Monday, 21 November 2016
Saturday, 29 October 2016
How to Clean Chandeliers and Light Fixtures
Biggest Challenges
1. Hard-to-reach cobwebs
2. Filmy crystals, dusty bulbs
3. Dingy lampshades
Fastest Fixes
1. Wipe out webs. Dust and cobwebs seem to disappear when it's dark, so to nab the pesky problems, turn the lights on before you start cleaning. Either use a long-handled duster or make one: Wrap a yardstick or broom handle at the end __with a dampened dusting cloth or old sock; secure __with a rubber band. Starting with your hanging fixtures, run your duster around each light's ceiling attachment and along the chain. Next, carefully work the duster through the fixture to catch any webs dangling inside. For less-intricate globe overhead lights, a gentle whisk around the glass cover should nab any dust or debris.
2. Get crystals (and bulbs) clear. Taking down and hand-washing chandelier crystals one by one is the definition of chore. Instead, give yours this speedy, two-fisted approach. For the low-hanging dining room fixture, arm yourself with a microfiber cloth in one hand and a premoistened glass-cleaning wipe in the other (or make your own by spritzing a paper towel with glass cleaner). Turn the lights off, since liquids plus electricity equals a bad idea, then wipe and dry each crystal from the top of the fixture down, so you won't smudge already-clean crystals by reaching over them. To avoid damaging the cord and connections, don't spin the chandelier; instead, move yourself around it. If possible, push the table out of the way or use a step stool for better access. Next, the bulbs: Using your microfiber cloth, wipe each one, giving a gentle twist to be sure it's secure in its socket. When using your step stool, you'll need to reposition it a few times to work your way around — or, if you don't see any burned-out bulbs to replace, just skip the high-wire act entirely and do your best from the ground with your long-reach duster.
3. Fix a shady situation. For pleated shades on floor or table lamps, grab a clean paintbrush to quickly whisk dust from inside each pleat, working from top to bottom all the way around the shade. Run the same brush over the bulb and the wire that holds the shade in place. Nonpleated shades don't gather as much mess, so a once-over with a duster, microfiber cloth, or even a lint roller should do it. Use a duster or microfiber cloth to spiff up the lamp's base.
Make It Easier Next Time
- Invest in an extendable duster, like the Oxo Good Grips Microfiber Duster ($15). It has a pivoting head to get dust from any angle.
- When buying new shades, choose smooth, not pleated, ones for easier maintenance.
- Not looking to replace your shades? Whether they're pleated or plain, just give them a spritz (with the light turned off) of Static Guard ($4 for 5.5 oz.) when you're tidying up. It will help loosen and even repel future dust for easier cleaning.
A Fresh Couch, Fast!
Biggest Challenges
1. Hard-to-remove pet hair
2. Dusty, crumby cushions
3. Stains on the fabric
Tools You'll Use
- Rubber gloves
- Vacuum cleaner __with attachments
- Dishwashing liquid and water, or solvent-based spot remover
- Soft cloth
Fastest Fixes
1. De-hair the chairs. If it takes a moment to notice that the cat or dog is not, in fact, sitting on the couch, recliner, or upholstered chair, de-fuzzing is your first priority. Don't waste your time __with a lint roller; it's ineffective for a large task like this. Instead, don a pair of clean rubber gloves. Run your hands over the arms, seat, and back of the furniture, gathering and tossing the fur as it balls up. For water-safe upholstery (which doesn't change or transfer color when blotted with a damp cloth in a hidden spot), wet the gloves for better pickup.
2. Conquer crumbs. Even with a no-food-on-the-sofa rule, dust and debris somehow make their way into seat crevices. The most effective tool for this mess is — no surprise — your vacuum cleaner with the upholstery attachment. Run it over the cushions, top to bottom, left to right, then behind and underneath them with the crevice tool (pocketing any spare change, of course). Or try this attachment-not-necessary cheat: Shake out or brush crumbs, etc., onto the floor, and vacuum them up there.
3. Spot-clean stains. The downside to debris-free furniture: finding a spill or mark you didn't know was there. For water-safe fabrics, squirt a bit of mild dishwashing liquid into a cup of water, and whisk up a lot of suds. Dip a clean cloth into just the suds, and dab at the stain until it's gone; rinse the cloth, wring well, and blot out any soap when done. For fabrics that aren't water-friendly, like silk, go with a solvent-based remover, such as Guardsman's Afta Dry Cleaning Solvent and Spot Remover, available in a bottle with a handy applicator tip ($3 for four ounces).
Make It Easier Next Time
- Apply a static-eliminating spray, like Static Guard ($4 for 5.5 ounces), to fabrics to make pet hair and dust easier to remove.
- Try 3M's Scotch Fur Fighter ($10) — a GH VIP Award winner — with disposable sheets that grip and remove embedded hair from fabrics.
- Cover the arms and seats of the sofa or frequently used chairs with a washable throw to help keep the upholstery itself cleaner.
- Stash an absorbent microfiber cloth in a nearby drawer to soak up spills before they stain.
6 Genius Tricks for Wrinkle-Free Clothes
Laundry day is a project (the sorting, the pretreating, the care-tag reading, the folding — ugh), and wrinkles are the thorn in a completed load's side. So we asked Carolyn Forte, the director of the Cleaning Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, for best ways we can all spend less time stooped over the ironing board.
1. Try the wet washcloth trick.
We couldn't live without our trusty irons, but when you're staring at a pile of wrinkled shirts on a super-busy morning, you wish the whole ironing thing could be a little more automated. That's where this trick comes in.
Throw your rumpled outfit into the dryer __with a damp washcloth, and run it for about 10 or 15 minutes. The steam emitted from the washcloth __with smooth the garments' wrinkles — and offer you a few extra minutes to eat breakfast.
Want to try this tip on a larger load? "Use a hand towel or bath towel instead of a washcloth," says Forte.
2. Do the shake.
It's tempting to toss an armfuls of wet clothes straight into the dryer in as few moves as possible. But twists in your T-shirts and bulky clumps of damp dresses might exit the dryer the exact same way — mussed and wrinkly. So give each item a quick shake before it hits the dryer.
