It’s that time of year again. Time to give your house a Spring Clean! To make your life a bit easier, we thought we’d put together a quick round up of some of our most popular cleaning accessories and cleaning tools.

Regardless of which room of the house you’re planning on tackling, Betterware have got a huge range of household cleaners, kitchen cleaners as well as a huge range of Mops, Brushes and Dusters. To help you decide and hopefully give you a little motivation to start, here are 5 of our most popular cleaning accessories & tools for both inside and outside your home.

Oven Mate Cleaning Gel & Brush

If there’s one job that we all keep putting off, it’s cleaning the oven. It’s messy, time consuming and often fills your house with foul smelling fumes.  Unlike most other oven cleaners, Oven Mate isn’t a spray on cleaner. It’s a thick, grease absorbing gel that you apply with a brush to the sides of your oven, grill pans and shelves.

Oven Mate Cleaning Gel & Brush

Oven Mate Cleaner works by absorbing grease and works in as little as 10 minutes. For best results I’d recommend applying it before you go to bed and simply wipe it off the following morning with some kitchen towel. The best part? No fumes. It’s strong stuff though, so make sure you’re wearing gloves and keep it off any rubber seals and paintwork.

Telescopic Window & Conservatory Cleaner

Over the winter months your conservatory can start to look unloved. This telescopic conservatory roof cleaner is a great way to remove any moss and leaves that have accumulated on the roof.

Telescopic Window & Conservatory Cleaner

An interchangeable head allows you to switch between a squeegee and a fabric cleaning pad that can be removed for easy cleaning. The pole extends to 3.2m, making it perfect for cleaning those award upstairs windows too.

If the frame of your conservatory are starting to look a bit tired the Betterware PYCu Frame and Furniture Cleaner does a great job of making them look like new.

Deck Cleaning Kit

Another outside job that can be time consuming is cleaning your decking. Over the winter decking can become discoloured and slippery. This Deck cleaning kit is much more effective than using a stiff broom and is easier on the knees and back than a scrubbing brush.

Deck Cleaning Kit

The Decking Cleaner has two replaceable heads – a sanding pad which is great for removing dirt and grime, and a painting pad that’s designed to make staining or using a cleaning solution much easier.

Microfibre Blind Cleaner

Wooden slatted blinds look great in any room of your home, but no so much when they’re covered in dust. This handy little duster is a designed cut down the amount of time it takes to clean your blind by cleaning 3 slats at a time. The microfibre head fits perfectly between the slats pulling dust and dirt away from the blind.

Microfibre Blind Cleaner

It works perfectly on all types of slatted and Venetian blinds. If you’ve got other awkward places that need dusting, take a look at the full range of Dusters & Cleaning cloths on the main site. You’ll find dusters for just about everything – radiators, shelving and even light fittings!

Smear-Free Window Foam

I’m not the best when it comes to housework – especially if it involves cleaning windows, but even I can manage to make a decent job of cleaning a window with this stuff. Like the name suggests, it’s a cleaning foam that dries without leaving streaks and smears.

Smear-Free Window Foam

All you have to do is spray it on to your windows or mirrors, leave for a few minutes to loosen any dirt and then simply wipe off with either a clean cleaning cloth or a squeegee. Personally I find the squeegee works best as you don’t get bits of fluff left behind.

So that’s 5 of our most popular cleaning accessories. If you’ve not seen anything here that does what you need, then take a look at the full range of Cleaning Tools and Household Cleaners on the main Betterware site.  If you’ve used any of these products, let us know how you got on using the comments section below.

Betterware - Andy

We know only too well that house hold chores can get on top of you.  Despite your best intentions the washing piles up, beds stay unmade and the dust becomes so thick you can write your name in it.  We’ve put together what we think is a handy Cleaning Rota to help stay on top of the chores.

So print it out and pop it on your fridge.  You’ll be amazed at how helpful it is at keeping you on track to a cleaner and more organised home.

To help you on your way we’ve put together a list of our most popular and highly recommended cleaning products and accessories.
Smear-Free Window Foam  This really is a miracle product.  Leaves windows spotless and streak free.

Fridge and Freezer Defroster Defrosting your fridge or freezer has to be one of the most tedious house hold chores, halve the time it takes you to defrost your freezer.

Mould and Mildew Remover Even with a window or extractor fan, bathrooms are prone to mould and mildew.  Use this spray and watch unsightly stains disappear.

Drain Clear Granules  Blocked plugs can be a real pain, these granules clear blockages quickly and easily.

