Blue jobs v pink jobs – the big cleaning divide

With so much to squeeze into an average day, it’s no wonder many people rely on cleaning companies such as Molly Maid to keep their homes in order. Professionals have the know-how to leave everything sparkling, but what happens when men and women are forced to do the housework for themselves? Well, it seems there is such a thing as blue and pink jobs with many chores being done primarily by one sex or the other.

That’s right, according to a recent survey by Mumsnet, women do the lion’s share of work around the home with 66 per cent admitting they wouldn’t want help from their partner for fear they might do the tasks badly. Results showed that 71 per cent of working mothers are responsible for the weekly clean, 77 per cent are responsible for washing, 63 per cent do more tidying up, and 57 per cent do all or most of the ironing. 

Spooktacular Bath Time Fun

If the kids need encouragement to have a bath, which can be quite common, the best way to get them into the tub is by making cleaning fun. Shaped or character sponges, plenty of bubbles and toys can really help but I've recently discovered that the products from Mini-U help too; to the extent that I now struggle to get the kids back out as they enjoy them so much!

ElevEase - Hassle Free Leg and Foot Care

Having a shower is so much quicker and more convenient when life is busy enough, but it can be a little awkward when it comes to taking care of your feet and legs. Balancing while standing under running water to shave, exfoliate or just clean can be quite difficult at times, and not particularly safe, but ElevEase will help to eliminate your issues.

ElevEase is a foot rest designed to fit in the corner of your shower enabling you to rest a foot on it at a time while you get on with sorting whichever body parts need attention. It even has a holder for your razor so there is always one to hand - something that I quite often forget to take in with me!

It takes just a few minutes to install with the adhesive provided but requires 24 hours to dry

Eco Egg Review and Giveaway

When it comes to housework I like to cut time and costs as much as possible while doing my bit for the environment, so when I discovered Eco Egg I was pleasantly surprised. Not only has the fragrance free version been voted Gold for best Baby Skincare Product by Prima Baby & Pregnancy Magazine but it will save you money in the long run and it contains natural cleaning pellets which are tough on dirt. It's also great on delicate adult skin and is supported by the National Eczema Society PLUS it has the Allergy UK stamp. What isn't to love!

We opted for the Spring Blossom scent at £19.99, as I really love having fresh floral smelling clothes,

No More Clutter: How To Make Your Home Look More Spacious

As life gets busier and more hectic, our homes tend to reflect our erratic frame of mind. With so much to do and so little time to do it, it’s very easy to let things be, and in no time at all, you feel like the walls are closing in! Unwashed dishes, clothes on the floor, books strewn on the desk, unnecessary ornaments that you used to like – it’s no wonder you’re tripping over yourself trying to navigate your way through everyday life. Never fear – there are solutions to your chaos! A big part of de-cluttering is to organise your belongings using cabinets, shelves and other means of storage – check out www.superamart.com.au to gather some inspiration. Tackle one room at a time, and before long, your home will look and feel more spacious than ever before!

The kitchen

Everyone has a drawer full of utensils and ‘thingamajigs’. Chances are, you don’t even use half of

Organising Your Kid's Clutter

There is no task around the home more daunting than tackling a child’s bedroom in an effort to bring a little order to the chaos and introduce a system where things can be found, without the need for a grid search. And it is even more soul destroying when you realise that within hours of cleaning, the room will be once again a mess.

Children are perhaps among the most prolific hoarders on the planet, refusing to dispose of anything that has had special meaning to them while they grow up. And, let’s face it, parents aren’t so much better. Who hasn’t heard of the mother not wanting to throw out little Johnny’s first teddy bear, even as the youth now known as John is out buying his first car?

Clean the Clutter for Summer

With the sun beaming through your windows it can often show up the dust and fingerprints lurking in your lounge, so before your family and friends come knocking for garden parties galore this summer season, take just a few minutes a day to keep the cobwebs at bay. 

My simple cleaning tips might help you to become a domestic goddess in no time - they may even help you to save money in the process too!

There is no need to fear your guests popping to the loo when it is sparkling clean and fresh so just tip

4 Outdoor Cleaning Strategies for a Better, Brighter City

Nobody wants to live in a dingy, dirty city, especially not if they want to feel good about their home, and respect the area that they are spending time in. Research has shown that people who live and work in a clean city will have a better quality of life than those who are living in squalor. Not only will they enjoy better health, but their general outlook on life will be more positive. With this in mind, it is important for cities to implement strategies and programmes for ensuring that their areas are as bright and welcoming as they can be, so that their people can be happy and productive. 

Here are four outdoor cleaning strategies for a better, brighter city.

Go Green

Join the green revolution! The more trees that are in the city area, the more fresh, clean air that will be available for everyone to breathe. Start implementing strategic plans for creating green areas within the

Bar Keepers Friend - Win a years supply of cleaning products!