"Separating and shaking eases fabrics back to shape after washing, and helps them tumble better in the dryer, which helps de-wrinkle them, too," says Forte.
3. Reconsider your dryer settings.
"Slower spin speeds and lower temperatures also help minimizes wrinkles — especially in cotton clothes," says Forte. "A too-fast spin can actually 'whip in' the wrinkles already there. On most dryers, the 'casual,' 'normal,' or 'permanent press' settings are designed to reduce rumpling." Check your manual for the best advice for your machine.
4. Don't let dry clothes sit idly.
To avoid time spent slaving over a hot ironing board, don't dawdle when you hear the ping of a completed dryer cycle. If clothes are left to settle, creases will quickly form. But if you'd rather not be at the beck-and-call of your machine, it might have a setting that can help you out.
"Most dryers have extended tumbling cycles to keep wrinkles from forming," says Forte. "Use this setting to keep clothes tumbling intermittently for an hour or more."
5. Spritz instead of press.
Our experts in the GHI have long loved Downy Wrinkle Releaser, which helps ease creases out of clothes, even when you're in a rush. "It relaxes fabrics," says Forte. "You spray it on, smooth and tug the fabric gently, and then let the garment hang to dry. It works best on lightweight cotton and knits — but skip it on fabrics that can get water spots, like silk and rayon."
6. Fold your shirts and sweaters into thirds.
Make like a clothing store associate when you store your favorite items. By folding them into thirds, instead of in half, you'll avoid an unsightly crease down the middle, says Forte.
4 Messes You Can Clean Up With WD-40
WD-40 is a bit of an elusive product. The ingredients are secret (but the makers do tell you what's not in it), it was first conceived as an industrial rust-prevention solvent, and now it's likely the can left idly on your workbench until a door starts squeaking.
But WD-40 is actually quite useful all over the house. The company claims it has 2000 uses, and Porch recently tried four of WD-40's tricks for dealing __with spotty, scuffed, and stuck-on messes. Carolyn Forte, director of the Cleaning Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, agrees that WD-40 can be worth keeping in your cleaning arsenal. She says she would try it on a stainless steel sink: "I bet a light coating would help water bead up and roll off to prevent spotting."
Watch the video above to learn all of the tips.
[via Porch]
The Best Way to Clean Plastic Food Containers
Plastic containers for saving leftovers are one of the great conveniences of the modern world — until you have fight __with cleaning them. Try these smart strategies for making this not-so-fun task speedier and more effective.
Banish Stink
1. Dissolve four tablespoons of baking soda in one quart of warm water.
2. Immerse the container in this solution if it's small enough, or pour the mixture into the container, soaking for about 30 minutes or until the odor disappears. Rinse, and dry.
3. Smell still there? Stuff the container __with crumpled newspaper, then put the lid on securely. Remove paper after a day or two; it should have absorbed the odor. Wash the container and lid in hot, soapy water; wipe dry.
Fight Stains
1. Mix a solution of one tablespoon liquid chlorine bleach per cup of warm water. Make enough so that when poured in, it will cover the discolored portion of your container.
2. Pour the solution into the container. If the lid is also stained, place it flat at the bottom of the sink and pour on more of the bleach mixture. Soak for about 30 minutes, until clean.
3. Wash the container and the lid in hot, soapy water; wipe dry.
Make It Easier Next Time
To minimize staining, spritz containers and lids with nonstick cooking spray before filling them with tomato-based foods
Check whether containers are microwave-safe before heating them. If they aren't, the plastic can degrade in the microwave and become more likely to stain and retain odors.
TELL US: What are your kitchen cleaning tricks?
The Fastest Way to Clean Your Bathroom
One of the busiest spots in your house, the bathroom is also the place almost every guest visits. So if you start sweating whenever someone asks, "Do you mind if I freshen up/use the toilet/secretly judge your cleaning skills?" just relax. These tricks will get the room looking freshly scrubbed in 15 minutes or less.
1. Grab a bag.
To start, hang a plastic grocery bag on the doorknob as a quick way to gather trash — the easiest way to instantly tidy any room.
2. First, flush.
Next, grab some bleach. Pour a cup into the bowl, and brush around the sides and under the rim. Let sit for five minutes, as you move on to the next task.
3. Shine up.
Fill a spray bottle __with equal parts water and white vinegar. Spritz the solution onto paper towels or a microfiber cloth, and wipe away soap drips and toothpaste spatters on faucets, mirrors, countertops, and in the sink. If you really care what your visitors think, give spotty shower doors the same spray treatment.
4. Collect dirt.
Flip over one of the same vinegar wipe and run it across the back of your dusty toilet tank, then over, under, and around the seat. Flush the bleach that's been sitting in the bowl, toss the wipe into your doorknob bag, and move on.
5. Try this towel trick.
Don't worry if you're drying used bath towels — just put out fresh hand towels. They're the only ones short-term guests use anyway. Leave the others on the bar; just straighten them.
6. Make an exit.
Now it's time for the floor. Shake out your rug or bath mat to fluff it up so it looks recently vacuumed. Next, __with a dampened paper towel, wipe the corners of the room, where most of the hair and dust collects. And don't forget to take the plastic bag with you when you leave!
TELL US: What are your speed cleaning tricks?
NEXT: 6 Things You're Cleaning Wrong »
Photo: Chuck Schmidt/Getty
The Best Way to Clean the Kitchen Sink
Get Rid of Gunk
Just about everything that happens in the kitchen — cooking, cleaning, kids' craft projects, and more — involves the sink, so it gets stained easily. Splotches show up most obviously on light porcelain or solid resin surfaces, but even stainless steel is susceptible. The speediest way to remove marks from these surfaces: Use an eraser-type sponge like Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. (Extra-stubborn spots may need a spritz of an all-purpose cleaner __with bleach, and more "erasing.") Then rinse.
