W hat to do THIS MONTH
Get your home organised and looking its tip-top best with these easy cleaning and DIY hacks
Summer is finally here and with the start of June bringing us a mega long weekend of Jubilee celebrations, it’s a great time to get the garden spruced up ready for guests. Giving your decking and patio a good scrub now will mean it’s good to go for the rest of the year. But with all those garden soirées planned, your dishwasher will be going into overdrive, so it’s a great time to give it an MOT. And if the Great British weather does turn and the party retreats to the kitchen, ensure your space looks its best with a fab new splashback to dazzle guests.
Tile a splashback
A great way to inject interest to a kitchen by adding colour and pattern, plus it protects the wall behind a sink. First, prep your wall surface, then apply tile adhesive using a notch trowel. Start where the wall meets the worktop, and only apply what you need for the first line of tiles. Apply each one with firm pressure and use tile spacers to ensure perfect unity. Repeat to cover the rest of the space, leave to dry, then apply a grout of your choice.
CREATE A STYLING STATION
A panel of cork board fixed to the wall above a chest or vanity unit is a clever way to hang jewellery and prevent it from getting in a disorganised tangle. It also helps keep surfaces clear of clutter. Cut the cork to fit between the brackets of a wall shelf, and keep storage boxes and baskets on top. Loop necklaces over smart pins, while earrings can be pushed into the cork.
IF YOU HAVE PETS,CHOOSE A SPECIALISED,NATURAL PATIO CLEANER TO AVOID ALLERGIC REACTIONS OR UPSET TUMMIES
DO A DISHWASHER MOT
You might think this-hard working appliance is selfcleaning, but it will collect food and soap residue over time, so it’s best to give it a deep clean every month. Start with a hot wash on empty, then remove baskets and cutlery holders and soak them in hot, soapy water.
Clear out the drain filters and spinning arms with a toothpick or a pair of tweezers, soak these in hot water too, then rinse. Check the dishwasher floor for any build-up and give both sides of the door a good clean with a damp cloth. Put everything back and run a short cycle to finish.
CHOOSE SIDE TABLES WITH‘SECRET’ STORAGE - TO STASH AWAY REMOTE CONTROLS,COASTERS AND SO ON
Make a bedside table
For an easy bedroom update combine two Ikea staples to make a bedside table. Start by attaching a Moppe chest to the legs of a Tenhult stool using wood glue. Paint the drawer fronts with leftover emulsion or tester pots, in an ombre formation, starting with the lightest shade at the top, with the darkest at the bottom. Leave to dry, then coat with a matt varnish.