Handy Bleach Hacks To Use Around Your Home
For those of you only using bleach on your whites during laundry day, prepare to be enlightened. Not to say, using bleach on linens and clothing isn't a great use of the product, but there are many other uses for bleach.
Try using it on pesky weeds to make sure they don't grow back, or in a water-bleach mixture to deodorize your trashcans. Those two hacks are only scratching the surface! Keep scrolling to learn more hacks for your household bleach.
Brighten Your Glassware For Your Next Dinner Party
Dinner party hosts are going to be thrilled with this bleach hack. If your dishwasher leaves your glass stemware with watermarks or stains, then get ready for this game-changer.
To get sparkling glasses for your next social gathering, think about adding bleach to your dishwasher. All you'll want to do is add a teaspoon of bleach to your liquid dishwasher soap. Just be sure to rinse the glasses after the dishwasher -- you don't want drinks tasting like cleaning supplies!
Bleach Will Help Christmas Tress Stay Alive Longer
If you're like us, then you're one of those families who buys their Christmas tree early, only to have it die weeks before Christmas morning. Thankfully, there's a nice little bleach hack to help the evergreen live longer.
According to Julia Byrne, a product developer for bleach at Clorox, "[Pour] a solution of two teaspoons of bleach per half a gallon of hot water, plus one cup of corn syrup, and an eighth of a cup of powdered iron from your local nursery [into the tree stand]."
Eliminate Those Pesky Weeds From Your Walkway
Have you noticed weeds popping up from the cracks in your patio, walkway, or maybe even your driveway? And we'll take a wild guess in saying no matter how many times you pull the weeds, the pesky things keep growing back.
Well, we're here to make your life a bit easier. Take some undiluted bleach and spray it over the weeds. In a few days, pull them out. The bleach will make it so they don't grow back, and your back and knees will thank you.
Make Homemade Disinfectant Spray For Most Surfaces
Instead of spending a bunch of money on brand name surface cleaners, think about looking up a DIY "recipe" that includes bleach. Any non-porous surfaces, such as wood, sealed-title, and countertops are all considered safe surfaces to use bleach.
So, grab a spray bottle and add two cups of water and a tablespoon of bleach. Once that combination is ready, get to spray down your surfaces! The good news is that bleach won't leave weird streaks on anything like some cleaners.
Keep Fresh Cut Flowers Alive Longer
For those who don't possess a green-thumb, you're going to want to keep this little bleach hack in the back of your mind. When putting fresh cut flowers in a vase, the water can become cloudy, and bacteria tend to grow quicker than it would in a garden.
Using a bit of bleach is a good way to eliminate both of those outcomes! Mix together a quarter teaspoon of bleach per liter of vase water and watch as your flower live longer.
Get Rid Of Your Trashcans Funky Smell
Although trashcans are somewhat protected by actual trash due to garbage bags, that doesn't mean they don't get smelly. For some reason, the cans typically end up with some type of funky scent. Thankfully, there is a way to deodorize your trashcans.
First, you're going to want to spray the cans down with some soapy water. Then, mix together half a cup of bleach per three-quarters of a gallon of water. Swish the mixture around the can and let it sit for about two minutes before rinsing.
Clean Your Gardening Pots To Prevent Mold And Disease
If you're an avid gardener, then you might enjoy learning this little bleach hack. When you're transferring plants to different pots, one thing to look out for is exposing healthy plants to leftover mold or even disease from older plants.
To avoid contaminating your plants, try mixing together half a cup of bleach to one gallon of water. Then, soak your pots in the solution for about five minutes to clean and decontaminate any toxins.
Say Goodbye To Your Pet's Smelly Litter Box
Now is the time to stop buying weirdly expensive "no order" litter for your pet's litter box and to start buying a jug of bleach instead. We understand the need to have a non-smelly litter box in your home, especially if you enjoy having company over.
So, after cleaning the litter box with some soapy water, wipe it down with a mixture of half a cup of bleach to one gallon of water. Wait about five minutes and then rinse out the solution.
Clean And Disinfect Toys For Your Kids
Parents know that keeping their kids' toys clean is a huge chore, especially if those toys come in bulk, like lego sets. For hard, non-porous toys, there is an easier way to disinfect, rather than washing each piece one by one.
Julia Byrne, a product developer for bleach at Clorox, says, "add half a cup of bleach per gallon of water. Then wipe the surface with the bleach solution and let it sit on the surface for at least five minutes."
Keep Second-Hand Sheets Nice And White
If you come into some beautiful, high-thread-count white sheets, we recommend doing everything in your power to keep them fresh, white, and germ-free. And a regular run in the laundry isn't going to cut it.
