Latest news with #cleanfluencer
Daily Mail
31-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Can shaving foam remove the stubborn stains that have been on your carpet for years? This ‘cleanfluencer' says yes
For sale: a three-bedroom flat in South London. Features include a one-year-old's Weetabix wall art, a five-year-old's splodges on the carpet, created with Mummy's eyeshadow, and an oven that hasn't been cleaned since 2019, thanks to two weary working parents. I realise my new-to-the-market home doesn't come with the most compelling pitch. While it's not dirty, it's certainly not show-home spotless. With two young children and a full-time job, I have an hour or so 'free time' each evening in between the kids falling asleep and flopping into bed myself, during which my husband and I whizz around like mad people doing laundry, filling lunchboxes and conducting a surface-level wipe. It's enough to make our home look presentable, but ignores the deep-clean jobs such as tackling the fridge and the shower grouting. I am too time (and energy) poor to do much more, but could a spring-cleaning session with Anna Louisa, a 'cleanfluencer' with over 4.2 million Instagram followers, change all that? Anna's USP is speed – her tips are designed to be fast and effective, hence the title of her recently published book: The 5 Minute Clean Routine. When the day of Anna's visit arrives, I feel nervous. Will she think I'm a slovenly mother, raising my children in a pigsty? I scoot around with the vacuum cleaner before she's due, keen not to measure up poorly against her high standards. All my fears disappear, however, when I answer the door and Anna, 35, immediately tells me my flat looks beautiful. It's clear she understands the pressure to present a picture-perfect home when having people over, as well as my predicament in trying to fit cleaning around work and kids. Anna was a primary-school teacher when she started growing her social-media following, initially posting interiors content. But when she had her son Oliver, now three, 'it was harder to run around Dunelm doing shopping posts', says Anna, who pivoted towards cleaning content she could film at home. She started sharing hacks (such as quick ways to change the duvet cover and clean the shower screen), and saw a huge response from her followers. When she reached 200,000 followers, Anna posted a video that perfectly typifies her content – the 12-second clip sees her sprinkling a mattress with bicarb and essential oils, using a cloth tied to a pan lid to scrub the stairs and adding soda crystals to towels before washing them. It went viral, gaining her an extra three million followers. Snappy cleaning tips might be her forte, but Anna spends a lot of time researching and testing her hacks, based on follower requests (she says she spends four hours a week cleaning her own house, which looks immaculate in videos). Testing is necessary because when Anna posts a tip, she wants to know it works, and that's led to some ingenious solutions, as I witness in my own home. First up, there's the microwave. Before Anna arrived, I placed my phone, facing upwards, inside and took a photo to send her, then nearly had a heart attack when I saw the layer of grime clinging to its 'ceiling'. Have I seriously been putting my kids' food in that? 'I've seen worse,' says Anna, and sets to work, slicing a lemon and putting the pieces in a bowl of water, before squeezing them to release the juice. She pops this in the microwave for three minutes on full power, telling me that the steam combined with the citric acid inside will cut through the grease. This is then left to stand for five minutes and voilà – wiping the muck off the microwave's innards becomes easy. Next is the oven. How often do you clean yours? There's a funny Mumsnet thread where people confess it's 'once every year or two' or 'only when it stinks', and admittedly I'm the same. A major part of the issue is I don't actually know how to clean an oven, but Anna whips up a paste using bicarbonate of soda and washing-up liquid, which she smears on to the surfaces and leaves for half an hour. Again, this makes it much easier to scrub off all the grease from the oven walls. Anna also uses a tool that looks like a tiny ice scraper to tackle stubborn grit, telling me, 'This was really cheap on Amazon, it's useful for induction hobs, too.' Indeed, a lesson I learn repeatedly during Anna's three-hour cleaning session is that you don't need to spend a fortune on expensive branded lotions and potions to clean. Instead, stick to simple products along with a few clever tools, such as the electric scrubber she uses to polish limescale off my shower grouting. My children both have eczema, so Anna opts for natural products, including a simple paste made from water and bicarbonate of soda to remove marks from the sofa (I could've sworn I banned the family from eating and drinking on it. Sigh). As for her number-one cleaning product? 'You can clean almost anything in your house with washing-up liquid,' she says. 'You do not need to spend a lot of money.' I'm keen to know if there is any part of the house you simply must clean every day. 'The worst place for bacteria is the kitchen sink,' says Anna. Most of us regularly wipe this down with a cloth, but the crucial step is then disinfecting the cloth every night, rather than wiping the same dirty rag around the bowl for days. 