Clearing Up The Clutter With Packmate

If your home is anything like mine, you will be a victim of clutter!  After having five children the volume of possessions we have accumulated is out of control. I have been sent some space saving storage solutions from Packmate to see if their products can help in the de-cluttering of my house.

Packmate specialises in practical storage for the home and garden and its new Storeasy range provides the home with a contemporary range of quick fixes to hide away clutter.

The Packmate vacuum storage bags compress your clothes, bedding, duvets etc by removal of air using a vacuum cleaner.  This allows you to store up to four times the volume in the same space in your wardrobe, cupboard or under your bed.  They also protect the items from damp, dust and household pests such as moths.

Flat vacuum storage bags allow the flat storage of bulky items making them ideal for under bed storage. Items such as bedding sets, clothing or cushions can be stored in the Jumbo, Extra Large and Large bags, which have a wide opening for easy filling. They have a monochrome pattern design and like the other Packmate products are guaranteed for 5 years. These are great for storing the clothes that I intend to hand down to my grandson from his uncle Freddy.  It keeps them safely stored and they take up a fraction of the space that they would otherwise. Prices start at £9.99.

High Volume storage bags have a square base creating cubed storage which is ideal for the top of a wardrobe or inside plastic storage boxes in the loft.  They are suitable for bulkier items such as ski-wear or winter coats.  They have a black and white floral pattern making them look attractive.  Prices start at £11.99.

Hanging Vacuum storage bags from the Storeasy range are designed to create additional space in the wardrobe making it easier to organise and store clothing.  The inner compression bag allows multiple clothes to be stored taking up far less space.  This bag fits inside a protective carry case which zips up.  This is great for storing things like Halloween and fancy dress outfits which take up a lot of room all year round.  Prices start at £3.50.

The Garden vacuum storage tote is a perfect solution for storing the cushions from outdoor furniture over the winter.  They can take up a lot of space ordinarily and are prone to get damp if stored wrong.  The vacuum bag shrinks them down to a more manageable size, keeping them safe and clean until summer comes round again.  The outer, waterproof bag keeps them protected, making them suitable for storage in a garage or shed.

These storage solutions will definitely make it much easier to store clothing, bedding, cushions and fancy dress costumes, plus the contents of the bags will be protected keeping them safe.  They are easy to use and  are a great way to make optimum use of the storage space available in your home. 

Packmate products are available throughout the UK from independent traders, T K Maxx, Lakeland, Home Sense, Robert Dyas and from online retailers including Amazon.

They have the Good Housekeeping Institute Seal of Approval 2013.

Find out more and see the full range at www.packmate.co.uk

Make Household Chores Less of a Nightmare this Spring

Spring is the perfect time of year to sort out those household niggles and give your home a thorough deep clean. But if the idea of donning your rubber gloves fills you with dread, you are not alone.

A recent survey by Oven Pride, the number one oven cleaning brand, found that a staggering 316 million ‘little household jobs’ currently need attention in Britain’s homes.  According to the survey, these are the top ten most disliked and often avoided jobs around the home.

TOP 10 MOST DISLIKED CHORES

1.    Cleaning the oven

2.    Cleaning the windows

3.    Hoovering the stairs

4.    Cleaning the toilet

5.    Dusting

6.    Scrubbing the roasting tin

7.    Removing hair from plug

8.    Defrosting the freezer

9.    Ironing shirts

10. Unblocking the sink or plug hole

In fact, these jobs are so dreaded that 45 per cent of people admitted to being kept awake at night over a job that they haven’t been able to cross off their to-do list. A tenth of people have a job at home that they’ve put off doing for over five years, with three in ten putting one off for at least 12 months.

The survey revealed that almost half of us currently have dirty ovens waiting to be cleaned. With so many of us shutting the door on this nightmare task, it is perhaps no surprise that it has been named as the number one most hated household chore by more than 55% of those asked.

