Latest news with #AnnaLouisa
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Daily Mirror
Households urged to pour 35p kitchen staple in dishwashers to get them sparkling
Cleaning expert's insider hack will ensure your appliance is grease and residue-free and looking and smelling fresh If you've ever returned from a holiday to find an army of ants transporting cake crumbs across your kitchen worktops, the whiff of stinky bins, pongy plug-holes or just a general sense of mustiness and mess, you'll know it's not the best welcome home. The good news? All it takes is a small amount of easy pre-departure prep to ensure you open the door to a house that feels fresh, tidy and inviting - so you feel happy to be home. CLEAN UP CRUMBS Cleaning influencer Anna Louisa (@anna_louisa_at_home), who has 1.2 million followers on TikTok and 4.2 million followers on Instagram, says it's vital you clear away crumbs and food debris from floors and surfaces before heading off on your hols. 'Give the house a quick vacuum or sweep, especially around the kitchen and dining areas to remove any food remnants, or you risk returning to a trail of ants,' says Anna, author of new book, The 5 Minute Clean Routine. 'Wipe down worktops, too, to ensure there are no food remnants left behind. Even small crumbs or sticky spots can attract pests or start to smell if left for several days.' READ MORE: 'I'm a cleaning influencer - a simple everyday product has transformed my home' DON'T LEAVE A DIRTY DISHWASHER 'Run a hot dishwasher cycle to make sure there's no trapped food in your appliance,' advises Anna. 'Leave the door slightly open to prevent a stale smell from developing." It also doesn't need to cost much to make sure the dishwasher is free of grease, residue and old food - in fact, buying one five litre canister of white vinegar (£6.99 from B&Q), will last a long time. Anna suggests: "For a deeper clean, use a dishwasher tablet or place a mug of white vinegar on the top rack during an empty cycle.' TREAT THE TOILET 'For fresh toilets, clean as usual with toilet cleaner, including under the rim and around the seat and cistern,' says Kerry Hale, cleaning expert at Mira Showers. 'Drop in a toilet cleaning tablet before you leave. If you're away for a long break, seal the toilet bowl with clingfilm and close the lid.' This can prevent water in the plumbing trap of your toilet from evaporating, which can allow sewer gases and unpleasant smells to escape into the home. LOCATE DIRTY DISHES 'Collect any dirty mugs, glasses or plates from around the house and wash them - don't forget to check in bedrooms and living areas where you might have snacked,' she says. 'Leaving dishes unwashed can lead to mould and unpleasant smells which can attract insects.' BLITZ BINS 'Empty all household bins, particularly the kitchen bin,' says Anna. 'It's a good idea to rinse that out with hot soapy water and leave the lid open to air out. A sprinkle of bicarbonate of soda at the bottom can help absorb lingering smells.' RAID THE FRIDGE 'Check the fridge for any perishables that might go off while you're away such as things like soft fruit, dairy, and leftovers,' says Anna. Eat, bin or donate anything that won't be good by the time you get back. 'Wipe down the shelves with a mild cleaner like diluted washing up liquid. Leaving a small bowl of bicarbonate of soda inside can help keep odours at bay too.' AIR THE WASHING MACHINE Try to do as much laundry as you can before you leave, especially if you have gym gear waiting to be washed. Leave sweaty clothes crammed in the laundry basket and they'll retain moisture, which provides a breeding ground for mildew, mould and smelly bacteria. 'After doing a wash, leave your washing machine door slightly open to allow air to circulate, and water to evaporate,' says Anna. 'It helps prevent mould, bacteria and musty smells from developing. If there's time, wipe the rubber seal and detergent drawer clean.' SHINE THE SHOWER 'Rinse and wipe down your shower before your holiday to prevent soap scum from building up and hardening when you're on holiday,' says Kerry. 