How I got my mould-spotted grubby, white vertical blinds spotless for 49p – don't waste your money on new ones
With the cost-of-living crisis soaring, many cash-strapped households are on the lookout for affordable cleaning hacks - and if your blinds could do with some TLC, you've come to the right place.
2
2
Donna Blossom Hill took to Facebook to share an easy hack that totally transformed her mould-spotted vertical blinds with no faff.
According to the woman, although the white blinds were grubby and had certainly seen better days, she couldn't afford a new set.
Although some cleaning fans swear by using white vinegar, Donna, unfortunately, discovered that this viral 79p hack didn't do anything.
Luckily, she soon found a solution - and not only did it work a treat but was also a cheaper alternative, costing less than 50p.
She shared the magic remedy on the popular DIY On A Budget Official - and turns out, all you need in a common cleaning product that's most likely already sitting in your home.
Sharing a before and after of the jaw-dropping results, the savvy woman wrote: ''No money for new blinds so I bleached them, I did try white vinegar but didn't work.
''I got a bucket (98p B&Q) filled it with hottish water with 49p bleach (Farmfoods) put half bottle in, carefully unclipped from the top leaving weights in bottom and 1 by 1 put them in bucket leaving for 5 minutes.''
She went on in the post: ''Then from the bucket hanging them up 1 by 1 and putting a towel underneath them for 15 mins & they're done.
''I'm amazed as they're in my conservatory so i have a lot of blinds to do.''
'Good ol' bleach'
Since being shared on the popular page, the post has already taken the internet by storm, winning Donna more than 500 likes in just a few hours.
More than 120 people flooded to comments to share their thoughts at the epic transformation, as others revealed their go-to remedies.
One cleaning fan recommended: ''Try baking soda with vinegar.''
Someone else chimed in: ''Fab! I soaked mine in the bath with washing powder and they came out well. Just make sure hang to dry.''
The household items you're not cleaning often enough
IF you want to ensure your home is squeaky clean, you'll need to listen up. Below are the household items you're forgetting to clean, and how to get them sparkling...
Remote Controls: Wipe with a disinfectant cloth. Use a cotton bud for crevices.
Light Switches: Wipe with a disinfectant wipe. Use a mild soap solution for tough stains.
Door Handles: Clean with an antibacterial spray. Wipe down regularly.
Underneath and Behind Appliances: Vacuum or sweep regularly. Mop with a suitable cleaner.
Shower Curtains and Liners: Wash in the washing machine. Use a bleach solution for stubborn mildew.
Kitchen Sponges and Dishcloths: Microwave damp sponges for one minute. Wash dishcloths in the washing machine.
Computer Keyboards and Mice: Use compressed air to remove debris. Wipe with a disinfectant wipe.
A third wrote: ''I used to use mildew spray worked a treat.''
''Be careful if that's mould it can cause lung problems. If it comes back better to change them,'' a fourth said.
However, there were also plenty of those who strongly advised against using the 49p solution.
''Bleach does not kill mould, it will get rid of it but next time it comes back worse,'' a cleaning fan warned.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Best freebies for GCSE results day
Students, the day you've waited for is almost here: Thursday is GCSE results day. Whether you've thought about this day with excitement or dread, whether you stepped out of your exams feeling triumphant or defeated, we hope that opening your results gives you a sense of pride and relief. No matter what happens, there's at least one piece of good news. On results day, you can get free and discounted food at top restaurants – no matter what grades you get. So if you're looking to celebrate your hard work, there are tons of options, from Nando's chicken to 25 per cent off your bill at Wagamama. The exact conditions for getting GCSE freebies vary from restaurant to restaurant, but to avoid disappointment, we suggest bringing your ID and physical results if you can (though most places will accept digital proof). You'll want to let the restaurant know that you'd like to redeem the results day freebie or deal before you order. Don't forget to also check that it's been applied to your bill when you pay. All of the freebies and offers that we've listed below are dine-in only, with the exception of Nando's, which you can collect. Got other plans on results day? Don't worry, some of these offers can be redeemed after the big day – we've explained everything you need to know in our round-up of the best GCSE freebies and deals below. Where are the best deals on GCSE results day? Free pizza at Frankie and Benny's On results day only, you can get a free margherita pizza (usually £11.75) when you dine in, buy a regular soft drink and show your GCSE results. Gluten-free and vegan options are included. You can get juice as a soft drink for as cheap as £1.75, so we think this is a great deal. Can't make it on results day? Sign up to Frankie and Benny's newsletter and you'll be sent a voucher code allowing you to get a free meal when you