home cleaning Archives - Airtasker Blog

How to prepare your home for selling and moving

If you’re putting your home on the market, there are a number of things to do in preparation for selling and moving.

Ready to sell? Prepare and spruce up your property using our tips below:

Focus areas

The front door

Great first impressions matter. Make sure the entrance to your home is clean, tidy and looks nice. Weed the front garden, and give the front door has a fresh lick of paint.

Key rooms

The homemaker will want to focus on the kitchen, bathroom and toilet, so make sure repairs and cleaning for these rooms are done. The other rooms of the house can usually be sorted out with a coat paint.

Repairs

Generally, you don’t need to fully renovate your home prior to selling and moving, but it should be in good, working condition.

Little issues like mouldy shower grouting can put off people off. Small expenses and a little effort will go a long way in making your property more attractive to prospective buyers.

Do you need to:

Re-grout bathrooms
Fix a front or back fence
Fix leaking taps
Replace fixtures, e.g. chipped door knobs, rusty towel rails
Replace blown light bulbs

Any investment you make prior to selling and moving should be driven by where you’ll get the best return.

If you’re thinking of renovating prior to putting your home on the market, check out the top renovations mistakes to avoid.

Rules and regulations

When selling and moving, there will be a number of rules and regulations that you’ll need to comply with as per your local council. It makes your property more attractive to a prospective buyer if you have these taken care of prior to the sale.

Walls and painting

Check walls for marks, scratches and stains that might require plastering and a fresh coat of paint. Paint walls and ceilings in neutral colours and your property will appeal to a larger market.

Source: Better Homes and Gardens

Declutter and depersonalise

The sale of your property is a great excuse to clean out your belongings! Declutter to maximise space for the open house and inspections. Depersonalise so buyers can imagine their own belongings in the space.

Source: Homey Oh My!

Cleaning

It’s important to give the impression that your property has been kept in good condition all the time (not just for the sale), so attention to detail is a must! For the best results, you should do an end of tenancy clean.

Cleaning inside

Here’s a list to start you off:

All surfaces, benchtops and cupboards
Walls, skirting boards, power points
Windows, window sills, doors, screen doors, fly screens
Floors, carpets, tiles, timber
All built in appliances, e.g. dishwasher, oven, stove, range hood, etc.
Sinks, basins, taps (descaling)
Baths, showers, shower screens
Mirrors and wardrobes
Fans, air conditioners
etc.!

If you don’t have the time for all that cleaning, get some help from Airtasker’s reliable and flexible London home cleaners.

Source: Pinterest

Cleaning outdoors

Outdoor areas should not be forgotten as that’s the first thing prospective buyers will see. Make sure the:

Gardens and garage are tidy
Lawn is mowed
Garden beds are weeded
Gutters are cleaned
Patios and driveways are clean
Cobwebs are removed

For open houses and inspections, you should also remove all rubbish, empty and wash bins, and make sure pet droppings and pet bedding is removed.

Source: funky junk interiors

Odours

Odours in the home are usually from pets, mould and mildew. Find the source and address the problem, rather than trying to ‘mask’ it.

Furniture and décor

If your furniture is a worn, mismatched, or a little ‘dated’, consider getting an interior designer to spruce up your home during the sale period. It might be necessary to put your furniture in to storage temporarily.

If you need some assistance with heavy lifting and getting things to storage, find a local handyman to help you out.

Greenery

Create a calm and inviting atmosphere by adding some healthy, green plants to your home’s indoor and outdoor areas. Little potted herbs perched on the window sill can freshen up the aesthetic of the kitchen. Hire larger plants if you don’t want to purchase them.

Source: BLOGLOVIN’

Good smells

Make your home smell inviting by roasting some coffee beans or baking fresh bread on the day of the open house.

Selling and moving

You’re on the home stretch when you’ve sold your property and the time comes to sort out furniture removal and storage. If you’re lucky, you’ve got access to a van or small truck and the manpower to do the moving yourself.

Need some help with the moving process? Connect with a number of skilled removals professionals in London on Airtasker.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 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

Ultimate guide to BBQ cleaning

A BBQ is always fun, but what about the cleanup after? Luckily, we have a list of cleaning tips and tricks to help.

There’s nothing better than a BBQ on one of the three days of summer we enjoy a year. What’s not so fun is the clean up process after. Barbecue cleaning is a task that no one really wants to do, but it’s vital to take care of your BBQ for your next round of grilling mastery.

