Hand,And,Glove,Cleaning,The,Bathroom,Tiles.

How to clean tile grout

by with No Comment Cleaning Tips

Over time, grout can become dirty, mouldy and unsightly. But with the right tools cleaning grout is easy!

If you don’t regularly clean up your grout it can become filthy and hard to clean. There are a few ways to clean stubborn grout, all which include a bit of elbow grease!

Depending on the how dirty your grout is, you can use the following suggestions and see which one works for you…

To begin with, wipe over the grout area you want to clean with hot water, this will help clean and remove some dirt and grime on the surface.

Steam clean

Attach the small hard brush to your handheld steam cleaner and begin by steaming straight onto the grout line. Use the brush lightly and gently scrub as you go. The dirt will be lifted from the grout effortlessly. Finish the job by wiping over with a damp microfibre cloth, use white to see the amount of dirt that has been lifted as this is very satisfying to see.

Shaving foam

This is the cheapest and hassle free way of cleaning grout. Simply apply shaving foam on the grout lines, scrub in using a recycled toothbrush or grout cleaning brush, leave for 10 minutes and rinse with a damp microfibre cloth.

Scrub mommy paste

If your grout hasn’t been cleaned in a while, I find a cleaning paste like the scrub mommy power paste is a quick solution to get rid of dirt and grime. Apply using the provided scrub sponge rub in and watch the dirt lift away.

Powdered stain remover

Mix up with warm water and apply direct to the grout lines. Use an oxi stain remover for best results.

White toothpaste

White toothpaste is a minty miracle, dampen a recycled tooth brush or damp grout cleaning brush with warm water, apply toothpaste just as you would if you were brushing your teeth and work into the grout lines. Leave on the grout lines for a few minutes before rinsing away.

Bicarbonate of soda paste

If you are looking to use a homemade cleaning product mix together bicarb and washing up liquid until you have a nice thick paste. Then apply to the grout lines, scrub in and rinse away. This paste is also great for shinning up sinks and cleaning soap scum lines from the bath.

Whatever method you choose, with the right tools and cleaner you can have your grout look good as new!

Young,Female,Spring,Cleaning,House,Interior,Holding,A,Duster,For

Tips to keep your home dust free

by with No Comment Cleaning Tips

Dust in the home can be a real pain and no matter how much you dust it does just tend to keep coming back.

Some homes are more prone to dust than others and the environment around your home can be a contributing factor but there are a few simple tips and tricks you can do to try and keep your home dust free

And don’t worry as you do not need to go out and spend money on lots of fancy cleaners as all these tips are super simple and won’t cost you nothing at all.

Close the windows

I love having my windows open, fresh air is a great natural deodoriser but when you have the windows open you are letting the dust in. If any of your windows face a busy road dust will be even more problematic, the dust becomes airborne, so it can easily find it way into your home.

Keep your blinds dust free

Blinds are one of the most common places for dust to settle due to their size and shape. If you have fabric blinds use a lint roller or a damp daddy, avoid using the vacuum nozzle as they can pull your blind out of shape.

For slated blinds pop an odd thick sock on your hand and run over each individual slate, work from the same end of the blinds and start from the top as dust falls. If you haven’t got an odd sock to hand get yourself a dusting glove, these are made from microfibre and will ultimately pick up more than a sock.

Grab a lint roller

A gel lint roller just like the kind you use on your clothes, removes dust and dirt from any other fabric just as well. Regularly use on your curtains and lamp shades.

Vacuum correctly

Keep your vacuum well maintained and clean, if the filter is blocked or clogged with dust it will not pick up any dust from your floors, instead it will start to spit out what you have already picked up. Most vacuums have settings for different floor types so ensure you use the correct setting.

Vacuum in different directions, horizontally and then vertically and get underneath your furniture too as this is where dust will really settle.

Keep clutter at bay

The more items you have lying around, the harder it’ll be to dust them. 

Clutter is one of the most common causes of dust around the home and can affect how much dirt accumulates in different parts of the house. 