3 Piece Static Duster Set 3 different sizes and lengths for dusting just about any thing, any where!

Floor Brush with Squeegee drys, polishes and cleans… need we say more?

Laundry Bag perfect for washing small and delicate items.  Club your socks together in this bag to avoid the mystery of the disappearing sock!

Angled Dustpan and Brush The narrow brush is perfect for reaching the nooks and crannies larger brushes tend to miss

Curtain and Door Track Cleaning Brush remove all the dirt, pet hair and dust that builds up in your door tracks easily with this hard bristled brush

Sticky Stuff Remover Something everyone should have in their cleaning arsenal.  Removes  glue, adhesive tape, oil, tar, crayon, lipstick, adhesive labels, chewing gum, grease…. and so much more!

LCD Screen Cleaner Brush away the dust from your TV or computer screen with this handy little brush.

Oven Mate Cleaning Gel ”Just when I thought sand blasting was the only answer…” Don’t take our word for it, this reviewer was seriously impressed!

Do you have any can’t-live-without cleaning products?  We’d love to hear your top tips for a cleaner home, share them here or over on our Facebook page

Betterware - Laura

When I was first introduced to the Microfibre Stain Removing Mitt by our buying team I decided to put it to the test to see if it really was as good as they said it was… and boy did I put it through it’s paces!

I poured fresh black coffee on to a carpet tile (all in the name of science of course!) and with the dampened mitt rubbed over the spill until it vanished.  I was honestly surprised at how well it work and how quickly too!

Deciding that it may have been too easy, I tried it on an old dried in stain.  I repeated the process, wet the mitt and rubbed.  Again the stain (that had, I’m ashamed to say, been there for years) disappeared!

With a little water and a spot of elbow grease both the new and old stains had gone!  The Microfibre Stain Removing Mitt works so well thanks to it’s super absorbent microfibres.

See for yourself and watch the Microfibre Stain Removing Mitt in action!

Betterware - Laura

I don’t know about you but I am finding it increasingly difficult to stay on top of my laundry thanks to this dreadful weather we’ve been having.  No sooner do I put my washing out on the line, I’m bringing it back in again rushing against the spots of rain that threaten to drown both me and my washing.

I find it just as difficult in the winter too, I don’t have the luxury of a tumble dryer so I make do with an old clothes airer and my radiators, although lately I have become increasingly frustrated with constantly having wet washing around the house.
I decided to upgrade my laundry aids and have found a few alternative ways to drying laundry indoors… in this weather!

The Hook Attachment Radiator Airer mean I can now dry double the amount of clothes in one go.   Plus they are on offer – buy two and save £2!  Bargain.

This Over Bath Laundry Airer  helps me dry towels more efficiently, it also means the washing is out of sight – perfect!  It folds up easily too, so I can hide it away in the cupboard when I have guests over.

The mesh layers in this 3 layer dryer help dry small items really quickly, the air circulates through the mesh and I can hang it out of sight in my airing cupboard.

I did invest in a new large folding clothes airer.  I find these to be invaluable when I’m drying laundry indoors.  This one also folds flat, so I can easily hide it away when it’s not in use.

One of my effective tools for drying shirts is using these over the door hangers.  I hang up my shirts on coat hangers and they not only dry quickly but it also reduces the number of creases.  Win, win!

Betterware - Laura

We could all do with a little help from time to time, especially when it comes to household chores.  We’ve put together a list of our top 5 most popular and highest rated bathroom cleaning products and tools.

Smear Free Window Foam.

Smear Free Window Foam has been one of our  most popular bathroom cleaning products for many years, and for good reason!  Not just for use on windows, try it on your shower screen and bathroom mirror – you’ll be amazed!  Not only does it easily remove any scum, dirt or marks it will leave a streak free and shining surface.

Mould And Mildew Remover & Trigger

Nothing can make a bathroom look more dirty than mould and mildew.  Get rid of it fast with this Mould and Mildew Remover.  Just one application on tiles, bathroom seals and window frames will leave them mildew free and sparkling.

Toilet Rim Cleaning Brush

Under the toilet rim is an ideal breeding ground for germs and bacteria, this Toilet Rim Cleaning Brush is great for scrubbing those hard to reach places ensuring every inch of your toilet bowl is thoroughly disinfected and clean.

