Spring Cleaning in Waitrose Weekend!

If you pick up a copy of the current Waitrose Weekend in store you’ll find a rather lovely spring cleaning feature from our friends Colleen Skinner and Racheal Hughes! Look out for Colleen’s advice in the next E-newsletter out this Friday.

We'd like YOUR opinion!

“At Green Mop we use products that are simple but effective. Grabbing a bottle labelled ‘kitchen cleaner’ is all too easy, but it’s only when you look on the back that you find a long list of unpronounceable chemical names that are just not necessary to clean your home with”
Racheal Hughes, Green Mop

Why do you prefer to use traditional and/or natural cleaning products? Is it because they are more versatile or economical, or maybe you are committed to using sustainable products? 

 

Whatever the reason we’d love to know! Please post your comments below or on our Facebook page, and you could win a Dri-Pak goodie pack!

 

Terms and conditions apply, closing date is 9am 2nd April, the winner will be posted on the Dri-Pak Facebook page. 

 

 

Happy Springtime!

 

Spring has officially sprung, the sun is shining and we’re looking forward to scoffing those Easter eggs in a couple of weeks! Did you know that it’s also National Spring Cleaning Week? What better motivation to roll your sleeves up and get down to some good old fashioned cleaning!

According to the National Spring Cleaning Week website, 27% of Britons feel under pressure to keep a clean & tidy home. Here at Dri-Pak, we know that clearing out years of stuff and making everything spick & span can be a pretty stressful experience. That’s why we’re doing everything we can to help keep you motivated and on track this springtime!

For starters, we’ve asked our expert friends to share their professional cleaning advice. The lovely Racheal from Green Mop has already given us her top tips for de-cluttering and deep cleaning in the last Dri-Pak E-Newsletter and previous blog post, and Colleen from Splash Clean will be sharing her advice in the next instalment!

We also tweet and post cleaning tips on Facebook and Twitter every day about how to use our natural and traditional cleaning products in clever ways to make your jobs a bit easier.

If you're spring clean is more domestic nightmare than domestic goddess, or if you’re just plain stumped when it comes to a specific cleaning task - we can help! If you have any cleaning or laundry questions, feel free to tweet, post, comment or email us and we’ll be happy to share our expert advice!

Happy Cleaning from Dri-Pak!

For Horse Lovers!

Owning a horse can be a fantastic, if expensive, hobby! From the horse itself to stabling, vets bills and tack, everything costs money but are essential to the well being of you and your four-legged friend. But there are a few ways you can cut down on costs, without having to comprise on performance or peace of mind.

There are plenty of purpose-designed cleaning products promising the earth and as well as commanding a high price to do so, but did you know that traditional cleaning products, such as Soda Crystals, Soap Flakes and White Vinegar, which are versatile, sustainable and usually cheaper than the specifically-designed alternatives?!

For example, to remove any ground in grease or stubborn saddle stains, just dissolve Soda Crystals in hot water and wash your tack with a clean cloth. Soda Crystals will remove stains just as effectively as a specially-made saddle cleaner.

White Vinegar has a multitude of functions, including being used as a cooling spray after exercise due to its ability to absorb moisture quickly, and being mixed with other liquids to create a homemade fly spray. Soap Flakes, which contain no added perfume, enzymes, bleach, phosphates or additives, have traditionally been used to wash delicate clothes.  However, they can also be used to wash your horse’s mane, tail and coat, as well as being made into homemade saddle soap by being combined with neat’s foot oil and melted beeswax.

Louise Barrington-Earp has worked in the equine industry for over 20 years, and is now the Equestrian Technical Sales Advisor at Mansfield Sand.  Louise began using traditional cleaning products when she worked as a groom, and now uses them on her own tack and riding equipment.

“Many people assume you need to buy products that have been specifically designed for a particular job. However, if you look around you realise that there are a lot of multi-purpose products on the market that will do exactly the same job but at half the price!” explains Louise.

“I've used Soda Crystals for many years to remove grease and scurff from leather work.  As well as being an effective cleaner, it's also extremely gentle so the leather remains supple and doesn't become brittle,” continues Louise.  “Obviously, the welfare of the horse should be first and foremost, but if you use a little bit of common sense, traditional cleaning products can save you a lot of money in the long run.”

So if you're looking to save money, without compromising on performance, why not try our traditional products to look after your horse and equipment!

Start your Spring Clean!

If the thought of the dreaded spring clean leaves you in a panic, don’t worry - we’re here to help! Over the next couple of months we'll help guide you through the ups and downs of becoming a domestic goddess with a little help from our friends!

We’ve asked two lovely cleaning experts to offer their professional advice to help get you motivated for the big Spring Clean! Today Racheal Hughes from cleaning company Green Mop is going to share her expert Spring Cleaning tips with us - we do spoil you!!

Spring Cleaning with the Experts!

Racheal Hughes set up the award-winning green cleaning company, Green Mop, in the Brighton, Cheltenham and Worcester areas in 2007, and knows that starting such a big project is not an easy task.

“Facing the big Spring Clean can be daunting. My mantra for cleaning my own home is to do little and often, but some chores are regularly missed out in my normal routine and saved for The Big Blitz!”

Where do I start?

“A tidy house is much easier to clean so the first chore is to de-clutter! Sort through all the things you’ve previously piled up to sort out ‘later’… because ‘later’ is NOW!” advises Racheal.

‘The Big Blitz’

Once the clutter has been cleared away, it’s time to get down to some good old fashioned cleaning!

Racheal suggests splitting the work down into tasks: “Rather than doing the work room by room, I prefer to break it down into tasks. For example, do the dusting in every room first, then the vacuuming, followed by any wet cleaning. That way, you’re not lugging everything from room to room.”

Cleaning Products

“At Green Mop we use products that are simple but effective. Grabbing a bottle labelled ‘kitchen cleaner’ is all too easy, but it’s only when you look on the back that you find a long list of unpronounceable chemical names that are just not necessary to clean your home with” says Racheal.

Tackling those forgotten about areas

Windows, as well as dusty shutters and blinds are some of the main areas that often get overlooked. Racheal explains, “All you need is a damp microfibre cloth, some Liquid Soda Crystals, a bottle of White Vinegar, and a bucket of warm water for rinsing. Squirt a little of the Soda Crystals onto your damp cloth and wipe across the blind - the grime lifts off the slats in one wipe. White Vinegar is great at tackling mildew and mould, simply squirt and wipe the window frames to shift it. Whilst I’m there, I’ll give the inside of the windows a clean and buff up with White Vinegar too.”

A big thank you to Racheal for sharing her tips with us! Next time Colleen Skinner from Splash Clean will be offering her Spring Cleaning advice. You lucky people!

Got a few great tips of your own? Why not share your natural and traditional cleaning tips on our Facebook page or here on the Dri-Pak Blog!