Keep plants on your window seals

Plants are an excellent way to keep dust at bay because they naturally absorb carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, which in turn releases oxygen back into the air we breathe. 

Plants placed near windows will not only help clean the air but also help remove some of the dust particles that settle on windowsills – saving you a cleaning job in the future, too.

Plant leaves can get dusty and the best way to remove the dust is to use a recycled make up brush as they are so gently when knocking the dust away.

Keep hold of that last bit of wallpaper

When we decorate we are always left with a little of the wallpaper roll. If your kitchen cabinets or wardrobes don’t go all the way to the ceiling then line the tops with the left over wallpaper to collect the dust and knock of once a week to save the build up of dust.

Keep your pets well groomed

Regularly brushing (and even just petting) your furry friend produces errant hair and dust. If you regularly groom them outside, or in an easy-to-clean space like the bathroom, you can seriously cut down on your cleaning.

No shoes

Commit to a no-shoes policy inside and get a good-quality doormats one to leave outside your main entrance and one inside.

Want more cleaning tips then grab a copy of one of my books and I will show you how to clean your house and tidy up your life

Beautiful,Rose,Flowers,In,Vase,On,Table,In,Kitchen

How to keep your flowers lasting longer

by with No Comment Lifestyle

No doubt you will receive a beautiful bunch of flowers on special days throughout the year and the longer they last the better.

Here are a few of my clever tips to keep them looking fresher for longer.

Make sure you use a clean vase, many washing up liquids can leave behind a residue, so I suggest cleaning your vase with white vinegar or lemon juice and rinse well.

Cut the stems at a 45-degree angle using sharpen scissors.

Fill your vase with water and add flower food, most bouquets come with a sachet.

Remove any leaves that sit beneath the water line.

Don’t put your flowers in direct sunlight or near a heated radiator.

Keep away from your fruit bowl some fruits can produce high levels of ethylene that can promote ethylene production in cut flowers.

There are also a few additional things you add to the water to keep them lasting longer.

A copper coin such as a 2p piece, these contain antimicrobial properties which will prevent bacteria growing.  

Bleach, a splash of bleach into the water will keep them thriving for longer, the bleach will also prevent the water from becoming cloudy and inhibits bacterial growth.

Hairspray, spritzing hairspray over an arranged vase of flowers will keep them looking pristine for longer without wilting.

Aspirin, crush up an aspirin into your vase of flowers, the aspirin is said to lower the PH level of the water which allows it to travel through the flower faster, again preventing wilting.

White vinegar also lowers the PH level.

Don’t forget to change the water every few days.

For more tips then grab a copy of one of my books and I will show you how to clean your house and tidy up your life

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How to remove candle wax stains

by with No Comment ChristmasCleaning Tips

Beautiful candles set the mood for a dinner party and give you that cosy feeling on a cosy night in, but there’s nothing charming about spilled wax. But do not despair, though; candle wax is relatively easy to remove and doesn’t take long.

Tabletops

To remove it from table tops and surfaces, cover the wax with kitchen roll or brown paper and then heat the wax with a hairdryer for several seconds, then scrape it off using a credit card, plastic spatula, or flexible dough scraper. You should be able to buff the excess away with a soft cloth and a drop of washing up liquid.

Or

To harden soft wax (from a fresh drip), place ice cubes in a plastic bag and rest the bag against the wax. The hardened wax can then be scraped away easily using your finger nail or a credit card.

Table Linens

Allow wax to harden before you attempt to remove it. When wax is frozen, it becomes even more brittle and is easier to remove, use ice to freeze the wax or place the item if it fits in the freezer. Once the wax is hard, gently flake it off with a dull butter knife. (Do not scrape since this may damage the fibers.) The dyes used in coloured candles may leave behind a stain so treat this use a stain remover.

