Are you tired of using commercial cleaning products that are full of dangerous and toxic chemicals?

If so, essential oils are a must – have for every green cleaning starter kit. As many studies have shown, they have powerful antibacterial, antiviral and antiseptic properties, which makes them great natural household cleaners.

But with so many to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start.

So, here are three essential oils that are great for keeping your home looking clean and smelling fresh, the natural way!

Lemon

Lemon essential oil is often a favourite choice because of its fresh, clean scent and versatility. It can be used to cut through grease, clean flooring and even polish cutlery!

Lemon essential oil can also be great for deodorizing your fridge. Simply add a few drops of the oil to some baking powder (it is recommended you use 2-3 drops for every 30g of baking soda). Place the mixture into an old spice jar or other small glass...

49% of UK adults own a pet (source: pdsa.org.uk). While we love our furry companions, every pet owner knows that cleaning up after them can be a challenge. From muddy paws, to shedding fur, keeping your home clean and tidy can seem like an endless chore.

So, how do you have a pet and keep your home clean?

We have gathered 8 great tips from our professional cleaners based in Queensway and our cleaning specialists from Putney, to help keep you pet-loving home looking clean and smelling fresh!

1. Bath time

Keeping your pet clean is the first step to keeping your home clean. Your dog needs to be bathed from time to time, especially if it spends a lot of time outdoors. Whilst cats do not need to be bathed, except in rare occasions, as they dislike being wet and can find the process quite distressing.

Pet wipes can be a great way to keep both your pet and your home clean on a day-to day basis. Get into the habit of wiping your pet’s...

When was the last time you gave your trainers a good clean? 

We know that finding the best way to clean your favourite trainers can be a real task.  So, we asked some of our experienced housekeepers in Highgate as well as one of our best cleaners in Waterloo to put together a few simple and inexpensive tips on how to clean your trainers to keep them looking and smelling great!

How to clean your trainers using the washing machine 

Even though it is a quick and easy solution, it is important to check the care label on your trainers or the manufacturer’s instructions before simply throwing your trainers into the washing machine.

Once you have made all the necessary checks, follow these 5 simple steps:

1. Remove the laces from your trainers and use a soft brush to clean off any excess dirt or mud.
2. Before starting the wash, place the trainers and the laces into a mesh laundry bag.
3. Throw in a few old towels into the wash at the same time, as this...

2019 is here and the annual tradition of setting New Year’s Resolutions and vowing to break bad habits has begun!

The new year is the perfect time to start afresh and set yourself a few personal goals. This year, why not try setting some resolutions for your home too? From monthly decluttering, to cleaning the fridge once a week, these can be a great way to improve your family’s wellbeing and the general cleanliness of your home.

Once you have decided on your resolutions, the hard part is sticking to them! By late February, many of us begin to lose motivation.

Make this year different – we have gathered six tips that are sure to make your New Year’s cleaning resolutions a success!

1. Keep it simple

It is easy to get carried away when making resolutions, especially when filled with the optimism and determination of the new year. In reality, establishing new cleaning habits will take time and willpower. So, the best approach is to settle for a few, simple...

Bilyana (left) accepting her award from TidyChoice co- founder Ana (right)

The Home Care Professional of the Year Award celebrates the most skilful, professional and reliable housekeepers and child carers. The 2018 winner, Bilyana, received the most votes from customers and outstanding reviews.

We spoke to Bilyana to find out why her customers love her so much.

Hi Bilyana, congratulations on winning our Home Care Professional of the Year award 2018! 

How did you feel when you found out you had won the competition?

Absolutely thrilled and surprised! (laughs) When they called me and said I was a winner, I couldn’t believe it, because I am not a lucky person.

When I told my husband that somebody had called me and told me about this award, he said are you sure? (laughs)  Nobody believed it because I never win anything!

You certainly deserved this award because all of your customers voted for you! What do you think makes you good at doing the...

