How to declutter your home before moving

Read this guide and you'll find the whole moving process will be faster, easier, and cheaper.

Let’s face it, not many of us are great with minimalism. Clutter seems to be attracted to us, and hoarding is more common than you think. That’s why moving house is the perfect time for a household purge.

It forces you to go through all your possessions with a fine-tooth comb. You also have the big moving day deadline to work towards.

Keeping only the things you love and getting rid of those you no longer need help achieve a more streamlined life.

It creates a home where you can find something more easily. You’ll also save time spent constantly tidying up piles of accumulated belongings.

An added bonus of decluttering your home right before moving is having fewer items to pack and transport. You’ll find the whole moving process will be faster, easier, and cheaper.

Keep, sell, throw

There are many tactics for a successful home purge. Some decluttering experts advocate the Four Box Method, where you go through each room in your home armed with separate boxes. One box is for things you want to keep, one to sell or give to charity, one to chuck, and one for items you’re still undecided about.

Others are devotees of the Japanese KonMari method, where you pick up each item you own and decide to keep it only if it “sparks joy” or if it is useful.

There’s even “Swedish death cleaning”, a decluttering technique where you downsize your belongings in recognition of the stark fact that one day, you won’t be able to take anything with you and that your junk may just be a burden for your loved ones. But hey, if that’s too much for you, you might prefer to stick with the Four Box Method.

Whichever method you use, it’s always advisable to tackle one room at a time rather than attempting to declutter your whole house in one go. Give yourself enough time to ensure you don’t become overwhelmed with the magnitude of the job.

If you’re moving soon and want to get it all done quickly, consider looking for local cleaners in London to help with the decluttering process.

Seek help from a friend or professional organiser

More often than not, hoarding is caused by our psychological attachment to objects. Sometimes what you really need is an objective person to help you with the task of discerning trash from treasure. Consider hiring someone who can organise your belongings to make decluttering much easier.

Your helper can undertake different tasks, like organising your DVD and CD libraries, rearranging your cupboards or reorganising your closet. You could also ask them to make trips to dispose of junk or drop off old clothes at your local charity shop.

Clean as you declutter

Sometimes, decluttering and reorganising your belongings can leave your home in disarray. Instead of worrying about the mess, why not have someone do the cleaning for you?

Moving house is chaotic as it is, and a professional cleaner can give you one less thing to think about.

Once your home is tidy and organised after the decluttering session, you’ll find packing up for your move so much easier!

Looking for someone to help with decluttering before your move? Find a helpful Airtasker in your local area!

Spring cleaning hacks and tips

Spoiler: you're going to need a fair bit of baking soda.

In a time of Marie Kondo and her uncompromising war on mess, you’d be forgiven for thinking an almighty tidy-up requires a week away from work and an unbreakable promise to yourself you’ll never go back to being that person.

BUT PLOT TWIST: the time-old tradition of Spring cleaning your home from top to bottom doesn’t have to be painful, life-affirming or even time consuming. In fact, we’ve scoured (sorry) the internet to bring together the best cleaning hacks to leave your home sparkling and your calendar unscathed – so grab some sponges, and when the time to comes to scrub, consider this list your cleaning bible.

Want a little help cleaning your home? You’ll find trusted, rated and local cleaners on Airtasker.

Deep cleaning your kitchen

As you’d expect, a kitchen in any home is a tricky beast to clean. Before you get started, do a quick sweep of any unnecessary clutter that might have made its way in from other rooms, clean the surfaces as you normally would, and give yourself a blank canvas to work from.

All hail the magic of baking soda.

The oven

Most people will tell you that you’ll need a heavy duty solution to clean your oven; but they’re wrong. Ditch the chemicals and nostril-burning fumes, and reach for your baking soda instead.

Just mix 6 teaspoons of baking soda with 250ml of warm water until you have a smooth paste. Repeat this ratio to get as much ‘product’ as you need.

Oven interior: remove the racks and set them aside, then with a sponge spread the paste over all the interiors and oven door – leave this to set for a few hours (or the night before if you’re prepping), then once ready, with a damp sponge scrub and then rinse the solution away, stains and all.

Racks: You’ve heard the stories of what cola does to bones and teeth, right? Well it turns out it’s also ‘great’ at removing tough stains from metal too. Put the racks in the sink and soak in the cola for around 15 mins, after that, scrub the racks with a scourer and rinse with warm water before adding back into the oven. Ta-daaaa, shiny clean oven racks.

The fridge

It’s a hardworking appliance in your kitchen and every now and again it needs some special attention. There are plenty of ways to keep it organised, but if you’re just cleaning – create your own homemade and eco solution to keep it sparkling. Get yourself a spray bottle or rinse out an old one, then add:

120ml white vinegar
250ml water
juice of 1 lemon

Shake up the bottle, empty your fridge completely and then spray your solution everywhere inside. After a few minutes, clean with a damp sponge, and do the same for each shelf if you can remove. This’ll remove any stains and help with any unwanted odours too.

If you’re looking to remove a smell but don’t have time for the full clean, just add an open container of bicarbonate of soda into the fridge and let it sit for a few hours – this will absorb any of those nasty smells.

The kettle

When life gives you lemons, descale your kettle! This eco-friendly hack is a must. Thanks to our relatively out of control tea obsession in this country, limescale isn’t hard to find – however doing this trick ever 3-4 months will keep any unwanted build-up at bay. Just quarter a lemon, fill the kettle up, then boil the water with the lemons inside (twice if you feel like it needs it) – once done, rinse, then re-boil and that’s it! Watch the video here.

Cleaning your walls

Whether they’re in Game of Thrones or in our humble homes, walls are important. And they can also become inexplicably dirty if left without attention for too long. The trick with walls is cleaning without damaging the paint work or wallpaper, but as long as you bear the following in mind you’ll be fine:

Do:

Dust the walls lightly before you start.
Use a soft damp sponge, and don’t scrub too hard as to not remove any paint.
Use a non-toxic solution: warm soapy water works best, but you can also use white vinegar mixed with warm water too (100ml of vinegar in a bucket of water is fine)
Rinse the wall with water and a clean sponge after applying.
Dry the wall with kitchen towel once you’re done – don’t leave the wall wet as this could result in water stains.

Don’t:

Use heavy-duty products or things from your kitchen cleaning cupboard. Just.don’t.
Use a sponge that’s too wet, a damp one will do, so ring it out before beginning.
Start the process without testing out on a small out-of-sight area of the wall first; just to be safe as to not ruin the wall.

The bathroom

Once cleared of clutter and empty shampoo bottles, the bathroom is actually the easiest place to clean in the house – and yep you guessed it, it’s also easy to do without any toxic products:

You’ll need:

Lemons
A microfibre cloth
White vinegar
Baking soda (yep, again)
One black tea
A few freezer bags
A toothbrush (that you don’t mind sacrificing)

Removing limescale

Thanks to the sheer amount of water splashing about everywhere, limescale build-up is common in bathrooms everywhere – but it’s also easily removed. Just squeeze a few teaspoons of lemon juice into a spray bottle, mix with some warm water, then spray offending areas with the mixture. Leave for a few minutes, and the acidity of the lemons will allow for an easy wipe away with either a wet cloth or toothbrush.

Cleaning your shower head

Mix equal parts water and vinegar, then half-fill a plastic bag with it. Submerge the shower head in the bag and seal it with tape or an elastic band. You don’t have to remove the shower head if you tie the bag on tightly enough.

After an hour, remove the bag, pour the water and vinegar away, and wipe away any remaining dirt on the shower head.

Mirrors

Make a strong cup of black tea and you’ve got an ideal mirror cleaner. Use a cloth to rub it in circles and it will reduce streaks and soap marks. This also works wonders with windows.

Unclogging drains

Start by pouring boiling water down the drain, then pour 75g of baking soda after it and leave for a few minutes. While you’re waiting, mix 150ml of vinegar and 150ml of boiling water together, then pour that down the drain too. Cover the plug hole, leave it for 10 minutes, and then pour more hot water down there. This final rinse will wash all the dissolved blockage away.

Bedrooms, living rooms and odd jobs

They’re a mecca for comfort and a place to relax, and as such they’re of course well worth looking after. There are a few odd-jobs that need seeing to throughout the remainder of the house, and thankfully, there are a few hacks too:

Sofas and beds

Next time you’re doing the Spring clean, sprinkle some baking powder over your couch or mattress, leave for 20 minutes, then use your hoover attachment to suck up the debris. This little trick ensures a super clean finish, whilst giving the material a freshen up too.

Window shutters

Forget fiddling around with a cloth when cleaning your window shutters, they’re too tricky to get a good grip on and you’ll be there forever. Instead, get a clean sock you don’t mind giving up, make the baking powder and water solution you’ve now mastered, dip the sock in, then put the sock over your hand to easily wipe away any dust, dirt of whatever else the shutters have managed to accumulate over the year. Easy.

Vases

Though this seems like an odd one to include, vases are often overlooked and when you do come to use them, you find yourself disappointed with how grubby they look. To get rid of stubborn grime in your vases, easy up the process by adding 200g of uncooked rice, 500ml of warm water and 100ml of white vinegar – swish around and leave for 15 minutes. Empty, rinse, and admire your sparkly good-as-new vase.

Things not to forget:

Try as you might, there are always a few things that are forgotten during your spring clean, here are the ones not to miss:

Remote controls, switches and handles

You use them everyday and though you can’t always see any issues, they can get dirty quickly. Use the same solution as the one you used for the fridge (120ml white vinegar, 250ml water, juice of one lemon) and take that around the house, carefully dabbing with a cloth, and wiping dry afterwards. For electrical items just make sure these are turned off and any batteries removed first.

Extractor fans

Extractor fans above hobs can get greasy and blocked easily; the best way to get around this is to give them a good cleaning every now and again. Using a large stainless steal bot, boil water, and add baking soda gradually – stop when you see it fizzing. Carefully using tongs, lower the filters into the pot. Leave them for 5 minutes, remove, set aside, a wipe clean before adding back into the fan.

Cleaning equipment

We know, we know – cleaning things you’re cleaning with? INCEPTION.

But all that cleaning has left your cleaning equipment, well, filthy. Make sure to give that mop bucket a good scrub before using, and arm yourself with a pack or two of clean cloths – a little prep will save you plenty of time in the long run.