Tile and Bathroom Cleaner

You can now easily scrub those hard to reach tiles without straining to reaching over the bathtub!  Sometimes those hard to reach tiles can be neglected leaving them to build up soap scum and grim – not any more!  The long handle on our Bath and Tile Cleaner allows you to give those tiles a thorough clean.

Multi-Use Descaler And Limescale Build Up Preventer

The perfect bathroom cleaning product for brightening up your shower head and bathroom taps.  This Multi-Use Descaler And Limescale Build Up Preventer is great for bringing back the shine to chrome and steel bathroom accessories as well as preventing future limescale build ups.

We hope our list has helped you tackle those problem areas allowing you to enjoy your bathroom and hopefully steal a few peaceful moments in your now cleaning and sparkling bath!

Betterware - Laura

We were sent a very lovely email from Beryl Bragg all the way in South Africa, who wanted to let us know how happy she was with her Betterware Brush and Dustpan… 53 years on!

“As an ex Brit I write to you from South Africa to let you know the story of my Betterware hand brush. I married in 1959 and set up home in Byfleet in Surrey. I purchased some Betterware products and one of them was a hand brush and dustpan. We emigrated to South Africa in 1963 with all our worldly goods (including the Betterware brush), We are still using that same brush in 2012. and after 53 years use it is still as good as new, a little scratched, but every time it is used I look at the Betterware name on the handle and think of the long-lasting quality of the 1950′s.  Thank you Betterware. ”

Thank you Beryl, it’s great to know that the dustpan and brush is still going strong after 53 years and a move over 8,000 miles away!

Are you looking for a Betterware dustpan and brush?  We have a selection of brushes and pans to help keep your home clean.

Betterware - Laura

It’s nearly that time of year again, where the days get longer and the sun starts shining, illuminating murky windows, trails of dust and finger marks on the TV.  There’s also something about the spring that makes us want a fresh start, to clear out and tidy up.  Tell me I’m not the only one who is dying to find the time to  sort through untidy drawers, give the kitchen cupboards a good clean and to pull out every heavy piece of furniture to sweep, dust and mop under?  I’m ready for a Spring Clean!

Don’t get me wrong, I keep my home tidy, clean and presentable but every now and again I love to blitz through and disinfect, scrub and scour every nook and cranny until there is not a single speck of dirt to be seen.  It feels good to know there are no dust bunnies cowering in the corner and that even on top of the kitchen cupboards (yes a place that never gets seen) is sparkling clean.

The Big Spring Clean Sort Out

Before I even reach for the bleach I find it’s best to have a real good sort out.  The kind where you end up with bags full of unwanted and never used goods ready for the charity shop and a few more for the tip.

I would advise tackling one room at a time.  To take on the house in one go is overwhelming and you’ll probably give up or get distracted by an old photo album you’d forgotten about (Just me?)  Sort through your things and pile them up in to 4 categories.  Keep, Sell, Charity, Bin.  Be strict with yourself – if something has been living in the back of the cupboard for the last year and you haven’t missed it – do you really need it?  Could you sell it on eBay and earn yourself a few extra pounds?  Better than storing it at the back of your cupboard that’s for sure!

Once you’ve sorted through what you can give to charity, take it straight to your local shop.  The longer you keep it in your home the more likely it is that you’ll dip into it and bring out the old stuff.  Out of sight, out of mind.

Once you know what you want to keep, make sure you organise and store it properly.  A shoe rack can tidy up the pile of shoes you keep by the door and under bed storage can hide away anything you don’t need immediately. 

The Deep Spring Clean

Next comes for what I call the “Deep Spring Clean” Rubber gloves on, duster, polish, brush, bleach, broom and mop at the ready… scrub!  Again take it one room at a time, I usually start with the kitchen, disinfect and bleach every surface, the sink and faucets, clear out the fridge and freezer, scrub the microwave, tackle the oven and hob, sweep and mop the floors.  I also have awkward kitchen door handles, so these little brushes help me scrub the grease and grime from the ridges.  Our Oven Mate Cleaning Gel comes highly recommended.  It’s surprising how grubby an oven can get, but this really does cut through all the grease and grim with hardly any effort.

Don’t forget the out-of-reach and hard-to-clean places such as light fittings, behind radiators, under big appliances and Venetian blinds.
Your windows may also be in need of some TLC.  Smudges, water marks and general grime will all be made more prominent when the sun shines on your windows, reach for the Smear Free Window Foam.  By far one of our best sellers and most raved about products.  It will leave your window clean and streak free, plus a lot of our customers have found other uses for it such as mirrors, shower screens and even granite worktops.

