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Tom's Guide
3 days ago
- General
- Tom's Guide
Experts recommend this dryer sheet hack to keep your walls looking pristine — here's how it works
Keeping walls looking fresh after they've recently been painted can be an endless task, especially if you have children in your home. However, a home improvement expert has shared how you can keep your paint looking perfect by following an easy cleaning hack. By following this weekly task, you can keep your painted walls pristine without using any harsh cleaning products. And all it takes is one household product that you probably already have stored in your cupboards. So, instead of scrubbing fingerprint marks and everyday grime, which will damage your painted walls, try this gentler approach that stops dirt from accumulating. 'After years of working with various paint finishes and helping customers maintain their properties, I've found that prevention beats deep cleaning every time,' says Dale Smith, founder of Fence Guru. He shares his secret weekly maintenance tip to keep painted walls clean and professional-looking long after they've been painted. There's no complicated science behind Smith's method; it simply involves using a dryer sheet. He recommends wiping painted walls once a week with a standard sheet to lift settled dust while creating a light static layer that actively repels grime and airborne particles. 'Most people don't realise that dryer sheets are designed to attract and capture dust particles,' explains Smith. 'When you run one across your painted walls, it picks up all that fine dust that settles daily without requiring any moisture or cleaning products that might damage the paint finish.' Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. I've used a similar technique to clean my baseboards, although it also involved a vacuum cleaner. Apart from adding to your laundry to soften your clothes, reduce creases and make them smell fresh, these Bounce laundry sheets can also be used for other cleaning chores. They help to repel dirt and grime and can be used to clean painted walls and baseboards. As the dryer sheet moves across the wall surface, it reduces static, preventing future dust from sticking. The benefit is that you're walls won't need cleaning as frequently. 'Think about how dust clings to your television screen or computer monitor,' says Smith. 'Painted walls face the same issue, especially in high-traffic areas or homes near busy roads where there's more environmental exposure.' Apart from stopping dust from settling, the gentle friction of the dryer sheets lifts embedded particles, without the need for abrasive cleaners that can damage the delicate paintwork. This dryer sheet method works on most painted surfaces, but it's particularly effective on satin, eggshell, and semi-gloss paints, whose slight sheen allows the dryer sheet to glide smoothly without catching or tearing. 'These finishes already have some durability built in, so they can handle the light friction while maximising the anti-static benefits,' notes Smith. 'Flat or matte paints can still benefit, but you'll want to use an even lighter touch.' If you can't spare the time to clean all of your painted walls, stick to high-traffic areas. And Smith suggests cleaning around windows, air conditioning vents, and exterior doors, where dust circulation is higher. He also recommends cleaning hallways, living rooms, and children's bedrooms, as they tend to accumulate dust faster, especially if you have pets or live in a dusty environment. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Daily Mirror
08-08-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
1 simple mistake could be causing expensive damage to your garden patio
A hidden mistake is costing homeowners thousands and most people don't even know they're making it When it comes to patios, a myriad of issues can wreak havoc on your slabs – from stubborn moss and algae to those annoying puddles that linger forever. An expert has now revealed a costly blunder that's slipping past most homeowners unnoticed. This sneaky problem rears its ugly head months post-installation, turning your outdoor pride and joy into a pricey nightmare. We're talking about water where it shouldn't be, shifting and cracking slabs, unsightly algae, discolouration, and the worst offender – damp seeping into your home. Dale Smith, the brains behind Fence Guru, warns this is a common tale in gardens far and wide, all thanks to one critical misstep. The culprit? Neglecting to craft an adequate drainage slope during patio construction. It may seem trivial, but this error is the root of more long-term damage than any other patio-related oversight, reports the Express. "Most people think a flat patio looks better, but that's exactly the problem," Dale points out. "Without the right slope, water has nowhere to go. It just sits there, and that's when your troubles begin." UK households with gardens face £5,000 fines for 'not keeping it tidy' Weeds will 'die off' in hours with one ingredient — and you won't need vinegar He further notes: "The reason so many people get this wrong is that proper drainage planning isn't obvious, and it's not something you can see in photos or YouTube tutorials. "DIY enthusiasts often concentrate on the aesthetic elements like pattern and materials, while contractors might skimp on the groundwork to cut corners on time." A correctly fitted patio requires a minimum gradient of 1:80 sloping away from your house - that's approximately 12mm decline for every metre of patio breadth. It might seem minimal, but this subtle incline is what ensures water runs away from your dwelling rather than collecting on the surface. "The slope should always direct water away from your house and towards a suitable drainage point," says Dale. "It needs to be consistent across the entire surface, not just in patches." Beyond poor drainage creating instant issues, it can also trigger costly harm over time. Water that collects and freezes generates freeze-thaw fractures that crack slabs apart. Water can also penetrate your home's foundations, resulting in dampness issues inside. "I've seen cases where water damage from a poorly drained patio has cost homeowners thousands in structural repairs," Dale warns. "The patio itself might only be worth a few hundred pounds, but the damage it causes can be devastating." Warning signs your patio has poor drainage 1. Persistent puddles: Water that remains on your patio for hours following rainfall is the most obvious warning signal. "If you can still see standing water the next morning, your drainage is wrong," Dale notes. 2. Shifting or sinking slabs: When water accumulates beneath paving, it slowly erodes the foundation material. This results in uneven surfaces and unstable slabs that wobble when you walk on them. 3. Moisture around door frames: If you're spotting damp patches near your back or patio doors, it's a tell-tale sign that water is heading towards your home rather than away from it. 4. Algae and moss growth: A constant state of wetness is the ideal breeding ground for greenery. "If your patio looks like a pond after every shower, you've got a drainage issue," Dale points out. When it comes to sorting out patio drainage woes, there's no need to fret if you're already facing problems – they can be sorted, albeit with more effort than nipping them in the bud initially. Dale notes that sometimes adding drainage channels or extra outlets can make a difference. "Sometimes you can improve things by adding drainage channels or creating additional outlet points," he says. For more serious situations, you might have to redo parts of the patio. "In severe cases, you might need to lift sections and re-lay them with proper falls." Yet, the optimal moment to tackle drainage is during the design phase, before laying any paving stones. Dale advises planning your water flow and making sure you've got enough drainage spots. He offers a strategy for ensuring effective drainage. "Start by working out the highest and lowest points of your space," he recommends. Your patio should have a gradient from the high point to the low, leading excess water to a drain, grassy area, or a bed of gravel.
