50 hidden household tips that are also great ways to save money

Today’s article comes from our good friend Haohaozhu .

Haohaozhu is probably the account that understands home life the best. Their articles always allow me to see the thousands of possibilities of home.

Do a little housework with you every weekend.

From tips to tools, make housework less burdensome and more comfortable.

When I was little, I loved watching a CCTV program called " Housekeeping Tips ." Looking back, these two sisters were probably my first teachers on "housekeeping."

Childhood memories that reveal your age

I loved it so much that every summer vacation I'd be glued to the TV, much to the bewilderment of even my mom. Some of the "tips" seemed ridiculous, but there were also some genuinely useful ones . I even took notes while I watched .

The show has been off the air for years, but I recently rediscovered the joy of living here on Haohaozhu ! Many fellow homeowners have shared similar experiences that don't cost much but can actually help solve some household woes.

Today, I'm sharing 50 essential household chores tips ! If you find them useful, please scroll down and click "Reading" at the end.

The following pictures/descriptions are from Haohaozhu APP users

Kitchen Cleaning

1. Baking soda can neutralize most acidic oilsand also has a good deodorizing function. It is sold in supermarkets. As a common baking ingredient, it is relatively safe to use for kitchen cleaning.@嘎光小象

2. Prepare a solution of 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda in 500ml of water to clean kitchen appliances such as ovens, microwaves, and refrigerators. You can also wipe cabinets and countertops.

3. Clean the trash can at home with baking soda water every week, so the trash can can be clean and presentable every day.

4. Mix baking soda and water in a ratio of 2:1 to make baking soda paste. It has a good abrasive effect on tea stains and coffee stains. It can be used to remove stubborn stains that baking soda water cannot removeRemember to wear rubber gloves when using strong alkali.

5. Baking soda paste is as effective as various detergents in cleaning super dirty sink drains. It also has a good deodorizing function, killing two birds with one stone.

6. Remove the range hood net and soak it in hot water + baking soda overnight. It will be super easy to clean the next day and the price is cheap!@辛姜羊肉串串

7. Put kitchen paper towels inthe oil collection tank of the range hood and change them once a month. No need to clean it,the oil collection tank will always be like new,which is really convenient.@Ronaaa

8. After cleaning the kitchen walls,use detergent + water to wipe the areas that are prone to oil stains. This will make cleaning much easier next time. Similarly, you can pour the mixed water into the oil box of the range hood for easier cleaning.@ICH_Cissy

9. Before using a new pot, be sure to use white vinegar to dewax it.Pour in an appropriate amount of white vinegar and warm it slightly, then rinse it with hot water and wipe it dry inside and out before use. The pot has a layer of protective wax after leaving the factory. If this dewaxing process is not done, the pot will turn yellow when heated.@Y大C

10. What should I do if the pot is completely burnt?Boil some white vinegar and rub it with a scouring pad while it's still hot. This folk remedy is great, and it saves me from having to buy special cleaners. (You can use chopsticks, tongs, etc., but be careful not to burn yourself.)@kingkingyee

11. Tips for cleaning kettle: Pour 100ml of white vinegar and soak for 5 minutes, then shake it and the scale will come off.@左手子SOso

12. Kitchencountertops are prone to stains. I saw someone recommend using Sumitomo's 84 for cleaning, and it worked! I poured it directly onto the countertop without diluting it, and after a few minutes, scrubbed it. The stains were magically gone!(Remember to wear gloves!)@梦是成为旅游家

13. I knocked the stainless steel pot lid against the white countertop while cooking, leaving a few black spots that couldn't be removed even with detergent. I remembered the cabinet installer saidtoothpaste could be removed, so I tried using a hard-bristled brush and it really came off quickly.@飞上月亮的胖子

14. A great way to save money on washing fruits and vegetables:alkaline noodles! Soak fruits and vegetables in water for 15 minutes, then rinse. For just two yuan, you can easily buy a product from a certain island 10,000 times faster!@月映凌晓

Bathroom cleaning

15. Citric acid can neutralize alkaline dirt andis also a common food additive. It can easily remove scale, soap scum, urine scale, etc. in the bathroom. It can also effectively remove smoke, fishy and toilet odors, and has a certain effect on inhibiting bacterial growth.@嘎光小象

16. Mix 1-2 tablespoons of citric acid with 500ml of water andwipe your hardware to completely eliminate scale. For stubborn water stains under faucets, soak a rag in the citric acid solution and tie a small scarf around the faucet. After 15 minutes, you'll have a "brand new" faucet.

