THE BIG SPRING CLEAN
With 93 years of Good Housekeeping Institute know-how and a combined 55 years of expertise, there isn’t much the GHI Team doesn’t know about cleaning. Whether you’re among the 72% of us that still like to blitz the house in the Spring, or you take more of a little-and-often approach, here are our top hacks for your speediest Spring clean ever! BEFORE YOU START See for our best buys. We’ve tested 76 models priced from £35 to £1,500. CLEVER CLEANING
After 28 years at the GHI, Trisha Schofield has an encyclopedic knowledge of all things cleaning. She says, ‘This is so simple, but guaranteed to save you time and effort: start at the top and work down – whether you’re doing a single room or the whole house. Dust first (with a damp cloth), then vacuum – otherwise you’re wasting your time. And Spring clean on a day when you can have windows open to allow the air to circulate and everything to dry
GHI TIP When using bleach, dilute with cold water, as hot water renders it ineffective.
‘Give your vac an MOT,’ says our Head of Testing, Verity Mann. ‘There’s no point wasting your energy pushing it around the house if it’s under-performing.’
◆ Clear filters ◆ Replace the bag (if your cleaner has one) and check for blockages ◆ Check nothing’s wound around the brush head. Use scissors to remove material – don’t pull it
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TASTY TRICK
‘Oven cleaning is a twice-a-year job,’ says our Head of Appliance Testing, Richard Wilkinson. ‘We rate GHI Approved Oven Pride (£4 for 500ml) to get the job done, or check out professionals, such as Ovenclean, Ovenu or Ovenking (cleaning a double oven costs from £65). Once clean, line the oven base with foil or non-stick oven sheets to catch drips, and use roasting bags to cut down on spits.’
GHI TIP Remove fingerprints on stainless-steel appliances with a dab of rinse aid on a microfibre cloth.
GADGETS ARE GO
‘If you want handy, time-saving gizmos, you’ll love these,’ says Junior Tester Rachel Lucas. ‘We’ve been testing window vacuum cleaners – they really cut time spent tackling mirrors, tiles, shower screens and windows. We rate the Kärcher WV5 Premium, £70 – not cheap but worth it.
‘Invest in a steam cleaner that can blitz floors, carpet, upholstery and even windows. Testing these takes us days – from drying on the dirt and grime to trying out the models on floors, hobs and ovens. Our current best buy is the Vax S3S Hard Floor Advance Steam Cleaner, £100.’
BATHROOM BEAUTY
‘It’s easy for hair and soap to clog up the bath or basin,’ says the Head of the GHI Beauty Lab, Clare Durrant. ‘For a simple way to clear the blockage, pour a cup of boiling water down the drain, followed by ½ cup of bicarbonate of soda. Leave for a
few minutes, then pour in a cup of vinegar and another of boiling water. Put the plug in, leave for half an hour, then flush through with more boiling water.’
GHI TIP Buff a blob of shaving foam on to your bathroom mirror to prevent it steaming up.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Head of Food Testing, Angela Trofymova, says: ‘Vinegar’s a wonderful ingredient and a versatile cleaner, too. Use distilled vinegar, not balsamic!’ ✻ FOR TAPS (not plated), wrap in a cloth soaked in vinegar; leave overnight. ✻ FOR SHOWERHEADS, unscrew and
submerge in a bowl of vinegar overnight. ✻ FOR SHOWER SCREENS, mix 2tbsp of white vinegar with 6½ pints of water and pour into a used spray bottle. Squirt on, then scrub with newspaper rather than paper towels, which cause streaking. ✻ FOR KETTLES, fill with half water, half vinegar and leave overnight to remove limescale and make it more efficient.
To clear mould from walls, use a solution of one part bleach to four parts water – try on a hidden area first. Scrub with a sponge, rinse thoroughly and dry.
Grotty grouting? Use an old toothbrush with a bleach solution or whitening toothpaste.
DON’T FORGET
Your tech needs attention, too, says our GHI gadget guru, Carrie-ann Skinner. ✻ TVS, DVD PLAYERS AND AUDIO CENTRES Clean with a dry microfibre cloth. Don’t use window cleaner or any fluid on TVS, as these can bleed into the panel and damage the screen. ✻ EXTRACTOR HOOD Unplug and wash removable parts in hot soapy water, and replace filter. ✻ ON TOP OF CUPBOARDS, BETWEEN APPLIANCES Antibacterial wipes are ideal for cleaning these hard-to-reach areas. ✻ SLATTED BLINDS Wearing cheap cotton gloves, plunge your hands into warm, soapy water, then run them along the slats, carefully removing the grease and grime as you go. Rinse and repeat!
AND SO TO BED...
‘Your mattress may not need turning (modern ones often don’t), but it’s a good idea to run the upholstery nozzle over the surface as part of the big clean,’ says Junior Tester Emily Shuttleworth. ‘Remember to do the same for your three-piece suite.’
GHI TIP
GHI TIP