Practical Tips forCleaning Your Home

Warwick CleanersProviding domestic cleaning throughout the whole of Warwickshire

”Whether you’re a novice at cleaning or looking for new waysto get your house to sparkle, this is the book for you.”- Denise Vincent of Warwick Cleaners

Excellence in Cleaning visit us at www.warwickcleaners.co.uk

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WARWICK CLEANERS PRESENT :

Practical Tips for Cleaning your Home

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except as permitted by

the UK Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, without the prior permission of the publisher.

First published 2009 by Warwick Cleaners

© 2009 Warwick Cleaners 45 Farm Street, Harbury, Warwickshire, CV33 9LS

Phone: 01926 614 781 www.warwickcleaners.co.uk

Please Note: Care and caution should be exercised when using chemicals, products and formulas presented in this book. It is highly recommended that all cleaning treatments should be tested in a small, inconspicuous area before application. Always follow the directions contained on product labels with care. Total success cannot be guaranteed in every case and the authors hereby disclaim any liability and

damages from the use and/or misuse of any product, formula or application presented in this book.

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Contents Introduction............................................................................................................................................3 Chapter 1: General Cleaning Tips .......................................................................................................4

Hoovering Floors ..............................................................................................................................4 Window Cleaning ..............................................................................................................................5 Curtains and Blinds ...........................................................................................................................5 Stains and Spills..................................................................................................................................6

Chapter 2: Cleaning the Kitchen..........................................................................................................7 Ovens ..................................................................................................................................................7 Microwaves.........................................................................................................................................8 Sinks.....................................................................................................................................................8 Cupboards...........................................................................................................................................8 Refrigerators .......................................................................................................................................9 Freezers ...............................................................................................................................................9 Mopping the Kitchen Floor.......................................................................................................... 10

Chapter 3: Cleaning the Living Room ............................................................................................. 11 Upholstery ....................................................................................................................................... 11 Glass Coffee Tables ....................................................................................................................... 11 Televisions ....................................................................................................................................... 12 Stereo Equipment........................................................................................................................... 12 Pictures and Frames ....................................................................................................................... 13

Chapter 4: Cleaning the Bathroom................................................................................................... 14 Basins................................................................................................................................................ 14 Toilets............................................................................................................................................... 14 Baths ................................................................................................................................................. 15 Showers ............................................................................................................................................ 15 Mirrors.............................................................................................................................................. 16 Towels .............................................................................................................................................. 16 Tiles and Grout............................................................................................................................... 16

Chapter 5: Cleaning the Bedroom .................................................................................................... 18 Bedspreads and Linen.................................................................................................................... 18 Mattresses ........................................................................................................................................ 18 Wardrobes........................................................................................................................................ 19 Toys .................................................................................................................................................. 19

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Introduction We all know that cleaning can be a chore. From fridges and freezers to baths, carpets, and windows, often there may seem simply too much to do. Whether you’re a complete novice at cleaning or just looking for innovative new ways to get your house to sparkle, this practical book will help you save time, money and energy around the home. Our everyday maintenance techniques come directly from the professionals, and there is no need for specialist cleaning products. The chances are, you’ve got the equipment in your home already. Be sure to look out for our green cleaning tips too. This involves cleaning with environmentally friendly household items – no plastic bottles or chemicals involved! Although we recommend you leave your cleaning to one of our professionals, there may be a time when one of our cleaners is not available. We have therefore compiled a great list of cleaning tips that will get you cleaning smarter, not harder. Our room-by-room strategy will prevent you getting sidetracked, and allow you to get the cleaning done in an orderly progression. So take a look inside, and enjoy your cleaning experience!

Kind Regards,

Warwick Cleaners 01926 614 781

www.warwickcleaners.co.uk

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Chapter 1: General Cleaning Tips There are numerous reasons to keep your home looking spotless. Not only will you enjoy more pleasant surroundings, you can also enjoy the benefit of more time to yourself and more cash in your pocket. Our tips will help you keep on top of dirt and clutter, saving both time and energy, and clean equipment will last a lot longer and wear out slower with our preventative practices. Furthermore, there is also a health benefit. It is estimated that 50-80% of food-borne illness originates through uncleanliness in the home. We therefore provide great cleaning tips to keep all the ‘hot zones’ around your house clean - your sinks, taps, toilets and doorhandles. In this chapter we have compiled a great list of cleaning tips and techniques that can be applied throughout the whole of your house to get you started.

