After all the time we’ve just spent locked down in our houses, you’d probably think that the last thing we’d want to do is spend our free time tidying up inside – and for the most part, you’re right! But right now, our houses will be filled with more dust and debris than ever before, and we need to do something about it.
Check out our top cleaning tips that will give your home that spring fresh feeling. And even better, these little tricks will also help you to save energy around the house and reduce your bills!
Let there be light!
As a layer of grime coats your lightbulbs, they’ll lose their brightness – and this means you might be tempted to turn on more lamps than you need to, or if you’ve got a dimmer switch, you might turn it up higher than you really need to.
Make sure your lights have been off for a little while so that they’re not hot. Then take a slightly damp cloth, gently wipe the bulb, and polish it off with a dry microfibre cloth, and your lights will shine much brighter!
And don’t forget to turn lights off when you’re not using them to help them last longer and save energy too!
Another one bites the dust!
There’s no feeling quite like a spick-and-span home, but did you know that dirt and dust can also clog up your appliances so that they don’t work as efficiently and drain more energy? When it comes to doing a deep clean, here are the appliances to give a good wipe down to make your home feel shiny and new while also conserving energy.
Radiators
Wipe down your radiators with a slightly damp cloth to remove any dirt that’s gathered along the top and between the columns, and then use your vacuum to suck up the dust and fluff caught at the back and in the middle. This will help the heat to flow better into your room.
Also, if you can, try not to dry your clothes by hanging them on the radiator itself as this increases the amount of dust. Instead, invest in a good drying rack and position it near to the radiator instead.
Fridge
If you’re able to reach the back of your fridge, give those coils at the back a vacuum or wipe down as dirty coils mean that your fridge has to work much harder to do its job. While you’re at it, see if your door seal is in good working order – if there are any splits, air can escape and make it far less efficient.
Cooker
When you next clean your hob, make sure to give the rings a really good scrub with a bristled brush to help remove the build-up of grease and grime. Clean rings heat up far more efficiently, saving you time when you’re cooking as well as reducing the energy you use!
Filters
Even after just a couple of runs, the filters in our washing and drying machines can get all clogged up with dust and fibres, making them far more inefficient. Remove this dirt regularly, and also give the display screen a gentle scrub in soapy water to keep it clean, clear and functional.
And to save even more energy (and money), remember to only run your machine when its full, rather than sitting on a half load.
Get smart and clean up your bills too!
Another way to keep your home in tip-top condition is to monitor the energy you are consuming and the amount of money you’re spending with a smart meter. The in-home display shows you what you’re using in pounds and pence in near-real time. It’s the best way to help you keep your energy use in check, while keeping your home in order too!
Join the energy revolution and contact your energy supplier to request a smart meter. For more information visit smartenergygb.org