Instead, "add two-thirds of a cup of bleach to your standard machine or one-third of a cup of bleach to your high-efficiency machine along with regular detergent. Ensure that the bleach contacts the clothes for ten minutes," according to Julia Byrne, a product developer for bleach at Clorox.
Shower Mold And Mildew Will Be A Thing Of The Past
It's time to get rid of pesky mildew and mold stains between your bathroom's shower tiles. To eliminate the fungus for good, you're going to want to grab a bottle of bleach, a spray bottle, and a bit of water.
Oh, and some measuring cups if you're like us and aren't too good at eyeballing measurements. According to Julia Byrne, a product developer for bleach at Clorox, "a mixture of equal parts bleach and water in a spray bottle" will do the trick!
Put The Cleaners Down And Use Bleach On Your Butcher's Block
Put down the cleaning supplies and walk away from the butcher's block. There is a better way to clean and sanitize the block of wood where you cut food: bleach. Instead of buying expensive polishing products, opt for this easy hack.
You're going to want to mix together one teaspoon bleach with two liters of water. Then, dip a brush in the solution and scrub small circles over the wood, being careful not to saturate it. Afterward, buff dry with a clean towel.
You're White Porcelain Will Shine With This Hack
If you're looking for a way to clean your white porcelain sink, pottery, or candle holders, without breaking your back scrubbing, then you're in luck! There is no reason to break a sweat, trying to make those items shine.
Instead, cover the items with paper towels, saturate them with bleach, and let it sit for about 15 to 30 minutes. Then, rinse everything off and wipe them dry with a clean towel or cloth.
Algae And Moss On Bricks Will No Longer Be An Issue
Moss and algae aren't only unsightly on brick walkways, but they can be a bit dangerous, too, since they're so slippery. Instead of temporary solutions and buying that expensive moss killer form your local gardening store, try this bleach hack.
Mix together three-fourths-cup bleach in 1 gallon of water. Then, dip a brush in the solution and scrub away the pesky algae and moss! Just be careful not to get any of the bleach solution on your grass.
Grimy Plastic Lawn Chairs Will Be Ready For Outdoor BBQs
Before you throw those old lawn chairs to the curb, think about cleaning them. And we don't mean spraying them down with the hose. Instead, grab a few supplies from your house.
You're going to want a bucket, mild detergent, half a cup of bleach, and a gallon of water. Once you've mixed together all of the ingredients, start cleaning those dirty lawn chairs! After you've thoroughly scrubbed them down, rinse them off and let the chairs air-dry.
Make That Tile Grout White Again
Dirt and grime typically make its way inside to stain the grout between tiles, especially if that tile happens to by in the laundry or mudroom. Well, it's time to make that grout as pristine and white as the day you laid it down.
All you have to do is grab some bleach. We recommend putting a bit of bleach into a bucket with some water. Then, take a "cleaning toothbrush" and scrub away the dirt.
Remove Coffee Stains From Mugs
Coffee stains in mugs are a real problem for those of us who need the drink to function in the morning. So, it's good news there is a way to rid your favorite mug of stains. And it doesn't involve scrubbing until you can't feel your fingers.
Instead, fill the mug with a bit of water and a drop of bleach. The stain will wash away with ease. Just be sure to rinse the mug thoroughly.
Sanitize Your Gardening Tools
A lot of gardeners don't think about it, but using the same tools on your plants risks transferring disease and different parasites. Since there is no reason to infect your flowers and shrubs, we recommend using this hack to sterilize your gardening tools after using them.
All you're going to want to do is grab a big bucket, fill it with some water and bleach, and then let your tools soak overnight. The tools will be clean, and you won't have to worry about some strange disease making its way to your rose bush.
Keep Your Dog's Toys Clean And Germ-Free
Dogs tend to bring their toys to unsanitary locations, such as the mud puddle in the backyard. Not to mention the toys are on the ground all day every day, and who knows what types of germs are down there.
So, it's a good idea to round up all of the rubber toys and disinfect them in a bathtub full of water and bleach. Be sure to rinse them off thoroughly before giving them back to your pooch, though!
Mosquitoes Won't Bother You Anymore
If you love to go camping but hate coming home to bug bites all over your body, have no fear! Mosquitoes are pests; no one has time to deal with them, so try this simple bleach hack to save yourself from a world of itching.
All you're going to want to do is pour a bit of bleach into a water bottle cap or anything lying around, place it next to you, and say goodbye to the blood-sucking insects. As it turns out, they're not a fan of the smell.