Hoovering Floors A hoover or vacuum cleaner should be at the very heart of your cleaning routine. They pick up everything from dust, dirt, sand, pet hair and food crumbs, and allow these particles to be disposed of easily. In addition, vacuum cleaners can be used on both carpets and hard surfaces. When vacuuming a room start by hoovering the furniture first. If you have any throws on couches or sofas, shake them outside of the house. The same should be done for any rugs in the room. When cleaning the floor use gliding, even strokes and work in a methodical fashion. Start in the corner that is farthest from the door and work backwards towards the door. Move furniture out of the way when possible, and hoover as far as possible under sofas, bed and dressers.

Top Tip: When using a vacuum cleaner remember to empty the bag or cylinder regularly. When the bag becomes filled its efficiency is reduced, drastically reducing the performance of the vacuum cleaner.

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Window Cleaning Before you start cleaning the glass, it is a lot easier to clean windowsills and frames first. An ideal liquid solution to clean both wood and aluminium window frames is mild liquid dishwashing detergent mixed with warm water. An old toothbrush can be used to scrub into those hard to reach places, and when completed you should rinse and dry with a cloth. When cleaning the glass there are numerous glass cleaning products available for you to purchase, however unless the windows are heavily soiled a cost effective way is to simply use a cloth and a bucket of warm soapy water. Work from top to bottom, and be sure not to make your windows so wet that they start dripping. As any professional will tell you, the key to keeping your windows clean for longer is not in the cleaning, but in the drying of the glass. Drying windows with paper towels or an old newspaper is one solution but can build a static charge on a window which makes it more likely to attract dust and will therefore dirty quicker. A good quality squeegee should keep your windows clean for longer if you follow this simple technique. First, make a horizontal draw across the top of the window to prevent drips. Next, start either side and draw the squeegee down to near the bottom of the window, leaving a small gap. Repeat the process along the window in a vertical pattern, overlapping strokes to prevent streaks and drying the squeegee after every stroke. Finally, finish by making another horizontal wipe across the bottom of the window. You can now wipe up any drips that land on the windowsill with a cloth.

Curtains and Blinds Keeping your curtains clean will prolong their life expectancy, which in turn will save you money. Curtains should be shaken and vacuumed each month to remove the build up of dust. Using a dusting brush or upholstery attachment for your hoover will make the job easier and stop the fabric getting sucking into the nozzle. Work from top to bottom, and pay close attention to the hem on floor length curtains where dust and dirt tends to gather. Curtains should also be laundered or dry-cleaned at least once a year, depending on the material. If they are not too heavily soiled, simply freshen them in a tumble dryer set on “Air-Fluff” with no heat. Before cleaning blinds it is important to remove any dust that has built up on them first. This can be done with a duster or a hoover with a brush attachment. Start by closing the blinds

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fully and then dusting, then reverse the blinds so the slats are facing the opposite direction and dust again. Although blinds made from a synthetic material such as vinyl can be washed with window cleaner and a damp cloth, it is advisable to clean blinds covered in fabric with a bucket containing warm water and ¾ ounces of dishwashing detergent. Use the foam on top of the water to scrub the fabric to extract the soil, and then dry with an absorbent cloth.

Top Tip: To remove dust from Venetian blinds run your fingers along each slat wearing a pair of cotton house gloves. This will pick up the dust as you go, and is far easier than using a duster.

Stains and Spills All stains can be removed easier the earlier you get to them as this prevents them from setting. Never rub an area that has been stained; instead you should blot the area with a sponge or absorbent kitchen towel. You should also work from the outside towards the middle when blotting, as this will prevent the stain from spreading. Liquid stains can be treated by dabbing carbonated water on the area before blotting to lift the stain to the surface. The more the spill can be blotted up as quick as possible, the less residue is left to stain the area. Dry stains on the other hand should be kept dry and adding water will only make it easier for the stain to penetrate fibres. The best way to remove these stains is to vacuum the area or sweep away with a dustpan and brush.

