Thrifty tips for tricky cleaning jobs

On average, most people store around 17 products under their kitchen sink and rarely use two-thirds of them. Make life simple, get on board with our ideas, and use just one or two products instead.

A is for Appliances

Cleaning the coils at the back of a fridge-freezer makes it work more efficiently - a layer of dust prevents heat being expelled, making the appliance work harder to maintain the temperature.

- Thrifty tip: Use an even mixture of water and white vinegar to clean the coils, as this will cut static.

- Thrifty tip: Dyson sells a nifty flexible crevice tool, which extends and flexes into awkward gaps, such as between two appliances. However, you can just put a sock over the end of a ruler and secure with an elastic band to reach behind appliances or radiators.

- Thrifty tip: A nail brush is useful for cleaning out fridge seals.

- Thrifty tip: Reduce running costs by making your own dishwasher powder - mix a tablespoon each of borax and bicarbonate of soda. For household borax, try www.greenshop.co.uk or 01452 770629.
Or contact Dri-Pak on 0115 932 5165.

B is for Bedrooms

Avoid the temptation to ‘lose things' under the bed. For clever storage, compress clothes and bedding with vacuum bags to save space and keep dust out.

- Thrifty tip: Neutralise odours from mattress spills by dampening the spot and rubbing dry borax into the areas. When dry, vacuum up.

- Thrifty tip: A few drops of eucalyptus essential oil added to your laundry will help keep dust mites at bay.

SIMPLE SOLUTIONS:

- To maximise storage use the large Pack-Mate Stack & Vac vacuum bags.

- Minimise washing with mattress and pillow protectors, or try Shake Me Fresh from John Cotton. This scented bedding keeps its just-washed fragrance throughout its life.

 

...and Blinds

For clean, dust-free blinds, follow these top tips from Sarah Quillam, head of product design at Hillarys Blinds:

 

- Verticals: ‘Providing they're washable, remove the headrail and unclip weights and chains. Tightly roll the fabric into small coils, keeping them all in line without creases, and put in a pillowcase, securing with a knot. Wash one roll at a time on a 40°C woollens wash with mild detergent. Cancel the final rinse and do not spin. Hang the fabric to drip dry. Replace the weights and chains and hang the louvres back on the track. If they're not washable, use the upholstery brush and a low-suction setting on your vacuum cleaner to remove dust.'

- Romans: ‘Most fabrics can be dry-cleaned. Remove the blind from the headrail and take out the horizontal rods and bottom bar. Alternatively, use the upholstery tool on your vacuum cleaner.'

- Rollers; ‘Simply dust down, as required, with a dry or damp cloth.'

- Venetians: ‘Use a dry or damp cloth or feather duster, taking care not to bend slats. A quick option is to wear a pair of cotton gloves and wipe along each slat.'

 

SIMPLE SOLUTION

- A product such as the Flash Dustmaster is lightweight, versatile and great for getting into areas where hands can't reach. Its dust-gathering fibres pick up the dirt effectively compared to a feather duster, which just moves the dust around.

 

...and Baked-on or burnt pans and ovenware

Use a strong solution of soda crystals. Soak overnight, if necessary. Use borax for aluminium pans.

- Thrifty tip: Always run cold water, not hot water, into a pan where you've cooked scrambled egg - hot cooks it on further.

 

C is for Carpets

- Thrifty tip: To freshen smoky or smelly carpets, mix one part bicarbonate of soda and one part laundry starch, and sprinkle on the carpet. Leave for 15 minutes and then vacuum off. To clean a muddy spot, sprinkle laundry starch on the damp area. When dry, vacuum off.

 

...and Curtains

- Thrifty tip: Delay the need for cleaning by vacuuming with the upholstery attachment on low suction. Instead of using deodorising sprays, air outside for several hours. If the curtains are too heavy for your washing line, drape over two kitchen chairs. If they need cleaning, professional companies will clean in situ, saving you the job of removing the curtains

- Thrifty tip: If your curtains are sticking on the curtain rail, make them glide smoothly again with a squirt of WD-40. For more tips, visit www.wd40.co.uk.

- Thrifty tip: ‘Fixed curtain linings can be restrictive when cleaning. If you're making your own curtains, make separate linings using lining tape. The linings can be removed for washing or cleaning, and you can use thermal linings in the winter to keep the heat in and a lighter-weight lining in the summer,' advises Theresa Fitzgerald from curtain experts Rufflette

 

D is for Drains and waste pipes

- Thrifty tip: Leave a Dri-Pak sink clear tablet in the plughole to dissolve grease and grime.

- Thrifty tip: To unblock and degrease bathroom and kitchen drains, use a strong soda crystal solution. To deodorise, use borax - just sprinkle a tablespoon down the drain, leave for a couple of hours, then flush well with very hot water.

 

SIMPLE SOLUTION

- Earth Enzymes Drain Cleaner is another natural alternative. The enzymes break down organic substances in a similar manner to your stomach. It's most effective against hair, soap, grease and food clogs.

