Household chores to do during lockdown

Bored with tidying the living room, scrubbing the bathroom and disinfecting kitchen surfaces? Step up to the challenge of ticking off jobs you probably never even imagined needed doing.

1. Blitz oven grime

Hobs regularly get a rinse down, but how often do we tackle ovens? Over time, fat and food debris build up on the walls and shelving, burning and spewing fumes every time the appliance is switched on.

Choose a non-caustic cleaning product to avoid damage to both kitchen surfaces and your health – any stubborn stains can be cleared by soaking them with bicarbonate of soda overnight. Non-toxic products shouldn’t leave lingering odours, but to be safe fill a tray with water and lemon juice and heat to 120C for 20 minutes beforehand.

2. Remove dust from radiators

Whatever the design, radiators are magnets for dust, which often ends up collecting in the hardest to reach places.

Allowing it to fester is not only unhygienic but can also impair heating performance, so it’s worth making the effort to delve in.

For tight spots impossible to vacuum, collect fluff by dangling a damp cloth, or wrap it around a wire coat hanger for greater control.

3. Moth-bomb wardrobes

Lockdown conveniently coincides with moth season, which traditionally kicks off in April or May.

If you want to rid pantries, carpets and wardrobes of infestations, now is the time to strike before warm weather causes dormant eggs to hatch. Lavender pouches and cedar blocks are all deterrents, but sticky paper traps and moth bombs are the most effective weapons.

Any clothes with telltale webbed cases should be put in the freezer for 48 hours.

4. Empty kitchen cupboards

At a time when supermarket trips should be minimised, creating storage space for long-life food is more important than ever. While most items are stamped with expiry dates, others fall into a grey area. Can you recall exactly when those burgers went into the freezer?

And how long have strands of saffron been drifting around the bottom of a spice jar? According to the NHS, it’s best to eat frozen meat within three to six months; after that, taste deteriorates although it’s still safe. Most spices have a shelf life of three to four years.

5. Sort sock drawers

How irritating is it to wake up and find a drawer full of odd socks? Admittedly, Skype, Zoom and Houseparty only require dressing from waist up, but there is a sense of self-respect to be earned from wearing matching smalls. Empty the drawer, lay out each sock and ball them into pairs. Think of it as a game of Snap.

6. Detangle electrical cables

Not everything in the world is wireless. When the back of a TV set starts to resemble electrical spaghetti, it’s time to tidy cords and cables neatly away.

Hair scrunchies can be used to create manageable bundles, or thread stray wires through empty toilet rolls to avoid any tangles.

7. Descale the showerhead

In areas with hard water, limescale deposits quickly form in bathroom taps, turning power showers into pathetic trickles over time.

White vinegar is the simple, cost-effective solution: clean a removable spout by immersing it in a bucket of the acidic liquid; if the shower is fixed, fill a plastic bag instead and use a rubber band to tie it to the head.

8. Steam clean a mattress

It’s a place where we spend a good proportion of our lives, so it’s no surprise that beds are a den of dirty hair and dead skin cells.

A vacuum cleaner will remove most of the detritus from a mattress, while baking soda can be used to help soak up stains and deodorise bad smells. Steam cleaners get the best results and should be used every few months.

9. Clean windows crystal clear

At the moment, we’re spending a lot of time gazing through windows, and who really wants to connect with the outside world through a veil of pigeon poo?

It’s tempting to choose a sunny day to get glass gleaming, but if cleaner dries too quickly it will form streaks.

While squeegees are a window cleaner’s favourite tool, it’s easier – and less messy – to use a microfibre cloth for smaller panes.

10. Deodorise the washing machine

If your whites are running grey after cycles emitting foul smells, it’s likely the washing machine is due a good clean. 

Use an old toothbrush to scrub the detergent drawer, clear the debris filter (it’s usually on the bottom of the machine, behind a hinged cover) and clean the drum with dishwasher tablets on a hot wash.