Lifting soap scum from your bathtub and glass shower doors is easier than you think. Mix 1/4 cup Borax and 2 cups of hot water in a spray bottle and spritz around your bathroom. After 15 minutes, wipe down with a damp sponge to erase the scum. A chemical reaction turns Borax into a bleaching agent when mixed with hot water.
Three Inexpensive Fixes for Gross Household Chores
We tend to procrastinate about some household chores because they are inconvenient or gross. When was the last time you cleaned the sticky gunk that accumulates at the bottom of your fridge? Here are a few tricks to make those inconvenient jobs a little easier using inexpensive staples you probably have in your home right now.
Enjoy gleaming bathroom tiles with a mineral spritz
Erase fridge drips with a dishwashing secret
There is a simple trick to cleaning crumbs and drippings at the bottom of your fridge. Spray a 50/50 mix of water and dish soap on the spot, pour a little warm water over it and let it soak 5 minutes. Then just wipe with a cloth or paper towel.
Clean crusty oven grates with a quick coconut soak
Removing the gunk from oven grates doesn't require excessive elbow grease. Simply coat each grate with coconut oil and let it soak in for about 30 minutes. Then use an old toothbrush to rub on baking soda, and the baked-on grime will come right off. The coconut oil dissolves cooking grease while the baking soda is a mild abrasive that removes stuck-on food.
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This edition is part of the Genius House Hacks archive — 20+ years of tips, rebuilt from the original Handy Hints newsletter. Browse more hacks →