 

E is for Encrusted dirt

For this you'll need something abrasive, such as an old-fashioned scouring powder. For very greasy items, such as an extractor fan cover, boost the performance of washing-up liquid by adding 1tbsp borax to the water.

- Thrifty tip: A cupful each of borax, bicarbonate of soda and salt make an effective multipurpose scourer.

 

F is for Flannels, sponges and combs

Freshen them up with a soak in a hot, regular solution of soda crystals, or soak them in a white vinegar solution.

 

G is for discoloured Grouting

Thrifty tip: Rub with an old toothbrush, using a solution of bleach and water.

 

H is for reaching High

- Thrifty tip: Use an old pillowcase over a long-handled brush or mop for sweeping down walls or high cupboards. Cover the tops of wardrobes with leftover wallpaper or floor covering, which you can throw away or take down to dust.

 

I is for Immovable items

Wash grubby painted walls with a regular soda crystal solution about one square metre at a time. Wash from the bottom upwards, as any dirty streaks that dribble down as you work are much easier to wipe off a clean surface than a dirty one.

 

J is for Joins in worksurfaces

Wherever there are joins in the worktop, such as at an inset sink or hob, dirt always accumulates.

- Thrifty tip: Using a paste of baking soda and white vinegar, rub dirt and mould loose. Gently use a cloth over the back of a knife to reach right up to the edge, but don't disturb the seal. Wash down with hot water to remove the film left by baking soda.

- Thrifty tip: Use ready-mixed liquid soda crystals for quickly wiping down worksurfaces.

For a chemical-free alternative, take a look at Earth Friendly products. The Parsley Cleaner is a multisurface cleaner with a really fresh smell that lasts a long time. Great for kitchen surfaces, it can also be used to remove chewing gum, adhesive, oil, lipstick, permanent marker and ink marks.

Valérie Roubaud, of French home fragrance company Terre d'Oc, suggests using essential oils as an alternative to chemical-based products. The best are tea tree, lavender, lemon, eucalyptus and thyme. Essential oils are available from Boots and health stores.

- Thrifty tip: Wipe worksurfaces frequently to avoid the necessity of using really strong chemicals.

 

K is for descaling Kettles

- Thrifty tip: Boil a regular solution of soda crystals and a raw potato inside. Rinse thoroughly before use. NB Don't do this if your kettle has any aluminium components. Alternatively, cover the element with white vinegar, bring to the boil, switch off and allow to cool. Empty and rinse well.

 

L is for Label leftovers

- Thrifty tip: If your kids have put stickers onto mirrors and windows, spray WD-40 onto the surface to get rid of the glue.

- Thrifty tip: Use eucalyptus oil to remove glue residue, and even to strip paint!

 

M is for getting rid of Moths

Empty your wardrobes and drawers and wash or dry-clean all the clothes before putting back. Moths favour natural fibres, particularly wool and silk, so take particular care with these. Line drawers with brown paper sprinkled with a few drops of lavender oil to deter moths and keep clothes smelling sweet.

- Thrifty tip: An occasional light sanding of cedar wood revives its natural scent.

 

SIMPLE SOLUTION

- Alternative products include Waitrose Cedar Balls Moth Deterrent and a 30-piece Cedar Wood Set from Lakeland for your wardrobe.

 

...and for Mould

You can buy proprietary mould removers, but bleach is the main ingredient. If mould appears on bathroom sealant, make a weak solution of bleach and scrub off mould with a toothbrush. Or use Milton Sterilising Solution instead, if you have it in the house.

 

N is for extending the life of Non-stick

- Thrifty tip: Give pans that are regularly cleaned in the dishwasher a helping hand by wiping over the non-stick coating with a little cooking oil after washing. This recoats the surface to protect against harsh dishwasher detergents. To remove hard-water deposits, use diluted white vinegar or lemon juice.

 

O is for lingering Odours

- Thrifty tip: Use bicarbonate of soda as a fridge or cupboard deodoriser - place some on a saucer and replace every three months. When you're finished with it, pour it down the drain so you get two uses for the price of one. Also, leave in a smoky living room overnight to freshen the air.

- Thrifty tip: To avoid damp bath mats going smelly, hang them on a skirt hanger, which allows them to air on both sides.

- Thrifty tip: Remove fusty smells in damp-prone areas with cat litter or leave out a lump of odour-absorbing charcoal.

- Thrifty tip: Deodorise your waste bin with borax - sprinkle a small amount into the bottom of a clean, dry bin before use.

- Thrifty tip: Eliminate stale vacuuming smells by placing a few drops of vanilla onto a cotton wool ball and popping it in the bag.

