Our cookers are susceptible to a number of faults, which often develop as a result of general wear and tear, minimal maintenance and in some cases neglect. But, there are a number of simple yet effective steps which can be taken to help reduce and prevent faults developing, and in the 1^st of our latest three part series, we look at basic maintenance you need to carry out to keep your appliances running to their optimum level and helping save you money.

Key to keeping your cooker working is to carry out regular maintenance, particularly cleaning, and when it comes to your cooker, the key areas you should focus on to get the most from your appliance are as follows:

Cooker Shelves:

Through daily cooking, your cooker shelves will suffer from a build up of dirt, grease and grime, and often due to the busy lifestyle we all lead, cleaning the shelves can sometimes be forgotten and put on the back burner until another day – particularly as cleaning oven shelves is a fiddly and time consuming chore.

However, due to the ever growing range of cooker cleaning products available, cleaning your oven shelves is now an easier task and doesn’t require excessive amounts of elbow grease being used scrubbing each individual wire.

Instead, the easiest way to clean your oven shelves, ensuring all dirt, burnt on food and bacteria is removed is to place them into specially designed cleaning bags which come with oven cleaning kits.

Once the shelves have been placed into the bags, you’ll need to pour roughly three-quarters of the accompanying cleaning solution into the bag, before leaving the shelves to soak. Once the allotted time has passed, take the shelves out and give them a quick rinse under cold water and brush off any residue with a clean cloth, and you’ll be left with shelves which look as good as new.

If for any reason however your oven shelves are particularly dirty or appear damaged in any way, you’ll find the perfect replacement parts – at an affordable price – in our extensive range of over 3,000 genuine and compatible oven shelves.

Cooker Cavity:

Take a quick look inside your oven. Is there a build up of burnt food on the surface or food splatters against the walls? Such dirt, whilst a common sight in ovens throughout the UK, increases the risk of your cooker running less effectively. It can also result in odours spreading throughout your kitchen whenever the cooker is used, and these odours also impact on the food you’re cooking.

Cleaning the main cavity of your cooker, is as simple as cleaning the shelves. But before you begin, we recommend placing newspaper on the floor around the cooker, to soak up any dirt which may leak out.

With the newspaper down, spray your oven with the chosen cleaning product and leave it to soak in. Each cleaner will have its own recommendations on how long you should leave the cleaning solution to soak in, before rinsing away – so it’s important to pay attention to the instructions.

Top Tip: When spraying the cleaning solution into the oven, make sure you do not spray it onto the fan element, as this can cause damage.

Further advice for cleaning the interior of your cooker, to remove dirt, bacteria and associated odours – to help keep your appliance running to its peak performance for longer, can be found in our post “Keep Your Cooker Running, By Keeping it Clean” – where we also explain how to clean your cooker hood.

Cooker Door & Cooker Hob:

When it comes to cleaning the cooker door, whilst it is important to give the glass inside a once over with a dedicated cleaning product, it’s also advisable when possible to take the oven door apart and clean the inside of it, as grease can accumulate between the layers of glass.

You can find out how to separate the door from the cooker, and then the components of the door, in our “How to Remove the Glass from an Oven Door” video.

Finally, there’s your cooker hob and like the cavity of your cooker, this can be affected by food splatters and spills which will not only hinder the aesthetics of your hob but can also impact the performance if left to build up.

Depending on whether you have a ceramic, electric or induction hob will depend on how best to clean it, to ensure it is left sparkling and working to its full potential. But in our post “How to Easily Clean Your Cooker Hob” we provide extensive advice helping you rejuvenate your hob.

Taking the time to regularly clean your cooker will not only help to ensure it continues to work effectively and efficiently for longer, but it’ll also prolong the life of your appliance – saving you money in both the short and long term.

Convenient and timesaving, the dishwasher is one of those appliances that makes chores a bit easier. Let’s face it, who wants to do the dishes when you have a dishwasher? With that in mind, let’s take a look at some handy tips for using your appliance effectively and efficiently!

Scrape food off dishes

You might not have to prewash dishes every time you load them but it’s a good idea to scrape most of the food off, to stop food deposits building up. It also means that there is less of a chance of food staying on dishes after the cycle has finished.