'Run a shallow layer of water at the bottom of the sink, put your disinfectant in there and then add the cloth,' advises Anna. Cloths should then be washed regularly at 60 degrees, so save them up to go with other items such as towels and bedding that need to be washed at a high temperature. Anna is full of brilliant tips – she tells me to put a white plastic high chair outside in the sun to bleach off orange stains, throw ice cubes into a hot nonstick pan to lift off the grease, and take my make-up sponge into the shower with me to clean it without making a mess. I am quite frankly amazed when she squirts a blob of Gillette shaving foam on to the eyeshadow stains on my bedroom carpet, only to wipe it off after a couple of minutes to reveal they've completely disappeared (those marks have been there for at least six months). When she posts about visiting my flat a couple of days later, Anna says that she 'almost cried recording this voiceover' because it 'hit home... how motherhood can be a lot to juggle sometimes'. I certainly needn't have worried about being judged. Anna quit her job in 2023 to become a full-time influencer – she now makes the majority of her money through brand partnerships with the likes of Air Wick and B&M. However, in some ways she feels as if she hasn't fully left her former career in education. 'I'm still a teacher, just in a new classroom,' she explains. That new classroom is Instagram, where a whole host of time-poor individuals are gratefully lapping up her lessons, one squirt of washing-up liquid at a time. The 5 Minute Clean Routine by Anna Louisa is published by Century, £18.99. To order a copy for £16.14 until 15 June, go to or call 020 3176 2937. Free UK P&P on orders over £25. ANNA LOUISA'S TOP TOOLS Koohoro Electric Cleaning Brush £23.99 Shop Comes with various attachments to help you clean sinks, shower screens, tiles, baths, hobs, ovens and floors. Vileda Rinseclean Spin Mop System £49.99 Shop Features special tech to separate the clean and dirty water, so you're never wiping sludge around the floor. Leaves surfaces, including windows, mirrors, shower screens, hobs, worktops, and tiles, dry and streak free. Sonicscrubber Electric Scrubbing Brush £22.95 Shop This tool – which looks like a giant electric toothbrush – has various attachments to help clean grout, taps, shower heads and hard-to-reach places in appliances such as the washing machine and dishwasher.
The Sun
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Mrs Hinch raves about £2 B&M buy that ‘adds charm to your garden' – plus a £10 product that's ‘cheaper than Amazon'
IF you want to give your garden a glow up but don't have much cash to splash, you'll need to check this out. Luckily for you, B&M has come to the rescue with a purse-friendly buy that adds 'charm' to your outside space - and Mrs Hinch is a huge fan. 6 6 6 6 The cleanfluencer recently took to social media as she filmed herself browsing the aisles in her local B&M store - and she picked up a wide variety of brilliant buys you won't want to miss. Not only was she left beaming with a £2 buy that'll look super cute in your garden this spring, but she also found a £10 product that's ' cheaper than Amazon ' too. Posting on her Instagram stories, the mum-of-three whose real name is Sophie Hinchcliffe, gave her 4.9 million followers a close-up look at her latest B&M haul, which included Decorative Pot Sticks. Priced at just £2, the blonde beauty who recently rushed her one-month-old baby to hospital, beamed: 'Why do I like these so much?' As she picked up the rabbit and the hedgehog decorative sticks, Mrs Hinch continued: 'Add charm to your garden…how lovely?' To complete the set, the bargain hunter also added: 'Gotta get the owl.' Alongside her short clip, the influencer wrote: 'Never knew I needed B&M £2 pot sticks but I do.' So if you want to add style to your plant pots and turn them into an adorable woodland scene, you won't want to miss this. According to B&M bosses, these high-street finds are a 'great way to add some fun and personality to your greenery'. Following this, Mrs Hinch then spotted a bargain buy that many dog owners will love - the Pet Cooling Sprinkler Mat, which is priced at just £10. Parents are racing to B&M desperate to nab 'the cutest' kids' cabin cases - they're ideal for EasyJet & Jet2 passengers Impressed with the bargain buy, Sophie explained: 'They have the Cooling Sprinkler Mat which I have for my alpacas. 'They're only £10 in here so they're cheaper than Amazon.' According to those at B&M, this animal -friendly buy will 'help keep your pet cool this summer'. How to save money at B&M Shoppers have saved hundreds of pounds a year by using B&M's scanner app. The scanner lets you see if an item's price is cheaper than advertised on the shop floor label. Products that are typically discounted are seasonal items and old stock that B&M is trying to shift. The app is free to download off the B&M Stores mobile app via Google Play or the Apple App Store. According to one ex-B&M manager, you'll want to visit your local branch at 10am on a Wednesday too. Here's how you can join the B&M bargain hunt: Download the B&M app for free on any smartphone with an App Store or Google Play. Once you've installed it on your device, click on the option labelled "more" on the bottom, right-hand side of the app home page. You'll then find an option that says "barcode scanner". Click on this and you'll open a camera screen. Use the camera to hover over the barcode of the product you wish to check. If the price comes up as lower, take it to the cash desk and it will automatically scan at the lower price. You don't need to sign up to the B&M app to use the barcode scanner. Thanks to this affordable product, all you'll need to do is attach a hose and watch the water spray out. There are many similar alternatives available on Amazon, but with numerous options priced at £17.99 and £19.99, this B&M buy is a real steal. Showing off her trolley of goodies, Sophie then concluded: 'Got some nice few bits…" Not only this, but she also shared: 'Time to go home to my boys and have a nice cosy night on the sofa. It's much needed.' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club 6 6
