The Come Clean Blog
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Grandma or Great Grandma was able to keep a sparkling clean home without the specialized products and modern cleaning tools we have today. We’re going back to the basics and taking some cleaning tips from Grandma’s era that still work today.
- Whiten Laundry with Lemons
Squeeze a lemon into a gallon of hot water. Let your faded whites soak for one to two hours. Run through the rinse cycle or rinse by hand, then set in the sun to dry.
- De-scale the Showerhead with Vinegar
Clean up the mineral deposits from your showerhead by first pouring straight white vinegar in a plastic baggie. Use a rubber band to hold it in place around the shower head for several hours. Once you remove the bag, use a toothbrush to scrub the residue off.
- Deodorize with Vanilla Extract
No one wants unpleasant odors in their home, especially Grandma. Douse a cotton ball in vanilla and place around the house: in a plant or rub one over a cold light bulb; when it heats, the room will smell great.
- Deep Clean with the Seasons
They call it spring cleaning for a reason. Take an entire day to clean and turn the house inside out: open the windows, deep clean the floors, vacuum the mattress and clean out your closets. A new season calls for a fresh perspective.
- Ditch the Paper Towels
Go for something other than disposable paper towels. Microfiber cloths are a good modern-day solution. They dry fast, are easy to launder and are lint-free when drying dishes.
- Make a Rag Bin
Be thrifty like Grandma and save worn out t-shirts, flannel sheets or other fabrics and cut in squares to use as cleaning rags.
- Clean as You Go
Prevention is the best medicine and cleaning as you go prevents little messes from becoming big ones. Wipe down countertops daily, use throw rugs to prevent excess dirt from getting tracked inside and vacuum frequently.
- Baking Soda Magic
Grandma may not have had a dishwasher, but she sure had baking soda. Deodorize your dishwasher by sprinkling one cup of baking soda in the bottom and let it sit overnight. Run an empty cycle the next morning and enjoy an odor-free and sparkling dishwasher. Baking soda can also be used to remove odors from the refrigerator. Store an opened box in your fridge or freezer to absorb odors and replace at least every three months.
- Sprinkle Flour on Oil Stains
Don’t panic if you spill oil on the floor or counter. Sprinkle some flour on the spill to soak up the stain, let it sit for a bit and wipe it up with a sponge or cloth.
- Dampen Cloth Before Dusting
When going to dust furniture, lightly dampen your cleaning cloth enough that will pick up dust but not enough that it drips water on the surface. Work in circular motions to restore your furniture’s shine. You can then spray your favorite cleaner (we recommend JAWS Glass Cleaner) on a rag and polish up the surface.