'Chemicals can harm your shower and fittings, so to protect against limescale while you're away, simply spray warm soapy water on the showerhead, leave for 10 minutes and rinse clean. Leave the shower door slightly ajar to keep air flowing through and prevent musty smells.' PURIFY YOUR PLUGHOLE Any leftover food scraps that accumulate in the kitchen sink or plughole can cause a stink as they decompose. The same goes for grease, hair and soap scum in your bathroom sink, so make sure you clear away all debris from sinks and plugholes, says Anna. 'Pouring some bicarbonate of soda followed by white vinegar down the drain can freshen things up while you're away,' she says. Kerry also advises pouring a few drops of essential oil down the drain before you leave. LET YOUR BED BREATHE House dust mites, known to worsen asthma, eczema and various allergies, thrive in the warm, humid environment of our beds. They feed off our shed skin cells and absorb moisture from our perspiration. By stripping the bed and exposing the mattress to light and air while you're away, you can help remove moisture, meaning that any dust mites present will dehydrate and eventually die. Just make sure you have freshly-washed, clean sheets ready and waiting to make up the bed when you get home. Alternatively, if you're returning home super late from holiday and will just want to go straight to sleep, make up your bed with clean bedlinen before you go and tuck a couple of scented tumble dryer sheets between the sheet and mattress protector to maintain a fresh scent for when you return. FLOWER POWER Change out old flower water for fresh in any vases of cut blooms you plan to leave behind while you're away. Make sure you trim away any leaves and other foliage below the water line to prevent bacterial growth. This will not only shorten the life of your flowers, but also make the water smell foul, rather than floral. KEEP FRUIT FRESH Store leftover fruit from a fruit bowl in the fridge or freezer. If you leave fruit out in the open at room temperature, it can quickly ripen and become mouldy. Ripe, fermenting fruit attracts pests such as fruit flies that feed on the fruit and lay their eggs on it. If you do decide to leave the fruit in a bowl, add some basil leaves - they act as a natural fruit fly deterrent. Five ways to save on household bills Unplug appliances You can save £35 a year by regularly remembering to turn your appliances off standby mode, says the Energy Savings Trust. 'Before you leave the house, unplug everything you can - toasters, kettles, chargers, any electricals,' says award-winning financial influencer Megan Micklewright, aka The Savvy Spender (@thesavvyspenderofficial). 'Appliances still drain energy and cost you money in standby mode. Don't forget your WiFi router! Most people leave this on but it's not needed, unless you have something like a smart doorbell,' she says. 'Consider a standby saver plug which lets you turn off multiple appliances at once.' Unplugging also reduces the risk of an electrical fire breaking out when you're away. Close taps tight 'Check for dripping taps before you leave, especially if you're on a water meter or it's money down the drain,' says Megan. 'You could even turn off the water at the stopcock for peace of mind, to ensure nothing leaks and leads to a flood while you're away.' Set your thermostat low 'If it's winter, keep the thermostat at a low setting (around 12°C),' says Megan. 'This can prevent frozen pipes and also keeps your home at a stable temperature so you won't need to blast up the heating and use extra energy to warm the house up when you get back. In summer, you could just switch it off completely.' Make your house look occupied Leave lights on a timer to create the illusion that someone's at home. Ideally, have the timers come on at different times each evening. Cancel deliveries that are typically left on your doorstep, such as milk. See if neighbours or friends are willing to: Park one of their cars in your driveway. Put out and return your bins on rubbish collection day. Pick up the mail to avoid it building up. Open and close your curtains to help your home look lived in. Deter intruders Check all doors and windows are securely locked before you leave - do a complete tour of the house. Lock away ladders and tools from your garden - a burglar will use whatever's at hand to help them gain entry. Don't leave any tempting valuables or tech in view of windows.
