Quick & Easy Tidy Home Hacks

• Company coming in just a few minutes? Short notice? Kitchen upside down? Place all dirty dishes in the sink & cover with a large cutting board--voila! Dirty dishes are out of sight.
• Take 15 minute "de-clutter" breaks throughout the day...once in the morning, once in the afternoon and right before bedtime. Everything is put back in its place, a load of laundry started, tables wiped down, towels straightened, coffee cups go in the dishwasher, etc. It's amazing the difference this makes!
• Dust accumulating in tight crevices & corners? Figurines & collectibles? Intricate woodwork? Here's a clever hack to get at it: canned air! Give a quick, short blast and blow the dust out of the tiny creases...now it's wiped away easily.
• Does a pile of shoes heaped at the door drive anyone else nuts? Here's a nifty way to camouflage the clutter: Have a basket at the door for everyone to toss their shoes in.
• Floor vent trick: Tea towel on its last legs? Fold it over then sew into approximately 1" to 2" strips (about 1/2" between each channel). Cut them between each 1/2" gap to separate and voila! Slip a putty knife or a paint stick or a butter knife into one strip at the open end (the other is still closed on the fold), hold onto the fabric/blade edge & then dip into soapy warm water (if necessary), squeeze out excess water then drag blade up & down between each slat to remove the crud. Yields a batch of strips, can be laundered and reused.
• Are the drapes not able to be laundered? Toss them in the dryer, cool setting (or air) along with a damp towel. Freshens up the drapery fabric while the towel grabs hold of the fuzzies/dust/pet hair bits.
• Microfiber cloths are popular for more reason than one, they're long lasting & wash up nicely yes, but they really shine when polishing because they are lint free & leave no fibers behind. This makes them ideal for dusting and working with mirror/glass surfaces.
• Tough grease splats on the kitchen backsplash (tile)? You might not notice until the light hits them "just right". Here's how to get rid of that spotty mess: Take a damp sponge, sprinkle baking soda across the top then gently scrub the backsplash in a circular motion. Wipe well (clear water) so no "cloudy" bicarb residue is left behind.
• Save those used dryer sheets! They're ideal for wiping down baseboards/wood trim.