TikTok is good for learning new dances, discovering independent musicians, or showing off your comedy skills.
But apparently, TikTok is also the place to learn some cleaning hacks that will leave your house — and the things inside it — sparkling clean. I’m talking cleaner than they’ve ever been, and with considerably less elbow grease.
Of course, you can’t believe everything you see on the internet, right?
As it turns out, some of the cleaning hacks and tips you see on TikTok are actually legit! So, if you’re hoping that some of those cleaning shortcuts actually work, I have some good news for you. Check out these cleaning hacks that are taking TikTok by storm.
Getting Rid of Tea Kettle Build-Up
Over time, tea kettles can wind up with a cloudy-looking film coating. It’s technically harmless, but this build-up of mineral deposits can impact the taste of your water. Plus, it’s not so pretty.
Some TikTok users are using salt, vinegar, and ice to descale their tea kettles. Combine two cups of ice, one cup of white vinegar, and a tablespoon of iodized salt. Swirl it around, and then let the mixture sit in there for about 30 minutes.
However, you can also use vinegar alone, or lemon juice instead. Combine equal parts vinegar and water in your kettle, let the solution boil, and then let it cool for about an hour. It also works with lemon juice or even sliced lemons in water.
Clean Those Window Tracks Once and For All
Window tracks, with all their tiny grooves, drive me batty. And I’ve seen special brushes and sponges on Amazon, but did you know you can just DIY your own from a sponge you’ve already got? It’s so simple, you’ll kick yourself for not thinking of it.
All you need is a basic kitchen sponge. Place it on the window track, and use a marker to mark where each raised part of the track is. Cut slits into the sponge with a craft knife, a box cutter, or even some scissors, and now you can finally get down into each and every groove — all at once.
Fingerprint-Proof Stainless Steel
There’s not much that you can’t do with WD40 — at least, that’s what I’ve learned from my dad. Now, I’ve got another use for the miracle substance!
Stainless steel appliances look great until they get smudged up with fingerprints. It’s from natural oils produced by your skin, which winds up on the surface every time you touch it.
WD40 is a great degreaser and breaks down oil build-up, so clearly it can remove fingerprints. It also works to prevent them, so break out the WD40 already! All you need to do is spray the surface with a light coating, and then wipe it off in the direction of the steel grain. Bonus points for using a microfiber cloth to prevent streaking.
Laundry Stripping
Have you seen those extremely satisfying videos of people’s laundry soaking in a bathtub of murky water? It’s a cleaning hack called laundry stripping.
Apparently, no matter how often you wash your linens, they’re gradually building up detergent residue, fabric softener, minerals from hard water, and body oils that have collected over time (GROSS!). Laundry stripping serves to ditch all that yucky stuff that has collected on fabric over time.
Fill your bathtub with hot water. Add ½ cup of laundry detergent, ¼ cup of borax, and ¼ cup of washing soda (sodium carbonate). Mix well, and then completely submerge your laundry — bath towels, sheets, and gym clothes are all excellent candidates. Leave your laundry soaking until the water has cooled off, around four to five hours, stirring occasionally.
Come back and make a face at all the gunk that’s turned the water murky, and then run your laundry through a rinse-only cycle in the washing machine. Tumble dry without dryer sheets.