Know which items are non-dishwasher safe

It’s tempting to put all your dishes in the dishwasher but not all items are dishwasher safe and you could end up damaging them. Always check if items have a dishwasher safe label if unsure. Items made out of wood, copper and cast-iron are best to avoid. Most non-stick pans claim to be dishwasher safe but are best to wash by hand to stop damage to the coating. Be cautious with delicate glassware and refer to the manufacturer’s advice.

Clean at least once a month

It’s important to clean your dishwasher so it keeps working efficiently. Food builds-up and grease gets collected if it’s not cleaned and it can create problems such as strong odours and blockages, leading to dirty dishes. If you live in a hard water area it’s important to descale your dishwasher too, to stop limescale developing.

Use an old toothbrush for cleaning

Perfect for cleaning filters and crevices where food builds up, a toothbrush will allow you to scrub away grime and grease more easily in those hard to reach areas.

Don’t overfill the trays

It can very often be the case that there are more dishes to wash then can fit in the trays, in this case don’t overload the trays. This can result in unclean dishes as there is no space between them but also potentially cause damage as they bump along another when the cycle is on. Always make sure dishes have adequate space to get clean.

Organise cutlery before loading

If you don’t already separate spoons, forks, etc in the cutlery basket, it’s time to start doing it this way. It might seem like the most logical thing to do but the habit is just to load everything in to get the dishes done. If you separate cutlery you will save yourself time when unloading.

Clean the outside too

Wipe down your dishwasher door and handle to keep it maintained from the outside and remember to clean the seals. The seals start to accumulate muck after a few months so give them a wipe with a damp cloth to keep them spotless too.

You can also remove odours in a dishwasher by placing one cup of bicarbonate of soda into the tray and running a normal cycle. Find out more of these hacks in our post on 10 bicarbonate of soda hacks for the home.

Crumbs, fluff and dust don’t stand a chance against your vacuum cleaner. A quick weekly whip round with the vacuum does wonders for your floors, but are you using your appliance to its full potential? Check out these handy accessories to make sure you’re getting the most out of your vacuum cleaner.

Check out our full range of vacuum cleaner spares and accessories to get your floors dust and stain free on the BuySpares website.

When spring rolls around, preparing for all the spring cleaning tasks you need to get done can be daunting. That’s why we’ve put together a list of all the most important spring cleaning must-dos, so you can get your home in order with minimal fretting.

Read on for our 10 spring household tasks and chores you must not forget!

Have a Scan

First things first, walk around your home (both inside and outside) and take note of everything that needs to be cleaned. There may be certain appliances that need cleaning or areas that need tidying outside of the usual spring cleaning chores. Knowing what cleaning jobs you need to carry out beforehand will help you prepare, make a schedule and get your hands on the cleaning accessories you’re sure to need.

Change Smoke Alarm Batteries

Making sure your home is safe is a big part of spring cleaning, so don’t forget about your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Changing the batteries of these alarms will help to ensure your home is safe and ready to alert you about smoke, fires and carbon monoxide in time to prevent any harm or damage.

Prepare for Pests

Warm weather is great, but the pests that often come with it… not so much. Get your household ready to fend off any pests, creepy crawlies and tiny invaders by stocking up on pest control traps and sprays in advance of their arrival. A pest-free home is a happy home, after all.

Clean Under Furniture

It can be easy to forget about what lies beneath your furniture, but these areas need cleaning as much as anywhere else. Remember to lift up your sofas, drawers and beds to give the floors and carpets beneath a good clean. Doing away with dirt and grime build-up beneath your furniture will go a long way in preserving your flooring, whatever materials may lie beneath.

Vacuum All Over

That being said, you should make time to clean all of the flooring in your home during a spring clean. Make sure your vacuum cleaner has what it needs to do away with dust, reach cobwebbed corners and glide across all surfaces with ease.

Don’t Forget the Filters

Different filters need cleaning at different times, depending on the appliance. Even so, it can be handy to check them all in one go to make sure your appliances are running up to scratch. Do the rounds of your appliance filters, clean or change them when necessary and make sure your household appliances are able to keep on functioning at 100%.

Wash the Windows

Once you’re getting to the end of the indoor portion of your spring cleaning, move on to cleaning the windows. After all, windows need wiping down both inside and out. Not only will this let the spring and summer rays shine through all the clearer, but it’s a good way to transition from indoor cleaning to cleaning your garden and outdoor spaces too.