buy two or more mains. Alternatively, if you hang around on the website for long enough, you may see a pop-up offering you £10 off (when you spend £25) for signing up. This one can only be used on weekdays, and the voucher expires within 30 days of being sent. You can't use either of these offers at the same time as your GCSE freebie. Looking for a completely free treat? At Las Iguanas, you can get four churros (usually £6.75) with no other purchase necessary. Just book a table or show up on results day with proof of your exam results. This is a fun one: on either results day on Thursday 21 August, or the day after, show your physical or digital exam results at Zizzi and you'll be given an envelope to open to reveal a surprise freebie. This is most likely to be mozzarella and garlic bread, but it could also be your choice of starter, dessert, drink – or if you're really lucky, even your whole table's bill paid for (up to £150). Every envelope is a winner, but the downside is that you don't know what you'll get. Zizzi told us that each restaurant will be giving out 100 prizes in total. Most of them are mozzarella and garlic bread, but one lucky winner at each location will nab £150 worth of food. This could be a fun way to celebrate with classmates, as up to six prizes can be redeemed per table. The whole family can benefit from this one: for tables of up to six, Bella Italia is offering a free starter and dessert for every person who buys a main, when one guest shows proof of GCSE exam results. This offer is available on results day only. Bella Italia prices vary by location, but starters are usually priced from around £4.99 and desserts from around £5.29, so this is a good deal if you're looking for a three-course meal. Here's another freebie that you don't have to spend much to grab. Banana Tree is offering a free chicken or vegan katsu (usually around £15) when you buy a soft drink on results day. For this one, you'll need to sign up for the deal at Banana Tree ahead of time and then bring your GCSE results and ID along with you. You can only use one voucher per guest, so you'll need to make sure all of your classmates register if you're going as a group. Can't make it on Thursday 21 August? You can get £10 off your order between Monday and Friday year-round when you sign up to Banana Tree's newsletter. Keep in mind that you can't use this and your GCSE results freebie at the same time. This isn't technically a freebie, but you can get a whopping 25 per cent off your bill when you dine in at Wagamama between Thursday 21 August and Wednesday 27 August. You'll need to download and join its loyalty app, Soul Club, and show proof that you've done this to the server, along with your GCSE results. If you fancy a Nando's after opening your results, you can get a free quarter chicken or starter when you spend £7 or more. Though not a complete freebie, we know Nando's is a student favourite. To nab this deal, all you need to do is show your ID and proof of your results (paper or electronic) when you dine in on GCSE results day. A starter is usually priced from £3.95, and a quarter chicken is usually £5.50. There's no rush on this one. Until Thursday 4 December, A-level and GCSE graduates can get a free meal, excluding the ultimate fajita, whole rack of ribs and Mexican sirloin. This deal is available all day, every day, except on holidays like Christmas Eve. Just show proof of your results, and the cheapest main will be excluded from your bill. At Bill's, you can get a free dessert on results day when you buy a main meal. Importantly, you'll need to bring your physical results to redeem this offer. The price of desserts at Bill's varies across locations, but you'll usually find them for around £4.50. Free main at TGI Fridays Up until Thursday 28 August, your GCSE or A-level results can get you a free main (usually priced from £17) when you buy another full-priced adult main at TGI Fridays. However, you can't redeem this deal on a Friday or Saturday, and it doesn't include anything from the 'Hot off the grill' section of the menu. You'll need to bring in your results and say 'grads eat free' to the server to redeem this one. Show your GCSE results at Byron on results day and you can get two-for-one on burgers, usually priced from £8.95 each. Vegans and vegetarians won't miss out either, as most of Byron's burgers can be made meat and dairy-free on request. It's also National Burger Day on the same day, so if you're not receiving GCSE results (or don't want to show them), you can get the same two-for-one deal as above on Thursday 21 August by signing up for the Byron Club. It's worth noting, however, that you can't use both deals on one bill – for example, if you're using your results day offer, your friend or family member at the same table can't use their Burger Day offer. Côte Brasserie is also treating students to some freebies this results day. All GCSE students can get a free dessert, including a rich chocolate mousse or indulgent crème caramel. Even better, as a French restaurant, Côte Brasserie will give out free steak frites or a vegan burger to any student with a French GCSE. To get your hand on the freebies, you'll need to dine in with someone who has paid for an adult main dish.