Upholstery

First, let the wax cool on its own or speed up the process by placing an ice cube wrapped in plastic on top of it. Once firm, carefully scrape off as much wax as you can using your fingernail or the dull edge of a butter knife. If the wax is on a cushion cover that can be removed, take it off and cover the wax area with kitchen roll or brown paper and then apply heat using your iron or iron. The wax will be absorbed by the kitchen roll/paper. If you do have any lingering residue use an upholstery cleaner and then blot with clean paper towels.

As always, light candles only when the wick is a safe distance from flammable materials such as curtains or other loose fabrics. And before going to bed make sure you blow your candles out.

Rugs and Carpets

Candle wax on the carpet looks a lot worse than it is. The best thing to do it let it harden, then scrape up as much as possible with a blunt knife. Place a white cloth or paper towels on top, and run a warm iron over it but make sure the iron is on its lowest setting and work very gently. If any wax remains, try a carpet cleaning solution and spot clean using a white cloth.

Condensation,On,An,Old,Window,Of,A,Home

Ways to stop condensation on your windows

by with No Comment Cleaning Tips

When the colder weather hits many of us are faced with our window panes being covered in condensation in the mornings. Wiping them dry every morning is just another task to add to your already busy day so if we can it is best to try and and prevent window condensation.

Condensation is very common but in time condensation will cause damp, mould and mildew to your window frames causing damage and in some cases unsightly. Wall paper can peel, a musty smell appear and a dampness to your walls.

The reason we get condensation is due to the inside air temperature, when the inside air is warmer than the surface temperature of the window it starts to build up and this is even more so at night.

How to prevent

A good starting point, is to take measures to create less moisture. For example use lids on pans when cooking, add cold water before hot water when running a bath.

Dry clothes outdoors or in a room with good ventilation, open a window slightly, turn off the radiator and place your drying rack in front of a bright window to help dry faster. Close the door off to this room whilst the window is open.

Alternatively look at heated clothes dryers. This have become more common due to the cost in using tumble dryers.

Use a dehumidifier, you can get disposable dehumidifiers or invest in one long term . In case you were wondering, dehumidifiers use very little energy to run, so you won’t see a big hike in your energy bills and many have an auto shut off feature which helps if you are using over night.

Avoid drying damp clothes on warm radiators, this is one of the worse causes.

Regulate your heating so that is constantly on at a lower heat. By preventing rapid changes in the temperature, you will help reduce condensation. 

Even on cooler days open windows to allow cross ventilation.

Wipe the windows

If it is too late you are going to need to remove that layer of water from your windows.

Use a window vacuum – These will remove and suck on the water quickly and efficiently. Window vacuums can be pricey but if you are looking for a budget friendly one I can highly recommend this one by Beldray which is light weight and compact and does the job well.

Super absorbent cloth – These sph2onge cloths are designed to hold up to x10 its weight in water so perfect for running around the house with. They are also drip free and durable. The unique material also creates a streak free finish. Sph2onge cloths have been a favourite of mine for years.

Use washing up liquid – pop a tiny amount onto a dry microfibre cloth and rub all over the glass pane, you won’t get smears as you are using the tiniest amount. This creates a barrier and prevents condensation. This is such a brilliant old school tip that works so well.

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Christmas hacks

by with No Comment Christmas

Amazing hacks to help your Christmas run smoothly

Ironing board hack

Set up your ironing board so it is the right height for you to be comfortable then no stretching or back ache, grab your presents and wrap away.

Putting up a fake tree

Pop on a pair of rubber gloves when fluffing up your fake Christmas tree to save all the scratches on your arms.

Christmas Lights Hacks

If like most of us your Christmas lights come out all tangled and the elves get blamed for the mess, then you need this hack!

Grab yourself a coat hanger and simply hook one end of the lights to the hook on the hanger and wrap around or use the tube from your wrapping paper and wrap around. The following Christmas your lights will be tangle free.

Wrapping storage bag

If you hate your wrapping paper being everywhere and never being able to find your scissors then you need to get yourself a wrapping storage bag.

Put all the wrapping paper tubes inside along with the tags, ribbon, bows etc and you will have everything to hand.

