With a long weekend coming up combined with warmer weather, you might be itching to throw open the doors and windows and give your house a good clean and your garden some attention.
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Here are a few tips to get you started.
Cleaning
- Sprinkle baking soda on your fabric couch and leave for a few minutes before vacuuming away to absorb unwanted odours.
- Clean dusty fan blades with old pillowcases to captures dust and debris.
- Get windows sparkly clean with a tablespoon of cornstarch to a litre of lukewarm water. Spray and wipe.
- Dust window blinds with an orphan sock wrapped around your hand or a pair of tongs with microfiber cloths wrapped around the claws.
- Tackle oven odours with two caps of vanilla extract in an ovenproof dish and left for an hour in a 150-degree oven.
- Leave a cup of distilled white vinegar, baking soda, or a dish of dried coffee grounds on a fridge shelf to absorb odours.
Garden
- Have a look at the 28-day forecast. Is there excessive early heat or a late cold snap anticipated? Either of which may have an adverse affect on new plants.
- Lawns: Don’t let them get too long and you’ll be cutting some weeds before they can reproduce. Don’t cut them too short and you help the soil retain moisture and reduce the chance of the grass being squashed or worn thin.
- Don’t discourage any beneficial bugs. They are vital for the spread of pollen or to control pest insect populations naturally.
LAWN CARE: Don’t let your lawns get too long but don't cut them too short either. Among other things, getting the right length will help the soil retain moisture.
DIY
Before you get too enthusiastic about what you can achieve, remember some things are better left to professionals, especially electrical work.
Apart from possibly saving your life, it also makes financial sense.
If the electrical work was not carried out by a qualified electrician and causes damage to your house, your insurance company may not cover you.
And DIY electrical work cannot be retrospectively certified, even if it’s 100 per cent compliant.
Natural: Ingredients such as vinegar and baking soda are effective cleaning agents that won't leave you overwhelmed by a chemical smell.
Don't DIY electricals.
