Martha Stewart Shares Her 50 Ultimate Cleaning Hacks

Contrary to popular belief, wood sprays shouldn't be used on wood furniture. They leave behind oily residues that only attract dust. Martha believes in the simple solution of a dry microfiber cloth to dust. If the mess is sticky or grimy, "submerge a microfiber cloth in a solution of warm water and mild dishwashing liquid. Wring out the cloth, then wipe down the wood." So simple, yet efficient.

Keep your linens organized. Martha suggests wrapping folded-up bedding in a matching blanket, so you can just grab a bundle when it's time to change the bed. The trick is inspired by the Japanese art of fabric wrapping, also called Furoshiki. Keep towels and these blanket-bundles in different spots.

When it comes to linen napkins, Martha recommends a careful hand wash. Soak them in a tub of hot water combined with laundry detergent and some non-chlorine bleach for a "gentle brightening." After a few minutes, drain the sink and gently squeeze out the water. Rinse by refilling the sink and squeezing until the water is clear.

Martha Stewart uses a simple trick to keep pet hair at bay: "Place an old towel or sheet wherever your pet likes to rest," she said, "and periodically shake it outside to remove most of the hair before tossing it in the washing machine." Regular grooming, vacuuming, mopping, and several lint rollers across the house help as well.

Aside from immediately wiping down any fridge spills, Martha says, "every few months, wash the interior with a solution of two tablespoons of baking soda for every quart of warm water." Have a toothbrush ready to scrub any tough messes.

For Martha, a simple feather duster won't do. Use a lambs-wool duster to attract and hold dust; a duster with an extendable handle to reach high places; electrostatic mitts and cloths to grab hold of dust up close; and last, but not least — and probably the most clever idea — use a natural bristled paintbrush to "reach into all kinds of nooks."

The struggle is real when needing to clean pillows, blankets, and the down, but if you don't have time to wash by hand, Martha says machine washing may be fine. Make sure the wash spins out as much of the water as possible. In the dryer you can, toss in dry towels to "speed the process," and maintain fluffiness by adding "tennis balls or commercial fluffing rings."

To save your fabrics from the red ring of terror, a few simple ingredients will help: Denatured alcohol, otherwise known as ethanol, is great for delicate fabrics, followed by white vinegar to remove the remaining stain. Surprising enough, tougher fabrics can be spared with the help of salt. Martha explains, "let it stand for five minutes before carefully pouring boiling water over the stain from a height of at least a foot."

Candles set a romantic mood, but even Martha says, "there's nothing charming about spilled wax." Heat tabletop wax with a hair dryer on low, and when you can remove it without any damage, scrape it off and buffer the table. If wax fell on any fabric, you can use ice or place the fabric in the freezer. An oil solvent or mineral spirit helps to remove residue, followed by isopropyl alcohol to rinse and an enzyme detergent to wash.

We thought we knew everything about dish washing, but according to Martha Stewart, there's so much more to the household chore: Anything greasy should be washed last, and for all dishes, the water temperature must be just right. Hot water will leave glass and silver "dry without spots and streaks," while cold is best for cleaning off dairy.

Mildew doesn't have to be a problem. Regular cleaning and air circulation is key, but so are a few easy-to-learn tricks. Reduce dampness in an area by keeping it dry with desiccants or by separating wet materials. Having a dehumidifier at home helps, but even an incandescent lightbulb helps to dry the air.

Marble can't sit around without proper care. To keep it clean, routinely wash with a sponge filled with "warm water and a mild, neutral detergent," Martha said. "Rinse and dry with a soft cloth." You can prevent stains by annually sealing countertops, but be careful with alcohol and fruit juices, as the acids in them are particularly damaging.

Unlike washing dishes, vacuuming is simple: Dust the area and clear your path, even of the smallest things, and know your vacuum. The secret to vacuuming every surface is knowing the different attachments. Every piece is good for something, so be sure to read through that instruction booklet to find out.

Sparkling silverware isn't just for fancy restaurants. Remove tarnish from your utensils by placing sterling or plated silver in an aluminum pan (Martha says, "it must be aluminum"). Sprinkle 1/2 to 1 cup baking soda over everything, and after pouring enough boiling water to cover the utensils, the tarnish will vanish. Buff out the silverware with a soft cotton cloth.

Here's a nontoxic way to clean the bathtub: Combine one teaspoon of liquid soap with several drops of an antibacterial essential oil —"such as tea tree, eucalyptus, rosemary, or peppermint" — to one cup of baking soda. "Add just enough water to form a paste," Martha explains, "and use it with a sponge or brush to scour bathtub surface."

Cleaning ceramic tiles is easy with the simple combination of baking soda and water. The combo creates a paste that, when scrubbed into grout, cleans without the use of harsh chemicals like bleach. After rinsing, give your tiles a good clean with a microfiber cloth that's submerged in a solution of water and mild dishwashing liquid and then wrung out.

