If you haven’t started cleaning up and prepping for the holiday seasons yet, don’t worry—it’s not too late! Before you know it, Spring Cleaning and Chinese New Year will be here, and you’ll realize that if you want to enjoy the holidays without any stress or anxiety, you need to get going now! This last-minute Christmas cleaning checklist will help take care of everything from vacuuming and dusting to organizing your home office or study. Plus, all of these tasks can be done in less than an hour!

1. Dust

Regular dusting and vacuuming makes your house look clean, but they also prevent allergens from floating around. That’s particularly helpful during spring and summer when many people suffer from hay fever or other allergic symptoms. They’re also crucial to public health— up to 80% of indoor airborne contaminants are in fact due to surface dust!

2. Sweep

When tidying up, it’s easy to miss dust bunnies in corners and crevices. Use your broom to sweep all hard floors thoroughly before you mop (see below). It might seem like an unnecessary step, but even if you run over these areas with your vacuum cleaner they’ll be filled with dirt and dust from your shoes—and will still look dirty. If you’re cleaning rugs or carpets, simply pick them up and shake vigorously outside.

3. Wipe Down All Surfaces

In addition to general clutter, dust and dead skin cells can also be hiding in your home’s nooks and crannies. Wiping down all surfaces is an easy way to keep your home germ-free and give it that extra spruce up before you have guests over for dinner or holiday parties. This differs from dusting in that you will need to use your preferred cleaning product to properly disinfect the area. 

4. Wash Bedding, Curtains and Other Linens

Wash sheets, pillowcases and other linens in hot water to rid them of dust mites and other contaminants. Give pillows a fluff after washing them (or buy new ones if they’re too worn), then place all your bedding in fresh plastic bags so it won’t collect dust while you sleep. Hang curtains out to dry thoroughly before storing. If you live in humid climes, take them down for winter storage so mildew doesn’t settle into your mouldable surfaces.

5. Scrub Bathrooms

One of the most important steps in preparing your home for holiday guests is giving everything a thorough scrubbing. Take some time to clean out shower/tub drains and clean walls, floors, and mirrors from top to bottom. Don’t forget about bathrooms; if you don’t want your guests wondering why there are stains all over your bathroom floor, take care of them now!

6. Give Floors a Good Mopping

An easy way to ensure your floors are clean is to mop them! As you get into cleaning, mopping might seem like an unnecessary chore—but trust us, it’s very important. Mops come in various sizes and styles, but they all have one thing in common: they can trap germs and bacteria in their dirty water (even if you’re using antibacterial soap) as you go. 

 

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From cleaning tools, laundry items to kitchen accessories, Leifheit has got all you need to make life at home easier. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more tips, tricks, and exclusive deals!

You might have just ruined a load of laundry, and that is why you are looking for information on where it all went wrong. Or maybe you just want to know more about laundering to up your laundry game. No matter your reason, fret not; all are welcome to learn more about the art of laundering clothes. We have listed down 4 frequently asked questions about laundering below, so read on!

1. Which Detergent Should I Use?

Choose the type of detergent based on your budget and current situation. Amongst the 4 types of detergents, powder and liquid are the more economical choice. However, most powder and liquid detergents are heavy and bulky as they come in litres. If lifting heavy weights or storage is a concern, it would be better to use pods or tablets. 

2. Softener, A Must Or Is It Optional?

Adding fabric softener to your laundry load is not a must but a choice for you to make. The fabric softener will keep your clothing soft, wrinkle-free, and fragrant. It will also keep the shape of your clothing for a longer period. Nonetheless, it is extra money and extra storage, which may not be ideal for some. However, using softener may be beneficial if you have sensitive skin, as a softer fabric will be less harsh on the skin. Do take note to find a softener that is hypoallergenic and dermatologically tested though.

Also, keep in mind not to use fabric softeners on fabrics made of microfibre, flame resistant material, and athleisure clothing. The softener will ruin the functionality of these materials. 

3. Do I Need To Sort My Laundry?

You can just throw in all of your dirty laundry into the washing machine but it would be best to sort your laundry. Separate the clothes based on their colour and washing instructions. Refer to the symbols on your clothing label to reduce wear and tear and keep your clothes looking pristine. 

For more details on what each symbol means, you can refer to our Instagram or Facebook post.

4. My Laundry Smells, What Do I Do?

If your laundry smells, it may be time to clean your washing machine. Pour 2 cups of vinegar into the detergent drawer and let the washing machine run empty on the longest hot cycle setting available. Wipe down the drum after the cycle ends and clean the filter too. You can also try washing the clothes with half a cup of baking soda or vinegar to eliminate the smell.

Share this article with your friends and family to help them on their laundry journey!

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From cleaning tools, laundry items to kitchen accessories, Leifheit has got all you need to make life at home easier. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for more tips, tricks, and exclusive deals!

We have listed down several easy to cook, yet trendy and delicious recipes that you can try out this Father’s Day! With dining in only allowed on 21st June 2021, you can celebrate Father’s Day by going all out with cooking a home-cooked meal for lunch or dinner. 