Daily Mirror
11 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
Brits urged to leave appliance door open before going away on holiday
Social media influencer Anna Louisa revealed her top tips and tricks before heading off on holiday and you'll thank yourself for it on your return Leaving your house in a respectable state before bundling out the door with suitcases is something Brits almost prides themselves on. Before leaving home for a two-week holiday in the sunshine, it's common for many people to strip their beds and change their sheets, mop the floors and leave wash baskets mostly empty. This is because we all know unpacking once we get home and the huge pile of washing that comes with it is enough chaos to be dealing with, along with those post holiday-blues. According to cleaning influencer Anna Louisa, who has a collective 5.4 million followers on Instagram and TikTok, there's one less common thing we should be doing before we leave for the airport. And that's keeping the washing machine door slightly ajar to air while we're away. Before leaving, the social media influencer suggested travellers do all their washing to avoid the smell of dirty clothes accumulating, bringing up mould and smelly bacteria. But, instead of closing the door, as you would on a normal day, keep it slightly open to allow the air to circulate and not keep in moisture from previous washes. Allowing it to completely dry will avoid the build-up of humidity leading to unpleasant smells and the later eventuality of the machine breaking down. She said: 'After doing a wash, leave your washing machine door slightly open to allow air to circulate, and water to evaporate. It helps prevent mould, bacteria and musty smells from developing. If there's time, wipe the rubber seal and detergent drawer clean.' Other advice included locating any dirty dishes and washing them, emptying the bins, rinsing and wiping down the shower and toilet, getting rid of any fruit that'll likely go off, sorting out any fresh flowers and even changing your bed sheets. By following this simple advice and applying it, travellers can ensure peace of mind whenever going abroad. Once you open the door, the fresh smell will instantly remind you why there's no better place than your own home. Why should you clean your home before going on holiday? Cleaning your home before going abroad will allow you to go straight to bed after a long day of travelling without any pest infestations or accumulation of smells. Leaving any food scraps will attract insects and rodents. Therefore, it's best to avoid it by giving it a quick wipe and bin any opened food that will not be consumed. Do you do any of these pre-holiday chores before leaving your house? Let us know in the comments below.
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Brits urged to remove fruit from bowls and store in alternative kitchen location
Leaving fruit that may be sat in a bowl on the side for days on end can result in it going off unless you take action to move it, an influencer has said If you've gone on holiday and forgotten to empty the fruit bowl before you went, chances are you'll return home to a fly-infested mush. Items such as bananas can quickly perish, and if they're sat under other fruits, the chances are their release of ethylene gas will send all the other items to ripen at rapid speed. According to social media influencer and cleaning expert Anna Louisa, the best way to keep fruits fresher for longer is to transfer them from the bowl to the fridge. She explained: 'Store leftover fruit from a fruit bowl in the fridge or freezer. If you leave fruit out in the open at room temperature, it can quickly ripen and become mouldy. 'Ripe, fermenting fruit attracts pests such as fruit flies that feed on the fruit and lay their eggs on it. If you do leave fruit in a bowl, add some basil leaves - they act as a natural fruit fly deterrent.' Bananas seem to be the typical culprits for speeding up the ripening process of many others, with apples, pears and hard avocados falling victim to the ethylene process. But it's not just the type of fruit you keep that can contribute to a mouldy mix. The hot weather which many Brits have seen this last fortnight can also speed up the rates of ripening and microbial growth, accelerating decay and forcing it to lose all its nutrition. How long does fruit last in the fridge? The majority of fruits can be stored in the fridge for different periods. Some of them can last a few days, and others can remain fresh for weeks. Alternatively, if the holiday is longer than a week, travellers can store their fruits in the freezer to prolong their future use. As written by Unlock Food, proper storage plays an important role. Also, sliced and cut fruit won't last as long. It will need to be in an airtight container to retain its freshness and avoid becoming brown and inedible. For instance, apples do quite well in the fridge, lasting between three to four weeks. This is in comparison to other fruits such as bananas, berries, cherries, pears and strawberries, which can last between three to four days when refrigerated - a significantly shorter lifespan.