Oven Pride provides an all-in-one solution that can be used on the whole of your oven, making oven cleaning less of a nightmare this spring.  Oven Pride’s powerful, fume-free and easy-to-use formula transforms racks and grills, making excessive scrubbing and scouring a thing of the past. Simply apply the formula to the areas that need to be cleaned and leave it to soak for a minimum of 4 hours or ideally overnight. Then simply remove the residue with a sponge or cloth and rinse the inside of the oven and racks with plenty of hot soapy water.

We were sent a sample of Oven Pride and used it to clean my son's oven.  It wasn't a pleasant task with baked on grease and spatters of burnt food to contend with.  However the Oven Pride came with rubber gloves which made the task a bit less grim.  The gel-like solution was applied to the surfaces of the oven and after a few hours was wiped away bringing the yucky, brown grease with it.  The racks fit into sealable bags allowing them to be immersed in the cleaner easily and safely, which is a very clever way of cleaning them. We left them overnight and forgot about them until morning when they just needed rinsing with hot, soapy water.  The Oven Pride definitely shifted a lot of the burnt on grease from the surfaces and the racks, making the oven look a lot cleaner.  It's never going to be a pleasant job, but for mucky ovens Oven Pride definitely makes it an easier job.

That is one chore that can now be crossed off the to-do list when it comes to spring cleaning!

Oven Pride retails at £3.99 and is available from all major supermarkets.

This post is brought to you in conjunction with Oven Pride.

Karcher Steam Cleaner Review

The Kärcher range of Steam Cleaners for the home, provide an environmentally friendly, quick and convenient way of deep cleaning hard surfaces in the home.  They can be used practically anywhere, making it possible to clean hard floor surfaces, fittings and much more with little effort and without the need for  harsh chemicals, making them safe for all the family and kinder on the planet. The tried and tested Kärcher quality of these machines ensures that  floors, tiles and windows will be thoroughly cleaned and shiny after use.

Kärcher sent me a Steam Cleaner (model SC 2.500 C) to try out.  The cylinder steam cleaner is designed with two tanks, including a removable and refillable tank, for non-stop steam so you can finish jobs faster.  It is very easy and intuitive to use.  It comes with attachments for different jobs and we were keen to experiment with them all to see which household chores could be tackled.  It came with the following accessories:

Steam hose with gun (2 m)

Detail nozzle

Hand tool

Round brush

Terry cloth cover for hand tool

Terry floor cloth

Floor tool

I was very impressed with how quickly the water heated up.  In just 6 minutes we were ready to go.  Pulling the trigger on the handle released a puff of steam which cut through grease and grime with ease.  It worked wonders on the laminate and tiled floors, cleanly deeply and hygienically with the floor tool and terry cloth cover.  It picked up dirt from the grout and left the floor really clean.  The floor dried quickly afterwards.  It was excellent for the bathrooms where the small attachment allowed us to clean right up to the awkwardly shaped toilet bowls. It cleaned the tiling with ease. The skirting boards were also treated to a deep clean and it cleaned some marks that I thought couldn't be removed.  Very impressive.

We used the steam cleaner to clean the tiled shower unit and it was excellent at blasting away the build up in the shower door.  It also washed away a lot of the soap scum from the grout.  It is great knowing our shower is hygienically clean without resorting to chemical cleaners.  I also gave my sink a clean around the taps and down the overflow.  These hard to clean areas were tackled with ease using a jet of steam.  I really got carried away with the versatility and efficiency of the Kärcher Steam Cleaner, which worked so well on so many jobs around the home.  

I took a chance to see if the steam cleaner was suitable for cleaning some stubborn stains from the upstairs carpets.  I have tried upholstery spray but it didn't touch them, so I had nothing to lose.  I was delighted that the steam lifted the stain from the pile and, once dried, the carpet was stainless for the first time in months!

Ian is usually the only one to get excited about household gadgets, but we both loved this one.  It is a versatile steam cleaner engineered for hygienic, environmentally-friendly, deep cleaning without the need for chemicals. It is a natural and environmentally-friendly solution that provides a family-friendly alternative from chemical cleaners that aggravate allergies and are harmful to children.  According to an independent study conducted by Allergy UK it also has been proven to remove:

• 99.99% of House dust mites 
• 99.83% of Cat allergens 
• 99.01% of Dog allergens 
• 99.37% of Pollen allergens 
• 100% of Fungal spores 

It did so many jobs around the house, powering through the dirt on laminate, floor tiles, bathroom tiles, sinks, shower units, glass and paintwork.  It even cleaned away my carpet stain.  We went to town testing this steam cleaner and only had to refill the tank once so it is long lasting and efficient too.

