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Home is where your heart is, so you’d better make sure to keep the place tidy, clean, and cozy. Most of us have been doing chores for years and years now, so we’ve all picked up some neat household tips and tricks. And I think that we wouldn’t be ashamed of sharing these with our family and friends. However, learning is a lifelong journey, whether we’re talking about philosophy, science, or housework!

Luckily for us, the internet is here to save the day once again. TikTok user Chantel Mila, aka Mama_mila, has an awesome video series about simple home hacks that you can easily try out for yourself. They’ll help you keep your home cleaner and fresher while keeping you happier.

We’re featuring some of Australian mom Chantel’s best home hacks and secrets that might just come in handy as we’re rushing towards the holiday season with lots of guests to impress. Scroll down and remember to upvote your fave tips and tricks, Pandas!

Bored Panda reached out to parenting blogger Samantha Scroggin, the founder of Walking Outside in Slippers, for her advice on keeping the house clean and staying on top of chores when raising kids. "Keeping the house clean is a moving target in my experience. But for me personally, an at least somewhat clean house is tremendously important to my mental health," she said about the importance of keeping things neat. "A tidy house helps me feel more in control of my life, and able to handle the curveballs that often come our way as busy parents."

More info: TikTok | Instagram | YouTube

Image credits: mama_mila_

Samantha, who runs the Walking Outside in Slippers blog, told Bored Panda that she makes small mental task lists every day and tries to complete those housekeeping items each and every day. "The tasks could be as simple as emptying the dishwasher or putting away a load of laundry. Maybe most importantly, I invest in a professional housekeeping service once a month," she told Bored Panda. "That helps keep the house in a manageable state to the point that I can keep the house from getting totally out of control in-between visits. That said, I think parenting comes with a certain degree of clutter to be expected."

I was curious to find out what Samantha's philosophy for a happy and warm home was. She revealed to Bored Panda that kindness lies at the core of her family values. "My house is always a little bit chaotic because we all have big personalities and are a loud and busy bunch. But I stress to my kids the importance of us being kind to one another. Kindness and love are at the root of a happy home for me, even when things get crazy and we slip up and say things we don't mean."

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Brendan Roberts
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's a good tip. I'm an adult, and I still don't know how to sew a button back on.

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Jo Choto
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You shouldn't ever store glass on its rims. Makes them much more likely to break.

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Samantha also gave some tips on how to settle any arguments that family members might get into over chores. We've all been there, I think! Samantha said that there is no simple answer to this and that she herself struggles to get her kids involved in household tasks at the moment. "I have a terrible time getting my kids to do chores, so I don't have much advice in this department. Sometimes, with lots of praise and often with a small monetary payment, I can get my kids to help with chores they don't mind. I do insist my kids clear their plates after every meal, and clean their rooms," she added.

Chantel from Melbourne is a mom of two who has created a huge following for herself with her insightful and easy-to-follow videos on TikTok. She has over half a million followers on TikTok, as well as 263k fans on Instagram. And it doesn’t look like her popularity is bound to stop any time soon. For Chantel, her family and her home are the two most important things.

“I’m a busy mum of two beautiful and crazy kids. I’m the kind of person who loves lists and gets excited by organizing, cleaning, and making a home beautiful,” she shares on her YouTube channel. She shares a bit of everything, from tips and tricks about styling and organizing your home to cleaning hacks that will save you a lot of time (and will probably help impress even your mother-in-law, too).

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Brendan Roberts
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It just so happens that my dishwasher needs topping up with rinse aid, and I've run out. Furthermore, I have used lemons in the fridge. I read this on the right day 🙂

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Very recently, I had an in-depth talk about homes and cleanliness with relationship and dating expert Dan Bacon, the founder of The Modern Man project. He told Bored Panda that we should focus on making ourselves happy instead of trying to impress everyone with our homes. It’s impossible to make everyone happy with our home, so we should focus first and foremost on what brings a smile to our faces.

“A man’s home is part of what people initially use to judge his social status and character. However, how he behaves and acts with the people who come over to his place says so much more about him," Dan said that how our homes look forms the first impression, but our character, behavior, words, and actions are more important.

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"A man might have a perfectly tidy, well-designed, and stylish home, but be very nervous and try too hard to impress people who come over. So, rather than seeing him as a cool, confident, successful man they can admire and look up to, most people just perceive him as a nervous, insecure guy with a nice place. Alternatively, they may see him as a guy who tries hard to please others with material things because he's insecure about himself and doesn't feel good enough in their eyes,” relationship expert Dan told Bored Panda.

