Latest news with #Lottomart
The Sun
5 days ago
- General
- The Sun
The 30p BBQ cleaning hack that removes burnt food & grease in seconds, saving you hours of scrubbing & it smells good
YOUR barbecue is getting more action than it has all year as temperatures soar across the weekend. And if you've opened it up to find last year's grime on it, or want to prepare for the mess you'll make after burning the sausages this weekend, here's a quick cleaning hack. 1 Before you even think about picking up a brush, turn your BBQ on high for 10-15 minutes with the lid firmly closed. You'll see smoke rising as the old grime burns away. "This method completely transforms BBQ cleaning," a cleaning pro said. "The intense heat burns off leftover grease and food residue, making everything infinitely easier to remove." Once cooled slightly, a quick brush with your usual BBQ cleaning tool will remove everything effortlessly. How does it work? The science behind this hack is straightforward – heat breaks down the oils and charred bits that normally require serious elbow grease to shift. What would typically take you 30 minutes of aggressive scrubbing becomes a quick five-minute job, Lottomart suggests. Refresh your BBQ For an extra cleaning boost while the grates are still warm, try this natural trick: halve a fresh lemon, dip it in coarse salt, and rub it over the surface. The citric acid cuts through any remaining grease naturally while leaving your BBQ smelling wonderfully fresh. The timing for this cleaning hack is crucial: "Don't let it cool completely, but make sure it's safe to handle. "The residual heat helps with cleaning, but safety always comes first," the expert adds. Lemons can be picked up for as little as 30p from a supermarket, making it a super cheap cleaning hack. Try the onion trick too Another natural cleaning hack many BBQ owners swear by is using an onion. Top grilling tips 1. Preheat the grill For 10-15 minutes, with the lid closed, warm up your grill. It helps cook food evenly and stops it sticking. 2. Oil the grates Using tongs and a paper towel with some oil on it, wipe the grates. Your meat and veg will get iconic grill marks on and not stick. 3. Use two heat zones Split your BBQ into two if you can, one side super hot for searing and the other side cooler for slow cooking - essential for burgers, sausages or meat with bones. 4. Don't press your burgers It squeezes the juices out and makes them dry - let them cook untouched and flip only once if you can. 5. Let meat rest After cooking, leave your meat for 10-15 minutes under foil, this will help the juices redistribute to stay juicy, not dry. 6. Keep the lid closed Not only does it help trap heat, but ensures food is cooked evenly - think of it like an oven. Turn up the temperature slightly and attach half an onion to a fork for a makeshift handle. Gently rub it over the hot grill, removing any burnt-on food whilst letting the onion's natural juices help clean the barbecue. Make sure that the BBQ has cooled completely before touching it again. Another more unusual cleaning hack is to use grass on your BBQ. "Place a cooled BBQ grill on the lawn overnight – the dew helps loosen debris for an easy wipe-down", the experts explained. "No grass? Wrap it in a damp newspaper instead. "Suitable for aluminium and stainless steel grills only."
Daily Record
7 days ago
- General
- Daily Record
Genius BBQ hack that'll save you hours of cleaning this weekend
An expert has shared an easy way to clean your BBQ during the hot weather. With temperatures set to soar this weekend, it's the perfect time to fire up the BBQ. But, before you get cooking, it's crucial to give your grill a thorough clean. And, with over 44,000 Google searches for 'how to clean bbq' in the past month alone, it's clear people are in need of some help before cooking up a storm. Instead of attacking cold, stubborn grime with endless scrubbing, experts have shared a surprisingly simple approach that will save you time and effort. This hack means you can spend more time enjoying your garden and less time scrubbing. For a simple clean, people should turn their BBQs on high for 10-15 minutes with the lid firmly closed before even thinking about picking up a brush. A spokesperson for Lottomart said: "This method completely transforms BBQ cleaning. The intense heat burns off leftover grease and food residue, making everything infinitely easier to remove." Fire up your barbecue to its highest setting and close the lid completely. Let it run for 10-15 minutes – you'll actually see smoke rising as the old grime burns away. Once cooled slightly, a quick brush with your usual BBQ cleaning tool will remove everything effortlessly. For an extra cleaning boost while the grates are still warm, try this natural trick: halve a fresh lemon, dip it in coarse salt, and rub it over the surface. The citric acid cuts through any remaining grease naturally while leaving your BBQ smelling wonderfully fresh. The science behind this hack is straightforward – heat breaks down the oils and charred bits that normally require serious elbow grease to shift. What would typically take you 30 minutes of aggressive scrubbing becomes a quick five-minute job. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. Temperatures are expected to be as high as 29C in some parts of Scotland, this weekend, meaning the country is creeping up towards Met Office heatwave criteria. In the UK, a heatwave officially takes place when a location records at least three days in a row with daily maximum temperatures meeting or exceeding the heatwave temperature threshold. During a heatwave the last thing you want is to spend ages cleaning in sweltering temperatures, so following this cleaning hack after dining al fresco will be an absolute time saver. Lottomart experts emphasise that timing is crucial: "Don't let it cool completely, but make sure it's safe to handle. The residual heat helps with cleaning, but safety always comes first." A dirty barbecue can be a breeding ground for bacteria and other harmful germs. Leftover grease and food debris from previous cookouts can harbour bacteria, which can contaminate fresh food. Additionally, carbon build-up can affect the taste of your food and impact the grill's performance.