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And there we have it, happy cleaning!

Looking for a little help? Find trusted and local cleaners with Airtasker.

A look back on the best home hacks of 2018

Because there's always a better way.

As the year draws to a close, we’ve been thinking about all the things we’ve learned in 2018. Specifically-for-this-article-though, all the cool life and home hacks we’ve come across throughout the year.

And there are a lot.

From innovative ways to get rid of stains to making the most of storage in of your space-challenged city pad, we’ve whittled down our new found knowledge to give you our 10 favourite hacks this year.

Happy hacking!

Improve your Wi-Fi with a Coke can

(…or any can really). We know the story well: your Wi-Fi drops in and out regularly, you’ve spoken to your service provider roughly 1,354 times about the problem, but there are ‘no reported issues in your area’ – and yet SOMEHOW your Wi-Fi signal is still terrible. Been there my friend. Luckily though, we found this WikiHow article showing how to cut open a can, then strategically place it behind a router to amplify and redirect the signal in the right place. This sounds a bit far-fetched – but it actually works! Just be careful of those sharp edges.

Image: WikiHow

Remove water stains with… mayonnaise

NO SERIOUSLY. Yes it’s a superior condiment that perfectly complements my outstanding potato salad recipe, but it also happens to be one hell of a cleaning agent too. Yep; next time you see a water stain on your nice wooden table, put down any chemical-based product and make your way to the fridge instead. Just apply a thin layer over the stain with a cloth, then wait till morning, and remove with a damp cloth – the water stain will have disappeared.

DIY Garden Storage Boxes

The best part of these easy-to-make garden storage boxes is you can decorate them any way you like. Find a large garden planter with its own saucer; the regular terracotta ones are easy to find in pretty much any garden centre. Put the saucer on top of the plant pot – it should be a snug fit. You can then super glue two handles (any you like, regular drawer handles would work well) to the top – to make the saucer into a liftable lid. These little storage boxes are great to store your bits or gardening tools, or they make great tables, or handy ice buckets for the summer too!

Image: Buzzfeed

Get rid of creases in your clothes without an iron

Ironing is effective, but boring. Next time you need a quick turnaround and your shirts are all of a crinkle, instead of ironing, put your clothes in the tumble dryer with three cubes of ice. Switch on the dryer and leave for 4-5 minutes at a high heat. The ice cubes will melt and create their own steam – which is absorbed into your clothes to get rid of the creases.

Make DIY Ice Packs

Sure, you’re not thinking about it now because it’s ABSOLUTELY FREEZING, but remember that glorious summer we just had? The one where-of-course-we-loved-it-and-wouldn’t-complain-about-good-weather-but-it-also-maybe-definitely-got-a-bit-much? That one? Great. You’ll also remember the need for ice packs for those park-based picnics and BBQs. But don’t worry if the humble ice pack isn’t a staple in your freezer, we found an easy, non-leaky way to make one at home – made with just a sandwich bag and sponge. Just wet the sponge, put it in the bag and slot in the freezer the night before, and there you have it – a DIY ice pack that won’t take up valuable freezer space on the other 11 months of standard UK weather.

Image: Family Handyman

Remove paint stains on your clothes with a razor

Paint (the nail or wall kind) can often mean the end of some items of clothing if you have an accident – but it’s actually easier than people think to remove. Don’t even think about white spirit, and instead head to your bathroom and grab your razor. Slowly – and carefully – scrape away any dry paint splodges, then throw said item of clothing in the wash once you’re done – and voilà, the paint is gone.

Clean your sofa with baking powder

Yep; baking powder is pretty handy. It can mask the smell of vomit (shout out to any parents reading this), it can brighten clothes, and a less-known benefit, is that it can also clean your sofa. Next time you’re doing the Spring clean, sprinkle some baking powder over your couch, leave for 20 minutes, then use your hoover attachment to suck up the debris. This little trick ensures a super clean finish, whilst giving the material a freshen up too.

Descale your kettle with lemons

Use socks to wrap glasses when moving house

Next up in this series of ‘ugh why didn’t I think of that before‘ is a helpful moving hack. Next time you’re upping sticks and packing away the kitchen, instead of desperately searching for newspapers (the print industry is dying, Brenda – newspapers aren’t as easy to find) – head to your sock drawer instead – wrapping each glass in one or two socks to ensure they don’t smash in transit. Absolute game changer.

Make your own DIY teacup candles

DIY candles are a lot easier than other places on the internet might lead you to think. You can make them with old candles, a piece of string, and if you wanted them scented – with whatever essential oil takes your fancy. First up, grab all and any old or half used candles you want to throw in the mix – melt the wax together in a bain-marie. While that’s melting get some string, measure to 15cm, then fold in half and twist together until you have your DIY wick (at around 7.5cm). Dip the wick in the wax and let cool. Once the wax has melted and you’ve mixed in whatever oils you might want in there, pour it straight into your teacup (or whatever vessel you want), then centre the wick in the middle. Once set, you’ve got your own cute-as-a-button candles.

You can use a peg to hold the wick still (just rest it on the side of the teacup) if it’s moving around too much.

Image: Boho Weddings

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And there you have it, our favourites of the year. Let us know in the comments below any you think we’re missing.

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10 Best BBQs To Buy 2018

Your organic rib eyes deserve the best...

All your marinading, prepping, and de-boning will be for nothing if you don’t have the best BBQ for your budget. Here are 10 of the best available in 2018 – both gas and charcoal, impressive and compact.

Looking for help with cleaning your new BBQ? Find trusted and local cleaners in Brighton with Airtasker.

1. Napoleon Rodeo Professional

Made from platinum porcelain, the Rodeo Professional is a particularly efficient charcoal kettle barbecue. The folding cast iron grill has 3 different levels, the handle is cool to the touch, and the ventilation slots are rust-resistant.

RRP: £299.99
Where to buy it: Amazon, Garden Site.
Best feature: The stainless steel temperature gauge is super accurate.

2. Everdure by Heston Blumenthal Force

This two burner gas barbecue has been getting rave reviews. It has variable flame control, a high hood for convection cooking, and is made from rust-resistant enamel. It looks amazing too, available in exciting colours like mint and scarlet red.

RRP: £599
Where to buy it: John Lewis,
Best feature: It gets hot in 5 minutes so it’s ready to cook on almost immediately.

3. Char-Broil Performance 220B

This gas BBQ includes Char-Broil’s TRU-Infrared cooking technology, which promises 50% juicier meat and uses 30% less gas. It’s easy to use when entertaining – it ignites with one button and the lid’s temperature gauge helps you keep an eye on things from a distance.

RRP: £319.99
Where to buy it: Amazon, The Barbecue Centre.
Best feature: The burners have a warranty of 5 years, so they’re expected to last. Help them last even longer with cleaning services in Brighton.

Source: John Lewis

4. Weber Master-Touch

Awarded Which? Best Buy Barbecue in April 2018, this is a very highly rated charcoal BBQ. The materials are quality, including a stainless steel ash catcher, and a porcelain enamel bowl.

RRP: £269.99
Where to buy it: Riverside Garden Centre, John Lewis.
Best feature: The One-Touch easy-cleaning system is a pretty appealing prospect. All you have to do is sweep away the ash.

5. Campingaz Gas BBQ 4 Series Classic LXS

A sophisticated, high-powered gas BBQ for all year round. The cooking surface is huge, making it possible to grill all your meat, veggies and halloumi skewers at once. The controls have a fancy blue backlight for night time barbecuing.

RRP: £799.99
Where to buy it: BBQ Land.
Best feature: Extra attachments for the 4 burners include space for a pizza stone, wok, or paella pan.

6. Big Green Egg

The Big Green Egg has been celebrated as far “more than just a BBQ”, it’s a ceramic oven based on traditional Japanese cooking methods. Lock your meat away under the airtight ceramic dome and cook it perfectly in any weather (even snow, apparently).

RRP: £625 for small – £2950 for XL
Where to buy it: biggreenegg.co.uk
Best feature: The temperature can be tuned to within 5 degrees of accuracy, so no more burnt sausages.

Source: Big Green Egg

7. Tepro Toronto Trolley Grill

It’s got a much smaller price tag, but reviewers are very fond of this BBQ. An American-style charcoal grill with plenty of room for cooking for guests, hanging utensils and resting plates. The two-tier design prevents heat from escaping, so food cooks more evenly.

RRP: £149.99
Where to buy it: Amazon, Garden Box.
Best feature: The built-in lid thermometer lets you know when you’re running out of charcoal.

8. Char-Broil Kamander

Unlike the Char-Broil Performance 220B, this is more of a smoker than a BBQ. The insulated steel walls heat up quickly, cooking food on a low heat over a long period of time.

RRP: £699.99
Where to buy it: The Barbecue Centre
Best feature: The way air is funnelled through the bowl helps you keep an accurate eye on temperate.

Your barbecue should last summer after summer if it’s cleaned and looked after. It’s a big, dirty job to do yourself – book cleaning service in Brighton with Airtasker.

9. Weber Genesis II E-310 3-Burner Gas BBQ

With a high performance grilling system and quality enamel plates, the Weber Genesis has tapered burners for better heat coverage. The grill capacity is big enough to cook for 5-7 people at once.

RRP: £799.99
Where to buy it: John Lewis, Riverside, BBQ World.
Best feature: The famous Weber Flavourizer Bars vaporise all the marinade and fat that drips down, circulating it through the food. The name says it all.

10. LotusGrill XXL

Compact and stylish, the charcoal LotusGrill has battery operated fans. This means minimal smoke, no sparks, no flying ash, and the safest barbecuing experience possible.

RRP: £400
Where to buy it: Amazon, BBQ World.
Best feature: You can grill the food and join the party.

Looking for help cleaning your BBQ (…or house?) – find trusted and local cleaners in Brighton on Airtasker.

5 ways to use salt when cleaning the house

It's for more than just chips.

Along with its cousin baking soda, salt is a powerful natural cleaning agent and should be part of your non-toxic cleaning arsenal.

Don’t spend your cash on expensive creams, gels, and aerosols. A simple ingredient like salt can clean pretty much everything in your house as well as the best cleaning services in Brighton.

It’s absorbent and anti-bacterial
Salt will suck up moisture like it’s a refreshing cocktail. It’s great for preserving food and keeping it bacteria-free.