Main

Sushi Bake

Photo Source: Ann's Home Cuisine

Sushi bake can be said to be deconstructed sushi. It is usually topped with imitation crabmeat, furikake, mayo, and sriracha. You can always switch up the toppings and add salmon, tobiko or avocado. Any leftover ingredients can be made into sushi. If you struggle with using the bamboo mat to roll sushi, use a sushi roller to help you with the rolling process.

Ingredients (4 servings)

4 cups of Cooked Rice

250g of Shredded Imitation Crabmeat

250g of Shredded Cucumber

5 tablespoons of Japanese Mayonnaise

2 tablespoons of Sriracha (for spice)

Seaweed

Kitchen Tools

Oven safe casserole dish

Big bowl

Spoon

Cutting Board

Knife

Weighing Scale

Instructions

1. In a bowl, mix the shredded imitation crabmeat, shredded cucumber, japanese mayonnaise, sriracha.
2. Lay hot rice on the casserole dish, sprinkle the furikake on top of the rice.
3. Spread the imitation crabmeat and cucumber mixture on top of the rice. 
4. Squeeze Japanese mayo in a zig-zag on top of the imitation crabmeat and cucumber layer.
5. Bake the dish for 10 to 15 minutes at 230 degree celcius.
6. Once done, take it out of the oven and serve by scooping it onto plates.
7. Eat by scooping a spoonful of the sushi bake on top of a piece of seaweed.

Poke Bowl

Photo Source: Great British Chefs

For this recipe, make sure that all of the raw fish to be consumed are sashimi grade raw fish. You can add additional ingredients such as avocados or corn. Wash or use a different cutting board and knife after cutting the raw fish and before cutting vegetables to prevent cross contamination.

Ingredients (4 servings)

4 cups of Cooked Rice

300g of Sashimi-grade Raw Salmon

300g of Sashimi-grade Raw Tuna

150g of Edamame

2 Stalks of Green Onion

¼ Onion

50ml of Soy Sauce

3 tablespoons of Sesame Oil

1 tablespoon of Rice Vinegar

Kitchen Tools

Big Bowl

Spoon

Cutting Board

Knife

Weighing Scale

Instructions

1. Cut the sashimi-grade salmon and tuna into bite sized pieces.
2. Thinly slice the green onion.
3. Thinly slice the onion.
4. In a big bowl, add in salmon, tuna, green onion, onion, soysauce, sesame oil, and rice vinegar. Give the mixture a good mix.
5. Plate a serving of rice onto a bowl, add edamame, and the salmon and tuna mixture.
6. You can also add other vegetables such as cucumber and carrots.

Dessert

Oreo Mugcake

Photo Source: i am a food blog

If you are a frequent user of TikTok, you may have seen this recipe and tried it out before. However, if you have not, this recipe is a game changer. This will only take less than 5 minutes.

Ingredients (1 serving)

5 Oreos

4 tablespoons of Milk

Ice Cream (Optional)

Kitchen Tools

Microwaveable Bowl or Mug

Spoon or Ice Cream Scooper

Instructions

1. Crush 5 Oreos and add in 4 tablespoon of milk.
2. Stir the mixture and pop it into the microwave for 1 minute.
3. Scoop the ice cream of your choice on top of the cake and enjoy!

Milo Mochi (@audreysaurus on TikTok)

Photo Source: @audreysaurus

Homemade mochi is surprisingly simple to make. If you or your family are not a fan of milo, you can add in red bean paste or make matcha cream instead. For matcha cream, simply substitute out the milo with matcha.

Ingredients (5 Mochis)

Filling

⅓ cup of Heavy Whipping Cream

1 teaspoon of Sugar

1 tablespoon of Milo

Mochi

600g of Glutinous Rice Flour

2 tablespoons of Sugar

100ml of Water

Cornstarch

Kitchen Tools

Bowl (for the Filling)

Microwaveable Bowl (for the Mochi)

Spoonss

Plate 

Instructions for the Filling

1. Put the filling ingredients into 1 bowl and whisk.
2. Scoop into balls and put in the freezer.

Instructions for the Mochi 

1. Add the glutinous rice flour, sugar, and water into a microwaveable bowl. 
2. Give the mixture a good stir and pop it into the microwave for 1 minute.
3. Take out the mixture, give it a good stir and put it into the microwave for 1 minute.
4. Take out the mixture, give it another stir and put it into the microwave for 30 seconds.
5. Take out the mixture, give it a final stir and put it into the microwave for 30 seconds.
6. Dust your board or plate and mochi with cornstarch.
7. Cut the mochi into 5 pieces.
8. Flatten the mochi and add in the filling, sealing the mochi tight.
9. Coat the mochi with milo powder and you are done!

Let us know if you tried out any of these recipes for Father’s Day by tagging us on Instagram @leifheitsg!

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From cleaning tools, laundry items to kitchen accessories, Leifheit has got all you need to make life at home easier.