How To Clean The Most-Googled Messes

According to a survey conducted by David Wilson Homes, we spend about three and a half hours (or roughly one week a year) cleaning our houses.

But just because we spend a long time chasing it, doesn’t mean that all of us know the best way to get our home truly gleaming.

Google searches for how to clean everything from your washing machine to the mould on your walls appear to be on the up (and up, and up…).

Thankfully, cleaning expert Sarah Dewison from North West Commercial Cleans has paired with David Wilson Holmes to help answer some of the most searched-for cleaning queries.

When I last looked at the grubby washing powder drawer in my machine, I was left with the inevitable question – “Who washes the washer?”

Well, Dewison says, that should ideally be us, about every one to three months.

“You should aim to clean your washing machine once a month using a hot wash setting to help remove limescale build-up,” she said.

“You can either use specialised cleaning products or, for a homemade option, pour a little white vinegar into the detergent drawer alongside sprinkling a small amount of soda crystals into the machine drum.”

David Wilson Holmes reported that this has about 8,100 monthly searches, which makes sense. As the weather turned wet and cold, and while we’re less inclined to open our windows, spores have the chance to take hold.

“A common method is to mix one part bleach with four parts water and use a cloth to gently scrub the surface clean,” Dewison said.

“Baking soda can also be used mixed with water; this is particularly effective to use… to help prevent mould from growing back,” she added.

Make sure you never mix baking soda with bleach and wait a long time between using them in the same area, however.

For serious structural damp, cleaning alone will not solve the issue.

If burnt-on food and a slick layer of oil have plagued your favourite cooking tool, Dewison has good news and bad news.

“The removal basket and tray can easily be cleaned after each use using hot soapy water,” she explained. Easy!

But, she continued, “The interior of an air fryer can be trickier to clean”.

Still, “tricky” is not impossible.

“A good method is to place a small bowl of soapy water into the drawer and turn it on at a low temperature for several minutes.

“The produced steam will help loosen any grease and grime that can be wiped away using a damp cloth.”