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Mamma Fairy

Mamma Musings

What Does It Take To Make Your Home Safe for Your Young Kids?

We all want to be able to create a safe environment for children. And whether you need to upgrade your home or there is a baby on the way, now you have to think about looking at it from your child’s perspective. Young children are naturally curious individuals, so you need to assess your home from specific dangers. There are more children taken to hospital arising from an accident in the home than anywhere else. And there are many ways for us to make a safe home for our children. Here are some of the following. 

How to Prevent Your Children from Finding Hazards

family

Pic Credit: Pixabay

The reality is that there are so many different hazards in the property. The best thing that you can do first of all is to prevent any potential hazards by addressing what is already around. When it comes to electricity, you need to make sure the wires are hidden behind heavy furniture or concealed, but also now is the perfect opportunity to check the safety of these items. This is especially true if you live in a rented property, and the pandemic has meant that nobody has come out to check these things. You can hire an electrician to conduct an electrical installation condition report (EICR), and the EICR price is fair in comparison to most standards. But it’s also peace of mind knowing that you’ve had someone truly assess the electricity in the property. With regards to other hazards, you need to have plenty of locks, for example, keeping first aid supplies in a locked cupboard, having padlocks on cupboards with hazardous substances, and making sure that these are all stored safely out of your children’s reach.

Preventing the Risk of Drowning

It’s important to remember the children of babies can drown in as little as 5 centimetres of water. When your children are in the bath or playing near water, you have to be vigilant. When your children are having a bath, you’ve got to stay with them. If your children sleep under the water, they won’t make a noise, and so you may not be aware if your child gets into trouble. Additionally, you should wait until the water has drained completely before leaving a room. You may think that bath seats are a good thing, but the problem with bath seats is that they are prone to tipping over. When your child is having a bath, the best thing for you to do is to have a non-slip bath mat on the bottom, and fill the water very shallowly. But also remember other water hazards around the house, such as garden ponds or any containers or buckets. It’s important to make sure that these are always empty.

Preventing Burns and Scalding

Younger children are more prone to burning and scalding than older children. The biggest culprit of scalding is hot drinks. To prevent scalding always make sure you keep mugs away from any surface edges. It’s also worth noting that you should never pass a hot drink to a mother who is breastfeeding because even the smallest drop could scald both the mum and the baby. A hot drink can scald a child 15 minutes after being made, so when in doubt, keep it out of reach. When it comes to burns, make sure that you are keeping the appliances serviced. If you have a fireplace, make sure that it is serviced and checked according to the manufacturer’s instructions. You should also make sure that there is a fireguard, and make sure that there are no items up on the mantelpiece that will be tempted for your child. It’s also worth remembering that in case of fire, always have an escape route planned. Planning and preparing is always the best way to make sure that you can all get out in an emergency.

Preventing Suffocation

For younger babies, it’s important to give your child a safe sleeping place. Babies are best to stay in cots. And while you may think that the child is sleeping on you, you can put them on the couch, the best thing to do is to put them in the cot. If you let them sleep on the sofa, there could be large gaps and big cushions which could be dangerous. Also, make sure that any nappy bags or plastic bags are kept out of reach. When in doubt, make sure that you tie a knot in the top of his plastic bags as this will stop your child from trying to open them.

So, before you start redesigning your garden and renovating a property for your young children, the best thing to do is to make sure that it is safe first and foremost.

Note: This is a collaborative post

 

Home & Interiors

3 Ways To Redesign Your Back Garden

Now that summer is ending, and autumn is most certainly on the way, when you look back at the past few months, did you really make the most use out of your back garden, or was it just there, a handy place to hang washing out to dry but otherwise barely used at all? 

If this is the case, you’re not alone; many people don’t make the most of their back gardens, and that’s a big shame since being outside in nature for at least a few minutes each day is good for our mental and physical health, not to mention the fact that if the children are playing outside, they are spending less time on their screens (and the same goes for you). 

Therefore, why not redesign your back garden so that, by the time spring comes around once more, you’ll be able to use it to its full potential? Read on for some inspiration on what you can do. 

Have Less Lawn

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Depending on how much you like gardening, your lawn can either be a blessing or a curse. It’s good to have grass for comfort, for the look, and for wildlife, but it does tend to need a lot of upkeep. You’ll need to mow it at least every two weeks in the summer, and you’ll need to ensure that any brambles and thistles are removed before children can go out to play.

