Latest news with #AnneSimmons
Scottish Sun
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- Scottish Sun
I was a royal cleaner at Buckingham Palace -my 5p hack gets rid of nasty smells immediately – it's discreet & lasts ages
Anne worked at Buckingham Palace for over a decade MAKES SCENTS I was a royal cleaner at Buckingham Palace -my 5p hack gets rid of nasty smells immediately – it's discreet & lasts ages Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FORMER royal cleaner has shared a simple 5p trick she used to keep Buckingham Palace smelling fresh. If you've ever visited the famed London palace, and marvelled at its cleanliness, you may be forgiven for thinking that cleaners polish and scrub using pricey products. 2 Anne worked at Buckingham Palace for over a decade Credit: Plates Express 2 Anne uses a tea bag to get rid of bad smells Credit: Getty However, Anne Simmons, 57, who worked as a cleaner at Buckingham Palace for over a decade, has revealed that budget hacks are fit for the King. Anne, from Berkshire, shared that in order to keep royal cars fresh, she swapped pricey air fresheners for an every day essential that will cost you less than a Freddo. During her time working in the palace, Anne often had to face last minute inspections, which caused her to think on her feet and come up with inventive solutions. 'One day, I was asked to get a car ready for a senior royal's outing" Anne told Plates Express. "Everything looked spotless, but the inside just smelled… stale. 'We didn't have fancy sprays or scented gels to hand, so I reached into my bag and pulled out a dry tea bag. "I tucked it under the seat and let it sit. "By the time they stepped in, the smell was gone—and in its place was a gentle, comforting scent.' Tea bags are incredibly cheap, with each individual bag costing as little as 5p. Anne now swears by the hack. I tried Zoflora's new carpet cleaner - it works in just 30 seconds and leaves your home smelling super fresh (1) "It's something I've used ever since. It's discreet, cheap, and lasts much longer than people think," she said. "Black tea is my go-to, but you can use herbal ones like lavender or mint if you want a fresher smell.' Tea bags work as they are natural odour absorbers, and pull moisture and bad smells from the air as they dry. 'Tea bags work quietly in the background,' Anne explained. 'They don't overpower, and they don't make people sneeze. "I just pop one in the glove box, under a seat, or inside the cup holder.' Cleaning and household chores in numbers Well Polished conducted a survey and the results are in! Most Hated Household Chores Cleaning the oven - 34% Ironing - 15% Cleaning the toilet - 10% Washing the dishes - 5% Decluttering - 4% Most Liked Household Chores Cooking meals - 21% Decluttering - 12% Hoovering - 11% Doing the laundry - 9% Tending to pets 8% Men VS Women: Who Puts the Work In? Men spend 7 hours 54 minutes a week cleaning. Women spend 12 hours 15 minutes a week cleaning. And this isn't the only handy hack the royal cleaner has up her sleeve. Anne previously revealed how she used an old tube of toothpaste to get palace mirrors gleaming. And the royal cleaner even swears by a kids toy to keep homes dust free. She revealed that slime is also perfect for dusting. 'It's safe, easy to use, and doesn't leave any marks,' she said.
The Sun
06-06-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
I was a royal cleaner at Buckingham Palace -my 5p hack gets rid of nasty smells immediately – it's discreet & lasts ages
A FORMER royal cleaner has shared a simple 5p trick she used to keep Buckingham Palace smelling fresh. If you've ever visited the famed London palace, and marvelled at its cleanliness, you may be forgiven for thinking that cleaners polish and scrub using pricey products. 2 2 However, Anne Simmons, 57, who worked as a cleaner at Buckingham Palace for over a decade, has revealed that budget hacks are fit for the King. Anne, from Berkshire, shared that in order to keep royal cars fresh, she swapped pricey air fresheners for an every day essential that will cost you less than a Freddo. During her time working in the palace, Anne often had to face last minute inspections, which caused her to think on her feet and come up with inventive solutions. 'One day, I was asked to get a car ready for a senior royal's outing" Anne told Plates Express. "Everything looked spotless, but the inside just smelled… stale. 'We didn't have fancy sprays or scented gels to hand, so I reached into my bag and pulled out a dry tea bag. "I tucked it under the seat and let it sit. "By the time they stepped in, the smell was gone—and in its place was a gentle, comforting scent.' Tea bags are incredibly cheap, with each individual bag costing as little as 5p. Anne now swears by the hack. "It's something I've used ever since. It's discreet, cheap, and lasts much longer than people think," she said. "Black tea is my go-to, but you can use herbal ones like lavender or mint if you want a fresher smell.' Tea bags work as they are natural odour absorbers, and pull moisture and bad smells from the air as they dry. 'Tea bags work quietly in the background,' Anne explained. 'They don't overpower, and they don't make people sneeze. "I just pop one in the glove box, under a seat, or inside the cup holder.' And this isn't the only handy hack the royal cleaner has up her sleeve. Anne previously revealed how she used an old tube of toothpaste to get palace mirrors gleaming. And the royal cleaner even swears by a kids toy to keep homes dust free. She revealed that slime is also perfect for dusting. 'It's safe, easy to use, and doesn't leave any marks,' she said.