Clean Your Outdoor Spaces

Once your household is clean, it’s important to also make time for any outdoor spaces you might have. Rain, cold and lack of sunlight take a toll on your garden throughout the autumn and winter months, so get your pressure washer ready and start blasting the grime away from your walls, patio, pavings and garden furniture.

Ready Your Gardening Gear

The warmer seasons are when greenery grows in full, so it’s always a good idea to get prepared for gardening in advance. Whether it’s stocking up on the necessary gardening tools, buying a spare part for your lawnmower or simply cleaning the gardening gear you already have, remember to make sure your green fingers have what they need to groom your garden this spring and summer.

Check the Roof

Finally, if this applies to your home, check the roof. Your roof can take a battering from bad weather over the winter months, so spring is the perfect time to check if any repairs are needed. Even if your tiles are all stable and leak-free, you can always give the gutter a good clean while you’re up there!

Hopefully, this blog has helped to prepare you for the spring cleaning ahead. While you’re here, don’t forget to check out our blog on how to spring clean your appliances for some more in-depth cleaning tips and advice.

Cleaning the car, kitchen floor and patio are chores which few of us rarely enjoy. Yet they’re also tasks which need to be carried out if we want to ensure our home and garden are looking clean and dirt free.

Fortunately, none of these tasks need to consume hours of our time nor result in excessive amounts of elbow grease being put in – particularly if you have a pressure washer.

Benefits of using a pressure washer

When it comes to cleaning your home and garden, a pressure washer can offer a range of benefits, making them the ideal cleaning partner. These include:

How to select a pressure washer

Before buying a pressure washer, you’ll first need to decide what you’ll be using it for. Is it to clean your car, bring a new lease of life to your patio, make the cleaning of your kitchen floor easier or for a multitude of cleaning jobs? Once you’ve settled on why you want a pressure washer, you’ll be able to consider which model is right for you.

Some of the things you’ll need to consider when selecting your pressure washer include the PSI of the appliance (this is likely to range between 1,350 and 4,900), whether it offers hot or cold water, and the price. In addition, you’ll also need to consider how well the pressure washer moves, how comfortable it is to use, its water capacity and whether it’s noisy during operation.

How to use a pressure washer

When it comes to using your pressure washer, there are a few things which you should and shouldn’t do to ensure you get the most out of your appliance, keep it working to its full potential and remain safe. These include:

Do:

• Hold the jet firmly, you will experience a kickback when you pull the trigger but by holding the jet firmly you can prevent any accidents occurring.
• Release the pressure before disconnecting any attachments.
• Keep family and pets out the way of the jet stream as the pressure of the water can cause injury.
• Ensure electrical sockets are covered, and use an RCD with the appliance – we don’t need to tell you, electricity and water do not mix.

Don’t:

• Use any liquid other than water and detergent with the appliance. Using other liquids can result in it becoming faulty or accidents occurring.
• Let children use the appliance. The power of the water along with the kickback experienced when pulling the trigger can result in accidents occurring.

For information on common accessories for your pressure washer to help you get the best cleaning experience, take a look at out blog on pressure washer essentials to provide a perfect clean. You can also find plenty of spare parts and accessories to keep your pressure washer working to its best on the BuySpares website.

Change the Petrol

Petrol and electric mowers require different maintenance checks. If you have a petrol lawnmower, we advise draining the petrol at the end of each mowing season as petrol can evaporate and spoil over time. If petrol has been left in your mower over the winter, drain it now and replace it with fresh fuel according to the instructions in your manual.

Check the Oil

Lawnmowers with petrol engines will also use oil to lubricate the machinery. Depending on your lawnmower model, the oil will either need to be combined with the fuel or added separately. Again, consult your manual if you’re unsure where to add oil to your mower.

If the oil is added separately to the petrol over time, this oil will become dirty and need changing. If necessary, drain the old oil and top it up with new oil to the recommended level. Your manual should have recommendations for how often to change the oil on your specific model.

Check the Cord

If you have an electric lawnmower, check the power cable for fraying or holes (a common problem if mice have found their way into your garden shed). You may need to get a replacement cable if yours is damaged, as exposed wires are dangerous. Fully untangle your cable each time you start mowing too, as a bundled or knotted up cord can overheat.

