For more than 10 years, I’ve led Apartment Therapy’s real home content, producing thousands of house tours from around the world. Currently, I live in my maximalist dream home in New Orleans, Louisiana, with my partner, a perfect dog, and a cute cat.
I don’t know about you, but I hate cleaning my skirting boards. It’s tedious, fiddly, and even though I have a relatively small house in comparison to big family homes, my back is always aching by the time I’m done. That’s why I was intrigued when I spotted the 5-star rated Qaestfy Wall & Skirting Board Cleaner Mop Tool for £19.98 at Amazon.
After all, there are so many ways to clean skirting boards, but almost all of them are back-breaking methods that require a lot of bending down, multiple cleaning products, and don’t always get into the natural nooks and crannies of the many different types of skirting boards out there.
But this dedicated skirting board cleaning tool promises a deep clean like no other, and shoppers can’t help but rave about how ‘effortless’ it is to use. The best part? It also doubles up as a floor and wall mop, which means it’ll also compete with the best mops on the market.
Qaestfy Wall & Skirting Board Cleaner Mop Tool
With a long handle and two different types of cleaning pads, this cleaning tool can be used to clean skirting boards, walls, floors, and even windows. And while the pads are machine washable, there are spares just in case.
The Qaestfy Wall & Skirting Board Cleaner Mop Tool really is the ultimate multi-purpose tool. And while you can use it to perfect your wall mopping or use the extra chenille mop pads to clean your floors or even clean your windows, it’s the option to clean skirting boards without the fuss that really excites me.
And it seems as though shoppers can’t get enough of it, either. With over 2,000 reviews on Amazon, a whopping 54% of them are 5-star reviews from happy customers who love how easy it is to use when cleaning their skirting boards.
One customer went as far as to say, ‘Every home should have one of these. Used this morning for the first time, it was fantastic – easy to assemble, but does the job really well. I did all my shirting boards so effortlessly. I also did the tops of the door frames. Worth every penny – no kneeling on floors, so no backache. I love it.’
(Image credit: Future PLC/Davide Lovatti)
Another wrote, ‘It cut my cleaning time down by at least half, and there’s no having to get down on my knees. It works for walls, especially around light switches, architraving, and I cleaned my oven, dishwasher and fridge doors with it too. I highly recommend.’
Of course, it’s important to note that I haven’t tested this product out myself, but I’ve already added it to my basket and can’t wait to try it out in my home.
After all, you can turn the microfibre mop up so it conforms to the contour of any skirting board from any angle, allowing it to clean every inch of your skirting boards – regardless of its shape or size.
(Image credit: Future PLC/Siobhan Doran)
The bonus? As it’s essentially a mop, you can also choose how you want to clean your skirting boards. You could opt for a quick, dry dust with a dry mop pad, or you could wet the mop pad and clean it that way. After all, wet dusting is always better than dry dusting.
That’s one of the reasons why I also love using a Scrub Daddy Damp Duster to clean my skirting boards, and have ranked it as one of the best cleaning products you can buy. I typically use it to clean my blinds, but also find it extremely effective when cleaning the tops of my skirting. However, it’s always been a little too big and bulky to get into smaller curves, so this new cleaning tool should work a treat.
And for under £20, how could you really go wrong?
Scrub Daddy Damp Duster
Even if you don’t buy it to clean your skirting boards, I couldn’t recommend the Scrub Daddy Damp Duster more. The whole Ideal Home team loves them, and it has almost 20,000 impressive reviews on Amazon, too.
2 Pack of Lenor Tumble Dryer Fabric Conditioner Sheets
If you want to try a different way to clean your skirting boards, you could give the dryer sheet hack a whirl. You’ll need to buy some dryer sheets to do this, and it’s ideal for repelling dust.
Dyson Car + Boat Handheld Vacuum
The best handheld vacuums (and their attachments) can also help you clean your skirting boards. This is our top-rated model, and it comes with both a crevice tool and upholstery tool to get into the nooks and crannies.
How do you clean your skirting boards?
Poorly cooked rice can ruin the most flavoursome meal, and if you’re someone who struggles to achieve soft, fluffy grains, let Aldi do all the legwork with their Ambiano 2-Cup Rice Cooker (£9.99).
Landing in stores yesterday (31 August), Aldi’s rice cooker launched as part of their big student event. However, at Ideal Home, we believe the best rice cooker is a staple of any kitchen.