It’s tough
The abrasive texture of salt makes it really good at scrubbing away dirt, but still gentle on fabrics and surfaces. It’s non-toxic too, so you can use it on cooking surfaces without worrying about weird chemicals.

Here are some eco-friendly cleaning hacks to try with salt.

1. Clean cast iron pans

If food has been burnt onto your fancy cast iron pans, salt can scrub it away without damaging the metal.

When the pan is still warm, pour some salt into it and use a cloth or sponge to scrub away the stains. When you’re done, rinse it away with warm water, and dry with a paper towel. Put a low heat underneath the pan to evaporate all the moisture.

2. Remove coffee and tea stains

Remove coffee and tea stains from mugs, surfaces, and kitchen counters – scrub with salt sprinkled on a sponge, then rinse with water. You won’t be left with the residue of toxic stuff in your next cuppa.

This method works on a lot of fabric stains too. It’s particularly effective with grease marks, red wine, and sweat (happens to the best of us).

3. Freshen wooden chopping boards

Mix salt with acidic lemon and you’ll create a very handy chemical reaction.

Sprinkle loads of salt all over your chopping board – the coarser the better. Use a lemon half to scour the surface, and give it the occasional squeeze to let the salt mix with the lemon juice. Leave it to sit for about 10 minutes, then rinse with water and leave to dry.

Not one for scouring and soaking? Find cleaning services in Brighton with Airtasker.

4. Clean a coffee machine, dishwasher, kettle, iron etc.

All kinds of appliances can be cleaned with salt. Add salt to your usual dishwasher cycle, or add salt to the water in your kettle before boiling.

Some coffee machines and dishwashers will come with a recommended cleaning solution, but salt water usually does the job just as well. Just make sure it’s 100% pure salt before you start!

5. Remove water stains

Water with a high mineral content can leave stubborn stains on surfaces, particularly wood. To remove, mix either lemon juice or diluted vinegar with salt to make a thick paste. Rub the paste into the stain, leave for a few minutes, and then wipe away.

To avoid future watermarks, make sure you wipe them away as soon as you spot them.

Salt is a miracle worker when it comes to natural cleaning. It’s an even bigger winner for parents who don’t want chemicals sprayed and wiped all over their house.

As long as you’ve got salt, baking soda, lemon, and some diluted vinegar in your tool kit, you should be able to clean pretty much anything.

Looking for a cleaner in Brighton? Find trusted and local cleaners in Brighton with Airtasker.

Ultimate guide to deep cleaning your kitchen

Get your scrub on.

It’s the room we often call the ‘heart of the home’. It’s also the place where we cook up (or microwave up) all the deliciousness. But…it can be a pain to keep clean.

Enter our ultimate (and eco-friendly) kitchen deep cleaning guide.

Read on to learn to make the hardest working room in your house sparkle. Until your next snack, of course.

Before you start…

First things first, start by clearing those countertops so you have plenty of space to get your clean on.

Get rid of any clutter that ‘mysteriously’ made its way over from different rooms.

How to deep clean your oven

All hail the glorious multipurpose baking soda.

Oven interior: Mix baking soda and water into a paste and spread over the interior surfaces (including the inside of the oven door) using a sponge.

Let it ‘simmer’ for a few hours (or overnight if you can’t remember when you last cleaned it). Wipe all that grub away with a damp sponge when done.

Got a stubborn chunk of food debris that refuses to budge? Tackle it with a toothbrush coated with your baking soda paste.

Oven racks: Remove the racks and soak them in cola (yep, that’s right) for 15 minutes.

After 15 minutes of soaking, rub gently with a scouring pad to get all the baked-on bits of food off. Rinse with warm water and slot back in.

Short on time? There are plenty of great cleaning services in London a quick click away.

How to deep clean your kitchen cabinets

Source: Pinterest – devolkitchens.co.uk

Ah, the cupboards…an oft-neglected spot for cleaning. Probably because it requires taking all the items out.

But hey, it’s a good time to get rid of any expired goods that may have been lingering in there for longer than you’d like to admit.

After emptying all the cabinets, hoover up or dust away all the little crumbs and debris inside.

Next, mix together a solution of warm water + dishwashing liquid (or 3 tablespoons of Castile soap if you have it) into an empty spray bottle. Add a few drops of tea tree oil. Spritz your DIY mixture onto a dry microfibre cloth and wipe the grime and grease off the interiors and doors of your cabinets.

‘Rinse’ using a (separate) damp cloth and finish off by wiping it up with a dry cloth.

If things are looking particularly greasy – use a water and vinegar solution to wipe your cabinets. That’s one part vinegar to two parts cold water.

How to deep clean your kitchen floor

On to the dirtiest section (fun times) that should probably receive a good old clean at least once a week. The good news is that kitchen floors are very easy to clean.

Start by hoovering (or sweeping, if that’s your thing).

For wooden floors: Mix a teaspoon of Castile soap with hot water into a spray bottle, along with your fave-smelling essential oil. Spritz lightly all over your floor, and wipe using a microfibre mop.

For tiled floors: Mix any all-purpose cleaning solution with warm water to mop the floor with. Rinse by mopping with clean warm water.

How to deep clean your hob

Source: Pinterest – flickr.com

Yes, the floor is the dirtiest part of your kitchen, but your stove top can get seriously grimy as well.

Clean by wiping with a damp sponge and some dishwashing liquid. Wipe using a soft dry cloth.

For targeting stubborn splotches, scrub with a Brillo pad after loosening up with a damp warm sponge.

How to deep clean your fridge

Something that’s easy to put off (out of sight, out of mind) is fridge cleaning. But you don’t want any dirt or grime lurking in the holy place where you keep your best fresh grub. Whether you call in cleaning services in London or do it yourself, it needs an occasional intensive scrub.

First things first, move all your food to any coolers you have. Turn off your fridge from the back and start by tackling the interior.

Create a mixture of warm water (1 litre) and our favourite baking soda (2 tablespoons). Using a microfibre cloth, wipe this mix all over the interior, shelves and bins.

‘Rinse’ with a clean damp cloth and wipe dry using a separate soft cloth.

For any hard-to-reach crevices, use a pointy cotton bud soaked in soapy water.

Restock and bask in that clean fresh smell.

Oh and for the fridge door, clean using a water and vinegar solution if it’s stainless steel. If not, use the same solution that you used for the kitchen cabinets.

How to deep clean your sink

Source: Pinterest – remodelista.com

You may be under the impression that your sink is clean enough considering all the dishwashing liquid that goes through there. But, no. It needs a proper clean at least once a week.

A baking soda and lime solution combined with a sponge is all you need to scrub the inside. For any fixtures, polish using a white vinegar and water mixture.

Need help with your next kitchen deep clean? Connect with trusted and local cleaners in London with Airtasker.

Household hacks to make your daily life easier

Hack your way to a simpler life.

Life ain’t easy. With today’s uber hectic lifestyles, we’ll take every precious second we can to just chill.

Want to sneak in a little more downtime? Use these household hacks to make your daily tasks a little more simple, and a little less time consuming too:

Speed up your ironing with aluminium foil

Ironing is apparently the household chore that Brits hate most. We get it. To minimise ironing time, turn to some aluminium foil. Just place a sheet of it underneath your ironing board. It reflects heat and steam, meaning you won’t have to iron both sides.

Place your folded bed sheets into their matching pillowcases

Source: Pinterest – babyandchildrenzone.com

Who hasn’t messed up their linen closet one too many times while rummaging around to find pillowcases and sheets that match?

Keep it tidy and keep yourself sane with this handy house hack.

Throw a towel in your dryer to make your laundry dry faster

Tumble dryers sure take their sweet time. Especially when you’re in a rush and need something clean and dry ASAP.

Toss a dry towel in with your wet items next time. You’ll reduce drying time and save on your bills in one fell swoop.

Clean your microwave with water and vinegar

As far as household hacks go, this one requires pretty much minimal effort. Put a (microwave-safe, obv) cup with water and a few tablespoons of vinegar in, and run on high for 5 minutes.

Let it cool for 5 more minutes when done. You’ll then be able to wipe any debris and grease off with ease, thanks to the steamy vibes inside.

Sharpen knives with ceramic bowls

Source: Pinterest – babyandchildrenzone.com

Knife not doing the job it used to? Don’t toss it – simply rub the blade up and down on the ceramic ring at the bottom of the bowl to sharpen.

Making your future slice time much simpler.

Use aluminium foil instead of dryer sheets

Out of dryer sheets? No need to run to the shop in your quest for static-free laundry. Crumple up a sheet of aluminium foil into a ball and it does the exact same job.

You can reuse the same ball too.

Unclog drains with baking soda + vinegar

Clogged drain? Just pour a cup of baking soda and half a cup of vinegar into it. Cover the drain with a plate for 30 minutes (while you Netflix) and blast with hot water. Easy.

Repel spiders with a water + lemon spray

If you’ve spotted a spider making itself at home in your home, get rid of it with this age-old hack.

Mix lemon with water into an empty spray bottle. Spritz this solution wherever you’ve spotted the spider(s).

Peppermint oil works in lieu of lemons too.

Deal with scratches on furniture with a DIY mixture

Scratched up furniture isn’t a pretty sight. Save yourself the hassle of replacement with this simple trick.

Mix together half a cup of vinegar and half a cup of olive oil. Rub directly onto scratched surfaces and wipe off after a minute.

Yep, it works.

Pssst. Looking for help with your house cleaning? Find trusted and local cleaners in London with Airtasker.

How to: clean your BBQ

Because your organic outdoor-bred sausages deserve the best.

If all household cleaning tasks were ranked, cleaning a BBQ is probably dead last. Apart from dealing with a bin bag with a hole in it.

A dirty BBQ can affect the taste of your perfectly grilled burgers and kebabs, so cleaning it regularly is pretty essential. To make the whole messy job easier, find out how to clean your BBQ grill thoroughly below, whether it’s charcoal or gas.

Charcoal BBQ

Charcoal BBQ quick clean

Maybe this is asking a lot, but if you clean your BBQ before every use, you won’t have to do a big, biannual degreasing.

The post-BBQ clean-up is already a big undertaking, so we understand if you’d rather eat leftover potato salad by yourself and hire a cleaning service in London instead.

