8 Everyday Cleaning Tips

Drop your dull-looking jewellery into a glass of fizzing Alka-Seltzer for a few minutes to bring the sparkle back.

Scissors get blunt so easily, especially if your children keep using them for their arts and crafts projects, but you don’t need to replace them – simply use your scissors to cut up a piece of aluminium foil. It will sharpen them in an instant.

I never advise using water to clean Venetian blind slats – it can leave horrible dusty water marks. A weekly dry dust is all they should need. The best way to clean these is with tumble dryer sheets – they really lift the dirt and leave a lovely fresh smell behind. Alternatively, an old pair of socks also works.

To clean ceilings, use a flat-headed mop. Hold it up high and move it along the ceilings to keep them dust-free.

Chopping boards can pick up odours from onions, fish and meat that hot soapy water can’t always disperse. Rub them with half a lemon and a sprinkle of salt. Leave for a few minutes, then rinse with hot soapy water. The lemon will deodorise and lift any food stains. Stick to wooden chopping boards rather than plastic. Wood contains several natural substances, such as tannin and vanillin, that discourage the growth of bacteria.

Your sponges and cloths work hard so they will appreciate a quick spa treatment. Blast them in the microwave for a few minutes to kill all the germs or put them in the dishwasher on the top shelf.

It’s easy for sweat, oil and general grime to stick to shirt collars and cuffs and sometimes a general wash isn’t enough to remove it. Just very gently rub some regular hair shampoo into the stains, give them a little scrub, then pop back into the washing machine.

Copper is in fashion right now and copper pans are a gorgeous way to modernise your kitchen. If they get dirty after use, there’s a cheap solution hiding in your cupboard. Humble tomato ketchup is actually great for cleaning and will make copper pans shine after a quick rub.