Top Tip: If you use a solvent to remove a stain, never apply it directly. Instead, you should add the solvent to a cloth or paper towel and dab the surrounding area to soak up the stain.

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Chapter 2: Cleaning the Kitchen The main function of any kitchen is the preparation and cooking of food, which means it is a much-loved place for a whole host of bacteria. Furthermore, many of us use the kitchen to eat our food, wash our laundry, and as an exit to the garden. This makes cleaning the kitchen one of the biggest tasks in the house for any budding cleaner.

Top Tip: When you clean your kitchen ensure you clean and polish countertops as you go, moving items out the way and cleaning behind them. This will not only keep your kitchen spotless, it will also get you into the habit of impromptu spot cleans.

Ovens The best way to prolong the time needed between cleaning your oven is by keeping it in immaculate condition. This means ensuring that spills are cleaned up as soon as possible and surfaces are wiped down with a cloth after use. Placing a piece of foil slightly larger than the cooking dish on the shelf below will catch any food and grease that bubbles over, however be sure not to cover the entire bottom of the oven as this may cause an uneven distribution of heat. The best way to get your oven spotless is by purchasing a commercial oven cleaning kit. Popular brands include Oven Pride and Whirlpool, but you must be sure to consult your oven manufacturer’s instructions before you proceed.

Caution: Commercial oven cleaning kits can cause damage to surfaces they come in contact with. Cover all surrounding areas with newspaper and always wear protective gloves when handling the product.

If you are looking to save costs, a great tip is to add ½ cup ammonia to a small glass bowl, place it into the oven and close the door (for a gas oven extinguish the pilot light first). Leave this to stand overnight and do not turn the oven on. The next day when opening the oven door, be sure to allow the air to circulate for a few minutes before wiping inside as ammonia can irritate eyes. Now you should easily be able to wipe away stains and grease with a damp cloth or paper towels.

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You can also line grill pans with foil and dispose after use to prevent the build up of stains. Although hot soapy water should usually do the trick, grill pans can also be cleaned in the dishwasher. Similarly, hot soapy water should be enough to get the hob spotless. Burnt-on residue can be removed with a specialist hob scraper. Tough stains on glass doors can be scraped off with a windshield scraper or single razor blade. For lighter stains, wipe the glass with ammonia, leave for a few minutes, and then wipe again with a damp cloth or sponge.

Microwaves You should wipe down spills and stains on a microwave with a damp cotton cloth and hot soapy water. Loosen up more stubborn stains with steam by heating a half-filled bowl of water on full power for a couple of minutes, then simply wipe away. A great way to remove odours from microwaves is to clean the interior with a solution of one tablespoon baking soda and one cup of warm water. You should remember not to use abrasive pads or any powders when cleaning your microwave oven as this could lead to rusting.

Sinks Kitchen sinks are one of the most frequently used items within the home and are often more germ ridden than many toilets. Therefore, wiping down sinks both before and after each use is good practice and will ensure your sink stays clean and will keep it in excellent condition. To disinfect your sink fill it with warm water and add a capful of bleach. Let the solution stand for 5 minutes and then wipe away to remove food particles and clinging microbes, ensuring you do this on a weekly basis to keep your sink immaculate. If you are using a stainless steel sink sprinkle either salt or baking soda on it and gently rub it in with half a lemon and scourer, then rinse after a few minutes. Lemon juice is a natural corrosive and will help remove limescale deposits leaving your sink sparkling and bright.

Cupboards We recommend you clean all cupboards in your kitchen at least twice a year, as this makes removing the build up of grease and grime a lot easier. You should clean a shelf at a time, working from top to bottom, and remove all food and contents as you go. If your cupboard surfaces are made from plastic then you can use a cloth and either a bucket or soapy water or an all purpose cleaner to wash the surfaces down. For wooden cupboards a

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bottle of spray polish is more than ideal. Dust should be wiped off cans and jars with a dampened cloth. Make sure surfaces have a chance to dry off before replacing food and other items, and place newer foods toward the back.

