Home decor has to be on the top of most people’s list of exciting tasks. It is a fun way to occupy a weekend- or several weekends in a row- and an outlet for your creative energies, apart from being a great way to bust stress, all-the-while creating a fabulous new look for your home.
One of the quickest ways to freshen up any room is with a coat of paint. Paint dramatically changes the atmosphere of a room, alters the play of light and immediately livens up a stale, boring look that has lingered for too long. However, some rooms are quite tricky to repaint.
The kitchen, for instance, presents myriad challenges. How large is the space? How much wall surface do you need to cover? How is the lighting? You also need to think about cabinets, countertops and other functional areas, before you start painting the kitchen. When in doubt, decide on a theme. Here are a few.
Forest – Is wood the dominant material in your kitchen? Wooden floors and butcher’s block countertops go well with greens and nature colors. Recreate a lush forest look with pine green, or go with warm autumn colors rusts and pale orange-yellows.
Earth – If stone is the dominant element, with soapstone or granite countertops or flooring, go with earthy shades browns and beiges, with a hint of pale green or yellow to recreate a dry, rugged canyon look. Use sponges and applicators to create a textured, mottled look on your walls for an extra dose of rustic charm.
Industrial – If buff metal meets the eyes, such as copper or steel countertops and splash backs, go with steel grey, deep blue and similar dark, solid colors for a slightly masculine, high-powered professional kitchen finish.
City-slicker – Bright, lacquer finished cabinet walls call for a subdued pastel hue on the wall, so that the contrast plays out well, making your kitchen look chic and cheerful.
Grayscale – Depending upon how your floors have been done, consider an entirely grayscale palette for the kitchen. This could mean cabinets and countertop in various shades of grey, with walls of light grey and white trimming. A checkerboard flooring will complete the look, but that, of course, is a whole other project.
The key idea to bear in mind is that all the elements in your kitchen need to harmonize with each other, not only in terms of material used but also in terms of color and hue. Pick out the most eye-catching element in your kitchen, and build your theme around it, for a fail-proof painting project.
A spill here and there on your favorite t-shirt, rug, or any other fabric is so common. What is not so uncommon is knowing that there are, in fact, easy and natural DIY hacks to remove stains from items. Using expensive detergents is not always the answer, so for some minor stains and spillage, you can follow some easy hacks. Check out these natural ingredients that can be turned into stain-removing products!
Baking soda
This is an inexpensive and effective stain remover you can use every time you do your laundry. Add one tablespoon of baking soda to your laundry detergent and start your load. This baking soda mixes well with the detergent and is even known to boost the detergent’s cleaning properties. Not only that, but baking soda also helps keep the fabrics soft and reduces the occurrence of suds. If you have kids at home and you’re doing their laundry, you can safely add baking soda to their clothes for cleaning, as it is not harmful to sensitive skin. It also acts as a natural odor remover, which can help keep your laundry smelling fresh.
Lemon
Due to its acidic nature, lemon can act as a great stain remover. However, due to its acidic nature, you must be careful when using lemon on colored clothes. It can fade the color quickly if the lemon stays on for too long, which is true for lemon and lime juice. So it is advised to use the lemon hack only on white clothes. It works exceptionally well if you need to remove any yellow underarm or rust stains. Not to mention, lemon can add a fresh fragrance to the laundry!
Distilled white vinegar
This inexpensive ingredient can easily boost laundry performance and help remove stains. Just add a cup of distilled vinegar to the final rinse of the clothes while doing your laundry. Some people may use chlorine bleach for stain removal; however, distilled white vinegar is a safer and cheaper alternative. In fact, it’s even better than using apple cider vinegar because it will keep the fabrics soft and gentle. This is specifically used for removing any yellow underarm sweat, mildew, or even whitening or brightening the clothes.
Hydrogen peroxide
You spilled red wine on your shirt and are now wondering what hack to use. Hydrogen peroxide is the best solution. This is an oxidizing agent that is used as a bleaching agent. If you’re wondering where to get it, look no further and just ask your local store, which sells first aid kits. Three percent hydrogen peroxide is sold as a first-aid disinfectant, and you can also use this same product for your laundry. It is usually preferred over chlorine bleach because it is environmentally safer. It contains hydrogen and oxygen, which break down into water and oxygen, making it completely natural and human-safe. You can also remove underarm yellow stains from shirts and stains from nail polish or curry.
Borax
This is a popular mineral that is a combination of sodium, boron, and oxygen, along with water. This mineral is known to boost the performance of any of the detergents it uses, so you can easily do a rinse cycle with borax and your regular detergent. Since this is a naturally occurring mineral with no toxic chemicals, it is also human and environment-safe, making it a preferred choice for many homemakers. One of the things to be careful of, though, is that if ingested, it could cause irritation to the skin, so always be careful. Because of its cleaning properties, this ingredient is used in almost all DIY natural cleaning remedies. It can also help soften hard water, remove poop stains from baby cloth diapers, and control bad odor.
