Cleaning the Stairs

Your stairs could be as grand as those in the film Gone with the Wind or they could be very plain and functional. No matter how big they are or what their finish is ,every corner of every tread must be vacuumed once a week because it's a dust haven. Before vacuuming, run up and down the stairs several times to dislodge as much dust as possible. It's great exercise. Get the kids to do it! Then, if you have pictures in the stairwells, wipe over the frames with a damp cloth. Start cleaning from the top of the stairs and work your way down because dust lifts and drops down. Then vacuum by facing up the stairs, keeping your vacuum cleaner in front of you, and walking backwards down the stairs one step at a time, cleaning each step as you go. That way, your body will stop the vacuum cleaner from tumbling down the stairs and will put less stress on your back. As you vacuum each step, also vacuum between the banister posts with the nozzle or brush attachment. The brass rods, which hold runners in place, need to be polished with bicarb and vinegar on a cloth or just vinegar if you clean them regular. 

Banisters need to be dusted and polished according to what they're made of. Clean brass with vinegar and water applied with a cloth. Aluminium is cleaned with cold tea applied with a cloth. Clean steel with vinegar and water applied with a cloth. Painted metal or plastic can be wiped with a little detergent and water or vinegar on a cloth. For French polished timber, use beeswax, lavender oil and lemon oil applied with a cloth or you can also use a good non-silicone furniture polish.

Quick tip: to create the lavender oil, lemon oil and beeswax cleaning cloth, get a microwave-safe bowl. Place a cleaning cloth in the bowl, then add 1 drop of lavender oil, 1 drop of lemon oil and 1 tablespoon of beeswax to the top of the cloth. Warm in the microwave in 10-second bursts until the beeswax melts. The cloth will be impregnated with the mixture and is ready to use. Store it in a zip-lock plastic bag.

Special attention should be paid to the end of banisters because lots of people grab them with their hands and leave messy finger marks. Make sure you remove all the marks. Wipe between the banister posts with a cloth that's been wrung out in water.

Then vacuum underneath the stairs. 

If the stairs are wooden, vacuum and then wipe with a mop. I prefer to use a broom, which has its broom head wrapped in an old T-shirt dampened with vinegar and secured with an elastic band.

To Make Cleaning Faster

Speed up your cleaning by making sure extension cords are long enough before you start vacuuming. How many times have you nudged into a corner thinking the cords would just make it and then lost power? You then have to walk all the way back to the power point, add an extension cord and resume your cleaning. It's a time waster! So sort that out before starting the job. I also use a protector to cover the joins of extension cords so they don't scratch the surface of things. 

If your stairs are carpeted, make sure the carpet is tight and well fitted so that dust havens aren't created. 

Get free carpet cleaning quotes from accredited Auckland carpet cleaners today. 

Related links:

Auckland Commercial Cleaners 

Cleaning Lights and Lamps

Dust lights and lamps with an old T-shirt for a quick clean.

Light shades made of fabric should be dry cleaned or cleaned with carpet cleaner or brushed with bran and vinegar. Once the carpet cleaner or bran and vinegar is dry, use the brush head on your vacuum cleaner to remove it. Make sure the brush is clean first or you'll create more mess. Glass light-shades should be cleaned in warm water. Clean brass and metal arms with a good quality brass polish - and make sure you don't get cleaning product in the electrical fittings. To cut down on bugs, spray the tops of the light shades wit surface insecticide. 

Cleaning Paintings

Acrylic paintings can be cleaned with a damp cloth. Water colours should be cleaned by a professional. To remove residue and dust from oil paintings, clean with stale urine, salt and potato. This technique is a guaranteed barbecue stopper! Collect 1 litre of female urine and leave it in the sun for a week to reduce it to 500 millilitres. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and 2 tablespoons of grated raw potato. Stir and allow the mixture to sit for 30 minutes. Dampen a cloth in the mixture, wring it out and then wipe gently over the painting. Dampen a clean cloth in water and wipe the painting gently and pat it dry. You can also rub brown bread over the painting to clean it but it can induce mould if the atmosphere is damp, so don't use this technique if you're in a damp, dark spot. For any serious cleaning problems, see a restorer. Never use alcohol-based cleaners such as methylated spirits or turpentine on gilded frames. Most gilding is covered with a layer of shellac and alcohol-based cleaners will affect it. Instead, dust the frame with a hairdryer on the cool setting. This should be enough to clean it but if dirt remains, wipe a damp cloth over the frame and then dry it with a soft cloth. Protect paintings by spraying a cloth with a surface insecticide and wipe it over the back of the picture frames. Don't touch the painting, just the frames. 