Refrigerators Refrigerators are extensively used to store foods which spoil from bacterial growth if not refrigerated. However everyday use of the refrigerator leads to numerous spills, and food is often unintentionally kept past its sell by date. Due to this, refrigerators can be ideal breeding grounds for germs and need to be cleaned regularly. To get started, wipe down all the interior walls and door panel of the fridge with a solution of two tablespoons of baking soda to one litre of warm water, then move on to the compartments. This will help eliminate smells and odours. Removable shelves and drawers can cleaned with washing-up liquid and warm water, rinsed, and allowed to dry.

Top Tip: An ideal time to clean your fridge is before you go shopping, as this will allow you to dispose of any unusable food and free up more space for new items. Don’t forget to check the temperature of your refrigerator too, it should be operating at 4°C.

Freezers Freezers operate in a similar fashion to refrigerators, but fortunately require a lot less attention to keep them clean. Remember the more you open and close your freezer, the more frequently you will have to defrost it. This means removing all of the food from your freezer, so an ideal time to defrost is when your stocks are low. Take the time to sort through the food stored in your freezer while you empty it, discarding anything you don’t need along the way. Ideally food removed should be placed in a freezer bag to keep it fresh. Unplug your freezer and wedge the door open. Place bowls of very hot water on the shelves, but make sure you stand them on towels and not directly onto the shelf itself. You should also place towels on the floor underneath the freezer to mop up any thawed ice that drips out. When removing ice don’t to use a sharp instrument as this may scratch the cooling coil, and always wear protective gloves when handling the ice directly. Once all ice has been removed wash the drawers with warm soapy water and leave to dry. Like fridges, baking soda and

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warm water will remove both stains and odours. Finally if your freezer has a drip tray remember to empty that too. Condenser coils of both refrigerators and freezers will have to be cleaned from time to time to ensure their wellbeing and are located at either the rear of the machine or mounted below. The simplest way of cleaning the coil is by hoovering it with an appropriate attachment to remove the build up of dust. Be sure to unplug your appliance when you do this, and if you have moved the appliance allow adequate room behind it for ventilation when you move it back.

Mopping the Kitchen Floor For the majority of homes a sponge mop is the perfect way to clean your kitchen floor as it is great for removing dried-on grime from the surface. If you have a particularly large area to mop, consider using a string mop as this will get the job done a lot quicker. Fill the mop bucket with warm water and add a light-duty cleaner such as liquid dishwashing detergent. Don’t mop in a horizontal direction as this will simply spread dirt and grime towards skirting boards and cabinets. Instead, mop in a forwards and backwards motion making sure you overlap each stroke as you go, and be sure to change the water in the bucket whenever it turns murky. Work your way from one side of the room to the other, making sure you end up backing out of the room through an interior doorway so you don’t get trapped inside. Finally, allow the floor adequate time to air dry before walking over it.

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Chapter 3: Cleaning the Living Room The living room is a great place to relax, and is where most of us spend our free time and entertain our guests. However with so much going on in one room, it is inevitable that it will accumulate a lot of dust and dirt. This section will deal with how to maintain a clean living room, and provide great tips on getting your living room to look spotless.

Upholstery A good place to start your clean is with the upholstery, as this is a common feature in many living rooms. It is also one the most overlooked places when it comes to cleaning too, with many people not realising there is as much dust on upholstery as there is as on wooden furniture, floors, and other places where it is more visible. Worse still is that dust contains microscopic abrasives, such as silica, which if left can grind into the fabric and wear upholstery out quicker than it would on other materials. This means all upholstery should be vacuumed weekly to remove the build up of dust, preferably with a upholstery attachment for your hoover if you have one. If you have a pet, an easy way to remove hair from upholstery is by rubbing a slightly dampened chamois leather gently across the fabric. This will cause the pet hair to gather nicely in a ribbon as you work over the surface. To clean finished leather upholstery moisturising soap such as Saddle soap is ideal and can be purchased from most riding shops and hardware stores. This should be applied to a damp cloth and lathered onto the leather, ensuring you only use a small amount of water. Wipe the lather clean with another damp cloth, and then polish the leather with a dry towel. Cleaning unfinished leather requires a lot more care and attention than finished leather, and if incorrectly done can severely shorted the lifespan of the furniture. We recommend purchasing a cleaning product specifically designed for unfinished leather. This can then be applied in a circular motion using a soft damp cloth to get into the grain of the leather. Finally, wipe away with another cloth to make sure all of the residue is removed.

