Tag Archives: cleaning

The Power of Plants: eco-friendly, 100% natural and organic cleaning products

Posted on by

organic, eco friendly, cleaner, cleaning , environmentally friendly

Anyone who reads Frost regularly will known that I am a fan of sustainability. Anything that is good for the environment and cuts down waste has my attention. I also hate nasty chemicals and the fact that most mainstream cleaning products come in single use plastic bottles. Not okay. 

Squeeky cleaners caught my attention because they are 100% natural, organic, eco-friendly, pet safe and vegan friendly cleaning products. I tried out the multipurpose cleaner and I was impressed. It works well and, unlike loads of cleaners I have used, it does not feel like you are breathing in nasty chemicals. No stinging eyes. It works and it is good for you and the environment. What is there not to love? It is also made in the UK. I hope this company goes stratospheric. I cannot recommend them enough. 

It is no surprise that modern day living is more toxic than 30 years ago, more chemicals are used in the home than ever before and pollutants are all around, effecting people, pets, wildlife and our planet. With more pollutants in a normal home than air in some major cities, we do not always think about indoor air quality.

According to the British Lung Foundation types of indoor air pollution include particulate matter (PM) – microscopic particles of dust and dirt in the air, gases – carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide.

We may think our homes are sparkling clean, but air poor quality can affect asthma, COPD and allergies. Indoor air pollution can be caused by many things. These include: cooking, poor ventilation, damp, toiletries and chemicals in cleaning products.

Harsh toxic chemicals found in many household cleaners affect skin, airways, lungs and eyes, with long term research suggesting that certain chemicals cause cancer and can even change our DNA over a period of time.

Squeeky cleaners have created and range of 100% natural, organic, eco-friendly, pet safe and vegan friendly cleaning products which are great for the home and planet. Their products can bring comfort to householders who worry that modern day living cannot be clean and natural without the use of harsh chemicals. All their products are plant based and made with essential oils they are safe, yet powerful and kill over 99.9% of all germs and viruses.

Squeeky cleaners have a range of products to make all areas of the home and garden super clean. One of their most popular products is the Organic Limescale Remover Life Bottle Bundle which brings a super clean shine to bathrooms and kitchens, even to the most toughest stains. The bundle includes a reusable UK aluminium life bottle and refils for just £14.99. For more information visit Squeekyshop.co.uk

 

Storage Solutions: Wilko Storage Trunk

Posted on by

Spring is in the air and we all know what that means. Yup, time to spritz the house and make it ready for the new season. We got sent this grey storage trunk from Wilko. It is spacious and it looks great. There is a detachable washable lining. This is perfect for laundry, toys, anything you can think of really.

The trunk costs £30 from wilko.com and we highly recommend it.

The Nation’s Cleaning Habits: Are We As Clean As We Think We Are?

Posted on by

Window cleaning in protective rubber gloves washing windowsWould you consider yourself to be a ‘clean’ person? Well, cleaning and hand wash product manufacturer Method UK has recently revealed the nation’s grimy habits and it looks like we aren’t as clean as we perhaps thought we were. It would appear that as a nation we have quite a few dirty little secrets and many of us take shortcuts when it comes to cleaning.

The survey of 1,000 people aged 18-40 found that 20% aren’t ashamed to dig something out of the dirty washing pile if they don’t have a shirt to wear to work and some of us will even go shopping for new clothes simply to avoid doing the ironing.

The survey also found that 13% of the UK only clean their bathrooms twice a year and fifth of us spend more time organising our wardrobes than we do cleaning. However, a quarter said they will always tidy when they know they have guests coming over. It would also appear 14% never wash their hands before eating and 15% of us are quite happy to eat off the floor – hopefully not when those guests are over!

But, 90% of those surveyed believed they had a valid reason for their uncleanliness, blaming it on the fact they simply do not have enough time to do it. Does that sound like you? As much as you hate to admit it you probably do have a few of these dirty habits – but what can you do about it if you don’t have any spare time?

Well, why not let the professionals do the hard work for you? 25% of those taking part said that their cleaner was more important to them than their doctor, dentist or hairdresser. With the arrival of spring why not check out what a service like Molly Maid Spring Cleaning can do for you – they might just be able to help you avoid a few of these:

Britain’s top ten most surprising dirty little secrets include:

  • Running out of clean underwear and going commando
  • Using a hairdryer to dust
  • Noticing a lipstick stain on a ‘clean’ wine glass and wiping it off with a finger
  • Leaving the bed sheets for more than six months before washing them
  • Following the five second rule and eating food that has fallen on the floor
  • Eating from the same plate at dinner that was used at lunchtime
  • Never washing hands before eating
  • Hiding mess away in cupboards rather than clearing up
  • Buying new clothes to avoid doing the ironing
  • Cleaning the house in the nude

If you have nodded your way through this post and got to the end thinking that perhaps you are not as clean as you thought at the beginning, then it may be time to make a few changes! With the arrival of spring what better time to make that change and start with a major spring clean – if you don’t want to do it yourself, call in the professionals and let them do it for you!