One idea you can implement when it comes to redesigning your garden is to have less lawn overall. You don’t have to worry that this is a big job to do; you can either employ professionals, or you can buy the right equipment from arbourlandscapesolutions.co.uk and do it yourself. It simply means digging up any areas of grass you don’t want and disposing of it. Then, you can replace it with artificial grass, paving slabs, woodchip, or anything else that appeals. Now you have less lawn to have to maintain, making it much more pleasant in your garden. 

Make An Al Fresco Eating Space

Redesigning your back garden is all about ensuring that you can use it more, and what better way to do that than to install or create some kind of outdoor eating area. If you have a space to enjoy your meals al fresco, you’ll be out in the garden a lot more – possibly three times a day. Plus, you can invite friends and family over much more often to enjoy either a barbecue or food prepared indoors and eaten around a nice big patio table.  And don’t forget somewhere to chill out and wile away the hours with a coffee or your favourite wine, what about a hammock with stand for the ultimate in chill out luxury. 

The problem with eating outside if you don’t have a dedicated, planned-out space to do it is that you’ll have to rely on good weather. However, if you have created an alfresco eating area, complete with some kind of awning to keep you protected from sun and rain, then it won’t matter what the weather is doing; you can still enjoy your garden. 

Build a Garden Room

garden room

Credit provided by Scottish Garden Rooms company GardenRooms.scot

If you want to create the ultimate wow factor in your garden whilst giving yourself an additional space to use, consider building a garden room.

There’s kits you can buy online that are put together much like sheds but they’re generally not usable year round due to a lack of insulation. Alternatively, you can hire a company to build something that can be used year round for lounging, entertaining, exercising, working and more.

Not only will a garden room look amazing it will give you a space to use and possible add value to your home. The cost will vary depending on what you go for but a well built room will last the test of time. Image provided by Scottish Garden Rooms company GardenRooms.scot

Make It Wildlife Friendly 

If you don’t much like gardening, but you still want an enjoyable, interesting garden, you can take steps to make your outdoor space more wildlife-friendly. This will involve creating a wildflower area, which doesn’t need to be weeded very much and generally takes care of itself. However, even if this is only part of your back garden, you’ll still be cutting the work you need to do outside down by a good amount. 

As well as this, try adding a bee hotel, bird feeders, and even a pond. All of these will attract wildlife to your garden and make it a wonderful place to be for everyone. 

Note: This is a collaborative post

 

Features

How to Raise a Confident Child

Confidence – that magical trait which all parents want their child to be in possession of. What makes a confident child? Is it nature or nurture? Research suggests it’s some of both – while some children are born socially gifted, others can certainly be trained into the habit of self-belief and self-confidence. So here are some top tips to ensure that you’re well-armed when it comes to helping your child be at their confident best at all times.

It starts early

Pic Credit: Pixabay

You can’t begin too soon. From birth, most children are protected from the harsher realities of the world by loving parents but there’s a fine line between protecting and smothering. As your baby grows into a toddler, it can be difficult to loosen the reins and let them experience a few bumps on the road to growth and learning. But it’s vital that we do loosen the reins. If we protect toddlers from every single knock and bump, they won’t learn how to navigate as quickly or as confidently as they might otherwise do when left to their own discovery.

Provide your toddler with many safe opportunities to explore the world physically and mentally. Take them to parks, gardens, play centres, libraries, museums, and playgroups. Allow them to climb appropriately, to touch and experience different textures and materials. Allow them to get dirty! Talk to them constantly – offer positive reinforcements when they successfully navigate a new environment. Praise them for trying new things and commiserate – but briefly – when they fall.

Small children are like sponges – let them see you in action and at your most confident. You are their best role model and it’s to you they will look when they come to measure their own successes. 

As they grow

Once children reach school age, some experience a period of shyness or difficulty relinquishing their attachment to you as carer. A new environment, exposure to new people and routines can cause all sorts of emotions to rise to the surface. Talk them through these times by naming their emotions. Little children have no experience of emotions in an intellectual way so they can’t always make sense of strong feelings.

If a child has never felt jealousy or insecurity before, then how can they process that emotion without a name for it? Discuss their feelings with them and let them know that they are valid and normal. Give them the tools they need to become the confident, outspoken individuals you know they can be.

Schools can also be supportive when it comes to helping children to feel more confident. This prep school in London offers many strategies to nurture children and to help them grow into confident young adults.

Note: This is a collaborative post 

Features

The Benefits of Journaling for Kids

Journaling for children is growing in popularity and as more parents realise just how powerful this quiet hobby is, sales of journals and associated equipment have really skyrocketed. But the best part of journaling is that in fact, no real spend is needed. Your child doesn’t need fancy paper or pens to begin – they just need paper and something to write with.

