The transition between fall and winter entails many things. It is the holiday season-- and for many that means lots of decorating, food, and time with family. But along with the joys and festivities of what some consider the most wonderful time of the year comes the messes that joy leaves behind. So, on top of all the celebrations, the change of seasons also means it's time for fall cleaning. Organizing, tidying, and scrubbing one's home may not be as thrilling as some other seasonal activities but armed with these helpful life hacks, cleaning doesn't have to be quite so hard.
1) Burnt Pans
If you're doing any cooking for the holidays, or any other time in the coming new year, being well-equipped is essential. But what happens when your kitchen arsenal is looking a little worse for wear? Burnt pans are a common but surprisingly solvable problem. For this first hack all you need is a scouring pad, baking soda, white vinegar, water, and, of course, a burnt pan.
First, fill your pan with enough water to cover the bottom of the pan and add one cup of white vinegar. Bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, move the pan off of the burner and mix in 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Let the pan sit for just a couple of minutes before emptying it into the sink and scouring out the residue at the bottom--leaving you with a pan that's like new.
2) Dirty Oven
Speaking of cooking related messes, don't forget to clean out your oven. For this hack you will need a pot of water and a heat safe bowl filled with 1 cup of ammonia. If you have a gas oven make sure that both your pilot light and gas are off before starting. To begin, boil a pot of water. Once it is boiling, place the pot on the bottom rack of the oven and the bowl of ammonia on the top. Close the oven and leave it overnight. In the morning, you should be left with an oven ready to wipe down and clean. If the mess still isn't wiping away easily, add the ammonia to a quart of water with a couple teaspoons of dish soap and, wearing gloves, use the solution to scrub away any stubborn grime.
3) Shower Head
No matter the time of year, nothing feels better than a nice shower. Many people don't realize, however, how easy it is to actually clean your shower head. All it takes is a plastic bag, white vinegar, a rubber band, and an hour of your time. First fill your bag with the vinegar and secure it around the shower head with a rubber band. Next-- you wait. After one hour it will be ready to be wiped down and you'll be left with a much cleaner, and more effective shower head.
4) Air Vents
It's easy to forget some of the nooks and crannies around our homes but if you take a minute to look at them you'll notice that air vents catch insane amounts of dust and hair over time. With their unusual, and inconvenient, shape, it can be hard to know exactly how to clean them; but, all it takes is a cloth, an all-purpose cleaner, and a butter knife. Give the cloth a few spritzes of all purpose cleaner and then drape it over a butter knife. Next, run the cloth-covered knife in between the slats of the vent and in no time you'll be left with a cleaner vent and cleaner air.
5) Garbage Disposal
Have a weird smell in your kitchen? It might be your drain. Cleaning your garbage disposal is quick, painless, and can make a world of difference. Pour half a cup of baking soda down the offending drain followed by one cup of white vinegar. A chemical reaction will occur causing the mixture to fizz. During this time, boil a pot of water to pour down the drain. Once you've poured out your boiling water, pour two cups of ice down after it. Finish this off with a cup of salt and then, while running cold water, turn on the disposal. To add optional freshness, drop a couple of slices of lemon down the disposal after the process for a citrus scent.