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
British butterfly species facing extinction
Butterfly numbers have plunged by nearly a fifth in the past 50 years, official figures show. The population of the heath fritillary has fallen by 89 per cent since 1976, statistics from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) reveal. Other species including including wood white, small-bordered fritillary, grayling and pearl-bordered fritillary have seen declines of 70 per cent to 80 per cent. The figures show that abundance across all species has declined 18 per cent in the UK, and 19 per cent in England, over the long term. Experts blamed the destruction of butterfly habitats for the drop in numbers. Many butterfly species have not recovered from declines experienced in the late 1970s caused by the knock-on effects of the drought conditions in 1976. However, a lack of suitable habitat in the decades that followed has contributed to the persistent decline ever since. Butterflies found on farmland have declined by around a third in both the UK and England, with those that require the specific habitat to thrive seeing falls in abundance of 42 per cent in the UK and 47 per cent in England. Woodland butterflies have fared even worse with declines of more than half (54 per cent) since the 1970s when monitoring began, with woodland specialist species declining by 55 per cent in the UK and 57 per cent in England. Across the 50 species monitored across the UK, 44 per cent have suffered declines since 1976, while 47 per cent of the 49 species assessed in England have seen drops since then.
The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
The best office chairs for all-day comfort and support, tested
What's the most important thing when you're spending hours sitting in front of a computer? Is it having the fastest internet? The sharpest screen? The perfect keyboard? No. When you're spending most of your day sitting on your bottom, the most crucial element is what's directly underneath. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. Learn more. With a good office chair, you can handle a long working day without any feelings of discomfort. With a bad one, you can expect backache, neck ache, tender glutes and assorted nagging pains. Who wants to return to work when the last day left you feeling achy and decrepit? Many decent chairs are available, and while you don't want to go cheap, you also don't have to spend a fortune. I've spent the past three months trying six of the best office chairs – including some lower-cost alternatives – to help you make a better choice. Best office chair overall: Slouch Task One Best budget office chair: Habitat Beck Best for all-day comfort: Herman Miller Aeron Best for style: Ikea Hattefjäll I'm a hard-working writer who spends long days (and often nights) sitting at a desk. I'm prone to spending even more time at my desk after working hours, playing video games and working on personal projects. Basically, I'm a world-class endurance sitter, and I demand a lot from my office chair. I'm also an experienced reviewer, covering consumer technology, PC hardware, ergonomic office accessories and a wide range of home and garden products. I've got a strong idea of what works, what is going to drive you crazy, and what you need to think about before you buy. I'd like to say I spent hours running automated pressure and wear simulations, but in truth, I simply spent a lot of time sitting on each chair. I assembled each model where assembly was required, noting any issues with the process, the supplied instructions and the fixtures and fittings provided. I then spent up to a fortnight using each as my everyday office chair, sitting in blocks of up to five hours, two or three times a day. I also roped in my wife for further testing. She's a freelance illustrator and similarly inclined to spending long days at her desk. We rotated the chairs between us, occasionally bickering over who got to sit in the most comfortable option and who would be hit with the chair with the immovable backrest and less cushioning. I also put each office chair's adjustments through their paces to see what could and couldn't be moved, checked for safety issues and noted any mechanisms that didn't feel built to last. When we'd finished with a chair, it was dispatched back to the manufacturer, or a branch of Devon charity Hospiscare, so that it could go on living a useful life at someone else's desk. The Slouch Task One may not have the wow factor of the Herman Miller Aeron featured below, but it still gives you everything you'd want from an office chair. It comes unassembled, but can be put together in 20 minutes because of clear instructions, complete with videos to help. Once assembled, it feels solid, with none of the cheap plastics or creaky fittings found on the budget chairs. It looks good, too, in a choice of black or light grey for the frame and seats in beige, charcoal, pink, light grey and blue. Most importantly, it's hugely comfortable, making light work of even the most epic working days. Why we love itSlouch has got the seat spot on, with enough padding to keep your posterior from encountering any hard surfaces, and a moulded shape that holds up well under pressure. The mesh backrest keeps the spine upright while allowing for a degree of tilt, with a four-stage lock and synchronised mechanism to keep you balanced. Just about everything is adjustable, from the seat