7 Cleaning Secrets My Mom Passed Down to Me

Using up an entire roll of paper towels to clean isn't easy on your wallet . . . or the environment. My mother's hack? Repurposing old clothing and towels as rags. When my dad's white undershirts started to pill, and the seams of our bath towels unraveled, she cut them into squares, using the different fabrics for specific tasks: towels for mopping floors, cotton tees for wiping down mirrors. And unlike paper towels, the rags don't leave those stubborn specks of fibers behind. I store my basket with rags under the kitchen sink and quickly tackle any messes made after cooking. When I'm done, I simply toss them in the washing machine with any dirty laundry.