15 Brilliant Hacks for a Cleaner Home in 2018

It may seem strange, but your dishwasher needs a good cleaning every once in a while. Despite all the water and soap that churn through the machine as it washes dishes and flatware, the working parts in your dishwasher don't manage to get clean. That's where a packet of Kool-Aid comes in handy (yes, really). Empty a packet of lemonade-flavored Kool-Aid into the dish detergent compartment, then run the dishwasher and let the drink crystals polish the inside of your appliance.

Related: Over a Dozen Things You Didn't Know You Could Clean in the Dishwasher

If you've ever detailed your own car, you know that cup holders are some of the dirtiest parts of the interior. The area attracts dust, spills, and other messes, and its awkward shape and size make it tough to clean. Keep the cup holders tidier and speed up your regular car cleanup by dropping cupcake liners into the bottom of each cup holder. Opt for silicone models, available online or in home centers, to catch drips and debris, then pop them in the dishwasher whenever they get grimy. 

Related: 10 Things You Never Thought to Keep in Your Car

It may be true that you can't fight fire with fire, but you can certainly fight wine stains with more wine. If you're serving red wine at a party, always keep a bottle of white wine on hand—even if you don't intend to serve it. The reason, of course, is that if a guest spills red wine on your white carpet or upholstery, you can lift the fresh spill by pouring white wine on the affected area to dilute the red. Pour, blot with a towel, then rinse clean with water. Voilà!

Related: 11 Weird Ways to Use Wine

Even vacuum cleaners can't always budge stubborn pet hair that clings to rug and carpet fibers. Next time you're cleaning the floors, here's a tip: Take a squeegee (the kind used for washing windows) and scrape it across the carpet. You will be surprised at how much hair it will pull out of the carpeting. 

Related: You're Not Using Vacuum Attachments the Right Way

It will be much easier to give the bathroom a thorough cleaning if you take a minute to rinse the tub after every bath and shower. By washing suds down the drain, you'll prevent soap from drying and hardening into soap scum, which can be a pain to scrub away later.

Related: 10 Things Never to Flush Down the Toilet

A cup of coffee grounds could come in handy in the kitchen during meal prep. After cutting onions, mincing garlic, or handling other smelly substances, scrub the ground coffee on your hands, then rinse and wash with soap. The coffee beans will absorb the odor, leaving you with fresher-smelling skin.

Related: 10 Things a Coffee Maker Can Do—Besides Brew Coffee

If strong kitchen smells are lingering in the air rather than stuck on countertops or sinks, use steam to kill the scent. Fill a saucepan with one cup of water and a few tablespoons of vinegar, and bring it to boil. Let the mixture boil for several minutes. The released steam will neutralize bad odors, leaving your room smelling fresher and cleaner.

Related: 8 Ways to Make Your House Smell Like the Holidays

That plastic liner that protects your bathroom floor from the powerful spray of the shower is a magnet for mildew. Make it easier to keep clean by throwing it in the washing machine every month or so. Toss it in the washer on delicate with a load of towels, then remove it from the washer to line-dry—running it through a hot dryer could melt it.

Related: 11 Things You Didn’t Know You Can Clean in Your Washing Machine

It's inevitable: Lint and dust cling to lampshades, and it can be next to impossible to remove the dirt. Attempts to do so usually result in just moving dust around or, worse, smearing it on the lampshade. Instead of struggling to clean your shades, pick up the dust in a snap by using a lint roller.

Related: 15 Ways to Fake a Clean House

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