How To Make Cleaning Easier

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    Soft furnishings: For stains on leather and vinyl, spray Pledge on a cloth and gently rub. Wipe well with a dry cloth. Don't use cleaners containing silicone - they close up the pores of vinyl and leather, causing them to tighten and potentially crack. To spruce up curtains, take them down and give them a quick cycle in the tumble dryer with a wet towel to get rid of dust.
    2/28 Soft furnishings: For stains on leather and vinyl, spray Pledge on a cloth and gently rub. Wipe well with a dry cloth. Don't use cleaners containing silicone - they close up the pores of vinyl and leather, causing them to tighten and potentially crack. To spruce up curtains, take them down and give them a quick cycle in the tumble dryer with a wet towel to get rid of dust.
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    Make your kettle as good as new: Get rid of limescale with a proprietary remover. Alternatively, fill the kettle with an equal solution of water and vinegar and leave to soak for as long as you can, then boil, empty and rinse thoroughly.
    3/28 Make your kettle as good as new: Get rid of limescale with a proprietary remover. Alternatively, fill the kettle with an equal solution of water and vinegar and leave to soak for as long as you can, then boil, empty and rinse thoroughly.
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    Start with your vacuum cleaner: Give it some TLC and it will work better and last longer. Use the crevice tool to vacuum dust from the brush attachment. If yours is bagels, clean the filter according to the instructions.
    4/28 Start with your vacuum cleaner: Give it some TLC and it will work better and last longer. Use the crevice tool to vacuum dust from the brush attachment. If yours is bagels, clean the filter according to the instructions.
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    Dust slatted blinds: To clean blinds, just lower and close them completely, then use a damp paintbrush.
    5/28 Dust slatted blinds: To clean blinds, just lower and close them completely, then use a damp paintbrush.
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    Store away your seasonal clothes: Always wash or dry-clean your clothes before storing them. This will deter moths and also remove perfume and deodorant stains, which may oxidise and worsen over time. Store out-of-season garments in cotton, breathable bags rather than plastic, which attracts dust and condensation.
    6/28 Store away your seasonal clothes: Always wash or dry-clean your clothes before storing them. This will deter moths and also remove perfume and deodorant stains, which may oxidise and worsen over time. Store out-of-season garments in cotton, breathable bags rather than plastic, which attracts dust and condensation.
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    Prevent wax from sticking to a candle holder: Rub a thin coat of olive oil on the base of the holder before inserting a candle. Any dripped wax should peel away easily.
    7/28 Prevent wax from sticking to a candle holder: Rub a thin coat of olive oil on the base of the holder before inserting a candle. Any dripped wax should peel away easily.
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    Have a clear-out: If you're having a clear-out and can't decide whether or not to keep something, a key question to ask yourself is: 'Would I take this with me if I moved house?' If the answer is no, but you still don't want to bin it, try having a 'maybe' sack to store things in for six weeks. If you can live without it for that long, it's time to say goodbye.
    8/28 Have a clear-out: If you're having a clear-out and can't decide whether or not to keep something, a key question to ask yourself is: 'Would I take this with me if I moved house?' If the answer is no, but you still don't want to bin it, try having a 'maybe' sack to store things in for six weeks. If you can live without it for that long, it's time to say goodbye.
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    Clean the inside of your handbag: Gently pull the lining inside out then wipe with a damp cloth or baby wipes.
    9/28 Clean the inside of your handbag: Gently pull the lining inside out then wipe with a damp cloth or baby wipes.
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    Get your duvet dry-cleaned: They're easy to overlook, but duvets should be cleaned at least once a year - and now's the perfect time to do it, especially if you're swapping summer quilts for winter ones. Dry-cleaning is the best way to kill off dust mites and the allergens they produce.
    10/28 Get your duvet dry-cleaned: They're easy to overlook, but duvets should be cleaned at least once a year - and now's the perfect time to do it, especially if you're swapping summer quilts for winter ones. Dry-cleaning is the best way to kill off dust mites and the allergens they produce.