There are a few things you can try to make this process less painful, so read on to prepare yourself, and your grill, for the next get-together.

Looking to hire a cleaner in London? You can find a huge range of trusted, local cleaners in London on Airtasker.

1. Strike while it’s still hot

Source: Ray White

Sure, it’s the last thing you feel like doing just when your food is ready to be devoured. But an initial clean up while the hotplate is still warm will save you time and hard work later on.

Give the BBQ a quick brush (you can buy special BBQ brushes on Amazon) to remove larger bits of residual food. It may feel like a chore now, but your future self will be grateful.

2. Use the dishwasher

Yes, you read that right. If you have a dishwasher and your grill plates aren’t too large, you can chuck them in the dishwasher. Just make sure they’ve cooled off completely and set the dishwasher to the most intense mode (e.g. pot scrubbing). You can then sit back and let it do the hard work for you.

3. The deep clean

Source: Better House Keeper

If your BBQ is caked in debris, it’s time for a deep clean:

Take some detergent, warm water and a BBQ scrubbing brush. Remove and clean the plates of your BBQ unit.
Rinse with clean water then rub dry. To prepare the BBQ for next time, lightly spray with vegetable oil.
Re-position grill plates and any extra parts you’ve removed during the cleaning, turn all the grills to high and get rid of any residual grime or germs with heat. You don’t need to do this for too long, just wait until the plates start to smoke, then switch off.

If you don’t have time for a deep clean, connect with home cleaning services near you on Airtasker who’d be happy to help.

4. Use tin foil to scrub

Source: Home Jelly

Ball up some aluminium foil and scrub your BBQ as you would with a scourer. You could also team it with vinegar for an even deeper clean. Just add two cups of vinegar and water in a spray bottle, shake to mix. Spray on the grills and leave for 10 minutes. Refill the bottle with vinegar only and spray onto tin foil to remove all the grime.

5. Use an onion

Never thought you’d use an onion for cleaning? Using an onion cut in half (cut side down), heat the BBQ on high to burn off any crud then turn off and rub the onion. This will loosen anything baked on the grills.

6. Try cleaning your BBQ with beer

Surprisingly, beer is a popular BBQ cleaning method. Simply heat up the BBQ and then pour half of the bottle on the grills and scrub.

7. Scrub with lemon and salt

Is there anything you can’t clean with lemons? To clean the BBQ, heat up the grills to high, put the cut side of the lemon on a plate of salt, and scrub away.

You can always hire someone to clean your BBQ and save yourselves the time. Find local cleaners in London on Airtasker.

Laundry organisation and storage tips

Create a whole load of extra space with these clever tips.

Washing clothes takes up time, but also space. And in a city like London, space isn’t something everyone has a whole load of. With that in mind, here are some nifty laundry organisation and storage tips to free up some valuable room.

Floating shelves

DIY floating shelves are an easy and inexpensive way to create additional space for detergents and towels. Spruce up a boring laundry room by opting for something simple and stylish, like these wooden shelves.

Source: Pinterest

Pull out storage tower

You can either add pull out drawers into your laundry design, or purchase freestanding slim storage carts. These are a great way to store and easily access your laundry products as needed.

Build yourself a counter top

If you’re up for a DIY challenge, you can create your own counter space just above the height of your front loader washing machine.

Laundry organisation and storage shelves

Built in shelves that neatly fit your laundry hampers or baskets make laundry organisation and storage so much easier.

If you don’t have built ins, you can do a DIY version. If you want to get really space-savvy, create one on wheels so it can be rolled from your bathroom to your laundry when needed.

Odd socks and small change

Where do you put all of the odd socks and random receipts without making a mess? Hanging ‘junk drawers’ are a great way to keep all the bits and pieces in one spot.

You can use one online, or use a large photo frame, pegs, string and wire to make your own. Wall hooks are also great for hanging items and little jars or containers for collecting loose change and bobby pins.

Hanging hampers

Save space and make laundry organisation and storage easier by hanging hampers from the wall. You can pop these away as needed and easily move them around.

Source: The Pin Junkie

Drying space

You can purchase drying racks that are mountable, foldable, extendable and more. You can also re-purpose almost anything to become a drying rack.

How about hanging a ladder from the ceiling, or suspending an old bed frame with wire springs to hang coat hangers from?

Source: Little Lucy Lu

Dispensers and containers

Make storing laundry products easier by using clear containers, and you’ll know exactly when you need to restock. Using dispenser taps is a great way to store liquid products too.

