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6 Cleaning Products That Are Safe to Use Throughout the House

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Wipe up grease and grime with these safe and effective cleaning products.

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Though the frequency of cleaning depends on our lifestyle and whether or not we can afford a housekeeping service, it's a chore that stares us down with mounting pressure.

I've got some serious housecleaning to do right now, but I'm short on time and the last thing I want to do after work is spend an hour scrubbing the tub or stove. Should I just put it all off until the weekend and spend a whole day tackling the inevitable dust and grime? I was leaning toward a big fat "yes" until I consulted a handful of cleaning experts and realized, I can get quite a bit done without investing hours of my day, and better yet, I can use ingredients I already have on hand for cooking, etc., so I don't have to squander a small fortune on a new batch of eco-friendly cleaning products.

Here's a list of cleaning hacks for those of us looking to save time, money and of course, sanity.
1. Buff surfaces with olive oil
Olive oil has many nutritional benefits (and can possibly increase longevity). Turns out it can also help you clean the house.

"Olive oil is a great option for cleaning stainless steel, such as pots, pans and appliances. Put olive oil on a soft cloth and rub in a circular motion to buff out any dirty spots," says Mat Franken, CEO and Founder of Aunt Fannie's, a manufacturer of whole ingredient, food-based cleaning and pest solutions for the home.
2. Detox the garbage disposal with lemons or limes
The garbage disposal does a lot of dirty work on a regular basis, so it's important to keep it clean and clog-free.

"To clean and deodorize garbage disposals, use a fresh lemon or lime," says Franken. "Cut the citrus fruit into quarters, and while you have the water running put the lemon pieces one by one into the disposal."
4. Remove carpet stains with vodka
Rubbing alcohol, clear vodka (which has a lot of cleaning benefits!) and even white wine can be used for this cleaning hack.

"First blot the stain. Second, pour any type of clear alcohol (rubbing alcohol, vodka, white wine) onto the stain," says Greg Shepard, owner of the housecleaning service Dallas Maids. "This is better than any over the counter product."

4. Eliminate water stains with shaving cream
Who'd have thought that shaving cream could be used to clean? Shepard vouches for it as a great way to remove water stains from shower glass.
5. Baking soda and vinegar will basically clean the tub for you
"Apply the shaving cream and let it sit for 15 minutes, then wipe off," Shepard says.

Jenice Findley, director of marketing at the newly launched Fins Property Maintenance, which offers various commercial cleaning services, recommends the following 10-minute plan of attack for tubs.
6. Use the same solution to clean toilets
"[Mix] one cup vinegar, half a cup of baking soda with hot water and pour into [an empty] tub and allow to sit for five minutes," says Findley. "Start filling the tub with hot water until it is approximately one-quarter filled, and let it sit for an additional five minutes. Then release drain and rinse thoroughly."
7. Essential oils for a sparkling toilet
You can use the same concoction to freshen up your toilet, Findley notes. Just let it soak for a bit, then flush and wipe the seat.

Doyle James, president of Mr. Rooter Plumbing, a Neighborly company, recommends using essential oils in a DIY toilet cleaner.
8. A DIY aromatherapy cleaning solution for shining sinks and tubs
"Mix one cup of baking soda with 15 drops of tea tree essential oil and 15 drops of lemon or orange essential oil. Let the mixture sit in the bowl for 30 minutes and scrub with a bowl brush before flushing."
9. Steam the microwave with lemon oil
James also recommends getting your sink or tub to shine by mixing baking soda, drops of lemon and basil essential oils and dish soap. "Sponge the mixture on the surface of your bathtub and bathroom sink for 10 minutes. After rising off with water, [they] will be glistening."

You can also use essential oils to clean the microwave.

"Add 15 drops of lemon essential oil into one and a half cups water to a microwave-safe bowl, and microwave on high for five to 10 minutes, allowing the steam to condense on inside walls/ceilings of your machine," says Doug Rogers, president of Mr. Appliance, a Neighborly company. "Once complete, simply wipe away the softened food with a sponge."

