Steam-clean the microwave
Microwave a bowl of water with a few lemon slices for 3 minutes, leave the door shut for 5 more, then wipe. Baked-on splatters lift right off.
The Good Refill
Cleaning hacks
Simple tricks for a cleaner home with less effort and less waste.
Last updated November 1, 2026
Kitchen
Deodorise the sink drain
Pour ½ cup baking soda down the drain, follow with 1 cup white vinegar, wait 15 minutes, then flush with a kettle of hot (not boiling) water.
Shine stainless steel
Wipe with the grain using a damp microfibre cloth and a spritz of multi-surface cleaner, then buff dry with a second cloth to stop streaks.
Refresh your sponge
Rinse it, wring it out, then microwave it damp for 1 minute (never dry). Swap it out every 2–3 weeks regardless — or switch to washable cloths.
Clean the cutting board
Scrub wooden boards with coarse salt and half a lemon, rinse, and stand upright to dry. Rub with food-safe oil once a month.
Bathroom
Descale the shower head
Fill a zip bag with white vinegar, slip it over the shower head, secure with a rubber band and leave overnight. Run hot water in the morning.
Keep mirrors fog-free
After cleaning, buff a tiny drop of hand soap across the glass with a dry cloth. It leaves an invisible film that resists steam.
Brighten grout
Make a paste of baking soda and a little water, scrub with an old toothbrush, then rinse. Do a small patch first on coloured grout.
Prevent soap scum
Keep a squeegee in the shower and give the glass 10 seconds after every use. Less build-up means less scrubbing later.
Laundry
Clean the washing machine
Once a month, run an empty hot cycle. Wipe the door seal and detergent drawer afterwards, and leave the door ajar to dry out.
Lift grease stains
Work a drop of dish soap into the stain with your fingers, leave for 10 minutes, then wash as usual. Check it’s gone before tumble-drying.
Soften towels naturally
Skip fabric softener (it coats fibres and reduces absorbency). Use less detergent and add wool dryer balls instead.
Around the house
Dust top to bottom
Start with shelves and light fittings, finish with the floor. Dust falls, so you only clean each surface once.
Lift pet hair from upholstery
Run a slightly damp rubber glove over the fabric. The hair balls up and comes away in clumps.
Freshen a mattress
Sprinkle baking soda over the mattress, leave for a few hours (open a window), then vacuum thoroughly.
Clean window tracks
Sprinkle baking soda in the track, spritz with vinegar, let it fizz, then scrub with an old toothbrush and wipe out.
Low-waste habits
Ditch paper towels
Keep a stack of microfibre cloths where the paper towels used to be. Wash them on hot and they last for hundreds of uses.
Refill instead of rebuying
Keep one good spray bottle and soap dispenser, and refill them with tablets and warm water. Same clean, far less plastic.
Clean as you go
Wipe the counter while the kettle boils, rinse the sink after the dishes. Two minutes a day saves an hour on the weekend.
Stay safe
- Never mix bleach with vinegar, ammonia or other cleaners — it releases toxic gas.
- Don’t store vinegar and baking soda mixed together in a closed bottle; use them one after the other.
- Avoid vinegar and lemon on natural stone (marble, granite) and unsealed wood.
- Test any new method on a small, hidden spot first.
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