Not everyone is blessed with the ability to clean. As odd as that sounds, it’s the truth. While it’s a basic life skill everyone should have, not everyone can do it. For whatever reason, that isn’t really our concern at this point. But one thing is for sure, one way or another, you are going to have to do it. If you’ve been living in your apartment by yourself for years now, it’s time you know about a few cleaning hacks that could save you time and money. Plus, it will make you look like you know a thing or two about keeping your place spick and span.

Easy Cleaning Hacks You Should Be Doing in Your Apartment

1. Clean your toilet with Alka Seltzer

Let’s start with the messiest and one that not a lot really want to deal with – the toilet. If it has been a while since that toilet was white, guess what? Alka Seltzer is your best friend. All you have to do is drop two tablets into the bowl and let it sit for 5-10 minutes. Take that toilet brush and scrub away.

2. Clean tubs with grapefruits and salt

While we are on the topic of toilets and the bathroom, let’s get to the tubs. Make your bathroom fixtures look spotless in minutes. Cut a grapefruit in half, sprinkle both the grapefruit and the surface with salt and start scrubbing. This leaves your tub and other fixtures look good as new.

3. Use oil to clean stubborn oil

Let’s go to the kitchen and clean that stubborn oil. If you use your stovetop, you are most likely to have oil on your cooking surface. The best way to get rid of this is to clean oil with oil. Water just doesn’t go with oil, we learned that in third grade. Just add drops of vegetable oil onto a paper towel and use that to wipe away the grease from stovetops and counterto

3.1 Get rid of stubborn dark stains on pots with baking sodas

If you’re thinking about buying new pots just because it looks dark as charcoal, think again. Those pots could look good as news with some baking soda. If the stains are inside the pot, mix vinegar and water and bring it to a boil. Remove the pot from heat and add baking soda. Just let cool, drain, and wipe. If the stains are outside the pot, make a paste of baking soda by adding a few drops of water and apply the paste to the dark areas. Let it sit for 15 minutes and then, scrub those dirty stains away.

4. Clean your microwave with vinegar and lemon

Vinegar and lemons will be your new best friend if you use your microwave most of the time. This is proven to be effective and really easy. Get 1 cup of white vinegar and add a few drops of freshly squeezed lemon. Mix both in a small microwavable bowl, and place it in the microwave. Cook for about 5 minutes in high heat and leave the bowl in the microwave for a few minutes. Remove and wipe the microwave with a damp cloth.

5. Clean carpets with a damp cloth, vinegar, and a hot iron

Carpets are the scariest things to clean since it’s a type of fabric and you just can’t remove it from the floor and put it inside a washing machine. Well, worry no more because it just takes vinegar, a damp cloth, and a hot iron to clean stubborn stains. Combine 2 parts water with 1 part vinegar in a spray bottle. Spray the mixture over the stained area on the carpet, cover it with a damp cloth, and then use a hot iron on a steam setting, and iron for about 30 seconds. You’ve got yourself a clean carpet free of any stains.

6. Clean mirrors with a magic eraser

Dry Mr. Clean Magic Eraser is just the thing you need to clean mirrors. There’s really nothing to it. Just use that to remove annoying streaks for a spotless mirror. You can also use some old crumpled newspapers to get the same effect.

7. Let that stainless steel shine with furniture polish

If you’ve got stainless steel anywhere at home, you’d be surprised to know that wood furniture polish can just as well make it look brand new. Get rid of those stubborn fingerprints that have been there for the longest time, apply some furniture polish and make it shine like it did when you bought it.

Now that you have upgraded yourself into someone who can take cleaning matters into their own hands, it’s time for you to take a look around and start cleaning. Use these seven cleaning hacks every apartment owner should know and you are sure to have a cleaner living space in no time. Good luck!