From achieving perfect fluffy rice for curries and more, this is everything you need to know about Aldi’s handy and affordable cooker.
Ambiano 2-Cup Rice Cooker
Rice is a staple of many meals, given that it is both cheap and delicious. But there is an art to cooking it, and struggling to get the perfect rice isn’t uncommon. This is why rice cookers and microwave cookers – such as Lidl’s microwave rice and pasta cookers – are so popular.
A rice cooker takes away any of the hassle of cooking rice and does it for you, with the best ones creating perfect, fluffy rice every time. Perhaps this is why a rice cooker is Nigella’s favourite present to gift at Christmas.
Available in a mint green colourway, Aldi’s rice cooker claims to cook perfect rice at the touch of a button. It’s compact, sleek and easy to use. Coming with a handy measuring cup, all you need to do is use the cup to measure the correct amount of rice, add water, press the button and walk away.
The cooker comes with a booklet that explains how much water you need per cup of rice. It produces the equivalent of two cups of cooked rice for one cup of uncooked rice, and has a keep warm function for when it’s finished cooking. The cooker also has a ceramic, non-stick-coated inner pot for easy cleaning, too.
(Image credit: Aldi)
The little cooker has been gaining traction on TikTok, with shoppers keen to pick up the rice cooker. One user even praised how you can cook more than rice, such as dumplings and vegetables. Users have commented that the cooker is suitable for one to two people and cooks rice in about 20 minutes, praising how easy and handy they are to have. Bear in mind that brown rice can take longer to cook.
None of the Ideal Home team has tested Aldi’s 2-cup rice cooker, but we are keen to try it after hearing all the social media reviews. However, we have tested Lakeland’s Digital Rice Cooker (£44.99) and found it produced perfect, fluffy rice every time in our Lakeland Rice Cooker review. It also has a larger capacity than Aldi’s, producing four to six portions of rice.
I personally like to use a steamer, such as Salter’s 3 Tier Electric Food Steamer (£29.99 at Amazon), which produces amazing rice in just 10 to 15 minutes. Alternatively, you can opt for one of these highly rated, affordable rice cookers.
Amazon
Judge Small Electric Rice Cooker
This rice cooker is the one favoured by Nigell and has over 2,800 reviews contributing towards this rice cooker’s 4.5-star status. It serves the same amount as the Aldi one, and is a little powerhouse.
Cookworks
Cookworks 1.5l Rice Cooker – Black
This super-affordable rice cooker has a 1.5L capacity and great reviews, too, with shoppers praising the ‘beautiful’ rice it produces and how easy it is to use.
Lakeland Electricals
Lakeland Digital Rice Cooker 1l
Our expert reviewers have tried and tested this Lakeland Rice Cooker and were impressed. It has white rice and brown rice settings and makes enough to feed a family.
Rice can make or break a meal, but a good rice cooker means you no longer have to worry about this.
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As soon as 1st September hits, we’re entering the time when it’s acceptable to start slowly pulling out the autumn and Halloween decorations. Not one to wait around until October, IKEA has already dropped its KUSTFYR collection, ready for Halloween, and it’s a fun Scandinavian twist on what you’d typically expect from Halloween decoration ideas.
I am a huge fan of Halloween, I love pumpkin spice lattes, ghost motifs and watching Hocus Pocus on repeat throughout October. However, while I love the holiday, I am very picky about the decorations I use to celebrate it in my home. I don’t like anything garish or scary. Instead, I focus on themed home decor that slips into a room without cluttering it up.
IKEA has nailed that formula with its new KUSTFYR Halloween range, focusing on a monochrome colour palette and simple shapes for a cat and ghost motif. This collection is about as minimalist as you can get when decorating for Halloween.
IKEA
KUSTFYR Unscented Candle – Cat Black 12 Cm
IKEA
KUSTFYR Bowl With Lid – Ghost Clear Glass 13 Cm
The Designer Marta Krupińska highlights the black unscented cat candle on the IKEA website, saying: ‘I like simple shapes with small details that are not necessarily minimalist and think cat lovers will go crazy for this candle.’
I don’t think it’s just cat lovers who will go crazy for this candle, priced at £4, its cartoon-ish look and jet-black colourway have made it one of my favourite pieces in the range. The cute ghost sweetie jar is a close second. It can be left empty and displayed on a shelf, or packed with treats on a kitchen shelf or coffee table.