Another way to clean your microwave is by putting a clean, dampened sponge or cloth on the tray and setting it on high for two minutes.

12. DIY Glass Cleaner 13. Lemon oil is a natural degreaser for the oven
"This will kill bacteria," says Jennifer Rodriguez, chief hygiene officer at Pro Housekeepers. "Then use sponge or cloth to wipe down the microwave."

"If you don't feel like running to the store for more glass cleaner, making your own is easy," says Larry Patterson, franchise owner of Glass Doctor, a Neighborly company. "Mix white vinegar, distilled water, drops of an essential oil and shake. This is an affordable and easy way to clean your windows, mirrors or even shower doors if you're in a pinch."
14. Baking soda for a hands-off stovetop scrub
"In addition to its scent benefits, lemon essential oil is a great degreaser and can be an excellent tool to remove stubborn grease stains naturally," says Rogers.

"Spray a mixture of one cup water, one cup vinegar and lemon essential oil onto your stovetop and simply wipe clean. For tougher stains, sprinkle baking soda first, then spray and wipe. You can use the same technique to clean your oven - which will help prevent kitchen fires - many of which are caused by grease."
15. Remove pet hair with rubber gloves
Carol Meerschaert, a registered dietitian and the owner of Appleton Home Services, hails baking soda as a favorite stove-top cleaner.

16. Eliminate foul odors from upholstery
"Just pour it on, sprinkle with water, let sit one hour and wipe."

"When your standard vacuum doesn't seem to get all your pet's hair, rubber gloves will get the job done," says Leanne Stapf, VP of operations at The Cleaning Authority. "Just slide them on and rub down any areas that need extra cleaning. When rubber is pushed against fabric, it can generate elasticity to gather remaining pet hair. Rinse the gloves under running water when you're done and the hair will unstick."
17. Spruce up the mattress with baking soda & vinegar
Joshua Miller, director of Technical Training of Rainbow International, a Neighborly company, recommends wiping out pet smells and other odors from upholstery by combining vinegar, water and your favorite essential oil (he vouches for lavender).

"Furniture is often the culprit behind persistent unpleasant smells in the home, as upholstery often retains odors," Miller notes. "Pre-test the solution on an inconspicuous location and allow to dry to test for colorfastness before using on the rest of the upholstery."
18. Dust electronics with coffee filters
If all is good, then spray the mixture on the rest of the upholstery, and once dry, vacuum the area.
19. Clean ceiling fans with a pillowcase
We tend to wash our bedding regularly, but we can't exactly throw our mattress in the washing machine. Fortunately, we can keep it clean with our kitchen essential.
20. Dust window blinds with old socks
"It's important to clean your mattress often to avoid dust mites, dead skin cells, etc," says Stapf. "For stain removal especially, try spraying the mattress with vinegar and sprinkle baking soda over the top. You can place a towel over the area and let it sit for one to two hours. Then take your vacuum and go over the mattress for a final clean."
21. Use the dishwasher to clean hair brushes, flip flops and more
"Coffee filters are useful items to keep around your living room and office, not only in the kitchen," says Stapf. "They are perfect for clearing dust from TV screens, computer monitors and any other screens around the home, without leaving behind any fibers like towels do."

Rubber flip-flops, canvas sneakers and baseball caps

Makeup brushes

Non-electrical plastic and rubber kids' toys

Contacts lens case

Mouth guards

Hair brushes and combs

Shower heads

Plastic and metal garden tools

Refrigerator shelves

MORE CLEANING TIPS
"Instead of using a rag to clean your ceiling fan, which usually results in dust falling onto your furniture and floors, try using your pillowcase," Stapf says. "Slip it in between the fan blades and swipe one at a time."

