Mom’s 6 Best Kept Cleaning Secrets – Technology has definitely made life – and cleaning – easier! No complaints here! But even robotic vacuums and fancy dishwashers can’t replace the timeless housekeeping tips, tricks and memories of our mothers and grandmothers. We have asked our clients and cleaners to share their generational cleaning tips, tricks and memories so that we can share their nostalgia and brilliance  with you!

Treat Your Laundry With Care!

“My mom always insisted we rush to the dryer as soon as it chimed to pull the sheets out. We’d then pull in opposite directions to remove wrinkles. Sometimes it would turn into a little tug of war with more than a few giggles. But heck, it sure beat ironing them!” ~ Joan

Hot wax spilled all over…..the carpet?

Candle wax often finds its way onto our carpets, area rugs, or upholstery. But with this quick tip you can easily get the candle wax out and make your carpet as good as new. With a damp rag and a steaming iron removing spilled wax is easy. After preheating your iron place a wet but not dripping rag flat over the waxy spill. Place the hot iron on top of the rag and check every 15 sec. till the wax transfers onto the cloth. You may have to re-adjust the rag a few times to remove all spilled wax.

“I tried to tell my grandma it was the cat that spilled the hot candle wax on the carpet, but I think she knew better! (I don’t think cats like fire as much as curious 9 year olds.) I thought I was doomed, but she didn’t freak out. She calmly went to the utility room and returned with her iron and a damp rag. She got the iron hot, placed the damp rag over the spill, and started ironing away. It took several passes, but eventually all the wax got absorbed into the damp cloth. The carpet was good as new! I told my grandma I’d keep a closer eye on the cat. Grandma? She gave me a knowing wink and waltzed back to her utility room. Lesson learned!” ~Adrian

“If candle wax drips on your tablecloth, rub it with an ice cube until they get hard, and use a butter knife to pop them off.” – Lauren

Housekeeping Secrets Every Mom Should Teach Her Kids

“My mom was ahead of her time. Maybe it was her years living in a commune in the 70’s, but she was always suspicious of harsh chemical cleaners. She insisted on using natural products to clean the house – and taught us kids to do the same. Her go-to? Vinegar. Mold, mildew, and just plain old grime didn’t stand a chance. I still use it to this day!” ~Bev

What’s your secret use for vinegar? Here at the Cleaning Crew we use vinegar a ton with lots of variations. Here’s a great one we found  from @ModernDayMom. Give it a try & let us know what you think!

Orange Vinegar – A Greener Cleaner!

 Let orange peels soak in vinegar for 2 weeks in a cool dark place, then remove the orange peels and dilute with water by 50% in your regular spray bottle to add extra cleaning power to your natural cleaner. Check out these other effective and zesty recipes on Pinterest!

Busy Mom Secrets For a Clean Home

Clean your microwave in 30 seconds!  Place a couple slices of lemon or 2 tablespoons of lemon juice into a bowl with 1/2 cup of water. Place in the microwave for 30 seconds – 1 minute and wipe away stuck on food in a snap without scrubbing!

“There’s nothing more refreshing than the sparkling fresh scent of lemons in the air. My mother’s home always had a hint of citrus. She knew that squeezing lemon juice into salt and wiping down the counter top would remove stains and disinfect just like a magic eraser. She would also remove stains from our lunchbox Tupperware by squeezing lemon juice into the stained dish and then adding baking soda. She would then use a small brush to work in the lemon and baking soda into the stains and allow it to sit. If the stain was bad, she would let it  sit overnight before rinsing with warm water. There’s nothing like the fresh smell of home” ~ Sue

“At the end of the day, pick up miscellaneous items throughout the house, and put them into a pick-up basket. When you have more time, you can put everything in its proper place.” – Maria

Baking Soda Magic

“Sprinkle baking soda on carpet and let sit for several minutes before vacuuming. Keeps things fresh!”

~ Carrie Ann

“Pour some baking soda in the washing machine to remove the musty smell from towels.” ~ Nancy

We hope you’re able to take advantage of some of these old-school, time-honored organic cleaning methods in your own home. Your Mother & Grandmother would be proud.

~ The Cleaning Crew

PS – Do you have a favorite “Mom’s Cleaning Tip?” Leave it in the comments section below.