I only use 1 thing to banish mould from my shower grouting – it works every time and requires minimal effort

I only use 1 thing to banish mould from my shower grouting – it works every time and requires minimal effort

Having spent my entire adult life renting, I’ve had my fair share of grotty, mouldy bathrooms. And to remove said mould from my bath and shower grouting, there is one Amazon buy in particular that I always rely on to strip mould effectively, with minimal effort on my part. I’m talking about Skylarlife Home Mould & Mildew Stain Remover Gel (£13.99).

There’s a good reason this Amazon mould gel has been crowned one of Ideal Home’s best cleaning products. Its easy application, minimal scrubbing and effectiveness have made it one of my favourite ways to get rid of mould fast.

So much so that when I swapped one poorly ventilated bathroom for another last year, it was the first thing I reached for when it came to whipping my new bathroom into shape. Here’s why it’s the product I swear by to remove mould from grout.

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When my partner and I moved into our one-bed flat in June last year, it was pretty much perfect. My only little niggle was the lack of a bathroom window, but any Bristol renter knows that somewhat affordable rent coupled with a good location is few and far between.

We have an extractor fan, but I have noticed that mould builds up fairly quickly without adequate ventilation. Alongside cleaning my bathroom, I frequently douse my shower cubicle with Astonish Mould & Mildew Stain Remover Spray (£2.50, Dunelm), which is highly effective.

Before image of my shower before applying mould gel. There is black mould in the grouting.

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Kezia Reynolds)

But when it comes to my grouting, sometimes it needs a little extra TLC, and this is where the Skylarlife mould gel comes into play. I apply a thin strip of gel to my sealant, wait six to eight hours and then use the shower head to rinse it away. And that’s literally it!

While I’d love to sit here and give you a full step-by-step, that is genuinely all I need to do. I usually apply it before bed, so it can rinse away in the morning or before I start work in the morning. And the results do speak for themselves. Sometimes there is a little mould left over, but I find this mould is easy to remove with white vinegar.

My shower after rinsing mould gel - it is pretty much gone.

(Image credit: Future PLC/ Kezia Reynolds)

What I will say is that this product is a strong bleach, so you should avoid getting the gel on your hands and keep it out of the way of children. And of course, remember to wash it off your tiles before getting in the shower!

Mouldy bathrooms are unfortunately something we all deal with, especially in the colder months. I’ve found this mould gel to be the best thing I’ve tried. Honestly, I hate scrubbing away at bathroom tiles, and this gel allows me to clean my bathroom faster and more efficiently. If you feel like you’ve tried everything to clean mould grouting, I recommend you try this miracle buy before choosing to regrout.

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1 place you should never put a plug-in solar panel, according to experts – or put your property at risk

1 place you should never put a plug-in solar panel, according to experts – or put your property at risk

Since the Government announced plug-in solar panels were legal to buy and use in August this year, generating solar power at home is more accessible than ever before. However, this doesn’t mean that you can go and position your plug-in solar panels wherever you fancy – in fact, experts are warning against this one place in particular.

Now you can buy plug-in solar panels to harness solar energy without relying on traditional roof panels. They’re less expensive than rooftop panels and better suited to rentals and flats.

This all sounds great, right? And those of us looking to generate solar power may be eyeing up our shed roofs as a prime spot for plug-in solar. But it’s not, and positioning your plug-in solar panel here could even be dangerous.

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Can you put a plug-in solar panel on a shed?

In the same way you shouldn’t put a plug-in solar panel on a fence, you also shouldn’t position one on a roof, as they are both made of wood.

Wooden garden shed with a gravel seating area behind a lawn with plant pot on it

(Image credit: Future PLC/David Giles)

‘Homeowners may want to put a plug-in solar panel on their shed roof because of the angle the solar panel would lie. It’s best practice to have a tilt of around 30 to 40 degrees to ensure the sunlight is being captured properly, and a shed roof may provide that. However, homeowners are encouraged to consider wall-mounted solar panels or another surface, such as a balcony, to house their solar panels,’ says Alvaro Iturmendi, Uswitch solar energy expert.

‘Plug-in solar panels shouldn’t be installed on anything wooden, including gates, sheds, or shed roofs, due to the potential increased fire risk. This is due to components potentially overheating and causing a fire to start, with timber being a very combustible material.’

As you are dealing with electricals, it’s important to ensure your electricals are not in constant contact with flammable materials, like wood, as excess heat generated can act as a fire risk. However, if your shed is not made from wood, it could be used to house your plug-in solar panel, but it is worth checking with a professional first – especially if you have older wiring or need an outdoor socket installed.