Sanitize Wisely
To sanitize any sink after cleaning, plug the drain and fill the basin __with a gallon of warm water. Swish in a tablespoon of bleach. Dip in a sponge; wipe down the faucet and handles. Let sit at least five minutes. Rinse and allow to air dry.
Make It Easier Next Time
Stash baking soda under the sink, sprinkle it on stains before they set in, and just wipe and rinse. Bonus: Baking soda fights drain odors.
To keep a stainless steel sink looking spiffy, take a few minutes to smooth away scratches, which harbor stains and bacteria, with a powdered stainless steel cleanser, like Cameo, and a regular sponge. While you're at it, help repel grime by applying a light coating of mineral oil with a rag.
How to Banish the Stains Your Kids Always Get
Art projects, soccer practice, and close-to-home adventures are all part of being a kid. But after a day spent playing hard, mom is often greeted __with a bevy of stains to tackle. Here's how to make cleanup swift and effective.
1. Grass
Fight the marks of an afternoon in the park by quickly treating the spot __with a prewash stain remover (we like Shout Advanced Gel) or by rubbing a stain-fighting detergent with enzymes into the fabric. Let it sit for at least five minutes, and then launder in the hottest water safe for the fabric. Bleach can help, too, if the care tag permits it.
2. Chocolate
Because their favorite flavor of ice cream seems to be the drippiest, of course. But rubbing in some detergent or a prewash stain remover before you launder should do the trick. Turn to bleach if the stain is stubborn and its OK to use on the fabric.
3. Juice
Remove the remains of today's lunch by flushing the colorful blotch with cool water. Then, combine one tablespoon of white vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon liquid laundry detergent, with one quart cool water. Soak for 15 minutes, and if the stain is still there, try blotting with rubbing alcohol. Launder as usual.
4. Acrylic Paint
Flush the spot with warm water, and then sponge with a solution of one part dishwashing liquid and one part warm water. Repeat as necessary, and rinse and launder.
5. Crayons
Try to lift these art class marks before you throw the clothing in the wash. If the crayon is soft, you might try freezing it and scraping off what you can. Otherwise, place the stain between two paper towels, and press with warm iron. Some of the crayon should transfer to the paper towels. Repeat as necessary, with new paper towels, taking care to not transfer the stain to other spots on the clothing. Then treat with a stain remover (or rub in a little dishwashing liquid), and launder.
6. Glue
Craft glue should come out pretty easily with a stain remover and your everyday detergent. If you're battling heavy-duty adhesive, nail polish remover with acetone can help, but try a test spot first; it can melt synethetic fabrics that contain acetate or triacetate.
7. Mud
When your little one caves in to the lure of the muddy puddle, pause before you jump into action. Trying to rub mud away while it's still wet can just push it deeper into the fabric. Wait for it to dry, scrape off what you can, treat with a stain remover, and launder as usual.
8. Markers
Place these stubborn marks face down on a paper towel, and sponge with rubbing alcohol, transferring as much of the stain as possible to the towel. Rinse and launder.
9. Ketchup
They put it on everything, so it's bound to get everywhere. Rinse with cool water first, and then sponge with white vinegar. Prewash stain remover applied a few minutes before you throw it in the wash should help remove any excess.
10. Mustard
Dampen stain, then rub in liquid laundry detergent. Let sit for 5 minutes; rinse. If stain is still visible, soak garment in hot water and detergent for an hour. Launder with an enzyme detergent.
TELL US: How do you tackle your kids' biggest messes?
Cleaning Countertop Appliances
Biggest Challenges
1. Greasy, crumby toaster oven
2. Splattered microwave
3. Sluggish coffeemaker; stained carafe
Fastest Fixes
1. Tackle the toaster oven. This little guy takes on breakfast, lunch, and dinner — and has the burned crumbs and baked-on pizza cheese as proof. Unplug it and remove the crumb tray, rack, and any soiled pans, and spray them __with an all-purpose cleaner. Use a nonabrasive scrubbing sponge to get off gunk. Rinse and let air-dry. Now, back to the oven: Spritz a plain sponge (for nonstick interiors) or a scrubber sponge (for regular interiors) __with more cleaner. Never spray appliances directly, and steer clear of the heating elements inside. Wipe down the inside surfaces, including the glass door; now hit the exterior. Thoroughly rinse and wring the sponge (to avoid streaking); go over the same areas. Be sure the oven's dry — about five minutes — before plugging it in.
2. Zap microwave stains. Want to erase last week's baked-beans explosion? The easiest way to clean cooked-on bits of food: Heat a cup of water in a microwave-safe bowl on High for five minutes — the steam from the boiling water should make any mess wipe right off with a sponge. Remove the bowl and microwave turntable; wipe down the latter plus the inside surfaces of the oven, with an extra pass around the frame so the door closes tightly. For the exterior and the control panel, spray a cloth with all-purpose cleaner and wipe. Rinse.
3. Pump up the brew. If your coffeemaker's taking longer to drip these days, it may be clogged with hard-water minerals. To flush them out, follow the owner's manual, or try this GHRI-tested trick: Fill the chamber with equal parts white vinegar and water. Insert a paper filter into the empty basket, and put the empty carafe in place. Allow it to brew halfway; turn off the coffeemaker. Let it sit for 30 minutes. Turn it back on, finish the brewing, and dump the vinegar water. Rinse the machine by putting in a new paper filter and brewing a full pot of water; repeat. To clean a dingy glass carafe, fill it with warm sudsy water and add some rice as a light abrasive. Swirl the mixture inside the pot. Empty the pot and use your scrubber sponge to remove the loosened gunk.
Make It Easier Next Time
- Clean the toaster oven's drip tray regularly. Though lining it with foil is tempting, don't — it can cause overheating and even a fire.
- Keep a paper plate near the microwave oven to cover foods and prevent splatters.
- Consider a coffeemaker with a built-in filter that captures clog-causing minerals, like one made by Cuisinart.
