My golden rule for keeping my home tidy is never to go upstairs or downstairs empty-handed. And leave items at the bottom of the stairs to take up next time (though somehow male family members can be blissfully blind to this!). 

If your fridge seals have turned black and mouldy, try Milton Sterilising Fluid. Dilute and wipe down the seals, paying attention to the folds and allow to air-dry – no need to rinse.

Check you’re storing it properly – it’ll be sticky or hard if damp. If it’s okay, the drawer’s water jets may be blocked. A water softener (eg Calgon) will help protect the heating element and other parts, but won’t stop limescale forming on the jets if you have hard water. To clean, mix equal parts clear vinegar and water. Remove drawer and scrub the solution on to the compartment roof, then run an idle wash (empty drum, hottest programme, maximum dose detergent).

If you’ve been storing away stainless steel cutlery for a while, it may have tarnished. And guess what – vinegar won’t shift the tarnish! What you need is special metal cleaner such as Maas Metal Polish from Lakeland. It’s not cheap (£12.99) but a tube will last for ages and, most importantly, will work!

If your acrylic bath has a scratch, smooth it out with metal polish or non-gel toothpaste. The mild abrasion will remove the thinnest surface layer and blend it with the surrounding area. Test a hidden area first (eg behind the taps). If you’re happy, rub over the scratch really gently, or the sheen could go.

On hot days, to ensure your feet smell sweet, avoid plastic and vinyl shoes – go for natural materials and sandals. Best to have 2-3 pairs and rotate daily so each pair dries out. Trainers come up well after a short gentle cycle in the washing machine.

This is a tip from Bryn – one of our many Aggies Tips members. Thanks Bryn – and let’s have more

Put a dishwasher tablet in your washing machine and do a rinse cycle, just see the colour of the water! It really cleans the machine

Always use separate cleaning cloths for the bathroom so there’s no chance for germs to cross-contaminate any other room. After every use, wash and dry cloths – don’t leave them scrunched up behind the taps.

Get everyone to use their own towel and facecloth – no sharing – as infections, especially skin problems, can spread quickly.

There are many different ways of cleaning the loo pan, but a brush is my least favourite – they give me the heebie-jeebies. I much prefer to put on my ‘bathroom’ rubber gloves, sprinkle around some disinfectant, rub away with some kitchen paper (don’t forget under the rim…scary what you can find there!), then stick this in the bin outside (never flush away kitchen roll or baby wipes – they can easily block your loo).  

And don’t forget to wipe the handle!