Strategies to Make Cleaning Faster

Light switches are often forgotten about when cleaning. Given the amount of contact they have with dirty fingers, it's a good idea to get into the habit of wiping over them. Whatever you do, never spray cleaning product directly onto them or you could short-circuit the electricity. I dampen a cloth with white vinegar and wipe it over the light switch. Add bicarb to the vinegar cloth it it's particularly dirty.

Floors 

I like to have a rug or mat inside the front door. If you have carpet, you may have it made from a matching carpet square; just make sure it doesn't have a thick edge that people can trip over. I'd also suggest attaching rubber mesh underneath so it doesn't slip or curl.

You may want to create a space for damp shoes either outside the front door or on the hall stand, if you have one. Use a wooden box or basket and line it with a plastic bag so that water doesn't soak through to the floor and leave puddle marks. Some hall stands have a metal drip tray built into them which is perfect for muddy shoes and umbrellas. Clean them with bicarb and vinegar on a cloth, but if they container lead, be very careful and always wear rubber gloves when cleaning. Lead, a cumulative poison absorbed into the bloodstream through the skin's pores, can kill.

It's also a good idea to have some storage at the back of the house for dirty shoes and sports gear. A large basket or small cupboard or even a bucket with a lid should do the trick. It depends on how much sports gear you have. If you can, use cupboards with good ventilation. And store some bicarb here so that you sports stars can dust inside their shoes before putting them away. Bicarb will absorb those sweaty smells. Just remember to remove the bicarb before wearing the shoes again. Shake it out the same way you would if you had sand in your shoes. If the smell from trainers is really overpowering, you may have to do what I did in share house one time and insist the offending shoes were stored in a plastic garbage bin at the back of the garage!

Some people like to keep their sunglasses, scarves, bags and coats on the table or hall stand so they're quickly accessible. But be careful leaving bags and keys here, particularly if you live in the city. Rather than just dumping things on the hall stand or table, have a wooden storage box with a lid or small cupboard. It's just as easy to use, it prevents clutter and everything is hidden away and tidy. Make dividers in the box for each family member and clean out the compartments each week as part of the quick clean.

You could also install some hooks in the box or on the inside of the cupboard for keys. Colour code the keys so you don't confuse them.

If you tend to dump your post and other stuff near the door, keep a wastepaper basket here as well. That way, unwanted bits and pieces can be thrown out immediately. Because it's at the entrance to your house, make sure it's a stylish bin. Having one here will increase your speed when cleaning.

The entrance to each house will be different and the lifestyle of the people using the house will vary. Shape it to suit your needs, being careful not to over-clutter this area. Consider shifting rarely used items to the study or to the back of the house.

Flowers and Ornaments

I know many people like to keep flowers at the entrance to heir home, but did you know they die more quickly here because of the draft coming through the door? Potted plants are a much better idea, particularly daisies, because they contain pyrethrum, which deters insects. Select plants with low water needs, such as succulents, although I avoid spiky ones after snagging my stockings several times! Scented herbs are also good because they keep the house smelling fresh when you brush past them, and they come in handy when cooking. Have deep saucers under your pots so water doesn't spill and create more cleaning!

Quick tip: What to do if you get lily stamens or pollen on the carpet

If the stain has set, damp it with kerosene applied with a cotton ball. Then damp the stain the methylated spirits applied with a cotton ball.Dry with a paper towel before repeating. Do this until the colour is removed. Some pollen's will be easy to remove, others will need several attempts. To avoid the problem, remove the stamens before putting the flowers on display. Put a plastic bag over your hand and pull the stamens out into your palm, then wrap the bag over itself and the stamens and throw it in the bin. This way, your hands won't come in contact with the stamens. 

Quick tip: instead of flowers, create an impression at the entrance to your home with a covered potpouri bowl, rock art,water art, paintings behind glass (to protect them from dust and allow easy cleaning, washable hangings, wind chimes, beautiful shells or pot plants.