Heat the BBQ and charcoal first.
This loosens the dirt and burnt-on food.

When the BBQ is cool again, remove the grill and empty the ash.
Air needs to circulate through the BBQ, so it’s important to keep the vents clear.

Scrub the grill with your wire brush.
Remove as much debris as possible. If the wire brush alone doesn’t remove everything, cover with a cleaning spray, leave for 10 minutes, and clean with the brush again.

Cover the BBQ.
Whether you’re using it again next week or next year, keep the BBQ covered so it’s easier to clean next time.

If you don’t want to buy a BBQ cover, use a vinyl tablecloth or piece of tarp instead.

Charcoal BBQ deep clean

The minimum you should deep clean your BBQ is at the beginning of summer and at the end. The grills themselves should be cleaned after every use.

What you’ll need:

A wire brush or tough scourer.
Thick gloves.
BBQ cleaning spray (check reviews for one that’s particularly tough on grease, or make your own natural cleaner with baking soda).
A bucket of hot, soapy water.
Some old clothes you don’t care about that much (it’s a messy job).

When the BBQ’s cool, remove the grills and attachments and empty all charcoal and ash from the base.
Spray the grills and base of the BBQ, then leave it to do its thing for 10-15 minutes.
Soak the grills in hot soapy water while you get to work on the BBQ itself. Use the wire brush to scrub off all the debris and dirt.
To keep mess to a minimum, scrub the grills while they’re still in the bucket.
Rinse off the grills and the inside of the BBQ with a hose. If you don’t have one, a fresh bucket of hot water will work just as well.

Gas BBQ

Gas BBQs need a bit more attention than charcoal. With a regular deep clean, your food will taste better, and the heating mechanism will work smoothly.

You’ll need the same kit as before, plus some newspaper to protect surfaces.

Charcoal BBQ deep clean

Disconnect the gas supply.
Lay out your newspaper, so you have somewhere to put the parts while you’re cleaning them.
Remove the grill on top and cover with degreasing spray. Leave to work while you clean the rest of the BBQ.
Remove the ceramic plates, use the wire brush to remove burnt-on food and dirt. Place them on newspaper while you’re cleaning to protect the surface underneath and catch the dirt.
Remove the burners and brush the dirt off in the same way. If you want to be really thorough, use a toothpick to remove dirt from the small holes on the side.
It’s tempting, but don’t use a conventional vacuum to hoover out the debris inside the BBQ. It could damage it. Instead, use a dustpan and brush.
Scrub the grills with your wire brush.
Replace the burners, ceramic plates, and grill once clean. Leave open to air-dry the grill, then close and cover until you use it again.

It’s a big job but someone’s got to do it. If you pride yourself on hosting a legendary garden party, and your spicy marinade is carefully concocted, a clean BBQ is pretty vital.

Don’t fancy the task yourself? Find trusted cleaners in London, who will have your BBQ looking brand new in no time.

5 hacks to keep your windows and mirrors clean

Streaks, be gone.

Thanks to dust, dirt, hand prints and paw prints, you may find yourself having to clean your windows and mirrors a little more often than you’d like. And glass surfaces are not the easiest to clean.

Of course, local window cleaners are always at hand. But whether you find a cleaner in London or try to clean your windows yourself, no one likes a streaky finish. Store-bought cleaners, scratchy paper towels and newspapers can leave glass surfaces in a worse condition than before you started.

Here’s some simple hacks to help you achieve that elusive sparkling streak-free finish:

Make your own cleaning solution

If you’re all about that eco-friendly life, you’ve probably already explored non-toxic cleaning options for your home. A DIY cleaning solution for your windows and mirrors is a natural and highly effective glass cleaner, and you save a few ££ in the process.

Here’s how to concoct a glass-cleaning solution yourself:

Combine half a cup of rubbing alcohol with two tablespoons of ammonia and dishwashing liquid. Mix it all up in an empty spray bottle, and hey presto, you’re all set.

Spritz on glass surfaces (don’t soak!) and wipe. Buff dry to finish.

Want to spot clean? For any tough stains on glass surfaces, attack directly using a cotton pad with rubbing alcohol.

Ditch the newspapers and use paper coffee filters

Coffee… the gift that just keeps on giving.

Instead of staining your hands with ink by using newspaper, try an (unused) dry paper coffee filter to clean your glass surfaces.

Simply dip the filter into your homemade cleaning solution and wipe your windows and mirrors clean. Wipe using a dry filter.

Use blackboard erasers to banish streaks

Buffing is a hugely important part of the window and mirror cleaning process, and must not be foregone if you’re on a quest for streak-free shine. Blackboard erasers can be your ally in this quest.

That’s right, the old-school (pardon the pun) blackboard eraser is a secret weapon for crystal clear mirrors and mirrors. After cleaning (with your homemade cleaner and paper coffee filters, of course) run a dry and clean blackboard eraser over glass surfaces for a satisfying streak-free finish.

Not to toot our own horn or anything, but with Airtasker, it’s now easier than ever to find a cleaner in London.

Clean window tracks with white vinegar and baking soda

When it comes to window cleaning, it’s not just the glass surfaces you need to deal with. Dirt and debris can often accumulate in the window tracks.

Enter our fave household heroes – baking soda and vinegar.

Cover your window tracks with baking soda and white vinegar paste and leave for 5-10 minutes. You’ll find that all the window track gunk comes off easily using an old toothbrush.

Still got some leftover dirt in those hard-to-reach corners? Use a butter knife covered in a rag to get that stubborn debris out.

Clean your windows on a cloudy day

Finally, something our beloved British weather is ideal for.

The best time to clean your windows is on cloudy days. Direct sunlight will dry out the cleaning liquid before you can wipe it clean, leaving dreaded streaks behind.

Admittedly, we’re going through a bit of a heatwave at the moment, but rest assured, we’ll be back to optimal window-cleaning weather in no time.

Need to hire a window cleaner in London? Find trusted and rated cleaning services with Airtasker. Also, if you’d like to know how much curtain cleaning costs, visit our updated curtain dry cleaning price guide.

How to prepare for your first Airbnb guest

Booked in your first guest? This handy guide should help.

Your flat’s in an ideal spot, the photos were taken when the sunlight in the living was just right, and you’ve got your first Airbnb booking. What now?

If your first Airbnb guests are booked in and looking forward to their stay, it can be both intimidating and exciting. You have nothing to worry about though, because this is the complete guide to preparing for your first Airbnb guests, and it’s guaranteed to impress them.

Clean to a hotel standard

Just because someone’s staying in a home, rather than a hotel room, doesn’t mean their standards slip. They still expect dust-free skirting boards and a pristine bathroom.

Major hotel chains like the Marriott give their housekeeping staff a strict cleaning routine, including checking picture frames for dust, wiping surfaces with specific cloths, and making sure the room smells “neutral” before they leave.

Just like the Marriott, create a list of everything that needs to be done before your guests arrive. Tick it all off and both you and your guests will sleep soundly.

Fix the little things you’ve stopped noticing

If there’s a little bit of carpet that persistently stands up in the corner of the living room, or dodgy plastering in the bathroom, your Airbnb guests will notice. Little things like this won’t necessarily ruin their stay, but they might think your hosting skills are lacking. Perish the thought.

Some essentials that are easy to forget about:

Lightbulbs.
Smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
Rugs and carpets are firmly stuck down.
If the oven’s clean and ready to use.
Appliances function correctly (your guests won’t know if the washing machine has a strange quirk).

Ask an Airtasker to clean for you

With such impeccably high standards, your to-do list is going to be as long as your arm. You can charge your Airbnb guests a small cleaning fee, which can pay for cleaning supplies or the help of an Airtasker.

An Airtasker can help with Airbnb cleaning, including vacuuming, making the bed, laying out fresh towels, and more. Your Airbnb will be ready for your guests and looking its best. Two posters, Angelos and Melody, did just that!

Make a 5-star bed

Choose quality sheets
Once you’ve slept on a high thread count sheet, you can’t go back. If consistent 5-star ratings are important to you, invest in some quality cotton. When you change them, wash at 60 degrees and air dry so they’re easier to iron.

Keep spares for different seasons
Goose feather, memory foam, hypoallergenic. High quality hotels will offer a choice, and it’s a nice touch if you can too. Keep blankets, a summer duvet, and extra pillows in the wardrobe in case your guests are too cold or too warm.

Fold the sheets just like they do at Claridges
The housekeeping staff at the famous Claridges Hotel in Mayfair make the beds with hospital corners. It involves placing a flat sheet over the top of a fitted sheet, and folding the edges into a neat, 45-degree angle. YouTube is full of tutorials and guides if you want to take your bed making game from an acceptable 7/10 to a faultless 10/10.

Write out the rules

Without being too dull about it, there are some things your guests need to know before they start unpacking. Every home is different, so it’s entirely up to you what’s acceptable and what isn’t.

Parties and loud music
Pets and animals
Smoking and vaping
When and how to check out
Your contact details

The 5-star extras

Maps for local attractions

Use your knowledge of the local area to give your guests ideas for their stay. TripAdvisor is useful for overall scores and ratings, but personal recommendations are a lot more meaningful. They’re also specific and bespoke – you know when the traffic is particularly difficult and which tiny, unassuming restaurant does the best with Greek food.

Spare toiletries

Forgetting your toothbrush is extremely annoying. Have spares of all the essentials – cotton pads, toothpaste, toothbrushes, moisturiser, shampoo and conditioner. Your guests might not need them, but it’s the thought that counts.

If you’ve got some you don’t use anymore, leave phone chargers out for your guests. iPhone and mini USB, ideally.

Snacks in the fridge

An empty, buzzing fridge isn’t very welcoming. You don’t have to spend too much, but bottled water (London tap water can be a shock), milk, butter, and some snacks will make a big difference.

If your guests are coming from abroad, they might like to taste some British favourites. They’ll definitely remember the Airbnb that introduced them to Monster Munch…

Looking for cleaning help for your airbnb booking? Find trusted professionals on Airtasker

50% of Young People Do Not Know How to Do Everyday Tasks

But is that laziness, or just better prioritising? We investigate.

When it comes to millennials, negative words are often swirled around – lazy, ignorant, self-absorbed, cocky – the list goes on. But are these perceptions fair or are millennials getting a bad rap?