By Patrick Vernon.

The Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners Share Their Tips

Posted on by

Window cleaning in protective rubber gloves washing windowsThe Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners are back for a new series and they are sharing their top tips for keeping your home spick and span.

From rubbing fabric conditioner on radiators to using a cheese knife to get rid of limescale and emptying the water out of the toilet bowl before dousing it in vinegar, the cleaners leave no rug or duvet unturned.

The cleaners are led by Hayley, a 30-year-old mum of three, who was diagnosed with OCD in 2007. She can spend up to 19 hours a day in her battle against bacteria.

Hayley’s top tips:

  • Rub neat fabric conditioner on radiators and when they warm up the whole house smells amazing.
  • Use Milton baby sanitizer. It gets rid of germs but is much safer, especially if you’ve got kids. Follow instructions on the bottle.
  • Vacuum the ceiling to get rid of dust and cobwebs.

Rob is a 32-year-old College Lecturer who lives in Burnley. He lives in a quaint cottage which he keeps to “showhome standard” through a strict cleaning regime.

Rob’s top tips:

  • Use thick bleach and a toothbrush to keep bathroom grout clean and bright. It’s fab for getting the hard to reach places. Bicarb and lemon juice is a good alternative for people who aren’t a fan of bleach. (Make sure you wear rubber gloves to do this)
  • Grind up some lavender in a pestle and mortar and mix with bicarb. Sprinkle over carpets and rugs bought from UK tool hire, leave for 20 minutes and then vacuum off. It keeps them smelling fresh. (Clean the pestle and mortar thoroughly after use).
  • Use a steam cleaner on a mattress to kill any bugs.
  • A small bowl of coffee beans helps to reduce any odours in food cupboards.
  • The best way to tackle a limescale problem in the toilet is to remove all the water in the bowl and soak cotton wool in cheap white vinegar. You then pad out the toilet as if it was papier mache. This should be left overnight. The vinegar completely disintegrates any limescale without the need for scrubbing and also gets rid of any smells. Environmentally this is the best way forward and can be topped up with a cleaner in between. I know it sounds like a big job but the results are well worthwhile

Kris is a 34-year-old medical scientist who lives in Wakefield. He cleans for 22 hours a week and uses his scientific knowledge to make his own cleaning products.

Kris’s top tips:

  • Always unscrew shower heads and bleach them once in the while by leaving in a bucket of diluted bleach. Rinse thoroughly before reattaching. Make sure the room is well ventilated while you do this and that you wear rubber gloves). The biofilm of microorganisms develops in this area and not many people know that.
  • Always leave your dishes to air dry as tea towels are perfect ground for microorganisms to multiply and by reusing them we are actually spreading some potentially harmful bugs
  • To clean the toilet use plenty of bleach. It’s also a good idea to soak the toilet brush in bleach for a while after cleaning the toilet. (Wear rubber gloves when using bleach)

Julie is a 53-year-old plumber who lives in Great Yarmouth. She is not a fan of chemical products and prefers to use natural alternatives.

Julie’s top tips:

  • Use baby oil to get a shine on stainless steel
  • Use vinegar for clean and streak free windows, on taps and in the toilet (to remove limescale.)
  • Use hot and soapy water to wash down skirting boards
  • To clean the toilet use lemon and vinegar. The acidity of the lemon burns away any grime and helps it smell fresh. The vinegar combats limescale better than any bleach will.
  • Fill a sandwich bag with vinegar and tie it underneath your tap using an elastic band so that the tap is sitting in the vinegar. This will remove the limescale.

Louise is a 36-year-old military wife who cleans for up to 30 hours a week and has developed an armoury of specialised equipment to tackle any enemy dirt.

Louise’s top tips:

  • Use a piping nozzle cleaning brush. Usually a cleaning tool for cake decorators, Louise uses it everywhere to give a really good scrub in any nooks and crannies. It’s great for drains and hinges.
  • Use a cheese knife to get rid of limescale by chiselling away at it
  • Everyday scissors work wonders in the garden as they are much more precise than gardening shears.

Tom, 33, is a car enthusiast. His cleaning obsession extends to his cars as well as his home and is known as the obsessive compulsive car cleaner when he goes to car shows.

Tom’s top tips:

  • Use old (but clean) tea towels to buff up the bathroom after cleaning. They give everything a good shine.
  • Car polish on the outside windows keeps them cleaner for longer as the water just rolls off.
  • Put perfume on a cotton wool ball in the vacuum to spread a nice smell.
  • It’s best to take the water out of the toilet – it’s the only way you can get a proper clean around the whole toilet.

Sandra, 52, is a café owner who lives in Port Talbot. Sandra has a strict inside clothes/outside clothes regime to help prevent dirt and germs getting in from outside.

Sandra’s top tips:

  • Bathbombs make excellent air fresheners. Stick them in cupboards/wardrobes/airing cupboards and everything will smell great.
  • Bicarb is the answer for stains. Rub it in dry to a new stain, leave for a moment and then scrub it out.

