Place a little pile of bicarb of soda over the sink plug opening, pour over some vinegar and watch the action.

Now apply a kettleful of boiling water and feel secure in the knowledge that you’ll have done the pipes a power of good.

If you’re unsure what your local council accepts, visit http://www.recyclenow.com and type in your postcode.

With any luck, you’ll be amazed at the range of waste your local authority is happy for you to put in your recycling bin.

Buy small quantities of flour, nuts and sugar, and store them in sealed plastic boxes. That way, you have more chance of staying free of weevils and flour moths.

The clue’s in the nose: if it smells, it’ll be heaving with germs and each time you use it you’ll be spreading them about very nicely.

It needs to go in the washing machine, and on a 60 degree wash if possible. 

If your machine is particularly noisy and located in the kitchen, it can be a nuisance. Sort this by standing the machine on a carpet offcut – things will get a whole lot calmer around the place!

Add a capful of fabric conditioner to a bucket of water, rinse the mop in it, then squeeze dry and leave till the next use.

It’ll always be lovely and soft.

It seems a good idea when new…then it’s an absolute bind to keep it looking good.

The surface will scratch easily so protective coasters and cloths are a good idea. Clean smears with a damp cloth wrung out in warm soapy water and buff dry.

Any chips or scratches can sometimes be filed down with the finest grade of sandpaper.

Put about a cup of soda crystals (DriPak, about £1 from most supermarkets) in 500ml warm water and just rub away – soon the fat will dissolve.

You’d think with that sort of power, they would be toxic. Not so: they contain no harmful chemicals, enzymes or phosphates – plus they’re totally biodegradable.

 Adopt the mantra: ‘One in, one out’. For every new item you bring into your home, look for one existing one you can either throw or recycle.

As a nation we love our pets, but sometimes their hairs on the sofa and chairs can be a real pain. If you don’t want to be constantly vacuuming them up, a quick inbetween solution is to don a pair of rubber gloves, run your hands quickly under the tap and take them over the hairs, from one side of the sofa to the other. The hair will obediently be pushed along by the rubber gloves, then all you do is gather up the clumps and put them in the bin.