Simple Tips for Cleaning a Toaster …

      Well, Spring is here and for many it’s a time to dust off the cobwebs and say goodbye to the chills of winter.  It’s also a time of year that many of us give our home a thorough Spring Clean … a time to pay attention to those tasks that don’t need to be done all the time or those small jobs that sometimes get overlooked. A classic example of this is the humble toaster.   Ours sits quietly inside the appliance cupboard and is used faithfully almost every single day but I have to admit it does get ignored a little … you know, out of … read more

Bathroom Cleaning Kit Essentials …

  When you think about the number of cleaning products that the average household needs, it can become quite a collection. There are cleaning products for the kitchen, laundry, bathroom, and so on, and these are often kept in a central cupboard/area. However, I’ve always looked for ways to clean more simply, quickly and efficiently and I achieve this in the bathroom by keeping all the cleaning products I need right where I need them … in the bathroom.   It’s so convenient (everything is at my fingertips), it saves me time and it motivates me to spot clean … read more

6 Simple Ways to Clean a Reusable Water Bottle …

    When I think of cleaning jobs that are sometimes overlooked or neglected, the humble water bottle comes to mind.   If you’re lucky, you and your family will carry one everywhere you go.  It’s guaranteed to keep you well hydrated, help reduce landfill and you’ll also save a stack of cash by not buying a bottle of water every time you’re thirsty.   The only downfall is they are often refilled countless times and not washed in between uses.  It’s easy to be complacent because it’s only water, right … so it should be ok!  In reality, however, if … read more

How to Make your Oven Racks Sparkle …

  When was the last time you cleaned the racks in your oven? You’ll be excused if you can’t remember because, unfortunately, it’s one of those cleaning jobs that often gets overlooked. I know I sometimes forget about mine.     Generally, I try to clean without using harsh chemicals but, because oven racks can get really baked on and grimy, this is one job where I do bring out the “big guns” … and, for this job, I use Cloudy Ammonia (it’s the same as regular ammonia, it just has a little soap added). Not only does it do a great job but it’s so … read more

How to Clean and Sanitise Wood Cutting Boards …

  I love wood cutting boards as they bring a certain warmth to any kitchen. I also love their versatility as they can be used as a serving platter or cheese board as well. They do, however, require some care and attention to ensure they maintain their appearance, hygiene and functionality.   First of all, here are a couple of things you shouldn’t do with your cutting board. Avoid putting it in the dishwasher as the water can be too hot causing your cutting board to warp or, worse still, crack or split. It’s also a good idea not to leave them soaking in … read more

How to Care for Your Bath Towels …

  One of the earliest stories I shared on the blog was my Bath Towel Buying Guide … a list of things that I consider when buying new bath towels. I love having nice towels in the bathroom and once I’ve bought gorgeous new towels, I like to keep them looking fabulous for as long as possible.   Here are some simple tips to help you care for your towels so they will look fresher and last longer:   Always wash new towels in cold water before you use them for the first time. This will reduce any lint. It will also help to improve absorbency because … read more

Simple Tips to Clean, Freshen and Maintain your Kitchen Bin …

  Keeping my kitchen rubbish bin clean is an essential part of my housework routine.  I'm a bit fussy about it because if there's one thing that makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up, it's a stinky bin ... yuk!   When I renovated my kitchen, I had a double plastic bin installed in a pullout cupboard.  The front bin we use for general rubbish, the second bin we use for any recycling items like paper, cardboard, cans or bottles and most food scraps get fed into the garbage disposal (and you can read here for tips to keep that clean).  This style of … read more

Tips for Cleaning a Dishwasher …

  It may seem odd to think that you need to clean a dishwasher, after all, isn’t that what it’s meant to do … to clean things. But a dishwasher can get dirty just like any other appliance in the house. It’s also important to keep it clean so that it continues to function at it’s best, run efficiently and smell fresh. Your dishwasher can fall victim to stubborn grease and soap scum, limescale which can build up in the pipes, and filters can be blocked with food scraps but a little bit of attention will see it sparkle like new.   This is what I … read more

How I Put the Sparkle in my Mirrors in Less than One Minute …

  Do you hate toothpaste splatter all over your bathroom mirrors? Do you loathe looking through mascara, other makeup stains and shaving cream while trying to clean your teeth? Do fingerprints and tacky hairspray all over the mirror leave you wanting to pull your hair out?   Me too and if I had to create a list of all the things that drive me crazy around the house, this would be in my top 5!   But I’ve overcome the problem with a fairly simple solution … creating a routine of wiping the bathroom mirrors every day or two by using 2 microfibre … read more

A Simple Way to Clean Ceiling Fans …

  I don’t mind general house cleaning and have developed a weekly routine that covers most areas of the house. There are, however, a couple of jobs that don’t need to be done quite as frequently and one of those is cleaning the ceiling fans.   We live in Queensland and use our fans quite a lot, particularly throughout summer, and we have fans in the lounge room, the family room and each of the four bedrooms. They do tend to get quite dusty and, because I suffer from hay-fever, I try to keep the blades of the fans as clean as possible to prevent a huge … read more

Simple Tips to Clean and Freshen the Garbage Disposal …

  I love my garbage disposal! It’s such a convenient appliance that helps me keep on top of food scraps in the kitchen but it does need to be operated and maintained with some tender loving care to keep it clean, hygienic and smelling fresh as a daisy.   A garbage disposal is self-cleaning to a degree, as it’s constantly flushed with water when operating, however, sludge can build up around the sides and the grinding blades and stinky odours can develop. Here are a couple of different methods I’ve used to clean and freshen my garage disposal that all work … read more

Simple Tips for Cleaning your Wheelie Bin …

  A smelly or dirty wheelie bin is one of those jobs that often gets overlooked and it’s a job most of us will try to ignore for as long as possible … but it can’t be ignored forever … eventually you’re going to have to clean it! Apart from horrible smells and odours, a dirty bin will be responsible for a plague of flies, maggots, other bugs, germs and bacteria, so it’s important to keep it clean.   The day your rubbish is collected is the perfect day to clean the bin as it will be empty. If you own a pressure cleaner, that will allow you to clean the bin … read more

Simple Tips for Cleaning the Window Tracks …

  Of all the jobs I need to do around the house, this would definitely be one of my least favourite and I'm sure a lot of you will feel the same way.  It's a frustrating, fiddly job because most window tracks are very narrow spaces and very difficult to get into.  It's also a job that often gets overlooked because it's not part of our regular cleaning routine, until one day, you open the window, look down and then die of embarrassment from the state of the tracks ... sound familiar!   So here are a few simple tips that I use which will hopefully make the … read more

How I Clean my TV Screen and Remote Controls …

    I’m not sure why, but my TV screen always ends up covered in fingerprints. It surprises me a little now that my girls are teenagers and young adults as I would expect it more with smaller children or toddlers but it seems to happen anyway and it drives me crazy. It’s not too bad when you’re watching TV but the second it’s turned off, those fingerprints jump straight out at me!   So, once a week I clean the screen as part of my regular household routine. A gentle wipe with a microfibre cloth is usually all I need to do to clean the frame and … read more

How I Put the Shine in my Kitchen Sink …

  If you stop to think about it, the kitchen sink is one of the hardest workhorses in your home because it’s used multiple times every day. I love walking into my kitchen and seeing a clean, sparkling sink, and it needs to be kept clean to:   prevent odours and smells   remove food stains, splashes and spills   prevent soap deposits from building up   prevent rust   reduce germs and bacteria   keep your kitchen looking organised and less cluttered   And the good news is, once you’ve … read more