Washing Up

A-Z of DIY & Building Guides Top Ten Cleaning Tips

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Aggie Mackenzie

Date Published:
21/05/2008

We caught up with How Clean is Your House star Aggie MacKenzie to find out how she keeps her kitchen so spotless. Here are her top ten tips.

1. Roasting pans

If your roasting pan is covered in burnt-on food, sprinkle on some biological washing powder, add some boiling water and simmer on the hob for 10 minutes. All that mess will come off really easily.

2. Stainless steel

Stainless steel-fronted appliances are very fashionable, but they do tend to get covered in greasy marks. The best way of getting them off is to use microfibre cloths. They're widely available in shops such as John Lewis.

3. Pets

Make sure you never let cats and other animals walk around on your kitchen work surfaces. Their feet can tread bacteria around that could be harmful.

Sweeping a Floor

4. Scuffmarks on vinyl floors

If you have a vinyl floor, you'll know that it can collect a lot of black scuffmarks. They might seem stubborn if you try to scrub at them, but they're actually simple to remove if you use a plain old pencil eraser.

5. Cleaning the microwave

If you've overheated and exploded a curry in your microwave and the inside now looks like it's had a case of diarrhoea, you can remove the mess with ease by microwaving a shallow dish filled with slices of lemon and hot water for five minutes. The steam will soften the dried food and the lemon will leave it smelling fresh.

6. Dirty dishclothes

In warm, humid weather, bacteria can really multiply in your dishcloth. To help keep it clean, you can simply stick it in your dishwasher (if you have one) at the end of the day with the rest of the load, or just leave it in the sink overnight with a little washing up liquid and bleach. Quick and easy.

7. Drains

Drains do tend to get smelly, especially in warm weather. Fortunately, it's not so hard to get them smelling sweet again. By pouring down some washing soda crystals and boiling water you should be able to clear the offending blockages of grease and grime.

Kettle on Hob

8. Kettle limescale

To remove limescale from your kettle, pour in a mixture of half vinegar and half water, boil it up and leave overnight. In the morning, all that limescale should just fall away.

9. Fishy smells

Frying fish can leave a fishy smell for a long time. To get your kitchen smelling fresh again, simply simmer some orange peel, cloves and water for 10 minutes.

10. Washing chicken

A lot of people do it, but you should never wash chicken. All those splashes could be laden with harmful salmonella bacteria, spreading it around the kitchen without you realising.

