Coles Magazine - October 2013

HOME
5
Mattress makeover
It’s a good idea to turn your mattress
over and rotate it once a year to reduce
concave areas. Vacuum it using the upholstery
attachment on your vacuum cleaner.
6 Rub-a-dub-dub
Oh dear. Soap scum, mouldy grout...
you won’t want to think about the
bathroom until you’ve at least had a coffee.
But it won’t clean itself, so start with a cleanser
that will cut through and dissolve soap scum
and grease, such as Dettol Power & Pure Multi
Purpose. Spray the bathroom fixtures and
leave for up to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, use
a paste of bicarb soda to remove mould from
around taps. To add a slick shine to chrome
taps, wipe them over with a cloth dampened
with white vinegar. Finally, for a bathroom
mirror that sparkles likea disco ball, spray the
glass with a solution of methylated spirits and
water, then rub it dry in circular motions with
a lint-free cloth.
7
Dish
the dirt
Empty your dishwasher and clean the
seals and filters with hot soapy water
to rid any lodged food scraps. If the inside
looks dull, place 2 cups white vinegar in the
detergent receptacle and run the machine on
a short cycle. Using Finish Quantum Powerball
Lemon Sparkle tablets helps give the machine
some protection against lime scale. They’re
formulated to fight watermarks and cloudy
spots and deliver a shiny finish to dishes.
8
Clear
the air
Reduce the amount of dust, germs and
allergens floating around your house
by regularly cleaning the exterior surfaces
of your air-conditioning unit. Methods vary
according to brand and model, so check the
manufacturers’ instructions.
For the finale, create a fragrant
atmosphere with an Air Wick Electrical
Scented Oil Plug In Diffuser. It releases
a choice of uplifting scents such as
lavender, frangipan0i and vanilla
and soft cashmere. You can adjust
the intensity from subtle to more
intense, which is great if you
have pets in the house. Also try
Ambi Pur Air Effects Linen & Sky
– it helps eliminate stale odours
and leaves behind a fresh
clean scent.
bright idea
Clean out your
medicine cabinet and
return any out-of-date
medications to a
pharmacy for safe
disposal.
Fresh & fragrant
Laundry disasters can quickly be
averted if you try these quick-fix tips.
Dingy whites To get rid of grey, use
Vanish Napisan OxiAction Crystal
White. Soak clothes in the bath to give
your bath tub a clean at the same time.
Pink whites Stray red sock in your
whites? Soak overnight in a weak bleach
solution – 1 cup bleach in 4 litres water.
Tissue in the wash After picking off
larger clumps put garment through the
dryer so smaller clumps get caught in
the lint filter. Once garment is dry, go
over it thoroughly with a clothes brush.
Sensitive skin Choose a washing
powder or liquid that is gentle on the
skin and free from perfumes, such as
Cold Power Sensitive Touch Liquid.
Stain pain Tempting though it is, hold
back on scrubbing away at stains – this
can damage fibres. Instead, blot with
a paper towel and rinse in cold water.
Tackle tough dried stains on whites or
colours with Vanish Napisan Oxi Action
Inwash Fabric Stain Remover. Dissolve
a scoop in warm water and add to your
machine or dissolve into four litres of
warm water and leave garments to soak.
It can also be used as a pre-treatment
– just make a paste with ¼ scoop of
powder and ¾ scoop of warm water,
apply to stain and leave for five minutes.
64