Of course, some children might love to have some extra bits and bobs to make their journals more exciting but that’s up to you as a parent. There’s no need to spend a lot. Cheap stickers, pictures cut from old magazines, these are all great additions to a fun journal.

Journaling can also help children with their literacy skills. This independent school in Woking employs many different creative means to assist children in their journey towards fluent reading and writing.

The point of journaling

journal

Pic credit: Pixabay

Why journal? In short, it’s a wonderful way for children to get their thoughts, frustrations, fears, joy and creativity out and into one place. They’re great to look back on as your child grows too! Parents can see a visual record of their development and how they change as the journals progress.

This is also great for children – offering a way to make sense of events in their lives which at the time might not seem very important but which later, they come to realise were pivotal moments.

Getting creative with journaling

One of the most attractive things about journaling is that there are no rules! Children can choose to fill a page with words only, or with words and images or even just one word if they so choose.

Whatever helps them to express themselves is a positive addition to their journal. Children can feel immense pride and satisfaction through journaling and whether they add to it daily, weekly or less, the great thing is that they can choose – it’s up to them, unlike homework!

Support your child in their journaling by ensuring they’ve always got ample equipment including pens, stamps, stickers, papers and pencils – this helps to inspire them and keep them filling those pages in!

Note: This is collaborative post

Features

How Do Chores Support My Child’s Overall Development

Chores are a vital part of any child’s home experience. Why are they so necessary? In short because a child who has no understanding of basic household chores will struggle to manage their own life successfully once they leave home for university.

Children also need to participate in the mundane portions of home life – not just the good bits! That means they have to be shown what needs doing, how and when to do it!

Why chores help children learn faster

The fine and gross motor skills needed to undertake simple tasks such as tidying away toys are vital for smaller children’s learning.

Pic Credit: Pixabay

From a very early age, children can be taught how to tidy away toys and where to put them.

The physical activity and organisational skills which are honed during these simple actions will stand your child in good stead for learning effectively once they begin kindergarten or school.

Children at this pre-school in Lincoln take on small chores daily and this gives them a sense of responsibility. At school, small children are expected to help tidy up and take on small duties – if your child is already practiced in this, then they will feel confident and pleased to be able to help with little intervention.

As your child grows and begins to take on more responsibility at home, the same rule applies. They know they’re trusted and capable at home so they feel that they are also these things at school.

Older children and chores

As children approach adolescence they are sometimes a little less willing to help at home. It’s important that you ensure your child understands that these things are non-negotiable. There’s no ‘doing it later’ and no swapping jobs with siblings – their jobs are their jobs and that’s that!

This will ensure that as they grow, they will continue these responsible practices and carry them into other areas of their life including revision, part-time employment and hobbies. Make sure your children get the best start in life by giving them their own chores from an early age.

Note: This is a collaborative post

Mamma Musings

What to Do After a Slip, Trip, and Fall Accident?

A slip, trip, and fall accident may seem like an innocuous event you’d have to deal with only once in your life. However, it’s usually not the case.  A slip or trip on the stairs can be a real danger; serious injuries may result from seemingly minor falls down steep and slippery stairs.  It is well known the range of common injuries after a fall such as breaks, sprains or even concussions that can occur after what seemed like something even quite minor. A fall doesn’t have to be from a height to cause injuries.   If you are unfortunate enough to fall or trip on your property, here are some things you should do after such an incident:

Step 1: Get Medical Treatment Without Any Delay

The first thing that you need to do after a slip, trip, and fall accident is to get medical treatment. The best thing about this is that it can be done at home.  You do not have to go to the hospital. If you can walk or move around, there is no problem with this. 

However, if you cannot move or walk on your own, you should immediately call an ambulance and let them take care of everything else. If your injuries are minor, they might not require much attention. However, suppose they are severe enough that it requires immediate attention. In that case, it is best if you go straight to the emergency room so that they can assess the situation properly and determine what needs to be done next.

Step 2: Report the Accident

If you have fallen and been injured in a slip and fall, it is important to know your rights. The Atlanta law protects the rights of injured people and helps them recover compensation for their injuries. So, report your slip and fall accident as soon as possible because this will help the authorities determine who was at fault for the incident. If you wait too long before reporting an accident, it may be difficult to prove who was at fault later down the road. The police officers will take a report and assign it to an officer who is trained to handle such matters. 

