SAVING money this winter is at the forefront of people's minds in the face of soaring bills.
With this in mind, home experts at beanbags.co.uk have shared their top four budget-friendly hacks to prepare your home for winter.
Whether it’s getting your oven sparkling in time for the Christmas roast or deterring cold-weather pests these hacks will have your home sparkling for just £2.67.
1. Deep clean your oven with two lemons – costing just 78p
The inside of an oven should be cleaned every three months for two key reasons. A clean oven prevents fire as there is no debris to catch fire.
A dirty oven also reportedly uses up to 10% more energy, therefore a clean oven will run more efficiently, preventing an increase in electricity and gas bills. To clean your oven with a lemon, fill an ovenproof bowl with water.
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Take two lemons (60p), slice them in half and squeeze the juice into the bowl. Put the lemon halves in the bowl containing lemon water and place in the oven at 120°C for 30 minutes.
According to uSwitch, an electric oven powered at 0.97 kilowatts and used for 30 minutes costs approximately 18p under the current October price cap. Turn off the oven once the water starts to boil.
Keep the bowl of water in the oven and after around 15 minutes, the steam will help dislodge grime and grease, making it easier to clean.
2. Use a £1 kitchen spatula to clean debris from your gutters
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Whilst this is likely to be the task you put off every year, it’s one of the most important as gutting your gutters not only protects the structure of your home but it can prevent water damage to both the interior and exterior of your home.
It can also prevent the foundations of your home from cracking, as when water is blocked from travelling away from your home, it pools around your foundation.
Then when the colder weather sets in, it can crack your foundation as it expands and freezes.
Preventing this is super simple as you just need a spatula to scoop up the leaves, debris and more! And best of all, they cost just £1 from IKEA.
3. Use a 60p bag of fresh mint to deter spiders and other pests
Throughout the colder months, many pests seek homes for warmth and food. However, did you know that placing fresh mint (60p) around your home acts as a natural insect repellent for spiders, ants, flies and even mice?
Alternatively, you can chop it up and add boiling water. Let the mixture sit until it's cool before straining it and pouring it into a spray bottle.
You can then spray harder-to-reach spots such as the back of cabinets or the corners of ceilings, where spiders like to relax.
4. Deep clean your carpets with 29p vinegar to prevent getting a dreaded winter cold
Carpets help insulate a room however mould can creep into your home during the colder months due to it being a damper season. With this in mind, you should deep clean your carpets twice a year – using Autumn and Spring as a reminder.
If your carpet smells, you can remove the odour with vinegar (29p). Blend one part vinegar with one part water in a spray bottle. Spray it uniformly over the carpet and let it air dry for an hour before the deep cleaning.
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Deep cleaning involves vacuuming them thoroughly with an upright vacuum cleaner or steam cleaning machine; this helps remove dust mites and allergens which can make you ill.
You should also vacuum skirting boards and anywhere else where dust tends to accumulate (such as behind radiators) to keep your immune system in check.
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