Old Style Book - Can You Help?

Ticklemouse

When you've put the attachments on your vacuum (mine are separate so I have to make the effort) make sure you clean those bits you wouldn't normally think of:

Vac the ceiling, especially the corners and the light fittings. It amazing how many cobwebs you can find and lamp-shades collect the dust. It's also amazing how much lighter it becomes when shades are clean.

Vac your smoke alarm (and test at the same time) Dust can affect it's sensitivity.

Vac your soft furniture and curtains. It will keep the dust in your room down in general and make them last longer.

Vac your mattress - again, keeps it clean and fresh and keeps those dust mites at bay.

Use the soft attachment for dusting, especially if you have solid but fiddly bits (eg ornate fireplaces, or lots of books. Saves getting down to do the skirting boards if you have a long hose attachment too. I also vac my tv, video and dvd etc cos the amount of dust attracted to those vents can't be doing the insides much good.

After hoovering, my gran used to take a clean but just damp mop and wipe over her carpets. She swore it kept the dust down by trapping the last bits of dust in the mop to be wasjed away, although I've never done this. I do however vax my carpets regularly anyway

phizzimum

If you are soaking pans or roasting tins that have burnt on food, add a little washing powder. When you come to clean them the gunge will lift straight off. Works like "Fairy power spray" but much cheaper

Smiley_Mum

Save the waxed bags out of cereal packets, rinse and use them to coat chicken in crumbs etc or any meat for that matter.

I cut the top of plastic milk bottles and use the bottom part to hold water for when the kids are painting pictures/my walls etc.

Sarahsaver

I do things like clean windows all in one go, for example I dont do it as part of cleaning a room, I do all the downstairs ones in one 'swoop' feels more like I have accomplished something then.
I clean the bathroom when the kids are in the bath/shower.

KK

we used to do the same with the ends of soap, but put them in the toes of an old pair of tights and tie up, then use - not very elegant for the bathroom, but brilliant for stain removal on clothes.

KK

although you have to use carefully (if used too vigorously any splashes will 'bleach' the colour out of your top!) dishwasher powder or liquid is a brilliant stain remover for white articles, and things like white tablecloths, it also gets the tea stains out of things brillaintly and I guess would do the same for vases and tea pots. Not strictly old-style but if you have a dishwasher anyway you mioght as well double up the use of the detergent!