U

UGG BOOTS

To clean

• Pour 1 teaspoon of cheap shampoo into each boot and place in a pillowcase.
• Wash in the washing machine with cold water on the gentle cycle.
• When drying, stuff old towels inside each boot and dry in the shade.

UMBRELLA

(Patio/handheld)

To clean canvas

• Mix 2 cups of uniodised salt in a small bucket of water.
• Apply the mixture with a brush or broom.
• Leave to dry.
• Rinse the salt off with water.

To clean plastic

• Clean with water.
• If very dirty, add 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid to the water.
• Wipe plastic attachments with 2 drops of glycerine on a cloth.

To clean raffia

• Raffia attracts bugs, so hose or wash regularly.
• Mix 2 tablespoons of uniodised salt in 1 cup of water. Allow to dissolve.
• Wipe the salt solution across the surface with rolled up pantyhose.
• When dry, brush off the salt.
• Spray with surface insecticide spray.

URINE

On carpet/upholstery

• For fresh stains, remove excess by blotting with paper towel.
• Place white vinegar on a cloth and wring tightly so it’s damp but not wet. Blot over the mark.
• For old stains, turn on an ultraviolet light in a darkened room and the urine stains will show up yellow.
• Mark around the stains with a piece of white chalk.
• Blot inside the chalk marks with white vinegar on a cloth.
• Alternatively, for fresh and old stains, fill a bucket with cold water and enough dishwashing liquid to generate a sudsy mix.
• Scrub with only the suds on a toothbrush using as little water as possible.
• Wipe with a damp cloth.
• In all cases, absorb moisture by covering the area with paper towel. Place a book on top of the paper towel to assist with absorption.
• Never soak urine stains because it pushes the stain further into the fibres.

On cotton/fabric

• Remove excess under the tap using cold water.
• Blot with or soak in white vinegar.
• Wash according to the fabric. Dry on the clothesline or clothes airer.

On mattress

• Place white vinegar on a cloth and wring tightly so it’s damp but not wet. Blot over the mark.
• Alternatively, add a little dishwashing liquid to water to generate a sudsy mix. Scrub only the suds into the stain with a cloth.
• In both cases, put the mattress in the sun if possible. If not, use paper towel with a book on top to absorb moisture and dry with a hair dryer.
• Neutralise the smell by wiping with lemon juice on a cloth.

On stone/timber

• If the urine has penetrated, mix plaster of Paris and water to the consistency of peanut butter.
• To each cup of mixture, add 2 teaspoons of white vinegar.
• Spread 5 mm to 1 cm thick over the stain.
• Allow to dry completely. If it feels cold on the back of your hand, it’s not dry.
• When dry, brush off with a broom.