Among these challenges, one of the most significant is preserving the condition and appearance of furniture. Pets, with their fur, claws, and occasional messes, can quickly turn a cherished sofa or chair into a worn-out piece. This article aims to arm pet owners with practical and effective strategies for selecting and maintaining pet-friendly furniture.

By regularly incorporating regular sofa cleaning into your routine, you can maintain the welcoming and stylish ambiance of your living space, even with the presence of beloved furry companions. Regular sofa cleaning not only removes pet hair, dirt, and stains but also helps prevent the buildup of allergens that can trigger allergies or respiratory issues.

Understanding Pet-Friendly Fabrics

When it comes to pet-friendly furniture, the choice of fabric is paramount. Not all materials are equal in the face of pet wear and tear. Some fabrics are uniquely suited to withstand the rigors of pets, while others can quickly become a nightmare.

Durability, ease of cleaning, and resistance to pet-related damage are key factors to consider. Microfiber, for instance, is a stellar choice due to its tightly woven fibers that resist clinging pet hair and are relatively easy to clean.

Leather, although a more upscale option, is renowned for its durability and ability to resist odors; it can often be restored to its original glory with a simple wipe. Canvas is another robust option, offering a more laid-back look while being resilient to scratching and general pet wear.

Understanding these fabric nuances is essential for any pet owner looking to balance functionality with aesthetics in their home furnishings.

Choosing the Right Furniture

The selection of pet-friendly furniture goes beyond just picking out a style that matches your decor. For pet owners, furniture must meet specific criteria to ensure longevity and maintain a clean appearance. Opting for darker colors or busy patterns can cleverly conceal pet hair and minor stains, saving you from constant cleaning.

When considering the material, think about your pet’s habits. If you have cats, choose fabrics that are resistant to scratching. For dog owners, it’s wise to select sturdy pieces that can endure a bit of roughhousing. In addition, consider the weave of the fabric; tighter weaves are less likely to trap pet hair and are easier to clean.

The right furniture choice can significantly reduce the time and effort required to keep your home looking tidy and inviting.

Protective Measures

Even the most thoughtfully chosen furniture can benefit from additional protection. Protective measures such as furniture covers and throws not only safeguard your upholstery but also allow for easy cleaning – simply remove and wash as needed. These accessories can also add a new aesthetic element to your space.

Furthermore, investing in a high-quality pet bed can encourage your furry friend to favor their own space over your furniture, significantly reducing wear and tear. These small but significant measures can prolong the life of your furniture and keep it looking fresh for years to come.

Cleaning and Maintenance Tips

Effective cleaning and maintenance are crucial for extending the life of your pet-friendly furniture. Regular vacuuming is a must to remove pet hair, dander, and the occasional dirt tracked in from outside. For accidental spills or pet-related stains, having a go-to pet-safe cleaner is essential.

Quick response to spills can prevent permanent staining. Additionally, tools like lint rollers can be invaluable for swift hair removal, and natural deodorizers like baking soda are great for keeping odors at bay.

For a deeper clean, especially in households with multiple or particularly active pets, professional cleaning services can provide a more thorough solution, refreshing your furniture and eliminating any lingering odors or stains.

Innovations in Pet-Friendly Furniture Design

The furniture industry has made significant strides in accommodating the needs of pet owners. Today, there are innovative designs specifically tailored for pet-friendly homes. These range from sofas with built-in pet beds to materials pre-treated to resist stains and odors.

This shift in design philosophy not only focuses on the comfort and safety of pets but also ensures the aesthetic and functional integrity of the furniture. Modern pet-friendly furniture often incorporates durable, easy-to-clean materials and innovative designs that seamlessly blend into any home decor.

These advancements represent a growing recognition of the importance of pet-friendly living spaces in contemporary home design.

DIY Solutions for Pet-Proofing

For those unable to invest in new pet-friendly furniture, there are numerous do-it-yourself solutions that can help. Creating slipcovers for existing furniture can be a cost-effective way to protect sofas and chairs. These can be custom-made or bought ready-made and can be easily removed and washed.

Placing scratching posts or pads near furniture can deter cats from clawing at upholstery, while pet barriers can help keep dogs away from certain areas. Additionally, repurposing old fabrics or quilts into pet-friendly throws can add an extra layer of protection and can be a fun, creative project.

