Cleaning your home is an essential step if you plan to sell your home in Beaufort County. The cleaner you get your home, the faster it will sell. Since most of us have been home more, there's probably even more dirt and grime to clean now. Stained porcelain, carpets, and stinky appliances all hurt your home's market value in the end. Even if you don't plan to sell your home, it's still important to keep things clean to keep your family healthier.

When it comes to cleaning your home, the trick is to keep things simple. Here are a few house cleaning tricks that don't require a special trip to the store. You no doubt already have these items ready.

Kitty Litter for Oil Spills

Here's an old trick to soak up oil in the garage. Any kitty litter will do, so you can get the cheap stuff for this task.

Pour a thick layer on the stain, then walk on it to crush it into the oil. Let it sit for 30 minutes, and then sweep it up. Now your garage floor will be ready to show potential buyers.

Nail Polish to Stop Rust Rings

Shaving cream cans and other metal items can leave ugly rust rings on your porcelain sink. You can prevent this from happening by painting the bottoms with clear nail polish. Now when you put down the can, there's a layer of protection between it and the surface.

Vinegar for Hard Water Spots

Hard water spots are the bane of bathroom cleaning. White vinegar to the rescue! Douse a rag, then wipe the stains away. If the stains persist, let the rag sit directly on them for several minutes, then buff the area with a clean, dry towel.

Alcohol to Remove Nail Polish from Carpet

Spilling nail polish on the carpet has sent many a homeowner into a panic. Some rubbing alcohol and a microfiber cloth will do the trick.

Rubber Gloves for Pet Hair

If you're tired of finding pet hair on carpet and upholstery, here's a fast, green fix. Run a rubber glove over the material. The glove creates static, so the hair clings, instantly transferring from the fibers to the latex. Wash off the glove, and use again it every time things get hairy.

Toothpaste to Fill Small Holes in Walls

Need a super quick way to repair small holes (less than 1/4 inch) in the wall? Fill them with toothpaste. Smooth it on with a putty knife (a wooden ruler or playing card works, too), and rinse it with a damp cloth to remove the excess. Then paint over the toothpaste — or, if you're lucky, your toothpaste might actually blend with your wall color.

Lemon for Stained, Stinky Microwaves

Lemons. We love them in lemonade and Sidecars. But they also cut stinky, burned-on food in microwaves.

Here's the trick: Pour half a cup of water into a bowl. Slice a lemon in half, and squeeze the juice into the water. Then drop the lemon into the bowl. Microwave for three minutes, let stand for five. Remove the bowl, and wipe down the microwave. So easy!

With these simple tips, you've have your Beaufort County home spic and span and ready to sell.

Looking to buy a home in Beaufort County? Visit our home search feature to find the perfect home for sale. Visit our blog every week for more helpful real estate advice, along with local articles about life in the Lowcountry.