6 Weird Ways Professional Cleaners Use Everyday Cleaning Products

When it comes to cleaning, there are some tips and tricks that professional cleaners just know best. While you may be able to keep your counters, oven, and more clear of grease and grime, when hiring a professional cleaning team for help with shower nooks, corners, random dust, or a full home refresh or move-out deep clean, they just do it better.

Love the feel of a newly cleaned home and wonder exactly how they do it? We reached out to professional cleaners to get their best kept secrets—the unusual ways they leverage everyday cleaning products—to make your home sparkle.

Never Underestimate Bar Keepers Friend

Stephen Sexton, owner of Austin-based cleaning company, Cleanistry, had plenty to share when it comes to unusual cleaning tips and tricks. The first? Never underestimate the power and versatility of Bar Keepers Friend.

"Bar Keepers Friend is your next best friend," Sexton says. "You can use this on most hard non-porous surfaces like stainless steel, copper, ceramic, tile, and glass. It's great for rust, mineral deposits, scale, etc. on fixtures and other deposit sites. You can use this plus a plastic bag and rubber band on shower heads and faucets. Tie the bag with Bar Keepers Friend off around the fixture, fill it up with warm water and let it sit for a bit, then scrub. It works like magic."

Tackle Furniture Stains With Dish Soap

Pet stains, food stains, and more: beware. Instead of scrubbing for hours, opting for harsh cleaning solutions, or having to throw out an item due to staining, there is an easy solution.

"Use a petroleum-based dish soap like Dawn and mix lightly with warm water in a squirt bottle," Sexton says. "This can tackle most stained fabrics, not just couches and carpets. Linen stains, clothing stains, you name it."

Grab a Toothbrush

While some may think of this tip, Sexton and his team of professional cleaners are also big fans.

"Never underestimate the power of a toothbrush to scrub grout," he says. Dirty, dingy grout is an eyesore, but it can easily be tackled with a toothbrush, baking soda, and water. You can also use a toothbrush with non-whitening toothpaste. How simple is that? Clear up unwanted stains and dirt in an afternoon with items you most likely already have around the house.

Cleaning Vinegar Goes Above-and-Beyond

Another overlooked cleaning hack? Cleaning vinegar. Wondering how to clean your floors?

"Cleaning vinegar and warm water will clean most non-porous floors better than chemicals," Sexton says. Got a dirty air fryer? You guessed it. Cleaning vinegar is the answer.

"Put a tiny bit of water in your air fryer and run it for a couple minutes before cleaning and it'll work wonders," he says. It also works wonderfully on stainless steel. And if you have pets, vinegar is your friend. "Cleaning vinegar neutralizes odors and cleans, so it's excellent and cheap for cleaning up any pet messes," Sexton says.

The Magic Eraser Is Magic

It's hard to write a cleaning how-to without a brief mention of the Magic Eraser.

"You can buy cheaper versions of the name brand at most stores," Sexton says. "Of all of its many uses, it is excellent for removing marks and stains from countertops."

Have a stained laminate countertop or a dirty sink? Erase it with ease. Goodbye to grimy surfaces once and for all.

Utilize Wood Cleaners for Stainless Steel

Another cleaning item that Sexton loves is Scotts Liquid Gold A-10 Liquid Gold Aerosol Wood Care, which can easily be purchased on Amazon. While the formula, which has been loved for years, is meant to enhance wood's color and graining, repel dust, and replenish moisture, the furniture polish is the antidote to hand prints and smudges on your stainless steel refrigerator, oven, or microwave. It also has a lovely almond smell to it. Spray onto a towel and wipe down surfaces. Not only is this an inexpensive item to keep on hand, but it prevents unwanted smudges for days after first use.