Sharpen the Blades

Blunt lawnmower blades will cut your lawn unevenly and could even damage it by ripping up the grass. Sharpen your blades if necessary, or if they are cracked, damaged or too blunt to sharpen, replace them with brand new blades to improve the performance of your mower.

Our video below demonstrates how to change metal mower blades:

Clean the Mower

The longevity of your lawnmower can be improved simply by cleaning it regularly! When cleaning your mower, remember to:

• Clear grass build-up from any vents on your machine so that the motor is well ventilated and doesn’t overheat.
• Clean the blades and the area around the blades so that they can spin freely. Blocked blades will also cause the motor to overheat and burn out as the motor will have to work harder to turn them.
• Consider using a cleaning kit with a mulch barrier to avoid future grass build-up.

Watch our video below showing a specialist lawnmower cleaning kit in action:

Cleaning your mower after each use is a good habit to get into, as mud and grass are much easier to remove when they are wet rather than when they have dried and hardened onto your appliance.

Once your lawnmower is prepared, you’re ready to tackle your lawn! To keep your lawn in the best condition throughout spring and summer, we recommend mowing it regularly whenever required, ideally at times when it is reasonably dry. For helpful tips on mowing to achieve a great looking lawn, check out our blog post.

Got more mower maintenance tips to share? We’d love to hear them, so let us know in the comments below.

Spring is coming and it’s time to bring your garden back to life again. But first, you’ll need to make sure your gardening equipment is up to scratch.

After a long winter, your garden tools are probably in need of some TLC. Here, we’re going to give you some top tips on sprucing up everything, from your spades to your trowels, to get you prepared for anything your post-winter garden throws at you!

1. Blast away the soil

Use a garden hose to remove any leftover soil and debris from your tools. You can scrape away any stubborn dirt or stuck-on mud with a putty knife or plastic scraper.

2. Soak in soapy water

After removing what you can, get rid of any further debris by soaking your tools in warm soapy water. Fill a bucket and add about half a teaspoon of washing up liquid per gallon of water. Then, soak them for around 15-20 minutes.

3. Rinse and dry

Give each tool a rinse in cool water and dry them off using a microfibre cloth or towel.

4. Remove rust

If you find your tools are a little rusty, use a stiff wire brush or steel wool to scrub away rust spots. Lightly coat the tool with vegetable oil to loosen the rust while you scrub.

5. Remove gooey sap

If your tools feel slightly sticky, it could be due to plant sap or insect residue. All you need to do is dip an old cloth in a bit of turpentine or lighter fluid. Wipe down the tool, paying close attention to hinged areas, and this should get rid of it.

6. Disinfect

Before using or storing tools away, you’ll want to make sure to get rid of any bacteria or fungi. Mix a solution of two cups of chlorine bleach and one gallon of water in a bucket. Submerge the tools and let them soak for 10 minutes. Then, rinse well and dry completely.

7. Sharpen

Gardening tools such as shovels, hoes, snips and pruners will need to be sharpened occasionally, especially after a long winter. Large blades and edges can be sharpened with a 10-inch flat mill file, and smaller, finer edges can be sharpened with a whetstone.

Begin by wiping down the blades with WD-40. Then, file the edges at a 20 to 45-degree angle following the original bevel. Finish by wiping down with a soft cloth to remove any metal shavings.

8. Apply oil to moving parts

If your tools with moving parts (such as snips, shears, or pruners) are a little stiff, they may just need some oil. Simply place a drop or two of machine oil onto the hinged parts and they will loosen up in no time.

9. Care for wooden handles

If your tools have wooden handles and the wood has begun to dry out, split or loosen from the metal, you can restore them by sanding them down. Use medium-grit sandpaper to remove rough spots and rub them with linseed oil. If they can’t be saved, most wooden handles can be replaced.

10. Storing your tools

Finally, you’ll want to make sure your tools are stored properly to prevent them from becoming damaged by the elements. Be sure not to leave tools lying around outside in the garden. Instead, fill a large flower pot or bucket with sand, add one cup of vegetable oil and mix it well. Insert the metal ends of your small trowels and hand tools into the sand to keep them clean and rust-free.

Keep shovels, trowels and shears in your storage area and, if possible, hang larger tools from hooks or a pegboard to prevent warping of the handles and to keep metal components dry and off the floor.