Quick Window-Cleaning Tips
Biggest Challenges
1. Dirty sills and frames
2. Dusty, grimy screens
3. Spotty, smeared glass
Fastest Fixes
Give dirt the brush-off. We know — going at the glass __with the cleaner is the most satisfying part. But before you squeeze that trigger, pull back the blinds or curtains, open the window, and inspect its sill, frame, and tracks for obvious crud and cobwebs. Sweep out debris using the small-handled brush that comes __with your dustpan. (Skip this step, and you risk a mess later, since the loose dirt can stick to your wiping towel and smear the glass.) Also handy: a cloth-wrapped screwdriver for flicking out dead bugs or hard-to-reach gunk.
1. De-grime the screens. If you leave yours in year-round, give them a once-over now — otherwise, all that dried-on dirt may blow into your house the first time you open the windows for ventilation. The good news: You don't need to take down the screens and hose them off. Just run your vacuum with its dusting-brush attachment over the side that faces in. (Side to side, top to bottom is the speediest method.)
2. Make the glass gleam. For windows that tilt in, washing both sides is a cinch. Spray your cleaner on the inside of the glass until it's heavily misted but not drippy. Then, with a clean lint-free cloth, wipe horizontally until dry. Tilt the window the other way; repeat on the outer panes, but this time wipe vertically (cleaning in opposite directions makes streaks obvious and easier to zap). For double-hung windows that don't fold in, slide the bottom pane up about eight inches — so you can reach out and up. Clean what you can; then slide down the top panel to get it from above. Windows crank out or don't open at all? Clean the insides, then rinse the outsides with a hose.
Make It Easier Next Time
- Pick a cloudy day. Direct sun makes the cleaner dry too quickly, leaving streaks behind.
- Choose your weapons wisely. GHRI tested a variety of products (six store-bought window cleaners, one homemade solution, three premoistened wipes, and four wiping tools: paper towel, newspaper, microfiber cloth, and squeegee). The most effective combo? Hope's Perfect Glass ($5 for 32 ounces, The Hope Company; mass retailers, 800-325-4026, hopecompany.com) with a microfiber cloth.
9 Cleaning Mistakes That Really Slow You Down
We're in the business of cleaning well, but we also want you to get chores out of the way as quickly as possible. And if you're committing these common cleaning mistakes, you just might be scrubbing up sun up to sun down.
1. You don't follow the "top to bottom" rule.
If vacuuming is your least favorite chore, it can be tempting to get it out of the way first. But if dusting the top shelf (or cleaning the ceiling fan) is your last task for the day, dirt will likely fall over your freshly vacuumed carpeting. And then you have do that annoying part all over again.
2. You don't sort laundry when it really counts.
Every now and then, you might skip sorting by color to hurry laundry day along (some moms even find that doing laundry "by person" saves a ton of sorting time — especially when all of your kids' clothes are similar hues and fabrics). But pre-sorting is often actually a time-saver in the end.
"Don't forget to separate lint givers from lint catchers, like towels from knits or corduroy," says Carolyn Forte, director of the Cleaning Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. "If you wash them together, you'll spend time trying to rid the fuzzy fabrics of lint."
3. You tackle windows on a sunny day.
The nice, warm sun might actually inhibit your efforts, since the heat could cause your cleaner to dry before you can wipe it away. That means streaks — and then you'll just have to start over.
4. You don't turn off your vacuum's brush roller when you switch to wood or tile floor.
"If you're vacuuming bare floors __with an upright vacuum, be sure to turn off the rotating brush," says Forte. "Leave it on, and you'll scatter dust and dirt instead of picking it all up."
5. You wash dishes at the sink before you put them in the dishwasher.
Yes, you should scrape any food scraps into the garbage, but don't bother hand-washing or even rinsing your dishes before you they go in the dishwasher. Research shows that it doesn't get your dishes any cleaner, and our experts agree.
"Prewashing dishes is a waste of time and energy," says Forte. "Simply load them in the dishwasher, and if you aren't running it right away, let the dishwasher rinse them __with a 'rinse only' cycle."
6. You don't let tile cleaner sit for a few minutes before you start scrubbing.
"Give spray tub and tile cleaners a few minutes to work before wiping them away, "says Forte. "Letting them sit helps soften and dissolve soap scum and stains, so less scrubbing is required." And less elbow grease means less time (and a not-so-sore arm the next day).
7. Your family doesn't remove shoes at the door.
The dirt you track in from outside can really build up over time, so beat it at its own game by going shoeless inside. And while you're at it, double up on doormats (one inside and one outside). They grab dirt before it can reach your new cream carpeting.
8. You use a lint roller to clean up pet hair.
If you're staring down a particularly fur covered couch, you might instinctively reach for this sticky paper. But a lint roller, while handy, isn't really up to heavy-duty jobs. When you need to clear a ton of pet hair at once, reach for a damp rubber glove instead to efficiently whisk the fuzz away.
9. You forget that your cleaners need cleaning, too.
"Dirty cloths, mops, and full vacuum cleaner bags don't pick up or remove dirt," says Forte. "You'll just be working harder and longer with no results to show for it. Clean or replace your cleaning tools as needed."
A Clean Mudroom?
Biggest Challenges
General clutter, from mail to mismatched mittens; wet jackets, shoes, and boots that need a place to go; and tracked-in mud, leaves, and other debris.
Fastest Fixes
1. Remove the mess. Ultimately you may want to reorganize the room, but for today, start by answering, "Which shoes really need to be in here?" (Hint: only winter boots and pairs of shoes for changing into.) So you can clean, scoop the rest, plus jackets, gloves, hats, and socks, into a bin, and deliver them to their owners' bedrooms — or better yet, ask said owners to collect the items themselves. (Another idea: If any of the outerwear needs a wash, run a load now.) Next, grab a tote bag and fill it __with newspapers, magazines, or catalogs you've yet to read; recycle the ones you'll never get to. Save a few papers for step 2.
2. Do some footwork. If shoes or boots are sopping, use those salvaged news sections as mats to soak up puddles and catch dirt. Also, crinkle some extra paper and stuff it inside soaked-through footwear — it will absorb odors and help shoes hold their shape.