One thing you need to know is that there is a limited time span within which you have to file a slip, trip, and fall compensation. For Atlanta state, this period is of two years. 

Also, don’t forget to contact Atlanta Slip and Fall Attorney to investigate your case and offer you the best possible compensation for your injuries. They have got the practical industry experience and knowledge to significantly improve the odds of winning the legal battle. 

Step 3: Take Photos Of Your Injuries And, If Possible, The Site Of The Fall

Next, if you are feeling fine, then ask someone around you to take pictures of the acne immediately after the incident. Take pictures of your injuries with a friend or relative standing by to be interviewed.  Grab a ruler and measure where you fell. This will help show how far down from the surface you fell. This is especially important if you went through carpeting or padding on the floor below you, which may have cushioned your fall.

Take photos of the scene where you fell (or at least where there was carpeting or padding underneath). You might need these later on in court to prove that there was an area below where you fell that might have cushioned your fall or if there were any obstacles in front of you that caused you to trip over or otherwise get hurt in some way as a result of falling over them (like furniture or stairs).

Step 4: Follow Your Treatment Plan

You should take the time to rest and recover before resuming your normal activities. This can be difficult because you may have suffered an injury that prevents you from moving freely or sitting down for long periods. In addition, you may feel embarrassed or humiliated by the incident. To help ease this anxiety, talk with a counselor or someone who understands your feelings.

Make sure to follow all of the instructions in your plan for recovery as directed by your doctor and physical therapist. If you do not follow these directions and return to work too soon after a serious accident, it could lead to further injury or physical damage.  Also, make sure to get back on track with your hygiene routine. Bathe regularly and brush your teeth at least twice daily to prevent tooth decay.

Wrapping Up

After a slip, trip, and fall accident, determine the extent of your injuries. You can do this by contacting your local health care provider for a physical examination, or you can go the cheaper route and purchase over-the-counter pain relievers to see if that helps. Either way, it is important to first document what happened immediately at the scene of the accident by photographing or video-recording any injuries and then reporting the incident to local law enforcement for the record. When hiring someone to represent you, make sure they have experience with slip, trip, and fall cases, as certain laws and regulations are specific to these types of accidents.

Note: This is a collaborative post

Features

The Tech You Need When Starting A Home Business

Thinking of starting your own home business? In order to keep your business organized and productive, you’ll need to make sure that you’ve invested in all the right tech. Below is a brief guide to all the essentials you need when running a business from home.

The right devices

First, you need to consider which devices you need. No matter what type of business you’re setting up, certain devices will be necessary for communicating and carrying out general admin. But which devices do you need?

  • Desktop?: Desktops are stationary computers that allow you to keep your work in one place. A powerful desktop computer is typically a lot cheaper to buy than a laptop of the same power. That said, you’ll need to buy a separate monitor, keyboard and mouse. And more importantly you will need to make sure you have a comfortable desk and chair to house it all.

    Pic Credit: Soges

  • Laptop?: If you want to be able to work from different locations, a laptop could be a better option than a desktop. Just bear in mind that if you need a very powerful laptop, it is likely to be a lot more expensive to buy than a desktop computer of the same power. Some business owners own a desktop and a laptop. 
  • Tablet?: Tablets provide added on-the-go use – you can use them sitting down or standing up. They’re generally not as powerful as laptops and you may not want to use them for tasks like writing (unless you’ve got a wireless keyboard).  
  • Smartphone?: Most of us already own a smartphone. Such a phone will allow you to take calls and answer emails on the go. It could be worth buying yourself a separate work phone to help separate your business and personal life. 

On top of these basic devices, there could be other gadgets worth considering. A few gadgets to consider include:

  • A desktop camera: Plan to conduct video calls? A desktop camera could give you better video quality. You can even consider doing some vlogging on it for your business.
  • A microphone: Having a microphone could allow you to take hands-free calls at your desk. This could be a desktop microphone or a headset microphone. 
  • A wireless keyboard: Wireless keyboards can be linked up to a range of devices including your tablet – which could be useful for any writing tasks.
  • A wireless printer: A lot of modern businesses are now going paperless, but a printer is still handy to have for those times when suppliers or clients want a physical copy of a document.
  • A portable charger: When it comes to working on the go, a portable charger will help to keep your devices powered up.

