Association - Readers Digest Home Hacks: Clever DIY Tips and Tricks for Fixing, Organizing, Decorating, and Managing Your Household

YOU DONT NEED A LOT OF STUFF, JUST A FEW GOOD-QUALITY ITEMS.

Plenty of soft cleaning cloths, preferably cotton, which you can also use for dusting. Choose cloths that can be machine-washed and reused.

A supply of old towels you no longer use. Put towels down for jobs where dirty water may fall on the floor, such as cleaning doors. Towels are better for this job than newspaper.

A bucket of warm water with a splash of dishwashing liquid or another all-purpose cleaning product is good for most jobs.

A window-cleaning tool with a squeegee blade also useful for mirrors and other glass surfaces.

If you have pets that shed hair on your upholstered furniture, you will definitely need a lint roller (preferably the adhesive kind) and a brush attachment for your vacuum cleaner.

A mop for wet or dry use on floors. Opt for a design that comes with a matching bucket to rinse and wring out the mop. Also check if the mophead can be removed, machine-washed, and replaced as needed. The handle should be comfortable to hold and adjustable to suit your height.

An alternative for cleaning floors is a long-handled scrubbing brush with a cloth that wraps around the head. As with a mop, look for one that has an adjustable handle and replacement cloths that are readily available.

A broom and a dustpan and brush for sweeping jobs. Choose a broom that is not too heavy. When choosing a dustpan, have a close look at its leading edge to be sure it will scoop up dust easily.

There are two basic kinds of vacuum cleaners: those with bags and those without. Bagless cleaners generally cost more and are noisier, but they work out to be better value in the long run. Cleaners with bags lose suction as they fill up, and the cost of replacement bags does add up over time. In addition to your main vacuum cleaner, its useful to have a powerful handheld vacuum (preferably bagless as well). Choose machines that are easy to empty and have additional filters for the outflowing air.

Easy fix

When cleaning decorative features and carved surfaces, use a wooden skewer or toothpick to get into fine grooves.

Save money

For removing dirt from hard-to-reach nooks and crannies, an old toothbrush does just as good a job as a special cleaning brush.

There is a wide range of cleaning products on the market that are designed to take on all kinds of jobs. Normally, you only need to use a small amount.

A good-quality all-purpose cleaning product is fine for most cleaning jobs. For day-to-day cleaning, use a small amount in a bucket of warm water. For tougher jobs, use hot water and add more product. Allow time for it to work on the surface before rinsing it off thoroughly. Putting the solution in a multipurpose spray bottle makes it easy to spray dirty surfaces with one hand and wipe off with a cleaning cloth in the other.

A handy descaling agent, citric acid is available from supermarkets as an inexpensive white powder. Dissolve a few teaspoons in hot water and add a little all-purpose cleaner if desired. Place the item to be cleaned in the solution and let stand, then rinse well to finish. Be careful not to inhale the citric acid powder or allow it to come into contact with your eyes.

A MULTIPURPOSE SPRAY BOTTLE MAKES IT EASY TO SPRAY DIRTY SURFACES.