5 time-saving tips to make cleaning easier

Let’s face it, although we all like to live in a clean, tidy environment, very few of us actually enjoy cleaning. In our busy lives it can be difficult to find time to dedicate to keeping a clean home, but there are some handy tips (as well as some downright cheats) to help save time when it comes to housework. 

Here are 5 of our top time-saving tips, please feel free add your own on the comments or via the Dri-Pak Facebook page.

1. Wipe it up

Facial wipes are a brilliant at removing make-up and dirt from your face at the end of the day, but don’t throw them straight away once you’ve cleaned your face – give your sink, shower or any bathroom surface a 10 second rub with a used one to remove dust, hair, toothpaste and soap scum.  This works great as an everyday task until you have the time to clean it properly with a squirt of Soda Crystals!

2. Don’t let your hard work go down the plughole

We’re sure most people have seen these sink strainers to collect the food before it falls down the kitchen sink and blocks the pipes? Well who says you can only use them in the kitchen! Pop one in the shower and bathroom sink to collect hair and gunk then simply wipe it with a tissue after each shower and ta-da, no need for plungers and drain snakes, just an occasional cup of Soda Crystals and boiling water to keep the drain totally clean and clear!

3. Foiled again!

Lining the grill pan with tin foil will prevent and spills from cementing themselves to the tray. Once it’s cool, scrunch up the foil and use it to brush any bits of food from the grill and make it easier to clean.

4. Clean as you go

We’re not sure what to think of these ‘slipper mops’ which are supposed to clean up messy floors, but we like the idea behind them! Gadgets that help you multi-task like automatic vacuum cleaners have to be a good thing. 

 
We’ve even found this joke baby suit for when the little one starts crawling! At least we think it’s a joke….

5. Find a cleaning routine that works for you and stick to it

Some people have a weekly routine by dividing rooms or cleaning tasks into days. Some people prefer to clean little and often. Whatever fits around the things you like to do works best for you, for instance frugal lifestyle blogger A Thrifty Mrs, swears by her 3 minute rule. She gives herself the 3 minute ad break when watching TV to do a small task like emptying the bins, or putting the dishes away, etc. It’s surprising what we can do when we put ourselves under a little bit of pressure, and as they say ‘every little helps’.

What top cleaning tips do you use?

Calling all Outdoor Enthusiasts!

We’ve teamed up with New Zealand merino wool clothing specialists Chocolate Fish Merino to offer one lucky outdoor enthusiast the chance to win a 100% New Zealand Merino Wool T-Shirt and a 750ml bottle of Liquid Soap Flakes!

Chocolate Fish top quality merino wool outdoor and travel wear sells online to adventure enthusiasts from Ireland to Japan, Finland to Cyprus. The high-performance New Zealand merino wool double jersey fabric they use provides natural insulation for both summer and winter wear.  Soft on the skin, with odour-resistance and high performance moisture vapour transport, double jersey merino not only keeps the wearer comfortable, it looks good too. In order to care for and protect their garments, Chocolate Fish Merino recommends easy to use Liquid Soap Flakes.

Both Chocolate Fish Merino and Dri-Pak know that well-cared for apparel will provide comfort and performance for longer. Liquid Soap Flakes gently clean fabrics like merino wool without damaging or coating delicate fibres, allowing the wool to maintain its natural insulating and breathable properties. Made simply from pure soap, Liquid Soap Flakes contain no enzymes, detergents or fragrances, also making them ideal for people with sensitive skin as well as outdoor enthusiasts. They are made from palm oil alternatives, rapeseed and sunflower oil, do not contain any animal products and have not been tested on animals.

Chocolate Fish Merino and Dri-Pak have teamed up to offer one lucky outdoor enthusiast the chance to win a 100% New Zealand Merino Wool T-Shirt and a 750ml bottle of Dri-Pak Liquid Soap Flakes by sharing their greatest outdoor adventure! 10 runners up will also receive a 100ml travel size Liquid Soap Flakes bottle. Terms & Conditions apply.

Finally some BBQ weather!

Everyone loves a BBQ! When the sun is shining and your friends around there’s nothing better than alfresco dining, even if the Great British weather system likes to play tricks on us. But after the fun and food, the last thing you want to do is tackle the greasy gril!

Keeping your BBQ clean is important to preserve the flavours of food, as well as keeping you safe from any germs but scrubbing fiddly grills and greasy work surfaces is never a fun job. Well we’ve put together a few tips to make the chore a little easier without having to resort to using strong chemical cleaners.