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    Clean your lamp shades: Rid your fabric lamp shades of dust by simply running a lint roller around the outside. Remember to remove the sticky strip on the roller before you start to avoid getting more fur and dust on your shades!
    11/28 Clean your lamp shades: Rid your fabric lamp shades of dust by simply running a lint roller around the outside. Remember to remove the sticky strip on the roller before you start to avoid getting more fur and dust on your shades!
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    Remove scuff marks on paintwork: Rub them with a clean pencil eraser, then dampen a cloth with rubbing alcohol and dab the mark until it disappears.
    12/28 Remove scuff marks on paintwork: Rub them with a clean pencil eraser, then dampen a cloth with rubbing alcohol and dab the mark until it disappears.
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    Lipstick remover: If you have lipstick on a collar and the fabric is machine-washable, saturate the spot with hairspray, let it sit for ten minutes, dab the area with a damp cloth and wash as usual.
    13/28 Lipstick remover: If you have lipstick on a collar and the fabric is machine-washable, saturate the spot with hairspray, let it sit for ten minutes, dab the area with a damp cloth and wash as usual.
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    The benefits of olive oil: Don't just reserve olive oil for cooking, silence squeaky doors by lubricating hinges with a small dab of olive oil to a cloth, then wiping the top of the hinges so that the oil runs down the sides.
    14/28 The benefits of olive oil: Don't just reserve olive oil for cooking, silence squeaky doors by lubricating hinges with a small dab of olive oil to a cloth, then wiping the top of the hinges so that the oil runs down the sides.
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    Remove pet hair pronto: A quick way to remove pet hair from upholstery is to put on a rubber glove - ideally with a raised grip - run it under the tap, then shake off any excess moisture. Run your fingers over the pet hair in short scraping strokes for easy removal.
    15/28 Remove pet hair pronto: A quick way to remove pet hair from upholstery is to put on a rubber glove - ideally with a raised grip - run it under the tap, then shake off any excess moisture. Run your fingers over the pet hair in short scraping strokes for easy removal.
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    Save clothes from pollen: If you get pollen on your clothes, don't try to brush it off! Take a small piece of sticky tape, press the sticky side on to the pollen mark and lift off. Repeat with clean tape as required.
    16/28 Save clothes from pollen: If you get pollen on your clothes, don't try to brush it off! Take a small piece of sticky tape, press the sticky side on to the pollen mark and lift off. Repeat with clean tape as required.
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    Grotty grout cleaner: Fold a piece of medium-grit sandpaper in half, rough-side out, and use the creased edge to scrub out the stains in the bathroom tile grout.
    17/28 Grotty grout cleaner: Fold a piece of medium-grit sandpaper in half, rough-side out, and use the creased edge to scrub out the stains in the bathroom tile grout.
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    Freshen up your linens: If your white bedding and towels are looking a bit grey and tired, add half a cup of lemon juice or a cup of white vinegar to your wash.
    18/28 Freshen up your linens: If your white bedding and towels are looking a bit grey and tired, add half a cup of lemon juice or a cup of white vinegar to your wash.
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    How to stop steamy mirrors: Rub a dry bar of soap over the surface of your bathroom windows then rub with a clean cloth and it keeps the fog away. Alternatively to prevent mirrors from steaming up, put a small amount of washing-up liquid on a dry cloth and rub it thoroughly into the surface of the mirror.
    19/28 How to stop steamy mirrors: Rub a dry bar of soap over the surface of your bathroom windows then rub with a clean cloth and it keeps the fog away. Alternatively to prevent mirrors from steaming up, put a small amount of washing-up liquid on a dry cloth and rub it thoroughly into the surface of the mirror.
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    Keep your shower clean: Mix equal parts of vinegar and water and scrub on with a soft toothbrush to remove limescale on the shower door. For heavy caking, soak paper towels in vinegar, and leave on overnight. Lemon juice and water applied with an old newspaper then rinsed with water works well too.
