My Cleaning Resolutions For The New 2013

It is very traditional to make New Year resolutions and one of mine is to try to make the housework easier and cheaper.

Ironing is the biggest chore I hate so I tend to iron stuff, as I need it, which I know is not the perfect solution.

After a while, the ironing mounts up and the big pile in front of me puts me off.

So, I think what I might do is pay an ironing service to do the bulk of it for me and then keep it down. I am actually getting quite excited by the thoughts of an empty ironing cupboard.

Next on my list is to cut down on the cost of cleaning products. There seems to be a cleaner for every place in the home when in fact you can make one cleaner to clean ten or more uses.

Bicarbonate of Soda is a real must. This little product has a hundred uses if not more. In the washing machine, add approximately 100 grams of Bicarbonate of soda. It softens the water and helps the detergent clean a lot better. It is brilliant for ridding bad odours as well.

Try shaking some into smelly trainers and leave overnight. Shake or brush it out and the trainers should smell a lot fresher.

Sprinkle some on a damp sponge or cloth and use it to clean and deodorise the fridge. Finish off with a cloth rinsed in clean water.

Shake some over a tired carpet and leave for a couple of hours. Vacuum up and your carpets will smell fresher and look cleaner.

It is good for cleaning teeth as well. Mix to a paste with water and maybe a small amount of salt for a whiter smile. I could go on and on but lets move on for now.

Keep old toothbrushes. They have all sorts of uses. Clean all those hard to get to places, such as around the rings and knobs on the cooker. Handy for cleaning jewellery too.

Wash and clean used margarine, ice cream tubs, glass coffee jars or anything that looks reusable.

The glass jars make good Lentil or rice containers. The plastic tubs can be used for storing anything that will fit inside. Buttons, cottons, screws and anything you like. Could even be a lunch box.

I save all my old cotton tee shirts and cut them up for dusters.

Wear a rubber glove to remove a tight lid. Cut up old rubber gloves for rubber bands. The fingers make small bands and the hand makes large bands. Just cut horizontal strips.

Use clean, unused of course, dental floss for cutting cheese or cake.

Make your gold and diamond rings sparkle with a denture-cleaning tablet. Drop one into a small bowl of water and put in your jewellery. Remove and rinse well after five minuets and you will be pleased with the result.

Ballpoint ink or lipstick stains. Try rubbing a little methylated spirit on the stain with a cloth before the wash.

There are thousands of tips out there to save money and cleaning time. I get most of mine from books or have been handed down to me.

Once again, have a Happy and prosperous New Year.