According to Airtasker research, everyday household chores and tasks could be dying out. Is it because young adults are too lazy, or do they simply not consider these menial tasks important?

Need a help with your next project? You’ll find trusted, rated and local handymen on Airtasker

While millennials are certainly confident in their skills in areas like technology and career growth, not many young people between 18-24 are not able to perform basic skills. The number of millennials confident in the following skills is surprisingly low:

Assembling flat pack furniture – 25.77%
Defrosting a freezer – 25.40%
Cleaning the car – 17.69%
Painting a shed – 21%
Fixing a curtail rail – 27.42%
Putting up shelves – 33.42%
Changing a lightbulb – 15.66%

Getting Priorities Straight

The reasons for this are not as straight-cut as once thought. Millennials tend to leave the nest later, which means they are unlikely to find a need to learn household tasks. In fact, according to ONS data, the percentage of young adults living with their parents in the UK has risen from 21% in 1996 to 26% in 2017. This is an increase from 2.7 million to 3.4 million in the past two decades.

Due to a lack of free time, with studying and working, as well as an active social life, young people find that prioritising their time is more essential to their fulfilment and personal well-being. That said, these are just some of the household chores that were deemed highly essential just a few years ago that are now on the brink of extinction.

Making a white sauce – While this may not seem all that essential, making a white sauce is the basis of many dishes, including pastas, pies and, of course, mac and cheese! According to the results, 65% of the younger generation don’t have this skill. This could be due to the convenience of food markets and takeaways, delivery services that bring food right to your door or greater concern about healthy eating habits.

Basic DIY skills – Only 51% of millennials can bleed a radiator or fix a blown fuse, while only 33% can descale an iron.

Wallpapering – A surprising 51% of millennials feel confident in their wallpapering skills, while 68% of their parents can do this. That said, wallpapering is considered a skilled job, causing fewer people to do it themselves and hiring someone to perform the task instead.

Neat Bedsheet Tucks – When it comes to tucking the perfect sheet, just 59% of the older generation and 34% of millennials are able to do this. However, the argument between millennials and boomers regarding top sheets continues. While the latter argues that top sheets mean your duvet requires less washing, young people feel that adding a second sheet to the bed-making process means more washing and more linen to purchase.

Darning (sewing technique) – According to the survey, many young people don’t even know what darning is. Only 24% of millennials know how to repair a hole with a needle and thread, although it’s on the decline with parents as well, with only 62% admitting to still darning socks and jumpers.

This revealing data could suggest that, with many young adults living in the family home well into their 20s and even 30s, there has been no necessity to learn simple domestic skills. Even school subjects like cookery classes, textiles and craft, design, technology (CDT) have made way for computer-related subjects.

A Lazy Generation?

What everyone gets wrong about ‘millennial snowflakes’ is that they are a lazy bunch, especially when compared to their grandparents 50 years ago. Older generations say millennials expect the world handed to them on a plate and don’t work hard enough to achieve their goals. But, according to a study, it may be the baby boomers who are, in fact, more entitled than their children. The study revealed that millennials believe people should be financially independent, on average, a year and a half earlier than baby boomers.

Young adults believe 22 is the age to think about getting your own place, 20.5 is when you should purchase your own car, and by 18.5 you should have your own mobile contract. That said, millennials clearly have plans to achieve these goals, which means working longer hours, studying longer and spending less time on frivolity and time-consuming tasks, which could include everyday household chores that are no longer essential.

Different Priorities

Essentially, this disinterest in learning so-called essential skills boils down to different priorities. Unlike their parents and grandparents, whose key priorities were to get married, buy a house, have kids and save for retirement, millennials have a different set of goals.

While many do want to settle down and start a family, more young people are interested in long-term financial freedom and travelling. In fact, 53% of millennials would rather spend money on experiences versus possessions, while only 22% valued material goods over experiences. Young adults also do not typically enjoy the work/life balance that the older generation had the privilege of having, which means they are more likely to outsource work.

Millennials have reinvented what to expect of the future, and while the older generations were largely content with the traditional routine of work, home, marriage, children and retirement, the younger generation has different plans. And these plans do not involve bleeding a radiator.

Need help with your next DIY project? Find trusted and rated tradespeople on Airtasker.

10 office hacks you need to know about

They might seem obvious - but these tips are the key to killer productivity.

Look around your desk right now. Is it organised chaos, or just plain chaos? A cluttered brain and a cluttered to-do list don’t do much for productivity.

Here are 10 genuinely useful office assistance hacks to help you get organised and do more.

1. Clean between keyboard keys with tape

There’s been a few different tests on this, but the consensus is your keyboard has over 3,000 more germs per square inch than an actual toilet seat.

Use some sticky tape to pick up crumbs and dust between the keys, then an antibacterial wipe to sort those germs out.

2. Stick time slots on your water bottle

Drinking 2 litres of water a day is a smart choice, but difficult to actually do. Get your refillable water bottle (which we’re sure you own because you care about plastic’s damaging impact on the environment), and mark 1-2 hour time slots on it.

You’ll know at a glance if your water drinking is behind schedule.

3. Choose a plant for your desk

Some desks are a bit sad and dreary, even in the most hipster of offices. According to the University of Exeter, plants can improve well-being by up to 47% and improve creativity by 45%.

Try a peace lily, bamboo, bonsai, or a succulent. The last one hardly needs watering.

4. Learn keyboard shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts can help you a screenshot, change your font size, or drag an email back from the jaws of being sent too early.

While you’re learning them all, pin a handy chart to the wall in front of you. This cheat sheet is for both PCs and Macs. Soon though, they’ll become muscle memory.

5. Schedule time for emails

It’s estimated we spend over 2 hours a day reading and answering emails. That’s a bit disturbing when you think about how much office admin you can do in 2 whole hours.

Allocate a specific time of day for answering emails, rather than swapping between tasks and breaking concentration. For immediate stuff, there’s instant messaging or even a quick chat.

6. Tidy up leads and wires

There are lots of ways to keep cables out of view. Two of the simplest involve attaching bulldog clips or plastic picture hangers to the back of your desk. Just fix the wires to the desk legs, and feed down to the plug sockets.

If you want to go full Pinterest, label tab stickers to identify what each lead is for and where it’s plugged in.

7. Keep a notepad for ideas and reminders

Ideas can hit at any time, and please believe us when we say you will not remember them the next day. Buy a small notebook and jot down anything you want to remember or use later. It’s particularly useful when you’re on the phone and madly searching for a post-it.

When you’re stuck for inspiration, or just want to jog your memory, refer back to it.

8. Ignore notifications. Temporarily…

If you really need to focus, you don’t need productivity apps or notification blockers. Just turn your phone to silent and put it face down in a drawer.

It feels strange at first, but push notifications continually distract us, and app developers keep giving us more and more to look at.

9. Stand up every hour

The NHS advise we “move more, sit less“. If you’re often at a desk, it could be slowing down your metabolism and weakening your muscles and bones gradually over time.

Stand up every hour, even just for a few minutes. Take calls on your feet, walk for 20 minutes at lunchtime, and park further away from the front door.

10. Remember, multitasking is a myth

It’s virtually impossible for a human to focus on more than 1 thing at once and do them both well. Our brain just switches between tasks quickly, pausing one and picking up the other.

Have a to-do list, do each task individually, and tick them off. You’ll work through it far faster.

If you still think you’re a good multitasker, Psychology Today created a fun test that demonstrates how much longer it takes to do 2 things at once.

We spend a lot of time in the office and at our desks. Make that time count and keep your admin to a minimum. Oh, and once again, drink more water.

Looking for help around the office? Find professional admin services on Airtasker. Also, if you’d like to know how much office cleaning costs, visit our office cleaning price guide.

Your guide to non-toxic house cleaning

Not sure what's lurking in your cleaning products? Try our guide to eco-friendly home cleaning.

You’ve probably heard a lot about the strong chemicals that most household cleaning products are packed full of, but hey, they do the job right? That said, who really wants to bring toxic fumes and harsh chemicals into the house while cleaning? It defeats the purpose in a way, as it isn’t exactly contributing to the clean air you want to inhale.

What if you could find natural cleaning ‘products’ that could clean just as effectively? And better yet, they’re also safe for kids to use so you can add more cleaning to their chore list?

Intrigued? Check out our list of ways to clean your home without a trace of toxins:

Add white vinegar into your cleaning sphere

White vinegar is a tough nemesis for grease and grime. Here are some ways to use it for non-toxic home cleaning:

A white vinegar and water mix is perfect for cleaning pesky glass surfaces. This solution cuts through dirt beautifully and leaves your glass surfaces nice and streak-free. (And you know everyone hates a streaky finish.)
You can use white vinegar to clean your toilet, just as you would with a store-bought toilet cleaner. Just pour it undiluted around the top of the toilet bowl and scrub until clean.
White vinegar is also surprisingly effective as a fabric softener. Simply mix in 1 part vinegar with 2 parts water and add half a cup to your washing machine dispenser. You can add your favourite essential oils to leave your clothes smelling super fresh.

Apple cider vinegar isn’t just great for dressing salad. It also has antimicrobial properties and can work well for home cleaning.

Use baking soda for oven cleaning and grout cleaning

Baking soda is every home cleaner’s dream. This glorious household item can be used to clean ovens and cookware effectively, and as a tile grout cleaner. Just create a paste of baking soda and water, scrub, and wipe with a sponge. For any tough stains or dirt that may require extra vigour, leave the paste on for an hour before removing.

Want to clean your toilet without scrubbing? Pour a cup of baking soda and let it soak for an hour. You can then pour in some white vinegar, leave for 5 minutes, and flush. Easiest toilet clean ever.

Clean your stained crockery and cookware with a sea salt and lemon juice scrub

Mix sea salt or any coarse salt with a little lemon juice to create a paste. You can then use this to scrub off stubborn stains on any kitchen items such as chopping boards or coffee mugs.

Create a DIY all-purpose cleaner using three key ingredients

Want a non-toxic solution that you can use to spritz and clean pretty much anything? Create a homemade all-purpose cleaning liquid by mixing the following into a spray bottle:

½ cup white vinegar
2 tablespoons of baking soda
An essential oil of your choice. Tea tree or lavender oil make a great choice.

