
Some people recommend olive oil – but that leaves a sticky residue that adds up to an impractical solution for high-use items like a fridge or sink. However, flour works shockingly well as a gentle abrasive to polish stainless steel.
- Clean any grime and gunk off your stainless steel with a multipurpose cleaning spray. Make sure it’s totally dry.
- Find the grain of your steel (get up close and you’ll see lines along the surface)
- Sprinkle a small amount of flour on your stainless steel surface.
- With the grain of the steel (NOT in circles) gently rub the flour along the surface with a microfiber cloth.
- Wipe away excess flour with a clean, dry cloth. Don’t use water!
This trick works especially well with scratched steel that stainless cleaner can’t penetrate!
Denture Tablet to Clean Water Bottles/Coffee Mugs
Who among us hasn’t gazed into the depths of their emotional support coffee thermos, only to see the dreaded rings of coffee stains clouding the inner surface. Water bottles can have the same issue with buildup over time. These rings can’t be scrubbed away, and while they don’t infiltrate our liquids, they’re gross!
A geriatric yet effective solution? Denture tablets! Designed to dissolve tough stains from false teeth, these tablets do their job well while being food-safe and affordable. Simply fill your favorite container with water, add in the tablet, and let it work its magic according to the package directions for that particular brand.
This tip works best on containers with a metal lining, but if you want to experiment with other materials, I won’t stop you!
What are your favorite weird/unusual/wacky cleaning tips? Let me know in the comments!
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