Get Spring Clean Ready!

Hayley Cowlishaw 8th March 2022 No Comments Blog, Fire Expert

February has been and gone, and Spring is now on the horizon. As we welcome longer, milder days, that Spring clean might be creeping to the top of your ‘to do’ list.

Now is the perfect time to plan and prepare!

Make A List

Never under estimate the effectiveness of a list. There is nothing like the feeling of ticking off those little jobs that have been hanging over you. A typical list might look something like this…

Hoover/Sweep/Mop Floors
Empty bins
Dust – high & low!
Wipe door handles & light fixtures
Wipe window sills & ledges
Change bed linen & towels
Clean kitchen appliances – inside & out!
Wipe countertops & cabinets
Wash the dishes
Clean & disinfect toilets
Bathroom clean – sink/bath/shower
Wipe skirting boards
Clean windows – in & out

Purchase Necessary Cleaning Products

Take a look down your to do list and jot down what you will need for each job. But, keep your items to a minimum. Too many cleaning supplies can create unnecessary clutter. Choose a good all purpose cleaner and some cloths that will cover the majority of surfaces in your home. Then, you can purchase other specialty cleaning products, such as window cleaner, furniture polish and disinfectant.

Declutter

Leading up to your deep spring clean, start tackling area’s one at a time. Throw out, out of date food from your fridge and cupboards. Clean out your junk drawers, take clothes and items you no longer need or use to your local charity shop, and so on. You’ll feel so much better afterwards!

Get In The Mood

Prepare yourself mentally, think about how great it will feel when your home is fresh, clean and organised ready for the new season. Make it fun, get your favourite feel good playlist ready to blast out! Finally, set a date. Mark it on the calendar and commit to it.

End of Summer Gardening Tips

Hayley Cowlishaw 10th September 2021 No Comments Blog

We are well into September and Autumn is just around the corner. Now is an ideal time to get your garden in order. If you work your way through our useful checklist of essential gardening jobs, come Spring you’ll reap the benefits.

1. Whilst it’s still relatively dry, get the mower out. Autumn often brings increased rainfall, making mowing a challenge so it’s best to tick this one off on a dry day.

2. Controlling weeds in late Summer will help reduce their presence in the following Spring and Summer.

3. End of Summer cutting back and pruning is essential to your gardening list. Cut off faded blooms just above two or three leaves behind the flowers. Not only does this process clean up the plant’s appearance, but it also encourages your flowers and plants to continue to grow thicker and fuller than before.

4. Take cuttings from plants such as fuchsias, salvias and pelargoniums. They root quickly and if they are then kept indoors they’ll be ready for planting out next Summer.

5. Prepare to fill your garden with colour come Spring. Now is the perfect time to plant bulbs such as daffodils, crocuses and bluebells. When buying bulbs check they are as fresh as possible, or you could face disappointment.

6. Clear up any fallen leaves, try to do this job on a dry day as leaves are more easily picked up when they are crispy rather than wet, heavy and soggy.

7. Keep the colour in your garden by re filling your pots with Autumn/Winter flowers. Pansies are a favourite! They always look lovely and are also very hardy.

8. If you don’t already have one, consider a compost bin. Compost acts as a wonderful slow release organic fertiliser, but you must avoid putting diseased or infected plant material in your bin.

How to clean your wood burning stove – a useful guide!

Hayley Cowlishaw 8th June 2021 No Comments Blog, Fire Expert

How to clean your wood burning stove, now is as good a time as any with the warmer summer months upon us.

Although wood burning is brilliant for generating heat efficiently, it can become messy if you don’t keep on top of maintaining it. Keeping it clean will also increase the lifetime of your stove.

Here are some tips to get your stove looking and performing it’s best

Firstly there are a few things you’ll need to check

Examine the firebrick lining and see if it needs replacing – the lining will keep the stove from overheating
Make sure the chimney is cleaned. This will prevent chimney fires and help your stove burn more efficiently.
Check the sealed door. You want a tight seal to make sure smoke doesn’t enter your house. The cord that’s around the door may need replacing on occasion.

Before you start make sure your stove has fully cooled.

Equipment you’ll need:

gloves
newspaper
a small ash shovel
a small brush
a metal ash bucket
household glass cleaner
cloth

It’s a good idea to wear protective gloves whilst cleaning your stove. Place newspaper on the floor around your stove then use a small shovel to remove all the ash into your metal bucket or container, you can use a hand brush to gently sweep any remaining debris.

You will find that if you have been using Firemizer there will be a significant reduction in the amount of ash produced, therefore making it easier to clean!

When your used Firemizer starts to deteriorate, ensure it is cold before removal. Firemizer can be recycled with your normal household metal waste.

Click here to order your replacement Firemizer.

Take the ash to a safe place outdoors away from any bushes or other materials that might catch fire. Leave for at least 24 hours before you dispose of it.

Apply glass cleaner to the glass and wipe using a cloth until the window is clean. If parts of the window don’t clean straight away, let the solution react for a few minutes before wiping. You can then use a dry cloth and hoover to clean the exterior of your burner.

Always refer to the manufacturer’s instructions which came with you stove. The information provided is guidance only, and should be followed only in accordance with the guidelines of the manufacturer.

So now you know how to clean your wood burning stove, there is no excuse not to keep it looking spick and span!

How To Look After Your Wood Burner?

Jess Hill 10th January 2020 No Comments Blog

As you’ve probably been getting the most out of your fire this winter, to maximize its efficiency you have to look after your wood burner.

Here are some things to look out for and do to keep your fire going for many winters!

Cleaning

Giving your fire a thorough clean can be just the thing it needs to bring it back to life. It is also important to get your chimney swept at least once a year as they can tell you about any damage. You should also clean the glass, most modern stoves are fitted with airways systems to keep the glass clean. If yours does not then you can use newspaper dipped in malt vinegar or use wood ash. Don’t use any abrasive materials to clean the glass as this could cause permanent damage.

Check for rust

This may not be a problem for a modern stove however it worth saying. If you do spot any rust you can rub the area with wire wool and then reapply stove paint to get it looking as good as new.

Empty the ash pan

When the hot ashes start to pile up they can come into contact with the lower side of the grate and the heat from the ashes could cause it to become distorted and lose shape.

Clean the baffle/ throat plate

This area on and around the baffle plate is the top spot for soot to gather. This makes your stove less efficient by blocking the flue it also could be dangerous. Clean this once a week depending on how often you use your stove.

Leave the door ajar

When the stove isn’t being used it is best to leave the door slightly open. This allows a flow of air through the system which can help stop corrosion.

Use Firemizer

Using this in your wood, coal or multi-fuel stove can help reduce creosote and harmful particulates. As well as reducing your ash content and reducing the number of times you have to empty the ash pan.

Tag: cleaning