Garden in bloom with flowers, plants, steps and wooden table and chairs with blue shed in background

(Image credit: Future PLC/Colin Poole)

‘Before installing anything, check the direction of the shed roof and how much shade it receives from nearby trees and buildings. You should also inspect the shed itself, ensuring the structure is in good condition, and the roof is strong enough to carry the additional weight,’ says Garden shed expert Sam Jenkinson, from garden building retailer Tiger.

‘You’ll also need a suitable mains socket to safely plug the solar panel into. The cable run should be short and safe, without extension leads stretching across the garden.

‘Once installed, each system must be registered with your local Distribution Network Operator. It’s also important to check whether you need permission from your landlord, freeholder or your local council before installing.’

Shop compliant plug-in solar panels

While plug-in solar offer ample opportunity to save energy and money on your bills. However, safety should always be your number one priority.

3 ways to reuse rubber bands around the home to make chores faster and easier – and finally give old junk a purpose

3 ways to reuse rubber bands around the home to make chores faster and easier – and finally give old junk a purpose

Rubber bands are one of those items that seem to wind their way up into a junk drawer and take up permanent residence. We always tell ourselves we’ll keep them for something useful, but what exactly are those things?

If you’re looking for ways to reuse rubber bands around the house, you’re in luck, as experts have suggested three different ways to give your bands a second life.

While rubber bands are one of the things you should store in drawers, they have plenty of other uses. Here are just three examples you can test out at home with ease.

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1. Stop clothes slipping off hangers

When it comes to tidying and organising a wardrobe, the main grievance I have is that my clothes are prone to slipping off their hangers, making the space messy again. What I hadn’t realised was that two handy rubber bands are all I need to fix the problem.

Hanging rail of clothes next to a plant, underneath a shelf with lots of knick knacks on it

(Image credit: Future PLC/Georgia Burns)

‘Before buying specialist non-slip hangers, try adding a couple of rubber bands to basic plastic or wooden ones. Wrap a thick rubber band tightly around each end of the hanger to create extra friction, helping strappy tops, wide-neck jumpers and slippery fabrics stay in place rather than ending up on the wardrobe floor,’ explains Max Wilson, co-founder at Pocket Storage.

2. Clean your blinds

If you want to clean your blinds but don’t have the best tools to hand to help you, a pair of tongs, cloths and a rubber band can help you get the job done.

A white bathroom with a bathtub and windows with both slatted blinds and Roman blinds

(Image credit: Future PLC/David Giles)

‘Grab a pair of kitchen tongs and wrap two microfibre cloths around the end, secured in place with a rubber band. Then, simply clamp each of the slats between the tongs and glide along. It’s a quick, simple, and satisfying hack to clean both sides of each slat in one smooth motion. Works best on venetian and aluminium blinds,’ says Heath Showman, founder of Lifestyle Blinds.

3. Open stubborn jars

Everyone has a trick for opening a sticky jar, but I’m always happy to welcome one more – after all, there’s nothing worse than being hungry and not being able to get a jar open when cooking.

Wooden shelves with kilner jars filled with dried food

(Image credit: Future PLC / Colin Poole)

‘Give an old rubber band a new job as a DIY grip. Wrap a thick band around a stubborn jar or bottle lid and twist. The rubber creates extra friction between your hand and the lid, giving you more grip and leverage without needing a specialist jar opener,’ says Max.

Do you have any other handy uses for old rubber bands?

I never realised airers could be pretty until I spotted this colourful one from the Brabantia x Yinka Ilori collaboration – it turns everyday items into works of art

I never realised airers could be pretty until I spotted this colourful one from the Brabantia x Yinka Ilori collaboration – it turns everyday items into works of art

When you think about the everyday items in your home – your bin, ironing board or clothes airer, for example – do you ever consider them to be beautiful?

I’ll wager you barely even notice such household items, let alone consider them beautiful. Yinka Ilori OBE’s new collaboration with Brabantia is here to change that. The collection, titled ‘There is Magic in Joy ’, takes the best kitchen bins or even the best airers and turns them into works of art.

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Yinka to discuss his latest bold and colourful collection (the Yinka Ilori x Dunelm collection impressing the Ideal Home team in the summer). After discussing the importance of colour and joyfulness in his work, I was convinced every area of your home should add joy to your life.

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British-Nigerian artist and designer Yinka Ilori is well known for his use of bold colour and intricate detailing within his designs. He’s a master of creating a kaleidoscope of colour, and the most recent Brabantia collection is no exception.