"Blinds often have multiple sides and shapes, so they can sometimes be a hassle to clean," Stapf notes. "With this simple and kid-friendly hack, it doesn't have to be! Take 50/50 vinegar and water mixture with an old clean sock, swipe the sock over each section and the embedded dust and dirt will come right off your blinds."

"If you only use your dishwasher to clean dishes, you aren't using it to its full potential," asserts Stapf. "Take a look at this list of things you can safely wash in the dishwasher:

Want more tips like these? NBC News BETTER is obsessed with finding easier, healthier and smarter ways to live. Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

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Though the frequency of cleaning depends on our lifestyle and whether or not we can afford a housekeeping service, it's a chore that stares us down with mounting pressure. I've got some serious housecleaning to do right now, but I'm short on time and the last thing I want to do after work is spend an hour scrubbing the tub or stove.

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Does your garage get messy all the time? Implement some of these garage organizing ideas to transform the way your garage looks.
If you're lucky enough to have a garage, then you could probably use a few ideas to help you organize it.

Every family garage has a couple of bikes, a dozen garden tools, several footballs, and about ten fishing rods scattered around.

So, a simple pegboard won't do the trick. If you want to tame all that mess, here are 20 brilliant ideas that will help you.

1. Overhead Garage Racks

If you're looking for a place to store seasonal items, look up. Overhead racks can house anything you don't need constant access to.

They're also a perfect solution for storing treasured items that can easily break. Add clamps and hooks and you'll be able to hang your bikes and keep them out of the way during winter.

And the best part is, you'll barely notice that the racks are there! You can get an organizer like this here.

2. Create Custom Storage Space with a Flow Wall

Flow walls allow you to create a custom storage space. It will help you organize your belongings, eliminate clutter, and make it easier for you to find what you need.

Very easy to install and maintain. Flow walls come with hooks that can be pushed and slid to change their places and allow you a flexible wall mount storage.

So, whenever your garage needs change, you'll be able to rearrange.

3. The Flexible Pegboard

Credit: justagirlandherblog.com
The good old pegboard gives you amazing organizational flexibility and practically doubles the storage space of your garage.

Once you've installed the pegboard, there are a number of options for bins, baskets, and hooks that will hold everything from screws to paint rollers.

Here are some pegboard hooks you can get to organize all the things. Also, if you don't own a pegboard, you can get one here - it's affordable and sturdy.

Pegboards can be used to organize office space, a laundry room, and even a craft room.

4. Hooks, Hooks, and More Hooks

The biggest advantage of hooks is their versatility. You can either attach them directly to the wall or use them for various DIY projects that will provide a super-cheap hanging space.

For instance, hooks attached to the wall are perfect for storing folding chairs.

When it comes to DIY-ing with hooks, you can find great inspiration for simple garage shelves right here.

5. DIY Gardening Tool Storage from an Old Bi-Fold

Gardening supplies can make a big mess and really get on your nerves. It's time to put them away.

Instead of investing in pricey storage, consider an easy DIY. All you need is an old bi-fold door and about $20. See the full tutorial with pics here.

6. DIY Gardening Tool Storage from Old Pallet

If you don't have enough hooks on the garage wall for all your tools, you can use an old pallet. Simply affix it to the wall to prevent it from falling over and start placing the tools!

7. DIY Woodshop Spray Paint Rack

If you're not afraid of a bit more complex DIY projects, this one is just for you. This multifunctional rack will not only house your spray paint collection but it will also make your garage a lot brighter.

In addition, it creates extra floor space and workbench space for you to express your creativity. You can add hooks to hang tools on the slat wall and use the area under the bench to organize other stuff too.

See the full DIY tutorial here. Feel free to use white spray paint, here is a good quality one I recommend.

8. Use Decorative Metal Wire Baskets

Do you have a bunch of workout gear lying around in the garage? Or winter gear like hats and gloves that are making a huge mess?