The Sun
04-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
I was a royal cleaner at Buckingham Palace – simple £1 trick leaves windows spotless & streak-free
A FORMER royal cleaner has revealed a £1 hack she used to keep the Buckingham Palace windows sparkling. If you've ever visited the royal palace, and seen its windows gleaming in the sunlight, you would be forgiven for thinking that cleaners use pricey products to keep them sparkling. 2 2 However, Anne Simmons, 57, who worked at the famed London palace for a decade has revealed her cleaning trick costs less than a cup of tea. The cleaning pro, from Berkshire, told Plates Express that when she cleaned royal windows "there was no room for error." 'The windows had to be perfect no streaks, no marks. "We weren't allowed to use harsh chemicals either, so I had to find a better way.' Anne revealed that her simple trick was to use £1 worth of distilled water, which is water that has been purified and stripped of minerals and impurities. 'I kept a jug of distilled water on hand,' she said. "Before cleaning the windows, I'd wet the cloth with it. "It made a massive difference—no streaks, no oily residue. "It was a simple trick but very effective.' Anne revealed that it is important to use distilled water as, unlike tap water, it doesn't leave behind mineral deposits or spots as it evaporates. Stacey Solomon shares 3p way to clean your windows which doesn't leave any smears & you may already have it at home 'I kept a jug of distilled water on hand,' Anne said. 'I know some people worry about spending money on fancy cleaning solutions,' Anne said. 'But a bottle of distilled water from the supermarket costs less than a coffee—and lasts a long time.' And this isn't the only handy hack the royal cleaner has up her sleeve. Anne previously revealed how she used an old tube of toothpaste to get palace mirrors gleaming. She recalled how a "surprise inspection" led to the discovery. With nothing "fancy on hand" to wipe down glass surfaces, she remembered an old trick her mum swore by. "I ran in, grabbed a tube of toothpaste from the staff bathroom, and gave [the surfaces] a gentle scrub. Minutes later, they looked brand new," she recalled. And the royal cleaner even swears by a kids toy to keep homes dust free. Slime, is a popular toy with young children, and is used for squeezing and squishing into shapes. However, Anne revealed that it is also perfect for dusting. 'It's safe, easy to use, and doesn't leave any marks,' she said.
Scottish Sun
02-06-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
I was a royal cleaner at Buckingham Palace – 79p B&M buy will leave your mirrors & glass sparkling without any streaks
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A FORMER cleaner to the Royal Family has revealed an ingenious hack that will leave your mirrors and glass surfaces sparkling. And you probably already have the budget-friendly buy in your bathroom. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 A former Buckingham Palace cleaner has revealed a clever cleaning hack that leaves your mirrors and glass surfaces sparkling Credit: Plates Express 3 A bathroom essnetial will leave your mirrors and glass surfaces sparkling (stock image) Credit: Getty This staple product is used by Buckingham staff to achieve the perfect gleam on mirrors and glass. 'It's probably sitting in your bathroom right now, half-used and squeezed in the middle," said Anne Simmons, who spent over 15 years working inside Buckingham Palace as part of the royal cleaning staff. The 57-year-old spoke to Show Plates World, about the surprising cleaning hack, which has been passed down behind palace gates for generations. Originally from Berkshire, Anne worked at the iconic royal residence where most of her duties involved maintaining antique furniture, priceless vases, and carpets. Read More On Cleaning OH NO I'm a cleaning pro and hate when clients have this feature in their kitchens However, she also developed a handy hack for making dull glass surfaces look as good as new. She recalled how a "surprise inspection" led to the surprising discovery. With nothing "fancy on hand" to wipe down glass surfaces, she remembered an old trick her mum swore by. "I ran in, grabbed a tube of toothpaste from the staff bathroom, and gave [the surfaces] a gentle scrub. Minutes later, they looked brand new," she recalled. And just like that, a cheap tube of whitening toothpaste saved the day. Since toothpaste contains mild abrasives that help remove plaque and stains from teeth, that same gentle scrubbing action can also lift oxidation and grime off other surfaces. I was gutted when scrubbing didn't get my 'stained' blender clean, then remembered a £3.25 spray I had in the cupboard 'Anne's tip is safe, simple, and effective," the team at Show Plates World said. Anne swears by toothpaste for a wide variety of polishing tasks, and with 775 rooms in Buckingham, there were plenty of surfaces to wipe down. You can pick up a tube of Oral B toothpaste for just 79p from B&M. 'I've used it on cloudy shower screens, tea-stained mugs, even old taps that lost their shine,' she said. 'If it can brighten your smile, it can probably handle a bit of limescale." 5 cleaning hacks Say goodbye to ironing Don't have time to smooth out the wrinkles of a shirt with an iron? Lenor's Crease Releaser makes wrinkles vanish - simply hang up creased items, give them a quick spritz and smooth against a hard surface. Teabags for trainers When trainers smell a little squiffy, pop a used (and still moist) tea bag inside and leave for about an hour. The tannins will seep into the sole of the shoe to fight nasty-smelling odours. Remove limescale without scrubbing When bathroom taps start looking a little grimy with limescale, slice a lemon in half and sprinkle on baking soda. Rub the fruit over the taps and with a gentle clean they will come up sparkling. Use a toothbrush to get in all the nooks and crannies. Streak-free mirrors and windows White vinegar is a handy secret weapon when it comes to keeping mirrors and windows streak-free. Mix one part white vinegar with four parts water in a spray bottle. Squirt then wipe with a microfibre cloth and voilà, clean glass in an instant. Make your home smell amazing For dust-free skirting boards, pour some fabric softener onto a cloth and give them a quick wipe. It will stop dirt collecting so quickly and, as an added bonus, make your home smell amazing. But just make sure to follow these simple tips to achieve the best results. Opt for a white, non-gel toothpaste and make sure to avvoid anything with stripes or microbeads. Use a soft cloth or sponge and gently scrub yoursurfaces in small circles for a few minutes, then rinse with water and buff dry. Finally, finish with a protective layer by applying a small coat of furniture polish to slow future fogging. Anne also shared a 5p tip that will leave your car smelling fresh all the time. And another budget-friendly item will leave your wooden floors sparkling.
