Spring will be here before you know it and it will soon be time to open the cleaning supplies cupboard for that dreaded deep spring clean. We’ve rounded up some our top tips and helpful hacks to get you started for a little home TLC. From grimy shower curtains and floor tiles to stained chopping boards and rusty metal or jewellery, we’ve got you covered with a few homemade solutions and not a cleaning product in sight!
Remove Kettle Limescale
Did you know baking soda (bicarbonate of soda) works brilliantly as a cleaning product? It’s naturally low abrasive nature makes it perfect for removing limescale from kettles. For those households that love boiling the kettle, they should be aiming to descale at least once a month.
- Mix 1 teaspoon of baking soda with 500ml of water, boil and let it stand for 15 minutes before pouring away.
- Rinse with fresh water and repeat if necessary.
Cleaning Tile Grout
Don’t let grubby grout get your down! A little bicarbonate of soda, vinegar and elbow grease will have it sparkling in no time.
- Make a paste with 2 parts bicarbonate of soda and 1 part water, and rub onto the dirty grout using an old toothbrush (an old electric toothbrush will save on the elbow grease).
- Fill a spray bottle with distilled white vinegar and spray over the bicarb mix on the tiles. It should start bubbling, leave for a few minutes
- Using an old toothbrush or a stiff cleaning brush, scrub away the grime. Rinse well with water.
Stained Plastic Chopping Boards
The humble chopping board is integral to even the most basic of kitchens, but if you think those nasty marks on your chopping board are permanent, you’re wrong!
- Sprinkle the stained chopping board with a little baking soda.
- Take half a cut lemon and rub liberally over the stained chopping board sprinkled with the baking soda
- Leave overnight and then rinse with water.
Remove Hard Water Build Up
Hard water deposits are created by the minerals in the water which can gradually collect on fixtures such as taps. Not only do they look bad but can also impair the function of the fixtures. To keep your taps looking their best, repeat at least once a month.
Using Fresh Lemons:
- Cut half a fresh lemon and place on the end of the tap.
- Wrap a small plastic bag (such as food bag) around the lemon and secure in place with an elastic band. Leave for a few hours.
- Remove the lemon and wipe clean.
Using Vinegar:
- Soak a clean cloth in distilled white vinegar and cover the affected area of the tap. Secure in place with an elastic band if required.
- Leave for at least 1-2 hours.
- Remove the cloth and use a non-scratch sponge to scrub away the hard water.
Cleaning Jewellery & Removing Rust From Metal
The carbonic acid in soda water has the ability to reduce or reverse corrosion caused by rust as well as lift grime and grease from jewellery so you can save on expensive jewellery cleaning and metal cleaners.
For Jewellery:
- Pour some soda water into a bowl and add a few drop of washing up liquid.
- Soak the jewellery in the solution to loosen the grime. Leave overnight to soak.
- The next day give the jewellery a swirl and watch the dirt dissolve.
- Rinse with water and dry with a soft water absorbent cloth.
For Rust:
- Pour soda water into a bowl or plastic container and soak the rusty items for a few hours whilst the fizz works its magic. Perfect for nuts, bolts, hinges, jewellery, gates and even tools.
- Remove and dry the items.
Grimy Shower Curtains
Overtime shower curtains become dirty due to mildew, mould and build-up of soap scum, but that doesn’t mean you need to throw your shower curtain away and get a new one. Plastic or vinyl shower curtains can easily be washed and refreshed.
- Stick the plastic or vinyl shower curtain in the washing machine with a few towels. Be sure to remove any metal or plastic rings from the curtain.
- Run the machine on a gentle cycle with the usual amount of washing detergent. If you wish add half a cup of distilled white vinegar (to the detergent drawer) when the washing machines switches to the rinse cycle (optional).
- Let it hang dry before showering.
Top Tip: Adding the towels will help scrub the shower curtain and prevent it from wrinkling.
Top Tip: To keep your shower curtain cleaner for longer, spray the curtain with a vinegar spray (mixture if water and vinegar) after each shower. This will help prevent mildew and mould build-up.
For more top tips take a look at:
Spring Clean Your Beauty Routine
Kitchen Storage Solutions & Ideas
How To: Take Care Of Your Garden Furniture