10 Cleaning Secrets You Learned From Mamá

Whether it came from your abuela, mamá or your mother-in-law, there's likely a great cleaning tip that's been passed on to you by a mami who came before you. Here are 10 tips shared from real Latina moms around the country.

Adding a pinch of salt to your laundry to prevent color bleeding or fading!

—Xenia from Raised by Culture, California

My grandma taught me to puree one cup of water with half a lime to remove the strong scent of chilies and garlic in the blender.

-Leslie from La Cocina de Leslie, Mexico

We always had carpeting all over our apartments, and with three kids, my mom had her work cut out for her. She would always, right before she vacuumed, sprinkle a little baking soda to help absorb odors. Our home always smelled fabulous!

—Veronica, Pennsylvania

Used dryer sheets are great for wiping dust off furniture and wood shutters.

—Jeannette Kaplun from Hispana Global, Florida

How to catch gnats: Poke small holes on a jar lid and fill it with vinegar. Really does the trick!

—Nicole from Presley’s Pantry, California

My mom always told me to pour baking soda into our ceramic sink to clean stains and naturally disinfect.

—Vanessa from De Su Mama, Nevada

My mother-in-law bought us this gorgeous stainless steel cookware set that I was afraid to use because I had no idea how to clean it! She came over one day and told me the secret is a gentle wash with soap and hot water, and when dry, use some olive oil on a cloth and wipe. My cookware still looks amazing!

—Cecilia, California

Every weekend I would wake up to the pine-scented smell of my mom cleaning. It was her answer for all our floors. I still remember that smell!

—Caryn from Rockin Mama, California

Sprinkle some salt over a fabric with grease stain, let it rest for about 15 minutes, and rub it with a clean fabric soaked in mineral water until the grease comes out.

—Paty from Guapología, California

My mami’s advice was simple: ¡Agua, cloro y limón!

—Eva from TechFoodLife, California