If you think gutter maintenance is just an additional and unnecessary expense, you might want to think again. Below are some of the things that can happen, which are actually more costly than gutter maintenance itself:
Continue reading “Neglecting Your Gutters Will Cost You More Money – Here’s Why”
Husband and I have been in the market for a new (used) car since before the start of the pandemic, after ours went to car heaven for good. We’ve been lucky enough to have been loaned a car by my parents, which is something that has genuinely saved our bacon for the last two years, but we’ve managed to replenish our savings a bit and have started to look around for cars again. We’ve got a fairly set idea of the type of vehicle we want, but we’ve also seen a fair few things along the way that have been very off-putting, too. That’s why I’ve put together a little guide for anyone selling a new car of things that you can do which will ensure you get a good price:
Continue reading “Get the Best Price for your Second Hand Car”
Nearly 3 out of 10 British adults have trouble finding the time to clean their homes, according to a survey commissioned by Beko in 2019. The reason given was that they were too busy to do so, with most simply cleaning as they go and as needed. This does work to keep the house just clean enough to not be uncomfortable. However, many people might still feel anxiety at the fact that dust and dirt may be building up right under their noses.
That’s why it’s important to commit at least one day each month just to clean up the house. However, there are some areas that we might not think to clean but need to nonetheless. The next time you set aside time to give your home a proper tidying, remember these 3 common areas you might miss while cleaning the home.
There are areas in the home that are so commonplace that we forget that they’re even there. Good examples are doorknobs, door frames, windowsills, and light switch panels. Light switches and doorknobs can also be bacterial and disease carriers since everyone in the house touches them every so often.
To clean these areas, first, give them a dusting to get rid of loose particles. Simply spray some disinfectant cleaning solution onto a cloth and wipe away. Microfibre cloth tends to work best as it can pick up dust and dirt faster. Remember to get into the nooks and crannies of the doorknob to dislodge the dirt trapped in them.
Picture frames that are so old they blend into the wall can hide a surprisingly resilient layer of dust underneath. The same goes for the microwave on your kitchen counter or the patch of carpet your sofa has occupied since you moved in.
Once we realize that those covered areas can collect an unhealthy amount of dirt and disease, cleaning them becomes more of a concern. When dealing with tough stains, choose the right carpet cleaner that will suit your needs. You can also create your own solution by mixing dishwashing liquid, vinegar, and baking soda to get rid of tough stains on walls and counters.
With a large build-up, dust may start spewing from even the smallest spaces. To prevent this, drawers and hidden corners in your monthly home cleaning. Take out all the contents, set them aside, and wipe down the interiors.
Use a natural cleaning solution if the dirt proves to be tough to remove. Then, let the area dry while you tend to other parts of the house.
Don’t fret if you happened to forget even one of these three hidden spaces. But while it has to be done, the reward in knowing that your home is dirty-free and well-maintained is what makes the task even more worth the effort.
For first time parents, the first few months of your baby’s life is an absolutely wonderful time, but some of it can seem a little overwhelming and mysterious. In the lead up to the birth, your mind will be absolutely full of questions and worries, with preparations taking over the majority of your thoughts.
One of those pressing concerns is making sure that the house is clean and tidy enough to bring a newborn into, as well as being able to keep the place in order once your little one or ones are home, without sacrificing too much time with your precious new arrival. With this in mind, I thought I’d give you some tips on little things that you can do which will make things more simple for you:
One thing on which most new parents will agree is that newborns require a lot of STUFF. Your usually minimalist space will suddenly contain dummies, muslins, toys, books, nappies, a million babygrows, teethers, wipes, changing bags, nappy bins…the list goes on! Something that can really help is having a serious declutter before baby comes along. This will ensure that your house isn’t full of unneccesary stuff that will just give you more to dust and tidy in the long run.
When you’re recovering from birth, looking after a baby and probably hosting a whole slew of family and friends, you want to make sure you get as much rest as possible. Grabbing 40 winks when the baby sleeps is one of the most important tips I can give first time parents, but once you feel rested enough to tackle the housework, just take care of the basics. No-one cares if your windows aren’t spotless or if your oven hasn’t been deep cleaned. Vacuuming, washing up, laundry, cleaning loos – that’s all fairy vital. Almost everything else can wait!
When Sausage finally came home from the NICU, she did NOT like to be put down for very long, which made doing almost everything tricky. Then, I invested in a sling and suddenly, life was easier! Sauage was more than happy hanging around on my front while I did washing up, vacuuming, all sorts of stuff (although nothing involving chemicals or fumes, obvs!) and it was lovely to have that closeness. By the time BB came along, I was a pro and the sling was deployed straight away.
Everyone tells you to accept help if it’s offered, but so many first time parents are too proud or don’t want to be an inconvenience. But seriously, if someone is offering help, ACCEPT IT! Your parents, siblings and friends all want to feel like they’ve been able to help you, so you should let them. Something simple like chucking a wash in the machine, loading the dishwasher or pushing the hoover round will be a minor effort for them, but a big load off for you. It will also give you more precious time with baby.
Do you have any handy tips for first time parents? I’d love to hear your thoughts and advice!
We all want our homes to be our sanctuaries from the bustle of the outside world. As much as we might like to dedicate to a regular cleaning schedule, our busy modern lives often get in the way. With everything else on your plate, it can be hard to find the time to give your house the attention it deserves.
Thankfully there are professional cleaners who are able to provide a thorough deep clean, scrubbing away any residual dirt and leaving your home looking spotless. Here are just a few occasions that may warrant a deep clean for your house.
When you feel overwhelmed
It does not take much of a lapse in weekly cleaning for grime and dirt to begin to infiltrate every corner of your home. The longer you put off the less savoury cleaning tasks, the harder it becomes to face the idea of getting stuck in. Worse still, it can become hard to prioritise which rooms to clean first and how to fit everything into your busy schedule.
When there is a newborn on the way
While it is true that babies need to come into contact with dirt to develop their immune systems, they certainly don’t need to be surrounded by harmful household bacteria and germs. When you’re bringing a new life into the world, you will want to be sure that you home is clean, safe, and ready to give your baby the best start in life.
You are trying to sell your house
Prospective buyers are going to see a lot of houses. If you want to stand out, you need to go the extra mile to show them your property at its very best. Every little edge you can gain will help to ensure that you not only sell your house, but sell it at a great price.
Before a party
If your house isn’t spotless before your guests arrive, imagine the state it will be in by the time they leave. Whether you are trying to impress that special someone or you just want to show off the best your home has to offer, it is well worth arranging for a cleaner to give your home a thorough service.
After a party
Nobody has ever thrown a party because they love cleaning up after everyone. If you don’t want to personally handle the festivity’s aftermath, it may be time to call in a professional. Booking a service in advance will allow you to enjoy the evening without having to worry about all the mopping and scrubbing you will need to do tomorrow. Leave it to the pros.
You are about to move in
There will never be a better time to give your house a thorough deep clean than just before you move all your belongings and furniture in. Never again will your cleaner have such unprecedented access to every nook and cranny of your home. Moving is always stressful so why not take a load off your shoulders and take comfort in the knowledge that you won’t have to clean a thing when you arrive.
Conclusion
Whatever the occasion, don’t be afraid to get some outside help to give your home the attention it deserves. Once you have seen the difference it can make to let a professional get to work on every inch of your property, you will wonder why you didn’t hire one sooner! If you’re in the London area, why not consider finding the perfect cleaner for you on TidyChoice?
Author biography
David Reeson is a University of Leeds graduate currently working as a digital marketing intern at Tidychoice. He has years of experience working in digital marketing sales.