The entrance is also a popular area to display ornaments but I don't recommend it because there are higher dust volumes in this part of the house. There's also the danger they could be knocked over in the wind. If you do keep ornaments here, clean them with a hairdryer on the lowest setting and secure them by putting some Blu-tak on the bottom. But only use Blu-tak on non-absorbent surfaces as it will an oil stain. 

Quick tip: This is an area where dog poo can hit.

Remove as much of the solids as possible then blot with a paper towel until the carpet is touch dry. Sprinkle bicarb over the area. Then wring out a cloth in vinegar and sponge off the bicarb. If your dog eats commercial food, it will have a high caramel content to colour the food so you'll need to wipe the area with glycerine first. Just apply a small amount of glycerine to a cloth and wipe over the area. Fill a bucket with cold water and enough detergent to create a sudsy mix. Use just the detergent suds, not the water, from the bucket and work them into a the stain with a soft nylon brush. Dry it with a Surplex or use a paper towel to absorb the moisture. When dry, vacuum. If there's any unpleasant odour, repeat this process. An alternative method is to apply cold water and detergent suds with an old toothbrush, using a little water as possible. Then fill the bucket with warm water and detergent and again apply  the suds to the stain with an old toothbrush. The reason you use both cold and warm water is because faeces container proteins and fats. Cold water removes proteins and warm water removes fats. You must clean in this order or the warm water will set the protein stain! Dry with a paper towel or Surplex by standing on it. 

You could always get free quotes form our local Auckland office cleaners to assist with your cleaning requirements. 

Cleaning the Entrance

There's no escaping the fact that the entrance to your house creates that all-important first impression. Make it as open, clean and airy as possible. Nobody wants to walk into a dark, dank cave. It's worthwhile standing at the front of your house, taking a good look around, and working out what your entrance says about you. If you don't like the message, then it's time or a revamp! Always make a point of including this area immediately outside and inside your font door in your quick clean; that way you will impress your guests, as well as giving yourself that warm feeling when you come home at this threshold between the outside world and your domestic sanctuary.

Assembling Your Cleaning Kit

Clutter bucket - to transport displaced items; bicarb - cleaning agent; vinegar - cleaning agent; water - cleaning agent; methylated spirits - to clean mirrors; cloth - (such as an old T-shirt) to wipe and dust surfaces; straw broom - to sweep floors and clear cobwebs; dustpan and brush - to clear accumulated dirt; vacuum cleaner - to vacuum floors; mop - to wipe over floors; bucket - to hold water or to hold cleaning items; rubber gloves - to protect hands and provide grip; Scotchgard - to spray over carpet and rugs to protect them from dirt; hairdryer - to clean ornaments; spray bottle - to fill with vinegar or fragrance.

Quick Cleaning Outside Your Front Door

Remove anything that doesn't belong in this area with a clutter bucket. Then begin clearing any spider webs outside the front door, including around light fittings, with a broom. To deter spiders, wipe the broom head with a little lemon oil before sweeping and it will transfer to surfaces as you clean. Wipe along the door jambs, lock plate and doorknob with the appropriate cleaner. For brass, use a little vinegar on a cloth. For timber, use a little vinegar on a cloth or detergent or water. Dust the door with a dry cloth. If you have furniture on the front verandah, clean according to its surface. Shake your entrance mat and sweep the verandah or entranceway wit ha good straw yard broom. If there's a lot of refuse, collect it in a dustpan and place it straight into the green bin. Water any pot plans and remove any dead heads or portions of the plant that have died. 

How to Make Cleaning Speedier

One of the best ways to speed up your cleaning is to prevent dirt from getting into the house in the first place. That's why a mat placed at the front and back doors of the house is so important. A mat is a bit like a security guard for dirt. I think the best kind of mat is a copra one. If the drainage around your mat is poor, put a rubber-tyre strip mat underneath the copra mat, which will help with ventilation and keep it dry.

Mats

The best way to clean a copra mat is to give it a good bash against a wall, then hose the top and bottom. Dry it in the sunshine standing on its edge. Stop your cat or dog from sleeping on the welcome mat by spraying the mat with insecticide. 

Quick Clean Inside Your Front Door

Using the same clean kit, remove extraneous items with a clutter bucket and empty any bins. Dust the ceiling and light fittings with a soft nylon broom which has a little lemon oil on it (the oil will transfer to the ceiling and light fittings and deter spiders). Sweep along the walls and tops of cupboards or hall stands.