Hang your ironing board

You can buy purpose-made wall mountable racks to hang your ironing board and iron. This will save you space and stop the ironing board from crashing down on you. Towel hooks are a really effective option too.

Need a hand with laundry and home cleaning services in London? Get instant offers on Airtasker today.

The ultimate cheat sheet to hanging washing

Did you know that clothes dryers are the second biggest drain on electricity in your home? Learn more about air drying efficiently with our tips.

Hanging your washing may feel like a lot more effort, but it can be easy and effective if you use these 7 tips:

Find trusted professionals for laundry services in London with Airtasker.

1. Use hangers

Use coat hangers to hang your shirts. This not only keeps them in shape, but also can half your ironing time. If you’re still inclined to use the dryer, do so, but after you’ve hung them out and they are almost dry. That way you’ll only need to put the shirts in for less than 20 minutes.

2. Maximise space

When you are putting on one, two, three or even four loads of washing a weekend (or day), you can find yourself playing the waiting game until the last load is dry. By overlapping the edges of clothes, it will allow for a bit more space and also use up less pegs.

3. Use the sun

Can’t remove those stubborn stains? The sun is more powerful than you realise as it will actually make your white clothes look more whiter and brighter.

4. Turn clothes inside out

As great as sunshine is for drying white clothes, it’s not a great option for coloured or darker clothes. The sun can fade colours, so protect them by either taking them out of direct sunlight and/or turning them inside out.

5. Hang it upside down

Ever had that moment when you take a top off to wear that day and you have peg marks that you can seem to get rid of? To avoid ugly marks on your favourite shirt, hang it upside down.

6. Remove excess water

Your clothes will dry a lot faster if you can squeeze as much water as possible out of them first. The best way to do this is using a clean dry towel. Roll up the piece of clothing inside the towel as tightly as you can, then unroll and hang on the line.

7. Flat drying

For clothes that stretch, such as jumpers and dresses, make sure you lay them to flat dry so the shape reminds intact. This can be on a table, the ground (make sure you use a towel underneath), or you can actually buy flat dryers for this purpose.

Have you got any other tips for hanging your washing? Let us know in the comments below.

For help with your laundry and cleaning, connect with a network of trusted home laundry services in London on Airtasker.

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.

Or perhaps the best hack yet? Use the London cleaning services of an Airtasker and you can get your spring cleaning done without lifting a finger.

Window cleaning tips

We’ve got some great window cleaning tips to help make the process as pane-less as possible.

No one looks forward to window cleaning because let’s face it, it can be a tiring task. Especially if you have a large window across multiple stories, without easy accessibility. We’ve got some great window cleaning tips to help make the process as painless as possible. There are also plenty of great window cleaning services in London that can help!

Before we get into the tips though, let’s chat about how often you should give your windows a good clean. Depending on usage, cleaning frequency could differ. For instance, a sliding door that may be covered in dirty hand marks would need a more regular clean. Spring is a great time to give the whole house, including windows inside and out, a thorough clean.

Squeegee or newspaper?
In the past, many people simply used newspapers with window cleaner to get their windows sparkling. However that usually just moves the dirt around and makes the glass more static, attracting more dirt.

A squeegee, on the other hand, is easier and more effective. To start, use a soft washcloth to soak up the washing liquid. Then remove dirt by washing over the window. Grab the squeegee and starting at the top, work your way down in an s-shape.

Make sure you clean the squeegee with a lint-free cloth as you clean.

Soft dry cloth
It can be hard to get into the corners to get the excess water out. Get the dry and absorbent cloth and use it to soak up the water against the window frame.

Blinds
It doesn’t matter what sort of blinds you have, they all attract dust and dirt. To prevent any build-up, use an anti-static spray after you clean your blinds. You’ll find that less dust will gather there over time.

Windowsills
Before you start cleaning, use a brush to get rid of dirt along the sill. After you’ve washed the windows, apply a layer of floor wax on the outside windowsill to prevent dust and dirt buildup.

Timing
This is key – don’t clean the windows when the sun is directly shining on the glass. This will cause the washing liquid to dry quickly and may leave unwanted watermarks on your freshly cleaned windows

Need someone to take the window cleaning task off your hands? Get instant offers from a number of local cleaners in London today.

10 ways to clean with baking soda

Put down the bleach; here are ten ways to use baking soda for cleaning.