Want to save yourself time? Find cleaning services in London to help.

Use freshly brewed green tea to clean wooden floors and surfaces

Yes, you read that right. Not only is it great at detoxing our insides, green tea is surprisingly effective at cleaning wooden furniture and floors. Just boil a tea bag or two and leave to cool. Use the brew to wipe away dirt and grime using a soft cloth. Make sure you buff dry afterwards with a clean cloth for a sparkling finish.

Make a little extra so you can enjoy the many nutritional benefits at the same time.

Looking for help with cleaning around the house? Find trusted and professional cleaners with Airtasker.

How to look after and maintain oak flooring

Give your oak floor some TLC. Go on.

There’s nothing better than padding around on your gorgeous oak flooring at home. Although it often has that naturally rustic look, a bit of regular TLC protects it from irreparable wear and tear.

Here are a few things to keep in mind for oak floor care and cleaning:

How to clean oak flooring

Never use a steam cleaner on your oak floor

Let’s start with what not to do. Don’t use steam clean technology to clean your wooden floors – ever. For reasons we’ll expand on below, water + wood just isn’t a good combination. Also, the high pressure and temperature of the steam can damage the finish and wood of the floor.

Trust us, just step away from the steam cleaner.

Wipe spillages immediately

Don’t procrastinate on this one. Allowing water, cleaning products, or any other spills to remain on your oak floor for too long can result in dark stains. Take extra care to avoid spillages when watering any houseplants.

Let’s face it though, a spillage is bound to happen at some point. Place mats in areas where spillages are more likely to occur, such as kitchens.

Don’t use abrasive cleaning materials.

Stating the obvious perhaps, but use a product specially designed for cleaning wooden floors, not an all-purpose cleaner. Products with too much bleach or ammonia are more likely to damage your wooden floor than to leave it sparkling.

All about that eco-friendly life? Try a natural cleaning solution.

Stubborn stains? Target these with a bit more pressure using a soft cloth dipped in the cleaning solution.

That about sums that point up.

Avoid scratches by using a gentle touch while cleaning

There’s no need for overly vigorous cleaning methods. Rubbing the oak floor surface too hard just takes that beautiful shine off your boards. Dry sweep or vacuum using the softer vacuum attachment.

Use a damp mop while mopping

Don’t use a dripping wet mop for cleaning oak floors. Avoid the temptation to soak (remember, water + wood = not a great pair) and use a damp mop for your weekly clean.

Want some help to keep your oak floors looking fresh? Find local cleaning services in London on Airtasker.

How to maintain oak flooring

Use felt furniture pads

Sure, oak is hard and durable, but it’s still prone to indentations from heavy or spiked objects. Prevent unsightly scratches from any furniture by using felt pads on the legs of all furniture. Replace the pads every few months as they do tend to get worn out.

Avoid heels or spiked shoes

It’s unlikely you can convince every single guest to adhere to a ‘no shoes’ policy. Use rugs in places of heavy traffic to avoid a freak out every time a heeled friend walks through the door.

Try and maintain indoor humidity levels of 40-50%

Wood is a naturally porous material. It can swell up when it absorbs moisture, much like a sponge. Losing moisture during those cold winter months when indoor heating is on full blast can cause it to curl up.

By keeping the interior of your home at a consistent humidity level, you can avoid any expansion or movement. Keep an eye on that indoor temperature.

Re-oil every year, depending on wear and tear

Give your floor a little bit of oil-loving by re-coating it regularly. If you don’t do this, you risk the finish getting worn which will mean you need to get it sanded to restore its former glory.

Infrequent re-oiling could also lead to dampness and unsightly black spots appearing. Doesn’t sound attractive, so keep up with that regular oiling. Every 12 to 18 months should do it.

Need some help with your oak floor? Find trusted and rated cleaners in London with Airtasker

5 bathroom cleaning hacks for busy parents

You're busy. Your kids are messy. You need these cleaning hacks.

Cleaning the bathroom is the worst job in the house – everyone knows it. And when you’ve got small people to bathe and look after, it’s even harder to keep the tiles sparkling.

With that in mind, these are the 5 bathroom hacks every busy parent needs to know. They’re enough to rival the finest cleaning services in London, and they take just a few minutes.

Remove limescale

Lemon juice

Limescale minerals are difficult to remove with sheer elbow grease. Instead, dissolve the alkaline limescale with acidic lemon juice. It’s more natural than shop-bought limescale cleaners and leaves a much nicer smell behind.

You need to keep the lemon juice in contact with the limescale for long enough to make an impact. If you’re cleaning taps, soak a cloth in some lemon juice, wrap it around the tap, and leave for a few minutes. The limescale should then wipe away easily with a toothbrush or cloth.

If the stain is particularly stubborn, lime juice and vinegar is even more acidic.

Clean your shower head without dismantling it

Vinegar, water and a freezer bag

Considering the water that comes out of your shower then keeps you clean, it’s quite important to make sure the shower head is dirt-free.

After an hour, remove the bag, pour the water and vinegar away, and wipe away any remaining dirt on the shower head.

Remove shower curtain mildew

Baking soda

A normal wash cycle might not be enough to shift stubborn mildew. To boost the usual cleaning ability of your detergent, mix 75g of detergent with an equal measure of baking soda in your washing machine.

Baking soda is one of the best natural cleaners around. So good in fact, the Ancient Egyptians used it during the mummification process. It’s especially useful even when you don’t have embalming to do – absorbing bad smells, breaking down stains, and cutting through grease.

Need some extra help with cleaning at home? Find trusted and rated cleaners in London with Airtasker.

Shine up your mirrors

Tea

Ironically, it’s easy to look past mirror marks and stains. Staring at our own reflection is clearly just too compelling.

Make a strong cup of black tea and you’ve got an ideal mirror cleaner. Use a cloth to rub it in circles and it will reduce streaks and soap marks. This also works wonders with windows (try saying that when you’ve had a few). Many parents prefer to use natural cleaners for surfaces their kids come into contact with quite a lot, and good old tea is ideal.

Source: Good Housekeeping

Unclog your drains naturally

Baking soda and diluted vinegar

Drain-unclogging liquids are inexplicably expensive and massively toxic. This homemade remedy breaks down drain blockages just as effectively. Mixing vinegar and baking soda in normal circumstances can be risky because it causes a reaction, but when it comes to cleaning drains, that’s exactly the result you want.

Natural remedies don’t have to involve complex chemistry – they’re usually simpler and cheaper than the shop-bought alternative. For parents short on time, and concerned about toxic ingredients, you can’t beat some lemon juice, baking soda, and an old toothbrush.

Looking for help with cleaning around the house? Find trusted and professional cleaners with Airtasker

5 cleaning hacks to remove stains from clothes

Not today, stains.

When you’re a child, no one quite prepares you for how much laundry you’ll have to do as an adult.

It gets even more complicated when you spill something (or worse, someone else spills something) on a favourite piece of clothing.

If the annoying happens, these five genius stain removal hacks are fit for the best cleaning services in London, and with them, you’ll never have to abandon a beloved white shirt again.

Pro tip: Before you do anything, check it’s a ‘colourfast’ fabric

If a material is ‘colourfast’, it won’t run or fade. Some materials aren’t tough enough to stand abrasive treatments. Before you try and remove a stain, rub a small amount of the solution on an inside hem or seam.

If it’s safe to use, it won’t remove any colour or damage the fabric.

1. Removing a red wine stain

Knocking a large glass of red wine over is one of the worst slow-motion moments you can ever experience. White wine lovers, your drink is safe to use – but contrary to popular belief it only fades a red wine stain, it doesn’t remove it entirely.

Vinegar and detergent

Get this right and you won’t need to make a trip to the dry cleaners. First, blot the stain dry instead of rubbing it. Add white vinegar, then rub your usual liquid laundry detergent in. White vinegar will neutralise the dark red/purple tones, the washing machine will do the rest.

Source: Country Living

2. Remove oil and grease

The only downside to a fry-up is seeing flecks of oil and fat on your clothes afterwards. Oil and water don’t mix well, so putting your clothes straight into the wash won’t budge those stains.

Washing-up liquid

If it can clean greasy pans and plates, it can remove cooking oil from your clothes too. Rub a small amount of washing-up liquid into the stain with a toothbrush to loosen it, then wash as normal.

If it’s a delicate item…try talcum powder or baby powder

Add powder to the stain and leave the item in a warm room overnight. Brush the powder away and check the stain. If it’s still just as visible, repeat the same steps. If it’s pretty much gone, time for the washing machine.

3. Remove nail varnish

Nail varnish is a dye (not a great start), naturally hardens on fabric (even worse news), and it’s fade-resistant (greaaaaat).

Coconut oil and dry cleaning solvent

Cleaning services use this because it works on cotton, polyester and nylon, as well as more delicate fabrics, like silk and wool.

Remove any excess polish with something blunt but not sharp enough to cut through the material.

Mix 1 part coconut oil with 8 parts dry cleaning solvent. You can buy dry cleaning solvent online easily; it’s designed specifically for oil, glue, and polish stains. Leave the mixture on the fabric for a few minutes, and dab it with a cloth until the stain has lifted.

4. Remove blood stains

Blood stains are fairly common, but they look a touch dramatic. Fresh blood is easier to remove than dried blood, so try to tackle it as soon as possible.

Cold water and enzyme cleaner

Soak the garment in cold water to stop the stain from drying. If it’s already dry, soak it for an hour in 1 part baking soda, 2 parts cold water. Then, treat with an enzyme cleaner (look for ‘bio’ on the packaging).

5. Remove grass stains

Like blood, grass is a protein-based stain. If you have kids and regularly find yourself on a sports field, you’ll need this stain removal trick in your back catalogue.

Diluted white vinegar

Pre-treat the stain with a mixture of cold water and white vinegar. Avoid hot water, it hardens non-fatty stains and makes them harder to remove. Rub the marks until faded and then wash as normal.

Looking for help with your household tasks or cleaning? Find trusted and rated professionals on Airtasker.

5 ways to use baking soda to clean the house

It's the unassuming kitchen cupboard ingredient that cleans everything.

If you ever hire a cleaner and mention baking soda, they’ll give you a knowing nod. It’s a powder of many talents.