It's inevitable that you'll get marks on the wall, especially in high traffic areas. Be careful when using proprietary products to clean these marks because most have an alcohol base which can break down the paint surface and leave a bleached shiny spot. Clean your walls every week either with a broom or vacuum cleaner. Put an old T-Shirt over the broom head or brush to prevent bristle marks. Some dirty marks will come off using a good pencil eraser. You could also try rolling brown bread into a ball and rubbing it against the wall. If these don't work, try a very diluted solution of sugar soap applied with a cloth. Wring out the cloth tightly before applying. For build-up around light switches, apply vinegar and water sparingly with a sponge. To avoid drip lines, start cleaning from the bottom and work your way up, drying as you go.

Quick tip: Every time you change a light bulb, clean the other light bulbs wit ha cloth and they'll shine brighter. To prevent halogen lights corroding, wipe the connection of the bulb with a cloth once a week.  

Remove dust and grime from any paintings, wall hangings or wall art. Clean light switches, door jambs and any window sills. Clean any furniture with the appropriate cleaner.

If it's been raining, clear the water in umbrella stands or you'll create a mould farm or a home for frogs!

Quick tip: Create your own umbrella stand with a spaghetti jar. The bulb at the bottom of the jar is a perfect water collector.

What to do if you get a water stain on the carpet from umbrellas
If you get to the stain immediately, blot as much as possible with a paper towel. A Slurpex is ideal in this situation. If the stain has been there for a while, wipe it with a little glycerine ten apply a quality spot remover and use a paper towel to absorb as much moisture as possible.

Wipe the top of the table or hall stand according to its surface. Hall stands often have mirrors which should be cleaned with methylated spirits wrung out on a lint-free cloth, such as an old T-shirt.

Quick tip: if you don't have room for a hall stand, install some hooks either behind the front door or along the wall to store coats. If you're in a rental property, use removable hooks which wrap over the top of the door. You can also now buy reusable 3M adhesive hooks. 

When cleaning picture frames, clean glass with methylated spirits and a cloth but be careful not to get methylated spirits around edges or it could seep into the print. Polycarbonate should only be cleaned with a damp cloth. Clean metal and timber as you would furniture. Clean plastic with glycerine. 

Clean floors by either vacuuming and/or mopping. Top mop, I wrap and old T-shirt that has been dampened with water and vinegar over a broom head, fix it with elastic bands and wipe over the floor. If you have rugs in this space, shake them outside. And remember, rugs and carpet are less likely to absorb stains if sprayed with Scotchgard. You can spray just at the entrance or the whole hallway - wherever there is a high dirt rate - which is particularly useful when it's raining and there's mud around.

Did you know? Black mud can be cleaned with detergent and cold water, but if you have red mud, use soap and cold water. Detergent reacts with the iron and manganese oxide in red mud and leaves a rusty or black mark. Soap won't do this because it's saponin-based. Never allow moisture to penetrate the carpet or you'll create further staining from the back of the carpet.

Quick tip: To freshen dingy carpets, make up a spray bottle containing 1 part bicarb and 3 parts vinegar and 5 parts water. If you like fragrance, add a couple of drops of your favourite essential oil, but avoid fruit oils because the brain associates them with the kitchen. Lightly spray the carpet, don't go overboard and soak it, then sweep it with a T-shirt-covered broom. Sprinkling bicarb on the carpet before vacuuming is a good general carpet freshener, but won't necessarily clean stains. These will have to be spot cleaned.

Water any pot plans, arrange flowers, spray fragrance, if you like using it, or add any froufrou, such as doilies. Empty the clutter bucket, put away the clean kit and update the master list.

What To Do About Unexpected Visitors

These days, thanks to mobile phones, it's more likely that people will ring before popping over, so you may have 10 minutes to get the place in order. But what can you do if visitors arrive unannounced at the front door and your house has got that lived-in homely look? Here are a few suggestions:

No Warning

Keep a cloth impregnated with lavender oil near the front door so that when there are unexpected visitors, I can wipe over the back edges of the door before opening it. The smell is fresh and creates an impression of cleanliness. You could also keep a spray bottle filled with lavender oil and water and give it a squirt before opening the door. It has the same effects. Guide your visitors to the cleanest room and excuse yourself as you make them a cup of tea. In the kitchen, if you don't have a dishwasher, stack any unwashed dishes in a pile because it appears neater, and wipe down any surfaces. You could even place a pair of washing up gloves over the top of the dishes to suggest you were just about to wash them if you hadn't been interrupted by your visitors!

