Wednesday 18 February 2015

How To Clean Glass Cookware.




Casseroles are quick and easy ways to make healthy, nutritious meals, pop in the oven or the slow cooker before going to work, even make the night before, come home and dinner can be served with very little effort.

So after saving on time and lots of washing up whilst preparing your casserole, why would you waste time standing at the sink trying to scrub the dish clean?

Trust me, no amount of putting it back into the dishwasher will remove that burnt on gravy, ( I've tried ) and whilst it's not the end of the world, nothing looks quite so unappetizing as a grubby, dirty dish, I'm a fusspot I know.


Here's how to get your glass dishware sparkling clean, the easy way.


1. Place dish in the sink, or on the drainer and generously sprinkle bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) onto the base. 





2. Fill the dish to the rim with hot water and leave to soak overnight. I'm not saying you can't leave it for less time, I prefer to let it soak, the longer the better.




3. The next morning use hot water and washing up liquid to simply wash clean with a dishcloth.



No sign of the chicken chasseur remain and no scrubbing went into getting it sparkling clean again.

You can use this method on your saucepans and roasting tins too. Here are 60 ways to use baking soda  (bicarbonate of soda)  in your home and garden.

For more cleaning tips you might like to take a look at our Pinterest board.

Posted by Julia Poole owner and Elite cleaner.



Wednesday 4 February 2015

5 Things You Touch Every Day That Are Dirtier Than A Toilet.



Cleaning the toilet is considered a dirty job by many and according to a poll carried out for Radio 4 Women's Hour, 37% of respondents claimed it to be the least favorite household chore.

But did you know that there are 5 things you touch every day, without a second thought, that are more contaminated with bacteria than the average toilet?



                                      

1. Money

There are more germs on a £1 coin than on a regularly cleaned toilet seat and the average bank note is home to more than 26,000 bacteria, which could be potentially harmful to health. How many times have you witnessed people popping a bank note into their mouths?  

Tip. Wash your hands after handling money whenever possible. You can use an alcohol wipe to clean debit or credit cards. But why not opt for contactless payment where possible?

2. Shopping Trolley Handles.

Thousands of hands are touching that trolley or basket, and considering only 5% of people wash their hands after using the toilet, it's not surprising that shopping trolley handles contain more dirt and grime than the average public toilet. Ideally supermarkets who employ a cleaning service should ensure that cleaning the handles is part of the daily routine. But do they?

Tip. Some supermarkets actually provide antibacterial wet wipes, but why not take your own just in case? Pop your hand into a bag before packing loose fruit and veg into another, if you wash your produce before storing though, all the better!

3. Mobile Phones.

Mobile phones have 18 times more bacteria than a public toilet flush handle! That's shocking, but what's worse is that the bacteria can actually survive for up to a week. Viruses can easily be transferred via touching and rubbing other parts of the body such as  face, eyes and mouth.

Tip. Try not to share your phone with anyone else, don't take your phone with you to the toilet and don't forget you can clean your phone, simply wipe it down with a damp microfibre cloth.

4. Computer Keyboards.

Whether at the office or at home, you are touching your keyboard many times during the day, and although you may be washing your hands, eating at your desk and sharing your computer with other people can lead to a build up of  20,000 bacteria per square inch. Research shows that computer keyboards can be at least five times more dirty than a toilet seat. 

Tip. Clean your keyboard at least once a week. You can use an air duster, literally a can of air to clean crumbs and debris away, or give it a shake, and use antibacterial wet wipes to sanitise the keys.

5. Car Steering Wheel.

Did you know that your steering wheel has approximately 700 bacteria per square inch on it, compared to a toilet which only has 50 per square inch. 

Tip. Clean regularly using leather upholstery wipes for leather and with multipurpose or antibacterial wipes for plastic.

I prefer cleaning the toilet rather than doing the ironing, what's your least favorite household chore, and why?


Posted by Julia Poole owner and Elite Cleaner at www.elitecleaners2008.co.uk