Baking soda is a cleaning lifesaver. It comes in handy for the toughest messes, even those found in dirty pots. Free yourself from those thick, cooked on messes, by filling up your pot with "1 to 2 inches of water [adding] about 2 tablespoons of baking soda. Simmer 15 minutes, then scrape tough spots on the bottom with a wooden spoon as needed."

To avoid chemicals, use Martha's secret ingredient, which you can probably already guess is baking soda. Tackle caked-on grease with a paste of "3/4 cup baking soda and 1/4 cup warm water." You can apply the paste with a paintbrush throughout the inside of the oven, but avoid aluminum, metal, and the oven door. After letting it harden, remove with a plastic scrapper, wiping down with a damp cloth.

The kitchen debate heats up when it comes to cast iron skillets, as they have to be cleaned in a very specific way. Martha's trick is to "scrub it with coarse salt and a soft sponge." This preserves the flavors within the cast iron while being "a natural abrasive, [absorbing] oil and [lifting] away bits of food."

If there's anything Martha Stewart hates, it's harsh chemicals. Even for hard flooring, she recommends a more natural alternative: Castile soap. This soap is olive oil based and "can remove stubborn stains and, when added to warm water, serves as an especially effective cleaner for hardwood and tile floors."

When’s the last time you cleaned your hairbrush? Yeah, it’s not exactly a must-do task. But – without wanting to be gross – think of all the grease and dirt that accumulates on your head. That’s being transferred onto your brushes. Eww! Luckily, there’s a super-quick way to sanitize your hair tools. Just pop them into the dishwasher. That way, they’ll come out fresh and looking almost as good as new.

You know you need to clean up spills and splatters from your stovetop, but have you ever looked up at your cleaning vent? That can get pretty dirty, too. And if your vent seems a little on the grubby side, then listen up: a quick dip into a bowl of hot water and baking soda should remove any caked-on grease.

Pretty much no other piece of furniture gets more use than your bed. We do spend a third of our lives sleeping, after all! And even when there are sheets over your mattress, it needs to be cleaned every so often to keep it fresh. All you have to do is sprinkle some baking soda and essential oil onto the surface of the mattress before sucking the odor-neutralizing mix up with a vacuum. Simple!

Be honest: how often do you eat over your keyboard? That’s okay, we won’t tell... The crumbs between the keys kinda give the game away, though, and they look pretty nasty to boot. But, yet again, there’s a simple solution – and it may even be within arm’s reach! Thanks to their sticky strips, Post-it notes are able to pick up any unwanted dirt, fluff and, yes, crumbs from the cracks.

If there’s anything we’ve learned in life, it’s this: dust is everywhere. And, yes, that includes on ceiling fans. But if you’ve ever found yourself teetering on a ladder with a cloth that seems to disperse the dirt rather than pick it up, turn to a trusty pillowcase instead. You heard us! Simply drape the cover over the blades and wipe them that way.

While bread balls can soak up spills, vodka could be the perfect tonic for removing carpet stains. To explain more, Dallas Maids chief Greg Shepard spoke with NBC News. He said, “First blot the stain. Second, pour any type of clear alcohol (rubbing alcohol, vodka, white wine) onto the stain. This is better than any over the counter product.”

If you love your hot beverages, there’s a good chance that a coffee grinder is nestled somewhere in your kitchen. These utensils, though, are incredibly hard to clean with normal equipment. But there is another way to get the job done. By grinding a piece of stale bread, you can clear any residual dirt from the tool.

It could be argued that cleaning out the gutters is one of the toughest jobs you’ll face when maintaining your home. Incredibly, though, the task is made much simpler when the winter months roll around. That’s because all of the muck that’s been accumulating in your gutter will harden. And, at that point, it can be removed far more easily.

When it comes to cleaning bathtubs, Jenice Findley of Fins Property Maintenance shared an idea with NBC News. She explained, “[Mix] one cup vinegar [and] half a cup of baking soda with hot water, pour into the tub and allow to sit for five minutes. Start filling the tub with hot water until it’s approximately a quarter full, and let it sit for an additional five minutes. Then release the drain and rinse thoroughly.”

Unsurprisingly, cutting boards face a lot of wear and tear in the kitchen when preparing food. You can, however, spruce up those wooden slabs with a simple activity at home. By sprinkling some salt on the surface and rubbing it in using half a lemon, the utensil will appear brand new.

Over time, the drains in your house will become clogged with gunk and grime. If you want to clear it all out, call upon baking soda and vinegar once more. For this particular task, you need to send some hot water into the drain, before adding half a cup of the former. Then, dump a cup of the latter down there, too, to help eliminate the muck.

From the stove to the oven itself, that area of the kitchen can become dirty very quickly. If you’re struggling to maintain it, Mr. Appliance’s Doug Rogers has a tip. “Spray a mixture of one cup water, one cup vinegar and lemon essential oil onto your stovetop and simply wipe clean,” he told NBC News. “You can use the same technique to clean your oven, which will help prevent kitchen fires.”