The right software

Once you’ve invested in the right devices, you should consider the types of software you’ll need.  A few aspects of you business that you may want to download software for includ

technology

Pic Credit: Pexels

e:

  • Accounting: Accounting software could be necessary for recording and calculating your taxes.
  • Employees: There could be various types of software worth considering if you plan to hire employees such as mentoring software and payroll software. 
  • Marketing: Marketing software could allow you to manage your website, social media and emails all from one place. 
  • Security: Strong cybersecurity software is a must for protecting your business from viruses, network attacks and ransomware. 

A lot of modern software is cloud-based, allowing the same data to be accessed from multiple devices. It’s worth looking into scalable software that can grow with your business – a lot of free software generally isn’t scalable, which could mean having to go through the hassle of migrating to new software at a later stage.

There will likely be software you need that is specific to your industry. This could include graphic design software if you’re planning to start your own graphic design company or ecommerce software if you’re going to be running an online store. 

A strong internet connection

A lot of your work is likely to be done online. So that your work runs smoothly, it’s worth investing in a strong home internet connection. Ethernet cables and wi-fi boosters could be other options if your current wi-fi is a little shaky but you don’t want to upgrade it.

It could be worth also investing in a portable internet connection if you want to be able to work on the go. This could include a portable router that plugs into your devices or upgraded data plan for your smartphone. 

Consider using a VPN to keep your connection secure – especially when working from somewhere remote. If you’re using public wi-fi, this will prevent hackers gaining access to your data. 

Note: This is a collaborative post

Features

6 Reasons Why You Should Invest in Equipment for Your New Business

keyboard

Pic Credit: Pixabay

Investing in new equipment for your news business is one of the best moves you can make to enhance growth and improve efficiency. Additionally, new business equipment can boost success, though it does not come easily.

Whether it is purchasing new equipment, vehicles, or any other asset, your business needs a source of funding to get hold of these kinds of stuff. This makes it necessary to look for options, such as asset loans, to get started. Many new businesses should prioritize investing in new equipment or updating the existing ones for many reasons. 

So, why should you invest in equipment for your new business? Here are six reasons that will make such an investment worthwhile. 

Equipment increases efficiency and productivity

IT equipment, such as software solutions like a CRM system, is essential for any new business. These kinds of equipment are necessary for improved efficiency by promoting automation and eliminating repetition in mundane tasks. For instance, social media management software helps your business improve online engagement without requiring employees to monitor any system. This allows employees to focus on other core business areas for improved productivity and efficiency. Other innovative tech equipment, such as the hardware and meraki go license required to set up a WLAN or otherwise correct Wi-Fi infrastructure for your operations, can also help you to unleash your business’s full potential. Many of these solutions are also scalable should you be aiming for a business expansion in the near future.

Improves the quality of your work environment

New furniture and desks make your office and work environment look organized and tidy. Additionally, other assets, such as queue barriers, make it easier for customers to line for services in an orderly manner. This aspect makes your business look professional and organized, making work more manageable. 

Improves security 

Technology equipment can be used to enhance the security around your place of work. For instance, updating your cloud-based software is a vital step to reduce cybercrimes and improve the security of your business data. Additionally, some equipment, such as these custom fume hoods for use in laboratories, will improve the physical security of your employees or customers by limiting their exposure to danger. Consider investing in general safety assets such as fire extinguishers and a sprinkler system to make your workplace a secure and safe place to work.

Enhances expansion

Many people start businesses with the view of future expansion. If this is your goal, you should invest in assets that allow you to grow and expand. For instance, investing in multipurpose assets is an excellent strategy to venture into other markets, improving sales. Buying equipment for your new business is a sure-fire way to grow in the future.

Gives a competitive edge

The business environment is becoming more saturated and competitive like never before. Therefore, you should ensure you stay up to date with equipment that helps you gain a competitive edge. For instance, investing in machinery and automated tools makes work easier by simplifying repetitive tasks. Additionally, it improves the volume of production, allowing your business to meet the market demand. 

Improves the quality of goods and services

One of the advantages of automation is that it improves product quality. For instance, chatbots improve customer services by handling concerns and offering tailored and timely solutions when customer care agents are not in the office. Unless you want your employees to work 24/7, you should consider investing in equipment that keeps work flowing even when you are not in the office. 

Conclusion

Investing in equipment for your new business comes with many advantages that you should never overlook. The bottom line is that equipment helps you expand your business in more than one way. 

Note: This is a collaborative post

Features

Signs Its Time for a Career Change

If you are feeling unhappy in your current job, it may be time to consider a change. There are many reasons why people feel bored or dissatisfied with their current position. The following list includes some of the most common signs that it’s time for a career change.

