Opening Words

Hello everyone! Recently my social media has been flooded with messages asking for cleaning advice, especially from friends who just moved out on their own and are constantly calling for "help" in group chats. As someone who has been studying home cleaning since college, I deeply understand the importance of keeping your living space tidy. I remember when I first started working, I rented an apartment in an old neighborhood. Using the cleaning experience I had accumulated over the years, I managed to transform a run-down room into a refreshed living space.

To be honest, many people find cleaning to be particularly troublesome and often put it off until weekend deep cleans, which ends up consuming an entire day of rest. Actually, this isn't necessary at all. Through years of practice, I've found that the most important aspects of maintaining a clean home are using the right methods and developing good habits of tidying up as you go. The cleaning tips I'm sharing today are "secret techniques" that I've personally verified over the past decade, guaranteed to make your efforts twice as effective.

What moves me the most is that these methods are not only simple to learn but also incredibly cost-effective. You don't need to buy those imported cleaners that cost hundreds of dollars - common household items like white vinegar and baking soda can handle most cleaning tasks. When I first started working, my salary wasn't high, and I had to carefully budget every month. That's when I started experimenting with these cheap and eco-friendly materials for cleaning, and surprisingly, they worked incredibly well - I'm still using them today.

Fabric Cleaning

If you ask what's the most headache-inducing aspect of home cleaning, it has to be fabrics. This is especially true for pet owners like us - the first thing we do every morning is battle with fur all over the house. My Golden Retriever is literally a "shedding machine," and I used to have to vacuum several times a day, which was exhausting.

Until one day while cleaning my room, I accidentally discovered the magical effect of rubber gloves. That day, while wearing gloves to clean, I noticed that fur easily stuck to the gloves. Since then, I've been researching this method of cleaning fur: just put on a pair of regular rubber gloves, spray a little water on them, then gently wipe the sofa or carpet, and those stubborn furs will obediently stick to the gloves. I've been using this method for over two years now, and the results are truly amazing.

Recently, I discovered an upgraded cleaning method: slightly dampen the rubber gloves with fabric softener. This not only better attracts fur but also leaves an anti-static protective film on the fabric surface, reducing fur adhesion. I just used this method to clean my living room fabric sofa last week, and the results were so good that even I was surprised - the sofa surface was as smooth as new.

Speaking of fabric cleaning, the most frustrating thing has to be various stains, especially on carpets. The other day, I hosted a small party at home, and one of my friends accidentally spilled red wine on my expensive beige wool carpet. Seeing that large dark red stain, my heart nearly shattered, but years of cleaning experience helped me stay calm immediately.

I immediately used a clean white cotton cloth to gently absorb the surface wine (here's a special note: never rub forcefully, or the stain will seep deeper). Then I mixed a special cleaning solution: equal parts white vinegar and water, plus a bit of mild detergent. I repeatedly treated the stained area with this solution, absorbing moisture with a dry towel between applications, cycling through this process about five or six times.

The most magical part was that once the carpet was completely dry, the wine stain had completely disappeared! My friend was stunned and kept insisting on buying me a new carpet. I laughed and said, "Now you know why my friends call me the 'Cleaning Wizard'!"

Besides these common cleaning issues, I want to specifically mention curtain maintenance. Many people might not wash their curtains for an entire year, which is very unhygienic. Curtains not only accumulate dust but also absorb various odors. My suggestion is to thoroughly vacuum curtains every three months and wash them every six months.

When washing curtains, I have a special recipe: add appropriate amounts of fabric softener and baking soda to the final rinse water. The fabric softener keeps curtains fluffy, while baking soda neutralizes various odors. After drying, the curtains are not only fresh and soft but also emit a subtle fragrance. I just washed my bedroom curtains using this method last month, and when friends came over, they specifically asked what air freshener I was using - it was actually just the fresh scent coming from the curtains.

Kitchen Tips

The kitchen is absolutely the most difficult area to maintain, as cooking produces oil smoke and food residue every day. But don't worry, I have some particularly useful cleaning tips here. Let's start with the most headache-inducing microwave cleaning problem. Many people might think that stubborn stains in the microwave are particularly difficult to clean, but actually, with the right method, you can handle it in minutes.

My secret is: place a large bowl of water in the microwave, throw in a few slices of fresh lemon (lemon juice works too if you don't have fresh lemons), then heat on high for 3-5 minutes. The hot water steam will soften stubborn stains, while the natural cleaning properties of lemon dissolve oil and remove odors. After the microwave cools down, just wipe gently with a cloth, and the stains will come right off.

I've shared this method with all my friends who love cooking, and they all say it's amazing. Plus, the heated lemon water releases a citrus fragrance that fills the entire kitchen - it's an unexpected bonus. I now clean my microwave this way every week and never worry about unsightly stains in the microwave anymore.

Cabinet cleaning is also a big issue, especially those hard-to-reach corners. To be honest, I used to ignore deep cleaning of cabinets until one time while organizing the kitchen, I discovered that the cabinet crevices were hiding quite a bit of food residue and dust, which made me realize the seriousness of the problem.

Later, I figured out a good method: use the vacuum cleaner's brush attachment specifically for these blind spots. The long, fine bristles of this attachment can easily reach into various gaps and suck out all the hidden debris. Last week I thoroughly cleaned the kitchen using this method, and guess what? I found sunflower seed shells from last year's holiday in the corners, along with some dried spices that had fallen in who knows when - it really gave me a shock.

Cleaning the range hood is also a technical job. Many people find range hoods particularly difficult to clean, but I have a time and effort-saving method. First, remove the filter screens and soak them in hot water with appropriate amounts of baking soda and dish soap for about 15 minutes. Then gently scrub with a soft brush, and you'll find that the grease easily comes off.

As for cleaning the range hood's exterior, my secret is to first absorb surface oil with newspaper or kitchen paper, then wipe with a mild cleaner. It's particularly important to wipe dry with a clean cloth afterward, or water stains might remain. I deep clean my range hood this way every month, and now even after more than two years of use, it still looks as good as new.

[Due to length limitations, this is part one. Please let me continue with part two.]