Health and Safety Considerations

When choosing furniture and cleaning products, considering the health and safety of your pets is paramount. Opt for non-toxic, pet-friendly materials and cleaning solutions to prevent any potential health risks. Be mindful of furniture with small, detachable parts or sharp edges that might pose a danger to curious pets.

It’s also important to consider the long-term effects of certain materials on pet health, such as the off-gassing of chemicals from new furniture or the ingestion of harmful substances from treated fabrics.

By prioritizing health and safety in your furniture choices, you ensure a safe and comfortable environment for your pets.

Case Studies and Testimonials

There are numerous success stories of pet owners who have seamlessly integrated pet-friendly furniture into their homes. One cat owner, for example, shared how a custom-made bookshelf with built-in cat perches and scratch posts transformed her living room into a stylish, cat-friendly space.

Another dog owner praised a durable microfiber sectional that has withstood the antics of her two large dogs without showing wear.

These stories highlight the importance of considering pets’ needs in home design, proving that functionality and aesthetics can coexist harmoniously.

Conclusion

Creating a pet-friendly home that’s both functional and stylish is an attainable goal. With the right furniture choices, protective measures, and regular maintenance, your home can be a welcoming space for both you and your pets.

Embracing innovative designs, DIY solutions, and prioritizing health and safety can significantly enhance your living environment. Remember, the key to success lies in understanding and catering to the unique needs of your pets while maintaining the beauty and comfort of your home.

I really have come to know that a clean home for me means a clear head. I like to have a tidy(ish) home and would much prefer to do the work before we go on holiday to make sure I have a nice home to come back to.

I am certainly not a martyr when it comes to cleaning and tidying and I am lucky that my husband is an equal partner and he and our kids take on some of the role too. I am not suggesting that this is in any way woman’s work or that it is something that one person should take on alone. Nor should you try to do it all in one day. I have a weekly clean schedule and I just adjust it the week before we go on vacation to accommodate.

To make my life easier I created a pre-holiday cleaning checklist and seeing as I had done it, I thought I would share it with you too. At least it helps me stop working that I have unplugged the iron!

I split the chores into rooms and then general and each person is responsible for their own room. So they have to ensure that all their dirty clothes are in the laundry basket (including changing their beds) and that their bins are emptied. I also expect them to vacuum too. I would like to say that I trusted them with the windows and such, but I do still check that they are all shut and locked!

Pre Cleaning Holiday Checklist by Room

By using the pre cleaning holiday checklist you can make sure that the week before that you tick off most of the items and not have a last-minute rush.

Laundry

let’s start with what I think is one of the most challenging things. Laundry – I mean how often have you seen the bottom of the laundry pile?

• You could start by changing the beds a couple of days before you travel so you can come home to clean bed linen.
• Make sure all towels are clean (nothing worse than leaving damp towels and coming home to that smell).
• Clothes – I insist that my family put their dirty clothes into the laundry and I am lucky that my husband and eldest are both great at running the washing machine!
• I like to make sure that I leave the washing machine clean and open whilst I am away to air.
• I make sure that I have enough laundry products to do all the washing when we get home.
• If I have time I will wash and dry the door mats, it is great to have a nice welcome when you come in that front door.

Bedrooms

In this house both my children are old enough to do their own rooms. When they were you ger we used to do this together. I would help one and my husband the other.

• I have talked about changing the bedding some you come home to a nice clean bed. If you don’t have time, then turn down the bedding so it can air when you are away.
• Generally, tidy the room and make sure all the clothes are away and the bin is empty.
• Vacuum
• Unplug electrical devices.

Bathrooms

The bathrooms do take a little more work, but I do really appreciate coming home to sweet-smelling rooms and ones that do have limescale, water spots (or spiders in the bath)!

• Start by cleaning the toilet and popping in your cleaning products and putting the seat down. I am a fan of green bleach (Sodium Percarbonate) and eco products.
• Then wipe down the bath and sink making sure the taps are not dripping and pop the plugs in and that any soaps are not sitting in water.
• Empty the bin and vacuum or sweep the room.
• If you have a shower curtain then open it out to air.

Kitchen

The kitchen might seem like a long list, but you can do it over a few days.

• Wipe down kitchen countertops.
• Remove any perishable items from the refrigerator and give them to a friend and clean the fridge whilst it has less in it or transfer them to the freezer if they are freezable.
• Make sure the dishwasher is empty and you don’t have any dirty dishes and clean (I run a cleaning cycle as there is nothing worse than a smelly dishwasher) and leave the door ajar to air.
• Unplug kitchen appliances. I also switch off the oven at the electric point.
• Empty the bin.
• sweep and mop the floor (if time to mop).
• Clean and dry sink and pop some green beach down the drain.
• Empty the bin.