Scottish Sun
20-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- Scottish Sun
How to wash your pillow to kill bacteria & keep them fluffy in hot weather with 35p hack
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) WHILE you likely wash your bedding regularly, chances are you aren't cleaning your pillow often enough. A budget-friendly hack can help to kill bacteria and leave your pillow feeling fluffier than ever in the hot weather. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 A cleaning expert revealed the budget ingredient she uses to wash her pillows (stock image) Credit: Getty Experts recommend washing your pillows a few times a year as they can accumulate everything from sweat and oils to dead skin cells and dust mites. And with the current bout of scorching weather, now is an ideal time to give them a freshen up. TikTok user Anna Louisa (@anna_louisa_at_home) shared the tip with her followers, revealing the budget item she uses to fully tackle bacteria. She explained that someone told her "half the weight of people's pillows is dead skin cells". The reason why your pillow may be getting heavier over time recently shocked This Morning viewers. And while the statistics of bacteria on pillows varies by case, this was still enough to kick the cleaning pro into action. "Apparently pillows should be washed at least [every] three to six months to keep them fresh and free of bacteria, skin cells, dirt, oil, and dust mites," she told her followers. She shared her go-to method for anyone who was also inspired to take immediate action. Anna recommended keeping your pillows in a pillowcase or pillow protector when putting in the washing machine. She explained that this can help to protect them during the cycle and avoid ripping. Cleaning whizz shares two-second 13p trick to get all the pet hair out of your laundry in seconds To keep the washing machine balanced and guarantee an all-round clean, the TikToker suggested only washing two pillows at a time. For the best results, Anna advised her audience to select a delicate or gentle cycle when washing. She also suggested using a small amount of normal detergent and replacing fabric conditioner with vinegar to "make your pillows fluffy and to neutralise any odours". You can pick up a bottle of distilled vinegar for just 35p from Tesco. And you can even speed up the drying process by adding an extra spin to the washing cycle. Laundry tips Catherine Green, sustainable cleaning expert at smol shared her laundry tips. How often should you be remaking your bed? When it comes to your bed, maintaining a hygienic sleep setup can actually improve your sleep quality, helping you start every day better. Most people shed 500 million skin cells per day and a lot of that ends up in bed for dust mites to feed on. And those with asthma or allergies might see symptoms worsen by sleeping on dirty sheets! You want to be washing your sheets once a week - or every 10 days if you don't suffer from allergies and wear nightclothes. Bedding builds up with sweat, skin cells and oils quickly, even if it doesn't look dirty. Using an effective detergent like smol's will still give you a great clean on a 20°C cycle - that's better for the planet and your energy bills! What temperature do smol recommend then? For your regular weekly washes I recommend washing most loads at 20°C for 30 minutes. It's gentler on fabrics, slashes energy use, and still delivers excellent stain removal with the right detergent. A colder wash can actually be more effective if you opt for a bio detergent as its enzymes need cooler water; too hot and they lose their ability to digest stains. A wash at 60°c (unless you have silk sheets) every now and again can help kill off dust mites and other nasties. What's the difference between bio and non-bio detergent? Bio detergents contain enzymes, which are especially good at breaking down tough stains like food, grass, or sweat. It's best used in mid to low temperature washes (ideally between 20-40°C) as anything hotter can cause them not to work effectively. Non-bio skips the enzymes, which in turn makes it more suitable for those with sensitive skin or allergies. Although non-bio doesn't contain enzymes, it's still great at removing stains and keeping your clothes clean, you just may need to use a slightly higher temperature setting to aid with the cleaning process. Make sure you allow the pillows time to fully dry to avoid any bacteria or mould growing. And remember to always check your pillow's care label and follow the directions accordingly when it comes to washing and drying. According to Anna, most pillows can be washed in the washing machine using this method, including scatter cushions. A laundry expert revealed the top ways to wash each type of pillow at home. There is also a step-by-step guide available for washing your pillows and duvets. Or you can opt to wash your pillows without putting them in your machine.