Toilet paper tube

Keep of hold of your toilet paper tubes, cut along and then use this to keep your roll of wrapping paper in tack.

Sharpen your scissors

Kitchen foil will never sharpen your scissors, but it can certainly improve their performance, because the foil will clean the blades and remove little burs from the cutting edge. So grab a piece of foil and get them scissors performing better.

Smells like Christmas

Imagine giving your Christmas cards then scent of Christmas.

Pop your cards in an airtight container or sealed bag and add in a few cotton balls with your festive smelling essential oils such as evergreen or peppermint. Leave over night and then your cards will smell like Christmas.

Send off and the card will hang onto the smell for 2 weeks.

Wrap wine bottles with socks

Grab a pair of festive fluffy socks, pop the bottle of wine into one of the socks, fold the other other and tie around the neck to look like a scarf, this makes a great pressie and they get two lovely presents in one.

Watch my demo here

Label gifts with family photos

Use family photos instead of gifts tags, adds a nice little touch plus when you are out and about delivering makes it easy to recognise whose is who.

Christmas day box

Keep your essentials handy for Christmas day, add in batteries, screw driver, bin bags and anything else you may need to access quickly to keep the kids happy when opening the presents.

Dinner table

Collect wine corks to use as place settings. Simply slit along the long side of the cork and slide in a name card for a quick and easy place setting.

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DIY Room Diffusers

by with No Comment Money Saving

Diffusers are a fabulous way to enhance your mood, freshen the air and invigorate your senses. They are so easy to make at home yourself, DIY diffusers will save you money and make a great little gift for friends and family. 

Essential oils provide a boost to the limbic system to enhance relaxation and anti-anxiety benefits, along with respiratory, disinfection, clearing toxins in the air and more. 

I love exploring essential oil blends.

I have popped some of my favourite blends below. 

To Make

Recycle your old diffuser jars and remove any stickers using the heat from your hair dryer. Gently heat and then the sticker will easily lift off. 

3/4 of the way fill with sweet almond oil, the reason I choose this carrier is because it is a light oil that easily soaks into the reeds.

If you have a nut allergy use safflower 

Add in 30 drops in total of your favourite essential oil blends

Give it a stir and pop in your reeds

You can top up with a few drops of oil every week to keep the fragrance fresh but remake or choose a new blend every month to keep the strong fragrance. 

All year round blends

This are all very fresh blends that give your home a clean feeling, the relaxing blend works well in the bedroom.

Fresh clean blend – Lemon, peppermint, and eucalyptus

Relaxing blend – Lemon, lavender, and rosemary

Energising blend – Peppermint, grapefruit and spearmint

Christmas blends

These diffuser blends will create the perfect Christmas atmosphere.

Orange, cinnamon, and clove

Pine, spruce, juniper and cedar-wood

Orange, peppermint and frankincense

Douglas fir, cedar-wood and juniper berry

Stack,Of,Towels,And,Detergent,On,Table,Against,Blurred,Background

The Do’s and Don’t’s of fabric conditioner

by with No Comment Laundry

Fabric conditioner isn’t just about making your clothes smell good and keeping them looking fantastic it has its place and sadly can’t be used on all fabrics. When you do use fabric conditioner it is truly amazing and will help to keep your clothes lasting longer, help to retain their shape and protect against colour fading.

It will also help to speed up the drying and that dreaded ironing.

When NOT to use

Cashmere and Wool

Don’t lose the luxury of a cashmere sweater or a soft woollen jumper. Expensive and high quality fabrics like these can be damaged by softeners which can cause bobbling, wear down the fibres and pilling. Fabric softener can also make them feel stiffer.

An easy rule of thumb is to not use fabric softener on an expensive item of clothing.

To keep your jumpers in tip top condition always ready the care label, wash inside out, wash on a low temperature with a low spin and use a gentle detergent designed for delicates. Avoid using enzyme based detergents as this can destroy the protein in the wool.