Use these decorative metal wire baskets. Place them beside the wall to put that chaos under control.

Large wire baskets are great for organizing children's's toys and even closets.

9. Sliding Storage System On the Garage Ceiling

If you need more storage space in your garage, construct this sliding storage system. It's made of plywood flanges that hold heavy-duty plastic storage bins.

The project can be done over the weekend and requires no more than $75!

Perfect for camping gear, holiday ornaments, and other seldom-used items.

10. Use Old Magazine Holders to House Your Sandpaper

Don't you just love it when you find an unexpected way to organize your stuff? This one is a gem: using your old hanging magazine holder to house your sandpaper.

If you're looking for something bigger to store your orbital sander and large quantities of sheet goods, here is a great DIY sandbag storage station project for you.

11. DIY Fishing Rod Holder

There's nothing more annoying than reaching for your fishing rods only to discover that your lines are all tangled.

Even if you are short on garage space, there are lots of DIY organizing ideas to try when it comes to your fishing gear.

12. Use Mason Jars to Organize Screws and Nails

Do you have plenty of jars screaming to be put to use? Well, their time has come.

Screw their lids into a wooden shelf and then simply fill the jars with whatever small items need storing.

You can get a set of mason jars here. They are just as good at organizing kitchen items, small items, and pantry.

13. Cheap and Easy-to-Install Metal Shelf Units

Whether it's for garden supplies, household product back-stock, or winter gear, metal shelves can really makeover your garage.

Shelving units that sit on the floor are about as basic as you can get. Generally, you don't need any tools to assemble them - just put them together and load up.

The biggest advantage is that these shelf units can be a relatively cheap solution. Plus, if you decide to move or you need a change for whatever reason, you can easily take them apart. There are also units with wheels.

Line the garage walls with these heavy-lifter shelves, and you'll have room for just about anything!

Here is a metal shelving unit that's sturdy. This one with wheels is a good option too.

14. Label Your Plastic Containers

Use more heavy-duty plastic containers in your garage to store your gardening tools, sports equipment, or cleaning supplies. Opt for transparent containers.

You could also label each one of them to make things much simpler and tidier.

Here is a set of good quality large plastic storage bins.

15. Add a Tool Tower Rack

A tool tower rack in the garage corner gives you the perfect storage solution for long-handled cleaning items like brooms, brushes, and scrubbers. You can also use it to store rakes, shovels, and other long gardening tools.

Many tower racks are on wheels so you can easily roll them wherever you need them. There are also stationary ones you can keep in the corner for permanent storage.

You can get an organizer like this here.

16. DIY Recycle Bin Hangers

Leaving your recycling bins on the garage floor is like you're asking for a mess. Why not get them off the floor and hang them on the wall?

These DIY recycle bin hangers will take only a few minutes to make and they cost almost nothing. All you need is some lengths of 1×4 and 2×4, screws, and several simple tools.

See the full instructions here.

17. Wall-Mounted Shelves for Heavy and Bulky Items

Looking for a storage solution for heavy and bulky stuff? The average wall-mounted garage shelves can handle 100-400 lbs.

That makes them perfect for your bags of garden soil or snow tires on rims. But, also for your fragile things like Christmas decorations.

Cover the whole wall with these shelves and your garage will be completely transformed.

18. DIY Screwdriver Rack

The thing with screwdrivers is that no matter how many you buy they always get lost in the garage mess. To prevent this, you need a convenient place to keep them.

One option is to mount the screwdrivers on your tool board. However, there's another option is to make your own rack.

All you need is a scrap of softwood that is long enough for all your screwdrivers. Mount it on the wall where you can grab the one that you need, then quickly put it back.

19. Simple DIY Storage Cabinet with Metal Wire Baskets

There's nothing simpler than creating your very own storage cabinet with metal wire baskets. Wire baskets make for attractive storage bins.

