To be on the safe side, handwash it in detergent especially for delicates and wool.

Use hand-hot water and very little detergent (if you have too much soap, rinsing can take forever).

Be very gentle, caressing rather than rubbing, and rinse really, really well until the water is completely clear (fill the bath if it’s easier). Squeeze out as much water as you can then lay the jumper between two thick towels and roll up. Leave somewhere warmish such as the airing cupboard and check progress after 24 hours – it should be almost dry.

No need to iron!

If your party dress says Dry Clean Only and you get a spill on it, don’t be tempted to have a quick wipe-down with the cloth then take it to the dry cleaner and expect a perfect job.

Water is the number one enemy of the dry cleaner!

Restrain yourself, drop it off fully stained and your chances of getting back a perfect result will be so much higher.

Trust me, I’ve been there….

Spray-on furniture polish isn’t always the best thing for your treasured possessions – it’s fine and handy for a quick fix, but in the long term layers of silicon can build up and become sticky.

If your wooden furniture looks a little dried out and in need of TLC, a lovely treatment is two parts olive oil and one part lemon juice.

Apply the tiniest amount, rub in with a soft cotton cloth and buff with another clean one.

Do this only twice a year.

You know that annoying white tide mark that appears on your lovely leather boots after you’ve been out in the snow?

And how it keeps on reappearing, even after you’ve polished them?

Here’s the answer: rub a little vinegar on cotton wool over the marks before repolishing.

All traces gone and they’ll look like new again!

If you have a collection of old coins you think might be valuable, don’t be tempted to clean them up before taking to an expert – they could lose value in the process!

Dampen the area with water, squirt on a little washing up liquid, rub fabric to fabric gently until the stain is gone then machine-wash in biological detergent according to the label instructions.

It’s never a smart move to stick candles in glasses, because once the parties are over you know you’ll want to drink out of them again at some point.

So how to get the wax out without cracking the glass?

Unless the glasses have metal decorations, the easiest way is to heat in the microwave for a few seconds to loosen the wax.

Otherwise, heat upside down on a baking tray covered with kitchen paper in a low oven, or place the glasses in warm water and gradually increase the temperature (don’t plunge into boiling water) until you’ve warmed the wax enough to float it out and given the glass time to expand without cracking.

Get rid of that fishy or garlicky smell from your hands by washing in barely-warm water and soap, and at the same time massage the chrome of the tap with your fingers (works in the same way as those chrome bars you buy for this).

Easy, cost-free and guaranteed!