Author: developers@think.mt

There’s no denying the satisfaction that comes from cleaning your home from top to bottom. The fresh scent, comfort, and calmness it brings make all the hard work worthwhile. When you love your home, you want it to look its best, and there is no better way than giving your space a good spring cleaning.

While there are a plethora of cleaning tips and products available today, it can be overwhelming to determine which ones to use where and when. However, it’s crucial not to overlook classic cleaning hacks, as they are often the most effective. Here’s our list of the top traditional cleaning tips for your home to help you prepare for your big spring clean.

Cleaning with Baking Soda

Baking soda is a versatile product every cleaning enthusiast should have. While it’s commonly used in baking, it’s also an incredible cleaning product. You can use it to clean any surface that you would normally use a cream cleaner, clean bathrooms, de-grease your oven door, remove stains from mugs, freshen up rugs and carpets, and eliminate any odors from a sofa.

Homemade Window and Mirror Cleaner

We all desire streak-free mirrors and windows, and with this homemade solution of household products, achieving it is a breeze. Mix 1 ½ cups of water, 1 ½ tablespoons of white vinegar, 1 ½ tablespoons of rubbing alcohol, and 3 drops of any citrus essential oil into a spray bottle. Then use a lint-free cloth to wipe away the dirt.

Vinegar for Shiny Showers

White vinegar is a perfect descaler for your shower. Simply fill a plastic bag with vinegar, wrap it around your shower head using an elastic band, and leave it for a few hours. When you return, use a toothbrush to scrub off any residue, and your bathroom will be sparkling clean.

Natural Laundry Whitener with Lemon

Lemon juice is an old trick for achieving perfect white sheets. Squeeze the juice of a lemon into a bowl or bucket of hot water and soak your items for around two hours. Then, run them through a rinse cycle and leave them in the sun to dry.

Bonus Tip: Removing Red Wine Stains with White Wine

Adding more wine to an already messy spill may seem daunting, but this trick works wonders. The ingredients in white wine have the ability to dissolve the pigment in red wine, making it an excellent stain remover.

In conclusion, while there are many new cleaning products and techniques available, it’s important not to overlook traditional cleaning hacks that have been effective for generations. Baking soda, white vinegar, lemon juice, and white wine are just a few examples of versatile and natural products that can be used for various cleaning tasks around the house. By incorporating these traditional cleaning tips into your spring cleaning routine, you can achieve a sparkling clean home with ease.

Make sure to check out our selection of new-build homes at Mulberry Park or the upcoming phase 2 of The Pantheon.

The first hints of spring soon sprouting after months of dull winter weather and single-figure temperatures makes us crave bright, fresh spaces. We collectively crave a home as bright and fresh as nature blooming outdoors.

Astronomically, spring begins on the 21st of March, therefore we still have time to get our homes ready in preparation for the season. With Easter on the horizon, now is the perfect time to refresh your interior and bring more of the outside in. 

A change in seasons is a great time to freshen up our spaces along with a mindset shift going hand in hand with this change. Take a look at what you can do to get your home ready for the season ahead.

1. Clean those forgotten corners

It’s time to address the areas of your home which are overlooked daily. From dusting off those hard-to-reach nooks to wiping down blinds, tackling forgotten areas will help you stride on into spring with a clean home and an even clearer mind.

Feeling overwhelmed with where to start? Create a list and plan the cleaning out over the next month with actionable tasks to do per day or week. Take it room by room or appliance by the appliance to balance out the workload. Here are some spring cleaning tips that are sure to make your life easier.

2. Declutter your wardrobe

A carefully curated wardrobe is a real mood booster and time saver as you’ll have a closet full of clothes that you love, not full of clothes which don’t fit or aren’t your style anymore. It’s time to part ways with clothing that is no longer serving you. 

One can either sell, donate, upcycle or recycle unwanted clothes.

Hot Tip: Store out-of-season clothes in a storage container underneath your bed, in your second bedroom or garage. 

3. Organise your cupboards

Transform your dumping ground into a well-organised haven. Firstly, take everything out and clean the space. Secondly, take stock of what items or products there are and organise them into groups. Finally, throw out any expired items and create a pile of those no longer needed to be rehomed. 

Now the fun part, putting everything into its proper place. We recommend picking up some storage containers in order to organise the space better. Making sure everything has a designated home will ensure you can find what you need easily.

