Some More Cleaning Tips

1    Clean white trainers with toothpaste

Tennis shoes a bit grubby? Trainers not looking as new after a few muddy walks? No one will know they're not fresh from the box with this easy trick. Scuffed white sports shoes can be brought back to life by scrubbing with toothpaste. Slightly minty smell, a bonus.

2.    Clean kitchen cabinets with washing up liquid

Greasy, food-stained cupboards can be given a new lease of life when you mix up a squirt of washing up liquid with some warm water - it's amazing how much grime will come away on your sponge. Once you've seen it, you'll make sure this becomes a regular on your list of chores!

3.    Clean your chopping board with lemon

Our chopping boards get a lot of use, from joints of meat and fillets of fish, to cutting up fruit and vegetables most evenings - so it's no wonder they end up looking a bit tired. Lemons are great for lifting stains from chopping boards, as well as removing any smells. Still not shifting? Sprinkle with baking soda and repeat.

4.    Shine silver quickly with toothpaste

If you're lucky enough to own some lovely silver bits and bobs, keeping them in tip-top condition couldn't be simpler. Buff up those wedding presents and silver jewellery with a dab of water and a little toothpaste. Rinse and dry with a cloth and it should look good as new. One of the most satisfying cleaning jobs around, we think.

5    Clean garden furniture with washing up liquid

If your patio furniture's looking run down after a busy summer, you need to remove any rain staining, lichen and bird poo asap. Add a squirt of washing up liquid to a bucket of warm water and rub down your garden table and chairs. Then give them a rinse with the hose.

6.    Quick tip: stop rust on garden furniture with tomato sauce

If your patio furniture has rusted too, dab on some ketchup before rubbing away with a cloth – the rust will lift right off. Then use the rest of the bottle on a delicious summer barbecue! 

7.    Get rid of stains on clothes cheaply with washing up liquid

It's so frustrating to stain clothes with food or drink - and why is it that it always seems to be our favourite outfit? Fear not - all is not lost. Rub washing up liquid directly into the stain and then rinse with water – it works on most fabrics including delicate wool or silk, as long as you do it immediately. 

8.    Use ketchup to shine your copper pans

Copper is having a moment 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 sauce is actually great for cleaning, and will make copper pans shine after a quick rub.  

9.    Removes scuffs from wooden furniture with a walnut

Have you scuffed your bannisters with the washing basket, or knocked your skirting board removing your shoes? It sounds weird, but a walnut (without a shell) rubbed onto scuffed or scratched wooden furniture, floors or bannisters will work a treat.

10.    Clean your bathroom with vodka

Got an unloved bottle of vodka left over from a gathering? If you don’t fancy making cocktails, you can always use it to get your porcelain fixtures shining! Dab some onto a soft cloth and give them a rub.

11.    Stop your airing cupboard smelling with baking soda

Do you find that sheets and towels get a bit stale smelling while in storage? Get out the bicarbonate of soda again to stop your linen cupboard smelling musty. Leaving an open box of baking soda inside it will mask any smells. 

12.    Remove carpet stains with washing up liquid

If you’ve just spilled a glass of wine – or anything staining – on to your carpet, spring into action by dissolving one tablespoon of washing up liquid into two cups of warm water, and blotting the stain until it disappears. Then sponge the carpet with cold water and blot dry.

13.    Stop squeaky floorboards with baby powder

If you keep waking up your hubby by stepping on creaky floorboards in the night, he'll thank you for trying out this easy trick. Use talcum powder or baby powder to silence noisy wooden floors. Drop some onto the floor and sweep into the cracks, wiping away the excess.

14.    Remove coffee stains with toothpaste

Grubby mug? Just like coffee staining on teeth, the answer to your problem is in the bathroom cabinet. Get rid of tea or coffee stains from your favourite cup by rubbing with toothpaste. Then give it a good rinse to make sure your next beverage doesn't taste minty.

15.    Use bicarbonate of soda to clean your dishwasher

Keeping your dishwasher in good working order will safe you lots of money in the long-term, and it's easy to do. For starters, shake baking soda onto a damp sponge and wipe it around the edges of your dishwasher to remove any food residue.

16.    Great cleaning tip: get grease stains out of clothes with cola

If you've got oily food stains on a beloved shirt, it can be saved thanks to an unlikely ally. Add a simple cake of coke into your washing machine along with your detergent and run it on a normal cycle. The acid in the drink will help dissolve tricky stains. 

17.    Clean your toilet stains with Coke

And that's not all that this humble soft drink can offer in terms of cleaning. Get a grubby loo back to sparkling white by pouring in a can of cola. Let it sit in the bowl overnight, give it a quick scrub with a brush and then flush the next morning for a great effect.

18.    Pop a lemon in your fridge to keep it smelling nice

Why is it that so many of our favourite foods leave our fridge stinking? Cut a lemon in half and put one on the top shelf, one on the bottom shelf, to mask any strong smells in your fridge. 

19.    Get rid of burning smells with salt

Burnt your dinner? If the house now smells of burning, just sprinkle some salt over your burnt pans or any food mess to reduce it. Then cut your losses and order a take away!

20.    Clean your pans for free with aluminium foil

Tin foil has many uses – for one thing you can use it in place of a scourer. Just scrunch it up into a ball and give pots and pans a scrub. It's a great way to recycle your sandwich wrapping, as well as saving you money.