What are the best eco swaps you can make at home? Bishan, West Midlands

I’m a massive fan of using what’s already in your cleaning cupboards at home, rather than always running to the supermarket to buy the latest cleaning product.

A juicy lemon and a bit of bicarbonate of soda makes a fabulous scrubber for the oven, for stainless steel and some of those really grimy jobs. White vinegar is absolutely amazing at banishing hard water marks and limescale. Soda crystals, which you may already have in your laundry cupboard, are a really good degreaser.

What are your top daily cleaning habits that people can stick to without feeling burnt out? Elliot, London

Always air and make your bed every day. If you make your bed, it literally transforms your bedroom and it sets you up for the day.

Never go to work with a pile of dirty dishes in your sink. Nobody wants to walk home from work exhausted at 5pm to a pile of breakfast dishes. And always run the vacuum around those high traffic areas, so it feels like your home is really clean.

What’s the first thing you should do if you spill something tricky to remove, like red wine? TJ, London

Spillages happen all the time. If you spill the dreaded red wine, don’t panic and don’t grab a bottle of white wine and pour it over the top. It doesn’t actually work.

You need to grab yourself some cold water. Always think when removing stains that heat will set the stain and cold water will help release it.

You want a cold soapy cloth and you want some salt that you pop on your dinner. Apply the salt to the stain, put the wet cloth over the top and gently bang using your hand so you start to lift the stain out of your carpet. A couple of attempts and the red wine will disappear.

How do you get rid of stubborn odours in the home? Half, London

Stubborn odours in the home can be a real pain, especially if you’ve got pets. Those pet smells can really linger. My top tip is to constantly clean. I’m not talking everyday, but just keep on top of the pet beds, pet bedding, pet throws, and those sorts of things. Throw open the windows and let the fresh air do the work for you.

Use a good fabric refresher. You can make your own using essential oils or water, or a favourite of mine is from Marks and Spencer. They really do help.

When it comes to cooking smells that can really linger, you can cut an onion in half and place it somewhere in the kitchen and the onion will absorb the odours. What will happen is the onion will start to shrink, so you know that it’s really taking them in.

Alternatively, pop a pan on the hob with some white vinegar. You don’t need much, just cover the bottom. Leave it on a gentle simmer for about 15 minutes and let the white vinegar absorb those horrible kitchen smells.

My nice white tops have yellow stains from suncream and deodorant. Any tips to get them sparkling white again? Clarissa, South East

I love wearing white, but one thing that can be a pain is yellow stains from either sun cream or from sweating. The best solution for this if you’ve got sweat stains on a white T-shirt is to get your hair shampoo. This is a great pre-stain treatment. It will get those stains out straight away.

For the sun cream stains, you need to use good old white vinegar. Spray it liberally on the stain. Leave it overnight ideally and then just wash as normal tomorrow.

Finally, if you get some sun cream on your top when you’re out and about, hand sanitiser is a perfect quick fix.

I hate cleaning. Any tips on how to help me get through? Ali, South West

Now I am in the minority and I absolutely love cleaning. I love to see those before and after results. But when you hate it, it’s really hard to get motivated.

I designed the 15-Minute Clean method a few years ago and it works fantastically. Set your timer to five, 10 or 15 minutes. Choose a room and do as much as you can. Working against a timer is a great way to motivate you. You can use your oven as a timer, your phone, or you can just use a couple of your favourite songs. Music really helps get you motivated as well.

And what I would say is, don’t ever put pressure on yourself to do too much. If you live with other people, make sure you do delegate cleaning tasks, especially the ones that you hate.

What’s the best way to clean windows? Louise, Yorkshire

Don’t do it on a sunny day. If you’re cleaning your windows with a beautiful blue sky and the sun is beaming down, as soon as the product hits, you’re going to create streaks, because the sun dries the products automatically.

Choose to go outside on a dull, overcast day. Use a bowl of warm, soapy water with a dash of white vinegar and a good thick microfibre cloth for the first application. Then, when you dry, you want a lint-free microfibre cloth, so it doesn’t leave behind any of those pesky fibres.

Another tip is always to work in an S-shaped pattern and that will give you that perfect streak-free finish.

Any tips on dealing with limescale? Marc, East of England

My go-to product for limescale is white vinegar.

If you’ve got limescale on the end of a tap, drench a piece of kitchen roll in vinegar, wrap it around the bottom, and leave it for about 20 to 25 minutes. Then remove the kitchen roll and your limescale should have vanished.

Use white vinegar mixed with washing up liquid to keep your shower screen limescale-free.

How do you keep a house dust-free? Anna, South East

Keeping a house dust-free, especially if it’s a busy household, is actually quite difficult. Dust falls like snow, so every day you dust, it’s going to come back the next day.