Talcum powder
This ingredient is beneficial before your clothes go to the laundry room. If you’ve spilled something greasy or oily on your clothes, add lots of talcum powder, which can help absorb the oil. Of course, you must be quick with the remedy and add the powder to the stain immediately before the oil soaks in. You can even use cornstarch or chalk. Keep this on the stain for 10–15 minutes until it has absorbed the excess oil, and then you can wash the cloth; hopefully, the stain is not too big. While washing, you can even try adding some of the other ingredients mentioned above.
Table salt
Available in all households and easily accessible, table salt is another winning ingredient for natural stain removal. A red wine spill needs immediate attention, like putting lots of table salt on the stain before it sets in. Let the salt absorb the excess liquid, then leave it on for 10–15 minutes. Once that is done, you can brush off the table salt and wash your clothing. Remember that you cannot skip washing your cloth, as the table salt will leave white stains on the fabric if not washed immediately. The salt works as a gentle abrasive element and helps remove rust stains, so you can also try this remedy for rust stains.
Maintaining a clean and organized home is visually appealing and essential for the inhabitants’ overall well-being. A neat living environment promotes good hygiene, reduces the risk of illness, and creates a sense of calm and tranquility. That said, the task of cleaning can often feel overwhelming and time-consuming. That is where cleaning hacks come in handy. You can streamline your cleaning routine by implementing a few smart strategies and time-saving techniques.
This article will explore five effective cleaning hacks that will revolutionize how you approach cleaning.
Create a cleaning schedule
One of the most effective ways to save time on cleaning is to create a schedule for it. Planning and dedicating specific days and times for different cleaning tasks ensures that every task is completed without feeling overburdened. A neat and organized residence enhances its aesthetic appeal and contributes to a healthier living environment. Regular cleaning helps eliminate dust, allergens, and bacteria, reducing the risk of respiratory issues and allergies. Furthermore, a clean and clutter-free space promotes mental well-being, allowing you to focus and relax. With a well-planned cleaning schedule, you can efficiently maintain cleanliness, leading to a healthier and more balanced lifestyle.
Do little by little
Plan to do the cleaning jobs for a short period; otherwise, it will tire you. Set a timer for the fixed duration and start working towards decluttering and wiping as much space as possible. Plan the room to be cleaned and complete it there first, without flitting between different areas. Do the vacuuming or mopping as the last task.
Gather your supplies in one place
It is possible to dramatically reduce the time required to clean by storing all your cleaning materials in a single, conveniently accessible location. Put together a cleaning caddy or use a bucket to collect all necessary products, such as an all-purpose cleaner, microfiber towels, scrub brushes, and gloves. You won’t have to waste time searching for materials throughout the various rooms of the house if you do it this way. In addition, give some thought to employing cleaning chemicals that are adaptable and can be employed on a variety of different kinds of surfaces. By doing this, you won’t have to hire professional cleaners with specialized skills, saving you both time and money.
Use the two-minute rule
The two-minute rule is a productivity principle that can be applied to cleaning tasks. The idea is to tackle small tasks immediately if they can be completed in two minutes or less. Following this rule can prevent small chores from piling up and becoming overwhelming. Instead of procrastinating and letting clutter or minor cleaning tasks accumulate, take a few moments to address them immediately. Whether it’s wiping down a surface, putting away items, or tidying up a specific area, the two-minute rule helps you maintain a cleaner and more organized home in a time-efficient manner.
Optimize your cleaning techniques
Finding efficient cleaning techniques can significantly affect the time it takes to complete a task. For example, when dusting, start from the top and work your way down to prevent dust from settling on already-cleaned surfaces. Use microfiber cloths instead of paper towels, as they are more effective at picking up dirt and can be reused. Additionally, consider using cleaning tools with extendable handles to reach high and low areas without needing a step stool or bending over. These small adjustments can save you time and effort during your cleaning sessions.
Delegate and simplify
Cleaning doesn’t have to be a one-person job. Involving other house members in the cleaning process lightens your workload and promotes a sense of shared responsibility. Delegate age-appropriate cleaning tasks to children or assign specific chores to your partner or roommates. By dividing the cleaning duties, you can save considerable time and create a more efficient cleaning routine. Additionally, simplifying your living spaces by decluttering and finding effective storage solutions can significantly reduce the time you spend tidying up the areas. Removing unnecessary items and organizing your belongings makes cleaning faster and creates a more visually appealing and stress-free environment.
Make the room smell fresh
Maintaining a pleasant-smelling living space is also part of cleaning. Use non-toxic room fresheners. Place scented absorbent papers in the bottom of waste bins to prevent leakage and smells from emanating.
Keeping your home clean is important for your physical and mental health. With the above five cleaning hacks to save time, you can change the way you tidy up the rooms and get more leisure time. Making a cleaning schedule ensures that jobs are spread evenly and keeps you from getting too busy. If you keep your cleaning supplies in one place, you won’t have to waste time looking for them. Choosing versatile cleaning products will help you avoid buying too many specialized ones. By eliminating clutter and organizing, you can make your living areas easier to clean and create a more peaceful environment. With these tips and tricks, you can keep your home neat and arranged while saving time and living a better and more balanced life.