If you’re in the market for a new home, check out our selection of new-build residences at Mulberry Park or the upcoming phase 2 of The Pantheon.

C.O.L is a universal acronym for the cost of living crisis which is rising globally and fast! The cost of living crisis refers to the fall in ‘real’ disposable incomes that many of us are seeing at the moment. Stripping out the financial terminology, means we now have less money to spend after accounting for taxation and inflation. Finding ways to reduce your home bills is now even more crucial.

With the price of almost everything increasing – and wages usually failing to keep up – it’s no surprise many of us are finding things tough. For some, this has prompted tough choices like cutting the family grocery bill, while for others it’s meant foregoing meals out or weekends away.

In the following article, we’ll provide simple tips to save money on shopping to advice on how to help manage the impact on your household budget. 

1. Cold Wash Clothes

It’s universally thought that dirt and stains only remove themselves from clothing when washing at higher temperatures. However, this has proven not to be the case. Aim for a 30-degree wash if you can, this can save 60% on your energy per cycle according to Ariel. 

Hot Tip: Opt to purchase supermarket brands in relation to washing tablets and conditioners in order to save some pennies there too!

2. Eco-setting on appliance

To reiterate the above, opt for the more eco-friendly option and set your dishwasher and washing machine to the eco setting. The eco mode is used for lower rinse temperatures and uses a lower temperature wash, which uses less energy, but still maintains a high standard of cleaning. 

3. Showers = in, baths = out

Showers not only save you money but save on water consumption and energy, i.e. helping the planet that wee bit. Reviewing your water metre on a regular basis and monitoring it can help reduce your water consumption and therefore, reduce your home bills.

Hot Tip: If your gym or workplace offers showers try doing so there to cut costs.

4. Dry naturally

In this case we’re not only talking about clothes but also your hair. Using hair dryers and hair tools can increase your household energy bill. If you are looking at ways to save money and energy consumption, only use these appliances for special occasions. Your hair will be thankful, too!

In relation to clothes, hang them up on a clothes horse instead of using a tumble dryer. 

5. Energy-efficient purchases

If you’re due a new electronic purchase, from a fridge or freezer to a new tumble dryer ensure you are opting to purchase an energy-efficient appliance. Purchasing a smaller appliance will half your energy consumption and reduce your home bills significantly. Keeping your fridge out of direct sunlight will stop it from overcompensating. 

Hot Tip: Defrost your freezer at least once a year to keep it running smoothly. 

6. Unplug > Standby

The majority of us are used to flicking a switch on an appliance to turn it off rather than unplugging them completely. One might think switching off the tv from the remote means that it’s turned off, but newsflash, it isn’t. Yes, it might not be turned on from the display however if the switch is still turned on from the socket there is still energy flowing through the plug, therefore wasting energy.

Hot Tip: Take all plugs out of their sockets when not in use.

7. Home Automation

Contrary to popular belief, home automation can actually help you save energy and reduce your monthly electricity bill. With the widespread use of smartphones and the availability of affordable smart lights and switches, it’s never been easier to upgrade your home’s energy efficiency. Installation is simple and straightforward, allowing you to set automated routines, such as turning off all lights when you’re away from home or at a designated time, to help conserve energy. By embracing smart home technology, you can enjoy the benefits of a more sustainable and cost-effective home.

8. Reduce monthly subscriptions

Take stock of your monthly subscriptions and expenses such as gym memberships, phone and internet subscriptions, video streaming subscriptions, etc. Try to see if you can save by switching to a different plan and reducing your monthly bill. 

9. Challenge your lifestyle

This could be the year you give up one of your vices. From smoking and/or drinking to purchasing that coffee from your local barista on a daily basis. These habits add up to your monthly expenses. Not only will this be a healthier option for you but it will reduce your spending greatly.

10. Sell unused items

Have any unwanted items lying around the house? Is it time to finally declutter your wardrobe Marie Kondo style? Getting rid of unwanted/unused items is a great way to attain more disposable income. 

Closing thoughts

If you’re a first-time buyer looking to buy a new build home in Malta, why not take advantage of the first-time buyers’ scheme? With just a 10% deposit, you could purchase a beautiful new home sooner than you think. We have new homes available in highly sought-after areas, have a look at our current developments on offer here.