Baking soda has been used for thousands of years to clean everything from our teeth to our fridge. It’s very alkaline, so dissolves grease and dirt easily. It’s also non-toxic for pets and children (you wouldn’t put it in cakes otherwise) and a cheaper alternative to branded cleaners.

What’s so great about baking soda?

Baking soda can handle hundreds of household cleaning jobs. It absorbs odours, removes acidic stains, freshens carpets, shines surfaces, and whitens porcelain. It can even be used for pest control, as a mouthwash, and a dandruff treatment. Some of the best cleaning services in London swear by its abilities.

Forget that cupboard full of aerosols and sprays and gels. Baking soda can do it all, here are 5 examples.

Remove black mould around the bath/shower

The white seal around your shower or bath is a perfect, damp environment for black mould. This doesn’t look great, and it also spells trouble for the seal’s waterproofing.

Baking soda will remove existing mould and prevent it from coming back.

To sort out a little bit of mould, add 2 tablespoons of baking soda to a spray bottle filled with water. Spray this onto the bath’s seal, leave for a while, respray, wipe, and rinse off.

If your mould problem is a bit more serious, mix baking soda and water together in equal parts to make a paste. Spread it all over the seal, have a brief tea break, then come back and scrub it off with a toothbrush.

De-grease your oven and grill

Many people would rather just buy a new oven than clean it. It’s one of the messiest jobs in the house and feels completely thankless the minute someone cooks a cheesy pizza.

Make the same baking soda paste you used for the bathroom seal and spread it all over the inside of the oven. With rubber gloves on, you can do this easily by hand. Leave the baking soda to do its business for at least 12 hours, then use a warm, damp cloth to wipe it all away.

Clean trays and racks by sprinkling the powdery baking soda all over them, and spraying with diluted vinegar. This makes the bicarb foam, activating all its natural degreasing power. Wipe down, rinse, and put back in the now sparkling clean oven.

Remember that volcano science experiment you did at school? Baking soda and vinegar can unblock drains with the exact same principle. Find out how in our bathroom cleaning hacks blog.

Freshen up your mattress

This one sounds unconventional, but cleaning services swear by it and it’s far cheaper than replacing a mattress.

Strip the dirty bed sheets, and sieve baking soda straight onto the bare mattress. Leave it for a couple of hours, then remake the bed with clean sheets, leaving the baking soda underneath. This soaks up moisture and dirt while you’re sleeping.

When you next change your bedding, you can vacuum the remaining baking soda and any remaining dust. Repeat whenever you think the mattress needs a clean – every few months is a good benchmark.

Keep your whites bright

Many detergents promise whiter whites, but their methods can be slightly dishonest. Benzene works with UV rays as they shine on clothes, minimising yellowish tones. It tricks you into thinking the clothes are whiter than they really are.

Instead of making them appear whiter, soak white clothes in 4 litres of water mixed with 75g of baking soda. Wash them as normal and they’ll look virtually brand new.

Freshen sponges, cloths, and even your toothbrush

If germs and bacteria weren’t invisible, our lives would be so much easier. Think about it. You pick up an innocent-looking sponge and you could be spreading germs all over the kitchen surfaces.

With baking soda, you can be sure your cleaning supplies really are clean. Add 4 tablespoons to 1 litre of water, soak your sponges and cloths in the liquid. This will absorb bacteria as well as odours.

Do the same with your toothbrush overnight, then rinse before you use it (baking soda’s quite salty).

Baking soda is an unassuming miracle worker. It sits there in its little pot and doesn’t look like anything special. However, mix it with a bit of vinegar, sprinkle it liberally, or dissolve it in water, and you’ve got a super-flexible cleaner.

Looking for help with cleaning around the house? Find trusted and professional cleaners with Airtasker

How to clean a washing machine properly

Washing machines need a little loving too. How long has it been since you cleaned yours?

We expect washing machines to pump out clean, crisp clothes at the flick of a switch or the press of a button. But when your washing machine resembles something out of a Stephen King movie, you can’t blame the machine for undesirable results.

Dirty filters, clogged inlets and outlets, pipes that have seen better days; regular maintenance keeps a machine working at its best.

If your machine is leaving stains, detergent residue, or sudden patches of colour on your clothes, it is probably screaming for a good clean.

Cleaning a washing machine is not complicated. With a few basic steps your machine will be churning out awesome results again, which will save you money on unnecessary washing machine repairs.

These cleaning tips are chemical-free, inexpensive and won’t have any detrimental effects on your appliance.

How to clean a front loading washing machine

Add 2 tablespoons of bicarbonate of soda into the detergent draw and 120ml of white vinegar into the washing machine drum.
Run a standard cycle with hot water.
Check the manufacturer’s guidelines on how to clean the filter. Filters are usually a contributing factor to poor washing results in a front loader.
If applicable, remove and clean the soap and fabric softener dispensers in hot soapy water and dry them out in the sun. This will prevent mould from forming and growing.
Leave the machine door ajar between washes to dry out properly and eliminate mould.

The machine might produce suds during the wash cycle due to the build up of residue. This will happen less if you clean your machine more frequently.

How to clean a top loading washing machine

Mix 2 tbsp of bicarbonate of soda with 480ml of white vinegar.
Run a washing cycle with hot water on the maximum water level setting.
Once the machine is at least half full with water, add the vinegar mixture.
Let the filled water sit in the machine for about 30 minutes then allow your machine to run through its usual cycle.
Before all of the water drains out, use a toothbrush to scrub the holes in the washing machine barrel. The grime will come away easy after being soaked and you will be surprised at what comes out!
The vinegar, bicarb and hot water will break down any grease or dirty patches and clean the hoses.
Remove and clean any parts that can be washed separately, such as the fabric softener basket and lint catcher.
Once the inside is squeaky clean give the outside a once over with some washing liquid and wipe away any accumulated dust.
When scrubbing with the toothbrush, let the machine empty the water in stages so you don’t need to have your hands in hot water.

How to tackle detergent residue on clothes

If you find that detergent residue is left on your clothes after a wash:

Do not overload your washing machine.
Try using less detergent in your washes.
Dissolve any powered detergent in hot water before adding it into the machine if you usually wash your items in cold water.
Store powdered detergent in an airtight container to prevent it getting clumpy. Clumps can be part of the problem with residual.
If you have a clothes dryer you can put the effected items into a quick cool cycle for 5 minutes. This will help to shake off the excess residue.

How to eliminate washing marks on your clothes

Blotchy or smoky-looking marks that appear on your clothes during a wash can be created by scrud. This is a waxy build-up of fabric softener or detergents that are left behind in the drum. Scrud is more common in cold washes and when there is not enough detergent added to the wash. This can cause problems with the washing machine mechanics as well as your clothes.

To avoid getting a scrud build-up:

Run an empty hot machine cycle with quality detergent, letting it sit overnight.
If you prefer to wash in cold water, run a hot cycle wash occasionally.
Be cautious of over-using fabric softener. White vinegar is a good substitute.
Increase the amount of detergent you use.
Clean your washing machine regularly using our tips above.
Whites washed in hot water will retain their brightness and help to keep scrud away.

If a machine clean does not make your clothes sparkle again – just arrange a washing machine repair with Airtasker.

Get summer ready at the Airtasker Life Hack Pop-Up

We're on a mission to help busy Londoners get their to do lists done in time for the summer.

Whether it’s cleaning, gardening, DIY or just the mountain of odd jobs around the house that need sorting – Londoners’ to-do lists are among some of the longest around.

And we know ALL about it here at Airtasker.

With that in mind, we’re taking to Boxpark Shoreditch on Wednesday 6th June for a day of getting it done – and all in time for summer.

We’re fronting an ‘inspiration station’ boasting urban gardening hacks, digestible DIY takeways, free giveaways and plenty of advice to get all those unfinished projects sorted in time for the sunshine. Taking place between 8am – 8pm, we’ve invited a selection of Taskers from our community who will be creating various installations and features from scratch throughout the day – showcasing a range of handy and creative skills.

As if that wasn’t enough – guests can also stop by for free Sandows cold brew coffees, complimentary ice cream courtesy of the delicious Remeo, dribble-worthy free burgers from Cheeky Burger and even a spin on our ‘Wheel of Fortune’ to win vouchers to get your tasks done for you!

The Airtasker Life Hack Pop-Up will take place from 8am – 8pm on Wednesday 6th June 2018 at Boxpark Shoreditch. More event info here

Are Brits’ cleaning habits changing?

The seasonal ‘deep clean’ is a time when most of us start the mammoth task of getting our homes in tip-top shape for the new season…or it used to be.

A recent survey has actually found that the spring cleaning tradition seems to be waning, and a massive 85% of Brits are under the impression that the tradition could be on its way out. Less than half of the participants admitted to still doing a yearly spring clean, while 37% said they do it every few years. One in five confessed they never bother!

Looking for cleaning services in London? Use Airtasker to find a trusted cleaner in minutes.

Clean Freaks

Despite the downward spiral of the seasonal deep clean, Brits seem to be a clean bunch. According to Airtasker research, we spend 208 hours a year doing chores on average. What’s more, we have found that women are spending about 4.36 hours more than men on household chores, while 45 to 54-year-olds spend the most time doing chores and the 65+ age group the least.

How much time does each task take per week?

·       Most time-consuming chore is cooking – 253 minutes
·       Doing laundry – 102 minutes
·       Washing dishes – 98 minutes
·       Gardening – 86 minutes
·       Walking the dog – 71 minutes
·       Hoovering – 67 minutes
·       Ironing – 61 minutes

Changing Habits

A recent 2016 survey by insurers esure found that a third of UK households hire someone to help them around the house, with this trend being driven by under-35s. More and more families are paying for their chores to be done as hiring becomes more mainstream.

The most popular region for outsourcing tasks is London, which makes sense since the city is also the most time poor. By hiring someone to do these menial tasks, Londoners have more time to do the things they rarely have time to do, like watch the telly or do some socialising. Interestingly, Londoners are also said to be the laziest of the bunch, with the highest percentage of locals admitting that laziness is the main reason they would outsource a task.

Millennials seem to have the right idea when it comes to fobbing off tasks around the house in favour of other, more exciting things. Research found that twice as many people under the age of 35 have a cleaner at 16%, compared to older people at 9%. While it is already established that London millennials prefer hiring help, many admitted that they either don’t have the time or simply find housework too boring.

