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Before embarking on a remodel of walls, floors, benchtops and other surfaces, it might pay to first gather your cleaning gear and muster up some elbow grease. By following our tips to tackling your finishes, you just might get them looking as good as new. Upholstery love Leather upholstery is at its best when supple and moisturised, says splitting, which can occur over time,” says Sara. “It also keeps a check on mould in humid regions.” Soft fibres in non leather sofas and armchairs trap dirt, allergens and bacteria. Vacuum these regularly. An annual deep clean will help ensure longevity – use

Vileda ‘Flip Flat’ microfibre mop, $27, I/N: 0065910

Karcher ‘T 7/1 Classic’ dry vacuum cleaner, $273, I/N: 0027295† Faultless floors Particles of dirt can cause premature wear to floors. But be careful about how you clean them and always refer to the manufacturer’s cleaning guidelines. Run a vacuum over floors at least once a week, and for laminate and wood, use a damp (not wet) microfibre mop – don’t use abrasives. Deep clean carpets and

Gilly’s ‘Leather Care’ beeswax conditioner, $25.99/200ml, I/N: 0149310†

Britex carpet cleaner, $47/48 hours, I/N: 5450006‡ Sara Attanasio of Gilly’s Australia. “Using a conditioning product about every two to three months helps to prevent cracking and

rugs every six to 12 months, at least. the upholstery attachment with a Britex carpet cleaner, available to rent through the Hire Shop‡.

Mr Clean eraser pad block, $2.99/ large, I/N: 0066425

Selleys ‘Sugar Soap’ super concentrate wall surface cleaner, $5.75/1L, I/N: 1230181 Pristine paint Stains and scuff marks on walls and skirtings can really make a space look tired. Try wiping the marks off with a damp cloth and an appropriate cleaner – sugar soap works well – but don’t scrub at it unless you’ve used a washable paint that allows this treatment. }

Use a tile grout cleaner or whitening product to keep your bathroom looking fresh Wondrous woodwork

Being porous, grout is great at picking up dust, dirt, oil and stains, and grubby grout really ages a bathroom or kitchen. Keeping it clean goes a long way towards keeping your tiled spaces looking sharp. “A baking soda paste left to sit for 5-10 minutes, and scrubbed with a grout brush in sections, will help clean these areas,” says Elise Warner, marketing manager at Oates. But there will be times when a specialised grout cleaning product is needed for stubborn stains and mould. A periodic deep clean is also advisable, says Sarah Scammell, brand manager at Britex Carpet Care, which has deep cleaners with a grout and tile wand. “A clean with hot water extraction will help to scrub away built-up grime from grout and tiles that regular weekly mopping will not reach,” says Sarah. Polishing wood furniture and benchtops with waxes and oils will help bring them back to life. “For bigger nicks on furniture, or even wooden floors, wax filler sticks can help hide blemishes,” says Sara Attanasio. The sticks mould into Gilly’s beeswax timber gaps and can be scraped back to create filler sticks in a flush finish. Once hardened, these can be assorted colours,

Run a squeegee over glass screens after every shower to prevent soap scum build-up

Grimy grout sanded and finished with oil, wax or varnish. $27.99/pack of 6, I/N: 0149347†

Britex grout & tile deep cleaner, $38.60/24 hours, I/N: 0086844‡ Oates long handle grout brush, $10.99, I/N: 4480730

Dunlop ‘Tile & Grout’ cleaner, $18.85/1L, I/N: 6650275

Selleys ‘3 in 1’ grout stain whitener, $13.49/280g, I/N: 4460456 Glitz Green ‘Cleaning Bi-Carb’ multipurpose cleaner, $7.50, I/N: 4460481 CLR calcium limescale rust remover, $18.40/1L, I/N: 4460670

Better Living ‘Crystal Clear’ shower squeegee in Chrome, $22, I/N: 4823180 De-scum the shower Clean cloudy shower screens after a hot shower. “The heat and steam from the shower will soften soap scum and make it easier to clean,” says Draga Sarcevic, marketing manager at Vileda. Hard water deposits can be removed with patience: on tiled surfaces try an abrasive cleaner, an eraser pad or a (gently!) wielded scraper blade. CLR Calcium, Limescale, Rust Remover will help tackle rust stains on baths and toilets, and works off calcium and lime deposits on taps and showers.