3. Finish __with the floor. Dry dirt is easier to remove than sticky mud, so don't even bother cleaning until the footprints get crusty; then just open the back door and sweep it all out. Wash the floor the fast, no-bucket-necessary way, with either a water-dampened microfiber mop or an all-in-one mopping system like Swiffer WetJet. Zap any scuff marks as you go with a bit of baking soda on a damp sponge. There, don't you feel better?
Make It Easier Next Time
- Mount hooks on the walls so coats, backpacks, keys, etc., all have an official address. Now when you ask the kids to put stuff where it belongs, they'll know what you mean.
- Set out a couple of baskets, letter trays, or even napkin holders to divvy up incoming and outgoing mail. Put out a brown-paper grocery bag for already-read catalogs and newspapers — that way, the whole sack is recyclable.
- If your inside doormat is skimpy, put down a long carpet runner or a small area rug (preferably machine-washable). A larger landing pad means muddy soles and drippy umbrellas won't muck up a clean floor.
Sunday, 2 October 2016
Children's room safety guidelines
Think about bed location. Don’t position the bed underneath a window, directly against a radiator or with shelves, ledges or appliances above that a child can get hold of.
Avoid hanging heavy pictures or mirrors above the bed.
Secure freestanding furniture by fixing it to the wall with anti-toppling devices such as straps or fixing brackets.
Avoid open drawers that can be used as a climbing frame – use child-proof latches on lower drawers.
Avoid bunkbeds if your child is under six. Cabin beds are a better option if you can squeeze them in - there’ll be plenty of extra storage underneath too.
Use socket covers to keep plug sockets safe from probing fingers.
Secure all dangling lamp cords to prevent injury from pulling on them.
Childproof the windows. Use latches that will let the window open no more than 10cm.
How to clean kitchen sinks
Cleaning your sink and taps on a daily basis will stop any build up of dirt and stains.
Use detergent and warm water, rinsing clean with fresh water. Keep cleaning wipes, microfibre cloths or paper towels near to the sink to give the sink a quick wipe down after each use.
Follow these steps to keep your sink sparkling:
1) Remove excess dirt with a cloth or sponge and clean with soapy water. Make sure you replace sponges regularly to avoid germ build up.
2) Squeeze sink cleaner over the basin and draining board and scrub with a non-abrasive cloth. A cream cleaner works best on kitchen sinks as the thicker consistency is great for tackling grease and dirt.
3) Pay attention to the plug, taps and fixings. Remember to clean the base of taps as well as handles and spouts - an old toothbrush is perfect for the job. Repair leaky taps to prevent staining and limescale build up.
4) For lime and mineral deposits, wrap vinegar-soaked paper towels around faucets for about an hour. This breaks down the mineral scale, and the chrome will be clean and shiny after buffing with a dry paper towel.
How to clean kitchen work surfaces
Kitchen worktops can be breeding grounds for germs and bacteria.
Make sure you know how to clean different materials for maximum results.
* Porcelain and ceramic
Porcelain and ceramic surfaces are beautiful - follow these tips to help them stay that way.
1) Prevent damage from acids and harsh abrasives by washing with warm or hot soapy water.
2) For light stains try warm water and vinegar.
* Stainless steel
Stainless steel is great for resisting stains but it will dull over time and show oily fingerprints.
1) To remove rust, mix one part cream of tartar with a little lemon juice and apply the paste to the rust stains and rub in. If the rust is heavily embedded, leave the paste for a few hours. When finished, wipe clean.
2) Get a sparkling finish by removing streaks with baking soda and a cloth.
3) Standing water in a stainless steel basin can cause spotting, prevent this by wiping the sink dry after each use.
How to identify your damp problem
Rising damp is water that enters a structure from the ground, commonly caused by having a damaged damp proof course, or no damp proof course at all.
Symptoms include decayed skirting boards and floors, stained plaster and peeling paint and wallpaper.
Penetrating damp is when water enters a building from outside and moves through the walls, often creating stains or mould growth at some distance from the leak.
Caused are defects in guttering and pipes, faulty flashings, poor pointing and cracked rendering.
Condensation, the most common form of damp, is often caused by poor heating and ventilation. It occurs when activities such as cooking raise the level of humidity in a building. This air condenses on cold surfaces - windows ans walls.
Property advice — how to increase the value of your home
Increase the value of your home and make the most out of your space with our expert tips.
Sarah Beeny's top tops for selling your home
Add £5,000 to to the asking price with these cunning tricks.
How to make your home more desirable
Make your home irresistible to buyers in a tough market with property expert Sofie Allsopp's sound advice.
Make your rooms work harder
Great ways to create a space that's both functional and fabulous.
20 ways to update your home for a grand
Replace old carpets, add a skylight to an attic bedroom or lay a stylish runner in your hallway.
Give your home street appeal
Update your letter plate and replace your __house numbers for a stylish first impressio.
How to buy a listed building
Listed buildings have bags of character, but be aware of the restrictions before you buy.
How to make your home work harder
Channel 4's George Clarke reveals 4 big impact changes that'll make a real difference to your property.
How to find the perfect place to live
Property expert Phil Spencer gives you the lowdown on how to choose where to buy.
10 of the best place to live in the UK
Find out which postcodes have the wow factor.
13 House Cleaner Habits You Should Totally Steal
Anda Tanaka didn't set out to become a house cleaner — but after listening to her geek-out about cleaning tips, you realize its the sort of job that couldn't not find her.
Tanaka is actually an artist (check out her work here), but she needed a day job to keep the lights on. When her friends saw a job posting from the green house cleaning company Two Bettys in Minneapolis, they immediately sent her the listing. It had her name written all over it.
"I grew up in a very clean house, and that totally affected the way I live," Tanaka says. "I thought, could this be real? A cleaning company that employs artists?" She was in.
