6 Cleaning Hacks & 1 Common Myth
Here are 6 of our top cleaning hacks to save you time and energy… and a pesky myth that will do the opposite!
1. An old makeup brush is perfect for reaching awkward crevices
Ornate mirrors? Picture frames? The little gap around the rim of the toaster? There are a thousand nooks and crannies around your home that this hack is perfect for. A paintbrush is another great option for similar tasks, however a makeup brush isn’t abrasive, meaning less risk of chipping the paint on your great aunts favorite antique!
2. Vacuum your lamp shades
Lampshades can get thick with dust and grime, and it can be hard to know how to remove this from such a delicate area. If your vacuum has the option to reduce the suction level to low and attach a brush as to not damage fragile fabrics, it works well to remove the top layer of dust.
3. Make the bed and fold the laundry before dusting
A surprising amount of dust, pet hair, pollen, makeup particles, food crumbs, and all sorts of other dirt settle onto fabrics such as throws throughout the day. Make sure to shake out and fold your fabrics (and plump cushions) before you dust so you aren’t spreading this grime onto newly dusted surfaces. Even fresh sheets can spread a thin layer of fabric flecks all over the room when changing your sheets, so start rather than end with this task.
4. Use salt to clean artificial silk flowers
Simply place the heads of your flowers into a plastic bag, add a couple of teaspoons of regular table salt, hold the bag closed around the stems of the flowers, and shake! The abrasive salt will remove the dust that's settled - Ta-Da!
5. Mayonnaise on varnished wood surfaces lifts water marks
We usually like to put our mayonnaise on our plate rather than straight on the table.. But if it works it works, and this hack sure does! The fat from both the oil and egg yolks within the mayonnaise replace the moisture of the water, while the acidic vinegar present breaks down the stain itself. Simply rub over the area, leave for a few minutes and remove any remaining excess.
6. Pop a few drops of Zoflora & or Bleach in your toilet brush holder to keep bacteria at bay
A confined damp space is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. To keep things fresh we recommend using a few drops of Zoflora and a blob of bleach in the toilet brush holder weekly (make sure you are emptying it regularly too!).
Stick to our hacks above and keep away from this pesky myth!
Vinegar and bicarbonate of soda will not unclog or clean your sink. These two household items are on opposite ends of the pH scale, and therefore cancel each other out. When combined, the impressive initial reaction you see actually just creates salty water! Even if the reaction were useful, it’s occurring above the sink, not in the pipe. A better way to achieve your desired effect is a few rounds of washing-up liquid (to degrease) and boiling hot water. Give the plug a splash of citrus Zoflora to finish and you can put your feet up for another month.