The Sun
17-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Mrs Hinch loves it but I think it's toxic… I've seen it do so much damage & I'm a pro cleaner
MRS Hinch loves it so much that she's done multiple Instagram videos gushing about its effectiveness. But now professional cleaner Gemma has had her say - revealing she thinks Viakal is one of the most "toxic" products around. 3 3 3 Gemma took to TikTok to share her opinion after Mrs Hinch - aka Sophie Hinchcliffe - posted yet another social media clip about the limescale spray she's used from "day one". This time she was referring to the latest Viakal release - Viakal Vinegar Action - which "combines the magic of Viakal with the cleaning power of vinegar". She then used it on her shower screen to show it in action, spraying it on, waiting three minutes and wiping it off to reveal a sparkling clean screen. Mrs Hinch continued to use the spray on both her shower head and her plug to remove the limescale, before concluding: "If you haven't got one in your cleaning cupboard, get one. "It's the number one by me for a reason." But Gemma was quick to disagree with the cleanfluencer in her TikTok video, as she said: "I've just seen Mrs Hinch promoting this product, it was an ad and I know that she works for them, she said it's her favourite product. "Now I'm a professional cleaner and it's my worst. "I've spoken about this product so many times because I've just seen so much damage from this product and I will never use it." Gemma added that the reason her nails always look so good is that she doesn't use Viakal, or get such "toxic" products near her hands. "I would say that anybody if you do want to use Viakal please wear gloves," she sighed. "That stuff is potent and I would even wear a mask, like that stuff makes me feel sick, it gives me a headache and the worst part is it's not needed." Instead of using the spray, Gemma swears by Cif cream cleaner, white vinegar and a Brillo pad, which doesn't scratch the glass and works for her every time. In fact, she's said she's even seen "so much damage" that's come from using the spray. "I don't normally come on here and talk about other people but I find it hard when someone is promoting such a toxic product and it's an ad and it's just not needed," Gemma continued. "Honestly ditch the Viakal and swap it for white vinegar or Cif cream cleaner and you're going to get exactly the same results without breathing in loads of toxic chemicals." And as with any video featuring an opinion, the comments section of Gemma's TikTok was quickly filled with other cleaning whizzes sharing theirs. Mrs Hinch's whopping £4.4million fortune HOMEMAKER Sophie Hinchcliffe makes a whopping £4,313 per day. The star, known best as Mrs Hinch online, has cleaned up with bumper earnings for her social media, with reported new figures for company Mrs Hinch Limited. In fact, according to Companies House, she has more than a million reasons to be smiling with the company's takings in 2024 amounting to a huge £1,574,405 annual profit. They also reveal that Sophie has amassed a huge £5 million worth of assets in her firm since it first launched. Mrs Hinch Limited, which was set up in 2019, started off with online videos detailing cheap cleaning hacks, ways to save money, and advice to run a family home. Sophie was also praised for her honesty when it comes to raising her sons, giving advice to mums who could be struggling, lifting the lid behind a world that could be picture perfect. She proved so successful, she has since been expanding her businesses to multiple different ventures, including her own cleaning range, books, interior design services and baby goods. In 2024, her company's reported cash at bank and in hand at £4,179,283, monies due in at £748,130 and tangible assets at £81,123. After allowing for £644,402 in bills, Sophie retained £4,364,134 worth of profits in the firm – including her latest takings. Her assets include a £99,775 car bought in 2024 - with her latest account proving her most successful set of figures so far. "I love it. It's the texture- it clings," one wrote. "So I can spread it evenly, the other stuff is too patchy." "I love it!!!!!! It's great for glass," another agreed. "If used correctly it's fantastic. Don't get me wrong, Mrs Hinch is promoting it like it works easily when it doesn't. "But it can be used safely and I work in a ventilated room with a mask and gloves. Job 10x easier." "It's good in the right hands," a third said. However, others were firmly of the same opinion as Gemma, and didn't hold back as they explained why. "I used it for a long time and totally regret it," one said. "It ruined my client's taps, it's toxic and it DAMAGES for sure." "It ruined my bathroom!!!" another added. "I'm also a self employed cleaner and I hate it so much," a third said. "Causes so much damage."
