Clean your house with your pantry! 16 tips, tricks and recipes

We’ve compiled a list of the best DIY household cleaning tips and tricks for you to try!

We’ve all got these things lying around the house so don’t worry about running to the supermarket to buy spray and wipe or windex… You’ve got everything in your pantry already! We’d love it if you shared your favourite tips and tricks in the comments below!

Have a look at these suggestions…

1. Weed killer: If you have weeds growing between pavers or the timber on your deck, spray them with a solution of shaken up 1/4 cup salt and 1 litre of water. Pour it into a spray bottle and spray twice daily to get rid of them in no time!
2. Granite cleaner: If you’ve got a beautiful granite bench top, get rid of the stains and marks by pouring a small amount of lemon juice and salt over the areas, leaving for fifteen minutes to soak and then wiping down with cool water.
3. Porcelain cleaner: To clean your porcelain, dampen a cloth with white vinegar, sprinkle cream of tartar onto the cloth and gently run in small circles. Rinse with cool water when you have finished.
4. Get rid of mildew: If you find mildew stains, get rid of them by mixing salt and lemon juice and roughly rubbing over the affected area.
5. Bathroom cleaner: As a simple bathroom cleaner, combine one teaspoon of liquid soap and several drops of antibacterial essential oil (our favourites are tea tree or eucalyptus) to one cup of baking soda. Pour in water until it becomes a paste and scour the grimy stains off.
6. Leather cleaner: To remove marks on leather, combine vinegar and cold water and rub over the affected areas.
7. Brass or copper shine: To shine your brass or copper, make a paste of equal parts white vinegar, salt and flour. Apply the solution with a soft cloth, rinse and dry.
8. Pet hair removal: To remove pet hair from your furniture or carpet, rub a dryer sheet over the fabric… The static will pick it all up for you!
9. Remove adhesive stickers: Easily remove adhesive stickers on glass by soaking them in vegetable oil prior to removal.
10. Cast iron skillet cleaner: Clean your cast iron skillet by sprinkling lemon juice and salt into the skillet. Wipe out the rust and generously oil the skillet. Place in a 180 degree oven for half an hour, wash the skillet, dry and re-oil for the next use.
11. Dust preventer: To prevent your ceiling fans from collecting dust, use furniture polish on the blades and polish with a clean cloth.
12. Ceramic cleaner: To clean ceramic tiles, create a paste of epsom salts and liquid detergent and gently scrub the tiles.
13. Drain cleaner: Clean your drains by running hot water down the drain, pour in baking soda and then some vinegar. The chemical reaction will cause the grime to dissolve. Rinse one more time with hot water.
14. Microwave cleaner: For an easy microwave oven clean, soak a tea towel or hand towel in water, place in the microwave and run on high for two minutes. When it is finished, wear oven-mits and wipe down the inside of the oven as the steam will create good moisture.
15. Glass cleaner: To clean glass mirrors or windows, using a spray bottle, combine 2 tablespoons vinegar, 1 cup of water and 1 teaspoon of rubbing alcohol. Shake to mix, spray and wipe off with a lint-free cloth.
16. Grease removal: If you spill oil or greasy foods on the carpet, pour cornstarch on the spots and let them sit for 20 minutes before vacuuming up.

What other tips and tricks do you have? Share them with the Starts at Sixty community by writing them in the comments below!