Many of us are using lockdown to do cleaning jobs around the house.
With spring just around the corner, Proactive Cleaners have predicted what they think will be the biggest home cleaning trends this season.
They have identified the top 10 with the biggest search increase on Google.
Here are some top tips and hacks on how to clean these household items.
Mousepad
To clean a fabric or cloth mousepad, fill a sink or basin with warm water and submerge the mousepad. Use a small amount of dish soap and a soft brush like an old toothbrush to gently scrub the surface. Rinse the mousepad, pat dry and leave it to air dry before being used again.
Kettle
A quick, no-scrub kettle cleaning hack involves slicing up a full lemon and adding the slices, along with water to the kettle. Boil the kettle twice with the lemon inside to allow the citric acid to break down limescale build-up and stains inside.
Pillows
Some pillows may be machine washable but for a deep clean, laundry stripping might be a better way to go. This technique uses baking soda, detergent and laundry booster to strip items of all the residual oils, grime and fabric softener that has been built up. Simply leave the pillows to soak for up to four hours, rinse thoroughly and leave to air dry completely before use.
Yoga mat
To disinfect your yoga mat, use a diluted white vinegar spray which you can combine with your favourite essential oils for a pleasant smell whenever you go into child’s pose. You can also use a mixture of dish soap and water to scrub off any stains or marks with a soft cloth.
Patio
For a non-toxic, eco-friendly way to clean your patio, use a mixture of equal parts white vinegar and water, spread the mixture across your patio tiles once you’ve cleared the area of furniture and plant pots and leave it to soak for 20 minutes. Scrub the surface before mopping up the remaining mixture and return your furniture when the area is dry.
TV screen
Modern TV screens can be damaged by traditional glass cleaners and other chemicals, so for TV screens, it’s best to simply use dish soap and water in a spray bottle. Use a microfiber cloth to clean the surface as this will avoid scratches.
Windows
For a streak-free shine, spray your windows with a solution that’s one part white vinegar to 10 parts water and use kitchen paper or newspaper to wipe dry.
Car
If you’d rather clean your car yourself, start by rinsing it with a pressure washer or hose gun, then clean the surface with a cleaning mitt and car shampoo in a bucket of warm water. Once you’ve cleaned the whole car, rinse again and dry the surface with a microfibre cloth to avoid scratching the paintwork.
Shower head
For a sparkling, limescale-free shower head, fill a freezer bag with white vinegar and place the shower head inside, making sure the vinegar covers all the spouts. Attach the bag to the head with a rubber band or hair tie and leave to soak for 2 hours. The white vinegar will break down the limescale and leave your shower head looking as good as new.
Deep fat fryer
Drain the oil into a container or dispose of it if need be. Then, scrub the basket with hot soapy water with a sponge to remove debris and stubborn grease. Use a spatula to scrape off any greasy build-up inside the fryer before filling it with clean hot water and leaving to soak for an hour. Once this is done, remove any remaining debris with kitchen paper. The filter will also need to be cleaned and soap completely dried off before being used again.