General Living Areas

I think that most of the time our living room and dining are pretty clean and need the least work.

• General tidy. I just go around the rooms in a clockwise motion.
• Wipe the dining table and coffee table.
• Vacuum the rugs and carpet and sweep the floor.
• Mop floors.
• Fluff pillows and tidy the blankets.
• Unplug electric appliances.

Final Sweep

• Water all plants.
• close and lock windows and internal doors.

How to Download the Pre Vacation Cleaning Checklist Printable

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All you need to do is add click on add to cart and they will be added to your shopping cart. When you are finished click on the orange shopping trolley at the top right of your page and follow the instructions on the screen. You will not be charged and the free pdf file will be available for you to download immediately and will also be emailed to your inbox.

Let me explain: Do you have a space in your home that always accumulates clutter or you seem to need to continuously tidy? Often a spot on a dresser or sideboard or even a dining table that is covered in “stuff” that you have to clear off before you eat or clean.

These are the danger areas that you need to focus on and figure out why they happen, how you can stop it from happening or if you can’t stop it from happening how you can contain it in a calming way as it is much easier to lift and bowl or basket to wipe and clean rather than 43 small items or pieces of paper. So we are going to work at clearing your clutter once and for all and that means that you never need to chaos clean again!

A Place for Everything and for Everything a Place

There is a reason that this proverb has been in use since the 1600’s as it really works, however, often we have way “everythings” for our places which is why there is such a massive focus on storage for our homes. In an idea world it would be wonderful to have enough storage space for our things, but I am sure like me you are always on the search for the perfect storage solution (a bit like the holy grail).

Instead of looking for more storage, we are going to focus on using the space we already have. Lockdown made me realise that it is key to use all the space I have in my family home. That understairs cupboard that I couldn’t open the door and had been closed for ten years was changed into a pantry and the stuff inside which hadn’t been seen or used in ten years was donated or recycled.

As much as I would love my family to always put everything away where it belongs. I discovered we have three “junk spots” the shelf as you come in our front door, the kitchen breakfast bar and the stairs! And the thing with these pots is they seem to breed more junk, as though once something is placed there it just encourages and attracts more clutter.

How to Clear your Clutter Once and For All

Embracing your Junk Spot

Once you have established your junk sport you have to decide if you are going to eliminate or embrace it. This depends on what sort of clutter is congregating there. Let’s take my shelf as you come into the house. It was keys, dog lead, masks, hand sanitiser, sun scream, sunglasses, small change and things that people took out of their pockets as they entered the house or went to grab as they left the house. This was a natural place for these items and I needed to embrace it.

So I found three small baskets to contain the clutter and then every so often I will empty the baskets and sort through them, but everyone knows that is where the dog lead or the spare key is. We also have another two baskets – one for clean masks and one for masks to be washed. In fact, our tiny hall has to hold a lot of our things. So it has a coat rack and a basket under that with our hats in (which I swap over seasonally and keep the others in the garage).

Eliminating your Junk Spot

It is much harder to eliminate a junk spot and clear the clutter than embrace it and it really needs a collaborative family effort to do it for good. First off you need to work out who is adding the items and what items they are adding. So you need to take an audit of items before putting them all away and then see if it keeps happening. Then you need to figure out if you are going to deal with it alone or take it on as a family.

For example the breakfast bar in our kitchen had become a spot for clutter ranging from receipts, pens, face masks, hand cream, odd kitchen items, tape measures, screwdrivers etc. So it was never going to be a one woman job. I need to enlist the help of everyone putting things there and the daft things was it was happening due to people not knowing where to put things.

It is all well and good having a place for everything, but you need to tell your family where that place is!

Once the husbeast knew that the empty biscotti tin on the shelf wast just for decoration but actually held our receipts and guarantees he started to put them in there. I am not going to lie there have been times when I have been called a nag and we still have a junk drawer in the kitchen for the tape measures and glasses screwdrivers! But I placed a pretty kitchen bowl on the counter and the odds and sods go in there and then once a week we empty it and before you know it people learn where things go. Today that bowl has a pack of Uno cards in it and an open pack of Haribo.

