9 Life Hacks To Keep You Sane During Spring Cleaning

This month we’ve been on a quest to provide simple tips, tricks, and ideas to help you spring clean smarter. Although we have already outlined some best practices and often-missed spots for cleaning, there’s a lot more info coming your way. In the next few weeks we’ll be discussing methods for organizing and maintaining your home more effectively. But for now, while you’re in the thick of your most tedious spring cleaning chores, we thought it was the perfect opportunity to share with you some household cleaning hacks.

Showerhead Hack – Not sure how to clean your showerhead without unscrewing it or doing some seriously awkward scrubbing and reaching? Don’t worry. The folks at Wonderful Engineering have hacked this chore; all you need is vinegar, a plastic bag, and a little patience.

Image via Wonderful Engineering

Shower Spray Hack – Ok, so we’ve yet to find a five minute deep clean hack for showers (that’s wizardry), but we did find a cheap and effective way to keep your shower clean. Once your shower has had a good scrub, use this homemade shower spray after every shower you take. It’s simple and inexpensive to make (there are only three ingredients) and it’ll help your scrubbing go a long way.

Image via Pop Sugar

Pillow Hack – Think you can’t clean your pillows? Think again. It’s as easy as turning on the washing machine. One Good Thing hacked this important chore so you can get your comfy cushions back in great condition.

Image via One Good Thing

Vacuum Hack – Don’t have one of those fancy vacuum attachments? Don’t worry. A toilet paper roll will work just as well. Save yourself some cash and clean all the hard to reach spots in your home.

Image via ViralNova

Cord Organizing Hack – Toilet paper rolls also work well for keeping cords untangled and organized!  

Image via Wonderful Engineering

Hard To Reach Hack – Have you ever tried getting the dust and crumbs trapped in between your keyboard keys or car vents? Those spots used to be pretty well impossible to get clean...until now! This cleaning slime, (yes, we know it sounds like an oxymoron), is your new best friend! Simply Living Smart will show you how to make it and the best spots to use it.

Image via Simply Living Smart

Furniture Hack – Over the years your furniture can see some wear and tear. If you’ve got dings on your wooden pieces, buff them out using walnuts! (Seriously!)

Image via Wonderful Engineering

Fix It Hack – While we’re on the subject of fixing things, did you know there’s a website that will give you a step-by-step tutorial on how to fix something you’ve broken? So if you get a little over zealous during your spring cleaning and break something, the Fix It Club has got you covered!

Image via SlipTalk

Hammer Hack – Should any of your fixes or chores involve a hammer and nails, we’ve got the ultimate hack to share with you.  Instead of holding the your soon-to-be-hammered nails in your mouth as you line everything up (gross and a little dangerous), simply glue a magnet to the bottom of your hammer and keep your nails there! What a genius idea!

Image via Dream A Little Bigger

We hope these simple hacks help you through your spring cleaning chores. Are there helpful hacks that you think we should know about? Tweet @HomeShows your favorite home improvement and cleaning hacks – we want to hear from you!

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Toronto Exhibitor Spotlight: Messy Maid

EXHIBITOR SPOTLIGHT

We're excited to have Messy Maid at our Toronto Fall Home Show (Oct. 3-6)!

• Tell us a little bit about Messy Maid:
• Messy Maid provides full service home cleaning, including, such extras as de-cluttering, windows, washing, bed-making, etc.
• How did Messy Maid get started?
• Our President & CEO had many years of Maid Service Management combined with prior experience with home design & decorating.  Barry Driedger, founded and grew a similar format service based Franchise organization.  Recruiting and overseeing over 300 Franchisees worldwide.  Together they provide the perfect team to develop the next major force in the home cleaning industry.
• What is your company's mantra?
• "Messy Maid Makes Your Day" & "Not Messy Anymore"
• What's the best advice you've ever been given?
• "Persistence"; never quit or ever give up if you believe in what you are doing!
• What are your home or garden pet peeves?
• Cleaning bathrooms, especially in a houseful of men.
•  Pet hair.  It sticks like glue to everything.
•  Sticky grease on kitchen backsplash and stove.
• Dust!!  Just as you do it, it seems like it magically appears again.
• Hard water and calcium deposits.  So difficult to get rid of.
• Cleaning the stove and fridge. You have to climb right inside them.
• What are your top 3 home and garden tips for this season?
• Dried food in microwave?  Put some water with lemon juice in a cup, microwave on high for a few minutes.  Steam loosens the food so you can just wipe it away. 
• Coffee stains in your kitchen sink?  Pour a little javex and it magically disappears.  
• Pet hair on your upholstery?  Wipe with a rubber glove.
• What is your favourite part about the Fall Home Show?
•  Meeting so many wonderful people and hearing about their cleaning dilemmas. So many decorating ideas. 
• What is the weirdest client request you have ever received?
•  A Saturday morning, after a Friday night party, client asking if we come as soon as possible to clean up the remains of a flour and olive oil fight.

Don't miss Messy Maid at our Toronto's Fall Home Show (Oct. 3-6)!  

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