If You Have 10 Minutes

Just focus on the areas that your guests will see. First grab your clutter bucket and gather extraneous items, then put it into a room you can close of. Stack dishes in the kitchen into a neat pile of you don't have a dishwasher. Put papers into a neat pile. You'll be amazed at how much cleaner an area appears if things are neatly ordered rather than strewn around. Grab a damp cloth and wipe over surfaces. Throw a tablecloth over the table. Throw a sheet over the washing basket. Wipe door jambs with a lavender-oil impregnated cloth to give a fresh smell. Check the toilet is clean. If it's not, give it a quick scrub with the toilet brush and spray some lavender oil in the air. Quickly sweep outside the front door - a tidy entrance always makes a great first impression - and your 10-minute quick clean is done. 

Know the Surfaces You're Cleaning

When choosing a cleaning product, you have to know what the stain is and what surface you're working with. For instance, is your wooden table bar timber or does it have a polyurethane, shellac, varnish or acrylic finish? If you don't know, you need to find out. The same goes for any surface you're working with: be it fabric, vinyl, leather or even carpet. They all react in different ways to different cleaning utensils.

What Cleaning Agents Are

Acetone is a volatile, flammable ketone. It's used a solvent for resins, primers, nail polish and heavy plastics. It can also be used to strip polyurethane, but be careful because it is very strong. It's available from the supermarket or hardware store.

Algene is a pool cleaning chemical and an alternative to chlorine. It kills algae, including mildew, and its great for cleaning paths.

Aquadhere is a PVA wood glue and sealant.

Beeswax is the wax produced by bees when making honeycomb. It's a great polishing agent for sealed (except polyurethane) or unsealed timber finishes.

Bicarb is bicarbonate of soda, sodium bicarbonate or bicarb soda. It's a salt and an alkaline that neutralizes acid. It penetrates stains and dissolves grease on many different surfaces. It's available at the supermarket, generally in the cake-baking rather than the cleaning aisle.

Bleach is a whitening agent that weakens fibres. It makes stiff linen become fine linen.

Blu-tak is a putty-like proprietary product used to temporarily adhere one surface to another. It can also be used to clean dirt from hard-to-reach areas.

Borax is a crystalline sodium borate that can be used as a fungicide, insecticide and detergent booster. It is mildly toxic: avoid contact with skin and do not ingest it. It is available from the supermarket.

Bran is the ground husk of wheat or other grains. It's absorbent and can be used as a scourer. It is good for cleaning fabric, fur, silver or silver-plated items.

Brasso is a proprietary product. It's an abrasive and a metal polish polyurethane and polyethylene surfaces. 

Camphor is a ketone from the camphor laurel tree. It has a strong vapour which moths and cats don't like. It's very flammable so never heat it.

Carpet cleaners come in many varieties. They can be soap-based, bicarb-based, detergent-based or alcohol-based. Be careful cleaning your carpets after they'e been steam cleaned because there can be adverse chemical reactions.

Cloves are a a spice that come from the dried flower buds of the clove tree. Cloves deter silverfish and moths are great for cupboards and bookshelves.

CLR stands for Calcium, Lime, Rust. It removes calcium deposits from glasses and kettles, lime scales from coffee machines, toilets and sinks and rust from cement, porcelain, chrome and fabric. It's available from the supermarket or hardware store. You can also use Ranex in the same way. 

Cornflour is a starch from maize, rice and other grains. It's absorbent and a very fine abrasive.

Denture soaker can be used to clean and remove stubborn grey marks on porcelain. It can also clean craze marks on china and remove fruit and plant stains from terracotta.

Detergent is dish-washing liquid used when washing kitchen paraphernalia by hand. It emulsifies grease and oils making them easier to remove.

Dry cleaning fluid is also known as white spirits. It's a solvent and is available from hardware stores.

Epsom salts are hydrated magnesium sulphate and are so named because they were found at Epsom in the UK. They are good for soaking aching limbs in the bath, for un-shrinking woolens and for magnesium-deficient plants.