Glass Coffee Tables Caked on material that is difficult to remove such as wax, paint or other stuck-on substances can be peeled off using a single razor blade on the glass. Do nor use a putty knife, which can scratch the glass.

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Easier stains can be removed using a solution of ¼ cup vinegar to a litre of warm water. Although this can be mixed in a spray bottle and applied this way, if the glass in your furniture is framed by wood, do not spray on directly as this may damage the wood. Instead, apply the solution to an old newspaper and rub onto the glass, remembering to clean both sides. The newspaper, unlike paper towels and many types of cloth, leaves behind no traces of lint.

Televisions The more televisions are switched on the more dirty they become as they generate heat, and static electricity generated makes them magnets for dust. It is therefore advisable to clean your television once every week. It is important to unplug your television before you start work on cleaning it, and never spray cleaning products directly onto the television as the wetness could seep into the electronic parts and ruin the set. Instead, dampen a paper towel with a drop of concentrated washing-up liquid as this will clean even the dirtiest of televisions. Most people neglect the back of the television, however this is where dust builds up in the numerous wires connecting the televisions to items such as DVD players and cable television. Afterwards buff your television dry with a clean paper towel, and remember that wood cabinets should also be polished with furniture polish.

Caution: Although you can dust or vacuum the ventilation grills of a television with a soft brush attachment, never poke anything into the openings as this may cause both yourself and your television set harm.

Stereo Equipment Dirt and dust can often get into the most sensitive places of stereo equipment and this has the detrimental affect of actually damaging the sound. Most people notice this when they adjust the volume knob and hear crackling, the signal drops from either speaker, or the sound is muffled or distorted. You should dust your stereo equipment weekly by dusting with a non-metallic brush and hoovering the loosened dust. Ensure you do not move any parts, such as wires or resistors, as loose connections can cause problems you never had before. Also, never manually clean the

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lens in your CD player as this can be damaged very easily, and there are cheap CD cleaners available commercially that will do the job.

Pictures and Frames We all want our frames and pictures to look their best, which means they need to be cleaned in a manner that will not damage either the frame or the content underneath the glass. Dusting regularly with a feather duster or soft-bristle brush will prevent the build up of dust and dirt, and harder to remove stains should be wiped down with a slightly wet cloth and dried. You should never spray glass cleaner directly onto the glass itself as this may damage the frame or seep through and ruin the canvas or the picture inside. A great old cleaning tip that is still practical today is to mix a solution of vinegar and water together and rub onto the frames to get them to sparkle. Apply to a damp old newspaper and rub onto the frames, ensuring you don’t leave any print smudges.

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Chapter 4: Cleaning the Bathroom

Basins A paper towel soaked in white vinegar rubbed around the faucets of the basin is a cheap method to remove water deposits and limescale, although is not suitable for encrusted taps of any kind (especially gold). This same method can be applied to clean the plug of the basin, which should be kept on top on the basin, not draping around the tap. Once a month you can pour baking soda down the drain followed by a cup of white vinegar. This combination will fizzle away most of the build up, so wait for an hour an then rinse away with warm water. This great technique can be applied to baths and kitchen sinks too. If you use a soap dish, rub baby oil on the bottom of it to prevent your soap from sticking to it. Also mugs containing toothbrushes should be placed in the dishwasher once a week to keep them fresh and remove any bacteria that has built up.

