Home Cleaning Hacks and Tips

Just when you think you've gotten on top of the dirty pile, a new stream of stained shirts, smelly jocks and mismatched socks come flooding in!

While there may not be any fail-safe solution to mastering the never-ending washing story, there are some clever home cleaning hacks and sneaky shortcuts to help you keep things under control.

Dry your clothes at record speed

Throw your wet item into the dryer with a clean, dry towel. The towel will soak up excess water leaving your clothes ready to wear in record time.

Re-fluff your towels

Toss a couple of clean tennis balls into the dryer to fluff up any flat-looking towels, quilts and other bulky items. The balls will bounce around in the dryer, re-fluffing your items and getting rid of lumps and bumps.

Remove chewing gum

Not only is chewing gum a disgusting mess to sit or step in, it's also a nightmare to get off your clothes! Instead of trying to scratch or pull it off, simply put the gum-clad item in the freezer. Once frozen, the gum can easily be picked off.

Banish pesky stains

Get onto any spills and marks as soon as possible. The longer you leave them, the harder they are to remove! Stubborn stains can be treated with a simple mixture of bicarb soda (not baking powder!) and water. Simply mix in a bowl and apply the paste to the stain with a damp sponge. Let it soak in for 10 minutes before rinsing it off and adding your item to your wash as normal.

Rogue tissue in the wash?

So you've had a stowaway tissue go through the wash in someone's pocket, and now there are teeny tiny white flecks all over the clean laundry... what a pain! Instead of re-washing the entire load, throw it into the dryer (if care instructions permit), and the lint filter will consume the tissue flecks.

Clean the blender

Once you've finished making your smoothie or blending up a cosy winter soup, fill your blender with dish soap and water. Turn it on for a few seconds, rinse with warm water, and you're good as gold!

Prevent mattress stains

The best defence for your mattress is your trusty mattress protector, topper and underlay. These protective layers will fight off dust mites that can cause allergies, prevent yellow stains from sweat, all while adding a cloud-like cushiness to your bed! For defence against any nighttime accidents, try the super absorbent Sleep Easy Mattress Protector on top of your fitted sheet.

Keep your black jeans from fading

Black jeans never seem to stay black for long. Maintain their colour by washing them inside out and using a quality liquid detergent made for dark or black fabrics. Most regular detergents (particularly powders) contain some type of bleaching agent, which causes colour fading. For best results, wash in cold water and line dry in the shade.

Clean your couch

Sprinkle the surface of your fabric couch with bicarb soda, leave for 20 seconds and vacuum using your brush attachment! This will help to remove any lingering smells and break up any stains.

Burnt pan?

Add a cup of white vinegar to the pan and top it up with tap water.
Bring the liquid to a boil before taking it off the stove and adding two tablespoons of bicarb soda to the liquid. Let it sit until it's cooled down, and simply wipe the mixture out of the pan.

Unclog your drain

Remember making volcanoes in Science class as a kid? You can unclog your sink with the same stuff! Pour ½ cup of bicarb soda down the drain, followed by 1 cup of vinegar and cover for 15 minutes. Then simply pour 3-4 litres of boiling water down the drain to clear everything out!

Banish grease stains

Believe it or not, ordinary white chalk can get rid of grease stains on clothes! Grind white chalk into a powder and rub it onto stains. The chalk will absorb the grease, making it easy to remove when washed.

Got grass stains?
If these stains cover the knees and elbows of kids' clothing, there is a solution. Try applying a small amount of methylated spirits to a clean sponge and dab it across the stain. Rinse in cold water before massaging liquid detergent into the fabric. Leave for 5 minutes and wash as normal.  

Need help containing your mountain of dirty clothes? Start by grabbing yourself a super-sized laundry bag or a set of our new Nora Storage Baskets.