Baking soda is a product you’re guaranteed to find in any kitchen, as it’s often used for cooking. But did you know that there’s plenty of other uses for this natural mineral? For instance, baking soda is great for London home cleaning purposes and medicinal purposes.

Odours

Animals
As any pet owner knows, cleaning your pet regularly can be a difficult and messy task. To keep your pet smelling fresh between washes, try sprinkling baking soda on a wet dog and brushing it out to reduce odour. You can also add baking soda to kitty litter to get rid of odours in a flash.

Carpet and rugs
Got a musty smelling carpet or rug that you don’t have time to wash or dry clean? Dust a little bit of baking soda on top and leave for 15 minutes. Give it a vacuum after and repeat if the smell hasn’t gone away.

Kid’s items

Baby furniture
Harsh chemicals should always be kept away from the baby’s room. However, you can use 2 tbsp of baking soda mixed into 200ml water to wash the bassinet, changing table and other items safely.

Toys
As illnesses spread so easily amongst children, cleaning toys after play dates is a must to kill any lingering bacteria. To do this, place a 2 tbsp baking soda into a half-filled bucket of warm water. Place the toys in the bucket for 10 minutes, and then rinse with clean water and leave to dry.

Laundry

Fabric softener
To make your towels all soft and fluffy, simply add 4 tbsp baking soda to the rinse cycle.

Boost bleach
Using too much bleach can have a negative impact on your health and the environment. By combining baking soda with bleach, you can cut down your bleach usage and be more environmentally friendly. Just add 2 tbsp of baking soda for each 100ml of bleach used.

Outdoors

Furniture
With outside furniture exposed to the weather, a quick wipe down with a cup of baking soda and some warm water can be really effective for cleaning furniture. Just don’t forget to rinse thoroughly with clean water after, and leave in a sunny spot to dry

Need some help with removing pesky stains? Find trusted cleaning professionals with Airtasker.

How to: clean your house with a toothbrush

What’s the one item we all use daily that will clean even the most difficult to reach spots? Believe it "How to: clean your house with a toothbrush"

What’s the one item we all use daily that will clean even the most difficult to reach spots? Believe it or not, it’s your toothbrush. Drains, tap fixtures, lampshades and cheese graters… the list is endless. But this handy inexpensive tool can make your home cleaning process much simpler.

To help you introduce it to your usual cleaning routine, here’s how a toothbrush can clean your home room by room:

Kitchen

Hob dials

Using a sponge to clean the oil and food splattered on kitchen knobs is a slippery task. However using a toothbrush means you can reach all the tights spots, so you won’t miss a speck of grease or dirt.

Microwave vents

To clean microwave vents, use a cloth sprayed with house cleaner and place it over a toothbrush. This way you can get into each individual vent opening, and you don’t risk getting any cleaning spray in the fan.

You can also use a toothbrush on other kitchen equipment that’s difficult to clean, such as juicers, cheese graters, small jars and unusually shaped vases/bottles.

Bathroom

Taps

Mould and mildew built up around the bases of taps can be removed in a matter of seconds by using a wet toothbrush sprayed with some cleaning product.

Toilet seat hinges

Another awkward spot that can gather plenty of dust, toilet seat hinges can be cleaned with much more ease by using a toothbrush.

Grout

Apply some baking soda paste to a toothbrush and scrub any mouldy areas with a toothbrush vigorously to loosen the mould. Wipe off the paste after with a wet cloth, or wash down using your shower head.

Around the home

Lampshades/ lights

Sometimes dusting with a cloth isn’t enough to get your light or lampshade looking sparkling clean. Using a soft toothbrush can help to gently remove all the dirt. It’s particularly helpful for any pleated lampshades.

Wall sockets and light switches

Cleaning around light switches and sockets isn’t always easy, but a toothbrush can help remove all the dirt by reaching any tiny areas.

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

Bathroom cleaning tips

Bathroom cleaning isn’t a chore that anyone is keen on, but it’s a task that needs to be done regularly. "Bathroom cleaning tips"

Bathroom cleaning isn’t a chore that anyone is keen on, but it’s a task that needs to be done regularly. There’s a lot of advice and tips available to help you clean your bathroom, but there are also a few alternative solutions out there. Some are chemical-free cleaning solutions, and others are creative and unusual cleaning hacks.

We’ve compiled some top cleaning tips for you to consider for your bathroom during your next home clean:

Vinegar

Vinegar is an item easy to find in any kitchen and is also one of the most popular alternatives used as a chemical-free cleaning product. It can be used by itself or mixed with other products, so you won’t need to invest as much in store-bought products.

