Tips

Floors in your home see the most wear and tear and natural wooden floors in particular can, over time appear dull and marked. For a simple and eco friendly tip ServiceMaster Clean suggest wiping the surface of natural wood flooring with lemon oil and a dry cloth. The oil will bring out the natural colour of the wood leaving you with a soft sheen, reviving and restoring your floors to their former glory, not to mention a pleasant lemon smell throughout your home! This is a great tip for natural and waxed flooring; however it is not appropriate for varnished floors. For more information about ServiceMaster Clean log onto www.servicemasterclean.co.uk or telephone 0800 021 3073.

If you are looking for something for your home, but can’t find anything that’s exactly right, it might be worth commissioning something special. Many small creative businesses like Tigermoth Lighting offer this service and you may find that its not as expensive as you think. “Custom” commissions will involve making a version of a product that is already offered. This can be especially useful if you are looking for something to fit an unusual space, for example a sofa to fit exactly along the wall of your sitting room. Also if you are looking for a different colour, for example a chandelier with crystal that picks out the exact colour of a stained glass window in your hallway. “Bespoke” commissions involve a lengthier process whereby the designer will start from scratch and will work with you to create your dream design. This can be more expensive than a “Custom” commission. Don’t be afraid to call up a designer whose designs you like and ask. Most designers will be happy to talk you through the options and come up with some ideas. After all, decorating our homes is all about expressing our individuality, so why not work with a designer to create something totally unique? Posted by Tigermoth Lighting - beautiful contemporary lighting, hand made in Britain. www.tigermothlighting.com

Whatever the material of your furniture, it should be protected from the elements when not in use. Ideally store it away over the winter months, cleaning and drying thoroughly beforehand and again in the spring when you bring it out for use. During the summer it is a good idea to tackle any stains or marks that occur straight away and generally keeping it clean as you would your indoor furniture. For more info call Merry Maids on 0800 021 3072, www.merrymaids.co.uk

Dye Transfer Leather has a tendency to absorb colours from other fabrics such as denim. A good regular care routine will reduce the build up of dye and your furniture will retain its original appearance. Clean your leather sofa monthly using a good leather cleaner which should be applied using circular motions with a soft brush such as a new shoe brush. Blot dry the surface using paper towels and allow to dry thoroughly. Finally apply a leather conditioner and make sure your sofa is completely dry before using. It is vital to find out what type of leather your sofa is, as this does not apply to Aniline or Semi Aniline leathers. For further info please contact Furniture Medic on 0800 021 or www.furnituremedic.co.uk

The thought of cleaning a crystal chandelier can be quite daunting but actually it's not too hard. There is nothing worse than a chandelier covered in dust and cobwebs (unless you want to rock the haunted house look!). The best course of action is prevention - a regular dusting with a feather duster (when the light is switched off) should prevent a build up of grime. Another good preventative measure is to protect your chandelier with dust sheets if you are doing any decorating in the house. If you do notice that the sparkle has gone out of your crystal, follow Tigermoth Lighting's five easy steps: (1) Switch off the power at the mains fuse box. (2) If your chandelier is up high, make arrangements to reach it safely. (3) If it is above a hard floor, put down cushions or a duvet - this way, if you accidentally drop a crystal, it shouldn't break. (4) Take a soft cotton cloth, dip it in very hot water, and wring it out as much as possible so there are no drips. Use this to clean the crystals one-by-one. Avoid getting water anywhere other than on the crystals. Wash the cloth out as needed but always make sure you wring it out thoroughly before applying to the chandelier. (5) Switch the electricity back on, step back and enjoy! You should not need to do this more than every few years. These steps are general as we don't know what kind of chandelier you have got or how it is set up- they are no substitute for good common sense, so be careful! Posted by Tigermoth Lighting - beautiful contemporary lighting, hand made in Britain. www.tigermothlighting.com

If you are painting using an oil based paint I am sure you know you need Turps/White Spirit to clean your brushes! This is not my tip! My tip is, if you realise after you have used your brushes that you don't have any in the house (this happened to me!!) wrap your brushes tightly in cling-film. This will keep them moist and will give you time to fly to the shops and buy some turps without having hard, dried up paint brishes to deal with!! This tips comes from personal experience!

When buying new curtains and Roman Blinds, get them interlined... this can act as extra insulation to your home, especially in older, not so eco-friendly properties, as adding an interlined Roman Blind at your window inside the recess will considerably keep the room warmer and also much cooler in the summer, especially when used with a blackout or bonded lining. They're much more sumptuous and luxurious too! (I had an Interlined Roman made for my little boys room as it was always so cold in there at night, now it's lovely, no heat escaping out of the window!)

Don't decorate with a useless man, then it won't happen, and you won't have to.