It all fits back into the box after use for storage, ready to use to deep clean the house next time.  I seriously cannot praise this item enough, and anything that gets me this excited about housework really must be exceptionally good!  I love knowing that my house is hygienically clean and safe for my family.  It is now as much of a must have item for housework as my vacuum cleaner.

The Kärcher Steam Cleaners start at £129.99.  (The model we received is £219.99 RRP).  Other accessories are available to purchase separately.

Find out more and shop online for Kärcher UK Home and Garden products at www.karcher.co.uk

Science X from Ravensburger

Ravensburger are probably best known for their puzzles, but the launch of their new range of activity kits is opening up the world of discovery to children aged 8 and over, nurturing a love of science. The Science X launch collection has three sizes to choose from; Mini kits with six amazing activities each; three Midi kits with twelve activities and completing the range are two Maxi kits with up to twenty fun tasks.

Each kit contains lots of interesting and exciting experiments and activities that children will want to explore and they will keep them busy for hours!

Kizzy was sent a Simulating Nature kit that explores the mechanics of how plants and animals adapt for their survival.  The set includes a full colour booklet that has details of the activities and ideas for extending the experiments, along with lots of facts to keep even the most curious kids satisfied.

The set includes a set of colourful cards featuring photographs to inspire discussion and get children thinking about the topics.

Almost everything you need to carry out the experiments is included apart from a few household bits and bobs such as sticky tape, scissors etc.  

Kizzy loves science and was delighted to get stuck in making models of spinning seeds, moving hands, fish tails and other natural phenomena.  She explored why Polar Bears are white and how insulation works. She planted Nasturtium seeds in pots.  The activities are all very hands on and kept Kizzy engaged and entertained as she explored natural science.

Ravensburger’s Science X collection will open the world of discovery with these fun and exciting science kits for children in time for National Science and Engineering Week which runs from 15th-24th March 2013.

Things We're Loving - Kids' Edition

Another month has passed us by and I am looking at the things that I have loved from the last few weeks.  This month I am concentrating on the best kids' stuff, sharing my picks of the clothes, books, films, music and games that I think are worthy of a mention!

First up, if you haven't seen it yet, take the kids to see Wreck It Ralph.  It is one of my favourite Disney offerings for years.  The story of video game characters living and working together in the arcade is absolute genius.  The message of acceptance and being the best that you can be, whoever you are, is heartwarming.  Freddy aged 3 loved it and continues to quote from the film, re-enacting his favourite scenes!  10 year old Kizzy and 16 year old Ella were equally enthralled by the story of Ralph as he tries to become more than just the bad guy.

My girls love to read and enjoy discovering books to escape into.  My two eldest girls were fans of Jacqueline Wilson, so it was inevitable that Kizzy would follow suit.  She is currently reading The Dustbin Baby which is the story of 14 year old April who was abandoned in a bin by her mother following her birth. It is a powerful and emotional story which engages readers as they follow April's quest to discover the mysteries of her past. I love how Jacqueline Wilson portrays her feisty  female characters, as being strong enough to survive against a backdrop of sadness. Empowering stuff.  This book makes excellent reading for ages 9+.

With Comic Relief coming up, we have visited Sainsbury's to stock up on our Di-NOSE-Saurs and also to buy the new One Direction single One Way Or Another.  It was just £1.99 and proceeds go to Comic Relief.  I love the video which they filmed themselves, donating the money they saved to the charity.  What lovely lads! (Especially that cute little Harry Styles!!)