17. Dilute citric acid in water and wet a sponge with it. Wipe the sink and bathtub with a dry towel. The bathtub and sink will be so clean that you won't want to use them.

18. Add citric acid to hot waterto descale faucets and shower heads to preventclogging.

19. Disposable toilet brushes are too expensive, so I made a cheap alternative: I used the long arm clip from a cup brush (9.9 yuan), folded a used face towel (0 yuan) into a small square, and put it in the clip. I poured toilet cleaner (20-30 yuan) on it, and then threw the cotton pad in the trash after wiping to avoid getting my hands dirty.@辣酱Shinsu

Remove mildew, odor and moisture

20. There are moldy places in the bathroom, such as the edge of the basin and the gaps in the floor. Use 84 soaked toilet paper to plug them tightly. It will be clean in an hour.@小米开门

21. Spray 84 disinfectant directly on the moldy area of the plaster ceiling. The mold will disappear automatically without scrubbing. Keep the room ventilated and wipe it again with clean water.@lulu姨

22. Don’t throw away coffee grounds.Put them in the refrigerator to absorb odors.Theyfor lining ashtrays. They can remove odors and clean them at the same time.@无故事的飘飘

23. Put a spoonful of baking soda in a small bowl and put it in the refrigerator. Let it work with the coffee grounds. Every time you open the refrigerator door, you will feel confident!@嘎光小象

24. Put laundry detergent into small bags, poke a few holes in them and use them as "dehumidifier bags." Place them in the bathroom or closet for a fresh smell. The detergent will clump together after absorbing water, so you don't waste it when washing clothes.@80design

Furniture cleaning and maintenance

25. A dry scouring pad is perfect for cleaning fabric sofas. The rough surface can quickly remove the fine hairs stuck to the sofa. I can clean the entire sofa in 5 minutes. Even someone with obsessive-compulsive disorder is very satisfied with it!@一间之家

26. For upholstered chairs and sofas that cannot be disassembled and washed, spray the surface with 75% alcohol, cover with a slightly damp towel, and tap with a wooden stick (rolling pin). This completes the cleaning and disinfection in one go, making it even cleaner than disassembling and washing.@山茶婆

27. A great tip for keeping dust off your furniture is fabric softener! It can remove static electricity. Soak a rag in water with fabric softener before wiping the furniture, and dust won't easily stick to the surface!@月映凌晓

28. Simple and rough carpet cleaning method: sprinkle baking soda evenly on the gray carpet, brush it lightly, let it sit for a few hours, and then vacuum it up.@花晨晨

29. After the ground protection was torn off, there were a lot of adhesive marks left. I used a special adhesive remover for cleaning, but it had a strong smell and could not completely remove it. As a last resort, I triedFengyoujingtrick I had seen before, and it was easily removed. It can be said to be very economical and environmentally friendly.@英记

30. Homemade orange peel cleaner: Pour water into a pot to cover the orange peels. Bring to a boil, then add white vinegar in a 100:1 ratio. Let cool, then pour into a spray bottle. Use it to clean tables, leather sofas, and mop floors. It's refreshing, gentle on your hands, and highly effective at cleaning!@LUFT

31. I learned from my aunt thatadding a few drops of Liushen floral water to the mopping watermakes the mop cleaner, the air fresher, and the mop doesn't have a bad smell. I also added the spray mop to the bottle to save on usage.@嘉叶咻

32. Spray the wet wipes with toilet water, and you can wipe off the fingerprints on the white cabinet door, the offset prints on the white bedside table, and the black marks on the beige cabinet.@杨小羊是卷卷

33. How do you remove dents from solid wood furniture?Fold a piece of kitchen paper or cotton pad and place it over the dent. Pour a small amount of boiling water over the cotton pad. Place a thin-bottomed glass on the cotton pad and fill it one-third with boiling water. Wait five to ten minutes. If the dent persists, repeat the process several times.@Fat Man Flying to the Moon