We often are guilty of asking people to tidy up when they have no idea where things go. So for us, the biggest changes happen when we work together as a family. for me, the biggest change I had to make was to stop assuming that people knew what I wanted doing or how I wanted it doing. To clear the clutter for goof you have to work with everyone in your house. Otherwise, you will be the only one invested in it.

Do you have any junk spots in your home that cause you to despair?

Baskets are a great way to clear your clutter and coral like things together.

This post contains affiliate links. If you make any purchases after clicking one of these links, I will make a small commission (hopefully enough to keep me in tea all year) – at no extra cost to you! This allows me to keep creating and sharing free tutorials and content for you. Thank you!

For those of you that don;t know I have a genetic predisposition to certain cancers, so we are really careful about the products that we bring in to our home including cleaning products. We opted for Eco cleaning propducts when the boys were born 16 years ago and have been using and making our own cleaning products since.

DIY Eco Cleaning Products

Once you have the basic ingredients then it is super simple to adapt them to what you need. Non-toxic cleaning products are not only better for the environment but also better for us too. Lots of shop-bought products including scented candles and cleaning products contain indoor pollutants which can cause headaches and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, as well as exacerbate symptoms of asthma and other respiratory illnesses, not to mention affect my son’s eczema.

Our DIY Eco cleaning products aren’t only better for us; they can also help save us money and protect the environment.

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking one of these links, I will make a small commission (hopefully enough to keep me in tea all year) – at no extra cost to you! This allows me to keep creating and sharing free tutorials and content for you. Thank you!

Common Ingredients for DIY Eco Cleaning Products

Bicarbonate of Soda

Bicarbonate of Soda, Sodium Bicarbonate or baking soda is a pantry staplet that cleans, deodorises, brightens, and cuts through grease and grime.

Castile Soap

Castile soap is a style of soap that’s made from 100 percent plant oils and is great at cutting through grease.

Vinegar

Thanks to its acidity, vinegar is effective at eliminating grease, soap scum, and grime. Don’t like the smell then make sure you check out our citrus vinegar.

Lemon Juice

Natural lemon juice cleans mildew, mould and cuts through grease

Olive Oil

This cooking oil also works as a cleaner and polisher.

Essential Oils

Essential oils make great scent additions to homemade cleaning products. My favorites are citus, tea tree and eucolptus for around the home.

Borax

Many DIY cleaners tout Borax (a boron mineral and salt) as a non-toxic alternative to mainstream cleaning products; however, in the UK Borax is not allowed as a cleaning product due to the fact it is a skin and eye irritant and may disrupt hormones. Instead, use a borax substitute in any recipes you may see that call for Borax.

Easy Natural Cleaning Recipes for Beginners

Toilets

For a heavy-duty toilet scrub that deodorises while it cleans, pour ½ cup of Bicarbonate of Soda and 12 drops of tea tree essential oil into the toilet. Add ¼ cup of vinegar to the bowl and scrub away while the mixture fizzes.

For daily cleaning, I use our Citrus Vinegar Cleaner spray on the surfaces, let it sit for a few minutes, and then wipe the surface clean.

Tile Grout Cleaner

Mix 1 part water and 3 parts Bicarbonate of Soda mixed into a paste. Apply to grout and let sit, scrub with a toothbrush and wipe clean. This works even better if you have one of those sonic scrubbers!

Bath and Shower

Tubs and showers can produce some of the toughest grime, but it’s no match for the cleaning power of vinegar. To get rid of mildew, spray pure white vinegar on the offending area, let it sit for at least 30 minutes scrub with a toothbrush and wipe clean. This works even better if you have one of those sonic scrubbers! Alternatively, try mixing together Bicarbonate of Soda with a bit of liquid castile soap, then scrub and rinse.

For daily cleaning, I use our Citrus Vinegar Cleaner spray on the surfaces, let it sit for a few minutes, and then wipe the surface clean.

Kitchen Cleaner

For daily cleaning, I use our Citrus Vinegar Cleaner spray on the surfaces, let it sit for a few minutes, and then wipe the surface clean. If your countertop is made from marble, granite, or stone, skip the vinegar (its acidity is no good for these surfaces) and use vodka instead.

Stained Cups , Cutting Boards and Microwave

Use coarse salt mixed with a little lemon juice and scrub. I often cut a lemon in half, add the salt to the cut lemon and use the skin as a handle to rub on the cutting board. Once used up I pop the lemon in a small bowl of hot water in the microwave – cook on high for two minutes, leave to stand for five minutes and then remove and wipe the inside of the microwave clean.

