Make This Cheap and Easy DIY Soft Scrub
This summer, I became a bit of a boat girl. My boyfriend got a boat and suddenly, I was learning about fishing, docking, navigating, and the uniqueness of marina culture.…
How to Get Pumpkin Stains Out of Clothing, Fabric, and Hard Surfaces
Photo: 220 Selfmade studio (Shutterstock) No matter how you choose to carve your pumpkins and what you choose to do with them, you’re going to end up with a mess.…
These Popular TikTok Cleaning ‘Hacks’ Don’t Actually Work
The concept of finding a hack that makes your life easier or cheaper is especially tempting when it comes to cleaning your house—and TikTok is full of such advice. But…
Why You Shouldn’t Use Dish Soap in Your Washing Machine
There’s a reason why some social media cleaning “hacks” are only surfacing now, decades after domestic scientists and home economists developed many of the products and techniques still used today:…
Things You Should Never Clean With Windex
I’m going to admit upfront that I’m a big Windex girl. It’s cheap, it’s always available, and it’s easy to spray on everything from mirrors (normal!) to tabletops (nor normal!)…
How to Choose Between Laundry Detergent Liquid, Powder, or Sheets
Some of the first mass-produced laundry detergents were bars of soap that were used with a washboard and washtub. Powders and liquids became the detergents of choice for modern washing…
The Best (and Worst) Ways to Clean Bird Poop From Your Patio
On the beautiful, sunny days of spring, bird poop will suddenly appear on all your patio, railings, and outdoor furniture. Online, there are all kinds of suggestions for what you…
Here Is Your Car’s Spring Cleaning Checklist
When you think of “spring cleaning,” you probably imagine tidying up your house, clearing out your closets, and focusing on your most lived-in space—but what’s more truly lived-in than your…
The Best Way to Clean Velvet
Photo: Ume illustration (Shutterstock) Whether you find velvet tacky or classic, you’ve probably noticed that the plush material has enjoyed a period of popularity over the past few years, adding…
How to Clean Unsealed Concrete Floors in Your Basement or Garage
Photo: Phillip Foster (Shutterstock) Out of all the usual household tasks, washing the floors is one of the easiest to put off (repeatedly). It’s a lot of hassle to go…