You can use metal picture hooks to hang the baskets directly on the wall. Or, find a whiteboard in the Racks and Shelving section of any home improvement store and hang the wire baskets on it.

Either way, you'll need these rectangular wire wall mount storage baskets. You could also use wire baskets to organize kitchen cabinets and increase storage space.

20. Put Your Plastic Bottles to Good Use

Looking for a way to organize your garage that is both efficient and environment-friendly? Plastic bottles provide a quick, easy, and very cheap way to store small items like screws, nails, wood plugs, etc.

All you need to do is drill holes in the caps of your plastic soda bottles and insert eyebolts. Fix each eyebolt with two nuts, one inside and one above the cap. Finally, cut a round hole in the bottles' shoulders.

The best thing about this simple storage system is that even if you knock the bottles off your workbench, the items stored inside won't spill.

Either way, to use this organization idea, you'll need a pegboard. Here is one you can get - comes in multiple colors.

Conclusion

Are you going to use any of the ideas to organize your garage? Let me know in the comment section!

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Does your garage get messy all the time? Implement some of these garage organizing ideas to transform the way your garage looks. If you're lucky enough to have a garage, then you could probably use a few ideas to help you organize it.

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We independently select these products-if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission.

A good cleaning hack can make housekeeping a breeze. So, to help lighten your housework load, we scoured our archives and compiled a list of the very best cleaning hacks we could find. From chopstick crevice cleaners to cooking spray tricks and more, the following 33 cleaning hacks are truly the G.O.A.T.

1. Remove makeup stains with shaving cream.

A little shaving cream goes a long way in getting out stubborn makeup stains. Leanne Stapf of The Cleaning Authority says shaving cream dissolves through the oil and helps take a makeup stain right out of any garment when followed by a quick washing machine cycle. Just apply a squirt or two of shaving cream to the stain and let it sit for about 10 minutes before carefully blotting up as much as you can with a clean cloth. Rinse the spot with cool water, and then throw it in the washing machine and voilà: Your is stuff makeup-free.

2. Soak shower heads and faucets in a bag of vinegar.

3. Keep a Magic Eraser in the shower to clean.

Magic Erasers are a many-splendored thing. Composed of abrasive melamine foam, they can deep clean everything from tile grout to sneakers in seconds. And since they're activated by water, if you keep one handy in your shower you can use it to quickly clean the tub and shower walls before washing yourself off, just like Apartment Therapy writer Olivia Muenter does.

4. Mark old sponges to avoid cross-contamination.

5. Use Command Hooks to keep your trash can liner in place.

For as awesome and affordable as simple plastic trash cans are, it's hard to keep trash bag liners (and old grocery-turned-trash-bags) from sliding down them. Good news: If you affix a Command Hook upside-down on the two skinnier sides of your trash can-about ¼ or ⅓ of the way down from the top-you can loop the drawstring or handles of the trash bag around it, so your trash bag will stay in place as you fill it up.

6. Clean crevices around fixtures with a chopstick.

7. Use baby shampoo to clean makeup from fabric and more.

8. Boil and bend an old toothbrush to make a detail cleaning brush.

Easy Bathroom Hacks For That Perfect Shine

9. Prevent your bathroom mirror from fogging.

10. Polish chrome and stainless-steel fixtures with shaving cream.

11. Remove build-up from hair tools with a Magic Eraser.

12. Use aspirin crushed up in water to clean your bathroom in a pinch.

13. Remove shower and tub soap scum with cooking spray.

14. Shine faucets with cooking spray.

15. Quiet a squeaky door or cabinet.

16. Remove nail polish from carpet (and some fabrics!) with a Magic Eraser.

17. Clean your jewelry with shaving cream.

18. Clean glass shower doors with cooking spray.

19. Keep a soap-dispensing dish brush in the shower to clean on the fly.

If you thought dish brushes were reserved for the kitchen sink then you might want to reconsider. If you keep a soap-dispensing brush handy in your bathroom, then you can use it to give the tile and tub in your shower a quick clean down before your wash off-or while you let your hair conditioner sink in. Look for one with a built-in scraper, like this $6 style at Amazon, so you can clean your grout with less effort.