Refrigerator Cleaner

To clean your fridge you just need about ½ cup of Bicarbonate of Soda to a bucket of hot water. Dip a microfibre cloth in the mixture and use it to wipe down the fridge’s insides.

Oven

On a regular basis I just wipe down my oven with our citrus cleaner, but every couple of months it gets a good clean. In fact, it pays to Spring Clean all your appliances at least once a year.

Washing Machine

You really don’t want to wash your clothes in a dirty washer, so I do a monthly clean of it. By keeping on top of it I don’t get the build-up of products (which is more prevalent as I wash clothing at 30%). So check out how to clean your washing machine here.

Windows and Mirrors

I use our Citrus Vinegar Cleaner sprayed on windows, glass and mirror and a special window microfibre cloth.

Floors

For a simple, effective tile floor cleaner, simply combine one part white vinegar with four parts warm water in a bucket with a squirt of Castille soap. Use a mop or rag to scrub down the floors with the solution. No need to rinse off! (Note: this one’s not recommended for wood floors, but I use it on our laminate)

Wood cleaner

1/2 cup lemon juice (from about 4 lemons) or white vinegar, 1/4 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon natural liquid soap and a few drops of olive oil – Combine the ingredients in a bowl. Saturate a sponge fully with the mixture, squeeze out excess, and wash surfaces. A vinegar solution will keep between uses in an airtight jar, but if you use lemon it will only keep in the fridge for about a week.

Bu infusing the vinegar with citrus peels you take away that rough vinegar smell and replace it with a fresh, invigorating scent that your nose will thank you for and that my son certainly thanked me for, plus citrus oils are excellent at cutting through grease and make it an even more effective cleaner.

I use this basic cleaner all around my home and have jars of it under the sink that I add the peels to instead of the bin! Yu can find all my other green cleaning tips here.

I decent the basic vinegar into a brown glass spray bottle and add some castile soap for the bathrooms. I have seen plenty of people use essential oils with their vinegar but I have found that it doesn’t emulsify and you get beads of il at the top of the bottle rather than a fully infused vinegar.

As you can see here I have one orange and one lemon infused vinegar (Mini even brings home the peels of his oranges from school to add to the jar), but you can also mix it up a little by using some herbs too such as sage, verbena, mint, rosemary or even basil. Or perhaps you eat grapefruit each morning, so could have grapefruit infused vinegar.

That is the beauty of this Citrus Vinegar Cleaner it is made from things you would throw away and white vinegar so is good for the planet and also really inexpensive.

Print

Citrus Infused Vinegar

Equipment

• Glass Jars
• Spray Bottle
• Fine mesh sieve

Ingredients

• Citrus peels
• White Vinegar
• Liquid castile soap Optional
• Herbs Optional

Instructions

• Fill a jar with vinegar ⅔ of the way full.
• Throw your citrus peels into the jar as you go. Allow to infuse for at least a week.
• Strain the vinegar and discard the peels – I pop ours in the compost bin.
• To make all-purpose cleaner, fill your spray bottle with 50% vinegar and 50% Water.

Notes

To use: Spray onto a surface and wipe clean with a damp cloth.

Initially, this will smell of vinegar, however, the vinegar scent quickly dissipates and you are left with a fresh citrus scent.

Do NOT use this cleaner on natural stone countertops or tiles. Extended use of vinegar can cause pitting in natural stone.

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase after clicking one of these links, I will make a small commission (hopefully enough to keep me in tea all year) – at no extra cost to you! This allows me to keep creating and sharing free tutorials and content for you. Thank you!

Surcare products are specially formulated to be kinder to sensitive skin but also to provide an outstanding cleaning performance each and every time and are approved by Allergy Care UK, which does initially give me some peace of mind before trying it out for our sensitive and reactive family.

What I love about Surcare products is that they don’t contain unnecessary ingredients that could irritate skin, so no enzymes, dyes, acids or perfumes but they also are up to keeping my family and especially the sporty boys’ clothes clean and fresh-smelling without added fragrance.

One of the best ways as a mum that I can look after my children’s skin is to teach and empower them to take responsibility for it themselves.