Toilets Most of the germs we come into contact with are actually on the toilet itself, so it’s important to keep it clean. Disinfectant cleaner should be sprayed on the lid, the top and bottom of the seat, the rim of the bowl, the hinges, the base, the tank and the handle of the toilet. Leave the disinfectant for a couple of minutes to allow it to kill the germs and then dry with a clean cloth or paper towel. If you decide to use a toilet brush rather than scrubbing with rubber gloves then be sure to purchase a round toilet brush with nylon bristles attached to a plastic handle. The metal wire in more traditional oval-shape brush can cause black scratch marks in the toilet bowl. Also be sure to flush clean water over the brush after use, and fill the container with hot soapy water, emptying the dirty water into the toilet.

Top Tip: When you flush your toilet an invisible mist of germ-infested water droplets can get over everything, meaning you should close the lid when flushing. Ideally, for the sake of hygiene, lids should be closed whenever the toilet is not in use.

If you are living in a hard water area you may have noticed mineral deposits have left a raised ring at the water line of your toilet, which is still present after scrubbing. If this is the case,

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and you have a white, vitreous china toilet, rub a wet pumice stone around the ring to remove it. Do not use a pumice stone on coloured, enamelled or plastic fixtures as it will scratch the finish.

Baths Ideally you should wipe down your bath with a sponge and rinse with water after each use to prevent soap scum from building up. This will mean your bath requires a lot less attention in the long term, and will lessen the need for the difficult process of scrubbing away caked-on soap scum. In fibreglass/acrylic and enamel baths you may not need to buy expensive products, so first try cleaning the tub with washing-up liquid and a soft cloth. Limescale can be removed in fibreglass and acrylic baths using a solution of half white vinegar and half water. Try not to get the vinegar elsewhere on the bath and remember to rinse thoroughly and then dry. Slips mats on the bottom of baths can be scrubbed with some dishwashing detergent and a soft brush or cloth, or try baking soda on a sponge for a grittier clean. Mould growing on the underside of the mat can be scrubbed with a nailbrush, using a mixture of one part bleach to four parts warm water.

Top Tip: If you have an enamel bath rust stains can be reduced by pasting a mixture of baking soda and water over the stain, and leaving for one hour. This can be repeated as many times as necessary. If you’re still struggling to remove the rust, try a combination of lemon juice and salt.

Showers Like baths, showers should be wiped with a sponge after use and rinsed with water. Glass walls can also be squeegeed or doors and curtains left open to allow air to circulate. These preventative measures, alongside a simple weekly cleaning routine, will ensure that soap scum, mildew and hard water deposits will not have a chance to set. To clean the shower remove all contents such as shampoo bottles and soaps and spray with an all purpose cleaner. Use a nylon scourer and work from top to bottom, using an old toothbrush or grout brush on any stubborn stains or build-up. If you have some lemon oil furniture polish you can apply this to the shower walls by rubbing it on with a cloth as this is a great way to prevent mineral deposits from forming.

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Machine washable shower curtains should be placed in the washing machine with two large towels. Remove them before the spin cycle and hang up to let the creases dry out. For shower curtains that are not machine washable, soak in a solution of one part bleach, four parts warm water.

Mirrors Cleaning mirrors, like cleaning glass, is pretty straightforward (for more tips see the Window cleaning section in General Cleaning Tips for more details). Ammonia-based window cleaners tend to streak, so it is better to use either 1 cup vinegar and 4 litres of warm water or a squirt of dishwashing detergent in a bucket of water. Any tough stains should be removed first with a single razor blade, and after this work your way down the mirror from top to bottom, applying the solution with a sponge or soft cloth. A Squeegee can be extremely useful in the bathroom as it will not only help dry your mirrors but can also be used to dry glass doors or tiles after a shower. If you do not have a squeegee, rub dry with an old newspaper as this will avoid traces of lint, however be cautious when drying white tiles as newspaper print may be smudged onto the tiles.

Towels All bathroom towels should be washed twice a week without fail. Although darker coloured towels do not show dirt as much as white towels, this does not mean that the dirt is not there. Never dump wet towels into a pile on the floor as this will allow micro-organisms to flourish. It is preferable to spread them out neatly on a rail to dry. Similarly, do not put damp coloured towels into the washing basket without first placing them into a plastic bag, as doing so could cause the towel to dye other garments in the basket. Remember not to mix new towels with other garments when washing them for the first time as they pill. The fluff that comes off may attach to other garments, so it is ideal to purchase a set of new towels at the same time and wash them all together.

