Keeping Your Home Sparkling Clean

There was no need to do any housework at all. After the first four years the dirt doesn't get any worse. ~Quentin Crisp, The Naked Civil Servant, 1968.

Do you consider "sweeping the room with a glance" housework? If so, rather than waiting few years to see if Mr.Crisps theory is indeed correct, why not have a go with our easy-to-follow housework tips.

Defrosting your freezer

* Do this the day BEFORE a big shop! (Although, if, in the name of cleaning, you HAVE to eat up that chocolate ice-cream, well...).

* Turn off your freezer (a crucial step!), fill a cool-box with all your frozen food, and keep the freezer door open.

* For upright freezers, it's best to put a towel on the floor and a deep tray on the bottom shelf to catch all the drips. If you have a chest-type freezer, you just need to open the valve in the drainage chamber and stick a washing-up bowl underneath.

* Now just wait for it to defrost. Sit down, have a cup of tea - or maybe that ice-cream?

* To finish, wipe down the insides using a gentle, unscented cleaner (water & bicarbonate of soda works too - 1 pint water/ 1 teaspoon bicarbonate), and dry using a lint-free cloth.

* TOP TIP: speed up the defrosting process by popping saucepans of hot water on the shelves.

Make your toilet sparkle

* Remove any stains by pouring in a can of Cola and leaving for an hour (this is very effective- but does make you think twice about the effect it must be having on your teeth!).

* Avoid blockages and unwanted odours by pouring in a cup of bicarbonate of soda once a week.

* A weird one - but try using denture-cleaning tablets every couple of weeks - leave them in the bowl overnight.

* TOP TIP: place a fabric softener sheet in the bin to keep your bathroom smelling fresh (and clean!)

How to avoid mould

* Keep your home clean and dry (harder than it sounds, I know!) and well-ventilated.

* If it's not sunny outside and you need to dry your washing inside (e.g. if you live in the UK), make sure you keep a window open. This will reduce humidity levels and make your clothes smell nice and fresh!

* Even when using a tumble drier, it's smart to keep open a window.

* At the first sign of any damp patches on the ceiling or walls, make sure you get them sorted ASAP - mould and dampness are a serious risk to your health.

* TOP TIP: reduce condensation significantly by running the hot water AFTER the cold water.