When vacuuming, just make sure that your vacuum is cleaned and the HEPA filter is dust-free, so it’s not pushing out dust as you are vacuuming. That can be the main culprit of extra dust landing in your house.

Use a damp microfibre cloth for general daily dusting and try not to use too much product, which actually encourages the dust to sit in it, further causing you more dust in the long run.

Unfortunately, we are always going to have dust. Nobody lives in a completely dust free home.

As warmer weather approaches, homeowners are taking their garden furniture out of storage to prepare their gardens for summer.

But green thumbed individuals are being urged not to commit a common mistake with their tables and chairs that can lead to mould, rust or rotting and could damage your grass. 

Matthew Lock, a garden furniture specialist at Luxus Home and Garden revealed that placing wooden furniture on the lawn can cause damage to the item and your grass.

How to Get Rid of These Common Garden Pests

This is because prolonged exposure to moisture from the grass can damage the wooden legs or table and chairs which can lead to damp stains, mould or rot.

If you place metal outdoor furniture on grass, Matthew also warns it could cause these items to rust too.

Mathew also warns that putting your table on grass in the summertime can damage your lawn as the heavy item can prevent sunlight and air reaching it.

This may eventually lead to your grass dying, leaving you with ‘dead patches’ all over your lawn.

To combat these issues, Matthew says garden furniture should be placed on a decked area or patio if possible.

If you’re not able to avoid putting your table and chairs on the grass, you should use protective gliders and make sure the wooden feet don’t directly touch the damp earth below.

To prevent your lawn from dying, he suggests rotating your garden furniture regularly to ensure all your grass gets exposure to the elements.

Matthew said: “Garden furniture can be an integral part of making our outdoor spaces a comfortable and enjoyable place to be. 

“However, it’s important to consider where you can maximise its functionality and keep it protected from the elements. 

“A common mistake many homeowners make is to place wooden garden furniture on the lawn, which can damage both the item and the grass. 

“Prolonged exposure to moisture can damage a wooden item’s legs and can lead to damp stains, mould or rot, while metal furniture can be prone to rusting. 

“On top of that, leaving heavy items on the lawn can harm the grass, preventing sunlight and air from reaching it and eventually leaving behind dead patches. 

“The best place to locate garden furniture is on a stable surface such as a decked area or patio. 

“If this isn’t possible and it must be on the lawn, it’s best to choose items that have protective gliders or feet at the bottom to prevent wood from being directly exposed to damp turf. 

“It’s also a good idea to rotate locations regularly to prevent dead patches on your lawn.”

Now that spring is in full swing, attention is seeing more Brits spending more time in outdoor spaces. 

Homeowners are being advised that it now appears to be a good time to take garden furniture out of storage if it has been kept inside or under covers through the winter. 

Good-quality wooden items can last decades if cared for properly, including regular cleaning and maintenance. 

Matthew said: “A deep clean with warm, soapy water and a soft bristle brush can make a world of difference, while an equal parts white vinegar and water solution can be used to tackle stubborn dirt or grime.  

“When the item has dried, it may be worth applying a protective sealer, which is recommended every 12 to 18 months, depending on the type of wood.”

London’s Underground network will grind to a halt next week with a Tube strike affecting all lines across four days.

The RMT union announced yesterday it had not reached an agreement with Transport for London in a dispute over Tube drivers’ hours.

Strikes will go ahead next week from Tuesday until Friday across the capital, and some days will have the double whammy of bus strikes too.

Further industrial action is in the pipeline for May and June.

Here is a roundup of what to expect next week – and how to work around the havoc.

When exactly is the Tube strike?

Although there are some gaps in how the strikes will run, in a nutshell, passengers should prepare for disruption throughout the dates.

The first wave of strikes will start from mid-morning on Tuesday, April 21, and last until midday on Wednesday, April 22.

TfL says services are expected to recover throughout the afternoon, but some disruption is likely until the evening.

On Thursday, April 23, the London Underground will begin to close from later morning, with ‘significant’ disruption on all lines until midday, Friday, April 24, TfL warned.

While services are set to begin recovering on Friday afternoon and evening, if you can work from home, this is definitely the time to do so.

The Elizabeth line, Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and the Overground will run as normal, but they will be extremely busy.

Rental e-bikes on ‘standby’ for Tube strikes

Strikelists dominated the streets of London during the week-long strike last autumn, with emotions running high over riding etiquette and even snatched pedals.

And next week could see another rush for Santander, Lime and Forest bikes.

Lime has stepped up its operations to meet increased demand next week, including increased foot patrols and drivers on standby to boost batteries and balance out overcrowded bays, Metro understands.