Lack of Growth

If you find that your company is not interested in helping you grow, it may be time to look for a new job. It’s important to have an organization where there are opportunities for growth and promotion. 

laptop

Pic Credit: Pexels

This is especially true if you are looking for a new position within the same industry because you have upgraded your qualifications. There are opportunities for training in most industries so whether you have done advanced customer service training, yellow card training, or even advanced your research skills you need to use your newfound qualifications.

If you have enhanced your skills and there is no room for promotion it’s time to start hunting around for other opportunities with companies that can help you meet your career goals.

You Don’t Feel Challenged

If you are not being challenged in your job, and feel as though you are wasting time every day. You may find yourself suffering from constant boredom. If this sounds like something that is happening to you, it could be a sign that it’s time for a career change.

It is not good for your mental health to be in a situation where you feel drained and bored every day. If you are not careful your lethargy and dissatisfaction can spill over into other areas of your life. You may find that your friendships and even your family life begin to suffer because you are miserable.

Your Boss Is Incompetent or Tyrannical

Your boss may be incompetent and this can make the work environment intolerable. Spending your day having to follow senseless orders that are not going to make the company progress can be depressing, to say the least.

If your boss is tyrannical and you find yourself constantly living in fear you may want to consider a change. This type of environment is likely to make it difficult for motivation, commitment, and loyalty with your company.

There Is No Work-Life Balance

Work-life balance is extremely important for your mental health and if you find yourself having very little because of your current working conditions then it is time to make a change.

Striking a balance can make a lot of difference in your overall satisfaction with your life, so consider making a change.

Make a Change

Now you know the signs that it’s time for you to switch your career. Making the change can be very scary at first. However, it is also scary when you are in a situation where you are constantly feeling as if you are being drained of your energy and you are no longer motivated.

 Start looking around for another job or get additional training so that you can get a promotion for a job somewhere else.

Note: This is a collaborative post

Home & Interiors

Tips for a Stain-Free House

Even with the utmost care, no food in the bedrooms and coasters for drinks on the coffee table, there’s still the chance of spills and stains wreaking havoc in your home. 

Those tough to clean areas, like upholstery, wallpaper and carpets, are the worst, too. After years of daily activity, it can be hard to feel proud of your home and its evident wear and tear. 

That’s why this guide should provide you with all the tips and tricks you need to create a stain-free home. 

Removing stubborn stains from carpet

Whether it’s a not-quite-potty-trained pooch or a paint splatter from the kids, getting stains out of the carpet can be a nightmare. Scrubbing and rubbing can sometimes just smudge it further into the fibres, leaving you frustrated and your carpets grubby. 

To remove stubborn stains from a carpet, ammonia and steam from the iron is a winning combination. 

  1. Fill a spray bottle with half ammonia, half hot water, and leave the iron to heat up.

    Cleaning products

    Pic Credit: Pixabay

  2. Douse the stain with the cleaning solution and place a clean towel on top.
  3. Iron over the towel, making sure not to singe the carpet (there’s no trick to removing iron burns!).
  4. If you turn over the towel, you should see that a good amount of the stain has transferred onto the back. 
  5. Keep repeating the process until the stain is gone. 

Removing stains from your mattress

Everything in the bedroom looks clean and pristine until you remove the bed sheets. 

Pillows, bedding and your mattress can collect sweat, skin particles and breakfast spills throughout the years, leaving behind a far from clean sleep space. 

You can easily clean your mattress with a vacuum – to get rid of dust, hair and other particles that irritate your breathing – and a few household products to get rid of the stains. Lemon juice, salt, even sparkling water can rid your bed of stains.

Removing marks and stains from upholstery

Of course, when it comes to the sofa cushions, you can usually remove the covers and throw them in the laundry, but for the actual upholstery, it’s not as easy. 

A few glasses of wine or a cup of coffee can easily find their way down the side of the sofa, and hiding the problem with a blanket is all well and good until the hot weather arrives. 

If you want to get rid of stains from your upholstery, combining water, dish soap and vinegar (2:1:1) may do just the trick. 

Dip a microfibre cloth into your cleaning solution and blot the stained areas. Don’t rub, as this could spread the stain or damage the fabric. 

Leave the solution to soak for a few minutes, then blot with a cloth that’s damp with plain water. This should help to remove any remaining solution. 

Finally, blot the area with a dry cloth. 

If the process seems to be working but hasn’t quite got rid of the stain entirely, repeat. 

So, with help from the kitchen cupboards and a little research, your home can be stain-free from top to bottom. 

Note: This is a collaborative post