Ask the expert
Q: How do I clean my cooker extractor hood and filters?
A: A dirty filter means that the extractor fan has to be run at a higher setting to achieve the expected results and this increases the energy consumption and noise. Therefore the grease filter in a cooker hood must be regularly cleaned – about once a month.
Q: My shower head is clogged with limescale, how can I clean it?
A: By soaking in a solution of half white vinegar and half water for a couple of hours. Brush away any debris using an old toothbrush. Repeating this process once a month will prevent limescale build-up.
Q: How do I prevent mould forming in the bathroom grouting?
A: To prevent mould developing on grouting and sealant, wipe down the shower screen, bath and tiles with an e-cloth after use and use an anti-mould bathroom spray once a week such as Dettol Mould and Mildew. If grout does become discoloured, scrub with an old toothbrush dipped in a solution of one part bleach to four parts water. Cillit Bang Bleach spray (white topped bottle) if you want to buy a ready made product or if your problem is limescale then you could consider Viakal.
Q: How do I remove the smell of stale smoke?
A: Unfortunately, most air freshener’s usually only mask odours, rather than neutralise them. Two common household products do a fantastic job of neutralising odours and deodorising the air. The first is vinegar; Just placing saucers of white vinegar on the floor and leaving them in a sealed room overnight, followed by ventilating with fresh air, can have a noticeable effect on reducing the smell. Obviously vinegar itself has a pungent odour but this will evaporate and fade whereas cigarette smoke does not. Alternatively, baking soda can also be used to great effect. This is particularly suitable for fabrics. Simply sprinkle the baking soda across as much of the surface as possible and leave for several hours or even a day if possible, and then vacuum everything off. Repeat a few more times if necessary.
Q: What is the best way to remove chewing gum from my carpet?
A: Fill a sandwich bag with ice cubes and apply to the affected area for 20minutes, allowing the gum to harden. It should then be easy to remove using a blunt knife. If there is still gum left, repeat this process with fresh ice.
Q: What is the best way to clean my bathroom?
A: For easy bathroom cleaning, clean after a steamy bath or shower. The tiles, taps etc., will be much easier to clean because the steam will have loosened the dirt.
Q: I have a love hate relationship with my microwave, how do I keep it clean?!
Microwave cleaning is often awkward and frustrating. Why not try bringing a bowl of water with a slice of lemon to the boil inside the microwave. Once the water bubbles, stop heating but leave the door shut for 10 minutes and let the steam do the hard work for you. Then you’ll be able to wipe off all the grease and muck trouble free.
Q: I always end up with streaky mirrors and windows when cleaning, what can I do to stop this from happening?
A common and frustrating problem, why not try spraying air freshener on the mirror/window and wipe it streak free with scrunched up old newspaper, it will also smell nice too!
Q: I need an easy way to refresh my carpets, what can you suggest?
Instead of grabbing the Shake ‘n Vac to bring the freshness back, simply sprinkle baking soda onto the carpet before you go to bed, in the morning give it a quick vacuum and you will notice a much fresher smelling carpet.