Alex Berwin, head of policy at Forest, which runs a fleet of e-bikes in 18 London boroughs, told Metro that all hands are on deck to prepare for an expected spike in demand, especially at known hotspots like stations and commuter hubs.

Last year’s strike saw demand more than double during rush hour, and a similar trend is expected next week, he said.

London bus strike dates confirmed

Some of the Tube strikes will coincide with industrial action taken by Stagecoach Unite members working for TfL.

It will affect seven routes – 8, 25, 205, 425, N8, N25 and N205 – and severe delays and cancellations are expected if the strike goes ahead.

Why are there strikes on London Underground?

RMT members working as Tube drivers are in dispute with the London Underground management over a condensed four-day week.

Under the plan, which RMT says is being imposed, drivers would have to work full week’s hours in four days.

RMT’s general secretary Eddie Dempsey said the plan raises concerns around fatigue, safety and work-life balance.

TfL said previously it will continue to work constructively with the trade unions to avoid disruption and address concerns.

Metro approached TfL and RMT for an update, but neither can comment at this stage of the ongoing negotiations.

Are you concerned about the Tube strike and how you get around? Please email noora.mykkanen@metro.co.uk

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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Now, they take on their local rivals, who are also on the hunt for an unlikely European place. David Moyes has led his men to 10th in the table, and they are just one point off sixth-placed Chelsea. A win here would propel today’s hosts into Europa League contention above Liam Rosenior’s Blues, and have them just two points worse off than Liverpool. Stay tuned with all the latest from the Hill Dickinson Stadium with our live blog.

Robots competed in a half marathon race in Beijing on Sunday, with the winning machine leaving its human rivals for dust.

The winning robot, Lightning, was developed by Chinese smartphone maker Honor and finished the race in 50 minutes and 26 seconds, according to race organisers.

Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo holds the men’s half marathon world record, which he set in March in Lisbon with a time of 57 minutes and 20 seconds.

Around 40% of the robots raced autonomously, while the others were remotely controlled.

He told Sky News: “The thing that I think Labour MPs should think about quite carefully now is their Government has been a bit of a failure, frankly, on the economy, on so much, and it’s in chaos, in the way that Conservatives were in chaos, in perpetual crisis, and I don’t think they can get out of that unless Keir Starmer moves aside.”

Tottenham Hotspur has issued a strong condemnation of the “vile, dehumanising racism” aimed at defender Kevin Danso, which followed Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Brighton.

The abuse surfaced after Danso was implicated in the concession of Georginio Rutter’s stoppage-time equaliser, a result that left Spurs languishing in the Premier League relegation zone.

The club has confirmed that it has reported the racist abuse, received via social media, to the police.

In a statement, Tottenham said that the incidents occurred during the Premier League’s dedicated “No Room For Racism” weekend.

“Since yesterday’s fixture against Brighton… Kevin Danso has been, and continues to be, subject to significant and abhorrent racist abuse on social media,” the club said.

They labelled such behaviour as “without doubt a criminal offence” and said that it “will not be tolerated”.

Tottenham are pursuing “immediate action”, reporting all identified content to the Metropolitan Police, as well as to the appropriate authorities in the countries where perpetrators reside, and to the relevant social media platforms.

The club have pledged to “push for the strongest possible action against each and every person we identify”.

They also affirmed their “complete and unconditional support” for Danso, stating: “No one at this club will ever stand alone in the face of this.

“Nothing about form or league position can ever excuse or explain racist abuse. There is no connection between performance on the pitch and the right to target a player with discrimination. Criticism of performances is part of the game. Racism is not.”

In February, an “appalling weekend” rocked English football after four players were subjected to racist abuse on their social media accounts following recent matches.

Chelsea defender Wesley Fofana and Burnley midfielder Hannibal Mejbri both shared images of racist messages they privately received on Instagram after their teams’ 1-1 draw at Stamford Bridge.

Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Tolu Arokodare also displayed racially aggravated messages sent to him on Instagram following a 1-0 loss at Crystal Palace, a game in which he had a penalty saved.

And last week, Sunderland condemned racist abuse directed towards Brian Brobbey on social media and offered the striker their full support.

The club said Brobbey was targeted online after the Black Cats’ 1-0 win over Tottenham in the Premier League.

Spring is a season of transition, as lingering winter influences are gradually replaced by increasing warmth.

The days get longer, the sun is higher in the sky with plants responding to this increased sunlight and rise in temperatures.

Snowdrops and daffodils give way to tulips and bluebells, and the speed and intensity of spring’s blooms are highly influenced by the weather.

This year much of the UK started spring with plenty of moisture in the soil after a wetter than average winter. Met Office figures show that March delivered some notably warm weather for England and Wales in particular, alongside plenty of sunshine.

Will we ever see Steph Miligan again in Emmerdale?