34. When you put hot cups/plates on a wooden table, burn marks are likely to appear on the surface. Apply a layer of Vaseline and wipe it with a rag every two days. The burn marks will disappear.@住范儿zhufaner

My daughter was wiping the wooden tabletop with an eraser, leaving streaks . She couldn't getthe detergent to spread evenly, and accidentally spilled some cooking oil on it. She rubbed it with a tissue, and it was clean! So she just poured some oil on it, and it was back to its original state. What a surprise!@朝颜2017

36. Rattan furniture and bamboo products will accumulate dirt and discolor after being used for a long time. You can scrub them with light salt water to remove dirt and make them soft and resilient.@莫川设计

37. Mix citric acid, dishwashing liquid, and water in a 1:1:8 ratio in a spray bottle. Spray on the glass and rub it in circles with a scouring pad. Use a glass scraper to scrape it off from top to bottom. Rub it with clean water again and scrape it off again.In 5 minutes, the glass will be clean!@喵喵喵星人

38. Cleaning a screen that can't be removed, even if the housekeeper has given up: ① Place an absorbent towel under the window first; ② Spray the screen with a water sprayer, and the dust and dirty water will start to come down; ③ Brush it, brush it; ④ Spray it again, and the screen will be visibly clean; ⑤ Press the screen with a paper towel and wipe it dry, and you're done!@蒹葭苍苍Q

More cleaning tips

39. When the workers were renovating my houseeverywhere. I tried various methods, but finally I found the solution with eye and lip makeup remover! I soaked a cotton pad and wiped off the glass glue residue around the toilet.@蜜蜜蜜蜜举一个栗子

40. Baking soda is also a good partner for cleaning children's toys. Soak in hot water with half a spoon of baking soda for half an hour, then rinse and dry. It is non-toxic and odorless and very safe.@嘎光小象

41. Every time I finish eating lamb ribs in hot pot, my coat smells strongly. Hang it in the bathroom where it won't get splashed by water, let it soak in the steam from the shower, and then air it out to dry. This will basically remove the odor.@夏她她_

42. This little trick turned my black bracelet back into a silver one!the silver jewelryand tin foil together, and you'll get a white jewelry and black tin foil. The before and after comparison is amazing!@蛋黄也酥酥

43. Spraying flowers with leftover beeris like waxing leaves, making them shiny and fertilizing them.@李马赖娃

44. Take any Starbucks coffee grounds, mix them into the soil at home, seal them in a plastic bag and let them sit for more than 10 days to decompose, then spread a thin layer on the soil where you want to plant flowers. This is very suitable for plants that like acidic soil, such as pothos.@Wangbao Little Mushroom

45. After heating up the discarded toothbrush with a lighter and bending it to the right angle, it becomes a practical crevice brush, which is very labor-saving for cleaning toilets or other places.@爱旅游小lee

46. When you run out of large garbage bags, find four paper clips from your desk drawer, put them in small garbage bags, and you can sort your garbage!@熊熊angel

47. Boric acid + mashed potatoes + sugar: a surefire way to repel cockroaches! Cockroaches will be thirsty after eating, so they can go to the sewer to find water. This will keep them away without leaving a disgusting corpse. (But be careful to avoid accidental ingestion by children and pets.)@Orange-flavoredzorina

48. Every time before turning off the TV or playing games, remind yourself to put the remote controlbutton side down. This little action can really prevent a lot of dust!@Y大C

49. You don’t need to buy kraft paper bags.You can reuse old coffee and bread packaging bags. They are especially good for storing vegetables in the refrigeratorkeeping it clean, tidy and organized.

50. The Japanese housewife's housework trick isto deal with one less-visited area each day, on top of their daily chores.This will help them solve the dead ends of their chores. Over time, this will make the final cleaning much easier.@朱不二

Some might wonder, isn't it better to just use professional cleaning products and tools for household chores? The reality is, many of the bottles and jars in our closets are barely used, even past their expiration dates. The more I research household chores, the more I realize the need for "streamlining."

If you maintain your home's daily environment, you won't need strong cleaning agents. These simple and environmentally friendly materials are more than sufficient. If you're struggling with similar issues, here are some tips that have been tested and proven effective by our fellow residents.

Planning | Haohaozhu Editorial Department

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