Eucalyptus oil is an essential oil distilled from the leaves of certain eucalyptus trees. It's a pain stripper, adhesive solvent and releases vapors. It's available from the supermarket or chemist.

Fuller's Earth is a high-calcium clay with a bleaching action. It's very absorbent and acts as a wool relaxant, so it can be used to shrink or unshrink woollens or remove sweat from felt or to block hats. It's available at the chemist.

Goanna oil is rendered goanna fat used to restore glass that has glass cancer. It's very difficult to find but may be available at the chemist.

Glycerine is an odourless, clear liquid. It's used as as agent in cosmetics, toothpaste and shampoos and helps to loosen stains. It's available at the supermarket or chemist.

Graphite puffer is used to unstick locks and hinges. Graphite is a dry lubricant similar to a finely shaved lead pencil minus the clay. The puffer bulb allows access to tight areas.

Gumption is a whitish-grey cleaning paste which has many uses. It's great for cleaning baths and sinks. It contains a mild bleaching agent and abrasive. It's available at the supermarket.

Hydrogen peroxide is an oxidising liquid used as an antiseptic and bleaching agent. It's available at the supermarket or chemist.

Lavender oil is derived from lavender flowers and has many uses, including insect repellent, dog inhibitor, air freshener and toilet cleaner. It's available at the supermarket or chemist.

Lemon oil comes from the oil in lemon peel and is used a furniture polisher, spider and insect prohibitor and stain remover, as well as for its fragrance and flavour.

Methylated spirits is a raw alcohol with menthol. It's a solvent for some paints and can also be used to disinfect surfaces. The alcohol kills most bacteria but should never be applied to a timber surface. It's available at the supermarket or hardware store.

Napisan is a soaking agent, originally used to soak nappies, that comes in several varieties. Napisan Complete Nappy Treatment removes some proteins, oils, organic or petrochemical stains, but can only be used if the item being cleaned is white. Napisan OxyAction Max can be used on colours and is good tannin stains, protein, fats and oil stains. Napisan Plus Advance Soaker is great for mystery stains and for underarm deodorant stains. Use Napisan as a soaker, powder or create a paste by adding water.

Oil of cloves is a cold-pressed oil from the dried flower buds of the close tree. It's a mould inhibitor, insecticide - particularly for silverfish - toothache soother and cooking ingredient. It's available from the chemist.

Oil of pennyroyal is a oil from a small-leafed mint. It deters moths, fleas and hard-shell insects, such as beetles and millipedes, but is harmful to pregnant women and animals and shouldn't be used by them or near them. Pennyroyal can be difficult to obtain but you can always get living plants from your nursery.

Potter's plaster / plaster of paris is a white powder made of calcium sulphate. It forms a paste when mixed with water and can be shaped before setting. It's also absorbent and is good for removing stains from granite and pavers when applied in thin layers. It's available from art supply stores and hardware stores.

Ranex is like CLR and is used to remove calcium deposits, lime scale and rust.

Salt is an abrasive, a disinfectant and kills mould. When cleaning, use non-iodised table salt, which are cheaper.

Scotchgard is an abrasive, a disinfectant and kills mould. When cleaning, use non-iodised table salt, coarse cooking salt or swimming pool salt, which are cheaper.

Shellac is a varnish made from the resin of the Coccus lacca scale insect. The resin is dissolved in alcohol or a similar solvent and used for making varnish, polish and sealing wax.

Slurpex is a fine-grade, chamois-like block that is a very absorbent sponge. It removes moisture from carpet and other surfaces. It is only available directly from the company, Slurpex

Soap (cake of soap) used for general cleaning. The only difference between the cheap and expensive ones is the perfumes, oils and moisturisers used in them. Cheap ones are fine for cleaning and are often better.

Soap flakes are very thin pure flakes of soap. You can buy them as flakes or grate a cake of soap. You could also use a soap shaker for the same result. A soap shaker is a wire box with a handle. Place a cake of soap inside, clip it shut and run water through it or shake it in water to generate suds.

Soap powder is washing powder used for washing clothes in the washing machine.

Sweet almond oil is the oil extracted from almond nuts. It's used to clean bone and ivory and lubricate glass. It can be used to remove glass stoppers in decanters. It's available at supermarkets and chemists.

Talcum powder is an absorbent, a lubricant and a fine-grade abrasive. It can be used for polishing, absorbing stains or soothing babies' bottoms. It also helps prevent rubber from perishing. It is also useful for determining the tracks of ants and fleas.

