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How to clean your washing machine

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Do you need tips on how to clean your washing machine? A household appliance that we rely on to clean our clothes may need to get cleaned as well from time to time.  Below are the tips on what you need to know on

How to clean your washing machine:

It’s good practice to leave the door open for a few minutes after removing a clean load to let the interior fully dry. This will help to get rid of the musky smell and keep it smelling fresh and cleaner. It’s also worthwhile giving the door and inside a quick wipe down with a cloth from time to time, particularly if you notice condensation or the first signs of mould. Washing machine mechanics also recommend leaving the soap tray pulled out to let it air-dry in-between washes. This can also prevent mold from accumulating. However, even with the best of intentions, over time, bacteria, mildew, and soap scum will build up and clog pipes and parts. This prevents your machine from running as efficiently as it could and can cause more serious problems further down the line.

Deep-clean a washing machine:

A good deep clean every once in a while will keep your washing machine running smoothly and happily for a long time to come. We reckon it’s definitely worth preventing problems with your washing machine because an out-of-action appliance means you’ll be spending a lot of time – and money – at your local launderette. The good news is, giving your washing machine a deep clean can be done using everyday products and doesn’t take long to do.

You will need:

  • 2 cups of vinegar
  • 1/4 cup bicarbonate of soda
  • 1/4 cup water
  • A sponge scourer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mix the bicarb with the water in a bowl, and pop the solution in the detergent tray. Pour the vinegar directly into the drum and set the machine on its highest water temperature setting. When the cycle is finished, use the scourer to wipe around the opening of the machine. This will help remove any stubborn stains or residue. The drum of your washing machine is where germs tend to hide in the nooks and crannies. So even running an empty wash from time to time will also help.

If the detergent tray is particularly caked, you can remove it and soak it in hot soapy water before scrubbing with an old toothbrush. Don’t forget to clean the drawer cavity too. It’ll be spotless in mere minutes and your clothes will feel fresher instantly.

The filter:

the washing machine filter is usually located along the lower edge of the machine, behind a hinged cover. Check your user manual if unsure. Carefully free the emergency drain tube and place a bowl or pan on the floor below it. Unplug and allow any trapped water to drain off. Replace the plug, remove the bowl and lay a towel on the floor. Carefully unscrew or release the filter cover. Any trapped debris should run out with the trapped water, but check inside the cavity to be sure. Wipe around with a cloth, clean any components and replace the cover. Check again that you have replaced the cover properly to prevent any accidental leaks.

For a final sparkle, wipe the drum, outside the machine and around the seal of the door with a microfiber cloth soaked in a little vinegar. For best results, it’s worthwhile cleaning your washing machine every 2-3 months.

 

If you require further help or enquires regarding any of our services, don’t hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have via:

E: contact@stanneshousekeeping.com

P: 020 3397 7495 | 0800 999 3397

how-to-do-laundry-in-10-easy-steps-2

How to tackle your laundry

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Do you find that your laundry is always pilling up? Here are some tips on how to tackle your laundry.

Buying more than one Laundry basket

Sometimes having more than one laundry basket in your home could help. Maybe having one for each colour could be too much, however, it could also help you e.g. 1 for ‘whites’; 1 for ‘dark’ and 1 for ‘coloured’. You may consider having a 4th basket or a hanging bag for clothes that need to be taken to the dry cleaners. This can be very time efficient in the long run.

Dedicated drying area

It is useful to have a dedicated area in your home where you can dry your clothes even if you do have a drying machine or if you like to hang your clothes outside on the washing line. After all, there is nothing more unsightly than seeing everyone’s underwear or sports gear hanging from radiators.

Drying Rack

If space is limited, or if you have a large family and you wish your drying to be less unsightly, why not consider installing a drying rack from the ceiling? For a more upcycled and rustic look, paint a small ladder and hang from the ceiling to act as a drying rack. Of course, you just tackle your laundry the regular way too and use the foldable ones to dry your clothes on. And place them away right after there use out of the way.

Hangers

It’s vital to have a good supply of hangers to hand as hanging clothes, such as T-shirt and shirt., When they come out of the washing machine, you can prevent them from being badly creased by hanging them straight away, this will save you some time spent on the ironing.

Clean washing cupboard 

Upcycle an old cupboard (not tall) and invest in some runners to hang plastic laundry baskets from – one labelled for each member of the family. Even better, if it has a flat top on which to do your folding and then pop it in the basket, for each member of the family to take to their rooms and tidy away.

From dryer to fold

If you use a drying machine, don’t waste the fact that when clothes have finished their cycle, they are in a fit state to be folded and fold particularly well whilst still warm. Give them a good straight brush down with your hand and fold. This will save you plenty of time you would otherwise have spent ironing.

