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You’d think this supposedly essential piece of cookware was a Fabergé egg from the way some of its proponents talk about it, but it’s actually quite hardy — as long as you know what to do with it. The secret, as with many of the dishes you’ll be cooking with your cast-iron skillet, is salt.

That might sound counterintuitive, as salt is hard and coarse, but because it’s softer than your pan, there’s no risk of scratching the cookware. The process is simple and requires 2 to 3 tablespoons of kosher salt. It needs to be coarse; otherwise, there won’t be enough abrasion to effectively clean the pan.

Cleaning Cast Iron With Salt

After cooking, and while the skillet is still warm, use a damp, nonscratch scrub pad or a scrub brush with stiff bristles to gently scour it, rinsing away any loose food particles with a bit of warm water.

Dry your skillet, then pour 2 to 3 tablespoons of kosher salt onto the cooking surface. Using a folded-up paper towel or a dry kitchen towel, rub the salt into the pan, targeting any stubborn spots. When the skillet is sufficiently clean, toss the salt in the trash.

Rinse the skillet again with warm water and dry it thoroughly. Place it on the stovetop, and heat it on medium-low for about five minutes — until you see a bit of smoke rising from it. This will get rid of any remaining moisture, keeping your skillet rust-free.

Turn off the burner and allow the pan to cool. When it’s safe to handle, pour ¼ teaspoon of cast-iron seasoning oil — or another cooking oil with a high smoke point such as vegetable or canola oil — onto the cooking surface. Take a paper towel or a clean kitchen towel and rub the oil all over the skillet to coat it without leaving behind any excess. After that, store it in your preferred spot and look forward to your next meal with less cooked-on residue.

We all know that a clean space is the key to a happy home, and we’re no strangers to hacks that make getting there a little easier. But if there’s one cleaning tip that you absolutely need to bookmark, this is it.

Dust can build up seemingly overnight, giving untouched surfaces an unsightly layer that’s not just gross but harmful to your health.

An accumulation of dust can degrade your air quality, potentially triggering respiratory issues, allergic reactions, asthma, and more. Regular dusting helps keep those pesky little particles at bay, but it’s not always enough. If you feel like you’re constantly reaching for the duster, there’s a DIY solution that can help you go longer in between cleanings.

How To Make DIY Dust-Repellent Spray

Believe it or not, there’s a cleaning spray that can keep surfaces dust-free for longer, and you can easily make it at home. Here’s how:

First, collect all of the supplies listed above. In a clean, empty spray bottle, combine 2 cups of water, 1 cup of distilled white vinegar, 2 tablespoons of olive oil, and 1 to 2 drops of liquid dish soap, and give it a good shake. Then, lightly spray the solution onto a nonabsorbent surface and wipe it down with a microfiber cloth to create a dust-repelling barrier.

The Magic Behind the Spray

These household ingredients might seem ordinary, but they pack a powerful cleaning punch when combined. Vinegar, a trusty DIY cleaning ingredient, disinfects surfaces and tackles tough grime. Olive oil, another versatile ingredient, polishes surfaces and adds a protective barrier that inhibits dust buildup. Lastly, dish soap acts as an emulsifier, helping the other ingredients mix and spread evenly across surfaces. 

While this DIY spray doesn’t completely get rid of dust, it does give you some breathing room in between cleanings. And who wouldn’t want that?

Like moths to a flame, debris always finds its way into window screens. Whether coated in dust, pollen, dirt, or airborne pollutants, filthy screens can tarnish an otherwise beautiful view, leaving you no choice but to remove, clean, and replace them. But if you don’t want to deal with the hassle of removal, you can clean window screens right where they are, making the process less of a headache.

Say Goodbye to Dust

The style of your window will determine how much of the screen you’re able to access for cleaning. If you have a double-hung window, for example, you may need to open the bottom sash first, then lower the top sash.

Another option is to head outside and clean the window screen from the exterior without any obstructions. Of course, this isn’t always possible, especially for those who live in multistory buildings. Thankfully, cleaning from the inside is just as effective, so long as you can reach the screen.

Take the soft-bristle brush or a vacuum cleaner with a dust brush attachment and gently run it along the screen to remove loose debris. Next, spray the screen with your homemade cleaning solution and wipe it down with a clean, lint-free microfiber cloth — this will help dislodge stubborn dust and dirt. Finally, spray the screen with clean water to wash away any soapy residue, and then use another clean microfiber cloth to dab the screen dry. Give the windowsill an additional pass to catch drips or fallen debris.

Tip for Higher Windows

If you’re standing outside and can’t reach the second-floor window, here’s a handy tip: Take an extendable paint roller, and replace the roller head with a refillable lint roller. It should slide right on, making those hard-to-reach window screens much easier to clean.

Additional Benefits

In addition to maintaining a better view, there are various health and financial benefits to keeping window screens clean. Open windows allow dust and allergens to enter your home, but clean screens are better at trapping these particles before they meet your nostrils. If window screens are loaded with debris, they can easily be disturbed and release contaminants into the air.

Furthermore, acidic particles such as salt and pollen may get lodged in the screen, which can erode the material over time. This may shorten the screen’s lifespan and necessitate a costly replacement.

All of these issues can be avoided as long as you clean your window screens twice a year. We recommend cleaning once before spring to remove the salt and grime that accumulates during winter, and again before fall to clear away springtime dust and pollen.