Does grandma really know best?

Homes and property expert Louisa Fletcher shares her top five tried and tested cleaning techniques - does Grandma really know best?

The cupboard under my kitchen sink is, I'd imagine, much like everyone else's; full of sprays and gels which promise to make my life easier. But with all we hear these days about how our environment is being steadily poisoned by all that washing up liquid, I thought it may be an idea to look at how our grandmothers used to keep their homes spick and span, without the aid of "Mr Muscle".

Aided and abetted by my very own Grandma, I gave a few of her tried and tested methods a go myself - and the results were, as good as (if not better than) those I would have achieved with my current chemical arsenal, in most cases a lot cheaper and in every case, were a lot more environmentally friendly. These are my top five:

1. De-ionised water

Spilled red wine on your cream carpet or got tea down the front of that new white shirt? Put the kettle on and calm down. Literally. Using boiled, cooled (and therefore de-ionised) water is a reliable way to get fresh stains like wine, tea, coffee, juice and food out of clothes and upholstery. Make sure the water is cooled (e.g. tepid or cooler) then 'flush' the offending area with the water. If it's carpet or upholstery, then pour the water on little by little to dilute the stain and let it sit for a moment. If it's a piece of clothing, then just keep pouring the water on to totally soak the stain. In both cases, you then need a clean white cloth - nothing coloured, a white napkin is ideal - and gently mop the water out of the area. Keep diluting and mopping the area until you have removed the stain and soaked up all the water. It will take time, but it will all come out.

2. Vinegar

White Vinegar has to be the best standby ever for the domestic goddess. Using newspaper and white vinegar to clean mirrors and the inside of windows gives you a streak-free finish and a great sparkle. A bowl of neat vinegar placed on top of a radiator is a great way to remove that stale cigarette smoke smell. For burnt on stains on saucepans, fill about a third of the pan with vinegar and soak (ideally for about thirty minutes), put on the hob and gently simmer for about ten minutes, then wash thoroughly as normal. To remove hard-water and lime build-up in a kettle, pour in two cups of vinegar and bring to a boil. Soak for about ten minutes, then boil again and rinse well. To get glasses and vases (especially crystal) to sparkle, wash with warm water and a few tablespoons of vinegar added to your washing up liquid.

3. Toothpaste

To remove crayon from emulsion paint, take a little toothpaste and a damp sponge, then carefully rub it over the "work of art". Toothpaste is also good to freshen up (please excuse the pun) white gloss paint and can also be used to lift scuff marks from lino. In all cases, once you've got rid of the mark or stain, go over the surface with a clean damp cloth to remove any traces of toothpaste residue, as it's a bit sticky.

4. Removing candle wax from carpets or clothing

Get some old fashioned brown parcel paper (or in an emergency, a brown paper bag) and lay it over the candle wax with the shiny side facing upwards towards you. Then, go over it with an iron on a low heat - you'll see as the heat melts the wax the grease will be absorbed into the brown paper. You'll need to keep moving the paper around and using a fresh area to get all the wax out, but keep going and be patient. Just don't try to rush it by getting the iron too hot!

5. Oven cleaning

To clean up spills in the bottom of your oven, sprinkle immediately as they happen with a pile of salt. When you've finished cooking and the oven has cooled, brush away the burnt-on food with a damp sponge.

-- Tips on how to give your home a good clean