 

...and Ornaments

Use a soft cloth or an old make-up brush to remove dirt from crevices. Put a towel in the base of the sink, and use warm, soapy water to wash. Push taps out of the way or hang a tea towel over so you don't bang ornaments on them. Pat rather than rub dry, and leave to drain on a dry towel. Take care - rubber gloves can be slippery. Don't immerse the item if it has a hole in the base - use this as a finger hold, instead.

 

...and Oven cleaning

SIMPLE SOLUTIONS

- Use a durable, non-stick oven liner that you cut to fit to catch dripping food stuffs. When it gets grubby, all you have to do is wash in soapy water. If you have elements on the base of your oven, place on the lowest shelf instead. Try the Cucina Direct Bake-O-Glide Oven Liner.

- Oven Pride from Homepride is a great idea for tackling oven shelves that are too large for the kitchen sink. Seal and soak the shelves overnight in the large bag and solution provided (out of the children's reach). Rinse, and that's it - no effort required!

 

P is for Pet odours

- Thrifty tip: To eliminate odours from carpets and upholstery, sprinkle with dry borax - before treating, test on an inconspicuous area to check for colour-fastness. To eliminate odours from pet bedding, sprinkle liberally with bicarbonate of soda, wait 15 minutes or longer, then vacuum up.

- Thrifty tip: Remove pet hairs by wiping over surfaces (or pets!) with damp rubber gloves, or with sticky tape wrapped around your fingers several times, with the sticky side outermost.

 

R is for Radiators

Use vacuum cleaner tools to reach down behind them. Alternatively, unwind a wire coat hanger, make a loop at one end and tie a damp rag or duster over it.

 

...and removing Rust

- Thrifty tip: Dip a cut lemon in salt and rub to remove rust from hard surfaces. If the stain is stubborn, persevere - it will go with a little elbow grease. Cover rusty items with bicarbonate of soda, then pour on white vinegar to make the solution bubble. When the action stops, scrub off with a stiff brush.

 

S is for manky Shower curtains

- Thrifty tip: To get a grubby shower curtain clean, put in the washing machine with a half cup each of white vinegar and bleach, plus your regular amount of detergent. Add a couple of old white towels to bulk out the load, and wash on a gentle cycle. Hang the curtain up and allow it to drip dry.

 

...and cloudy Shower screens

- Thrifty tip: Tackle them with a solution of half white vinegar and half water - rub the screen with a sponge, then rinse and dry well. If done regularly, the problem will not come back.

 

T is for Toilet

- Thrifty tip: Flush soda crystals down the loo to clean. If left overnight, they will also clear limescale from the lavatory bowl. A severely scaled bowl may need repeat treatments. To deodorise the bowl, sprinkle in a quarter of a cup of borax, then swish around with the toilet brush. Leave to stand for 30 minutes, or overnight if possible. The bowl will be as fresh as ever.

 

U is for Upholstery and furnishings

- Thrifty tip: Dab upholstery with a mild solution of soda crystals to remove stains. Take care not to rub too hard, and always test fabrics for colour-fastness first. Leather upholstery can be cleaned with a mild solution of soap flakes in warm water.

- Thrifty tip: Air fresheners only mask smells, whereas plants, such as peace lilies, rubber plants and spider plants are effective at absorbing toxic vapours and releasing oxygen back into the atmosphere.

- Thrifty tip: Clean and polish wooden and wood-effect furniture with a solution of one part olive oil to one part lemon juice. The lemon juice makes light work of grease and grime, and the oil adds a gentle sheen.

 

SIMPLE SOLUTION

- Look out for ADO ActiBreeze and Bioprotect, which are specially treated fabrics that break down odours from animals, food and smoke, and even fight bacteria. The fabric is washable.

 

V is for Vacuum cleaner

Cut down on dusting by using the attachments on your vacuum.

- The crevice tool is very useful for giving extra reach along carpet edges, behind radiators and along tops of skirting boards.

- The upholstery tool is for soft surfaces, such as curtains, blinds, sofas and mattresses, and it can be really useful for a thorough clean of the stairs.

- The soft, round dusting brush should be used for cleaning picture rails, dado rails, banisters and carved wood.

- Thrifty tip: If your vacuum hose gets blocked, unwind a metal coat hanger and use as a hook to clear the blockage.

 

W is for Windows

Add half a cup of white vinegar to half a bucket of water, wipe windows and dry using a wad of crumpled newspaper. Wear rubber gloves, as the newsprint may bring up the shine, but will make your hands dirty. Wash off fly spots with warm tea.

 

 

Stockists ADO International 01635 521261 Boots 0845 070 8090 Cucina Direct 0870 420 4300 Dri-Pak 0115 932 5165 Dyson 0870 527 5104 Earth Friendly Products/Earth Enzymes 01892 616871 Flash 0800 028 3292 Hillarys 0800 916 6516 John Cotton 01924 496571 Lakeland 01539 488100 Pack-Mate 0800 652 7730 Rufflette 0161 998 1811 Terre d'Oc 020 7486 0496 Waitrose 01344 824787 WD-40 01908 555400