Handy Tips For Household Cleaning
WORDS : CHYKA KEEBAUGH
PHOTOS : LISA ATKINSON
Feeling the need to deep clean? Let’s get to it…
There are some things in life that one needs to spend just that little bit more to get exceptional quality. Your household vacuum is one of those items. Even though most floors in homes these days are floorboards, I still love the warmth of carpeted spaces, and even my floorboards rooms have multiple rugs in them. You need a powerful motor that can pick up dust and dirt between the fibres of your carpets, with a variety of speeds and suction attachments, it will clean your floor as no other vacuum has. A good once over should be done every second day, with spot vacuuming in between. A good deep clean, every month if you can get to it!
Five HOTSPOTS to Vacuum…
Blinds and shades can always do with a quick once over, and while you are at it - the windowsills always gather dust so don’t forget to run the nozzle along those.
Mattresses can be flipped and vacuumed getting rid of any dust that accumulates in the creases.
Foam pillows cant be washed in the machine so the alternative is to vacuum them!
Fridge coils need a seasonal clean to avoid dust and oil build-up. To ensure your fridge runs efficiently, vac those coils!
Drawers gather dust and debris and I came across a fabulous hack to help you vacuum them with ease - simply slip a stocking over your nozzle and vacuum away, this will stop your sucking up unwanted items but will capture the dust.
Vinegar, like lemons, is one of those hidden household treasures…
I know it sounds a little crazy, but I do love discovering new ways to use white vinegar, especially when I am in my full household clean mode! It’s so versatile and useful; it also has the amazing ability to mask the smell of so many different things. Here are three ways to use vinegar in your home that are quick, easy and wont send you broke with multiple cleaning items.
A shining fridge is something that excites me! A solution of one part vinegar and three parts water is all you need to pour onto a cloth to clean the shelves and drawers of your fridge. For areas that are a little trickier, let the solution soak the area to make it easier to scrub off. For stainless steel make sure you wipe in the direction of the grain then use a clean, dry cloth to buff.
Getting a streak free window is easy when using vinegar and newspaper. Get yourself an empty spray bottle and fill half way with white vinegar, give it a shake, spray the windows or mirrors liberally and polish with a screwed up piece of newspaper.
Cleaning the toilet with vinegar is almost a hands-free cleaning job…almost! Add 1/2 a cup of vinegar to the bowl, let it sit for 10-15 minutes, brush and flush. It's that simple.
THE LEMON IS A QUIET ACHIEVER IN THE FRUIT WORLD
Growing all year round, unlike most fruits, lemons can be squeezed drunk, boiled, grated, sliced, diced and candied. But did you also know that lemons are a mild disinfectant? With a little squeeze of lemon you can fight of lots of dirt, grime and bacteria.
EIGHT WAYS TO CLEAN YOUR HOME WITH LEMONS
Pop half a lemon in your dishwasher cutlery drawer - the acidity in the lemon cuts through grease.
Get your microwave extra clean by placing lemon slices in some vinegar infused water, microwave on high for two minutes then wipe out.
To refresh your fridge dab lemon juice onto a cotton ball and leave it in your fridge for several hours. This will help remove any unwanted odours in your fridge.
Prevent cauliflower and avocados from browning by squeezing several drops of lemon juice on them.
Refresh your lemon board with a cut side of half a lemon.
To help keep insects out of your kitchen squeeze lemon in between holes and cracks (e.g. tile grout) to deter the creepy crawlies.
For a more powerful clothes wash, add half a cup of lemon juice to your washing.
Lemon juice mixed with salt is the perfect cleaner for copper items.