To create a simple multi-purpose cleaner, mix some white vinegar and a nice eucalyptus oil in a spray bottle. You’ll then have a cleaning solution which can be used on most surfaces throughout the house.

Other than cleaning the surfaces, you can also clean your shower curtains with vinegar without needing to scrub. Just pop the curtains into the washing machine, along with a bath towel and a cup of vinegar in the rinse cycle.

Fruits

Fruit isn’t just for eating, you can incorporate it into your homemade beauty regimes and also use it to clean your bathroom. Citrus fruits, in particular, are effective for cleaning purposes.

Grapefruit: Along with some salt, cut a grapefruit in half and mix together to create the perfect acidic bathtub scrub.
Lemon: Use the lemon juice to get rid of difficult water stains on glass, tiles and taps.

If you’d like to know how much regrouting tiles costs, check out our updated tile regrouting price guide.

Coke toilet cleaner

Yes, you can use the popular fizzy drink to clean your toilet. Just pour it around the rim, let it sit for a good hour (or overnight), then brush and flush. Seems pretty simple, but remember to brush it out thoroughly so you’re not left with a sticky toilet rim.

Do you have any bathroom cleaning tips to share? Add your tips in the comment section below.

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

Top 5 cleaning tips

There’s no better feeling than collapsing onto your sofa after a mammoth cleaning session. It’s getting to that exact point "Top 5 cleaning tips"

There’s no better feeling than collapsing onto your sofa after a mammoth cleaning session. It’s getting to that exact point that’s a chore. You may be lucky enough to have a professional cleaner in London or a household where everyone pitches in. Either way, it’s always handy to have a few cleaning tricks up your sleeve. Not only will these home cleaning tips save time, they will also help make the cleaning process a lot less painful.

Tip 1: Organisation

Preparation is the key to tidying your house quickly. Have a clear plan of attack to avoid distractions and get the task done more efficiently. You should:

– Plan (try to approach the cleaning room by room)
– Multi-task
– Set a time limit so you have a clear deadline to work to
– Have all your cleaning products at hand
– Clear up any clutter beforehand so you can get to the surfaces you need to clean

Tip 2: Mopping

Mopping comes with its own challenges, so keep the tips below in mind.

Before you fill the bucket with water, make sure you sweep/ vacuum the floors to clear them of debris. Not only is it pointless to mop a floor with debris on it, it can also damage your floors. You should also check that you’ve got the right mop head for your floor. Here’s a little guide to help:

Remember, don’t use too much detergent when mopping to avoid an overly slippery floor. A few drops are more than enough. Make sure you change the water frequently to keep it clean. And don’t forget, mops aren’t just for floors. You can use mops for cleaning walls and ceilings as well e.g. bathroom tiles.

Want to free up some time? Use Airtasker to find a cleaner in London.

Tip 3: Dusting

Dusting is often overlooked, and even if you do get around to dusting, there may be nooks and crannies you miss. Create a checklist to ensure everything is covered. Don’t forget to dust the following:

– Radiators and light fixtures
– Corners and door frames
– Walls (using a flat-head mop)
– Vents
– Picture frames and delicate items (dust with care and use a smaller duster)

Dust before vacuuming to catch any dust particles that are brushed onto the floor.

Tip 4: Kitchen

The kitchen is often the heart of the home. It’s not just the room where you cook up your favourite foods, it’s also a room to socialise and relax in.

To keep your kitchen looking fresh, use brown vinegar to clean the oven glass. Apply brown vinegar directly to tough stains and wipe away after an hour. Get rid of any dishwasher odour by placing a cup of white vinegar in an empty dishwasher and running a wash. To clean chopping boards, slice a lemon in half and rub it onto the surface.

Tip 5: Tools for the job

Making sure you have the right cleaning products is vital to getting your cleaning done quicker and with better results. Don’t forget to check supply levels before you start so you don’t have to run out to get supplies mid-clean.

If you’re using a professional cleaning service, make sure you confirm who is supplying the products. Here’s a quick essential checklist you can use:

– All-purpose surface cleaning spray
– Glass, shower and floor cleaners
– Duster, vacuum, dustpans, mop, bucket, sponges, toilet brush, scrubbing brush
– Gloves

If you’d like to know how much a cleaner costs, check out our updated cleaner price guide.

Got a cleaning tip to share? Leave it in the comment section below!