Lynsey, Queen of Clean - How To Clean Your House

Now I use Instagram and my blog to feature products and some of my little tips and tricks. I also give product demos – these have proved to be very valuable as they save people hunting for reviews online. I like to show people that cleaning isn’t boring and can be really fun. I also talk openly about my past and how I used cleaning to save myself, which has been something my audience has really related to. I take the time to engage and interact with my followers and to support them. I encourage people to grab that mop daily, to get up off the sofa and do something positive, which in turn really does help support mental health.

I feel so proud to have created a community of people who have found comfort in cleaning. My social media journey has connected me with some amazing people and brought you this book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed putting it together for you.

Happy Cleaning!

LYNSEY QUEEN OF CLEAN

BACK TO BASICS

The Perfect Cleaning Caddy

How to create your own Queen of Clean tool kit!

I am often asked by newlyweds, people leaving home for the first time and new home owners about the best cleaning tools and products. I know that, for some, this can be very confusing; the supermarket shelves are packed with so many products, it’s hard to know what to buy.

My advice is to create a home cleaning kit. A perfectly-formed kit is the key to successful cleaning and will save you both time and money; you really don’t need to have cupboards bursting with products. The other beauty of having a dedicated kit is that you have everything to hand and you will know when you are starting to run low and need to replenish items.

This section will help you put together the ultimate cleaning caddy that is not only practical, but well organised and transportable, and which contains all the essential cleaning products you need to keep your home clean and give you fantastic results.

When building your kit, consider creating a few smaller additional kits that you can keep in different places in your home. This will help save you time when you are cleaning, so that you don’t have to go up and down the stairs like a yo-yo if you have forgotten anything.

Let’s get started …

You will need:

a sturdy, good-sized cleaning caddy with a handle

NATURAL CLEANERS

I tend to lean towards homemade products, so these few items are key if you are keen to follow the homemade, natural route.

White wine vinegar (a degreaser and a mild disinfectant)

Bicarbonate of soda (a natural mild abrasive and deodoriser)

Baby oil (great for shining-up stainless steel)

Essential oils (for fragrance)

BOUGHT CLEANING PRODUCTS

Multipurpose cleaner

Furniture polish

Washing-up liquid

Glass and mirror cleaner

Limescale remover

Bleach

CLEANING TOOLS

Rubber gloves

Sponges

Microfibre cloths (in a good mix of colours – see page 24)

Toothbrush

Wire wool

Lint roller

Squeegee

Duster

ADDITIONAL MUST-HAVE TOOLS

These obviously won’t fit in your caddy, but you need them.

Vacuum

Mop and bucket

STORAGE

When choosing your caddy and products, think about where you are going to store them. Do you have a large enough space? It is so important to consider this before you go out and buy loads of items.

It’s good to designate a space under your kitchen or bathroom sink or in your laundry room for cleaning products. Under-sink storage solutions are a great use of space and will free up other areas of your home.

If space is tight, don’t panic – there are some great options available these days. Consider using over-the-door storage solutions. If you are using a mop and bucket, use the bucket for storing items. Roll up your cloths for easy storage, too.

Vacuums aren’t always the easiest items to store and can take up valuable room. If cupboard space is limited, you could store your vacuum under your bed, in an under-stair cupboard, behind the sofa or even on top of the wardrobe, if it will lie flat.

Queen of Clean’s homemade cleaner recipes

I am a huge fan of natural cleaning and making my own cleaning products. The air quality inside many homes can be two to five times more polluted than the air just outside. Traditional shop-bought household products play a huge part in creating this pollution, which is why I avoid them as much as I can. Besides, making your own products can be fun and most of the ingredients can be found in your own kitchen.

It’s important to remember that homemade cleaning products don’t last indefinitely – they only have a life span of around 3 months. Make small batches and replace them frequently. If you are using fresh lemon juice, you will only get one use from the cleaning solution, as the lemon juice will go off and not be effective thereafter.