35 Nearly Forgotten House Cleaning Tips from the Past
Updated: Jan. 22, 2024
Grandma knows all the best cleaning tips and tricks to save you time, money and effort. You'll want to stock up on vinegar and lemon juice.
Minty fresh
Summer’s heat can sometimes cause garbage cans to give off an unpleasant odor. Reader Michael Sienkowski of Norwich, Connecticut, says, “If you grow mint, cut a fresh sprig and place it in the garbage can every day. It keeps the can smelling fresh all season long.”
No more moths
Keep moths away from your clothes with a natural solution. Reader Mrs. T. Peterson of Knife River, Minnesota says, “Make your own mothballs by mixing oil of cloves and oil of cinnamon, then soaking cotton balls in this mixture. Place the cotton balls in muslin bags and hang them in your closets.”
Wash away dust
Air vent covers are a hidden dirty spot in your home. Marge Grandy of Flippin, Arkansas, says, “I run all my metal heat and air conditioning vent covers through the dishwasher every spring and fall. It saves lots of time and does a better job than doing it by hand.” Here are other surprising things you didn’t know you could wash in your dishwasher.
Homemade humidifier
If you use a wood-burning stove, you can make your own humidifier. Therese DeVlieger of Davis Junction, Illinois, says, “Fill an old coffee can two-thirds full of water. Add cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange peel and place it on the stove. When the water gets hot, it gives off a pleasant scent and gives the home extra moisture.”
Keep cookbooks clean
Tired of splattering and spilling ingredients all over your cookbooks? Rosa Graber of Odon, Indiana, says, “Once you’ve turned to the page you want, slip the book inside a large plastic food storage bag to protect the pages.” Find out the things professional housecleaners do in their homes every day.
DIY glass cleaner
Mildred Zuercher of White Bear Lake, Minnesota, says this homemade solution cleans windows, glass and mirrors. “Mix 2 ounces rubbing alcohol, 2 ounces of ammonia and 12 ounces of water. Add a drop of blue food coloring and mark it clearly to distinguish it from other cleaners. Pour into a spray bottle and use as you would a store-bought cleaner.”
Stop sticking
Tired of scraping stickers off of your new stuff? Herman Ensey of Scottsbluff, Nebraska says, “Remove sticky price tags from glass by spraying with WD-40. It works well.” You’ll be amazed at these unbelievable uses for WD-40 as well!
Polish your silver
Banish the tarnish with this simple solution from reader Lois Kreider of Lebanon, Pennsylvania. “Place silver in an aluminum pan or in your kitchen sink lined with aluminum foil. Sprinkle with 3 tablespoons of baking soda and cover with boiling water. Let stand for 10 to 12 minutes.Â
Soak your shower head
To remove hard water buildup on your shower head, reader Jennie Krell, El Cajon, California says, “Pour some white distilled vinegar in a plastic bag and place it around the showerhead so the head is completely submerged. Tie the bag around the pipe and leave it overnight. You’ll find the showerhead will spray like new again in the morning.”
Open secret
When her handheld can opener gets balky, Ruth Brennan of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, says she uses a toothbrush, hot water, and dishwashing detergent to clean it. “After cleaning, lubricate the opener with vegetable oil and set it aside for a while. Wipe off the excess oil and it will work like new.”Â
A nutty solution
To color in nicks or scratches in furniture, cabinets, wood trim, etc., reader C. Clingingsmith of St. Bonifacius, Minnesota, says, “Rub them with a pecan nut. The oil of the nut will ‘re–stain’ the wood.”
Get rid of glue
Reader Mary Yoder, Montezuma, Georgia, has a solution for sticky situations. “When you must remove a spot of glue, use vinegar. It’s a good glue thinner or remover.” But use caution—there’s some things you should never clean with vinegar.
Fizzy flatware
Stainless steel lost its luster? Pat Peters of Matteson, Illinois, says, “Place your flatware in a pan with bubbly carbonated water, soda water, club soda, or seltzer. Let set until the fizz has fizzled. Your stainless will shine like new!”
Brush away dirt
Do you have a tough time cleaning wicker items? Reader Sherry Hearn of Trego Montana, says, “Just spray your favorite furniture polish onto an inexpensive paintbrush. It makes getting to the hard-to-reach spots easier and takes a lot less time.” Find out the cleaning products professional housecleaners swear by.
Invisible ink
Don’t freak out when the kids’ artwork goes beyond the coloring book. Reader Claire Utt of Winfield, Kansas says, “Rubbing alcohol easily removes ink from clothing and crayon marks from wall, wallpaper, and woodwork.”Â
Gum be gone
To remove gum from fingers or hair, reader Mrs. V. Walston of Bedford, Iowa, says “Rub creamy peanut butter or vegetable oil into the gum. Wait a few minutes. The gum will come right off. Then wash your hands or hair as normal.” While you’re at it, also learn how to get gum out of your clothes.