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  1. hi can you hlp me on one of your shows you done a mixture for cleaning windows with cornflour but i cant find it would you please forward it to me thanks pollie
    Posted by pollie on 05/07/2009 22:01:30
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  2. i watch your program everyday but i missed the quantities you used for water and cornflour for cleaning windows,i hate doing this job as i always end up with smears i have tried the vinegar and newspaper but still end up with smears,i think that double galzied windows are the worst thing in the world to clean ,please can you help as mine are in diar need of a good clean,here's hoping,Hermione
    Posted by Hermione Martin on 20/06/2009 20:58:46
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  3. Best way to bring all your chrome kettles, toasters, outside of ovens ect up to new looking is to use a dab of toothpaste on a slightly wet cloth. Rub all over then rinse out cloth and wash off residue. After it's just a matter of polishing it back up with a clean cloth. Honestly all chrome will gleam like new. And you wouldn't believe how quick it is. I buy Tesco's blue and white stripe just for cleaning my chrome kettle, toaster and door handles. And you're also left with a pleasant mint smell double bonus lol...
    Posted by Linda Thomas on 16/06/2009 00:15:45
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  4. i used to find house work a real pain but after watching the shows and seeing what people live in, i make sure i put at least an hour or two once iv finished work to clean around the house i really find it quiet relaxing now when i do it, as the results at the end are fab
    Posted by lisa on 27/05/2009 19:29:52
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  5. How did you make the fruniture polish that had the cloth left in it all the time,damp dusting. Also how can i clean my sisters house that is so dirty with grease and in ground dust and muck.Please help i need some advise.
    Posted by sally on 11/05/2009 16:05:28
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  6. Any hints of getting rid of old dry pet urine stains off carpet. They were mopped up at the time and when carpet is cleaned they disappear - only to reappear at a later date. Thanks
    Posted by Chris on 01/05/2009 16:57:12
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  7. HEY EVERYONE!!! ive been having trouble with flies and wasps coming in through the open doors, but bug screens were realy expensive to buy to fit my patio doors. i tried everything on the internet from jars of vinegar to eucoliptus oil. but then i found something that works!! take an empty spray bottle and half fill with water, take an orange and using a funnel squeeze the juice into the bottle. do the same with half a lime, a lemon, then add 2 table spoons of vinegar put the lid back on and give it a good shake. open a window or door and then get spraying. it is fantastic and works a treat.plus its safe for the enviroment too. this also works for keeping away stray cats from your garden, ants, some spiders,and other creepy crawlies! it smells lovely too!! this formula is so good i just had to share it!!!!
    Posted by tjones1988 on 26/04/2009 18:04:07
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  8. Hi, i have really bad shoe odour and i know in one of your programmes you said to put bicarbonate soda in each shoe. I have tried this, but the smell doesn't seem to have fully gone. Am i missing something out, or are my shoes and feet really that smelly?! Thanks
    Posted by Aimee on 24/04/2009 22:45:01
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  9. HI KIM AND AGGIE IVE GOT A PROBLEM WHAT IT IS IS THAT MY DAUGHTER KEEPS WETTING MY BED AND MY MATTRESS SMELLS REALLY BAD IVE TRIED CARPET CLEANING IT BUT MY CARPET CLEANER ISNT THAT GOOD AND I WAS JUST WOUNDERING IF YOU NOANY THINK I COULD DO TO CLEAN IT AND SO THAT IT SMELLS NICE AND IVE BOUGHT A MATRESS PROTECTOR BUT I WANT TO CLEAN THE MATTRESS BEFORE I USE IT COULD YOU PLEASE HELP ME ASAP THANK YOU JOANNA
    Posted by JOANNA on 13/04/2009 17:27:30
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  10. My sister moved into my parents house to take care of it and has never cleaned the top of the stainless steal stove top and has cooked food into and I have tried everything I can think of but am scared to ruin it, any ideas???
    Posted by dixie_123 on 03/04/2009 21:45:07
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  11. Hi, I have a white leather settee, that could do with a good clean. I saw saddle soap being used on one of the shows can this be used on light coloured settee's, or can you recommend anything else? Thanks Caroline
    Posted by Caroline on 23/03/2009 21:00:36
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  12. Hi I was wondering if you know of a quick way of getting rid of the smell of nicotine from a room that has been smoked in for a long time?
    Posted by norcath on 19/03/2009 19:49:25
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  13. can you help me find some sugar soap or a recipe on how to make it. thanks for any help you can give me. Patsy Wachowski
    Posted by patsy wachowski on 19/03/2009 19:30:10
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  14. Hi we always watch your show and wondered if you have a list of the products you use around the house and quantities example for cleaning all around the home such as bicarb lemons white vinegar etc. we would be very gratefull. love elaine and karen
    Posted by Elaine on 18/03/2009 13:31:29
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  15. hi please help our son has just had a lot of building work done and the house is full of dust partic the wood work whats the best way to clean it after vaccuming thanks terry and cheryl
    Posted by terry on 13/03/2009 18:53:23
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  16. Please could you advise the most effective way to remove subborn marks from the round black discs that sit where the gas comes out on the top of the cooker Thank you
    Posted by Janet on 11/03/2009 11:40:05
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  17. If you want to clean up any blood stains, sprinkle a small quantity of salt over the stain, leave for a few minuites, and hoover up the excess.
    Posted by Meggie on 10/03/2009 18:19:42
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  18. I have recently bought a house it has a sweet/sweaty smell everywhere. I have ripped up vinyl floor, steam cleaned carpets, painted and washed the whole house, have also had it checked for dead rodents etc but still the smell persists. How can I get rid of it. Have tried vinegar and all the usual household cleaners. I am at my wits end.
    Posted by margy on 03/03/2009 21:07:44
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  19. Can you please advise how I can clean a wooden wash stand thick with old dust in carveing and grimy. Have seen you do something similar on your programe my memory blank (old age) Thanking you Jean
    Posted by jean on 02/03/2009 18:37:41
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  20. my brother recently moved in with me bringing his dog. my flat is starting to smell lik dog.I open windows everyday,am constantly spraying air freshner and even bought incense sticks but it stil smells.can you please help me to get rid of this smell..