 

Before you start

Burnt on food is one of the hardest things to remove, but coating the grill with oil prior to cooking will help prevent food sticking and becoming burnt in the first place. Before starting the barbecue, use a brush or cloth dipped in cooking oil to smooth over the top and bottom of the grill.

Loosen the gunk

Once the barbecue has been used and is cool enough to handle, use a wire brush, or scrunch up some left over tin foil and rub up and down the grill, paying extra attention to the joins of the bars. This will remove larger pieces of food and loosen grease and gunk.

Cleaning

Soak the grill and utensils* in a strong hot Soda Crystals solution in a large container. Spray the rest of the barbecue with Liquid Soda Crystals or mix up a strong Soda Crystals solution and leave overnight to dissolve the grease and soften remaining food. In the morning simply wipe with a scourer and rinse with clean water, ready for the next garden party!

So what are you waiting for – grab your apron and tongs (and possibly a large umbrella) and get cooking!

* avoid soaking wooden handles

Protecting your Vintage Clothes

Fashion from yesteryear was made to last, but as garments get older the fibres begin to weaken and many modern-day washing techniques and products can cause damage. By following these gentle maintenance techniques using traditional products, you can preserve your favourite vintage items and enjoy wearing them for years to come!

Removing odours

Vintage items can have a musty smell due to long periods of storage, but this can be removed naturally and safely. Simply fill a bath tub 10cm deep with very hot water, and add 500ml White Vinegar, then hang the item above the bath as close to the water as possible without touching it. The White Vinegar steam will naturally deodorise the musty odour, and will also help any creases to drop out!

Washing

Make sure any repairs are made to the garment before washing, as the agitation from washing can worsen any pre-existing damage.

Some washing machines have a delicate setting which may be suitable for garments, but if you want to be as gentle as possible, hand wash delicate items.

Steer clear from modern laundry detergents as harsh chemicals can damage the fibres. Using a traditional product like Soap Flakes is ideal because they are simply pure soap with no fragrances, bleach, optical brighteners or detergents, in fact many of the vintage garments around today were probably originally washed in Soap Flakes! We now produce Liquid Soap Flakes which offer the same gentle cleaning power but in an easy to use liquid form. Add 1-2 capfuls of Liquid Soap Flakes to a large bowl or bathtub of warm water, press the garment into the water and gentle push and squeeze the soap suds through the fibres. Never vigorously rub or twist the garment as this may cause damage. Repeat the technique in clean water as many times a necessary to completely remove all the suds, or rinse the item using the shower head.

Drying

Heat is the main cause of damage for many older garments, so avoid tumble drying at all costs! Leave items to dry naturally laid flat on a drying rack or mesh, as drying on hangers can pull the fabric and misshape the garment.

If the garment needs ironing, take extra care. Use the lowest setting to start, and slowly increase the heat until the creases are removed. Some fabrics like velvet should never be ironed, so do your research before grabbing the iron!

Steaming garments is a preferable alternative as it doesn’t involve direct contact with heat. If you don’t have access to a professional steamer, try hanging the garment in the bathroom when you have a shower.

Storage

Storing delicate garments carefully is important to ensure they are kept free from harm. Always fold delicate garments rather than hanging, as it can stretch and cause stress to the fibres. Another no-no is using plastic to store items as it can damage fabric by trapping in moisture as well as affecting plastic buttons and embellishments. Wrapping the garment in acid-free paper is the best alternative.

Following our top maintenance tips will keep your prized vintage items looking great for longer! 

What's your favourite piece of vintage clothing?

It's Tea Time!

As all good Brits know, almost everything can be solved with a good cup of tea. From the first brew made in China over 5,000 years ago, people all over the world have relaxed, laughed, cried and put the world to rights over a brew. It’s really no surprise that tea is Britain’s most popular beverage.

But what if your kettle is encrusted with limescale that ends up floating to the top of your well-earned cuppa? There is a simple, quick, effective and natural way to get rid of that gunk and make sure your kettle makes great tea again, check out our video below…

Regularly descaling appliances like kettles helps them to be more energy efficient and means that they are less likely to break down. 

Click the pic to find out how to buy this AMAZING teapot!

So now the kettle is shiny and clean, it's time to address that dodgy looking brown film in the teapot. Tannin stains are notoriously difficult to remove, but by leaving a regular Soda Crystals solution to soak in the pot overnight and wiping the next day will make it much easier to remove.

So what are you waiting for - put the kettle on!