I was a royal cleaner at Buckingham Palace – little-known cheap cleaning hack will keep your home dust-free all summer
Anne Simmons, 57, from Berkshire, worked as a cleaner at Buckingham Palace for almost a decade, and throughout her career has picked up countless nifty tricks to keep your home spotless.
2
2
The cleaner is constantly coming up with inventive ways to make sure her work is efficient, and has now revealed a little-known hack for getting dust off hard to reach places.
"There was one time I was asked to tidy up a car before an afternoon outing,' she told Plates Express.
'The vacuum wasn't available, and I needed something quick to lift dust from awkward spots like cup holders and vents.
"That's when I remembered the slime my grandson had left at my house. It worked like magic.'
Slime, is a popular toy with young children, and is used for squeezing and squishing into shapes.
However, Anne revealed that it is also perfect for dusting.
'It was safe, easy to use, and didn't leave any marks,' Anne said.
'From that point on, I always kept a small tub in my kit just in case.'
Unlike cleaning cloths, which push dust around and miss spots, slime moulds itself to any surface, so is perfect for hard to reach spots.
Simply press it into the dusty area, and then pull away.
I tried Zoflora's new carpet cleaner - it works in just 30 seconds and leaves your home smelling super fresh (1)
The dust will stick to the slime, leaving the surface squeaky clean.
However, Anne warned that not all slime is suitable for using as a duster.
'Avoid slimes that contain glitter or too much colouring", she said.
"I prefer plain, soft cleaning slimes made for electronics or car detailing — those are best for interiors."
Anne previously revealed a 35p hack for keeping your towels light and fluffy.
Many people believe that by loading their towels with fabric softener they will become fluffy and fresh.
However, this is not the approach taken in the royal household.
She said: "People assume adding more fabric softener makes towels softer, but in reality, it ruins the absorbency. In the palace, we never use it on towels."
Anne revealed that royal household cleaners instead place half a cup of white vinegar in with a load, which removes odours and banishes detergent buildup.
White vinegar can be purchased for just 35p from the supermarket, and also softens towels, and keeps them fresher for longer.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
31 minutes ago
- The Independent
Why Jack Draper stunningly left Nike for new brand before US Open
Jack Draper 's rise to the top of men's tennis has seen him sport the iconic, clean look of Nike since his days as a junior up until his Wimbledon bow and historic Indian Wells Open victory. But all of that has changed last month when his Nike deal expired and not only did he switch brands, but Draper took the decision to enter the unknown as the face of Vuori's venture into tennis. Draper has been a trend-setter and has found his career entwined with fashion, notably through his deal with Burberry and a recent campaign alongside model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, while Vogue's global editor Anna Wintour is a fan. Enter Vuori and the latest opportunity for a tennis player to pursue one of the non-traditional brands of the sport, with the apparel brand based in California identifying the world No 5 as the face of their new tennis line. 'You're used to seeing yourself a certain way, and now other people are seeing you differently, too,' Draper said, with the launch off to a fine start in the controversial US Open mixed doubles and a place in the final four on Wednesday. 'That sort of makes them curious: 'What's this brand?'' Draper unveiled his new look at the US Open in the mixed doubles on Tuesday, partnering up with Jessica Pegula, and the No 1 seeds, due to their combined singles rankings, swept into the semi-finals, with victories over Carlos Alcaraz and Emma Raducanu first, then Daniil Medvedev and Mirra Andreeva in the quarter-finals. Draper will even have his own signature line in a deal that Joe Kudla, Vuori's founder and chief executive, has described as a 'fairy-tale dream.' From an athleisure brand to leading apparel for one of the best athletes in the world, Vuori appealed to Draper due to their 'creativity'. Draper explained: 'I think there's a real creative element to what they do. And I've always been someone who likes to have my own style, who likes to be my own person. It is quite an essential part of an athlete's journey, because it's our kit.' While Nike still retain some of the best players in the world, including Jannik Sinner, Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka, Draper's move is in line with players pushing for greater commercial flexibility and he could also pursue campaigns that are more closely aligned with his own personal brand and style, which have become so distinctive in recent years. The deal was helped by Draper's brother, Ben, who was familiar with the brand, who will offer the 23-year-old full access to designers and developers to shape his look for years to come. 'I think a lot of people, especially in the U.K. market, they don't hear a lot about them,' Draper added. 'That's the thing with Vuori. It's something different that people haven't seen before.' Draper is the latest in a trend of players leaving the swoosh, with Taylor Fritz partnering up with BOSS and Frances Tiafoe linking up with Lululemon. The landscape has changed over the last decade in tennis, with more brands breaking into the industry, including Roger Federer and his venture with On, who sponsor Ben Shelton and Iga Swiatek, following a $50m investment for a three percent equity stake in the company in 2019.
Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
The most expensive-looking supermarket handbags - including Asda's £20 Ganni-inspired bag
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more There's nothing quite like the thrill of spotting a designer dupe that's so convincing, you have to do a double-take. And this week, we've found one in the most unexpected of places: Asda 's clothing section. George at Asda's burgundy twisted handle cross-body bag looks remarkably similar to Ganni's £374 Bou embellished knotted leather shoulder bag. Despite Asda's being priced at just £20, the resemblance is clear: the distinctive knotted handle design; the structured, geometric shape; and the rich burgundy tone that's perfect for heading into autumn. Even the detailed gold hardware clasp has a distinct feel of luxury about it. George at Asda Twisted Handle Cross-Body £20 Shop Of course, the price does reflect in the materials. Asda's bag is faux leather, while Ganni's is that gorgeous supple leather that only improves with age. But honestly, with a price difference of more than £350, we're willing to overlook it. Asda isn't the only supermarket chain serving up designer-inspired pieces that won't break the bank. From a roomy Sainsbury's buy in a chic woven style to a bang-on-trend suede tote from Tesco, these are the pieces to keep an eye out for when you're doing your weekly shop. Your bank account will thank you for it. Tu Burgundy Weave Detail Shoulder Bag One Size £22 Shop F&F Faux Suede Medium Shoulder Bag in Tan £25 Shop George at Asda Cream Faux Leather Slouchy Handbag £24.50 Shop M&S Suedette Mini Bowler Cross Body Bag £20 Shop F&F Braided Trim Saddle Bag in Brown £18 Shop To get more of what you love from your favourite Sunday supplement, follow us on Instagram (@youmagazine), Facebook (YOU Magazine) and X (@YOUMagSocial).
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
Mum sparks debate with £35 school shoes she's got for her son in September, and says they'll help stop any uniform rows
A MUM has divided opinion after sharing the £35 shoes she's picked up for her son to wear to school in September. Zara explained that hunting for the perfect pair of school shoes for her sensorily-sensitive son is always a stressful experience. 4 4 4 So when she saw that Crocs had brought out a new style school shoe, she was quick to snap a pair up. Zara then took to TikTok to share a closer look at the £34.99 Mary Jane Clog, which go from sizes infant 11 to junior 6 in the kids' sizes. They are also available in pink and white, and in adult sizes, while the toddler version goes from infant size 4 to 10. "Crocs have brought out a school shoe and that's what they look like," Zara said in her TikTok video as she held up the slingback black shoes, which have a slight platform. "Not to everybody's taste I'm sure but these I actually think they're quite cute!" She added that as her son "won't wear any other shoe" than Crocs, getting dressed for school in September will be made a whole lot easier thanks to the footwear. "Everything is all about feel with him, so Crocs are the only shoes he wears," Zara continued. "And when I saw these school shoes I was like, 'Done! Don't care how much they cost!' "Because every year I take them and try on school shoes and he picks a pair and then the next thing he's like two weeks in saying, 'no they're not comfy, I .don't like them, they really hurt my feet' blah blah'." She added that she's hoping her video makes it to other parents whose kids struggle with sensory issues. And people in the comments section were quick to weigh in on the footwear find, as some pointed out that the shoes won't be particularly practical in wet weather. "All fun and games til Winter time in snow or rain," one person wrote. "Which you can't really help though but I'd wear those in the snow." "Love them!" another said. "I'd get my son them, who only wears Crocs or Skechers, but if it's a wet day their feet will be soaked!" "OMG, I've been having bother with shoes for Dakota - she only wears Crocs, she's the same as Charlie with sensory issues. "How have I never heard of these?" "I got my girls the barefoot school shoes," a third added. "They're the only shoes they'll keep on for more than five minutes... maybe 10! "Didn't know they did these, will have to get some now." "Hopefully he will be comfortable and have a happy start to the year. You're a brilliant mummy," someone else praised. "I have these, I love them!" another commented.