I’ve sifted through the whole new range and these are the pieces I’ll be picking up on my next IKEA shop.
IKEA
KUSTFYR Decoration – Cat Dark Grey 12 Cm
The same design as the candle, this cat-shaped dome can be left as it is or paired with fairy lights to light up its belly and create a playful tablescape. It is actually designed to be given as a gift, and packaged in a gift box if you’re looking for a Halloween-themed pressie.
IKEA
KUSTFYR Side Plate – Mixed Patterns 20 Cm
Forget garish paper plates; these are the side plates I want to use on Halloween. Designed to mix and match, I love the simple, playful motifs that will slip into any table colour scheme, or why not use them as a temporary wall display?
IKEA
KUSTFYR Throw – Ghost Pattern White/black 130×170 Cm
Like I said at the start, my favourite Halloween decorations are ones I can easily incorporate into my home, and this ghost throw is perfect for tossing over a sofa. It is made from 100% cotton and is machine washable.
IKEA
KUSTFYR Lantern for Pillar Candle, In/out – Black 44 Cm
The most decorative item in the whole collection, this lantern is designed to be paired with a pillar candle. When lit, the designs should cast eerie shadows over your home, ready to usher in Halloween.
IKEA
KUSTFYR Hanging Decoration – Ghost White 51 Cm
If you are hosting a Halloween party this year, please add this Casper look-a-like to your basket. This year, ghosts are on track to replace pumpkins as the on-trend motif, and his stubby little fingers are too cute.
IKEA
KUSTFYR Door Mat – Ghost Pattern Black/natural 60×90 Cm
If you like to embrace the Halloween spirit throughout all of October then consider swapping out your regular doormat for this version. I love the idea of changing a doormat with the seasons. What better way to set the mood and welcome your guests into your home?
The range is available to shop online and instores, with prices ranging from 75p to £15. However, if you prefer a slightly more decorative flourish here are three other Halloween decorations I’m expecting to be everywhere come October.
Next
Halloween Pumpkin 100ml Spice Diffuser
A little bit spooky and a little bit sweet, this Pumpkin Spice diffuser can be refilled for years to come.
Dunelm
Orange Pumpkin Led Lantern
Pumpkin’s will always have a place in autumn and halloween decorations, this gold tinged one gives of a lovely glow when turned on.
Anthropologie
Light Up Confetti Glass Ghost
I am obessesed with this light up confetti glass ghost. Glass Halloween decorations are taking off in a big way this year, and this one is a subtle way to add a little spookiness to a sideboard or mantlepiece.
Are you a fan of the minimalist IKEA Halloween decorations? Or do you prefer a more maximalist approach to your seasonal decor?
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Plus, how to save on costs in a big way.
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I love my beige corduroy couch, but over time the fabric started to get pilly. Instead of looking cozy and clean, the couch began to take on a dingy, grayish cast that made my whole living room feel less put-together. I tried picking the lint off by hand, but it was time-consuming and nearly impossible to keep up with. But when I discovered the Conair Fabric Shaver and Lint Remover, it completely transformed my couch (and a few sweaters along the way).
The Conair Fabric Shaver and Lint Remover is a handheld, battery-operated tool that quickly swipes away lint, fuzz, and pilling from fabrics. You can use it on furniture and clothing. Just twist the dial to choose how close the blades get to the surface, and when you’re done, pop open the little lint catcher to empty it out. It’s one of those small, easy-to-store gadgets that makes a big difference without a lot of effort.
There are plenty of fabric shavers on the market, but this one stood out to me for a few reasons. First, it’s affordable — at only $8.99, it felt like a no-brainer investment. Second, it’s incredibly easy to use. The ergonomic handle makes it comfortable to hold, the settings twist easily to adjust, and the lint catcher pops open so you can empty it in seconds. It’s also portable — small enough to tuck into a drawer or pack in just about any-size bag to keep clothes looking great while traveling.
Most importantly, it’s effective. Within minutes my couch went from looking tired and pilled to looking polished and new. The pilling was gone, the fabric looked brighter, and the living room instantly felt tidier. The same goes for my favorite sweaters — one quick pass and they’re instantly wearable again.
The Conair Fabric Shaver and Lint Remover is one of those rare products that makes a noticeable difference right away — and now I can’t imagine living without it.
Buy: Conair Fabric Shaver and Lint Remover, $8.99