Towels

Fabric conditioner makes your towels less absorbent, wears down the fibres, makes them slippery and gives them a greasy feel. If you want to keep your towels feeling like new, soft and fluffy then add in 20ml of white vinegar to the wash, you can either add this directly to your drum or add to the fabric conditioner compartment of your washing machine.

The vinegar softens towels and helps removes bacteria, a much better option than coating the towels with synthetic chemicals. If you want fragrance, you can add a drop or two of pure essential towards the end of the cycle.

Follow this advise too for microfibre cloths.

Sensitive skin

Although fabric softener is gentle on fabrics, it can be harsh on your skin. If you notice a skin reaction such as irritation or a rash, it could be your fabric softener. If a reaction occurs, stop using your softener immediately and see if you notice an improvement.

If you have sensitive skin, it is worth checking the label before you buy your softener to see if it is suitable. Some fabric softeners are formulated to be kinder to sensitive skin.

Flame resistant

Fabric softener can also reduce the effectiveness of flame-resistant clothing as it covers the fabric with a waxy coating. This can actually make them more flammable, so stay away from softener when washing items such as baby clothing, children’s pyjamas, dressing-up costumes, and anything else with a flame-resistant label.

When to use

Bedding

There is nothing better than snuggling down in freshly changed bed sheets that smell amazing and fabric conditioner makes this all the more luxurious by keeping the fibres soft and reducing static. If you only use fabric softener on one thing, let that be your bedding! 

Top tip – using a lavender-scented fabric softener on your bedding can improve your quality of sleep, as lavender has been proven to aid sleep

Synthetic fibres

Clothing made of synthetic fibres like acrylic and polyester.

When in doubt leave it out.

Cozy autumn at home, a woman with tea and a book resting. A cozy way of life . Body parts in the composition.

Get autumn ready with my 5 simple steps.

by with No Comment Home Organising

Use my easy autumn steps to get your home ready for autumn and prepared for the winter months.

Autumn is such a beautiful colourful season, with its orange and yellow leaves and bright red berries. It’s the perfect time to wrap up for a beautiful walk – and then come back to an inviting cosy home with a tasty hot chocolate.

Prepare your entrance

Cheer yourself up on colder days by creating a warm welcome to your home. Autumn is the perfect time to spruce up your front door, add in an autumnal door wreath and some seasonal decorations.

The rest of the front garden might need a tidy up, too. After all, you’ll probably see more of the front than the back garden during the winter. Remove any summer hanging basket and plant some evergreen shrubs that will provide an attractive structure throughout the cold months, you could also add a couple of winter-flowering plants to boost interest.

Inside as you enter add in a good quality door mat to trap dirt and soak up wet muddy shoes.

Time to get cosy

As the days and evenings become colder, you’ll need to think about keeping warm and cosy. Candles are perfect this time of year, choose autumnal scents like pumpkin, apple, cinnamon and nutmeg, as these scents will bring that extra dose of ambiance your home needs. Incorporate autumnal colours, switch those summer themed cushions for autumnal ones and get yourself some lovely soft throws and blankets. Then attend to the bigger stuff, like making sure your radiators are all bled, clean from built up dust and in good working order and book in for a boiler service to ensure that it’s fit and healthy enough for the rest of the year you don’t want to run the risk of no hot water at 7 am on a Monday morning in January (brrr).

Check light bulbs too, make sure they are all working and knock off that layer of dust using a recycled make up brush.

Little things and small changes to your environment can make a major difference to your wellbeing and mood, so they are well worth your time and effort.

If you’re lucky enough to have a working fireplace or wood-burning stove, now’s the time to prepare and clean it ready for use.

Stock up on firewood and kindling, and invest in a couple of baskets to store the firewood next to the fire.

Finally check to make sure your smoke alarms are all working.

Make way for wellies

The hallway will need a seasonal overhaul, too. Put away sandals and sun hats till the spring and organise space for heavy coats, boots and wellies. Ensure there are enough hooks for all your coats, as well as a space for umbrellas. It’s also a good idea to use a hallway storage bench if you have the room or put baskets next to the door for gloves, hats and scarves.

