5 best ways to keep your home clean and germ free

5 best ways to keep your home clean and germ free

Having a clean home is important for both your physical and mental health. Not only does a clean home look and feel better, but it also helps reduce the number of germs and bacteria in your living space. However, keeping your home clean can be challenging with kids and pets or with a busy lifestyle. So here are some simple tips to help you keep your home clean and clutter-free.

Remove shoes at the door

One of the best ways to keep your home clean is to remove shoes at the door. This will prevent dirt, mud, pollen, animal waste and other contaminants from entering your living space. It also helps reduce tracking of allergens throughout the house. Additionally, if you have kids or pets that play on the floor, removing shoes before coming inside reduces their exposure to dangerous chemicals from outdoor surfaces. If you want to take it one step further, you can even opt for a no-shoe policy in your home!

Use sanitising laundry detergent

Doing laundry is one of those chores that never seem to end! To ensure that your clothes are clean and free of germs and bacteria, use a laundry sanitiser. This will not only kill bacteria and germs but also remove odours from your clothes. Your clothes are constantly exposed to contaminants in the air and on surfaces, so a good quality laundry detergent will help keep them clean and hygienic by killing any micro-organisms in them.

Dust and vacuum regularly

Dusting and vacuuming are essential tasks that need to be done regularly. Dusting helps to reduce the presence of allergens, pet dander, and other irritants in your home. It also keeps surfaces looking nice and clean. Vacuuming can help remove dirt, dust, hair, and other debris that have accumulated on carpets and floors. In addition, vacuuming will help keep the air in your home clean, as sweeping the floors will cause particles to become airborne, which can be inhaled by you and your family.

Mop floors regularly

Mopping floors is essential for removing any dirt or debris that has been tracked in on feet or paws during the day’s activities. For the best results, use a steam mop which will kill any bacteria and germs that may be lurking on your floors. Depending on how much foot traffic you have in your home, consider mopping every other day or once a week to keep things looking fresh and clean.

Clean counter-tops every day

Kitchen counter-tops are breeding grounds for bacteria since they come into contact with food particles and cooking utensils daily. To ensure that these counter-tops stay germ-free, wipe them down with an all-purpose cleaner or a solution of equal parts water and white vinegar daily. In addition, invest in some anti-bacterial wipes so you can quickly sanitise surfaces like doorknobs or taps when needed.

If you find it difficult to keep on top of the cleaning and tidying on your own, you could always hire a professional cleaner – to get help, click here now.

By following these simple tips, you’ll find it easier to keep your home clean and clutter-free. And at the same time, you’ll also be helping to ensure the health and safety of everyone in your home!

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Price Points: Face masks

Face masks | H is for Home

Have you been feeling wary about going out in public during the current lock-down? Wearing gloves and face masks to work, the supermarket and on public transport can help.

We’ve selected three face, face masks; no, that’s not a typo! They’re not just your plain, simple examples – something a little different with a bit of character.

To be completely honest, the ‘smile’ face mask gives me the creeps somewhat… although it’s probably a good remedy to my ‘resting b*tch face‘!

The tiger face mask is great if you want to encourage the kids to wear masks when they’re out in public spaces – and the cute matching ears are a bonus!

My personal favourites, though, are the ones that will shortly be available from Disney. They feature the faces of various characters from the Marvel, Pixar, Star Wars and Frozen blockbusters; Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, R2D2, Hulk and many more…

Disney is donating one million cloth face masks for children and families in underserved and vulnerable communities across the U.S. that will be distributed by MedShare (www.medshare.org). Due to overwhelming demand, we’re thrilled to share that we have reached our goal of raising $1 million in profits from the sales of our cloth face masks, which will be donated to MedShare to support the medical community’s ongoing efforts to provide lifesaving care to those in need.

  1. Smile face mask: £7.63, Etsy
  2. Tiger face mask: £12.00. NOTHS
  3. Disney face masks (S, M or L): $19.99 on pre-order, Disney

shop face masks

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Disney face masks
Disney face masks
$19.99
Tiger face mask
Tiger face mask
£12.00
Smile face mask
Smile face mask
£7.63
Disney face masks
Disney face masks
$19.99
Tiger face mask
Tiger face mask
£12.00
Smile face mask
Smile face mask
£7.63
Disney face masks
Disney face masks
$19.99
Tiger face mask
Tiger face mask
£12.00
Smile face mask
Smile face mask
£7.63
Disney face masks
Disney face masks
$19.99
Tiger face mask
Tiger face mask
£12.00
Smile face mask
Smile face mask
£7.63
Disney face masks
Disney face masks
$19.99
Tiger face mask
Tiger face mask
£12.00
Smile face mask
Smile face mask
£7.63

Price Points: Natural soap bars

Three natural soap bars | H is for Home

We have a bio-digester at our new house – a drainage & waste system that we’d had no experience of previously. Basically, over time, natural bacteria breaks down waste in a series of tanks. It means that anything that goes down the sinks or loo has to be completely natural so as not to harm the bacteria or upset the balance of the system.

