Interiors
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Cleaning expert reveals top cleans to get the home straight for 2024
With 82% of Brits having experienced ‘mess stress’ there’s no time like the present to give the home a deep clean. In fact, research has even shown that mothers living in cluttered homes have more of the stress hormone cortisol present, so having a clean and tidy home can really help to lift those January blues.
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Cleaning expert at Drench, Nancy Emery, is sharing some of her top cleaning habits - along with the must-do cleans to kick off the new year to give us all the motivation for a cleaner 2024.
She says: “We all dread the new year clean, but with the right approach to getting it done, you’ll feel so much more relaxed and ready for the year ahead. And, once the big, deep clean is out of the way, you can keep things ticking over quite easily with simple planning and a few quick wins.
“With the majority of children back at school or University this week, there's a chance to take stock at home; clearing the clutter and finding homes for all those new toys. Once you’ve got that sorted, it’s time to pick a date when you’ll go for it. This way, you can make sure you have everything you need to complete the clean.
“Always start at the top of your home and work down, and within each room start with the ceilings and the light fixtures first before moving down to the windows, surfaces, skirting boards and finally hoovering the carpets or floors.
“This way you ensure all the dust is collected and you minimise disturbing pockets of dust that can fall onto clean surfaces.
“The bathroom is probably one of the rooms we avoid the most but it’s the one space in the home where we can really have some alone time to relax and unwind, so making it look and smell amazing will do wonders for your mood.
“The key thing to remember is to take it slow and steady. Many of us feel overwhelmed by the thought of cleaning but the reward at the end is definitely worth pushing through and getting it done!”
For those that have made it their New Year’s resolution to keep things more spick and span at home, Nancy shares the cleaning habits that will make it a breeze.
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Top habits
1. Clean by a schedule: Creating a weekly cleaning schedule will really help you to keep on top of things. Split the home up and focus on one area or room per day to keep it looking nice. If you don’t have as much time to devote to cleaning, choose a Saturday or Sunday and spend 2-3 hours running through your home from top to bottom; or choose the upstairs one week and then focus on downstairs the next, but be sure to clean your bathroom/s at least once a week.
2. Tidy as you go: Whether you’re chilling in the house, cooking up a storm in the kitchen or entertaining friends, try and keep things fairly tidy as you go along so that it’s not an overwhelming job at the end.
3. Clean to music: Not everyone loves to clean so doing it to music has much the same effect as exercising to music, it really helps to get you in the mood and forget about the task in hand!
4. Make the beds: Spend 5 to 10 minutes making the bed in your home every morning - and definitely encourage your children to help by doing their own. Just this one simple task each morning really sets you in a positive mindset for the rest of day making you much more productive in all areas of your life.
5. Late night reset: Resetting the cushions and throws before heading to bed may seem like an unnecessary task but it gives you a clear and clutter-free mind before going to sleep. Similarly, putting any dishes or cups in the sink or loading the dishwasher and putting it on, or tidying toys away all contribute to a more settled mind before bed.
6. Laundry rota: Washing can start to build up quickly especially if you have children, and there is nothing worse than being faced with overflowing baskets and not having time to do it. If you live in a bigger household, then try and pop a load on every day. Sorting and putting away one load of dry laundry takes just 20 minutes, rather than an all day slog if you put it off day after day. For smaller households, choose a specific day of the week to do your laundry and stick to it.
And if you’re not sure where to start, here are her top new year cleans.
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New Year Cleans
1. Corners High and Low: Find time to focus on the corners of your home both high and low as this is where you’ll find a collection of dust and debris, as well as lingering spiderwebs. Use the spout nozzle of your hoover or for harder to reach areas a broom will do the trick! Do this monthly to keep on top of it.
2. Taps: Spend some time to clean all the taps around your home, such as in the bathroom, kitchen and utility areas. Bathroom taps are one of the areas that can harbour the most germs, and can contain escherichia coli (e. coli) and other faecal types of bacteria. That’s because the damp and humid conditions of a bathroom are a perfect breeding ground for these types of bacteria - and the bathroom tap is often the first thing people touch after they go to the toilet.
Drying your tap with a microfibre cloth after use will prevent limescale, which is especially recommended if you have hard water. Clean regularly with hot water and a soft cloth to keep on top of stains and watermarks. Avoid harsh chemical cleaners, especially if you have a special finish to your tap like brushed brass.
3. Carpets: You may hoover daily but having a deeper clean of your carpets can prevent the build-up of allergens and bacteria. It also protects the lifespan of your carpet, helping it to look fresh and new for longer.
A proper carpet clean can also help to eliminate odours making your room smell better. If you have stains that need attention, then there’s a cheap diy method that can really help. Simply mix one cup of water with one cup of white vinegar in a spray bottle and add a teaspoon of washing up liquid. Spray onto the stain and let it work its magic for 10 minutes, then use a soft bristle brush or old toothbrush to work the stain. Wash the solution off with a cold, damp microfiber cloth by dabbing the stain - don’t rub!
4. Shower head: Keeping your shower head clean is really important. If you've found that the flow of your shower is lower than it used to be or the water is no longer coming out straight, chances are your shower head is clogged up with dirt and mineral deposits.
To clean well, scrub off loose dirt or limescale with a scouring sponge or old toothbrush. Then, fill a plastic sandwich bag with white vinegar and submerge the shower head inside. Secure the bag with an elastic band so it stays in place and leave it to soak for around an hour. Remove the shower head from the bag and run the hot water to clean out any deposits which may be trapped around the nozzles. Finally, using your old toothbrush or scourer, scrub off any excess dirt or limescale that hasn’t been removed by the vinegar. You can then rinse the shower head with a separate tap to remove any last mineral deposits and that vinegar smell.
5. Fridge: The fridge is probably one of the most used appliances around the home, and even more so around the festive period. So, giving it a good clean at the start of the year is important. You want to do this quickly but efficiently to ensure no food is spoiled in the process. I like to do this just before my weekly big shop so that it’s nice and clean for all the fresh food. But if you don’t shop as regularly then giving your fridge a good clean once a month is still enough.
First, empty the fridge completely and remove salad trays. Fill the sink with warm (not hot) water and a little washing up liquid, soak a clean cloth and use it to wipe around all the shelves, including underneath. Hot water may raise the temperature of the fridge too much so it’s best to use the warm water or alternatively, cold water with a fridge safe sterile solution. Clean trays in the sink before returning to the fridge. Close the door and let it cool down before returning your food.
