‘I’m a hotel housekeeper and this one 70p staple food is a cleaner’s best friend’

Spring has started and with it comes the annual big clean. The new season offers the perfect opportunity to tackle the often-missed jobs on your cleaning list and refresh your home inside and out. Now Lisa Williams, executive housekeeper at The Grand, York – York’s only five-star hotel – shares the one common household item that will serve you well this spring.

One of the unsung heroes of the cleaning world is lemon. Lemons are naturally antibacterial and antiseptic due to their citric acid content, making them a great option for removing mould and mildew. And thankfully Lisa has come to the rescue with a super easy way to make the best use of them for your tough cleaning jobs.

Lisa said: “To make a cleaning mixture from lemons, mix the juice of two lemons per every one litre of hot water. Paired with a good scrubbing tool, this mixture is great for freshening up ovens, microwaves, fridges, floors and even taps, leaving them all shiny and sparkling.”

Just from this fruit alone you can tackle your kitchen, bathroom and other parts of your spring to-do list such as laundry, glassware and furniture polishing.

But it doesn’t end there – Here are some more of Lisa’s top tricks to use this spring clean.

It’s easy to overlook the appliances that do the cleaning and forget that they also need cleaning. Disinfecting your dishwasher prevents a build-up of nasty bacteria, as well as ensuring filters aren’t clogged with food, and should not be missed off your spring cleaning list.

Lisa said: “To deep clean the dishwasher, make sure you clean the door, rubber seals and removable parts such as the utensil holder and filter, ensuring anywhere that typically harbours hard-to-reach grime has been scrubbed.

“I like to fill a bowl full of white vinegar, pop it in the bottom of my dishwasher and sprinkle with a teaspoon of baking soda. When run on a hot cycle, the vinegar should break down any lingering grease and the baking soda will help to eliminate any bad smells.”

Wooden utensils are a kitchen staple and great for reducing damage to pots and pans, however, their porous texture means they can harbour lots of bacteria.

Fortunately, Lisa has a tip on making sure your wooden utensils stay clean.

She said: “Many people steer away from using bleach to clean cooking utensils, for good reason, but when done properly it’s a safe way to make sure there are no harmful bacteria left engrained into the wood.

“Mix 100ml of bleach with 2L of hot water, submerge your wooden utensils into the water and leave to soak for up to 30 minutes. Once soaked, rinse with cool water and pop them in the dishwasher for their final clean.”

The bright sun shining through windows in spring often makes marks, dust and fingerprints much more visible. Lisa recommends using a homemade window wash.

She said: “Homemade window wash is super easy to make and effective at removing dirt on glass, making it useful for mirrors and shower screens too.

“Combine 500ml of lukewarm water with three tablespoons of white vinegar, one tablespoon of rubbing alcohol and ten drops of your favourite essential oil. The essential oil is great for masking the smell of vinegar and filling your home with a fresh, spring scent.”

Lastly, skirting boards are unlikely to be on your weekly cleaning list – however, if they are neglected for too long, dirt can soon build up leaving them looking dull and discoloured. Adding skirting boards to your spring-cleaning list can leave them looking brand new.

Lisa said: “Using a microfibre cloth with warm soapy water will always do the trick on painted surfaces. Microfibre is great for lifting hidden dust whilst also being soft enough not to scratch any paintwork.”