The Sun
14-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- The Sun
Mrs Hinch's ‘perfect' £9.99 Home Bargains buy keeps bugs & flies away & is great for balmy summer nights in the garden
IF you're on a mission to keep flies and bugs away from your garden, you've come to the right place. There's nothing more annoying than spending time in the sun with your pals, only to have pesky insects interrupt your spring day. 6 6 6 6 Flies tend to thrive in the warmer weather and reproduce quickly - and while this is great for them, it may not be so positive for us, as the critters will often try to make their way inside homes looking for food and shelter. And when you're outside, particularly in the evenings, they can be attracted to lights and the scent of your drinks or food too. But now, luckily for you, Home Bargains has come to the rescue with a purse-friendly buy to keep pesky bugs away - and Mrs Hinch is a huge fan. The cleanfluencer recently took to social media to show off the £9.99 buy, which will glam up your outside space whilst keeping flies away. Posting on her Instagram stories, the mum-of-three, whose real name is Sophie Hinchcliffe, gave her 4.9 million followers a look at her latest Home Bargains haul, which included a stylish jute runner, cute babygrows and a cool bag for picnics. But as well as this, the blonde beauty, who recently rushed her one-month-old baby to hospital, proudly showed off her new citronella candle. Thrilled with her bargain buy, which will get you change from a £10 note, Mrs Hinch beamed: 'Please take a minute for this outdoor citronella candle. Wow, wow.' She then advised fans to run and nab it, as she continued: 'If you're in Home Bargains and you see this… they had different colours as well, this is the green speckle but they had a couple of other colours. 'I can't wait to put that outside. 'Three wick? Get in!' How to Keep Wasps, Bees, and Flies Out of Your Home with a 5p Onion Hack In the following story frame, Mrs Hinch uploaded a snap of her new candle taking pride of place on her garden table. Alongside a heart eye emoji, the bargain hunter beamed: 'The candle though.' Why do flies come out in summer? Flies are present all year round, but all of a sudden when summer comes, they are just EVERYWHERE! The main contributing factors are the breeding cycle of flies and the soaring temperatures. Insects are cold blooded and in summer, when their body temperature rises from the external heat, they become more active. The hotter weather also let's them seek out cool moist spots, like inside your home, to escape from the sweltering heat and to lay their eggs. House Fly eggs take around 20 hours to hatch, but when the temperature rises above 37 degrees, can hatch within 8 hours! In extreme hot weather the eggs can mature from larvae to adult fly in as little as four days. The average lifespan of a housefly is 21 days, so each female can lay up to 900 eggs during the summer months! The Outdoor Edit Citronella Ceramic Candle Jar is currently sold out online and is only available to buy in stores, so you'll need to move fast if you want to nab it. Thanks to this candle, you're sure to light up your outdoor space in an instant. According to Home Bargains bosses, this 'chic, speckled ceramic jar not only adds style but also keeps pesky bugs at bay with its natural citronella scent'. Those at the bargain retailer have even hailed it 'perfect for cosy evenings outside'. Not only does it come in a gorgeous ceramic candle jar, but it also boasts a natural citronella scent too, which doesn't kill pests but can repel them from the area. It works by masking scents that are attractive to insects, making it difficult for them to locate food. There's three options to choose from, so you're sure to find a style to suit you and your outside decor. Thanks to this large candle, which is for outdoor use only and is perfect for balmy evenings in the garden, you'll create a warm, inviting atmosphere. Not only this, but it also doubles up as a gorgeous table decoration too, just like a similar buy that recently dropped in The Range. 6
