What's your favourite thing to clean?
A: The kitchen because I love cooking. I like making a mess and then cleaning it all up. And I like laundry too. Washing machines are magic! It still feels a treat to have one. The occasional jobs are the best for me, not the boring regular ones.
K: I just like cleaning full stop. It is easier if you don't have kids, though - you can't have everything spotless when you have them. But there's a difference between filth and untidiness.
And your least favourite?
A: Vacuuming - as soon as you've finished it's dirty again, and I'm always afraid the vacuum cleaner is going to injure me. And I hate changing bed sheets.
K: I hate cleaning baths - it's like doing seven sinks, and in all this hot weather I've really hated making the bed, too.
What with your top tips on using natural cleaning substances like vinegar and lemon juice, how do you feel about shop-bought cleaning products?
A: There are too many products on the shelves - they confuse people and they end up with too many bottles. It becomes a waste of money because you only really need two or three - it should be simple.
Kim Woodburn
Your solutions are greener too...
A: Yes, I think we promote a more green way of doing things. I just don't like using harsh, toxic chemicals - if you can avoid then you should and you should think about what you're doing to the planet.
Do you think that it's possible to be too clean by not exposing our immune systems to common germs?
A: No, I don't agree. I don't advocate living in a crumb-free, bacteria-free environment - particularly families. Someone in a household that's obsessed with cleaning can really upset the balance. And unless you live in a bubble, you're always mixing with bacteria outside your home anyway. It's all about finding a balance.
K: I mean, a few germs don't do kids any harm - I used to play marbles on the pavement. But the filthy stuff we see, like toilets covered in faeces and five year old sheets, that's pushing it too far.
Any advice for getting that balance?
A: It's hard, actually. It depends on your nature. Certainly, once you have children you have to lower your standards. My two boys are always bringing their friends around, and they always brush their hands down the wall as they come down the stairs. But as long as your kitchen and bathroom are clean and you're cutting down on clutter, it's all OK. Before Christmas I have a big cleanout to get rid of their old toys, books and videos to make room for new ones. That's a good tip!
Were you surprised at what you found at Ealing Hospital?
A: They were very aware we were coming so they got their act together beforehand, but I think the chief executive is doing a fantastic job. It all comes down to funding, and cleaning is just one element of it all.
K: I wasn't surprised, really. The new chief executive has only just started but she's already made massive changes.
A: But with regard to MRSA, it's not about the floors and the corridors, it's about hand contact. That's the message we need to get out. Everyone - visitors as well as the staff - needs to use the alcohol hand gel.
K: We went into a doctor's staff room and not one of them after eating their sarnies washed their hands.
A: It's not difficult for everyone to wash their hands, and if they do, MRSA would be beaten.
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