Shoes You should be as equally ruthless with sorting your shoes as sorting your clothes. Try them on and make a make a mental note of the styles you have too many of and colours you don’t wear, and discard any that you haven’t worn for more than two years, are uncomfortable or broken. […]
Caring for clothes We all love buying them and wearing them for the very time, but what happens after that? If it’s all downhill after the first outing, here’s how to keep your clothes looking their best. Too many clothes Just a hundred years ago most working people could only afford a suit of […]
Ironing Ironing ranks high as one of the least favourite household chores, and many people would happily never iron again. You could decide never to iron again by paying someone else to do it for you; investing in non-iron polycotton bedding; or carefully reshaping your clothes while damp. How to do less ironing * Use […]
Hand washing Most sensitive modern fabrics can be machine washed on the delicates or ‘hand wash’ programme. However, there will be times when you don’t have enough laundry to justify running the machine; you may need something washed more quickly; or because hand washing is advised by the care lable. For hygiene reasons, laundry is […]
How laundry detergent works Detergent and soap are both antibacterial and remove dirt in warm water. Soap is made from natural fats and alkalis while detergent is synthetic – made from petrochemicals. Detergent was invented in the 1940s during wartime when animal and vegetable fats were in short supply. Previously clothes were washed in soap, […]
Laundry There was a time when doing the laundry took all day, but there’s no reason for washday blues in our highly automated homes. Even the laundrette offers a service wash, so you don’t have to hang around – let the machines do all the work. It pays to look after your clothes The excitement […]
Choosing a mattress A good quality mattress will last for at least ten years. After that, the springs start to distort and the quality of the support they provide deteriorates. If your sleep is disrupted or uncomfortable or you suffer from a bad back, a new mattress is probably overdue. Down – and synthetic-filled […]
Carpets Carpet always gives a warm welcome, especially during the colder winter months is why traditionally we have laid carpet rather than the wood and tile favoured on the continent. In the hallway, however, carpet can quickly show sings of dirt unless you take some precautions: * Choose darker shades for carpet in heavy […]
The bedrooms The bedrooms should be aired regularly, kept free from clutter and, all be comfortable. The centre of attention must surely be the bed because we all need a proper night’s sleep. The bedroom should provide plenty of sanctuary, a place to relax and rest, because we spend a third of our lives […]
The toilet Good toilet hygiene is because germs are easily transferred from one person to the next, not only from the bowl but also the flush handle and the seat. If there are several users, the toilet should be cleaned daily with disinfectant, and given a good scrub once a week. It’s important not […]