Launched in 1882 Bar Keepers Friend has a range of products that are great for battling grease and grime at home with minimal effort. The brand has recently relaunched with a new design and two new products - POWER Cream and POWER Spray.

 

 

 Bar Keepers Friend, containing Oxalic Acid (found in rhubarb), has a unique formula which is ideal for cleaning work surfaces, sinks, hobs and even your burnt and tarnished pans! It works on stainless steel, glass, porcelain, tiles and many other materials too to help make your spring cleaning a little easier and less time consuming!

 

 

 

POWER Spray - Suitable for kitchens, bathrooms and surfaces, this all purpose active foaming spray is great for removing light and heavier stains. It helps to remove limescale and leaves the toilet sparkling!

 

POWER Cream - Perfect for stubborn stains like felt-tip, baked on food and even rust, this cream can be squeezed onto a sponge and wiped across a variety of surfaces.

 

Stain Remover - This product cleans, restores and polishes china, marble, brass, laminates and more to eliminate soap scum, coffee and dirt.

 

 

 

 

*** WIN ***

We have a years supply of Bar Keepers Friend products to giveaway which includes the 3 products mentioned above!

For your chance to win you can enter via the Rafflecopter entry form below before 15th May 2013.

 

Good luck!

 

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Eco Force - Review and Giveaway

Wherever possible I like to do my bit for the environment and use Eco-friendly products. I also avoid the tumble dryer and dry clothes on the line and airer which saves on the electric bill too!

When EcoForce got in touch asking to review some of their household cleaning products I was therefore keen to give them a go and we were sent a variety of sponges, scourers, cloths, dusters, pegs, a washing line and the wonderful Dishmatic!

All of the EcoForce products are made from recycled materials and are greener, affordable alternatives to other household products that are available. I am eager to teach the Mini Mes about the importance of recycling so using these products helps to influence their choices in later life and sets an example for them.

The Dishmatic is a great product that allows you to have a constant flow of washing up liquid to your sponge. You simply flip up the end of the handle, insert your washing up liquid and then use the scouring head to clean dishes as usual. It has a textured handle for better grip and the sponges are replaceable when worn out. There is a softer one for Teflon or more delicate items too and it gets off dirt just like my usual sponges - I was pleased!

All of the cloths, sponges and dusters that we were sent contain atleast 97% of recycled materials and the packaging is recyclable too. The quilted cloths are highly absorbent and as they are machine washable you can use them endlessly, saving you money in the long run! The sponges are great at getting grease and tough food off of pans and the dusters have been perfect for cleaning our leather suite and the car interiors as they are soft and pick up dust well. You can use them wet or dry.

The clothes pegs are made from 93% recycled materials and as they are metal free there is no need to worry about rust! They have a strong grip to keep your clothes hanging and they are even washing machine and dishwasher safe. The clothes line has a 30kg break strength which is plenty for your all towels and is 20 meters in length so it's suitable for most homes. We really love the bright, funky colours!

You can pick up your own EcoForce products and the Dishmatic online or at selected supermarkets, charity shops and DIY stores. You can find your local stockist information here: http://www.ecoforce.co.uk/shop.htm

*** WIN ***

For your chance to win a green cleaning kit from the lovely people at EcoForce worht £50 you can enter via the Rafflecopter form below. The giveaway closes on 9th November 2012.

GOOD LUCK!

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Naturally Powered Review

Being a mum I seem to spend a lot of time cleaning, cleaning and erm cleaning so when we were offered the chance to try some new concentrated non-bio laundry powder I jumped at the chance. Anything that may help to get dirt and spilt dinner out of clothes is always helpful!





The box we received was 800g which is enough for 13 washes based on a normal load with little soiling in medium hard water. The laundry powder comes within a bag inside the box and there is a small card cup with a 30g fill line supplied to use as a scoop.

I first noticed how mild the blue and white powder was in scent, it was still pleasant but not very strong.  It is made from plant-derived cleaning ingredients and is dermatologically tested though so it's skin friendly which is great!

I followed the detailed instructions on the rear of the box and loaded my machine ready for action.

After a 40 degrees wash I checked the variety of clothing and although it was nice and clean (thumbs up) it did lack a 'fresh' scent which I've come to expect. This happened again on a 15 degrees wash - the product website states will still provide 'brilliant results'. This may be good for those that don't like an over-powering smell on their clothing but personally I like my clothes to smell fresh after a wash. I was pleased however that there wasn't any residue left on the clothes from the powder which I've found has happened with alternative brands in the past.



The product is independent performance tested and supports the production of certified sustainable palm oil. The packaging is card and therefore recyclable - bonus.

For more information on this product you can head over to Naturally Powered's website.

Available at £3.50 from Tesco


*I was sent Naturally Powered to review. My views are my own based on my experience of the product*