We have to source suitable bathing, laundry and cleaning products, but we’ve got used to it quite quickly… and there are lots of lovely products out there from which to choose. This week, we installed a couple of those wall-mounted vintage soap trays in the cottage; an old pottery one in the kitchen and a shabby chic enamel one in the garden room. Each will hold a nail brush and a bar of soap – useful at any time, but particularly so now with the current emphasis on handwashing.

Perhaps you have a bio-digester system too…. or just like the idea of completely natural soap bars with no harsh additives. So, here are three of our favourite natural soap bars from our shopping search. 

  1. Dr Bronner’s All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Almond Bar soap, 140g: £5.35, Feel Unique

    Warm, comforting and slightly sweet—like marzipan or amaretto! Our Almond Pure-Castile Bar Soap is made with certified fair trade ingredients and organic hemp oil for a soft, smooth lather that won’t dry your skin. 100% biodegradable in a 100% post-consumer recycled wrapper.
    Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Bar Soaps are biodegradable-vegan, gentle and versatile, good for washing body, face or hair!

  2. UpCircle chocolate charcoal chai soap bar, 100g: £6.99, Holland & Barrett

    Gently exfoliating soap to brighten and nourish face and body. Activated charcoal draws out toxins and tightens pores. Cacao extract boosts skin radiance resulting in brighter looking skin. A gently-exfoliating soap to brighten and nourish both face and body. Skin is left cleansed without feeling dry. Certified Organic, 100% natural, vegan and cruelty-free. Made in UK. Reused, repurposed, reloved. This soap is made with residual chai spices used to create chai syrup.

  3. Aleppo original soap (50% laurel oil and 50% olive oil), 200g: £13.75, Amazon

    Aleppo soap also known as savon d’Alep, laurel soap, Syrian soap, or ghar soap, is a handmade, hard bar soap associated with the city of Aleppo, Syria. Aleppo soap is classified as a Castile soap as it is a hard soap made from olive oil and lye, from which it is distinguished by the inclusion of laurel oil. As it is produced only from natural oils, Aleppo soap is biodegradable. It can be used daily as soap for washing and shampooing, as face mask, as shaving cream and for bathing infants and babies. Laurel oil is an effective cleanser, antimicrobial, anti-fungal and anti-itching agent.

shop natural soap bars

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Aleppo original soap (50% laurel oil and 50% olive oil), 200g
Aleppo original soap (50% laurel oil and 50% olive oil), 200g
£13.75
UpCircle chocolate charcoal chai soap bar, 100g
UpCircle chocolate charcoal chai soap bar, 100g
£6.99
Dr Bronner’s All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Almond Bar soap, 140g
Dr Bronner’s All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Almond Bar soap, 140g
£5.35
Aleppo original soap (50% laurel oil and 50% olive oil), 200g
Aleppo original soap (50% laurel oil and 50% olive oil), 200g
£13.75
UpCircle chocolate charcoal chai soap bar, 100g
UpCircle chocolate charcoal chai soap bar, 100g
£6.99
Dr Bronner’s All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Almond Bar soap, 140g
Dr Bronner’s All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Almond Bar soap, 140g
£5.35
Aleppo original soap (50% laurel oil and 50% olive oil), 200g
Aleppo original soap (50% laurel oil and 50% olive oil), 200g
£13.75
UpCircle chocolate charcoal chai soap bar, 100g
UpCircle chocolate charcoal chai soap bar, 100g
£6.99
Dr Bronner’s All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Almond Bar soap, 140g
Dr Bronner’s All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Almond Bar soap, 140g
£5.35
Aleppo original soap (50% laurel oil and 50% olive oil), 200g
Aleppo original soap (50% laurel oil and 50% olive oil), 200g
£13.75
UpCircle chocolate charcoal chai soap bar, 100g
UpCircle chocolate charcoal chai soap bar, 100g
£6.99
Dr Bronner’s All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Almond Bar soap, 140g
Dr Bronner’s All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Almond Bar soap, 140g
£5.35
Aleppo original soap (50% laurel oil and 50% olive oil), 200g
Aleppo original soap (50% laurel oil and 50% olive oil), 200g
£13.75
UpCircle chocolate charcoal chai soap bar, 100g
UpCircle chocolate charcoal chai soap bar, 100g
£6.99
Dr Bronner’s All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Almond Bar soap, 140g
Dr Bronner’s All-One Hemp Pure-Castile Almond Bar soap, 140g
£5.35