So there you have it – our tips on getting your tools prepped and ready to kick start your spring gardening. Now that your tools are up to scratch, here are 10 gardening tasks to get you started!

The weather is getting colder and you will soon be using the heating and making adjustments to your home in order to keep the heat in… but also hopefully keep your utility bills down! In preparation for the big chill, we thought we would share some of the BuySpares team’s top tips for ensuring you’re not being wasteful with your energy or money.

1. Find and Fix Any Draughts

The last thing you want when you are trying to heat your home is a draught. This is counter productive and you are effectively just throwing money away! In preparation you should locate any areas of the home where draughts might occur and take steps to minimise the impact. This will typically include gaps underneath doors and weak points in the sealing around window frames.

Draught proofing is usually a very simple do-it-yourself task. You can buy draught-proofing strips to stick around window frames from most DIY stores and to there are a number of stylish draught excluders for doorways, so you will be able to find one that matches your interior design scheme.

2. Don’t Heat an Empty House

Due to work and other commitments it is likely that during certain times of the day, there will be nobody at home. If this is the case then don’t fall into the trap of leaving your heating on all day. Most boilers and heating systems can be pre-programmed and will have a timer, so before the cold weather hits take some time to think about what times of day you want the heating to come on. This might be early morning and just before you come in from work, for example.

Also take some time to find the lowest comfortable temperature. Turning down your thermostat by just 1 degree can make a significant difference to your heating bill and will have a positive environmental impact. This simple change could save you up to £35 a year.

3. Use Localised Heating Solutions

If one room in your home is colder then the rest then you may want to consider using a stand alone heater or radiator.  These devices give you greater control over raising the temperature in a localised space rather than putting the heating on or increasing the desired temperature for the whole house using the thermostat. This type of product will typically be used in the main living spaces where you will spend the majority of your time.

View our range of heating products.

4. Keep Heat Where You Need It

Some rooms will be used more than others such as the lounge or kitchen. It makes sense for you to try and keep these spaces warmer and there are some simple things you can do to keep the heat in. Firstly, if you have a central heating system using radiators then only have them turn on in the rooms you are using – keeping your guest room cosy when nobody is using it is simply a waste of energy and money. Secondly, you can warm a room up quicker and keep the heat in by closing internal doors.

5. Insulation, Insulation, Insulation!

This is generally a more long term solution and may be expensive to initially install, but in time it will pay for itself. Making your home more energy efficient will stop your heating systems needing to work as hard to maintain the desired temperature. Everything from your walls, loft, roof, windows and even your pipes can be made more energy efficient. Effective insulation will not only make your home warmer, but can also lower your utility bills. For more information on the different types of insulation that are available, visit www.energysavingtrust.org.uk

6. Make Heat-Wise Choices

There are lots of things you can do to stop heat escape and make better use of heat around the home. Simply considering heat retention when you are buying items such as curtains can help lessen the effect of draughty windows and patio doors. Where possible you should opt for a thick lining. Another tip to avoid wasting heat is to leave the oven door open once it has been switched off and you’ve finished cooking.

7. Improve The Airflow in Your Home

If you have a ceiling fan that you use to keep you cool in the summer months then you might be surprised to know it can also aid you in keeping rooms warm as well. Reversing the direction of the fan blades forces air near the ceiling to be circulated back into the living space. Hot air rises, so this change to the air flow direction does the opposite to the regular cooling motion. Most ceiling fans will have a switch for swapping between clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation.

If you have any of your own tips for saving money on your heating bills or keeping the heat in your home, please feel to add them to the comments below.

During the coming months, extra care is required to keep floors in your home clean from the elements! Leaves, dirt and moisture are the common unwanted bits of muck that are brought in from the outside and during more wintry weather, grit, snow and slush can also wreak havoc on floors.  Here are some tips to keep your floors protected.

Doormats

Invest in a sturdy outdoor mat to place before entry to your property, which will act as the first line of defence against any muck. Place another more absorbent mat either before the front door or after depending on the layout of your property.

Placing mats inside your house next to doorways is good for extra protection as moisture from outside is sometimes unavoidable. Shoe racks and cupboards should be positioned close by mats to prevent unwanted footprints but remember to let shoes dry before putting them away. If shoes are particularly grimy from the outdoors, use a brush to sweep off any excess.