Tea unless-specified, use black, Indian tea. Tea contains tannin's, which are good for cleaning aluminium, killing dust mites and inhibiting insects. It's also a great pick-me-up when sipped!

Tea tree oil is an oil extracted from tea tree bushes. It's used as an antibacterial and solvent for oil-based paints. It removes resin stains, such as sticky tape residue and wax.

Vanilla essence is the product of extract from vanilla beans combined with alcohol. It is used to provide fragrance and flavour to food and as a deodoriser. If you run out of perfume, dab behind your ears and you might get your neck nibbled. It is available from the supermarket.

Vaseline is a petroleum jelly that is used as lubricant, a water barrier and to stop snails getting into your letterbox.

Vinegar is an acid. It's a preservative, condiment, beverage, cleaner and sanitiser. Cider vinegar is a best on hard surfaces which are not colour sensitive. Don't use it on white tiles, white laminex or anything that is lighter than the colour of the cider vinegar. White vinegar is better for cleaning light-coloured surfaces, such as white marble, and fabric. Both are available from the supermarket.

White spirits is also known as dry cleaning fluid or Murlex. It's a solvent and is available from hardware stores.

Whiting is a fine-grade abrasive powder used in cleaning and polishing glass, furniture and polychromate sinks. When mixed with glycerine it can clean most plastics. It's available from leadlight stores.

WD-40 stands for Water Displacement, 40th Attempt. It's a high-grade penetrating oil and stops corrosion. It lubricates small areas and can inhibit some insects.

Woolwash is a mild soap or detergent mixed with eacalyptus oil and bicarb. It's available at the supermarket.

How to Clean Outside Your Front Door

Remove anything that doesn't belong in this area with a clutter bucket. Then begin clearing any spider webs outside the front door, including around light fittings, with a broom. To deter spiders, wipe the broom head with a little lemon oil before sweeping and it will transfer to surfaces as you clean. Wipe along the door jambs, lock place and doorknob with the appropriate cleaner. For brass, use a little vinegar on a cloth. For timber, use a little vinegar on a cloth or detergent and water. Dust the door with a dry cloth. If you have furniture on the front veranda, clean according to its surface. Shake your entrance mat and sweep the veranda or entrance-way with a good straw yard broom. If there’s a lot of refuse, collect it in a dustpan and place is straight into the green bin. Water any pot plants and remove any dead heads or portions of the plant that have died.

Quick tip: one of the best ways to speed up your cleaning is to prevent dirt from getting into the house in the first place. That’s why a mat placed at the front and back doors of the house is also important. A mat is a bit like a security guard for dirt. I think the best kind of mat is a copra one. If the drainage around your mat is poor, put a rubber-tire strip mat underneath the copra mat, which will help you with ventilation and keep it dry.

Mats: the best way to clean a copro mat is to give it a good bash against a wall, then hose the top and bottom. Dry it in the sunshine standing on its edge. Dry it in the sunshine standing on its edge. Stop your cat or dog from sleeping on the welcome mat by spraying the mat with insecticide. 

Cleaning Inside Your Front Door

Using the same clean kit, remove extraneous items with a clutter bucket and empty any bins. Dust the ceiling and light fittings with a soft nylon broom which has a little lemon oil on it (the oil will transfer to the ceiling and light fittings and deter spiders). Sweep along the walls and tops of cupboards or hall-stands.

It’s inevitable that’s you’ll get marks on the wall, especially in high traffic areas. Be careful when using proprietary products to clean these marks because most have an alcohol base which can break down the paint surface and leave a bleached shiny spot. Clean your walls every week either with a broom of vacuum cleaner. Put an old T-shirt over the broom head or brush or prevent bristle marks. Some dirty marks will come off using a good pencil eraser. You could also try rolling brown bread into a ball and rubbing it against the wall. If these don’t work, try a very diluted solution or sugar soap applied with a cloth. Wring out the cloth tightly before applying. For build-up around light switches, apply vinegar and water sparingly with a sponge. To avoid drip lines, start cleaning from the bottom and work your way up, drying as you go.

Quick tip: every time you change a light bulb, clean the other light bulbs with a cloth and they’ll shine brighter. To prevent halogen lights corroding, wipe the connection on the bulb with a cloth once a week.