The horror of the rainy season is upon us but parents we have a miracle that will keep your home clean and eliminate muddy footprints forever. Get ready to say goodbye to gritty carpets and hello to embracing a wet winter. Create a boot mud tray with the items below.

Materials

• Black rubber tray (Poundland)
• River rocks or pebbles
• Grip glue adhesive (Tesco)

Directions 

Arrange the rocks in small sections as you would a puzzle piece or fill the tray (keep in mind if you have younger children those rocks won’t stay in the tray for too long.

Once arranged, pick up a stone, glue the stone and place it back into its rightful position. Let it sit for 10 minutes.

Place the tray by the door and train the little ones (husband included) to take off their wet, muddy shoes off at the door.

The Salt Institute recorded 14,000 ways salt can be used. It just might be the most versatile mineral. Salt though abrasive actually works as an effective cleaning agent.

Combined with other ingredients salt can serve multiple purposes and become a regular cleaning solution. A simple paste of salt, baking soda and dish soap can make the dirtiest appliances crystal clean. Here are some ways salt can become your favourite eco-friendly cleaner.

Restores a sponge with salt
Problem: Ratty, broken-down sponge.
Solution: Leave the sponge overnight in a mix of ¼c of salt and 1q hot water, in the morning it’s restored.

Removes lipstick marks from glassware with salt
Problem: Girlfriend left her ruby red on your wine glass.
Solution: Rub the lipstick-stained glass with salt, and wash the glass as usual.

Clean cast iron pans with salt
Problem: Burnt bottom of your frittata left in the skillet.
Solution: Grab 1c coarse salt and pour it into a warm skillet, use a folded...

In the past few years, companies have developed more efficient ways to clean homes with cleaning robots, but should you leave your cleaner for a robot? We've looked into it for you. 

There are now more robotic cleaners than ever before! You have the robot vacuum cleaner, the robot mop, and even the robot window cleaner, that’s a lot of robots for one household. Now I know most people think well if they can cut down on the time it takes to clean their homes then the technological advancements might be worth the investment, but I wouldn’t rush to make that purchase just yet.

The surge of robotic cleaners has come with a price, a high price most robots starts at around £700 and yes they do call it an investment, but if your investment breaks you will be reconciling with your old cleaner to get your house up to par not to mention there have been various test that show the bots just can't catch them all.

No matter how great the...

Dear Reader,

Today a thought popped into my head?

“When was the last time I cleaned my window sills?”

As I thought about it, it hit me…over six months ago. Can you believe that?

Maybe some of you can, but as an avid cleaner, I think it is unacceptable, for me of course.

So I got to work and scrubbed and washed, alternating between a toothbrush and cloth with a little help from some baking soda and vinegar. The process took well over an hour as windows tend to collect a lot of dirt in the corners.

Once I finished my task it occurred to me that there must be other places in my home I ignore. Below are a few other areas in and around the home we should all try to clean even if it is just once every new moon.

Be on the lookout for other forgotten areas and tips on how to clean them.

Note: This blog claims no credit for any images posted on this site unless otherwise noted. Images on this blog are copyright to its respectful owners.

Moths are completely inoffensive creatures that don’t bite, buzz, or sting. Still, finding some in your cereal or in your cashmere sweaters is not something you would want.

Follow these tips to prevent those pests from making your home their home. 

1. Know your enemy

Pantry moths and clothes moths are the most common ones in our house.

According to Orkin entomologist Chelle Hartzer, the pantry variety goes after grains and dry goods. For example, when you come across tiny caterpillars inside your snacks, those are a not-so- pleasant gift from the pupae and larvae.

Clothes moths naturally stay in closets or wardrobes. According to pest management brand Woodstream, these kind of insects can also leave behind excrements that look like large grains of sand.

2. Start cleaning

First of all, throw away any potentially contaminated food and get it out of the house.

Then, as Carolyn Forte, Director of the Cleaning Products and Textiles Labs at the Good Housekeeping...