I am a firm believer in my children doing household chores and, therefore, we have found the Surcare Non-Bio Laundry Capsules a real godsend. Previously we have been using a competitor’s products and have found their capsules hard to get locally so had resorted to using laundry liquid and no matter how many times I showed the boys how much to use they always used more! Not only did that mean that it worked out more expensive, but it also leads to a build-up of product in clothes which isn’t great for the life of clothes or for sensitive skins.

Laundry Tips for Sensitive Skin

Wash anything new before it’s first wash. New clothes and fabrics will often include starch or other products on them to make them more appealing at the store.

Wash anything that has been stored. Wash your seasonal clothes before wearing. They can get dusty which may aggravate skin conditions.

Regularly clean your washing machine.  The detergent draw of your washing machine can easily become clogged with the excess product and this can encourage mould to grow in the draw.

Rince. Use your additional rinse cycle or extra water cycle on your machine, this will ensure that as much dirt and detergent is rinsed out as possible.

Don’t drop the fabric conditioner. It can be tempting to keep products to a minimum, however, a fabric softener is designed so the tiny fibres of your clothes are smoothed down, the fabric becomes much softer than using just detergent alone. Less scratchiness means less irritation for sensitive skin and babies.

Pretreat stains. Over the years I have learned that you can not expect a product that is kind on the skin to remove every stain, so now we pretreat any stains straight away before washing them. The extra rince ensures that any product is removed.

Don’t use too much product. This is where the Surcare Non-Bio Capsules come into their own. Ensuring the right dose for your laundry load. This protects the skin from overuse of products, so clean clothes without colour fade, skin reactions or product build-up. This makes it the perfect solution for our sensitive and eczema-prone skins, plus it means I leave the washing to the males in the house!

We are currently in a really good place when it comes to being on top of my eldest’s Eczema. We have just been through a really hard flare due to growing and hormones. He is brilliant at taking ownership of his skin. He moisturises, uses paraben and SLS free products and is amazingly aware of skincare and the effects it has on his skin. We have learned over the years that consistency is important, however, that things that didn’t work at first can be worth trying again.

Original Cleaning Recipe with Potatoes and Cabbage

Sauerkraut needs to be washed or if you use row potatoes, they need to be grated. Squeeze the products from moisture, scatter over the entire surface of the carpet. Go over the top with a soft bristled brush.

After brushing, the products are collected. Wash the products and use them again. The process is carried out until the raw material is clean.

This domestic carpet cleaning method, unusual for a modern people, has been used for more than one century. It is laborious, but completely harmless to health and does not negatively affect the structure of the carpet.

Carpet Cleaning with Laundry Soap

An excellent recipe to remove dirt from the carpet at home in the shortest possible time. The soap works well for fighting grease stains. What you need is a spoonful of soap in shavings and turpentine. It is dissolved in water. The process is simple and consists of several stages:

• the mixture is applied to the product;
• wait for 15 minutes;
• wipe the dirty areas with a clean and damp cloth;
• Finally, try to blot the moisture with a dry rag in order to achieve quick drying of the products.

Carpet Cleaning with Lemon Juice or Citric Acid

Citric acid is effective in combating stains only when combined with salt.

For the recipe, you need a spoonful of salt, and 2 tablespoons of citric acid. The products are diluted in a litre of water. The cleaner is rubbed with a brush over dirty areas. The process is repeated until all stains and dirt are removed.

Acetic Ammonia Solution with the Addition of Dishwashing Liquid

You will need 3 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid, which are diluted in 1/4 of ammonia and the same amount of vinegar. The resulting composition is added to 7-8 litres of water. The dishwashing detergent should be colourless in order not to damage the carpet.

Work plan:

• a rag is dipped in the solution to remove the stain;
• after processing, clean the carpet with a washing vacuum cleaner.

Peroxide – Excellent Tool for Removing Carpet Dirt

Peroxide is characterized by an excellent ability to cope with the removal of dirt. The tips for using it are also relevant for cleaning carpets. Only with coloured threads, you need to be careful. For work, make a simple solution with the addition of soda. For half a glass of 3% peroxide, you need 2 tbsp. tablespoons of soda.

Work plan:

• Apply the mixture to dirty areas.
• Clean stains with a soft cloth. As soon as it turns dark, it is washed in warm water.
• Cleaning is carried out until all contaminated areas are cleaned.
• A clean product is blotted with a dry cloth with good moisture absorption properties.
• Dry.

