Give your home a deep clean in record time with the Queen of Hacks

Do you often go to other people’s houses and wonder how on earth they keep things so clean and tidy? Their furniture is pristine, their ovens sparkle… and there’s not a stain in sight. Or perhaps your house does look like that but you’re fed up with spending so much time, money and energy to keep it that way.

Whether you’re a complete beginner or an experienced cleaner, with the game-changing tricks I outline in my new book, Hack Your Home, you can create a stunning, organised space you’ll love spending time in – without the faff.

My two million followers online have already got stuck in – now it’s your turn!

I know it might sound strange but I find cleaning therapeutic; for me, it is the ultimate form of self-care.

Finding a new, easy way to clean a grimy oven until it’s sparkling, get a red nail polish stain out of a beige carpet or return a lime-scale-hardened showerhead to its pristine state – all these things bring me a genuine sense of achievement and satisfaction.

But even if you don’t feel this way (and I don’t blame you if you don’t), with my ingenious time-saving hacks you can make sure you’re spending less time cleaning.

Tanya Mukendi, also known as the Queen of Hacks, has tricks to help make your house shine

Over the last three years I’ve sourced cleaning tips from top experts as well as my friends and family (I have four siblings and so my mum had a clever trick or two up her sleeve). I’ve also devised lots myself to come up with the ultimate cleaning handbook.

I can’t wait to let you in on my secrets, so let’s start with the messiest place of all, the kitchen…

Kitchen

There's nothing more satisfying than a clean kitchen but gosh, the work can seem never ending, can’t it? Here are my insider tricks…

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Use a dishwasher tablet on a greasy oven door

A simple dishwashing tablet can easily remove stubborn, baked-on grease from your oven door. Just make sure to use the hard type of dishwashing tablet, not the gel pods.

Simply put on some gloves, dip the dishwashing tablet in warm water and scrub the oven door with the tablet. Keep dipping the tablet back into the water to keep it moist and rub it all over the oven door until the grease has vanished. It’s that easy.

It works on oven racks, too

You can also use dishwasher tablets on oven racks which are usually the messiest to clean in the kitchen (if, like me, you splash brown grease all over your clothes and the floor as you struggle to manhandle them and a scourer in the sink).

Lay an old towel in the bottom of your bathtub, place the oven racks on top and fill the tub with warm water.

Dissolve one (or two if the rack is caked with a lot of grease) dishwasher tablets in the bath and leave the oven racks to soak overnight. In the morning, simply rinse them off and wipe away any remaining grime with a sponge.

Why not try using dishwasher tablets to give your oven door and racks their sparkle back?

Secret of a sparkling (unclogged) sink

First sprinkle baking soda liberally over the entire surface of your sink. Then slice a lemon in half and squeeze one half over the baking soda. Rub the other half into the baking soda in a circular motion.

This will help to deodorise the sink while the baking soda polishes the surface. Finally, rinse off and enjoy the shine.

This combination of ingredients will help unclog your drains, too.

First, run hot water in the affected sink (or shower) for a few minutes. Then slowly pour 100g (half a cup) of baking soda down the drain, followed by a squeeze of lemon juice.

This creates a fun, fizzy reaction that can help dissolve any build-up of gunk in your pipes.

Cover the drain with a cloth and let it sit for 30 minutes before rinsing everything away with hot water. If needed, repeat the process until your drain is running smoothly again.

Use denture tablets to make mugs pristine

Tannins are plant compounds found in tea and coffee and the main culprits behind unsightly brown stains inside cups.

To remove, simply drop a denture tablet into your cup and pour in hot water. (Normally used to lift bacteria from dentures overnight, you can buy the tablets from most supermarkets.)

Wait for the fizz to die down and let it settle for about five minutes.

After that, use a damp cloth or sponge to give it a good scrub and wipe away the stain – it’ll come off fairly easily.

Finally, wash your mug using washing-up liquid or put it in the dishwasher as usual.

My foil and boil trick to fix dull cutlery

There’s nothing worse than sitting down to a wonderful meal with dull cutlery.

A simple and effective hack for making your cutlery look sparkling new again is to line the bottom of a large saucepan with aluminium foil, shiny side facing up.

Then arrange your cutlery on top of the foil, making sure that the knives and forks are not stacked on top of each other.

Sprinkle a generous amount of baking soda over the cutlery and pour boiling water over everything until the cutlery is fully submerged.

For every four litres (one gallon) of water, use about one-a-half tablespoons of baking soda.

Bring the mixture to a boil and let it simmer on the hob for around 15 minutes. Using tongs, remove the cutlery and place on a paper towel to cool down.

This trick works like magic and your cutlery will be dinner party-ready.

Bathroom 

Surprisingly, the bathroom is my favourite room to clean. Deep cleaning isn’t as complicated as you might think and, once in the groove, you can quickly get every inch shining and germ-free.

Easy way to take watermarks from shower screens

To keep your shower glass looking its best, use a simple DIY cleaning solution made with water and white vinegar.

Just pour 125ml (half a cup) of each into a spray bottle, then spray the solution directly on to the shower screen and rinse it off. For stubborn stains, spray a cloth and scrub the area gently, being careful not to damage the glass.

Once you’re done cleaning, use a squeegee to remove any excess water from the screen.

Rubbing shaving foam on to your mirror before hopping in the shower will prevent it from steaming up

How to clean with shaving foam

Stop your bathroom mirror fogging with shaving foam.

Simply apply a small amount of shaving foam to a cloth, wipe it evenly across your mirror and the glycerol will create a protective coating on the glass.

