The best time of year to clean a pond is in the spring, when cooler temperatures will have a less stressful effect on any fish and plants in there.

A floor brush picks up a lot of dirt…but how often does it occur to you to give it a clean? It’s one thing picking out the clods of dust and hair that get trapped in the bristles, but it’s a good idea also to wash them in a warm mild detergent solution from time to time.

If you do it in the bath, you’ll see how dirty the water will be!

Rinse in clear water, then hang to dry. Always store your brush bristles side up – that way they won’t be flattened and will stay nice and bouncy.

It helps if you keep the window open and the cooker hood fan running, but if this is not cracking it, a better solution might be to cook your fish in the oven or microwave enclosed in either baking parchment or specifically designed cook-in bags.

As well as getting round the smell issue, they cut down on the washing up – always a good thing!

avoid any meltdown on the soleplate by ironing the T-shirt inside out.

Obvious really!

If you live in a hard water area and have water marks on your stainless steel sink, pour some clear neat vinegar (or lemon juice) on to a paper towel, apply to the stains and leave a few hours.

If you’re feeling energetic, mix a paste of bicarb of soda and vinegar and smear on with a damp cloth or sponge. 

Leave a few minutes, rinse off and buff dry.

Once clean, get into the habit of descaling the sink on a weekly basis, paying particular attention to the bits around the taps. 

They get greasy really quickly (and when oily drops start falling on the hob below, you know it’s time for action).

Most can go in the dishwasher on a hot wash, but if you don’t have one give them a good soak overnight in a hot strong washing soda solution – about a cup of crystals to 600ml hot water.

If they’re too big for the sink, stick them in the bath (line with a towel to stop scratches). If they’re still a bit greasy renew the solution and get the last of the gunk off with a nylon brush.

This is caused by water sitting there.

You need to rub the grooves with very fine grade wire wool dipped in white spirit.

Dry off and coat with a mix of one-third boiled linseed oil (from a DIY shop) mixed with two-thirds white spirit, using a soft cloth. Leave overnight then remove any excess.

Do this every six months or so to keep the wood looking good.

Condensation can be a big problem in cooler months, and this can lead to mould, which as well as being unsightly can be very bad for your health (the sprores given off can land in your lungs and cause respiratory problems).

Make sure your walls are as well insulated as possible. Keep the place warm and don’t allow the temperature to drop dramatically and turn the heating to low instead of off if nights are very cold.

Keep moisture production to a minimum by closing the kitchen and bathroom doors when cooking or running a bath.

If you’re drying clothes indoors try to leave a window open a little; if you use a tumble drier the door should be well sealed and the drier vented to the outside.

If you see holes appearing in items made of either wool or silk, it might not be moths to blame – it could be your detergent.

Biological powder, which contains enzymes, will attack wool and silk. It says on the box that you shouldn’t use it for those fabrics, but how many of us read detergent instructions?

Always wash those items in a gentle detergent specifically for delicate fabrics.

If you have woodlice inside your house, it’s because these (harmless) creatures are looking for shelter (but their presence does indicate damp).

Tackle the damp and remove items such as plants, leaf litter or stacks of logs from outside walls then fill in gaps between skirting boards and replace loose or damaged mortar.