Spring cleaning shortcuts

Microwave magic

For microwave residue build up, combine one cup of water, one cup of vinegar, and two tablespoons of lemon juice in a microwave safe bowl. Place the bowl in the centre of your microwave and run on high for two minutes. Wipe down with a damp cloth.

Bust the dusting

• Put a fluffy sock over your hand to dust those tricky Venetian blinds.  
• Use a lint roller on your soft furnishings (such as curtains, cushions, and lampshades) to quickly remove dust.
• You can also pop on some washing-up gloves and run your hands over your upholstery to pick up pet hair. 

Spray and leave

If your walls are dotted with grubby marks and stains, spray them with your preferred cleaning detergent and leave them for 10-15 minutes while you do something else. When you come back, they will wipe off easily.  

Smelly loo

Whether you have toddlers who are potty training or teenage boys who seem to have lost all sense of direction, your loo can end up a bit smelly!

Squirt shaving cream on the floor around the base of the toilet, and on the toilet itself. Leave it there for an hour or so, then wipe it away – any lingering smells will be gone.

Sticky stuff

Grab some tea tree or eucalyptus oil to remove sticky stuff such as sticker residue.  

Crayon disaster

If you have a budding Banksy who has used your walls as a canvas, use some toothpaste on an old toothbrush and give the marks a scrub. Wipe with a clean cloth.  

Nooks, crannies and hard to reach places

• Forget trying to move the fridge or washing machine to reach gunk; insert an empty paper towel roll into the end of your vacuum cleaner. Bend or flatten it to squeeze into those difficult spots. 
• You can also place a sock over a fly swatter and use it to clean hard to reach places.  
• If you’ve got overhead cupboards with hard-to-reach tops, lay a sheet of baking paper on top to catch the dust and grime. Every few months, carefully remove the paper and replace it with a fresh sheet. You can do the same in your kitchen cupboards which can end up a bit messy.
• Use BluTack to clean in the corners of cupboards and drawers. Just squish some into a small ball and push it right into the corners. Any grime will stick to the BluTack. You can also use this for computer keyboards.

Bed refresh

To freshen up your mattresses, sprinkle them with sodium bicarbonate and vacuum.  

Shower glass

Tired of that stubborn soap scum and calcium build up on your shower screens? Give some of these a go.

• Clean your glass shower doors using tumble dryer sheets.  
• For sparkling shower glass, put equal amounts of vinegar and water in a spray bottle and thoroughly spray the glass. Wait 10-15 minutes then wipe with a clean cloth.   
• Take a dishwashing tablet and cut out a bit of foam in a sponge. Put the dishwasher tablet into the sponge, then wash the shower screen and rinse.  

‍