You can use this trick on your shower doors and glasses to keep them fog-free, too.

There’s another unconventional use for that trusty can of shaving foam, as well.

For a fresh-smelling bathroom, apply it to the bottom of the loo and on the floor surrounding it, leave to sit for a few hours and then simply wipe away.

This trick works by neutralising the ammonia in any accidental splashes of urine. I know it sounds bizarre but, trust me, it’s a game-changer.

Declog the showerhead (and buff up the taps) without harsh chemicals

Hard water can make your taps look unsightly and even lead to slow water flow. It can also clog the showerhead.

But fear not, there’s a simple and cost-effective solution. All you need to do is fill a sandwich bag with vinegar, tie it around your taps or showerhead with an elastic band to seal it and leave it overnight.

The vinegar will work to clean the hard water build-up on both the interior and exterior surfaces, making them look as good as new and improving water flow.

Don’t worry, your bathroom won’t smell like a fish and chip shop afterwards, especially after a quick wipe down with a wet cloth.

How to make a toilet bomb

Ingredients:

• 120g (half a cup) baking soda
• One tablespoon of essential oil (use tea tree oil or lavender, as they have disinfecting properties)
• 50g (quarter cup) of citric acid (this is a weak organic acid that is commonly found in citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges. It can be used as a natural and effective cleaning agent. You can buy citric acid online or in supermarkets)

Method:

• Mix the ingredients together in a glass jar. Slowly stir in warm water until you get a damp consistency that holds its shape when squeezed in your hand.
• Once you have the mixture ready, measure out at least one tablespoon and put it into a silicone mould or ice-cube tray. Leave to dry overnight, then pop the toilet bombs out of the moulds and store them in a glass jar.
• When it’s time to clean your toilet, drop one of the toilet bombs into the bowl and let the fizzing action do the cleaning work for you.

These toilet bombs are effective in removing stains and leave a fresh, clean smell in the bowl.

Living room

Growing up, my childhood home was always bustling with guests. My mother used to say: ‘Tanya, you never know who might turn up, so we need to keep the living room clean at all times.’ Years later, despite myself, I find I have turned into my mother. Here’s how to make your living room for ever guest-ready.

Making your living room look guest-ready at all times requires some specialist tricks - including taking a warm, soaked cloth wrapped around a saucepan lid to your chairs

Use a walnut to cover scratches on furniture

Imperfections on wood can provide age and character, creating a rustic aesthetic – but scratches are less appealing. Luckily, there is a simple solution to diminish the appearance of minor wood scratches using… the humble walnut.

If the walnut is in a shell, crack it open and take out a large piece of the nut. Rub it over the scratches, making sure the walnut’s oil soaks into the wood. Go over the scratch from different angles and finally, use a soft cloth to buff the area.

Pan lid hack to clean the sofa

I often hear people say you shouldn’t buy light-coloured furniture with pets or children in the house. But why should we deprive ourselves of the things we love just because we are afraid of messing them up?

Sofas are the most used pieces of furniture in our homes, so it’s natural for them to accumulate dirt and stains over time.

Here are a few simple tricks to keep them looking and feeling clean and fresh:

• Start by vacuuming to remove any loose dirt, debris and pet hair.
• Then mix washing-up liquid and warm water in a bowl and soak a microfibre cloth in the soapy water.
• Wring out the cloth and wrap it around a medium-sized, flat saucepan lid, gathering the cloth at the handle, so it remains taut on the lid’s underside. This creates a bigger surface area with which to rub the sofa, going over any stains.
• Repeat the scrubbing process using a clean cloth to remove any residue. Leave the sofa to dry and it will look as good as new.
• If you use dryer sheets to tumble-dry your laundry, instead of throwing them away afterwards, rub them over your sofa to freshen it up and pick up pet hair and lint.
• After that, you can put a dryer sheet inside your cushion cover for an extra boost of freshness.

Bedroom 

Why is the bedroom the designated dumping ground that always gets abandoned on the cleaning list? (Or is it just me?)

It’s strange how I often put off cleaning my bedroom, even though it’s the space in which I spend roughly a third of my life. Stop the procrastination with these tips.

Use a lint roller for the bed headboard

To ensure that every nook and cranny is clear of dust, use a lint roller to clean fabric surfaces such as lampshades and bed headboards. 

Unlike traditional feather dusters, this hack collects even the smallest particles without spreading them around.

Freshen your mattress with baking soda

To keep your mattress smelling fresh, sprinkle baking soda and a few drops of essential oil evenly over the surface and let it sit for three hours. This will help to neutralise any unpleasant odours, while the essential oil will give your mattress a refreshing scent. Once done, vacuum any remaining powder and enjoy a mattress renewed.

Yes, you CAN get nail polish stains off carpets

Spilling nail polish on carpets or furniture can be a nightmare. There’s no need to panic but do act quickly – the longer you leave the stain, the harder it is to get out. As your first port of call, if the nail polish is still wet, gently blot the excess with a paper towel until nothing comes off.

To remove, pour a small amount of nail polish remover on to a clean cloth and gently blot. Avoid rubbing as this can spread the stain further.

But if the stain persists, use hairspray or alcohol to help break it down. Be patient and repeat the process until the stain is gone.

• Adapted from Hack Your Home by Tanya Mukendi (Thorsons, £14.99) is out on August 29. © Tanya Mukendi 2024. To order a copy for £13.49 (offer valid to 06/09/24; UK P&P free on orders over £25) go to www.mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937