The collection includes statement bins, a bold, colourful airer, and ironing board and lunchbox accessories. Yellow and pink feature heavily throughout the designs, with Yinka even telling me they’re two of his favourite colours to work with.

‘I was really interested in seeing how you could reimagine an everyday object into something that is a ritual that we do daily. But how can that ritual become a ritual of joy?’ Yinka told me.

‘And I think having slogans and artworks on things that we use daily within our home, I think, can really kind of shape our day, our moods, and really kind of change the way we look at kitchen utensils and kitchen objects within the home space.’

Yinka Ilori x Brabantia collection against blue background.

(Image credit: Brabantia)

What struck me as someone who has a small home and a really small kitchen was that this latest Brabantia collection contained items that look like pieces of decor, rather than functional items. For example, I don’t have a tumble dryer, so my bog-standard grey clothes horse is on show the majority of the time in my home. Since seeing the HangOn Drying Rack (£99) in person, I like the idea of my clothes horse adding colour to my space, rather than looking unsightly.

‘I thought there’s something quite playful about the drying rack because of all the kinds of block colours. I mean, for me, I might put my socks in the yellow section, and I might put my t-shirts in the purple section. So I think there’s also something quite playful that kids might find interesting about, you know, an object that we see daily,’ Yinka added.

‘People shouldn’t be nervous by color. For me, it’s just like doctors saying to you, you know, you need vitamin D from the sun, right? You know, for your skin, it’s good for your body. It brings you joy. It’s the same thing as, you know, as if you are around colour and around affirmation, it will uplift your mood and change your home space.’

So as we head into winter, and Vitamin D starts to wane, consider finding yours in colourful and joyful home decor. I saw that the Yink Ilori x Brabantia collection is a good place to start.

Experts are calling for a 7 pm curfew to keep spiders out of your home this September – here’s how it works

Experts are calling for a 7 pm curfew to keep spiders out of your home this September – here’s how it works

I hate to say it, but it’s definitely spider season in the UK, and if you’ve noticed an influx of arachnids to your home, then you may benefit from introducing a window curfew to your home.

While I must point out that spiders won’t harm you in the UK, many adults are afraid of them, which is why many of us will be looking for ways to get rid of spiders during this time of year.

Instead of worrying about the things luring spiders into your home, it’s time to be proactive and stop them from entering your home in the first place. Introducing a 7 pm window curfew can help prevent spiders from creeping into your house. Here’s everything you need to know.

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What is a window curfew?

A spider curfew is a completely free and easy way to keep pests out of your home, without having to rely on chemicals such as spider spray. All you have to do is shut your windows before 7 pm every night, and you should see a reduction in the number of spiders in your home.

Spider in a stainless steel kitchen sink

(Image credit: Getty Images/Arterra/Contributor)

‘A lot of people notice more spiders around the home at this time of year, but they’re not usually coming inside looking for shelter. More often than not, they’re following their food. As the evenings get darker, insects are attracted to the lights in our homes, and spiders tend to follow where there’s an easy meal to be found,’ comments Simon Browne, product expert at Luxaflex.

‘Open windows can provide an easy route indoors, especially in the early evening when it’s cooler, and people are trying to let fresh air in. Once it starts getting dark outside, the glow from lights inside the home can attract insects towards windows and doorways, which is why you may see more spider activity around these areas.

‘Closing your windows from around 7 pm can help reduce the chances of spiders finding their way inside, particularly during late summer and early autumn when they’re most active. It’s not a guaranteed fix, but limiting access points after dusk can certainly help make your home less inviting to both insects and the spiders that follow them.’

Is this a good method to use?

While we can’t quite promise you’ll see spiders disappear completely from your home, introducing a curfew can be handy alongside using other deterrents such as scents spiders can’t stand.

Beige painted loft bedroom with two decorative trunks sitting underneath a window with blue painted frames

(Image credit: Future PLC/Mel Yates)

‘It won’t guarantee you never see a spider, because they can get in through other gaps and some will already be living in and around the building, but closing windows and external doors earlier in the evening should reduce the chances of more wandering in,’ says Darren Coates, window expert and sales director at SolarFrame.

Simon points out that you should also consider opening your windows during different parts of the day during spider season.

‘If you want to keep rooms feeling fresh without leaving windows open late into the evening, it’s worth thinking about ways to manage ventilation earlier in the day. Keeping windows open in the morning or afternoon, then closing them as night falls, can help strike a balance between maintaining airflow and reducing the likelihood of unwanted visitors making their way indoors,’ he says.

Deter spiders from your home:

Will you be introducing a spider curfew to your home this month?