Tanaka's been cleaning homes __with Two Bettys for a few years, and she's improved her tidying game even more. We asked her to spill the habits that help her clean quickly and thoroughly. Try adopting these if your routine is in a rut:
1. When cleaning a house, she thinks of everything as a grid.
"I do this __with small areas, like a mirror or countertop, or larger spaces, like an entire floor." Tanaka says. "By visualizing the space broken up into a grid, I don't miss anything and I don't go over any spot more times than necessary."
2. She always cleans from top to bottom.
"If you're doing a major clean-up, do your floors last," Tanaka says. "That way you're not shaking down dust and dirt onto anything you've already cleaned."
3. She keeps a few odd (but seriously helpful!) items in her cleaning kit.
"I often use washable cloth baby diapers as a buffing tool," says Tanaka. "They're really amazing at shining things like granite countertops, mirrors, and windows, and help you use fewer paper towels.
Tanaka is also a fan of microfiber cloths, but heads to the automotive section to buy them. "They will be much cheaper than the ones in the cleaning section."
And she's figured out some double-duty uses for other cleaning tools in her stash. "A squeegee is great for sweeping up crummy countertops or dusty stairs, since it's grippy and can get into tight corners. And I like to use a plastic pan scraper for lifting stuck-on messes off floors — it saves my fingers!"
4. She corrals her cords.
"Electrical cords are a real magnet for dust bunnies, so I like to neatly zip-tie them together, or even tack them up off the floor to keep dust from collecting."
5. She relies on hooks to keep things tidy.
"People have good intentions with their organizing systems, but often putting things away in bins is still too much to ask," Tanaka says. "I've found I'm more likely to hang things up (and I think other people are like this, too) so I like hooks."
6. She always squeegees her shower.
Tanaka finds that keeping her bathroom as dry as possible to fight mildew and soap scum build-up. "I even squeegee shower curtains, or the lip of the shower door frame."
7. She skips hairspray.
"Dust really loves hairspray, so if I use it, I tend to spray it outside. If you do end up with a sticky, dusty mess in your bathroom, a Magic Eraser can help clean it up."
8. She has "house-only" shoes.
"Taking off shoes at the door really helps keep dirt out of your house. In the winter, I walk around the house in slippers, and in the summer I use flip-flops."
9. She uses cooking downtime to start cleaning up.
"I love sitting down to dinner knowing that all I have left to clean up is the plates," says Tanaka. She doesn't waste time watching that pot boil. As her food is cooking, she starts wiping down counters, rinsing prep tools, and putting ingredients away. "
10. She treats stains right away.
"The longer it sits, the harder it is to get it off," says Tanaka. Ain't that the truth. Wipe up spills and grab that prewash stain remover as soon as you see a spot — you can spray it on even days before you do another load of laundry.
11. She keeps clutter tidy until she can toss it or put it away.
"Don't devalue the smallest tasks, like straightening a pile of magazines, fixing a stack of mail, or folding a blanket," Tanaka says. "They make your space feel clean even if you don't have time to really declutter."
12. She cleans a little bit every day.
"People get bogged down in the details, but it's better to look at the big picture," she says. "I spend 15 minutes every day tidying up, cleaning countertops, and doing other quick cleaning tasks, which improves my mental well-being and makes deep cleans much easier to tackle later on."
13. She listens to podcasts while she cleans.
Though Tanaka really enjoys how cleaning is the sort of physical task that offers you time to be totally unplugged (she even calls it "meditative"), it's also a great opportunity to take in some passive entertainment. "I like to listen to This American Life, Serial, Stuff You Should Know, and a bunch of others," she says. "Workout music is great, too. You'll clean harder and you can totally count that as exercise (or at least I think so!)."
The Fastest Way to Clean Your Bathroom
One of the busiest spots in your house, the bathroom is also the place almost every guest visits. So if you start sweating whenever someone asks, "Do you mind if I freshen up/use the toilet/secretly judge your cleaning skills?" just relax. These tricks will get the room looking freshly scrubbed in 15 minutes or less.
1. Grab a bag.
To start, hang a plastic grocery bag on the doorknob as a quick way to gather trash — the easiest way to instantly tidy any room.
2. First, flush.
Next, grab some bleach. Pour a cup into the bowl, and brush around the sides and under the rim. Let sit for five minutes, as you move on to the next task.
3. Shine up.
Fill a spray bottle __with equal parts water and white vinegar. Spritz the solution onto paper towels or a microfiber cloth, and wipe away soap drips and toothpaste spatters on faucets, mirrors, countertops, and in the sink. If you really care what your visitors think, give spotty shower doors the same spray treatment.
4. Collect dirt.
Flip over one of the same vinegar wipe and run it across the back of your dusty toilet tank, then over, under, and around the seat. Flush the bleach that's been sitting in the bowl, toss the wipe into your doorknob bag, and move on.
5. Try this towel trick.
Don't worry if you're drying used bath towels — just put out fresh hand towels. They're the only ones short-term guests use anyway. Leave the others on the bar; just straighten them.
6. Make an exit.
Now it's time for the floor. Shake out your rug or bath mat to fluff it up so it looks recently vacuumed. Next, __with a dampened paper towel, wipe the corners of the room, where most of the hair and dust collects. And don't forget to take the plastic bag with you when you leave!
TELL US: What are your speed cleaning tricks?
NEXT: 6 Things You're Cleaning Wrong »
Photo: Chuck Schmidt/Getty
4 Time-Saving Tricks for Perfectly Folded Clothes
The not-so-funny thing about laundry day is that most taxing part comes at the very end of the chore. Come on, engineers. We've got machines to wash and dry our clothes, but not fold them, too? Luckily, Buzzfeed recently highlighted some creative ways to make the drudgery of folding a little bit easier. Watch the video for a full demonstration, but here's a sneak peek at their handy tips:
1. Tuck socks into themselves.
This method makes sock storage tidy and efficient — and no more digging through your drawer to excavate a matching set.
2. Do the T-shirt twist.
This trick requires a little geometry (just a little!), but once you master the pinch-and-twist move, all of your tees will look as crisply folded as they did at the store.
3. Employ a magazine to help __with button-downs.
Its sharp edges and handy size make it the perfect guideline for getting this task just right.