Maybe, but chances are she’ll have a different face, as Georgia Jay has reportedly left the ITV soap during her maternity leave and has no plans to return.

While her departure was initially believed to be temporary, it’s since become a permanent one, as Georgia has quit the show to focus on motherhood.

Fans had previously expressed their excitement when Georgia took to Instagram, sharing an image taken on the Emmerdale set, and those hoping for a Steph return were later sent into another tizzy when Georgia shared a picture of a trip to the hairdressers, with a blurred-out script set out in front of her.

Steph’s time in Emmerdale

Steph’s tenure in the Yorkshire Dales was marked by two big plots: her relationship with Ross Barton (Mike Parr) and the discovery that that her beloved grandfather Anthony Fox (Nicholas Day) was actually her biological father and not Caleb Miligan (William Ash), after he abused her mum,

Ross and Steph had formed quite a bond after getting together initially through a combination of lust and Steph wanting to wind her parents up. The relationship evolved into one of genuine affection on both sides, but it was completely upended when she discovered the truth of her parentage.

In the aftermath of discovering Anthony’s abuse and that he’d been killed by her mum, Steph became fixated on her resemblance to him and was so desperate she even tried to have surgery to alter her appearance. Ross wanted to support her through this hard time, but she pushed him away, though she did begin going to therapy to try to help her move on. 

Steph and Ross later reunited, with his brother, Lewis Barton (Bradley Riches), playing cupid for them, though their reunion hinged on Ross’ declaration that there hadn’t been anyone else in his life since he and Steph broke up.

The biggest problem being that their was, as he’d had a fling with Manpreet Sharma (Rebecca Sarker) who unknowingly revealed all to Lewis and Ruby, meaning it was only a matter of time before word got back to Steph.

Poor Steph, who had worked hard to tell herself that she could trust Ross again, was devastated shoved him straight in the bin. Reeling and wounded, Steph told her parents that she’d booked a yoga retreat in Rome, needing to get away from the village for a while. Though Ross tried to get her to change her mind, Steph made it clear she didn’t want to be anywhere near him.

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Georgia takes maternity leave

Steph’s exit was written to facilitate Georgia Jay’s maternity leave, following the announcement she was expecting her first baby. Announcing her pregnancy on Instagram, Georgia wrote: ‘As you’ve probably guessed, I’ve got some news to share! I know some of you have been wondering if you’ve been seeing a little bump on screen lately… well, it’s not your imagination…I’m having a baby!’.

She added: ‘We’ve never been so excited and a little nervous all at once. Thank you for all the love and support.’

Would you be up for a Steph recast?

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Georgia has no plans to return

A source told The Sun this week that: ‘Georgia loved her time at Emmerdale but she has no plans to return now. 

‘She’s loving being a mum, and that’s her focus for now. Obviously, she’s open to opportunities but returning to a full-on soap schedule full-time is just not something she can do at the moment.’

While this doesn’t mean the end of Steph, with Soapworld being one of frequent recasts, it does seem to draw a line under Georgia’s time with the show, and should Steph re-emerge in the Dales, she could look entirely different.

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Wales head coach Steve Tandy is now sweating on a trio of players for this summer’s schedule

Wales fly-half Jarrod Evans was taken off the pitch in agony on Saturday during Harlequins’ defeat to Bath.

Just before the midway point of the second half the former Cardiff No10 suffered a painful shoulder injury which required immediate medical attention.

Evans sustained the injury while attempting a tackle on Bath’s Josh Bayliss, who ultimately went over to score. His arm was placed in a makeshift sling by club staff, using his shirt for support.

Evans was one of three players who were forced off the field during the match at The Rec, with Cadan Murley and Nick David also unable to continue.

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“Poor Quins, poor Jarrod Evans, it’s horrible, this,” said David Flatman on TNT Sports commentary.

Quins came into this fixture with 27 players unavailable through injury and events in the West Country will only compound the issues for head coach Jason Gilmore.

He won’t be the only one concerned about Evans’ injury, with Wales head coach Steve Tandy likely to be keeping close tabs on his prognosis.

Tandy is already sweating on the fitness of fellow fly-half Sam Costelow, who has undergone surgery and faces a race to be fit for Wales’ Nations Championship campaign against Fiji, Argentina and South Africa this summer.

Tandy was in attendance to watch Cardiff pip Scarlets to the post in the Welsh derby at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday night and he saw Mason Grady leave the field with a grim injury, to give him a trio of concerns.

The Wales wing/centre was forced off with a bone sticking out of his hand to extend the powerful utility’s man run of bad luck when it comes to injuries.

“He’s picked up a fracture in his thumb,” said Cardiff head coach Corniel van Zyl.

“It’s not great.

“It’s a pity because I thought he was going to score that try but he had broken his hand.”