Proud to Be House-Proud

Britain is known for being a house-proud nation, with 51% admitting they stress about the cleanliness of their home. It seems the annual big clean is being replaced by an all-year pressure to keep up with the Joneses.

Norwich seems to be the most house-proud region according to a survey by British Gas, with an average of 15.13 hours spent cleaning every week. They are followed by Southampton with 13 hours and Bristol with around 12 hours. Lowest on the list is Oxford, who spends a paltry five hours on the big clean a week.

Curiously – about two-thirds of house-proud Brits admit to cleaning or tidying up their home before the cleaner arrives!

Chucking the Chores

When it comes to most hated chores, oven cleaning was named the ‘winner’, followed by washing windows. Vacuuming the stairs, removing mould from shower tiles, and grouting. Other chores to make the list include defrosting the freezer, ironing, removing hair from plug holes, unblocking a sink, mowing the lawn, cleaning the fridge, washing garden furniture, and cleaning the skirting boards. Since these are some of the most time-consuming and energy-draining chores, we really don’t blame anyone for avoiding these tasks and getting an Airtasker to do the work for them.

Clean House = Better Health

While having a clean house has obvious practical benefits, it also does wonders for mental and physical health.

·       It is a proven de-stressor, as more clutter equals more stress
·       It helps you breathe better and is especially helpful to those prone to allergies or asthma
·       A clean, uncluttered house improves your mood
·       It improves your sleep as a clean room and fresh sheets are proven to make you more comfortable and have a more peaceful night’s sleep
·       It prevents injury, as less clutter and junk equal less tripping hazards
·       Helps prevent future illnesses as you will clean those avoided areas that gather dust and dirt

Airtasker Is Here to Help

Spring is already in the air, and the good news is there’s no need to forfeit having a spotless house when you’d rather be having a pint in the sunshine. With Airtasker, you can have a tasker at your door in minutes to get your home ready for the new season while you enjoy the sweet sense of achievement without having to compromise your time.

Find a trusted cleaner in London with Airtasker, for all tasks – big and small.

End of tenancy cleaning guide and checklist

Read on for our guide and checklist to the end of tenancy cleaning.

Moving out can be an overwhelming process. Giving your house or flat a thorough end-of-tenancy clean can make all the difference in getting your full deposit back. End-of-tenancy cleaning services in London can sometimes be costly. If you’re willing to do a deep clean yourself with the help of a couple of friends, read on for our guide to the end of tenancy cleaning.

What exactly is an end-of-tenancy clean?

An end of tenancy clean is a deep clean of your home, usually done just before your lease ends. It’s a much more intensive clean than your typical weekly clean, but it’s doable if you have the time.

If you’re searching for ‘cleaning services near me’ for a helping hand, there’s bound to be a local cleaning expert not too far away.

Where do you start?

It’s best to start your deep clean when you’ve already moved your stuff out. This way there’s less clutter to move around and you can focus on the cleaning.

It’s easy to get stuck on a simple task, and even easier to get distracted. The key is to have a plan of attack and move room to room, setting a time limit for each room so you’re working towards a deadline.

Should you hire a professional cleaner?

It depends on your circumstances and how much cleaning your home actually requires. If you need an urgent clean, have no time, and it’s not looking pretty; then yes you should consider getting a professional. Get a few quotes from local cleaners in London.

Use our in-depth cleaning checklist below to make sure you don’t miss any essential areas:

Want to find a skilled cleaner for the job? Find a range of local cleaning services in London on Airtasker today.

How to clean your oven with baking soda

Baking soda can be particularly effective for oven cleaning. See why and how here!

You may have heard people raving about using baking soda as a cleaning product. Once you’ve tried using it in your home, you’ll see what they mean! Baking soda can be particularly effective for oven cleaning.

It’s inevitable that food will splatter down the inside of our ovens. Our pasta bakes bubble over, oil spills from a roast, and sauces drip onto the racks. At some point, we’re all faced with a black, sticky mess in our oven. That, let’s be honest, we try and ignore for as long as possible!

Looking to hire a cleaner in London? Find rated and trusted cleaning professionals on Airtasker.

But eventually, the time will come when we need to clean it. This means you’ll need an oven cleaning service to remove the baked-on grime. Or you could simply turn to two simple supermarket ingredients – baking soda and vinegar.

One of the best things about using a baking soda and vinegar solution is it means not exposing your skin to another cleaning product laden with chemicals. What’s more, it’s cheap and you probably already have it in your kitchen!

Baking soda and bicarbonate of soda (“bicarb soda”) are leavening agents, meaning they create bubbles that expand while baking, causing batters to rise. Bicarb soda is the purer form of the leavening agent and requires an acid plus moisture to cause the bubbles. Baking soda is simply bicarb soda which has already been premixed with an acid (often cream of tartar).

It’s this bubble-making action that is so effective in lifting food debris from your oven. When you use baking soda or bicarb soda together with highly acidic vinegar, the resulting mixture breaks down food particles like nobody’s business.

Because it’s a natural product, you may be assuming it can’t be effective on a crusted-up oven. But it actually does a brilliant job at oven cleaning. Best of all, there are no harsh fumes emanating from your oven next time you bake, and no harmful chemicals lingering in the place where you cook your food. Sure, you may want to wear rubber gloves if old food grime is a bit icky, but at least you won’t be risking burns if you don’t.

So what’s the best way to use baking soda for an oven cleaning service?

Begin by removing your oven racks. These likely need a good clean too, so place them to soak in your sink with hot water and a splash of vinegar.
Meanwhile, mix equal parts water, baking soda, and vinegar in a bowl to create a spreadable paste.
Spread this paste on the inside of the oven, coating all interior surfaces but avoiding the heating elements.
Add a thick layer (about a quarter of an inch) to the bottom of the oven. Leave overnight or for at least 12 hours.
The next day, use a wet cloth to wipe off as much of the paste as possible.
Pour vinegar into a spray bottle, spritz all surfaces, and wipe down with a clean cloth.

To clean the oven window:

Make another paste, apply directly to the window and let sit for half an hour.
Use a clean cloth to wipe the window clean.
If there are stains inside the double oven window, you may also need to carefully unscrew these so you can clean the inside of the glass.

To finish up…

Thoroughly wipe off all the residue and rinse everything with clean water and a clean sponge.
Add some vinegar to your sponge to get your oven extra shiny.
Wash off the racks–this will be a breeze after their soaking–and return them to the oven.

For really stubbornly baked-on grease and food, you might need to repeat your oven cleaning service to get perfect results. Just make sure all the baking soda residue is removed completely before you use the oven again to cook, as any baking soda that remains on the heating elements can cause smoke.

And there you have it- a sparkling clean oven!

Short on time or elbow grease? Find an Airtasker who can help with cleaning in London

10 spring cleaning hacks for your home

Here's a pick of the best spring cleaning hacks to get you started.

The days are getting longer and a little warmer, which means spring is here and summer is finally close! However, that also means it’s time to declutter and give your house a good spring clean. Although the extra work can make it seem like a massive weekend-long chore, we’ve collected a few simple hacks that will see you finished with your spring cleaning in no time.

From organising your house to polishing glasses, the list of to-do’s can be endless. Here’s a pick of the best spring cleaning hacks to get you started:

Organise your wardrobe

Deciding what clothes to throw away is a tough choice and one we really don’t like to make. Why? Because we often attach nostalgic memories to our clothes. Sometimes though, it’s simply time to get rid of them. Especially if they haven’t been worn even once in the last year.

To make it easier to gauge what you really do and don’t wear, try hanging all of your coat hangers in the opposite direction to how you put them away. In a few weeks, you’ll be able to see which coat hangers are still in the original direction. These are clearly not items you reach for and could consider donating charity.

Messy drawers no more

We’ve all been guilty of shoving clean our laundry into a drawer without folding it, which makes it’s impossible to find anything. It’s not an effective use of space and also causes some serious creasing.

An easy solution is to pack your t-shirts vertically instead of horizontally. You’ll be able to fit more and also find your favourite tees in a few seconds – without making a mess!

Clean your vases

Getting rid of stubborn grime in your vases can be tough and unpleasant. To make it a little easier, add a cup of uncooked rice, warm water and half a cup of window cleaner and mix around. Your vase will be sparkling clean and ready for fresh flowers in an instant.

Window shutter dusting

As pretty as they look, window shutters aren’t the easiest blinds to clean. Luckily, there’s quick cleaning hack to help. All you need is a knife (not a sharp one) and a microfiber cloth to wrap around it. You can use this to clean each slat with ease and pick up dust easily.

Dusting lamp shades

Do you find that the dust just sticks to lampshades and doesn’t want to budge? Try using a run-of-the-mill clothing lint roller to roll over the outside and inside of your lamp shades.

Shower curtain mould

To get rid of any mouldy build-up on your shower curtain, you could simply toss it into the washing machine. You could also make a natural cleaning solution, which can be reused every few weeks.

Make your own natural shower curtain cleaner by mixing half vinegar and half water into an empty spray bottle. Stretch the curtain to it’s full width (so you can get in the creases) and spray the vinegar solution. Leave for a couple of minutes, then wipe clean with a damp cloth.

Bathroom grout cleaning

Scrubbing grout can be labour intensive. And even with all your efforts, you may not be able to remove the most stubborn mould. To make it a bit easier on yourself, soak cotton wool in bleach and place along the mouldy grout. This will get rid (or at least make it easier to scrub) the mould off, saving time and effort.

Clearing out the drain

Drains can easily get clogged up with food particles. You can buy drain cleaners to help solve this, but for a chemical-free alternative try using baking soda and vinegar. You will need 2 cups of baking soda, 4 cups of boiling water and 1 cup of vinegar at your disposal.

Follow these steps:

Pour 4 tbsp of baking soda carefully down the drain followed by 400ml of the boiling water. Wait a few moments.
Pour another 4 tbsp of baking soda, then the cup of vinegar. Plug the drain immediately as bubbles will rise.
When the bubbles die down slightly, pour in the remaining 400ml cups of boiling water.

Dusting high ceilings

Get to those hard to reach places, like ceiling corners, by using a broom with a microfibre cloth at the end. This will help you easily clear any dust or cobwebs.

If you’re having trouble with the cloth staying put, use a big elastic band or some string to keep it in place.