4. Stop sweaters from stretching.
Style guru Clinton Kelly is a fan of this trick, which really helps when you've run out of room in your sweater drawer. Instead of hanging your favorite fuzzy pullover from the shoulders, fold it over the hanger so it won't get misshapen.
[via Buzzfeed]
The Best Way to Clean Plastic Food Containers
Plastic containers for saving leftovers are one of the great conveniences of the modern world — until you have fight __with cleaning them. Try these smart strategies for making this not-so-fun task speedier and more effective.
Banish Stink
1. Dissolve four tablespoons of baking soda in one quart of warm water.
2. Immerse the container in this solution if it's small enough, or pour the mixture into the container, soaking for about 30 minutes or until the odor disappears. Rinse, and dry.
3. Smell still there? Stuff the container __with crumpled newspaper, then put the lid on securely. Remove paper after a day or two; it should have absorbed the odor. Wash the container and lid in hot, soapy water; wipe dry.
Fight Stains
1. Mix a solution of one tablespoon liquid chlorine bleach per cup of warm water. Make enough so that when poured in, it will cover the discolored portion of your container.
2. Pour the solution into the container. If the lid is also stained, place it flat at the bottom of the sink and pour on more of the bleach mixture. Soak for about 30 minutes, until clean.
3. Wash the container and the lid in hot, soapy water; wipe dry.
Make It Easier Next Time
To minimize staining, spritz containers and lids with nonstick cooking spray before filling them with tomato-based foods
Check whether containers are microwave-safe before heating them. If they aren't, the plastic can degrade in the microwave and become more likely to stain and retain odors.
TELL US: What are your kitchen cleaning tricks?
6 Genius Tricks for Wrinkle-Free Clothes
Laundry day is a project (the sorting, the pretreating, the care-tag reading, the folding — ugh), and wrinkles are the thorn in a completed load's side. So we asked Carolyn Forte, the director of the Cleaning Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, for best ways we can all spend less time stooped over the ironing board.
1. Try the wet washcloth trick.
We couldn't live without our trusty irons, but when you're staring at a pile of wrinkled shirts on a super-busy morning, you wish the whole ironing thing could be a little more automated. That's where this trick comes in.
Throw your rumpled outfit into the dryer __with a damp washcloth, and run it for about 10 or 15 minutes. The steam emitted from the washcloth __with smooth the garments' wrinkles — and offer you a few extra minutes to eat breakfast.
Want to try this tip on a larger load? "Use a hand towel or bath towel instead of a washcloth," says Forte.
2. Do the shake.
It's tempting to toss an armfuls of wet clothes straight into the dryer in as few moves as possible. But twists in your T-shirts and bulky clumps of damp dresses might exit the dryer the exact same way — mussed and wrinkly. So give each item a quick shake before it hits the dryer.
"Separating and shaking eases fabrics back to shape after washing, and helps them tumble better in the dryer, which helps de-wrinkle them, too," says Forte.
3. Reconsider your dryer settings.
"Slower spin speeds and lower temperatures also help minimizes wrinkles — especially in cotton clothes," says Forte. "A too-fast spin can actually 'whip in' the wrinkles already there. On most dryers, the 'casual,' 'normal,' or 'permanent press' settings are designed to reduce rumpling." Check your manual for the best advice for your machine.
4. Don't let dry clothes sit idly.
To avoid time spent slaving over a hot ironing board, don't dawdle when you hear the ping of a completed dryer cycle. If clothes are left to settle, creases will quickly form. But if you'd rather not be at the beck-and-call of your machine, it might have a setting that can help you out.
"Most dryers have extended tumbling cycles to keep wrinkles from forming," says Forte. "Use this setting to keep clothes tumbling intermittently for an hour or more."
5. Spritz instead of press.
Our experts in the GHI have long loved Downy Wrinkle Releaser, which helps ease creases out of clothes, even when you're in a rush. "It relaxes fabrics," says Forte. "You spray it on, smooth and tug the fabric gently, and then let the garment hang to dry. It works best on lightweight cotton and knits — but skip it on fabrics that can get water spots, like silk and rayon."
6. Fold your shirts and sweaters into thirds.
Make like a clothing store associate when you store your favorite items. By folding them into thirds, instead of in half, you'll avoid an unsightly crease down the middle, says Forte.
9 Cleaning Mistakes That Really Slow You Down
We're in the business of cleaning well, but we also want you to get chores out of the way as quickly as possible. And if you're committing these common cleaning mistakes, you just might be scrubbing up sun up to sun down.
1. You don't follow the "top to bottom" rule.
If vacuuming is your least favorite chore, it can be tempting to get it out of the way first. But if dusting the top shelf (or cleaning the ceiling fan) is your last task for the day, dirt will likely fall over your freshly vacuumed carpeting. And then you have do that annoying part all over again.
2. You don't sort laundry when it really counts.
Every now and then, you might skip sorting by color to hurry laundry day along (some moms even find that doing laundry "by person" saves a ton of sorting time — especially when all of your kids' clothes are similar hues and fabrics). But pre-sorting is often actually a time-saver in the end.
"Don't forget to separate lint givers from lint catchers, like towels from knits or corduroy," says Carolyn Forte, director of the Cleaning Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute. "If you wash them together, you'll spend time trying to rid the fuzzy fabrics of lint."
3. You tackle windows on a sunny day.
The nice, warm sun might actually inhibit your efforts, since the heat could cause your cleaner to dry before you can wipe it away. That means streaks — and then you'll just have to start over.
4. You don't turn off your vacuum's brush roller when you switch to wood or tile floor.
"If you're vacuuming bare floors __with an upright vacuum, be sure to turn off the rotating brush," says Forte. "Leave it on, and you'll scatter dust and dirt instead of picking it all up."
5. You wash dishes at the sink before you put them in the dishwasher.
Yes, you should scrape any food scraps into the garbage, but don't bother hand-washing or even rinsing your dishes before you they go in the dishwasher. Research shows that it doesn't get your dishes any cleaner, and our experts agree.