    Posted by shell on 24/02/2009 17:38:31
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  21. My elderly inlaws house is smelling like an old people's home !! They has a cleaner once a week but I think she only hoovers and dusts!!. How can I get rid of the smell when I go over there next week?
    Posted by Toni on 14/02/2009 11:42:34
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  22. I saw your programme where you mentioned using citronella to stop puppys weeing in the same place, also using tea tree oil for cleaning please advise as i missed the solution strength etc i think your programme is brilliant
    Posted by karen on 05/02/2009 11:49:28
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  23. how can i remove to much washing powder from washing machine?
    Posted by jackie on 28/01/2009 18:36:08
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  24. Smelly Drains - Disolve 2 tablespoons of table salt in hot water and pour down the drain. Use this regulary to keep the drains smell free.
    Posted by Dana on 24/01/2009 17:51:06
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  25. How to clean and shine ceramic tiled floors?
    Posted by Mark on 24/01/2009 17:24:52
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  26. How do i get rid of the smell of cat pee cheaply and affectively thanks
    Posted by suzanne on 20/01/2009 17:30:45
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  27. Hi any tips for getting silly putty out of carpets please
    Posted by susannah on 18/01/2009 18:49:20
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  28. Please could you tell me how to clean a suede settee at home of general dirt and grime
    Posted by Charlene on 16/01/2009 08:00:23
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  29. Ihave cleaned my jacuzzi bath as per instructions, but is is still throwing out black stuff when I turn it on. I don,t know what to do next as I am worried I might damaged the pipes if I use the wrong materials. Can you help please? Jacuzzi say don,t use Milton so I have used their products and run them through, but it has made no difference. Diane.
    Posted by diane on 02/12/2008 20:58:04
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  30. hi everyone and Kim and Aggie i usually watch your programs and once you gived a tip of how to clean a dishwasher so the bad smell goes and to keep it clean also, but i forgot how was exacly the tip i remember that we could use vinegar but what type, i didnt wanna to try it before have sure how to do it propetly. Thank you
    Posted by Lurdes Castelo Branco on 02/12/2008 16:54:14
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  31. how can I remove white marks from inside of old glass decanters. Have tried egg white very dilute white wine vinegar and soaked in washing up liquid.
    Posted by cleaning tips on 22/11/2008 07:11:22
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  32. how do you clean pine kitchen cuboards ive moved in a house and they are filthy didnt notice them when we viewed house thanks x
    Posted by sally on 20/09/2008 21:22:37
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  33. I would like to get a bacteria testing kit. You mentioned it on the last program but I seem unable to find a source. I want to prove to my husband that leaving a dish cloth in the bottom of the sink in dirty water is creating a bed of festering bacteria. Please advise.
    Posted by Daphne Sanderson on 10/09/2008 23:25:42
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  34. Hi Lisa EEK! It might be that you've scorched your worktop beyond repair, so here's what I suggest. One: get in touch with the kitchen company who sold it to you and find out who manufactures the worktop. Then get in touch with them to see what they suggest. I'm assuming the kitchen company never suggested the worktop could take hot items (if they did, you might be able to get them to refit it). Two: ask the kitchen company if their fitter would be willing to come round and rub down and re-oil your worktop for you (at a price). If you bought from a large company (ie, MFI), this probably won't work - if it was from a small, bespoke company locally, they might well give it a go. Failing that, you might try rubbing down the worktop (working with the grain), then reoil it. Sorry to say, wood, while it looks fabulous, is not very resilient and has to be treated with the greatest of care. Good luck and let us know what works!
    Posted by Lucy 4Homes Ed on 26/08/2008 13:58:43
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  35. Hi Rachel See this page: http://www.channel4.com/4homes/on-tv/how-clean-is-your-house/how-clean-is-your-house-extras/dirty-talk-08-06-20_p_1.html There are quite a few wee tips on here...
    Posted by Lucy 4Homes Ed on 21/08/2008 21:28:20
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  36. I'm a great fan of your programme, and I wondered if you could help me please. I have placed a 'red hot' Chip Pan on a folded teatowel on the worktop, whilst I Cleaned the hob.. Within minutes, the worktop is burnt leaving a white scorch mark. My worksurface is black wood, with a piney coloured grain in it, its also a brand new kitchen, so I am not to happy to say the least. I have tried with a furniture wood wax, but no joy, even tried black hair dye, still no joy, PLEASE advise me on what you think may work, I am willing to try anything. Many Thanks, and keep up the good work! Kind Regards Lisa Saunderson
    Posted by Lisa Saunderson on 21/08/2008 13:01:52
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  37. hi my naughty little dog has weed on my brand new carpet i have brought all the vanish sprays and foams. have u any solutions i can remove the horrible stain from my carpet, please...
    Posted by rachel on 20/08/2008 17:05:16
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  38. Hi Shaun From experience of having bought a house where every room was coated in a sticky film of nicotine, I can safely say that the only thing that did the trick was to soap everything down (including the ceiling), then repaint it... I'm sure there's got to be an easier way, but keeping the windows open constantly and using room scenters didn't do the trick long term. Anyone?
    Posted by Lucy 4Homes Ed on 15/08/2008 14:59:41
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  39. Hi Tracey You'll have to buy a proprietary deodoriser, such as Febreze or Neutradol. Anyone else know any good natural solutions?
    Posted by Lucy 4Homes Ed on 15/08/2008 14:57:06
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  40. hi aggie ive got aproblem with spilt milk and its gone into the wood of my cupboards and the smell is terrible can you help ive tried bleach,vinegar,boiling soapy water and scrubing with a nail brush the smell still hasnt gone. thanks
    Posted by tracey thompson on 13/08/2008 22:17:26
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  41. Hi I was wondering if you know of a quick way of getting rid of the smell of nicotine from a room that has been smoked in for a long time?
    Posted by Shaun on 13/08/2008 21:04:51
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