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51 tried-and-tested thrifty homemaking secrets

These housework hacks are really effective
Keep moths at bay the natural way
Store bed linens in a pillowcase
Revive flowers in hot water
Pull out long nails with extra leverage
Clean bottles with sand and water
Separate glass tumblers with water
Cleaning up broken glass with a damp cloth
Clean with the seasons
Make your bed every day
Everything in its place and a place for everything
Look after the corners
Try rearranging the furniture
Use baskets to organise a pantry
Always use a caddy
Use an old pillowcase to dust ceiling fans
Make brass shine with vinegar
Create streak-free windows with newspaper
Clean an iron with salt
Wash walls from the bottom up
Shine stainless steel with oil
Dust with socks
Revitalise carpet with bicarbonate of soda
Lift carpet fibres with ice
Use lemon on chopping boards
Use vanilla extract as an air freshener
Remove baked-on grease with cola
Make a natural linen spray
Use sunshine as a natural bleach
Use pegs to change bed linen
Wash smalls in mesh bags
Clean the washing machine with bicarbonate of soda
Use apple cider vinegar as a pet-chewing deterrent
Crochet cute cleaning cloths
Use lavender to ward off insects
Cut sponges in half
Shorten the shower curtain
Water plants with yarn
MOT scissors with aluminium foil
Preserve food
Reflect heat with aluminium foil
Get crisp bed sheets quickly
Use shoe polish to conceal scratches
Use toothpaste to polish silver
Use steam to remove stuck-on food
Introduce a weekly wash day
Air your mattress occasionally
Prevent mess before it occurs
Freeze herbs in olive oil
Treat ink stains with milk
Sharpen razor blades with jeans
Create your own seeds
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ERIK Miheyeu/Shutterstock

These housework hacks are really effective

Sometimes the old ways are the best – after all, the tried-and-tested methods your grandparents swore by have been getting the job done for generations. From natural cleaning recipes to money-saving ideas to make supplies stretch further, some tricks really do stand the test of time. 

Click or scroll on to discover some proven household wisdom that will make your home sparkle and run like clockwork...

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Rachel Homer

30 January 2025

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