After Kizzy visited the fashion cupboard at Girl Talk magazine's offices in London she has been exercising her mini-fashionista muscles to come up with trendy ensembles.  One of her favourite items at the moment is the 2 in 1 Shirt Jumper from New Look's 915 range which is £14.99.  With its attached collar it looks fashionably smart and perfect for the Spring season.  Kizzy assures me that collars are 'in' at the moment but the real beauty of this top is you don't have to iron a whole denim shirt!

When it comes to boys clothing, graphic T-shirts never go out of fashion and I love these two from Lands’ End.  I love the glow in the dark angler fish tee (as does my little Octonaut fan) and the simple 'Hey' design which really stands out in its simplicity. They are £9.95 each which is a good price for a quality t-shirt that will withstand the testing of an active boy like my son. Freddy has a big collection of t-shirts with slogans on.  They are just so easy and practical to wear with jeans and a zip-up hoodie or a jumper.

Land's End have gifted me with a voucher to try out these T-Shirts.

Our latest favourite game is the horrifically addictive Candy Crush Saga which I have on my phone.  You have to link up rows of three or more of the same sweet to remove them from the grid in an attempt to remove all the jelly or to release ingredients.  It's an old formula, but because it is all about sweeties, it seems so much more exciting!  I am not very good at it, but I am a trier, albeit a trier with no strategy, no vision and no foresight.  When I get through a level I'm pretty certain it's more luck than judgment, but the feeling of achievement is not diminished. As always, the kids are better than me!  They instinctively see the patterns and use strategies to clear the sweets. Kids and technology just work so well together. Candy Crush Saga is free on Android, iOS and Facebook.  So at least I'm not wasting cash on my new addiction.

Freddy has been playing Reading Eggs which I think is a brilliant program for introducing little ones to early reading skills.  I am so impressed with how well he can progress independently through the levels and how his letter and sound recognition is improving.  I'm hoping that through playing on the games he will soon be on the way to being a confident reader. Especially as Infant School beckons.

So that's the things we have enjoyed over the past few weeks here Inside the Wendy House.  I look forward to seeing what things we will be discovering next month!

February In Pictures

Learning to Read with Reading Eggs

Freddy is 3 and a half years old and eager to learn.  He isn't very keen on writing or drawing, but he loves playing educational games on tablets, phones and laptops.  So when I heard about Reading Eggs, an online program that teaches children to read, I was very interested in giving it a try.

Reading Eggs makes learning to read interesting and engaging for children, with great online reading games and activities which are fun to play.  It is suitable for children aged 3-7.  (Older children aged between 7 and 13 have Reading Eggspress which takes reading to a new level.)  There also apps available for little ones to play and learn on the go.

I was given a free trial to Reading Eggs (anyone can sign up for a two week trial to give the site a go with their child) after that it costs £39.95 for annual subscription which gives you access to games, activities and printable activity sheets, plus it monitors the child's progress and calculates their reading age.

Reading Eggs has a host of fun characters that lead the child through the lessons with songs, sound effects, praise and amusing graphics.  Children also have access to a great Playroom where they can enjoy some games to improve their skills.  The accent used in the speech throughout the game is British which is something that I was very pleased about.  A lot of phonics based games and apps are American and I find that it can confuse children to hear the letters and words pronounced with an American accent.

Both lower and upper case letters are included as children explore the sounds, picking out the letter from words and finding it on a wordsearch grid.  They can even make their own virtual letter book featuring words beginning with each letter.  As they progress, children begin to explore first words, building the foundations for reading.  There is loads of unlockable content to work towards which keeps the game fresh and challenging.

Freddy has taken to Reading Eggs with enthusiasm   He is very good at using the touch pad to drag and drop, click on and draw letters.  He loves the Playroom games and can explore the site map independently.  It is very user friendly, intuitive and safe.  Parents have their own area where the child's progress can be monitored.  Freddy loves the characters and really enjoys working through the lessons.  It is definitely helping with his letter recognition and it is lovely seeing him take these first steps towards being a confident reader.

Reading Eggs are offering readers of Inside the Wendy House the opportunity to extend their free trial from 2 weeks to 5 weeks if they sign up now using the code UKB24MBT.  I would definitely recommend it.

Find out more and sign up for a free trial at Reading Eggs.