The bathroom generally gets a deep clean once a week so there isn’t really any need to do a  massive deep clean, although I do like to treat the plug holes with a drain cleaner and give the tiles and grout a really good clean.

It’s also a good idea to shampoo your carpets regularly, kill any mites or bugs that could be hiding and to get rid of marks and stains.  Plus a carpet shampoo does the room wonders, it really can make it looks as good as new. (Without splashing out on a new carpet!)

Once your home is looking spic and span, why not invest in a nice air freshener or a diffuser?

A big Spring Clean does sound like a lot of hard work but with the right tools and cleaning products you can halve the time you spend on it.

Betterware - Laura

A typical family can wash up to 8 loads a week, that’s a lot of laundry!  We have come up with a few ways in which you can save money on your laundry bill.  As well as saving you money some of these ideas can help conserve energy too.

1. Use a Washing Line

Take advantage whilst the weather is warm to air dry your clothes.  Use our Retractable Clothes Line to add 15 metres of drying space to your garden. Once your clothes are dry, simply release the line to keep it out of the way.  Our Washing Line Prop extends up to 2.5 metres receive high praise as it features a push-on hook and is easy to attach to your line.  If you don’t have a garden or space for a washing line, then why not invest in a clothes airer?  Make use of the heat from your radiators with these hook attachment airers and for larger items such as towels and sheets this large folding airer will come in very handy

2. Use Stain Remover Treatments

If you think something is going to stain and need a second wash, treat the item before you wash it to save re-washing it later.  Our Double Tipped Bleach Pen is ideal for removing stubborn stains and marks from white t shirts and shirts.

3. Use Tumble Dryer Balls

If you do have to use a tumble dryer, then tumble dryer balls can help reduce drying time and make your clothes feel even softer.  Unlike tumble dryer sheets they are also completely reusable.

Betterware - Laura

Venetian blinds can add extra privacy to your home, block out sunlight and they are fairly cheap and easy to install too.  However they can be a nightmare to clean.  Using a vacuum attachment is a quick and effective way to remove dust and fluff.  Using our Window Blind Vacuum Attachment Brush is one of the best ways to clean Venetian blinds, the electrostatic brush will attract and hold dust like a magnet.

How to Clean Venetian Blinds

The Window Blind Vacuum Attachment Brush fits easy on to your vacuum hose or nozzle and also includes universal adaptors.

Start by closing your blinds and place your hand on the underside of the blind to support them.  Take your vacuum and the brush attachment and starting from the centre work your way out to the edges.

The bristles will help ensure you clean every nook and cranny.  Once you have cleaned that side of your blinds, turn the slats around and repeat on the other side.

Another useful tip we’ve found is to run a tumble dryer sheet along the slats every month.  Not only will it remove any remaining dust but it will also create an anti static barrier to prevent the dust from building up so quickly.

Avoid using water or harsh cleaning chemicals on your wooden blinds as this can damage the slats.

Hovering your blinds once a week and rubbing the tumble dryer sheet along the slats should mean your Venetian blinds are kept clean and pristine.

Betterware - Laura

“How Clean Is Your House” presenter Aggie Mackenzie has launched a range of probiotic cleaning products to help keep your home clean and germs at bay.  Probiotics work but replacing the bad bacteria with good bacteria.  The good bacteria forms a barrier and lies inactive until bad bacteria forms again, at which time the good bacteria awakens and kills the bad bacteria quickly.  They have been proven to be much more effective than using disinfectants.

Aggie’s Cleaning Products

There are a number of cleaning products in the range, all of which you can view online.

Drain Treatments

There are 3 different types of drain treatments available, kitchen sink, bathroom drain and exterior drain.  Each one works to break down fat and grease and also works to prevent future build ups.  These treatments will also get rid of nasty odours.

Help with the Laundry

It’s important to keep your washing machine clean and fresh.  Germs, limescale and dirt can build up leaving your washing machine smelling bad.  And if your washing machine smells, then chances are your clothes will too.  Aggie’s Washing Machine Freshener utilises the power of probiotics to combat germs and get rid of bad odours.

Sometimes clothes just need an extra boost of freshness without the need to be washed.  Aggie’s Fabric Freshener does just the job.  Just a few sprays and your clothes with smell lovely and fresh.  This is also great for furniture, curtains and bedding.  When you want to add a little freshness to a room without the overwhelming aroma of an air freshener, simply spray onto the fabric for instant freshness.

