Ready for a summer reset? We're here to help you sort out your home! Follow our tips to help you get on top of the chores, including tasks that you may have forgotten.
We'll also show you how to plant your own veg garden, why lemons are an amazing cleaning product, clever ways with food scraps and much more!
Choose the tasks that appeal to you most and it'll never feel like a chore – whether you've got five minutes or a whole weekend, you're bound to find a task that you've got time for in this round-up.
Read on for household tidying hacks and cleaning tips that will change your life for the better.
5 ways to reset your home in minutes
Tidy up your life with these speedy household tasks…
- Clean the filters in your cooker hood or extractor fan to remove any built-up grease.
- Tidy up the medicine cabinet, taking out-of- date items to a local pharmacy for safe disposal.
- Tackle mouldy and mildewy bathrooms by cleaning the walls and ceiling, and bring in dehumidifiers and plants to lower the humidity.
- Thoroughly clean radiators, getting behind them and inside the crevices using a fluffy duster.
- Declutter your bookshelves, taking down each book and giving everything a good vacuum.
How to clean in 15!
When time is short, get your house looking spick and span by focusing on key tasks and using your time efficiently. Here are our top tips for blitzing a room in just 15 minutes!
1. Clear the room with a quick tidy
Tidying is the first step, so do a quick sweep of the room, putting any obvious rubbish into the bin or recycling, and storing away any items that need to go in cupboards.
Now fill a box or basket with items that need to be relocated to their rightful rooms, ready to sort out later. If you’re blitzing the kitchen, do the washing up, or empty and load the dishwasher to clear the decks.
2. Start at the top and work down
Start cleaning from the top of the room and work downwards. Grab a fluffy feather duster and give everything up high a light sweep, from cobwebby corners, shelves and blinds, to picture rails, photo frames and plant leaves.
Shake out soft furnishings such as blankets, tea towels and cushions, then refold and put back neatly.
3. Clean the bathroom in minutes
For a quick bathroom blitz, spray the entire bathroom suite, including the taps and shower screen, with a multi-purpose bathroom cleaner.
Now go back round and wipe everything down with a damp cloth, or using the hose attachment on the shower or bath, to get a sparkling finish.
4. Make your windows sparkle
To clean grubby windows or mirrors, spray liberally with window cleaner and leave to drip down.
Meanwhile, wipe any surfaces such as the kitchen counter, hob or coffee table, using a damp microfibre cloth and a quick spray of multi-purpose cleaner. Return to the windows and wipe clean with a fresh cloth.
5. Do a quick vacuum around
Shake out rugs and mats, then use a handheld vacuum cleaner to whip round your room in a couple of minutes, picking up crumbs and pet hair from your sofa, and any debris that’s fallen onto the floor.
For hard floors, finish off by spraying with floor cleaner and wiping clean with a microfibre mop.
How to clean using lemons
The acidity in citrus is a natural way to cut down bacteria, making lemons a top cleaning product. Here are three ways to use them around your home…
Clean your microwave the easy way!
Chop up two lemons and put them in a bowl of hot water, squeezing out some of the juice as you go. Pop the bowl in the microwave for four minutes so the citrusy steam can work its magic, then take it out and wipe the inside of the microwave clean with a microfibre cloth.
Put the bowl of lemons back in for one more minute to freshen and deodorise.
Freshen your chopping board
To deep-clean a wooden chopping board, sprinkle some salt onto it and use half a lemon to ‘exfoliate’ the board.
The abrasive salt and bacteria-busting lemon work together to shift any ingrained food and leave your chopping board hygienically clean and fresh.
Get rid of limescale
Banish limescale on taps by sticking half a lemon onto the end of the faucet, wiggling it to secure (if it falls off, wrap a tea towel around it and pop an elastic band over).
Leave the lemon to do its work for half an hour, giving it the odd squeeze to release more juice, then remove it and wipe the tap clean. The acid in the lemon helps to break down the limescale and leaves a shiny finish.
3 ways with food scraps
In an effort to save pennies and make our weekly shop go further, this month we’re looking at how to make the most of food scraps
1. Make your own compost and give your home-grown veggies a boost
Add green matter like fruit and veg scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells and teabags to a compost bin or container, combine with brown matter like fallen leaves, cardboard, newspaper, hay and wood shavings, then mix with water. Turn the compost every two to four weeks, and it should be usable in around two months.
2. Save your veggie scraps to make stock
Remove the tops and bottoms, skins and stems from any veg and herbs you’re preparing and put them in a zip-lock bag. Pop the bag in the freezer and add to it for up to six months, until it’s full. Put the frozen veg in a pot, add enough water to cover, bring to a boil and simmer for half an hour, then strain. The stock can be refrigerated for up to four days or frozen for up to three months.
3. Blitz bread crusts and crumbs
Blend bread crusts and crumbs in a food processor and freeze them to use as crunchy toppings on pasta bakes and gratins
Other recipes to try with an old loaf include stuffing, croutons, and bread-and-butter pudding.
How to plant your own veg patch
There are so many benefits of looking after a veggie garden, from saving money on the weekly shop to improving your diet and keeping you healthy in body and mind.
If you want to grow your own but aren’t sure where to start, check out our top tips…
1. Find a space for growing
Whether it’s a balcony, a small garden, or a much larger outdoor space, measure the area you have to work with.
You might be surprised by how little room you actually need – if your plot is on the small side or you’re restricted to a balcony, you can still grow veg in pots, raised beds and wall-hung planters.
2. If you don’t have a garden, consider renting
To find out where your nearest council-managed allotment is, visit gov.uk and apply for a plot – but be warned, waiting lists can be long.
Another option is allotme.co.uk which links up those who have spare outdoor space with those looking for some. From back gardens to community allotments, there may be a plot just around the corner!
3. Pick a good location for your patch
Most veggies love lots of sun, so you’ll want a nice bright spot that also gets shelter from the elements, as heavy wind and rain can cause plenty of damage. Level ground or a gentle slope is best, with access to a tap or a water butt if possible.
4. Prepare your patch
Prepare your patch by clearing the plot of debris, cutting down unwanted shrubs or brambles, then thoroughly weeding before raking over the soil to break it up.
To create a rich, loamy soil, add some organic matter like well-rotted composted leaves into the top 10 or 12 inches of existing soil, and install a compost bin nearby so you can add to it regularly.
5. Think carefully about what you want to grow
For beginners, some of the easiest veggies to grow include lettuce, radish, peas, beans, carrots, kale, and beets.
Devise a crop-rotation plan to grow particular groups of veggies on a different part of the plot each year – you can find great tips at rhs.org.uk – then mark out the blocks of your plot on the ground before planting.
How to get rid of limescale
Limescale can be a pain to get rid of, but don't worry! There are lots of ways to get your bathroom sparklingly clean again.
Find out how to get rid of limescale in your bathroom with our expert advice.
