It’s been proven that we’re a nation of pet lovers and who are we to argue? Your pet dog or cat is your loyal companion and a much loved part of the family. If there was just one thing you could change about your dear pets though, it would be to reduce the amount of hair you have to pick up when you’re cleaning your home.
Firstly, the very best way to reduce the amount of pet hair you have to clean up is to ensure that you groom your pet on a regular basis. Spend ten minutes a day brushing your pet and not only will they shed less, but you will also find that they have a shinier, softer coat.
Even though you are grooming your pet on a daily basis, there is no escaping the fact that they will still leave some pesky hairs around your home – especially in warmer months. Don’t let this worry you when it comes to cleaning your home though.
Fabric sofas can be a particular nuisance when it comes to magnets for pet hair. To remove it, firstly use your vacuum attachment and run it over the sofa, paying attention to the most hairy areas. The vacuum won’t remove all of the hair but it will go a long way to help.
Next, use either a lint roller (available from pet shops and clothing stores) or a slightly damp cloth to brush over the sofa and pick up all of the more stubborn hairs.
If you find that you still have hairs that you can’t remove, try rubbing a fabric softener sheet over the area before trying to get the hairs up. This should loosen them from the fabric and make them easier to move. This method can work for removing pet hairs from most areas when cleaning your home.
Because your pets spend most of their time on the carpets though, there may be more hair to pick up here. After vacuuming if there are still stubborn hairs stuck in the pile try sticking some masking tape to the area and ripping it off. The stuck-in hairs should stick to the tape leaving your carpet clean and hair-free!
For more great help with cleaning your home, visit again next week.
If you’re looking for tips on cleaning, look no further than Borax as a more economical way to go about your daily cleaning.
You can pick up a box of Borax from your local chemist for around £2 and it can be used to substitute countless household products.
Dishwasher tablets can be expensive and seem to disappear very quickly. Try substituting the pricey tablets with one tablespoon of Borax, one tablespoon of bicarbonate of soda and some lemon essential oil if you want a fresh lemon smell. This works as a cheaper, greener way to wash the dishes. If you want to go one step further and replace your rinse aid, refer to our earlier tips on cleaning and use some of that good old white distilled vinegar instead.
If you want a change from your all-purpose vinegar cleaner, you could try making one with Borax instead. Just mix one tablespoon of Borax with a litre of water and use the solution as a general cleaner for your work surfaces, tiles and greasy surfaces. Use a weaker version of this to clean windows and mirrors and your home will be sparkling in no time.
Borax is a great when used as a pre-wash for your white washing too. You may have been given lots of tips on cleaning your whites but by sprinkling two tablespoons of Borax into some warm water, along with your grubby white clothes you will have whiter whites than ever!
If you want whiter whites and a water softener, put two tablespoons of Borax on top of your clothes in the washing machine before washing them. You can use this method with coloured clothing too, just make sure that they are colour-fast as Borax can bleach coloured fabrics.
Now for the last of our tips on cleaning with Borax; try mixing one tablespoon of the powder with a bowl of water to rinse your glassware in. The Borax will cut through any remaining grease in the water or on the glass and make it sparkle like crystal! Just remember to use a clean towel when drying the glass or you will ruin the gleam.
For more professional tips on cleaning, check back next week!
Many people want to know how to clean a house but often we forget the parts that other people don’t see. We put it off and put it off until eventually we have no option but to dedicate half a day to cleaning and organising these dreaded areas.
The wardrobe is one such dreaded area that is in desperate need of organisation - you can’t find your favourite dress, let alone a matching pair of shoes. Now is the time to take charge.
Start by emptying the contents of your wardrobe onto the bed or the floor. Clean the inside of your wardrobe thoroughly. In other ‘how to clean a house’ tips, we told you about the benefits of vinegar as a household product - you can use your homemade vinegar cleaner for this as it will both clean and deodorise your wardrobe without having to use two products.
Next, work through the clothes that you have taken out of the wardrobe. Split them into piles to give to charity, throw away and keep. Place anything that you want to keep neatly on hangers and put back in the wardrobe. If you want to be super-organised you could try hanging your clothes in colour order.
Now you need to sort out your shoes. A great tip for how to clean a house and keep it clean is to make sure that your shoes are always clean. If any of your shoes could do with a polish do it now and then next time you want to wear them they will be shiny and waiting. Arrange your shoes in the bottom of the wardrobe in pairs. A shoe rack can be a good way to make sure they stay in their pairs.
A top tip when clearing out your wardrobe is to be ruthless. It’s difficult but if you have things that you haven’t worn for years, the chances are that you won’t wear them again. Give them away and let someone else enjoy them. You can enjoy your newly organised wardrobe instead!
For more tips on how to clean a house just visit the site next week.