It’s also best not to let damp mats stay inside your home so let them dry and air out to avoid smells and unwanted pests.

Cleaning hard floors

It’s best to vacuum hard floors before mopping as dirt and debris will be picked up and not fall into any cracks or small spaces in the flooring. Doing so will also stop grit scratching the surface. Also, if you are using a steam mop this will stop the mop head getting dirty initially from any surface debris.

To maintain floors, microfiber mops are perfect for dry mopping as they are great at attracting dust and dirt, they are also reusable and as the mop heads are larger they cover more floor space.

Try to clean hard traffic areas regularly to minimise any dirt gathering or being moved about to other areas of your floors!

Detergents and carpet stain removers

Before using new detergents and stain removers, make sure they are compatible with your flooring and carpets as they can cause more damage if they are not right for the job. Also always test a small inconspicuous area beforehand for peace of mind. There are of course homemade cleaning solutions you can try but again always test these out.

If you are having an occasion where a large number of people will be over, floor protectors might be a good idea as they can protect from spills and help prevent staining. They usually come on a roll which you can cut to size.

As well as keeping floors clean your floor cleaning appliances should also be kept clean, find some top tips for cleaning appliances in our How Often Should You Clean Your Appliances? blog. Remember to keep on top of small maintenance jobs such as cleaning vacuum cleaner filters and washing mop heads. A wide range of vacuum cleaner and steam mop spares and accessories can be found in our floorcare range, with videos and tips in our advice centre.

As the weather starts to become colder and more autumnal, it’s important to prep and tidy your garden. No matter how big or small your garden is, taking steps to prepare it for winter will ultimately help it look its best when spring comes around! Read on to learn more about maintaining your garden for the coming months.

Clean out compost bins

If you have a compost bin, use your remaining compost around your garden to clean it out ready for a new heap. As you tidy up your garden you should have plenty of plant material for your new compost. For your new heap remember to turn it at least once a month to add air, to make the composting process more efficient. Remember compost should look and smell like dark brown soil.

Feed the birds

Think of our feathered friends and put food out for them. Birds need to fatten up in winter to survive through the coldest days and nights. Opt for a high-quality bird seed and try and replace the seed regularly. Try and keep a supply of water for the birds for drinking/ bathing and stop it freezing by placing a small floating ball in the water container. It’s important to keep food bowls and feeders clean too.

Bring houseplants inside

There are some precautions to take when bringing houseplants inside. Check the plants for any unwanted pests such as aphids and mealybugs and remove them. This is particularly important as the pests could end up infesting all your houseplants. If in doubt washing the plants with a hose is an option for extra caution. Place plants in an area with a good amount of sunlight and only water when needed, when the soil is dry.

Plant spring bulbs

Think back to spring and beautiful flowers flourishing across your garden. In order to get these delightful flowers for next year, plant your bulbs now. By planting them in autumn the flowers should sprout at the right time when spring comes around. When planting bulbs, holes should be three to four times the height of the bulbs themselves.

Net ponds

If you’re lucky enough to have a garden pond, remember to protect your fish by netting it. Netting is necessary to stop leaves decomposing in your pond and promoting algae growth, which is harmful to fish. Spread a fine mesh net across your pond and hold it down with bricks or rocks. Try to remove leaf build-up from the net regularly. The netting can also help to deter predators from your fish.

Remove leaves from the lawn

Don’t allow leaves to stay on your lawn, rake them or use a leaf blower to collect them. Fallen leaves stop the grass from getting sunlight and a plentiful air supply. There is also the risk of leaves developing mould, which is a bigger problem if it has rained or snowed as the damp leaves can cause rot on the lawn. You could also create leaf mould compost from your collected leaves.

Use an autumn feed

Your lawn needs some TLC to strengthen it and keep it going through winter. Use an autumn lawn feed that is high in potash but low in nitrogen, this will help protect grass from frosty conditions. Don’t use the same feed you used in spring/summer as it won’t have the right protection for grass in the autumn/winter.

It’s also important to maintain your garden equipment. Clean excess grass from your lawn mower carefully on and around the blades and store away. Give garden tools a clean and try and prevent rusting by oiling metal and wood parts with linseed oil.

If your home is in need of decluttering, learn more about the ways you can get organised in our 7 tasks to help declutter your home blog.