When I started Ardent Cleaning in 2016, it was a big change from being a corporate PA, but I’ve always been a little bit of a clean geek, so it made perfect sense to me.
Over the years as my business has grown, I’ve learned some great cleaning hacks – and these are my top tips.
1: When you’re cleaning your stainless-steel sinks or hobs, to get a real shine, clean and dry the surface first. It must be completely dry and then – here’s the tip – spritz the surface with furniture polish and buff it with a soft cloth. Result: a brilliant shine.
2: Instead of using a duster to move the dust around, use a damp cloth and then follow with a clean, dry cloth. We’re talking damp, not wet, so wring it out well before wiping each surface. Also, never spray polish directly onto surfaces, always spray a small amount onto the cloth.
3: Limescale is always a challenge, unless you have a water softener. Bleach doesn’t get limescale or germs off, it just bleaches them. There are some great commercial limescale removers, but white vinegar and bicarbonate of soda or baking powder also work on limescale. Mix together and spread over the area to be treated, you’ll see it bubble up and loosen the limescale, so it is easily cleaned off and is also eco-friendly.
4: Keep your shower limescale free – train the family to rinse it down and then squeegee the water off the tiles and glass after they use it, you’ll find the limescale build-up minimal.
5: My top cleaning tool is a toothbrush! It cleans plugholes, taps, overflows, etc, any nooks and crannies that grime and limescale gathers. Use limescale remover, let it bubble then get to work with the toothbrush – magic! But make sure your cleaning toothbrush isn’t anywhere an unsuspecting family member can accidentally use it to clean their teeth!
6: If your towels smell musty, throw into the drum, a big scoop of bicarb, it kills the smell, rather than just masking it.
7: And this is my top, top tip: Spray air freshener in the toilet bowl, before you flush. Close the lid and flush and your room will have that fresh smell, instead of any noxious fumes. You should always put the lid down (not just the seat, gents) before flushing. The fine spray that is generated by the flush, may be invisible to the eye, but travels as much as three metres – how close is your toothbrush to the toilet?!
Whether you love or hate cleaning, it’s a necessity if you want to live in a nice, clean and healthy home. I hope these tips will give your cleaning regime a boost!
Charlotte Kebble owns Ardent Cleaning (encompassing Ardent Cleaning & Ardent Wellbeing). She can be contacted on charlotte@ardent-living.co.uk or 07717 376 188.
