Spring is here and for many of us that means it is time to spring clean.

Our cleaning tips can help to make spring cleaning quick and easy, making your home a more pleasant and enjoyable place to live in.

Windows

The cleaner your windows are, the more light comes into your home. Washing your windows on a cloudy day stops the sun from drying them faster than you are washing them. This helps avoid having streaks on the glass.

Stainless Steel

Mix together 1tsp of washing up liquid with 1L of hot water. Use a cloth to rub the solution onto marks. Then rinse it off with hot water and dry with a clean cloth.

Pots and pans

Simmering a mixture of water and washing up liquid in a pan on a low heat can help to remove burned-on food residue. Use a scouring pad to remove any remaining stuck on bits. Ketchup can dissolve tarnish on copper pots. Rub the ketchup over the area that is tarnished and then rinse off.

Oven

Put a hot, wet cloth on top of baked-on grime to help to soften it. A sprinkle of baking powder and a heavy duty scouring pad will finish off the job. Then simply rinse it off and dry.

Microwave

Fill a microwave-safe bowl with 1 cup of water, a chopped up citrus fruit and a couple of tablespoons of vinegar and pop it in the microwave on its highest setting until the solution boils and the microwave is filled with steam. This loosens any dried on spills making them easier to wipe off.

Chopping Boards

Rub the cut side of a lemon wedge over a chopping board to help remove both stains and nasty lingering smells. Sprinkling it with salt or baking soda first can supercharge the cleaning effect of the lemon.

Shower curtains

Pop your shower curtains in your washing machine with a few towels on the wool cycle with your normal washing powder. Then hang them up to dry.