While grilled food can be delicious, the utensil itself gets pretty messy while in use. And that can mean cleaning it is often daunting, but there may be a way to make the task easier. After using the tool, place two wet paper towels on its iron, which will essentially steam clean it.

As we learned earlier, alcohol can be very useful in cleaning up carpet stains. That also extends to unwanted marks on microfiber couches which seem impossible to remove. To fix up a dirty sofa, all you need to do is apply some rubbing alcohol to the cushions and massage it in with a bristle brush.

Unsurprisingly, the garbage disposal can become pretty filthy through constant use. The rubber flaps are particularly vulnerable in that regard, with bits of trash often sticking to them. A trusty toothbrush is a perfect tool to clean that area up, as the sturdy bristles can scrub the waste away.

Air vents are arguably some of the most annoying things to clean for a very simple reason. The narrow slats accumulate lots of dust, and it’s almost impossible to clear with a lone cloth. However, if you bring a butter knife into the mix, you can wrap a duster around it before pushing it into the vent.

Whether it’s your television or laptop, electronic devices aren’t immune to dust, so Stapf put forward an interesting idea. She said, “Coffee filters are useful items to keep around your living room and office. They are perfect for clearing dust from TV screens, computer monitors and any other screens around the home, without leaving behind any fibers like towels do.”

A vacuum cleaner is a valuable tool for any homeowner, as it clears the dirt from floors and carpets. Due to that, though, the head can become clogged up with debris, including tangled hair. Should you find yourself in that position, a seam ripper could solve the problem and tear away the collected garbage.

In most cases, shoe polish will help spruce up your footwear ahead of a night out on the town. Yet for trainers, you may need to call upon an entirely different product to get rid of any unwanted marks. As it turns out, nail polish remover will do just that, making stains disappear.

When you put clothes in the dryer, a lot of lint gets left behind. Normally, this fluff makes its way down to the machine’s filter, which also needs to be cleared out regularly. But after removing the trap, you can also get rid of any remaining lint with an old T-shirt, pushing it into the narrow gap.

It can be tricky to maintain the cleanliness of a screen door, as the mesh is often bombarded by outside elements. But if you own a lint roller, that job becomes much easier. Whether it’s spider webs or debris generated by plants and trees, the aforementioned object will clear the screen thanks to its sticky surface.

Upholstery gives all of our furniture a unique look, yet it isn’t immune to picking up unwanted smells after a while. So to freshen things up, call on vinegar once again, alongside essential oils and water. When those three liquids are brought together, troublesome scents are quickly eliminated from chairs and couches.

Now for something a little more unorthodox. If you’re a parent, your house will no doubt be filled with all manner of different toys. After a time, those playthings will eventually become dirty, but you can still clean them. In fact, you should be able to stick them in the washing machine, providing you have a laundry bag handy.

During a spring clean, crevices can be very tricky to access, even with the aid of a vacuum cleaner. With that in mind, discarded toilet paper rolls could make things a lot easier. All you need to do is stick the cardboard tube on the end of your vacuum, and then position it into the gap.

Just as you would with normal bed linen, pillows should be washed after a period of time. However, once you’ve taken them out of the machine, there’s something else you can do to freshen them up. Believe it or not, if you want your pillows really fluffy, add some tennis balls to the dryer.

Alongside cleaning your teeth, toothbrushes can also be used for some other intriguing tasks. As we highlighted earlier, you could spruce up part of your garbage disposal with one. But away from the sink, these handy little bristled tools can aid you in clearing out your toaster as well, specifically the metal wiring.

While we now know what to do with the toilet brush, what about the toilet itself? On that front, Doyle James of Mr. Rooter Plumbing shared a tip. He told NBC News, “Mix one cup of baking soda with 15 drops of tea tree essential oil, and 15 drops of lemon or orange essential oil. Let the mixture sit in the bowl for 30 minutes and scrub with a bowl brush before flushing.”

Dishwashers are very helpful tools to have in the kitchen, as they make washing up a lot easier. Unsurprisingly, though, the interior still needs to be cleaned every now and again. To get the best results, put a jug of vinegar in there prior to a wash. You then need to dust the bottom with baking soda and run the appliance a second time.

Much like the oven and stove, microwaves can also get really grubby after cooking. If yours is looking a little worse for wear, there is something you can do about it. Fill a glass container with a little bit of vinegar and some lemons, and put it in the microwave. Once it’s finished, don’t open the door right away. Leave it for a few minutes and you’ll notice that any baked-in splatters have been softened by the vapor, ready to be wiped away.

On clear surfaces, water stains are highly noticeable. From mirrors to shower doors, the marks can appear anywhere near a water source. Surprisingly, though, you may already have the perfect tool to tackle these stains in your bathroom. Shepard explained, “Apply shaving cream [to the area] and let it sit for 15 minutes, then wipe it off.”