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Grady'sRaider
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Microwave at my new job was gross. Poured a bit of water on the glass turntable. 30 sec on high. Wiped out the steamy wet interior gunge with paper towel.

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Sheila Stamey
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't mind if essential oils are used for essential oil things, like good smells!

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When having guests over, it’s best to avoid talking about yourself too much. The less ego-centric you are, the more the people who come over to your place can speak about what’s important to them. "Remember that most people care more about themselves than other people. So, allow people to talk about themselves, rather than always trying to be the center of attention," Dan pointed out.

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troufaki13
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did that to the lock I use at the gym! I can't always remember which locker I used so this helped me a lot!

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ZAPanda
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

or vinegar, which is less of a waste of delicious lemons.

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Al Christensen
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Was this BP article sponsored by the Lemon Growers' Association?

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Whatshername
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or use vinegar for all your descaling jobs. Vinegar+water in kettle, boil, rinse. Drench a cloth in vinegar, wrap around shower head/faucet etc for an hour, rinse.

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Robert T
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Filter the water first before you boil it. It will taste better and it won't fur up your kettle. Plus you'll save a fortune on lemons.

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Chich
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Vinegar. Our kettle had pretty severe staining. I wasn't expecting much but poured vinegar in it and let it boil. Looked new.

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Candy Rude
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A kettle? Like a tea kettle? Sorry I was trying to figure out what this was by looking at the picture but I still don't...

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Camilla Koutsos
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I use white vinegar. I keep the vinegar in a flagon under my sink. I use it monthly for six months, then use it as a bathroom cleaner.

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Mandy Delaforce (PC Girl)
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A cap full of vinegar instead is easier and doesn't leave behind sugary juice.

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MT
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Citric acid works best, in kettles, dishwashers and washing machines.

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"Also remember to not try to oversell yourself or your place, to hopefully gain people’s approval. Be confident and secure in who you are as a person and let your surroundings provide additional clues about who you are and how you approach life."

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ZAPanda
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A better solution. What I do is rinse every container or packaging thing before I throw it away, e.g. takeout containers, microwaveable meal containers, etc., so they do not stink. Organic waste, like fruit peels etc., I keep in a dedicated bowl (like a large fruit bowl), and once it fills, I take it outside for composting. If you live in a flat and can't compost, you can still keep the organics separate like that. Obviously, if you don't eat lots of meat then this is less horrible.

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Robert Martens
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

As with every other post in this thread, pour half a cup of vinegar in a sandwich bag, and add a sliced lemon. Place the mattress in the sandwich bag and let soak overnight. Let air dry the next morning and your mattress will be like new !

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The expert noted that different people thrive in different environments. While some feel confident only if everything is in order and perfectly clean, others can feel right at home living in a messy house. In Dan’s view, it’s best to “always do whatever we want” when it comes to the cleanliness, furnishing, and decorating of our homes. The number one lesson is to stop trying to impress others just for the sake of reputation. Our own happiness should be paramount.

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Caro Caro
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You can do this for your washing machine too. Just run it on a short and hot program with 2 cups of vinegar.

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"If you enjoy placing a lot of importance on your home because it means a lot to you, then do that. If you only see it as a place to live and want to focus your attention on other things, you should do that. You can never impress or please everyone, no matter what you do. Just look at celebrities as an example. They have millions of people who love them and millions who hate them,” the expert said.

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Alex Bailey
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For the inside it helps if you regularly wipe the glass with kitchen towel while you're cooking (not baking - something that can stand the door open for a minute) and anything on it should come off fairly easily. Just mind your paws on that hot glass!

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"The same applies to your home. You will never make it, furnish it or arrange it in a way where everyone loves you for it and wishes they had it. Some people will love it, others will like it and some will hate it. So, just enjoy doing what you want to do. That’s the only way you’ll truly be happy."

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Gandalf the Pink
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2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Once again, the baking soda will absorb the oil and leave it useless. The oil will just be washed away instantly because of the chemical interaction with the soda. There is no function for fancy expensive oils in this trick. You'll just waste money.

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Stimpy
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2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you use essential oils, you are not DEodorizing, you are ODORIZING

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