IF YOUR home is looking as though it needs some TLC but you constantly feel as though you never have time to clean it, you’ve come to the right place.
We spoke to Kathleen Bell, smol’s sustainable cleaning expert, to get her ‘lazy girl guide’ on cleaning.
Whether it’s doing the washing up, laundry or cleaning your kitchen surfaces, luckily for you, Kathleen has shared her handy tips and tricks.
Not only will this guide save you money, but it’ll make your life much easier too.
After all, no-one wants to spend their precious free time on their hands and knees scrubbing for hours, do they?
Kathleen explained: “‘Cleanfluencers’ have had their time in the spotlight and, while there’s nothing wrong with wanting to keep the house tidy, daily cleaning – often using products with harsh chemicals – can be incredibly damaging to our environment and potentially to our health.
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“Plus, not everyone has the time for a daily deep clean!”
Lazy girl guide to washing up
Thanks to Kathleen, she has shared with us her ‘lazy girl guide to doing the washing up’ and not only will it make your life easier, but it will also save you money too.
The expert explained: “Many of us have had partners or housemates that when questioned about the pile of dishes in the sink will reply that they’re “leaving them to soak”.
“But soaking your dishes before cleaning is actually a great way to use less water and energy before scrubbing.
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“This is because hot soapy water helps to loosen debris in a much more efficient way than running under the tap.
“However, in order to be lazier when it comes to cleaning, you do have to act fast when it comes to soaking (sort of like being a little bit high maintenance so you can be low maintenance).
“Scrape any leftovers and excess grease over the bin before adding to the sink and then place your dishes in the hot soapy water straight away to avoid food hardening and drying out – it's always easier to tackle things when they’re fresh!
“Here is my perfect five step system for an easy and cost effective clean.
“Firstly, scrape off any excess food or grease into the bin.
“Next, you want to have two separate washing up bowls or a split sink and fill one side with hot soapy water. Fill a second bowl (or half-sink) with clean hot water without any soap.
“SOAK. Here is where you can take five whilst your hot soapy water does all the work.
“Wash up! Start with your cleanest items (like water glasses) to help keep the water cleaner for longer and avoid multiple refills of your washing up bowl or sink.
“Use the second bowl of clean hot water for rinsing off all the suds before leaving items to air dry or using a tea-towel that can be washed and reused.”
Lazy girl guide to laundry
If doing the washing is something you dread, fear not, as thankfully Kathleen has shared her ‘lazy girl guide to doing the laundry.’
She said: “We Brits are often guilty of over-cleaning our clothes; research from smol found almost one in five of us regularly wash clothes that aren’t even dirty.
“So my top tip for lazy girl laundry? Just don’t do it!
“Lazy girl laundry first starts with rethinking your understanding of “dirty” when it comes to your clothes.
“Unless it’s underwear, you’ve been sweating or they’re visibly dirty (more than a couple of spots), most of our clothes don’t need washing as often as we might think.
“Getting more wear out of clothes means less laundry for you and it also helps keep your clothing looking better for longer too!”
If you want to get another wear out of your clothes, without compromising on cleanliness, according to Kathleen, it is pretty simple.
She advised: “Shake it out – Taking clothes off and giving them a shake before hanging them up to air is a great way to ensure they’re ready for wear the next day.
“As the weather gets warmer, hanging clothes near an open window will allow faint smells to fade more quickly.
“The nose knows – You can tell pretty quickly if clothes are suitable for another wear with a quick sniff test!
“Hardier fabrics (e.g. not silks etc) that might be on the edge of smelling can even be refreshed with some essential oils added to a spray bottle – just mist over the fabric and allow it to air out.
“Steam dream – Another easy way to freshen up clothes is with steam. If you’re already doing the ironing, make the most of the energy by also using the steam to refresh previously worn items.
“Similarly, if you’re taking a hot shower, you can even hang clothes in the bathroom to make the most of the steam created – no energy wasted!
“Spot clean – Small stains and spillages don’t always need to be added to the main load. Instead, spot clean and leave to dry before wearing again.
“Saving an item from staining requires quick action; remove as much of the stain as possible by scraping off any excess solids and use cold water (hot water will set the stain) over the area to loosen the stain.”
Lazy girl guide to cleaning the house
Finally, if you haven’t given your home a good scrub in a while and are wondering where to start, Kathleen has made things super simple for you.
She noted: “The big brands have led you to believe that more is more when it comes to the products in your cupboard but that simply isn’t the case!
“You can still get an effective clean with just a few products so I would suggest cutting down on the number of “specialised” products, and opting for a great all-rounder.
“Multipurpose sprays are a great choice if you’re looking for an easy and cost-effective way to keep on top of your cleaning.
“Be it kitchen, bathroom, living room – an all-purpose cleaner can help you tackle a variety of messes without having to return to the cupboard or swap cloths.
“As with any product, it’s a good idea to first check if the product is safe to use on the surface you’re cleaning before you use it.
“A subscription service is another great idea if you want more convenience when it comes to your cleaning.
“Have your products delivered straight to your door, and have one less thing to think about as your subscription plan means new products arrive before you run out or amend your order with a few clicks of a mouse.”
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