Daily Record
26-05-2025
- General
- Daily Record
Adding cinnamon to your vacuum has two big benefits, say experts
It might seem like a strange thing to use for cleaning the floors but it has two benefits June has finally arrived, and with the warmer weather, many people will be thinking about tackling their big spring clean. There's something very satisfying about getting the house spotless for the summer months, and now cleaning experts have come up with a rather unusual tip to help eliminate musty smells and lingering odours. Apparently, adding cinnamon to your vacuum cleaner can help make your home smell fresh without costing a fortune or damaging the appliance. Years of use often take their toll on vacuum cleaners and they can start to smell stale. Dust, dirt, mud, pet hair, and general grime don't exactly make for a fresh smell, and using the vacuum for just half an hour can leave the house smelling a bit stale. According to Lottomart, sprinkling cinnamon directly into the vacuum cleaner has two benefits. Firstly it spreads a sweet, fresh smell throughout the house every time you vacuum. And secondly, it has antibacterial properties, which means it can kill off nasty germs lurking in the carpet, reports the Express. They said: "Over time, dust, pet hair, and trapped dirt can create a breeding ground for bacteria and unpleasant odours inside your vac. "But before you splash out on pricey fresheners or replace parts, there's a simple, natural, and shockingly cheap solution hiding right in your spice cupboard: cinnamon!". "Cinnamon isn't just for cooking - it's a powerful, natural deodoriser with antibacterial properties. If you don't already have some ground cinnamon at home, a 36g tub from Tesco or Asda costs just £1." To make your vacuum emit a delightful scent, begin by moistening a small napkin or cotton pad with warm water. Then, sprinkle about 10g, which is roughly two teaspoons, of ground cinnamon onto the dampened napkin or cotton pad, rubbing it in gently to ensure it's spread out evenly. After preparing the napkin, simply pop it into the vacuum cleaner's bag or dustbin. For those with a bagless vacuum, place it in the waste/dustbin compartment where it won't interfere with the suction. As you vacuum as usual, the cinnamon-laden napkin will move through the appliance, emitting a cosy, bakery-like aroma and counteracting any nasty smells. A Lottomart spokesperson commented: "Unlike chemical air fresheners or commercial cleaners, cinnamon neutralises bad smells at the source while leaving behind a warm, subtle fragrance. "It's a far more pleasant, long-lasting scent compared to synthetic alternatives." Science journals have noted something special about cinnamon's antibacterial or antimicrobial properties. IOP Science has reported: "Cinnamon bark has been commonly used as spicy and traditional medicine. It contains several antibacterial compounds such as flavonoids, saponins, and cinnamaldehyde. Several studies have been done to know the antibacterial effect on bacteria such as Streptococcus in vitro."
