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The net is full of brilliant ideas for saving time , money , and attempt on otherwise tedious undertaking around the mansion . But sometimes even the seemingly smartest solutions bend out to be duds when put into practice . To help you suss out thebest cleaning hacksto sample this spring and beyond , I tested the pursuit in my own home . take in the video below to learn why I imagine they ’re worth it .

1. Sanitize Sponges in the Microwave

fit in to theUSDA , microwaving a wet parazoan is one of the most effective ways tokill germsthat cause food - borne illnesses . It also extends the lifetime of your go - to kitchen clean creature , which economise money and reduces household waste material . This summit is a cinch , and all you need to do is :

Before frame any sponge in the microwave oven , check to make certain it does n’t have any alloy parts . Metal should never be put in a microwave oven , as it can get a fire .

2. Clean Narrow-Neck Containers With Rice

Most of us have rice on script for cooking up delightful meals , but thepantry staple has many usesbeyond that . My new favorite is cleaning blossom vases that my dish scrubber ca n’t fit into . The concept behind this hack is that the Elmer Leopold Rice act as an abradant — no different than a gentle - bristle brushwood — to loosen stuck - on debris .

To do it , scoop 3 tablespoon of uncooked Sir Tim Rice into the minute - neck container ; tot up a couple of drops ofliquid dishful soap ; and meet the container midway with lukewarm water . Cover the opening of the container and swosh the mixture around . tense up out the Elmer Rice and toss it in your compost or waste hoop , then rinse off the container and allow it to dry out .

3. Dust Walls With a Swiffer Sweeper

The sleek design of theSwiffer Sweepermakes quick work of cleaning hard surfaces — even erect ones . When you ’re finished mopping the floor , pop a clean microfiber material onto the header of theSwifferand run italong your walls . The drawn-out ambit of the shaft allows it to gather rubble and cobweb from top to bottom without you having to scale a ravel or creep on your knees . To remove tougher batch like fingermark , spritz the microfiber cloth with an all - purpose cleaner .

This Is the Year for a Kitchen Renovation

Whether you ’re selling or staying , everyone can get something out of a kitchen update . watch why we consider this renovation the Most Valuable Project of 2025 and how to outride on budget .

A person demonstrating three cleaning hacks for the home.

Photo: Jenny Stanley for Bob Vila

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Video:Jenny Stanleyfor Bob Vila