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.

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.

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!

Buy a few pairs of cheap slippers in various sizes to have by the front door to give to your guests before they come in.

They’re bound to feel instantly at home too!

There are plenty of commercial cleaners on the market, but they can be expensive so here’s a cheaper way.

Fill the bath with hot water, add about 2 tablespoons dishwasher (not washing) powder and about half a cup of bleach and run the water jets for 15 minutes. T

hen drain the water and refill with cold water only. Run the whirlpool for another 10 minutes, then drain again.

You should do this about once a month to keep your pipes clear.

You might think an enamel bath would withstand any amount of elbow grease, but you’d be wrong – the shiny surface is actually very delicate and you should clean only with either a microfibre cloth or a product that bears the logo of the Vitreous Enamel Association (Cif, for example, carries the mark).

If you scrub too hard, you’ll remove the surface and thereafter it takes on stains. And re-enamelling a bath is costly.

Try never to get it wet or muddy, and vacuum regularly.

Occasionally lift the matting, if you can, to sweep up the bits of dirt that fall through the holes.

Most types can be cleaned with a dry foam carpet shampoo, but test on a discreet area first. If anything spills on it, mop up immediately using the tiniest amount of carpet shampoo.

Don’t give up on it and chuck it out. Machine-wash on a wool cycle with some towels and rehang in position straight from the machine.