‘I wanted to share the cleaning tips I’d learned’
At 58, Ann Russell, from the New Forest, has become a social media sensation with her cleaning videos
‘A few years ago, my teenage niece signed up to join the video-sharing app Tiktok, and I was curious to find out how it worked. To make my account look convincing, I had to create videos of my own. I’ve been cleaning professionally for nearly 20 years, so I recorded a few short videos, simply talking to the camera and offering cleaning tips I’ve learned on the job. Soon, people began asking questions about cleaning, so I simply answered them in more videos. I discovered that lots of young people have never been taught how to clean specific things in the home and they felt embarrassed about not knowing. I always make sure to answer questions without judgement. Steadily, my followers grew in numbers until a community had formed. I hope that I can help the next generation as they move into university digs or out of home for the first time.’
ANN’S GOLDEN RULES:
✓ Rubber gloves are a must-have. When washing up, the water must be as hot as you can manage, so you need gloves to protect your hands from the heat, and many cleaners are really strong and will burn your skin. Always start with rubbish. Then once that is thrown away, deal with things that are dirty, such as dishes and laundry. Once you get all of that away, you can clean and tidy as you go with a damp cloth and a bowl of hot, soapy water, which will do most jobs.
✓ Never mix bleach, acid or ammonia, as you can make yourself very ill. There are only so many chemicals available to manufacture cleaning products, so many are just variations on a theme.
✓ I use a basic palette of cleaning products: limescale cleaner in areas with very hard water; a spritz of white vinegar to buff up furniture; white spirit for greasy fingermarks on paintwork and wood; homemade polish using a tiny mixture of beeswax and turpentine for antique furniture. Brillo pads are too fine for oven cleaning, as they get clogged too swiftly.
✓ The soft stainless steel coil scourers are far more efficient and last much longer.