Carly, 32, is a data manager from Hertfordshire. Carly was diagnosed with OCD when she was 11 years old and spends up to seven hours a day keeping her flat immaculate.

Carly’s top tips:

  • Mix washing up liquid with all purpose spray to kill germs and make everything smell nice.
  • Splash a bit of lemon on fridge shelves when you polish them and then it will smell great every time you open the fridge.
  • It’s important to bleach the floors to kill the bacteria that comes in on people’s feet. (Wear rubber gloves when using bleach).

Please note: With any of the suggested tips, when handling any household products, it is always advisable to keep out of reach of children and animals and always check the label for correct handling of the product. Damage can be caused by using unconventional products and tools not usually associated with cleaning – therefore it is advisable to test on a small area first.

Obsessive Compulsive Cleaners returned Tuesday March 15th at 8pm on Channel 4.

 

 

Ecover All-In-One Dishwasher Tablets Review

Posted on by

ecoverdishwashertabletsWe are a huge fan of green cleaning brand Ecover, so when they launched their first ecological phosphate-free All-In-One dishwasher tablets. It keeps rivers clean, your home free of nasties and your dishes gleaming.

 

The reason it is good not to have phosphate, which is a common ingredient in many dishwasher tablets, is that it can lead to the growth of algae blooms which turn lakes and rivers green and harms aquatic life.

 

Ecover uses plant and mineral based ingredients to ensure that nasty residues are not left behind in the water system or in crockery. However, they contain enough salt and rinse aid action and are lightly fragranced with a fruity citrus smell. They also received the coveted Good Housekeeping Institute stamp of approval. Impressive.

 

These work well, making dishes clean and gleaming without any streaks. Good stuff.

 

Available from Ocado, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s.

 

 

Dr Beckmann Cleaning Product Review

Posted on by

Cleaning isn’t glamourous but it does burn calories. So there is a silver lining to every cloud. Cleaning should always be as easy as possible, and for that you need the right products that really work: easily and fast. We tested these products from Dr Beckmann to see if they passed the test.

Dr Beckmannfloorcleaner Dr Beckmann

Dr Beckmann Hardwood & Parquet Floor Cleaner and Dr Beckmann Stone & Tile Floor Cleaner

Each floor cleaner is specifically for that type of floor. Both cleaners contain a clever bio protect formula which provides a stain protection layer, ensuing a long-lasting protection from stains and scuff.

Stone & Tile Floor Cleaner has caring ingredients so it won’t ruin expensive stone flooring. It can be used on sealed and unsealed floors and gives a deep but revitalizing clean.

Wood floors can also be very delicate and moisture can affect wooden floors, causing unsightly cracks and lifting around the edges. Dr. Beckmann’s Hardwood & Parquet Floor Cleaner protects joints and edges and evens out small scratches, helping keep its perfect appearance.

Both cleaners are good. Cleaning and caring well.

Dr Beckmannovencleaner

Dr. Beckmann’s Active Oven Gel Cleaner clings to the vertical walls and doors to cut through the tough baked on food, grease and grime leaving a sparkling clean finish. It also has no nasty chemical smells.

The oven cleaner is good and relatively pain-free. You just cover the oven with it and then leave it for a certain amount of time, depending on how dirty the oven is. Then you wipe with a cloth and warm water. It works well and there is no hard scrubbing needed.

 

–       Oven Cleaner £3.19

–       Hardwood & Parquet Floor Cleaner £4.99

–       Stone & Tile Floor Cleaner £4.99

 

How Much Are Mum’s Worth?

Posted on by

Mum is Worth £100k Per YearmumInfograph thanks to prezzybox.com

H20X5 Steam Cleaner Review

Posted on by

H20X5 Steam Cleaner reviewUpon arrival of the H20X5 Steam Cleaner my boyfriend was very confused. “I never thought I would see you get excited about a cleaning machine”, he said. “Oh, that’s only because this is supposed to be so easy to use that even you could do it”, I replied. “Well that makes more sense.” he laughed.

In truth I was excited about the steam cleaner because it also makes things easier for me. And it doesn’t use any nasty chemicals. But all of this excitement had to be backed up after using the cleaner.

The cleaner looks great, very stylish. It has lots of attachments and bits in the box. I decide to steam the curtains just to test the cleaner. It is easy to put together. I do it in minutes.

In fact the steam cleaner is a bit like a Mac computer; you can use it within minutes of taking it out of the box. After putting it together I filled it with water, using the measuring cup to fill it up to the max level and turn it on. It has an LED light which is red while heating up and green when not. It is ready within minutes and I start steaming. It is easy to use and only slightly heavier than I thought it would be.

I use different attachments and clean the flat. I cannot get over how easy it us to use, or how well it cleans. It is an essential product that, very quickly, I could never do without. Brilliant machine.

At £99.99 it may seem expensive, but it requires no other products and is 5 in 1: Floor Steam Cleaner, Carpet Steamer, Handheld steamer, window cleaner and Garment Steamer. It also eliminating 99% of bacteria. This makes the H2O Mop X5 by Thane Direct a home essential. Impressive.