Shoes and trainers, after time can become a little smelly…!  If you are worried about washing your shoes or don’t have time to then Aggie’s Shoe and Trainer Freshener is perfect.  A quick spray and you’re stinky trainers will smell like new!

Floorcare

We offer two types of floor cleaners within Aggie’s Cleaning Products range, one is for Hard Floors and the other is for home owners who have pets.  Aggie’s Hard Floor Cleaner and Aggie’s Pet Hard Floor Cleaner work in the same way to remove stains and germs and also to leave a brilliant shine and fresh aroma.  The Pet Hard Floor Cleaner is specially designed to combat stains left by your bed and to remove any bad smells they may leave.

Since we introduced Aggie’s Cleaning Products we have heard nothing but positive reviews.  Using probiotic cleaning products in your home is both safer and more effective. Why not give them a try?

Betterware - Laura

Stains and marks can not be avoided.  They happen every day in every home, whether you have children, pets, or butter fingers stains will happen on clothing furniture and carpets.  And sometimes no matter how hard you scrub and soak, that stain just won’t come out.  That’s when you need to call in the big guns.  We have a few (almost magical) Stain Removers we can suggest to help you get rid of daily marks and spills.

Stain Removers

Oxi Wipes – Stain Remover

These will help with quick every day stains, spilt a drink? No problem just wipe with these handy Oxi Wipes and remove the stain easily.

Block That Stain

This is great if you have a mark on a wall, ceiling or floor that is impossible to get rid of.  Whether it’s nicotine stains, grease or graffiti, before you paint or decorate spray the mark with Block That Stain to ensure it doesn’t come through the paint.

Magic Merlin

Ideal for tough stains on fabrics and upholstery it gets to work on stubborn stains and makes light work of it.  Not only does it work on upholstery and fabrics but it also work on surfaces such as plastic and wood.

Sticky Stuff Remover

Sticky Stuff Remover is a great product to keep at home.  It will get rid of any sticky residue left behind by glue or tape.  It also works on chewing gum, grease and lipstick.  Stickers on glass?  No problem use Sticky Stuff Remover!  It really is a wonder product.

Oxi Mate Stain Remover

The perfect way to remove coffee, wine, and other marks from your clothes.  Using the built in applicator brush dab onto the effected area before washing as normal.

Mattress Stain Remover

Rather than throwing away a perfectly good mattress because of a few stains, why not just freshen it up with the help of our Mattress Stain Remover.  Just spray on the effected area and stains such as coffee, tea and wine are absorbed into the cleaner which then just evaporates away

Betterware - Laura

Many of us avoid cleaning our windows because it can be an awkward and backbreaking task, just when you thought you’d cleaned the last bit, you take a step back to admire your handy work and… oh no! Streaks!

You can either hire a professional or tackle them head on. With over 85 years of experience behind us, we would say we’re pretty well qualified to give you our top 5 window cleaning products that will have your windows sparkling and streak free. Just be careful not to try and walk through any newly cleaned patio doors…!

3 Piece Window Cleaning Brush Set

There is no need to get the rickety old ladder out to give your upstairs windows a good clean, this 3 piece window cleaning brush set extends up to 4 meters high so you can clean your windows like a professional.

Smear Free Window Foam

One of our most love and highly recommended products. Smear Free Window Foam really is a miracle worker. Simply spray on to your window and wipe off – your windows will not only be clean but they will be streak and smear free!

Linen Window And Mirror Scrim

Using this window scrim to dry off any water and soap will leave your windows crystal clear. Wash your windows as normal with soap and water, then dry off the excess with the scrim. It also works wonders on mirrors!

Flow Thru Window Cleaning Brush

Use together with your hose for effective cleaning of your conservatory, car or caravan. Just attach your hose and the water will flow through the brush to the bristles allowing you to scrub off any dirt and muck. It also extends to 165cm so you can reach to the top of any tall windows.

The Flow Thru Window Cleaning Brush was re-introduced as an Old Favourite as part of our 85th Anniversary Celebrations and since it’s come back it’s been very popular!

Wonder Window Cleaner

As window cleaning products go, this one really is a wonder! Fill the reservoir with cleaning solution, spray on the window and use the microfibre head to scrub and clean, then scrape off with the squeegee for a streak free finish.

Hopefully with the help of these window cleaning products you will no longer dread the idea of cleaning windows, in fact you might actually enjoy it!

Hands up if George Formby is now going round in your head… “When I’m cleaning windows!”

Betterware - Laura