The Sun
20-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
How to wash your pillow to kill bacteria & keep them fluffy in hot weather with 35p hack
WHILE you likely wash your bedding regularly, chances are you aren't cleaning your pillow often enough. A budget-friendly hack can help to kill bacteria and leave your pillow feeling fluffier than ever in the hot weather. 2 Experts recommend washing your pillows a few times a year as they can accumulate everything from sweat and oils to dead skin cells and dust mites. And with the current bout of scorching weather, now is an ideal time to give them a freshen up. TikTok user Anna Louisa (@anna_louisa_at_home) shared the tip with her followers, revealing the budget item she uses to fully tackle bacteria. She explained that someone told her "half the weight of people's pillows is dead skin cells". The reason why your pillow may be getting heavier over time recently shocked This Morning viewers. And while the statistics of bacteria on pillows varies by case, this was still enough to kick the cleaning pro into action. "Apparently pillows should be washed at least [every] three to six months to keep them fresh and free of bacteria, skin cells, dirt, oil, and dust mites," she told her followers. She shared her go-to method for anyone who was also inspired to take immediate action. Anna recommended keeping your pillows in a pillowcase or pillow protector when putting in the washing machine. She explained that this can help to protect them during the cycle and avoid ripping. Cleaning whizz shares two-second 13p trick to get all the pet hair out of your laundry in seconds To keep the washing machine balanced and guarantee an all-round clean, the TikToker suggested only washing two pillows at a time. For the best results, Anna advised her audience to select a delicate or gentle cycle when washing. She also suggested using a small amount of normal detergent and replacing fabric conditioner with vinegar to "make your pillows fluffy and to neutralise any odours". You can pick up a bottle of distilled vinegar for just 35p from Tesco. And you can even speed up the drying process by adding an extra spin to the washing cycle. Laundry tips Catherine Green, sustainable cleaning expert at smol shared her laundry tips. How often should you be remaking your bed? When it comes to your bed, maintaining a hygienic sleep setup can actually improve your sleep quality, helping you start every day better. Most people shed 500 million skin cells per day and a lot of that ends up in bed for dust mites to feed on. And those with asthma or allergies might see symptoms worsen by sleeping on dirty sheets! You want to be washing your sheets once a week - or every 10 days if you don't suffer from allergies and wear nightclothes. Bedding builds up with sweat, skin cells and oils quickly, even if it doesn't look dirty. Using an effective detergent like smol's will still give you a great clean on a 20°C cycle - that's better for the planet and your energy bills! What temperature do smol recommend then? For your regular weekly washes I recommend washing most loads at 20°C for 30 minutes. It's gentler on fabrics, slashes energy use, and still delivers excellent stain removal with the right detergent. A colder wash can actually be more effective if you opt for a bio detergent as its enzymes need cooler water; too hot and they lose their ability to digest stains. A wash at 60°c (unless you have silk sheets) every now and again can help kill off dust mites and other nasties. What's the difference between bio and non-bio detergent? Bio detergents contain enzymes, which are especially good at breaking down tough stains like food, grass, or sweat. It's best used in mid to low temperature washes (ideally between 20-40°C) as anything hotter can cause them not to work effectively. Non-bio skips the enzymes, which in turn makes it more suitable for those with sensitive skin or allergies. Although non-bio doesn't contain enzymes, it's still great at removing stains and keeping your clothes clean, you just may need to use a slightly higher temperature setting to aid with the cleaning process. Make sure you allow the pillows time to fully dry to avoid any bacteria or mould growing. And remember to always check your pillow's care label and follow the directions accordingly when it comes to washing and drying. According to Anna, most pillows can be washed in the washing machine using this method, including scatter cushions. A laundry expert revealed the top ways to wash each type of pillow at home. There is also a step-by-step guide available for washing your pillows and duvets. Or you can opt to wash your pillows without putting them in your machine.