Handy soap
When your hands are dirty from yard work, reader Marjorie Little, Sarasota, Florida, has a great tip. “Tuck a bar of soap in the toe of a nylon stocking and tie it to your outdoor water faucet for fast garden cleanup.” Here are more speed cleaning tips that will save you valuable time.
Clean up concrete
Perk up your patio with this suggestion from reader Ann Norstram of Clinton, Iowa. “Rust stains from outdoor furniture can be removed from concrete by using lemon juice and rubbing with a soft linen cloth.”Â
Grease-free grill
Keep your grill looking great. Nancy Merica of Ripley, West Virginia, says, “Lay a barbecue grill rack on the lawn overnight. The dew will combine with enzymes on the grass to loosen any burned-on grease. Try it with messy oven racks, too!”Â
Sock duster
For dusting under furniture and hard-to-reach places, Deanna Thomas of Hollister, Missouri says, “I slip an old sock onto a fly swatter and sew it securely into place. It’s very handy.” Don’t miss these other brilliant uses for old socks.Â
Polish with milk
Reach into the fridge for this handy hint. Mrs. L.E. Ford of Portland, Oregon, says, “Patent leather handbags and shoes can be quickly brightened with a polish of milk. Apply with a soft cloth and rub into a shiny new finish.”Â
Wash those walls
Reader Milton Olson of Klaten, North Dakota, says, “Fill a paint roller with your favorite wall washing solution and use a clean paint roller to wash your walls. Rinse with clear water. It goes much more quickly than sponging.”Â
Wipe away hairspray
Don’t fret when you accidentally get hair spray on a mirror. Ann Peardot of Tomah, Wisconsin, says you make the glass spotless again by rubbing the mirror with a sponge or cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol. Did you know some common household cleaners should never mix?
So long, soap scum
To keep shower doors shiny and clear, Mildred Sherrer of Bay City, Texas says to use a soft cloth moistened with baby oil. “It prevents scum buildup from dirt and soap, and hard water spots won’t appear for several months.”Â
Heavy-duty helper
Maureen Beaver of Sparta, Wisconsin says wadded up aluminum foil makes a great kitchen scrubber. Use it to tackle tough stains and baked-on food.Â
A saucy solution
To preserve the bright shine of brass, reader Lucile Trent of Waverly, Missouri says, “Clean it with Worcestershire sauce. It does an unbelievably good job!”Â
Buttoned up
Avoid a tangled mess in the laundry. Katherine Kalmbach of Selby, South Dakota says, “If you button shirt cuffs to the front of a shirt before putting it in the washer, the sleeves won’t knot and tangle in the wash.” Follow this helpful guide to make sure you know how to do laundry the right way.
Breaking bread
If you break a plate while making a sandwich, grab some extra bread. Reader Carolyn Robinson of Lawrence, Mississippi says, “Clean up slivers of broken glass without hurting yourself by pressing a slice of fresh bread lightly over the area, then immediately disposing of it.”Â
Wash the wastebasket
Clean two messes at once. Reader Marge Harold of Greensburg, Pennsylvania, says, “If you have a small plastic wastebasket in your bathroom, empty it and use it as a bucket when you clean your bathroom, so it gets cleaned, too.” Here are more tricks for cleaning your bathroom fast.Â
Steam away stains
To easily clean your microwave without chemicals, Mary Alice Warren of Waco, Texas says, “Place 1 cup of water and 2 tablespoons of lemon juice or baking soda in a bowl. Heat on high until the mixture boils. Let steam accumulate on the walls and door of the microwave. Remove the bowl and wipe down the interior.”Â
Sugar scrub
When your hands get badly stained or extra dirty, reader Mildred Shlenz of Vancouver, Washington says, “Add a teaspoon of sugar to the lather when you wash them. They’ll clean up easily.”Â
Cars and carpets
Eliminate stinky scents at home and on the road. Reader Sally Tilson of Davison, Michigan, says “Sprinkle baking soda on your car’s upholstery and carpeting before vacuuming to remove odors.” Here’s how often you should clean your car’s interior.
Flower power
This decorative directive comes from reader Menno Erb of Sugar Creek, Ohio. “When silk flower arrangements look old and dusty, dip them gently and quickly in warm water with dish detergent in it. Then place them on a towel to dry. They come out looking new!”Â
Freshly pressed
Give yourself an added incentive to finish the ironing. Reader Mrs. Harlin Jacoles of Foley Minnesota says, “Add a little witch hazel to the water in your steam iron. Your clothes will smell sweet and fresh.” Now, is it better to steam or iron your clothes?
Clean-shaven
Shaving cream has more than one use in the bathroom. Mrs. Roy Lairmore of Beatrice, Nebraska says, “Your bathroom mirror won’t fog up if you clean it with canned shaving cream. It works on eyeglasses, too.” Next, learn the secrets of people who always have clean houses.