height and depth to the tension of the backrest, the height and position of the arms and the placement of the lumbar support. The gas lift has a smooth action that makes it easy to get the height right. Slouch also offers the chair with a choice of casters, covering soft and hard floors (though there is an additional cost of £19 for the hard floor option). It's a shame that … you have to pay £39 extra if you want a forward seat-tilt mechanism, although it's still a bargain compared with most other chairs. Some may hanker for more padding on the soft-feel armrests or find the colour options bland. Dimensions: 70 x 65 x 108cm Seat depth and height: 42-48cm; 42-54cm Adjustments: seat depth, seat height, arm height and position, back-tilt tension, lumbar support Habitat's chair does a good job of fitting into your average home-office setup. It's compact and attractive, with a white frame, a pink mesh backrest and a sunny light orange seat. Clear instructions make it easy to assemble – I had it ready within 15 minutes – and it feels solid once that's done. There are, sadly, no adjustments for the back or arm rests, but the seat height can rise from 44cm to 52cm, and it tilts backwards and forwards as you move. Why we love itIt's less than £100, but the Beck looks and feels like a more expensive chair. The seat has better cushioning than you'll find on other budget options, and it's neither too soft nor too firm. You may want more support from below for all-day working, but it's fine for a few hours here and there. The tilt mechanism is also more responsive than on some cheap models, though the fixed back means you don't get the same flexibility as on the Slouch, Herman Miller and Ikea chairs. The Beck is a great chair for slouching at your desk while you're engaged in deep thought or otherwise procrastinating, but not so great when you're sitting up and trying to get work done. The backrest feels slanted backwards, suggesting a relaxed posture rather than the more ergonomic vertical stance. It's a shame that … the back isn't adjustable, and neither is the seat depth or the height of the armrests, so you're stuck with what you've got. If it were my own money, I'd really try to find the extra to get the Slouch. Dimensions: 65 x 60x 92cm Seat depth and height: 48cm; 44-52cm Adjustments: seat height, back-tilt tension, tilt lock The Aeron is a high-end office design classic, and you only need to sit on one for an hour or two to understand why. Counterintuitively, the mesh seat is gentler on the glutes than any conventional padded effort, sloping down and curving off to support your thighs at just the right angle without digging in behind the knee. You can't even feel the hard plastic edge at the front, which is where so many copycats fall down. It looks and feels like the seating equivalent of an executive saloon car, mixing tough plastics with the occasional bit of chrome. Why we love itIt comes already built, so there's no pain there, and it's incredibly adjustable. It's the only chair where I needed to refer to the instructions to figure out all the controls. However, once you spend an hour or so tweaking all the heights, depths and angles, it fits the body like a glove, effortlessly tilting forwards and backwards in perfect synchronisation as you move. If you absolutely have to spend long days and nights beavering away to hit a deadline, this is the chair to do it in. While getting up to move and stretch is recommended, your back and neck won't be accusing you of torture when you do finally get away. Make sure you buy it in the right size, with smaller and larger A and C options as well as the standard B fit. Sign up to The Filter Get the best shopping advice from the Filter team straight to your inbox. The Guardian's journalism is independent. We will earn a commission if you buy something through an affiliate link. after newsletter promotion It's a shame that … it's big and heavy, so best for an established office space; you don't want to lug this big galoot around. Really, though, the only reason not to buy it is the price. It's arguably worth it even so, but it is a serious investment. Dimensions (size B): 66 x 60 x 109cmSeat depth and height: 46cm; 45-58cmAdjustments: seat height, arm height and position, back-tilt tension, tilt limiter, lumbar support With its elegant frame, sleek seat and backrest and choice of tasteful fabrics, the Hattefjäll brings a touch of Scandinavian style into the office. You'll feel like you're working at an upmarket consultancy, even when you're sitting in your faded T-shirt and jogging bottoms because you haven't got a video call that day. Why we love itAs with pricier chairs, it has a synchronised tilt mechanism, so you can shift backwards and forwards to keep the body moving, and the casters lock in place when there's no weight on the chair, so it won't skid around when you sit down or stand up. The Hattefjäll is more than just a great-looking chair; it also has a strong set of features for the price. The backrest is adjustable to five different heights, and you can tweak the seat depth and the lumbar support. The armrests are height- and width-adjustable, reducing strain on the shoulders, and you can lock the tilt to avoid excessive slouching. It's among the most ergonomic options at this price. It's a shame that … the levers to adjust the height and tilt are a bit too small for comfort, making these adjustments tricky. I also had a serious problem with