The most popular cleaning tricks from Instagram, TikTok and Co | Life & Knowledge

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Forget mild soaps and scrub milk. With these cleaning hacks, your home will shine like never before.

Many people saw Cleaning as a necessary evil. But did you know that there are also people who like cleaning their four walls? Who scrubs, wipes, and vacuums everything they can get their hands on several times a week?

Hashtags like #cleaninghack and #cleantok have been viewed BILLIONS of times on social media. Users share their tips for fighting pollution.

► How useful are these cleaning tips? Cleaning expert Roxanna Pelka explains which popular tips are actually worth doing.

The best tricks for cleaning windows

Newsprint for streak-free viewing

Just clean the window with clean water and then rub it with newspaper. Important: Don’t use magazines, but newspapers!

► “Newspaper shows its strength especially when drying windows, as its high absorbency allows it to optimally absorb moisture and cleaning agent residues,” says Pelka.

Clear vision with black tea

Prepare a large pan and let it cool before starting to work on the windows and mirrors. Use a soft cloth to prevent scratches.

► “Black tea contains natural tannins, which give the drink its dark color after infusion. “They are known to remove oil, grease and nicotine stains and form a protective shield against new dirt,” he says Help-Expert.

Scratches and streaks after cleaning windows? Newsprint can help

Photo: Getty Images/Westend61

Oil-free pots and pans

All-round talent washing soda

Roxanna Palka: “Simply mix washing soda with a little water, apply to the affected area and leave for about an hour. After that, the remaining burn can be easily removed by hand.”

Baking powder as a grease cleaner

Heat some water over low to medium heat for five minutes then add a little baking soda. If the pan is very dirty, add two more teaspoons orange juice added to loosen dirt better.

Descale your shower head

Cola erodes everything

Remove your shower head, place it in a freezer bag, and fill the bag with a carbonated drink. Close the bag tightly and let the shower soak for an hour. Next, clean your head with an old toothbrush.

Vinegar, the famous miracle cure

Vinegar is acidic and soluble Lime scale deposits on. With this trick, you simply put the shower head in a plastic bag. Fill with a mixture of vinegar and water and leave for an hour.

► Expert tip: “If there is a lot of limescale deposits, it may help to soak the shower head overnight. Vinegar will naturally dissolve limescale and minerals.”

Clean houseplants effectively

Mayonnaise for shine shine?

On Tiktok you often find tips for cleaning plants with mayonnaise. But hygiene expert Roxanna Pelka advises against this: “It can clog pores. Mayonnaise can also go rancid and spread an unpleasant odor into the room air. There is also a risk that the mayo will become moldy, and this mold can spread to plants.”

Dust-killing dishwashing liquid – better not!

Dishwasher detergent is also proven to be good online Ornamental plant care praised. Not a good idea for Pelka either: “It’s better to use a mild soap. It serves as a natural way to get rid of aphids, spider mites and other pests.”

To ensure plants can absorb enough oxygen and water, they should be cleaned regularly

To ensure plants can absorb enough oxygen and water, they should be cleaned regularly

Photo: image alliance / Westend61

Your stove will shine like never before

Your stove will shine with baby oil

Apply a little baby oil to a cloth and rub the surface of the stove until clean. Oil ensures a shining shine, especially on stainless steel. But be careful: baby oil contains paraffin so it is flammable! So please polish it well after use.

Be careful with WD-40!

► Users recommend using WD-40 (penetrating oil) if you want the stove to shine. Pelka warns: “WD-40 is highly flammable, so I definitely wouldn’t use it in the kitchen!”