Tiles and Grout If you have ceramic tiles in your bathroom you can rest assured your tiles are durable and low-maintenance, and will most likely have a glazed finish that protects them from stains and moisture. To clean, simply wipe the tiles will a damp cloth or sponge and all purpose cleaner. Stubborn dirt can be cleaned with a brush or nylon scrubber, however remember not to use abrasive cleaners or scouring pads as they can scratch the finish of the tile.

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In between your tiles will be grout, which, unlike the tiles themselves, is rough and porous. This makes it a sticking place for soap scum and dirt, which needs to be removed regularly before it becomes a permanent feature. Grout should be cleaned regularly, using a gel or foaming bathroom cleaner, and a long-bristle brush. You should always let the cleaning product do the work as too much scrubbing will actually rub dirt into the pores rather than remove it. Rather than scrubbing harder, repeat the application or try a different product. Hard to reach crevices can be cleaned using an soft toothbrush, and it is advisable to clean straight after you shower when the grout is still moist. Tips on mopping tiles on the floor can be found under the ‘Mopping the Kitchen Floor’ section of this book.

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Chapter 5: Cleaning the Bedroom

Bedspreads and Linen Bedspreads should be laundered one or twice a week to keep then sanitary and bright. It is especially important to clean all bedspreads and linens if a member of the family has been ill, as this will avoid the potential for germs to spread. Always check the label to determine the recommended cleaning method for different materials, however the vast majority or linens are made of cotton or a cotton-polyester blend so are machine washable. It is preferable to purchase bedlinen that can be washed at 60°C as this hotter temperature will not only remove allergens but will also kill dust mites. Many pillows, including feathered pillows, can be cleaned in the washing machine so check the label for instructions. Ideally you should aim to clean your pillows twice a year, followed by tumble drying on a low heat or drying them out in the sun.

Top Tip: If you want to freshen up your bedspread without giving it a complete wash, place it in the tumble dryer for 5-10 minutes on ‘Air-fluff’. Dust and other particles will be shaken from the linen and be picked up by the machines filter instead.

Mattresses Mattresses can often be the worst enemies for sufferers of allergies as they harbour microscopic dust mites, so keeping them clean will only improve health conditions. Doing this will also have the added bonus of prolonging the life of your mattress. As we perspire up to half a litre of water every night turning back your bedcovers every morning will allow your mattress to breathe. A mattress protector under your bed linen is a great way to keep your mattress clean, but ensure that this is laundered once a month. To give your mattress a chance to recover its shape you can turn it over also once a month or rotate the ends of the mattress. During this turnover you should also remember to hoover both your mattress and under your bed.

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Wardrobes The first thing to remember about storing your clothing in wardrobes is not to cram them in. Doing so will not only make clothes harder to find but it will also prevent air from circulating, making it an ideal place for textile pests, mould and mildew. If you are struggling to find room, sort out clothes that are not in season and you are unlikely to wear, and store these items in a suitcase or storage bag. Woollens can be stored in zippable plastic bags to prevent moths laying eggs in them. To discourage moths completely, store some cedar bark or dried lavender in your wardrobe. Never return heavily soiled clothes back to the wardrobe as the human bacteria is likely to attract pests. If you do hang up worn clothes in your wardrobe be sure to air them first, as otherwise the moisture transferred from your body to the clothes is likely to cause mould.

Toys Young children and toddlers tend to have numerous toys spread out around the bedroom that collect dirt and grime, and often place these toys in their mouths. Washing toys regularly will help discourage the spread of germs. The majority of toys are made of plastic, meaning the simplest way to wash them is in the sink with warm water and a squirt of dish-washing detergent. A detergent that is too strong can remove stickers or detailed features from the toy so be careful. Toys that cannot be immersed in water, such as wooden toys or battery operated toys, can be cleaned with a damp cloth. Electronic toys can be cleaned with a cotton bud dipped in alcohol. Remember, the golden rule for toys regarding children is if it’s not washable, don’t give it to a child.