From Grime to Shine: Natural Hacks for Tackling Your Most Hated Household Chores
Why We All Hate Certain Chores
I’m not proud to admit it, but I’ve pretended not to notice a dirty oven for weeks. I’ve closed the bathroom door on a suspicious pong and muttered, “Not today.” And the area behind my toilet? Let’s just say it hasn’t seen a cloth since the last full moon.
We all have those chores we can’t stand. You know the ones. They lurk in the back of your mind and pop up just when you’re trying to relax. One look at the greasy oven door or the dust bunnies camping out behind the loo, and your soul gently sighs.
Some people are born with the ‘I love cleaning’ gene. Not me. But I’ve learned something over the years: cleaning doesn’t have to involve harsh smells, industrial gloves, or silent weeping. You can actually tackle these jobs with homemade, natural solutions—and with a bit of cleverness, even turn them into something almost satisfying.
Almost.
So, here’s my full line-up of the most hated household chores, and how to beat them with simple, natural tricks. No nonsense. No bleach. Just weirdly effective solutions you can make with stuff lying around in your kitchen.
The Dirty Truth — Chores We’d Rather Avoid
1. Oven Cleaning: The Greasy Nightmare
The oven is a traitor. It starts off so innocent, helping you bake banana bread and roast dinners. But before long, it’s a fiery pit of crusty cheese and blackened goo. And don’t even think about the grill tray. That’s where dreams go to die.
Chemical oven sprays are terrifying. One whiff and your eyes water like you’ve chopped fifty onions. So I stopped using them.
Instead, I make a thick paste with baking soda, a bit of salt, and just enough water to hold it together. Smear it over the greasy bits, leave it overnight, then spray it with white vinegar in the morning. It’ll fizz like mad, but the gunk loosens up beautifully. Scrub with an old cloth, and boom—suddenly you’ve got something that looks like an oven again.
2. Cleaning the Loo: The Unspeakable Zone
Cleaning the loo is bad enough. But the bit around it? That’s where the real horror lives. Stray hairs, mysterious stains, dribbles that somehow missed the bowl completely—it’s like the Bermuda Triangle of grime.
To sort this naturally, I make loo bombs. All you need is bicarb, citric acid, a bit of water, and a few drops of essential oil. Mix it into a damp, crumbly dough, press it into silicone moulds (ice cube trays work), and let them dry overnight.
Pop one in the bowl whenever things start getting pongy, or before guests come over. The fizz scrubs everything while making you look like you’ve got your life together.
3. Behind the Toilet: The Forgotten Filth Trap
This one makes my back ache just thinking about it. The space behind the loo is always dusty, always awkward, and always hiding something you don’t want to find.
Here’s my trick: get yourself a cheap spray bottle, mix white vinegar, water, and a few drops of tea tree oil. Tea tree is antibacterial and makes things smell less like public loos. Spray it generously behind the loo, leave it for ten minutes, then go in with a bendy brush or old toothbrush.
You’ll need to crouch, stretch, and mutter a few curses, but the vinegar lifts grime like magic. You might even feel proud when it’s done.
Nature to the Rescue — DIY Hacks That Actually Work
Homemade Enzyme Cleaner for Ovens
If the baking soda trick doesn’t cut it, I’ve got a backup. It’s not instant, but it’s strong and smells brilliant. It’s a DIY enzyme cleaner, made from citrus peels, sugar, and water. Sounds weird? It is. But it works.
Chuck your lemon, orange or grapefruit peels into a jar, add a couple of tablespoons of sugar and enough water to cover it all. Leave the lid slightly loose, and wait three weeks. That’s it.
After it’s fermented, strain it and pour it into a spray bottle. This stuff cuts through grease and smells like a summer cocktail. Spray it on oven walls, extractor fans, greasy hob surfaces—whatever’s feeling foul. Leave it for ten minutes, wipe off, and do a little victory dance.
Fizzy Toilet Bombs You Can Make in Minutes
I mentioned these earlier, but they deserve their own little spotlight. Here’s the basic recipe:
- 1 cup bicarbonate of soda
- ½ cup citric acid
- A few drops of your favourite essential oil
- A tiny bit of water (use a spray bottle)
Mix the dry stuff in a bowl, then mist it with water until it holds together when squeezed. Press it into moulds and let them dry out. Done.
Drop one into the loo once a week—or more if your house is “well-used”—and let it fizz away. It cleans, freshens, and gives the illusion that you are a domestic wizard.
Vinegar Spray for the Back of the Loo
This one’s not glamorous, but it’s gold. Fill a spray bottle with:
- 1 part white vinegar
- 1 part water
- 5–10 drops of tea tree or eucalyptus oil
Spray generously around the back of the loo, let it sit, then scrub with a brush or sponge. Use an old sock over your hand for the really hard-to-reach bits. You’ll be amazed at the difference.
Surprising Tools That Make a Big Difference
Use a Steamer on More Than Clothes
Turns out, my little clothes steamer is good for more than just straightening shirts. It’s brilliant for loosening gunk in tricky places. Try using it on tiled walls, oven doors, or even bathroom taps covered in limescale.
The steam blasts the dirt without needing chemicals. You just wipe after. No elbow grease required.
Repurpose Old Socks and Toothbrushes
Old socks make great dusting mitts. Slip one on your hand, dampen it slightly, and run it over blinds, baseboards, or any awkward surface.
Toothbrushes are my go-to for grout, tap bases, and behind the loo seat hinges. Give them a new life before you chuck them out. They’re the perfect size for all the little jobs you hate.
Smarter, Not Harder — Trick Your Brain Into Cleaning
Clean in 10-Minute Bursts
I swear by this. Set a timer, pick one annoying job, and just do it for ten minutes. You’ll be surprised how much you can blitz through when you know there’s an end in sight.
Even if you don’t finish, you’ll have made a dent—and sometimes that’s all you need to get going again tomorrow.
Gamify the Gross Stuff
Make it stupid. Make it fun. Time yourself and try to beat your best. Pretend you’re on a game show. Invent points. Reward yourself with a biscuit after each chore. Cleaning is less soul-destroying when it feels like a game you can win.
I once made up a song while cleaning behind the toilet. It was deeply tragic, but it got me through it.
When to Call in Reinforcements
Some dirt just doesn’t want to go. If your oven smokes every time you use it, or if the loo smells like a festival site no matter what you do, it might be time to bring in a pro.
You can book someone just for the worst bits. They’ll have the proper gear and be in and out before you know it. You won’t need to explain the horror behind the toilet—they’ve seen it all before.
Final Thoughts: Cleaning Doesn’t Have to Be a Punishment
We all have that one chore that makes us consider faking an injury. But with a few clever tricks and a bit of natural know-how, you can face even the filthiest jobs without losing your will to live.
The best part? You’re not filling your house with stinky chemicals or choking on bleach fumes. You’re scrubbing with things your nan probably used—and they still work today.
So next time you’re glaring at the loo brush or side-eyeing the oven door, try one of these hacks. You might even feel a little smug when it’s done.
Just don’t tell anyone you enjoyed it.