We never thought we’d take so enjoyment in cleaning, but thanks to mum and cleaning sensation Mrs Hinch, we’ve caught the cleaning bug, and there’s nothing we love more than a bit of a Hinching around the house when (if) we get two minutes to spare, especially if you're currently pregnant and you have the nesting urge.
Mum to adorable Ronnie and Lennie, Mrs Hinch, aka Sophie Hinchcliffe has become our go when it comes to keeping the house in shape with a little one. From keeping the floor spick and span at dinner time to cleaning products that are safe for babies, our Mum Lister is a pro.
Read more: 11 clever cleaning tips that new mums should read ASAP
Cleaning hacks from Mrs Hinch
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Floor mats at dinner time** – Tired of your floor looking like it's just witnessed a food fight? Pop some large wipe clean sheets down on the floor to catch all the food mess your baby drops during dinner time.
Remove stains from baby clothes – Wash your baby's stained clothes and leave them out in bright direct sunlight to dry and the stain should lift.
Suction blackout blinds – Does your baby always wake up as soon as the sun rises? Mrs Hinch mentioned suction blackout blinds in her Instagram stories that she attaches to Ronnie's windows so that he sleeps in longer!
Avoid a smelly kitchen bin - Our kitchen bins can get rather smelly, especially if you’re throwing away lots of leftover baby food and nappies! To tackle nasty smells from your bin, spray a sheet of kitchen roll with diluted Zoflora, and lay it in the bottom of the bin before putting the bin liner in. Then replace when you change the bin.
Zoflora in the Dyson filter – Another Zoflora tip, is to wipe some diluted Zoflora on your vacuum filter to release lots of nice smells every time you vacuum.
Combat smelly drains - Pour some crystals and white wine vinegar down the plug to have your sink smelling fresh!
Clean taps naturally - Swap strong limescale remover for half a lemon. Rub the lemon on your chrome taps and wipe to make them look shiny clean!
Clean the microwave – Pop a bowl of warm water and a few slices of lemon in the microwave and turn it on for a few minutes. The condensation and fresh scent will make it easy to clean and smell fresh.
Keep hard-to-reach areas clean - Ever touched the tops of your kitchen cupboards to feel a layer of dust and grease? Use sheets of newspaper on top of the kitchen cupboards to soak up the grease and keep them clean.
Remove marker pen - Remove permanent marker on tables by spraying on some hairspray and giving it a rub.
Remove sticky marks - Peeled-off stickers can leave unattractive marks that collect dirt. Luckily, they can be easily removed with baby oil!
Keep toilet brushes germ-free - Pop a cap of Zoflora in the toilet brush holder to stop germs from breeding in there.
Shop the cleaning hacks
Shop Mrs Hinch's favourite Zoflora
Did you know that Mrs Hinch's favourite Zoflora fragrance is Springtime? Available in ASDA stores from 27th March 2023 starting from £2, it contains a blend of seasonal, uplifting fragrances including freshly cut green leaves and citrus top notes and is available in three different formats, disinfectant, multipurpose cleaner and biodegradable cleaning wipes.
Anyone that follows Mrs Hinch will know how much she just can't get enough of Zoflora! This 12 pack comes with a smorgasbord of luxurious scents and there's enough here to use in your bins, vacuum cleaner, and toilet brush holders. This will definitely add some variety to your cleaning routine, and smell amazing!
Ideal for putting under your little one's high chair while they're eating and also perfect for messy play, these large, wipe clean sheets are a must-have for parents who want to keep their house clean and tidy, despite having a toddler!
After something a little more aesthetically pleasing? There is a whole range of baby splash mats that'll help keep your floor protected from the inevitable mess. In fun, cute, and snazzy designs, you can find trendy ones to match your existing decor and easily fold them away when mealtimes or playtime are over.
This TotsAhoy! Non Slip Splash Mat is one of our favourites, but you can find more of the best baby splash mats here.
Does your little one rise early in the mornings throughout the summer months? Instead of investing in a pricey blackout blind, this easy to secure, suction blind will do just the trick!
Measuring 130 x 99cm, you can adjust it to fit your window, fold it up in the travel bag to carry on the go, and stick it in the machine washing if it gets grubby.
Does your plug hole and sink smell a bit pongy? Pop some soda crystals down there for that fizz that Mrs Hinch loves to hear! It'll help to keep your drains fresh and blockage-free, hopefully saving you more cleaning and housework in the long run.
Not only that, but you can use these soda crystals to remove burnt-on residue on pots and pans, deodorise the washing machine, remove moss and algae from patios, and so much more.
Sure, these might not be the most stylish slippers but the fact you can clean while you walk in them makes these the most versatile piece of footwear you'll ever have. You could even make it into a game with your little ones to see who can win the dirtiest slipper award! They're size adjustable with an elastic cord design, are easy to use and wash, and can be used on or off your feet - you could even add it to a mopping head in your home.
Perfect for those hard-to-reach areas, the SonicScrubber is like a giant toothbrush that cleans all those tough marks and dirt with ease. No longer will you need to work up a serious sweat putting in the elbow grease as the SonicScrubber does all the work for you. It claims to improve cleaning time by up to 57 per cent, saving valuable time that we would much rather be spending elsewhere!
Of course, we couldn't mention Mrs Hinch without mentioning Minky! Her trusty cleaning pad has become iconic and we love this colourful 3-pack that makes a great starter set for your home for different cleaning tasks. The pads are made up of high-intensity microfibre and are dual-sided for effective cleaning and scrubbing of most household chores.
And she’s not the only one that’s got us crazy about cleaning, other mumfluencers including Stacey Soloman and Emily Norris have become Queens of clean with the helpful hacks they share on Instagram.
Some of our favourites include Stacey washing down Rex's VERY messy high-chair with a hose-pipe outside and her organisation hack to hang up packets in the cupboard on a rail with pegs! We also love Emily Norris' quick blind cleaning hack where she wraps cloths around the end of her barbecue tongs and swiping them over her blinds and also, her easy tip to wash bath toys - just put them in the dishwasher!
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