Get organised


Put away your summer wardrobe and have a declutter at the same time, get rid of things you didn’t wear. I love to use vacuum storage pack bags as you can store so much neatly away.

Don’t forget about the linen closet, either. Switch out those lighter linens with your heavier bedding, linens, and blankets.

Organise home admin and invest in any new storage you think you might need. Now might be a good time to organise your kitchen cupboards, too. Throw away out-of-date food, donate tins that you know you won’t eat and store similar things together. Decant pasta, rice and pulses into attractive jars, and find some useful storage for your spices.

Empty the contents of your freezer and fridge to see what’s fresh and what isn’t. Give these storage areas a good cleaning before refilling them.

Outside

Wash off your patio furniture before putting it away until the spring. Store it in a shed or an out-of-the-way spot in the garage. If it’s staying outside, cover everything with properly fitting covers to prevent rust.

Pick up any garden toys, sports equipment, and gardening tools sitting outside and out them away.

Clear out the gutters.

On a dark evening, arriving home or visiting the shed or dustbins will be difficult if you can’t see where you’re going. So it’s important to ensure any outside lighting is in good working order.

It’s also nice to have some lighting in the back garden to illuminate winter plants and look pretty.


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Cleaning Tips for Students

by with No Comment Cleaning Tips

Surviving student living takes a lot of patience and teamwork amongst your housemates. When you first move in you are going to want to get to know each other and party rather than worry about building a cleaning rota.  But sharing your personal space with others isn’t always easy. 

Student living is all about working together and supporting each other, the best way is to set the standard as soon as possible and get all the boring bits out of the way. Draw up a list of tasks that need to be done and decide who is going to be doing them.

Someone may be great in the kitchen and will want to do most of the cooking whilst another may love the tidying up after parties.

See who is willing to do what.

Draw up a simple rota that may include tasks like:

• Shopping for household essentials
• Cleaning
• Washing up
• Managing the paperwork

If at the end of your year you want your deposit back and no additional charges, then you really are going to need to keep on top of the cleaning.

In the kitchen, I would suggest that after using the oven and hob you give it a quick wipe-over with some warm soapy water, this way it won’t ever get that horrible build-up of grease and grim that can take ages to get off, smoke out the kitchen or may even mean you call in a professional oven cleaner and this is not cheap.

Clear out the fridge on a regular basis: get rid of gone off, mouldy foods and rotting leftovers. Don’t overfill the freezer so it doesn’t shut properly.

Keep the bins emptied and clean, dirty bins can attract flies and stink.

If you spill drinks or splash food onto the worktops, wipe it up as quickly as possible as foods and drinks can stain, and this could result in the landlord not being happy.

When it comes to the lounge area, use throws to protect the sofas and chairs, or if it is leather make a point of a weekly wipe over, and if you have a carpeted room keep stain remover to hand, student parties often result in drink stains so get this up as soon as you spot them, a new carpet can be an expensive add at the end of your agreement.

In the bathrooms keep those showers flowing frequently and use a drain unblocker on a regular basis, easy to use simply pop down, leave overnight and keep cleaning those toilets as they will be getting a lot of use.

Keep the window open as much as you can to prevent mold and mildew build-up.

At the end of your tenancy, you will be required to leave the property as you found it, so these simple tips should help you stay on top.

Simple Cleaning Rota

Daily Tasks

  • • Vacuum
    • Wash up dirty dishes
    • Open the windows every morning to let the air flow throw
    • Clear plates and mugs left in shared areas
    • Clean the kitchen sink
    • Bleach the toilets
    • Take out the rubbish

Weekly Tasks

  • • Mop the hard floor areas
    • Full bathroom clean
    • Dusting

Monthly Tasks

  • • Clean the windows
    • Tackle the cobwebs
    • Dust the skirting boards
    • Wipe over internal and external doors