The Sun
02-06-2025
- General
- The Sun
I was a royal cleaner at Buckingham Palace – 79p B&M buy will leave your mirrors & glass sparkling without any streaks
A FORMER cleaner to the Royal Family has revealed an ingenious hack that will leave your mirrors and glass surfaces sparkling. And you probably already have the budget-friendly buy in your bathroom. 3 This staple product is used by Buckingham staff to achieve the perfect gleam on mirrors and glass. 'It's probably sitting in your bathroom right now, half-used and squeezed in the middle," said Anne Simmons, who spent over 15 years working inside Buckingham Palace as part of the royal cleaning staff. The 57-year-old spoke to Show Plates World, about the surprising cleaning hack, which has been passed down behind palace gates for generations. Originally from Berkshire, Anne worked at the iconic royal residence where most of her duties involved maintaining antique furniture, priceless vases, and carpets. However, she also developed a handy hack for making dull glass surfaces look as good as new. She recalled how a "surprise inspection" led to the surprising discovery. With nothing "fancy on hand" to wipe down glass surfaces, she remembered an old trick her mum swore by. "I ran in, grabbed a tube of toothpaste from the staff bathroom, and gave [the surfaces] a gentle scrub. Minutes later, they looked brand new," she recalled. And just like that, a cheap tube of whitening toothpaste saved the day. Since toothpaste contains mild abrasives that help remove plaque and stains from teeth, that same gentle scrubbing action can also lift oxidation and grime off other surfaces. I was gutted when scrubbing didn't get my 'stained' blender clean, then remembered a £3.25 spray I had in the cupboard 'Anne's tip is safe, simple, and effective," the team at Show Plates World said. Anne swears by toothpaste for a wide variety of polishing tasks, and with 775 rooms in Buckingham, there were plenty of surfaces to wipe down. You can pick up a tube of Oral B toothpaste for just 79p from B&M. 'I've used it on cloudy shower screens, tea-stained mugs, even old taps that lost their shine,' she said. 'If it can brighten your smile, it can probably handle a bit of limescale." 5 cleaning hacks Say goodbye to ironing Don't have time to smooth out the wrinkles of a shirt with an iron? Lenor 's Crease Releaser makes wrinkles vanish - simply hang up creased items, give them a quick spritz and smooth against a hard surface. Teabags for trainers When trainers smell a little squiffy, pop a used (and still moist) tea bag inside and leave for about an hour. The tannins will seep into the sole of the shoe to fight nasty-smelling odours. Remove limescale without scrubbing When bathroom taps start looking a little grimy with limescale, slice a lemon in half and sprinkle on baking soda. Rub the fruit over the taps and with a gentle clean they will come up sparkling. Use a toothbrush to get in all the nooks and crannies. Streak-free mirrors and windows White vinegar is a handy secret weapon when it comes to keeping mirrors and windows streak-free. Mix one part white vinegar with four parts water in a spray bottle. Squirt then wipe with a microfibre cloth and voilà, clean glass in an instant. Make your home smell amazing For dust-free skirting boards, pour some fabric softener onto a cloth and give them a quick wipe. It will stop dirt collecting so quickly and, as an added bonus, make your home smell amazing. But just make sure to follow these simple tips to achieve the best results. Opt for a white, non-gel toothpaste and make sure to avvoid anything with stripes or microbeads. Use a soft cloth or sponge and gently scrub yoursurfaces in small circles for a few minutes, then rinse with water and buff dry. Finally, finish with a protective layer by applying a small coat of furniture polish to slow future fogging. Anne also shared a 5p tip that will leave your car smelling fresh all the time. And another budget-friendly item will leave your wooden floors sparkling.