For a similar worktop, try Think Benchtops ‘Alpine’ solid 38mm custom made benchtop, $720/sqm, I/N: 2660678†

Extra care for benchtops Engineered stone is a hard-working surface and you need to give it some love to keep it looking its best. Wipe it daily with warm water and a soft detergent, but avoid harsh abrasives, scourers, bleach and acidic cleaners as these can strip the sealer and etch the stone. Some food and drinks, like red wine, turmeric, food Hillmark ‘Stone Kleen colouring and strawberries, can stain, & Protect’ marble granite 3 in 1 cleaner, so address spills quickly. It’s best to $7.20/375ml, use stone-safe cleaning products on I/N: 4460274 engineered stone. For all surfaces, including solid surface benchtops, always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines when cleaning so as not Avanti ‘Hobnail’ 13cm to void your warranty. cast iron trivet in Black, $8.95*, I/N: 0156220 Oakwood ‘Granite & Stone’ benchtop cleaner daily wipes, $6.99/pack of 50, I/N: 0190514

This product is available to buy online only and is sold and delivered through a Bunnings MarketLink Trusted Seller. Not all items are available in all states and territories. *Delivery charges may apply.

Vileda ‘Colours’ microfibre cloths, $12/pack of 8, I/N: 0065913

Regular use of stainless steel cleaners will help keep the kitchen pristine Bring back sparkle Grubby finger marks or stubborn water stains on stainless steel or glass? Both these surfaces can be kept clean and streak-free by wiping with microfibre cloths – these are designed to catch dirt Hillmark ‘Steel Power’ stainless steel efficiently, says Elise. “When used cleaner, $9/250ml, with water, all of these fibres I/N: 4474324 loosen and physically pick up dirt.” For scum-caked stainless steel, such as the splashback above a well-used stove, try a suitable Gumption cream cleaner that will gently multi-purpose abrade away the stains. ◆ cleanser paste, $7.25/ 750g, I/N: 0175668

For hire: Britex Carpet Cleaner, $38.60/24 hours, I/N: 5450012. For purchase: Britex Carpet Cleaner, $1500, I/N: 4610139

Britex Grout & Tile Cleaner, $12.77/1L, I/N: 0086842

Deep cleaning carpets, upholstery and tiling can eliminate stains, nix bacteria and allergens and extend the life of your carpet, but it might have once been considered a cleaning task just for the professionals. Thanks to Britex, deep cleaning is a job anyone can master. Trust in your cleaning capabilities – and save some serious cash – by hiring a Britex cleaner.

WHERE TO START Whether it’s carpet, tiles or upholstery, each surface has an appropriate cleaning wand that attaches to a powerful Britex Deep Cleaner. Handily, Bunnings offers combined wand hire packages, and there’s no need to rush the job – machines can be hired over a 24 or 48 hour period. Stain spray, followed by a once-over with the carpet wand. Britex Odour Blaster will help tackle unpleasant aromas, and if a furry friend has left a particularly icky stain, turn to Britex Urine Remover. Sofas, dining chairs, car seats and outdoor furnishings can be cleaned and brightened with Britex Upholstery Cleaner. If grimy and stained grout is your issue, you can tackle tiles, inside and out, with Britex Grout & Tile Cleaner solution, plus the Britex Grout & Tile Brush, which attaches to the Britex deep cleaning machine.

Just remember, when using the cleaning machine for carpet and upholstery, Britex De-foamer is recommended so the dirty water tank doesn’t sud up and overflow.

LET THE CLEANING BEGIN Now you have all the tools at hand, simply set up and get started. For guidance, follow the steps on the Britex brochure from the Hire Shop or watch the helpful how-to videos on the Bunnings website.

Once you’re done, empty the machine of water, give it a wipe down with a cloth and soapy water, pack it up and return it to the store. Voila! Now you can kick back, relax and enjoy your sparkling clean floors and furniture.

CORRECT CLEANERS Make sure you choose the right cleaner for the task. Carpets and rugs require a cleaning product that can reach deep down and lift dirt particles. Prepare for the job with Britex Deep Cleaning Carpet Cleaner solution (one litre is recommended for three average size rooms). Need to deal with a nasty coffee, crayon or red wine stain? Zap it with the Britex Spot ‘n’

1 For hire: Britex Grout & Tile Deep Cleaner, $38.60/24 hours, I/N: 0086844 2 Britex Deep Cleaning Carpet Cleaner, $12.77/1L, I/N: 4500038 3 Britex Spot ‘n’ Stain, $8.95/500ml, I/N: 4500003 4 Britex Urine Remover, $14.95/500ml, I/N: 4500005 5 Britex Odour Blaster, $14.95/500ml, I/N: 4500006 6 Britex De-foamer, $7.95/500ml, I/N: 4500004 7 Britex Upholstery Cleaner, $9.95/500ml, I/N: 4500002