SelCleneHerts hopes you find the following home cleaning tips helpful around your house

How to clean net curtains

2010-06-08T10:48:00.000-07:00

There are a number of ways to clean net curtains and bring them back to that brilliant while - here are a few of them:

Soak them in a solution of water with a dissolved denture tablet, then wash as normal

1. First to put them through a washing cycle with water only, to remove the dust.

2. Follow up with a washing cycle with washing powder to clean them. On both washing cycles, add a new white towel to bulk the load, otherwise the material doesn't tumble/agitate very well.

3. Leave them to drip dry on the washing line outdoors.

How To Clean Your Oven

2009-07-13T10:36:00.001-07:00

After you have cleaned your oven and all the shelves are shiny clean, make a paste with bi-carbonate of soda and water and either brush the paste on or apply with a damp cloth. When it's time to clean again the grease will come easily.

How To Get Clean Windows 1

2009-07-13T10:35:00.001-07:00

All you do is add a bit of vinegar to your water. The acid will help cut through the grease on the window making the cleaner more effective. It will also add a nice sparkle.

How To Get Chrome Taps Sparkling

2009-07-13T10:33:00.000-07:00

If you want to get your chrome/metal taps, surfaces etc really sparkling use neat liquid soap/shower gel/bath creme.

Simply rub the liquid soap over the surface you wish to clean then wipe off with a dry cloth/kitchen roll to reveal a sparkling glow!

But don't use water while doing this or it will not work.

If you use your favourite scent it will make your bathroom/kitchen smell lovely, and give you a boost to your wellbeing

Disguising Water Rings and Marks

2009-03-17T08:33:00.000-07:00

To disguise water rings or marks you can rub a little cigarette ash into the mark with your finger and buff with furniture polish. If you do not use furniture polish you can use shoe polish of the same colour. However, if the polish is too dark, dip a cotton bud in white spirit and rub this over the area to get the polish the correct shade.

Remove Water Rings From Wooden Furniture

2009-03-17T08:30:00.000-07:00

Water rings are formed in the surface of the wood - not in the wax or polish, as some people assume. For waxed wood you can remove the rings by rubbing a little white spirit into the mark.

Cleaning Your Toilet - Exterior

2009-03-17T08:13:00.000-07:00

Once you have cleaned the bowl or pan you are ready to clean the rest of the toilet. Using your regular cleaning spray (or hot soapy water) target the tank, handle, outside of the lid and outside of the bowl. Then, with a damp cloth or paper towels, begin wiping down, starting at the tank and ending with the outside of the bowl.

Pay extra attention to the handle - people rarely wash their hands before they flush!

Next, spray the seat, inside lid and rim with cleaner and then wipe clean with a cloth or paper towels. Extra grime collects around the hinges so use either an old toothbrush or slip a cleaning wipe between them to get right in.

Finally give the seat and lid a polish with a squirt of window cleaning spray.

Cleaning Toilets - Make It Sparkle!

2009-03-17T03:33:00.000-07:00

Over time toilets can collect layer upon layer of grime at the bottom of the pan, which cannot be easily removed using a toilet brush. Here are three tips to make your loosen the grim and make your toilet sparkle:

1. Drop a couple of denture cleaning tablets into the toilet bowl and leave over night. Flush in the morning and wipe the bowl for easy removal of grime.

2. Pour in a can of cola (make sure it is not flat!) and leave it for an hour. This will remove stains.

3. You can neutralize odours by pouring a cup of bicarbonate of soda into the pan once a week.

Stainless steel surfaces

2009-02-20T10:00:00.003-08:00

Stainless steel sinks, work-tops and equipment can be made to sparkle by wiping with a vinegar soaked cloth.

Keeping baths clean

2009-02-20T10:00:00.001-08:00

To avoid rings around the bath do not use oily preparations. Use bath salts or liquid water softeners (sold for their relaxing properties) and rinse the bath after draining out the water.

Cleaning Bathrooms

2009-02-20T09:59:00.003-08:00

After a steamy bath or shower bathrooms and their fittings are much easier to clean, as the steam has already softened and loosened the dirt.

Removing rings around collars

2009-02-20T09:59:00.001-08:00

Rub hair shampoo into the collar, just as when you wash your hair. After ten minutes wash the garment as normal in the washing machine.

Dusting in cracks and corners

2009-02-20T09:58:00.001-08:00

Use a dry paintbrush to get into tight corners and cracks.

Removing Ball Pen Ink

2009-02-20T09:57:00.002-08:00

Wet the ink with methylated spirits or aftershave, taking care to wet only the small area where the ink lies. After a few minutes press a dry paper towel or toilet paper onto the area. Repeat the whole procedure until all the ink has been absorbed by the paper.

Removing Blood Stains

2009-02-20T09:57:00.001-08:00

Soak a cloth in hydrogen peroxide solution and rub the stain gently. For really stubborn blood stains rub a paste of corn flour into the stain and leave it in the sun.

Removing Candle Wax from Carpets and Fabrics

2009-02-20T09:56:00.000-08:00

Fold a paper towel, or a sheet of toilet paper, two or three times and place it over the wax. Gently iron it with the iron set on low (synthetics) and the wax will melt and be absorbed into the paper. Replace the paper and continue ironing until all the wax has gone.

Removing Chewing Gum from Carpets and Fabrics

2009-02-20T05:29:00.000-08:00

Place an ice cube on the gum for ten minutes, then break it up by scraping it with a table knife.