Our homes are our safe havens away from the hustle and bustle of the outside world. Even more so over the past year, where many of us have found ourselves spending the majority of our time at home. It’s where we cook, eat, sleep, relax and get ready, so it’s important to keep everything in tip top shape. Unfortunately, more often than not we bring the outside world into our homes with us in the form of germs. Homes can be a breeding ground for germs, bacteria, viruses and mould. Luckily, with the help of Albex cleaning supplies, there are easy and effective ways to disinfect the top germ hotspots and keep your home germ-free.

Identifying the hotspots for germs around your home is the first step in making sure your environment is stays clean and protected. Check out these top spots and how to make sure they stay germ-free:

KITCHEN
Besides the dishes, you want to make sure you are cleaning these lesser known germ hotspots: 

• Doorknobs
• Appliance handles
• Light switches
• Tabletops
• Counters

How?
1. Make a simple disinfecting solution by adding 1 cup of Albex bleach with 5 Litres of water
2. Clean the above mentioned surfaces with the solution. Allow to sit for 30 seconds.
3. Rinse and allow to air dry.

BATHROOM
This may be where you go to get clean, but that’s all the more reason to regularly wash and wipe down surfaces in the bathroom. Disinfect your toilet, sink and bath regularly with Albex Bleach, Albex Multipurpose Thick Bleach or Albex Bleach Foamer.

TOYS
Don’t forget about the little ones! Toys can easily pick up dirt and germs, and need regular cleaning to protect your children.

How?
1. Mix ½ cup of Albex Bleach into 5 litres of water.
2. Wipe the toys with the solution and allow to sit for 5 minutes, or submerge the toys into the solution for a total of 5 minutes.
3. Rinse with water and allow to air dry.

BEDDING
Believe it or not, your bedding can be packed with germs and bacteria too, and often simply washing it won’t always do the trick. To make sure your bedding stays germ-free, start with a bleachability test on to determine whether it is bleach safe before bleaching entirely.

1. Mix 3 tsp Albex Bleach to ¼ cup water and apply a drop of this solution to a less visible part of the garment. Wait 1 minute and then blot dry. If there is no colour change it means you can safely bleach your bedding.
2. Wash the bedding on the hottest water recommended by the care label using detergent with 1 cup of Albex Bleach added.
3. Air dry for best results.

Make sure you cover every spot in your home with a free printable cleaning checklist from Albex. Keep it on the fridge or your wall as a reminder of what needs to be done and where.

For more information, visit albex.co.za, or follow them Facebook and Instagram.

Photography: Courtesy Images

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While spending time creating and experimenting in the kitchen can be one of the best things ever, the chore of clean-up can be a real dampener, especially when you are strapped for time. Plush Supreme All Purpose Pine Gel is available in Fresh Pine and Lavender to have your space feeling and smelling oh-so clean in no time at all.

This simple one-step cleaning solution comes in both 500 ml and 1 L tubs and can be used on any surface, including walls, floors and tiles; not only in your kitchen but the bathroom and all washable surfaces in your home as well. In addition to thoroughly cleaning, it also deodorises and leaves your home filled with a fresh fragrance.

Pine Gel is one of the most versatile cleaning products around and is a must-have for every home. It contains a high concentration of surfactants (a chemical agent capable of reducing the surface tension of the liquid in which it is dissolved) as well as 100% pure all-natural pine oil, which is concentrated for a tougher clean. It will clean all tough dirt and stains while neutralising any odours, leaving a long-lasting fresh pine fragrance. Sounds like the perfect kitchen cleaning solution to us!

Also available in this range are the Plush Supreme Pine Oil Spray Spot/Stain Remover (500 ml trigger) and the Pine Oil Foam Spot/Stain Remover (275 ml aerosol can). They provide a great new and convenient way to use the Pine Gel you love and trust, pine oil cleaning properties included. The powerful formula in these products will restore your stained items by effectively removing spots and stains from most fabric garments spotless with leaving a pleasant aroma. Even old or stubborn stains (hello dish towels and cloths!) don’t stand a chance with these amazing stain-removal products.

You can trust Plush Supreme to expertly clean your floors, tiles and everything in between. The Plush Supreme Home Care range is available at all leading retailers and offers a selection of value-for-money products that will help you bring out the best in your home, furniture and upholstery.

For more information, visit plush.co.za, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Photography: Unsplash, courtesy images

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Today we’re teaching you to fillet a whole fish without damaging the flesh. It can seem like quite a task, but don’t worry, we’re here to help!

STEP 1 – Rinse and pat dry until the fish is no longer slippery.

STEP 2 – Use a butter knife to scale it, making short, strong strokes.

STEP 3 – Use a heavy knife to remove the head.

STEP 4 – Insert the knife into the tail end and draw it through the fish until you reach the other end.

STEP 5 – Remove the guts and black lining from inside. Rinse.

STEP 6 – Insert the knife behind the pectoral fin. Cut down to the spine.

STEP 7 – Fillet along and down the backbone, cm by cm, until the fillet comes away from the spine. Repeat on the other side.

STEP 8 – With the fillet skin-side down, insert the knife just above the skin, removing it with a sawing motion.

STEP 9 – Remove the bones with a set of heavy-duty tweezers.

STEP 10 – Cut up the fillets into bite-sized chunks and they will be good to go for our yummy snoek soup.

The post Here’s how to fillet a whole fish appeared first on MyKitchen.

Your spice rack is one of those areas in the kitchen that can often   slightly neglected, but these cooking essentials deserve your attention.

1. Watch the clock

Spices, ground ones in particular, lose their pungency with time, so ditch any that have been sitting for longer than six months. In order to avoid wastage, use them to repel pesky insects, make spiced candles or mix them together for a spice rub to get a subtle char on your meat at your next braai.

2. Jar half-full

Collect any empty spice containers and give them a good wash. Recycle these jars by purchasing refills instead of buying a whole new jar, especially if they are plastic.

3. Skip the supermarket

There are a huge variety of specialised spice shops across South Africa. Head over to your nearest one to buy spices to refill your jars. You’ll have access to a much wider variety, you can get some expert advice on what works best with whatever you’re planning on cooking and, more often than not, you will pay a lot less.

4. We love labels

Head over to your stationery store and buy a pack of pretty labels. Pop one on to each of your spice bottles with the spice’s name and the day it was purchased. This will make organising, cleaning and recycling your spices much easier.

The post Clean out that spice rack! appeared first on MyKitchen.