The do's and don'ts of cleaning
by Amy Sawyer
Do’s
Do make a kitty for cleaning products. If everyone puts in £20 at the beginning
of each term, you’ll never have to fork out for all the cleaning products and
loo roll yourself. And if there is any kitty left at the end of the year you can
just divide it between you.
Do stock up on cleaning products when you move in. That way you’ll have the
right stuff at hand and your housemates won’t be able make excuses.
Do wear old clothing and rubber gloves if you’ll using bleach. You’ll only have
yourself to blame if you accidentally spill bleach down your favourite jeans.
Do be sympathetic. Your housemate has a deadline looming doing their washing up
isn’t at the top of their agenda. Do it for them and, if they are nice, they’ll
repay the favour. Hopefully with a beer and pizza!
Do de scale your shower head. There’s no need to spend a fortune on a de scaling
agent though. Put some lemon juice and vinegar in a bag, tie it round your
shower head and leave it to soak. Do this once a month and you’ll never have to
worry about going to uni smelly, unless you want to!
Do your washing up after you’ve eaten, that way you won’t have to waste valuable
energy scrubbing off that dried on food two days later.
Do clean regularly. If you don’t you’ll not only have to live in a dirty pigs
sty but you’ll have a huge job on your hands when you move out!
Don’ts
Don’t expect everyone else to do your share of the cleaning. You’re not at home
anymore! Likewise don’t be a mug and do everyone’s share. Design a sensible
cleaning rota that even the ‘lazy one’ can stick to. Alternatively organise a
cleaning sesh once a week if people don’t want to be allocated jobs.
Don’t leave arsey messages on the fridge. Telling your housemates you’ll throw
out all their food if they don’t clean the kitchen isn’t going to get them
running for the mop. Write a polite note and if you want stick a few kisses on
the end. Make them feel bad and they will eventually get on with it!
Don’t buy expensive cleaning products, the cheap ones do exactly the same job.
Cream cleaner will become your best friend.
Don’t neglect the oven. You’ll need a chisel and hammer to get that years worth
of baked on pizza off. But if worst comes to worst and it just isn’t shifting at
about £4 Mr Muscle Oven cleaner will do the job nicely.
Don’t leave your clothes in the washing machine. If clothes are left too long
you’ll have to wash them again. That damp smell won’t go away with a bit of
airing!
Don’t get a pet. For once your landlord has a point, pets are too messy. That
hamster might be cute but unless you’re prepared to clean its cage out every
week hammy is best left where it belongs- in the pet shop.
Don’t let the bin overflow. No one is going to empty the bin if old food and
empty packets are threatening to leap out. Don’t leave rubbish bags in the
kitchen or hallway either, put them by the door so you can take them out when
you leave.