"Prewashing dishes is a waste of time and energy," says Forte. "Simply load them in the dishwasher, and if you aren't running it right away, let the dishwasher rinse them __with a 'rinse only' cycle."
6. You don't let tile cleaner sit for a few minutes before you start scrubbing.
"Give spray tub and tile cleaners a few minutes to work before wiping them away, "says Forte. "Letting them sit helps soften and dissolve soap scum and stains, so less scrubbing is required." And less elbow grease means less time (and a not-so-sore arm the next day).
7. Your family doesn't remove shoes at the door.
The dirt you track in from outside can really build up over time, so beat it at its own game by going shoeless inside. And while you're at it, double up on doormats (one inside and one outside). They grab dirt before it can reach your new cream carpeting.
8. You use a lint roller to clean up pet hair.
If you're staring down a particularly fur covered couch, you might instinctively reach for this sticky paper. But a lint roller, while handy, isn't really up to heavy-duty jobs. When you need to clear a ton of pet hair at once, reach for a damp rubber glove instead to efficiently whisk the fuzz away.
9. You forget that your cleaners need cleaning, too.
"Dirty cloths, mops, and full vacuum cleaner bags don't pick up or remove dirt," says Forte. "You'll just be working harder and longer with no results to show for it. Clean or replace your cleaning tools as needed."
The Best Way to Clean the Kitchen Sink
Get Rid of Gunk
Just about everything that happens in the kitchen — cooking, cleaning, kids' craft projects, and more — involves the sink, so it gets stained easily. Splotches show up most obviously on light porcelain or solid resin surfaces, but even stainless steel is susceptible. The speediest way to remove marks from these surfaces: Use an eraser-type sponge like Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. (Extra-stubborn spots may need a spritz of an all-purpose cleaner __with bleach, and more "erasing.") Then rinse.
Sanitize Wisely
To sanitize any sink after cleaning, plug the drain and fill the basin __with a gallon of warm water. Swish in a tablespoon of bleach. Dip in a sponge; wipe down the faucet and handles. Let sit at least five minutes. Rinse and allow to air dry.
Make It Easier Next Time
Stash baking soda under the sink, sprinkle it on stains before they set in, and just wipe and rinse. Bonus: Baking soda fights drain odors.
To keep a stainless steel sink looking spiffy, take a few minutes to smooth away scratches, which harbor stains and bacteria, with a powdered stainless steel cleanser, like Cameo, and a regular sponge. While you're at it, help repel grime by applying a light coating of mineral oil with a rag.
4 Messes You Can Clean Up With WD-40
WD-40 is a bit of an elusive product. The ingredients are secret (but the makers do tell you what's not in it), it was first conceived as an industrial rust-prevention solvent, and now it's likely the can left idly on your workbench until a door starts squeaking.
But WD-40 is actually quite useful all over the house. The company claims it has 2000 uses, and Porch recently tried four of WD-40's tricks for dealing __with spotty, scuffed, and stuck-on messes. Carolyn Forte, director of the Cleaning Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute, agrees that WD-40 can be worth keeping in your cleaning arsenal. She says she would try it on a stainless steel sink: "I bet a light coating would help water bead up and roll off to prevent spotting."
Watch the video above to learn all of the tips.
[via Porch]
How to Banish the Stains Your Kids Always Get
Art projects, soccer practice, and close-to-home adventures are all part of being a kid. But after a day spent playing hard, mom is often greeted __with a bevy of stains to tackle. Here's how to make cleanup swift and effective.
1. Grass
Fight the marks of an afternoon in the park by quickly treating the spot __with a prewash stain remover (we like Shout Advanced Gel) or by rubbing a stain-fighting detergent with enzymes into the fabric. Let it sit for at least five minutes, and then launder in the hottest water safe for the fabric. Bleach can help, too, if the care tag permits it.
2. Chocolate
Because their favorite flavor of ice cream seems to be the drippiest, of course. But rubbing in some detergent or a prewash stain remover before you launder should do the trick. Turn to bleach if the stain is stubborn and its OK to use on the fabric.
3. Juice
Remove the remains of today's lunch by flushing the colorful blotch with cool water. Then, combine one tablespoon of white vinegar, 1/2 teaspoon liquid laundry detergent, with one quart cool water. Soak for 15 minutes, and if the stain is still there, try blotting with rubbing alcohol. Launder as usual.
4. Acrylic Paint
Flush the spot with warm water, and then sponge with a solution of one part dishwashing liquid and one part warm water. Repeat as necessary, and rinse and launder.
5. Crayons
Try to lift these art class marks before you throw the clothing in the wash. If the crayon is soft, you might try freezing it and scraping off what you can. Otherwise, place the stain between two paper towels, and press with warm iron. Some of the crayon should transfer to the paper towels. Repeat as necessary, with new paper towels, taking care to not transfer the stain to other spots on the clothing. Then treat with a stain remover (or rub in a little dishwashing liquid), and launder.
6. Glue
Craft glue should come out pretty easily with a stain remover and your everyday detergent. If you're battling heavy-duty adhesive, nail polish remover with acetone can help, but try a test spot first; it can melt synethetic fabrics that contain acetate or triacetate.
7. Mud
When your little one caves in to the lure of the muddy puddle, pause before you jump into action. Trying to rub mud away while it's still wet can just push it deeper into the fabric. Wait for it to dry, scrape off what you can, treat with a stain remover, and launder as usual.
8. Markers
Place these stubborn marks face down on a paper towel, and sponge with rubbing alcohol, transferring as much of the stain as possible to the towel. Rinse and launder.
9. Ketchup
They put it on everything, so it's bound to get everywhere. Rinse with cool water first, and then sponge with white vinegar. Prewash stain remover applied a few minutes before you throw it in the wash should help remove any excess.
10. Mustard
Dampen stain, then rub in liquid laundry detergent. Let sit for 5 minutes; rinse. If stain is still visible, soak garment in hot water and detergent for an hour. Launder with an enzyme detergent.
TELL US: How do you tackle your kids' biggest messes?