Cleaning Tips

The living room

Dusting Tip

Having trouble cleaning hard to reach surfaces in telephones or stereos? This can be easily done with a small paintbrush. You can use it to clean cracks as well.

Cleaning candle wax off the walls

Candle wax can be easily removed using an iron and a facial tissue. Place the tissue over the stain and iron gently. When the wax starts to seep through or the tissue gets brown, get a new one.

Cleaning red wine stains

To remove red wine stains from a carpet, pour some white wine on them immediately after they happen.

Removing blood stains

Blood stains can be removed with corn starch. Rinse the spot with cold water first and then rub it with moistened corn starch. Then place the item in the sun to dry.

Removing gum from a carpet

Gum can be cleaned off the carpet using some ice to harden and then a dull knife to remove it. If you have chewing gum on your clothes, put them in the freezer for a few hours and it should come away easily.

Removing dog hair from clothes

To remove dog hair from your clothes, dampen a pair of nylon tights and rub - the hair will most likely stick to it.

Cleaning marker ink

Marker ink can be easily removed with hair spray.

Repairing cigarette burns

To repair cigarette burns in a carpet, cut the blackened fibres and then squeeze some glue into the hole. Fill the hole with fibres from carpet remnants.

Removing suede boots or runners

You can clean suede boots or runners off the carpet with baby wipes.

Cleaning a black iron fireplace

Black iron fireplaces can be cleaned easily using baby oil and then buffing with a dry cloth.

The bathroom

Cleaning the sink

To clean the sink fill it up with hot water and drop in a dishwasher tablet.

Cleaning a stained toilet

To clean a stained toilet, drop two Steradent dental tablets into the bowl, then rub with a toilet brush for large area and an old toothbrush for small areas.

Cleaning caked-on lime-scale from taps

Caked-on limescale can be removed using a solution of neat vinegar. You can apply it with a toothbrush, scrub it around, leave it there for a few hours and then rinse or moist a paper towel in it, attach it to the tap with an elastic band, leave it overnight and rinse.

The kitchen

Cleaning stainless steel surfaces

Stainless steel and chrome surfaces can be cleaned easily using baby oil.

Cleaning the oven

Difficult stains inside the oven can be removed using a solution of biological washing powder and boiling water. Leave the solution on the surface for a few hours and then rinse.

Cleaning the hob

To clean the hob and give it a shiny look, use some kitchen roll dipped into a little baby oil. It should come up as good as new.

Cleaning your microwave

The microwave can be cleaned easily if you place a bowl of water inside (with or without a squirt of lemon) and microwave it for a few minutes. The steam lifts all the dirt and makes it very easy to wipe off with a kitchen roll.

Cleaning your George Forman Grill

To clean a George Forman Grill, heat it up for one minute and rub with hot soapy water, then rinse well with clean water.

Cleaning tea-stained mugs

For tea-stained mugs or cups, bread-soda works great. You can also use it for cleaning the sink.

With all these cleaning tips you can get rid of many problems even without professional house cleaners. As a general suggestion, cleaning can be more fun and less exhausting if you make it a family activity. You can let your kids help too. This way you will spend some quality time together and get your house cleaned in the process.