assembly. The arms attach with bolts that screw into a slit in the fabric of the seat, but these were a nightmare to align, and one bolt refused to screw cleanly into place. Yet the long-term issue here is a seat that's thin and firm, which I found uncomfortable as I neared the end of every day. Do our Swedish friends have something against cushioning? Dimensions: 68 x 68 x 114cm Seat depth and height: 40cm; 46-56cm Adjustments: seat height, seat depth, arm height and position, backrest height, back-tilt tension, tilt lock, lumbar support Best for: a very low budget The Archie is affordable for a mesh-backed office chair, but you lose a lot in terms of flexibility. The backrest bolts on to the arms, meaning neither can be adjusted, and there's no way to move the lumbar support up and down. I found the backrest solid and supportive, but if you're taller or shorter than average, you may find the lumbar support in the wrong place. On the plus side, I found this chair easy to assemble with straightforward instructions, and it's relatively comfortable if you're sitting for only an hour or two. You can tilt backwards and forwards to shift your spine around, with an adjustable tension knob and a handy lock on the height adjustment lever. It didn't make the final cut because … there's just not enough padding on the seat, and the foam used doesn't do a great job of holding its shape under pressure. After a few hours, you can feel the stiff board underneath the seat from your bottom to your lower thigh. I managed to spend more than a week with the Archie as my main office chair, but only because I had a memory foam cushion I could stick on top. Dimensions: 61 x 60 x 102cm; seat depth and height: 46cm; 44-56cm adjustments: seat height, back-tilt tension, tilt lock. Best for: a cheap desk chair for occasional use It's no mystery how this chair can be found at such an astoundingly low price. Everything inside the box needs to be assembled, including the base, involving 30 slightly agonising minutes of Allen-key action before you get a chance to sit down. The arms and backrest are fixed in place, as is the lumbar support, and while you can tilt forwards and backwards, the chair creaks and groans if you push it too far. Despite this, I found the chair surprisingly comfortable for short periods. The arms felt too low to keep my shoulders level while typing, though – a problem when there's no way to shift them up or down. It didn't make the final cut because … of its insufficient padding, with the seat feeling brutally hard and unforgiving within the space of three or four hours. I might consider it as a desk chair for lightweight offspring or for occasional evening use, but you need to spend more if you work from home. Dimensions: 59 x 46 x 100cm; seat depth and height: 46cm, 45-55cm; adjustments: seat height, back-tilt tension, tilt lock Looks are important, but what's vital is that an office chair is comfortable. And that's not just what you feel when you first sit down, but how it supports your body and posture over longer periods. Ideally, you should be able to adjust the chair so that you can sit with your feet flat close to the desk, with your thighs close to horizontal and your back vertical and straight. Your arms should be able to sit parallel to the desk and be supported by the armrests. Chairs that help you achieve this working posture will be more comfortable when you're sitting in them for most of the day. This is what makes adjustments so important. The more you can move the backrest, the arms, the seat and any lumbar support, the better chance you have of finding the right fit. DesignBeyond that, the design and structure of the seat and backrest make a difference. Foam backrests can be solid and supportive, but they can affect your posture if they're too soft. Mesh backrests are usually cooler in the summer, while still providing plenty of support. The seat will always be subjective, but you want enough cushioning to relieve pressure on your thighs and buttocks, without it being so soft that your posture suffers or you can feel any hard surfaces below. Look out for hard surfaces near the front or edges that might end up digging in an inch or two behind the knees. TiltSome degree of tilt is great. It means you can push back in your seat and rest for a minute, and that the chair will support you as you shift around. However, there needs to be control if you want to adopt a better posture while you're working. The best office chairs offer a synchronised tilt, where the seat and backrest tilt independently, but still move in unison to support you as you move. A degree of forward tilt can also be useful if you want to avoid pressure behind the knees. SafetyWatch out for safety aspects of the design. Office chairs have to conform to British standards for fire resistance, but it's also worth checking for rough edges or sharp points that may poke you as you move around your workspace, and for any mechanisms that might trap a finger while you're leaning back. Don't go cheap on a chair you're going to spend a lot of time in; you'll regret it later on. Stuart Andrews is a journalist with more than three decades of experience in computing and consumer tech. When he's not messing around with PCs, laptops and projectors, he's trying to tame his post-apocalyptic garden with the latest cordless gadgets. Likes arty movies, walking and devices that just work; hates things that won't connect to his home network