Irish Daily Mirror
24-05-2025
- General
- Irish Daily Mirror
'Shockingly cheap' way to make your home smell amazing is hiding in the cupboard
With June nearly upon us and the warmer weather finally here, many will be turning their thoughts to the big spring clean. There's nothing quite like getting the house sparkling clean for the summer ahead, and now cleaning experts have issued an unusual tip to help get rid of musty odours and lingering smells. Simply adding cinnamon to your vacuum cleaner could help make your home smell fresh without breaking the bank (or your appliance). After years of use, many hoovers will start to smell rather worn. Dust, dirt, mud, pet hairs and general grime are not a recipe for freshness, and sometimes just running the vacuum for half an hour can leave your house smelling a bit off. According to Lottomart, a sprinkling of cinnamon directly inside your vacuum has two benefits: it spreads a sweet, fresh smell throughout the house every time you vac. And, it also has antibacterial properties, meaning nasty germs dwelling in your carpet will be killed off, too, reports the Express. They said: "Over time, dust, pet hair, and trapped dirt can create a breeding ground for bacteria and unpleasant odours inside your vac. "But before you splash out on pricey fresheners or replace parts, there's a simple, natural, and shockingly cheap solution hiding right in your spice cupboard: cinnamon!". "Cinnamon isn't just for cooking - it's a powerful, natural deodoriser with antibacterial properties. If you don't already have some ground cinnamon at home, a 36g tub from Tesco costs just €1." To make your vacuum emit a delightful scent, start by moistening a small napkin or cotton pad with warm water. Then, sprinkle about 10g, which is roughly two teaspoons, of ground cinnamon onto the damp napkin or cotton pad and rub it in gently to ensure it's spread out evenly. Once you've prepared the napkin, just pop it into the vacuum cleaner's bag or dustbin. If you have a bagless vacuum, place it in the waste/dustbin compartment where it won't interfere with the suction. As you vacuum as usual, the cinnamon-laden napkin will move through the machine, wafting a cosy, bakery-like aroma and getting rid of any nasty niffs. A Lottomart spokesperson said: "Unlike chemical air fresheners or commercial cleaners, cinnamon neutralises bad smells at the source while leaving behind a warm, subtle fragrance. It's a far more pleasant, long-lasting scent compared to synthetic alternatives." Science journals suggest there's something special about cinnamon's antibacterial or antimicrobial properties. IOPScience notes: "Cinnamon bark has been commonly used as spicy and traditional medicine. It contains several antibacterial compounds such as flavonoids, saponins, and cinnamaldehyde. Several studies have been done to know the antibacterial effect on bacteria such as Streptococcus in vitro."
Daily Mirror
22-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
'Shockingly cheap' way to make your home smell amazing is hiding in the cupboard
Cleaning experts have shared a simple and cheap solution to make your home smell amazing - and it's hiding in your spice cupboard. Here's how it works With June around the corner and warmer weather upon us, many are tackling their household cleaning. Few tasks are as satisfying as getting the house spotless for the impending summer, and now cleaning experts have shared an unusual hack to eliminate musty smells and lingering odours. Adding cinnamon to your vacuum cleaner could make your home smell fresh without incurring significant costs or damaging your appliance. After prolonged use, many vacuum cleaners can develop unpleasant odours. Dust, dirt, mud, pet hair and general grime are not conducive to freshness, and even a 30-minute vacuuming session can leave your house smelling off. According to Lottomart, sprinkling cinnamon directly inside your vacuum has a dual effect: it disperses a sweet, fresh fragrance throughout the house with each use and, due to its antibacterial properties, eradicates germs dwelling in your carpet. They stated: "Over time, dust, pet hair, and trapped dirt can create a breeding ground for bacteria and unpleasant odours inside your vac. "But before you splash out on pricey fresheners or replace parts, there's a simple, natural, and shockingly cheap solution hiding right in your spice cupboard: cinnamon! "Cinnamon isn't just for cooking - it's a powerful, natural deodoriser with antibacterial properties. If you don't already have some ground cinnamon at home, a 36g tub from Tesco or Asda costs just £1." To make your vacuum cleaner emit a delightful scent, begin by moistening a small napkin or cotton pad with warm water, reports the Express. Then, distribute approximately 10g, or two teaspoons, of ground cinnamon onto the dampened material, massaging softly to ensure it's thoroughly imbued. After preparing the napkin, you simply need to place it inside your vacuum cleaner's dust bag or chamber. In bagless models, position it in the dirt collection area, taking care to avoid any interference with suction functionality. Proceed with your usual vacuuming routine, and as you do so, the aroma-infused napkin will disperse throughout the appliance, exuding a cosy, bakery-inspired fragrance and counteracting any disagreeable smells. A spokesperson for Lottomart commented: "Unlike chemical air fresheners or commercial cleaners, cinnamon neutralises bad smells at the source while leaving behind a warm, subtle fragrance. It's a far more pleasant, long-lasting scent compared to synthetic alternatives." Scientific journals have also noted the potent qualities present in cinnamon. IOP Science declares: "Cinnamon bark has been commonly used as spicy and traditional medicine. "It contains several antibacterial compounds such as flavonoids, saponins, and cinnamaldehyde. Several studies have been done to know the antibacterial effect on bacteria such as Streptococcus in vitro."