Probably you have heard about some of the mentioned cleaning methods. However, these tricks are suitable only for surface cleaning of the carpet. For deep carpet cleaning, you should better contact a professional carpet cleaning company. Carpet manufacturers recommend using carpet cleaning services minimum once a year in order to preserve your carpet in good condition. Specialists will best determine what carpet cleaning procedure and products are the most appropriate for your carpet. Some carpets can be refreshed with the help of hot water extraction carpet cleaning, while others should not be moistened. If you have specific questions about carpet maintenance, consult a professional carpet cleaning London specialists.

Here in The Mad House we have rules, they are for the smooth running and good of the family and we all have our roles in this.  The MiniMads are under no illusion as to the fact that we do things that we don’t always enjoy for the good of our family (I HATE ironing)!

So since the boys have been small they have heard the phrase “for the good of the family” when they ask why they have to set the table, make their bed or load the washing machine!

Yes, sometimes they moan and whinge and that is when we sit down and talk about the fact that we all have responsibilities to make our lives run smoothly.

Yes I have to reinforce their responsibilities, but hey they are ten and eight and I don’t have an issue saying things over and over again.  But if you are going to get the kids involved in housework and ensure they stay involved you have to do one thing.

The unbreakable rule when it comes to getting kids involved in cleaning

Yes it will take your child longer to do something, yes it would be quicker and often easier to do it yourself, however, you want them to do this.  So let them do things, let them get it wrong, let the, do it their way.  As long as the outcome is acceptable, leave them to it! This rule also applies to husbands too!

5 Tips to get the kids involved in cleaning

1. First up, I have always involved them, even from when they were small.  I would give them a cloth and a small spray bottle of water and encourage them to follow m round the house when I was cleaning or when the husbeast was.  We have always made helping out with family stuff non-negotiable, however, there are times when they need a reminder that we are a family and we all do things for the good of the family.
2. Make it a game – when the boys were much younger we had a “tidy up” song.  We would sing it (I say sing in a very loose term) and try and get everything put back where it belonged before we finished it. Now we set a timer and all try and get as much done in 5 or 15 minutes.
3. Make sure they know what is expected of them.  When you say “tidy your room” what do you mean.  I know I need to give specifics to my boys so make sure your clothes are all away, books are off the floor and on the book shelves and any water bottles down stairs in the sink.
4. Let them use the vacuum – OK, I know it would be quicker to do it yourself, but the long term goal here is to get the kids doing the cleaning, so let them vacuum, let them clean the windows. Accept that it may take longer in the beginning, but encourage them. Show them where the tools are so they can get them when they need them.  We recently received a Bissell Multi reach cordless vacuum to review and it is wonderful.  It stays in our conservatory where the boys can see it and they have been using it unprompted by me!  It is great as it is compact and lightweight and perfect for them to use on the hard floors we have downstairs.  It also has an edge each facility so it collects right to the skirting boards.    For the last couple of weeks they have been busy playing football and making the most of time with their friends outside and have use the vacuum to clear up mud that they have brought in unprompted by me.
5. Give things a place and make sure people know where things below.  We have a shoe cabinet at the doorway for the boys shoes and a box for hats and gloves etc.  I try and make sure that everyone knows where things are kept so that everyone can make sure they are put away.  I want to empower my children, not to do things for them all the time.

Want to know my secret?

Today I am going to let you in to my tips for what I call a chaos clean.  You know the manic clean that you have to do when someone is coming to visit (and no, not shoving it all under the bed and in the cabinets)!

How to Chaos Clean your home

Remember we are only making things presentable, not doing a deep clean, so focus on the surface.

Set the timer – I do things in 15 minute chunk and work against the clock.  There is something about trying to beat the clock that makes you go faster.

Start on the right – go a room at a time and work from the right hand side of you and work around.  Put anything that doesn’t belong in that room into a laundry basket and take this room to room with me.

Dirtiest room first – I do the most challenging room first, it will make all the others seem a breeze.

Work down – Start at the top of the house and work your way down.  Dust settles, so wet wipe, then polish before vacuuming.

Worry about the bits people will see – For me this is the entrance hall, downstairs rooms (we are pretty open plan) and the toilet.  I shut the door on the rest of the house!  Life became so much better when we had a conservatory put on the house as a playroom, so I can just close the door on the clutter and chaos.

Delegate – It is amazing just how much work the family can do.  We all make the mess together, so we tidy it together.

So this is how I make my home presentable for visitors on short notice when we have visitors.  Six tips that make life easier when my home is untidy.