20. Use the towel you dry off with to dry your bathroom fixtures so they don't get water spots.

Your bath towels are good for way more than just drying off your hands and body-they can keep your bathroom fixtures shiny and clean, too. Every time you wash your hands or face in the bathroom sink, or take a shower, make a habit of using the towel you dry off with to wipe down your faucets and fixtures immediately afterwards, and you'll keep water spots at bay-no marathon cleaning session necessary.

21. Squeegee glass shower doors after every shower.

If you don't already have a squeegee in your shower then now's the time to smarten up. Designed to quickly remove water and condensation from glass surfaces, spend two minutes after every shower wiping down your tile, tub, and doors with a squeegee -just like you would on the windshields of a car-to ensure you stop soap scum buildup in it tracks (so you won't have to clean your bathroom nearly as often).

22. Rotate two machine-washable shower curtain liners.

23. Keep a shaker of baking soda in the bathroom to extend time between toilet cleanings.

Searching for a goof-proof way to keep your toilet bowl sparkling between cleanings? Keep a shaker of baking soda handy in your bathroom. Baking soda absorbs odors and is slightly abrasive, so sprinkling it liberally into your toilet bowl before flushing can save you from having to use your toilet brush as frequently.

24. Easily clean grout with a bleach pen.

Bleach pens are surprisingly versatile cleaners. Along with removing stains from your laundry and shoes, you can use a bleach pen to deep clean grout. Just run a pen over the grout lines in your kitchen or bathroom tile and let it set overnight. Then use a sponge or cloth in warm water to wipe it clean and you'll have bright grout lines for days.

25. Toothpaste can remove makeup from clothing.

26. Keep a jar of rice and essential oils in the bathroom to reduce odors.

27. Put silica gel packets in the medicine cabinet to reduce humidity inside.

28. If you suspect your toilet is leaking, put food coloring in the tank.

Even a tiny leak in your toilet can wind up being an expensive problem. Per Virginia's Halifax County Service Authority, a silent toilet leak can allow hundreds of gallons of water to be lost every day-which can add hundreds of dollars a year to your water and sewer bills! Luckily, if you add a few drops of food coloring into your toilet tank and let it sit for fifteen minutes, you can see if any colored water has seeped into the bowl and quickly detect a leak.

29. Dampen a used dryer sheet and use it to clean soap scum.

30. Soak a dryer sheet in nail polish remover to remove tough nail polish stains.

31. Use hair ties to dry your makeup brushes upside down after cleaning.

32. Sandwich your toilet brush under the toilet seat to dry before putting it away.

33. Dust the toilet before you wet-clean it.

Few housekeeping jobs are less fun than cleaning a toilet, and tackling the dust and grime buildup around the base is arguably the hardest part. Thankfully, Apartment Therapy writer Shifrah Combiths had a stroke of genius about dusting (or vacuuming) your toilet (and the area around the bottom) before wiping it down with cleaner, so you can remove any loose debris prior to scrubbing.

Caroline is a writer living in New York City. When she's not covering art, interiors, and celebrity lifestyles, she's usually buying sneakers, eating cupcakes, or hanging with her rescue bunnies, Daisy and Daffodil.

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The 33 Best Bathroom Cleaning Hacks of All Time

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We independently select these products-if you buy from one of our links, we may earn a commission. A good cleaning hack can make housekeeping a breeze. So, to help lighten your housework load, we scoured our archives and compiled a list of the very best cleaning hacks we could find.

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Add these to your checklist of cleaning hacks!

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100 Essential Cleaning Hacks for Your Home

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Speed up home cleaning by putting into practice some of these 100 essential cleaning hacks for your home. You won't believe what a dryer sheet can do.