    20/28 Keep your shower clean: Mix equal parts of vinegar and water and scrub on with a soft toothbrush to remove limescale on the shower door. For heavy caking, soak paper towels in vinegar, and leave on overnight. Lemon juice and water applied with an old newspaper then rinsed with water works well too.
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    De-pong your fridge: If your fridge smells bad - place a saucer containing a few tablespoons of ground coffee inside. Keep the fridge door closed for as long as you can - 24 hours if possible. Throw away the coffee and keep an open pack of cheap coffee in the fridge to serve as a deodoriser.
    21/28 De-pong your fridge: If your fridge smells bad - place a saucer containing a few tablespoons of ground coffee inside. Keep the fridge door closed for as long as you can - 24 hours if possible. Throw away the coffee and keep an open pack of cheap coffee in the fridge to serve as a deodoriser.
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    Keep your silver sparkling: If you can't be bothered to polish tarnished silver cutlery, boil it for ten minutes in a saucepan of water, lined with aluminum foil.
    22/28 Keep your silver sparkling: If you can't be bothered to polish tarnished silver cutlery, boil it for ten minutes in a saucepan of water, lined with aluminum foil.
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    Deal with limescale in the loo: Distilled vinegar dissolves calcium (which is what limescale is made of). Put it into a plant-spray bottle, then apply to the loo, leave for half an hour, and rinse clean. If the problem is more severe, soak a few pieces of kitchen towel in vinegar and place them on the affected parts for a few hours.
    23/28 Deal with limescale in the loo: Distilled vinegar dissolves calcium (which is what limescale is made of). Put it into a plant-spray bottle, then apply to the loo, leave for half an hour, and rinse clean. If the problem is more severe, soak a few pieces of kitchen towel in vinegar and place them on the affected parts for a few hours.
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    Wash your windows: When cleaning, finish off with a squeegee, wiping the interior horizontally and the exterior vertically so you know if any streaks are inside or outside.
    24/28 Wash your windows: When cleaning, finish off with a squeegee, wiping the interior horizontally and the exterior vertically so you know if any streaks are inside or outside.
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    Remove oil from silk clothing: Gently rub cornflour into the area to absorb the oil, and lightly brush off. Cover the oil mark completely with more cornflour and leave to sit for a few hours. Shake clothing free of flour and then hand wash, or use a gentle machine cycle, using handwash detergent.
    25/28 Remove oil from silk clothing: Gently rub cornflour into the area to absorb the oil, and lightly brush off. Cover the oil mark completely with more cornflour and leave to sit for a few hours. Shake clothing free of flour and then hand wash, or use a gentle machine cycle, using handwash detergent.
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    Spruce up your wood: Remove grease marks from wooden table tops using neat vinegar to dissolve the grease then wiping immediately with a cloth wrung out with a solution of equal parts vinegar and warm water.
    26/28 Spruce up your wood: Remove grease marks from wooden table tops using neat vinegar to dissolve the grease then wiping immediately with a cloth wrung out with a solution of equal parts vinegar and warm water.
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    Shine stainless steel: Many cleaning standbys, such as ammonia, can dull and even corrode chrome and stainless steel. Olive oil, however, is a safe and effective shining agent.
    27/28 Shine stainless steel: Many cleaning standbys, such as ammonia, can dull and even corrode chrome and stainless steel. Olive oil, however, is a safe and effective shining agent.
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    Time it: Most cleaning jobs can actually be done in about ten minutes; time yourself and you'll get speedier. Try this: do a five-minute sweep through each room, taking a box or basket with you. Place in it anything that doesn't belong in that room; put away anything that does belong there.
    28/28 Time it: Most cleaning jobs can actually be done in about ten minutes; time yourself and you'll get speedier. Try this: do a five-minute sweep through each room, taking a box or basket with you. Place in it anything that doesn't belong in that room; put away anything that does belong there.

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Getting resourceful with your housekeeping will cut the time you spend cleaning in half. We have plenty of tricks up our sleeve, using natural kitchen ingredients, to tackle those jobs and make more time for you...