Do it regularly

The most efficient way of doing laundry is to keep on top of it. Creating a rota could be a great way to help you if you need some organisation, for example, a day of the week for the whites/ darks/ colours. Hopefully, this will reduce the last minute washing requests!. Of course, there will be times where you may need to do a certain colour more frequently and your washing will get full quicker but this could be beneficial. Then, pop the wash on before you leave in the morning and by the time you return, it won’t take you 5 mins to hang up once you know how and where you will dry the clothes. The clothes should be dry overnight for anyone needing them the next day.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you require further help or enquires regarding any of our services, don’t hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have via: 

E: contact@stanneshousekeeping.com

P: 020 3397 7495 | 0800 999 3397

 

Bathroom-cleaning

Clean your bathroom

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Bathrooms can require some extra attention from time to time to keep them looking orderly. After all, we desire our bathrooms to be a sanctuary of calm and tranquillity.

Tips on how to clean your bathroom:

  • If you have a dishwasher try to use this once a month to wash soap dishes, sponges and toothbrush. It’s amazing how quickly grime can build up in these hard to reach areas and it will help to remove limescale and give everything a fresh clean look.
  • Also to prevent mould or mildew building up in your bathroom, consider protecting white grouting from being tainted. With mildew by running a white candle was along it – you’ll be astonished at how well this works. It’s an excellent sealant.
  • Rid the shower head of limescale! Although it only takes enough white vinegar in a plastic bag so that it submerges the shower head to dissolve dirt and calcium build-up, it is astonishing how long people take to get around to this. Tie the bag in place and leave overnight to soak for maximum results. You will see a noticeable difference in water pressure!
  • We all know a toilet bowel needs to be sanitised and properly cleaned. So, allow the toilet cleaner to work overnight while you sleep and then brush and flush when you get up. This way you can be assured of a properly disinfected loo! Also remember that a sealed toilet brush holder is perfect for keeping germs contained!
  • Steamed up mirrors in the morning can often be the bain of men’s lives before heading out to work. To try to prevent this, try coating a mirror with shaving foam and then wiping it clean with a microfibre cloth. This will prevent the mirror from fogging up as quickly. This should be repeated monthly.
  • To give your bathroom a real blitz, keep a core collection of bathroom centric cleaning products in a sink or container under the sink. This way you can give the tiles a scrub after your shower or easily wipe down the basin in all of two minutes.

clean your bathroom with Storage

  • Instead of hanging cotton wool pads on the back of the door, find a pretty glass jar to store them in and even store a first aid kit this way. Not only does it keep them tidy and watertight, but it stores them neatly.
  • Baskets: Baskets and cutlery trays are brilliant for lining bathroom drawers. Use them to keep essentials sorted and easily accessible. You could always give these areas a bit of a tidy by dividing medical necessities by theme – such as for headaches, cold and flu, cuts and scrapes and so on. Transparent containers are excellent for storing cotton buds, eye-liner pencils, brushes and so on.
  • Extra shelving (such as above the bathroom door) helps to provide additional storage place for extra towels.
  • Candles are essential for ‘mood’ lighting as well as giving off the all-important essential oils needed for relaxation. Do make space to place these around the bathroom and store away superfluous lotions and potions into a bathroom cabinet. The less clutter the better when it comes to doing a bathroom blitz!

cleaners London

Removing Dust

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Removing dust at this time of year can seem like a relentless task, but we all love a clean and tidy home! With doors and windows open for ventilation and a gentle breeze, dust can easily build up and settle on everything.  Always work from the top down, just like your other cleaning in the house. Always dust before vacuuming to ensure that any dust or dirt which falls to the floor is vacuumed up.

The materials you will need

To do the most effective dusting with is a damp, clean, microfibre cloth. To dampen, hold the cloth by a corner and lightly mist with water from a spray bottle. The cloth should be just damp enough to pick up dust without leaving moisture streaks. When dusting a flat surface, move the cloth smoothly from one end to the other, stopping at the end. Don’t flick the cloth, or dust will merely be released back into the air before settling on the floor, instead of getting trapped by your cloth.

Top Tips

  • When dusting wall units, lift and dust each object, then dust the shelf underneath and behind. Start from the top of the unit and move to the bottom.
  • Never dust a warm or hot light bulb with a damp cloth, as it will shatter. Dampen a clean, soft paintbrush to remove dust from slatted doors or windows, telephones and keyboard keys and any carved furniture.
  • To remove dust from Venetian blinds, close the slants, dust, close the slants the opposite way and dust again. Wipe wood surfaces with the grain to avoid streaks. Treat surfaces that are flaking or cracking with care as these should be dusted with a soft paintbrush instead to avoid the cloth from snagging.
  • Tumble dryer sheets are great for removing dust from computers and TV screens as the attract the static electricity from the device.
  • Dusting lampshades can be an awkward affair, but using a lint roller can be very effective for removing dust.
  • To remove dust from soft toys, teddies or dolls, place them into a large plastic bag with 250ml of bicarbonate of soda. Tie together and shake the bag very well outside! The bicarb and static created will draw out the dust. Remove items one at a time, shake off the clumps of bicarb and vacuum the rest using a brush attachment.