A new mum has passed away following the birth of her daughter at University Hospital Galway. Teresa Charlin-Foy, 38, passed away on Friday after collapsing at home and being rushed to hospital. Her baby girl Claudia survived but Teresa, who was an IT engineer based in Galway and originally from Spain, could not be saved. Teresa’s death […]
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WITH Christmas only eight days away, most of us will be preparing our homes for guests and festivities on the big day.
And a major part of that involves giving our home a clean so it’s spotless for having people over.
But did you know that there are some household items that often get missed during a house clean that could actually be a breeding ground for bacteria and mould?
So to help keep our homes spotless this festive season, cleaning experts have revealed which forgotten items should be bumped to the top of the cleaning list this Christmas.
Professionals at London rubbish removal company Clear it Waste have shared their top cleaning tips on the run-up to the big day.
And they uncovered a list of six items and areas we should all be cleaning before December 25.
You might not realise it, but your fridge can be a hub for bacteria.
So experts have advised giving the inside a good wipe-down before Christmas.
They said: “Ahead of filling your fridge with Christmas food and festive treats for all the family, you should consider giving the drawers and shelves a thorough clean.
“A study found that the meat and veg compartments in the fridge were among the germiest places in the kitchen, identifying germs such as yeast, mould, Salmonella, Listeria and E. Coli.
“Luckily, cleaning these drawers is a straightforward task.
“Simply remove the compartment or shelf and use a clean sponge to wash with dish detergent and warm water, then wipe dry and replace in the fridge.”
One of the biggest forgotten areas of the home is the toothbrush holder, according to experts at Clear it Waste.
They explained: “The smallest item on this list and perhaps the most forgotten is your toothbrush holder.
“However, the water pooling in a small confined space, combined with the damp environment of a bathroom in winter, means toothbrush holders are a breeding ground for bacteria and mould.
“And considering that this pool of germs is just a jump away from the toothbrush head that you use to clean inside your mouth, it should be on the top of everyone’s cleaning list.
“To clean your toothbrush holder, start by letting it soak in a sink full of hot, soapy water, and then give it a thorough scrub to remove any dirt and grime.
“As an additional measure, you can sanitize inside with a bleach or vinegar solution, just to be sure to rinse with hot water thoroughly afterwards.”
The experts have also urged homeowners to clean their windows this festive season, as they can also cause mildew and mould to grow.
They advised: “Although cleaning your windows is a year-round job, it is especially important in winter.
“Dirty windows can actually block a significant amount of sunlight from coming into your home, and on dark winter days, this can have a huge impact.
“Not only does it make your home feel even darker than necessary, but it also prevents the sunlight from warming up rooms, leaving you in the cold.
“Using a generous amount of glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth on both the inside and out is the most effective way to achieve streak-free windows.”
To keep your home warm and cosy this Christmas, cleaning pros have said homeowners should be cleaning their radiators this week.
The experts say: “Clean radiators are not only more aesthetically pleasing, but they can actually be more efficient than dirty ones, helping to heat your home and keep costs down.
“Removing dust and debris is the key task when cleaning radiators.
“Using a thin nozzle attachment on a vacuum cleaner is an easy way to get to most areas, and then opting for a radiator brush for those more difficult to reach spots.
“To clean the surface of radiators, all you need is a microfiber cloth and some soapy water — and don’t forget to lay a towel down to protect the floor.”
Over the festive period, searches for “Why does my washing machine smell” have shot up by 200 per cent.
As a result, cleaning experts have shared their top pieces of advice for keeping the washing machine spotless.
They said: “Clothes smelling damp in winter is a common problem with many causes, but the main culprit could be your washing machine.
“With many places for mould to grow, keeping your machine clean through winter is crucial.
“Utilising your machine’s self-cleaning cycle is a great way to start, and will often tackle a lot of the build-up in the drum of the machine.
“For the seal around the door, where mould and odours often love to hide, a solution of bleach and dish soap as well as an old rag or toothbrush, paired with some elbow grease, is the best way to go.”
WE all want a clean home - but it's easy to fall into the trap of putting it off because getting all the products out can make it feel exhausting before we even start.
Especially during the festive period when all the glitter from the Christmas decorations gets stuck in all the tiny spaces in our homes.
Luckily, one expert has revealed that there is a drink that can help make it super easy for us to clean our houses – and you may already have it in your fridge.
Cleaning professionals have said that Coca-Cola actually works wonders when it comes to helping out with household chores.
The sweet, fizzy drink isn’t just good for a refreshing caffeine kick – thanks to its powerful bubbles, it also helps keep the home sparkling clean.
Andrea Philips, from Airtasker’s Lifestyle Editorial Team, revealed that there are six Coca-Cola cleaning hacks all homeowners should try this Christmas.
These include:
She said: “It may come as a surprise to you (or not) that Coca-Cola is highly acidic and while some of you drink it, did you know you can also clean with it?
“So, next time you find yourself facing a tough cleaning challenge, consider reaching for a bottle of Coca-Cola.”
While it’s key to keep showerheads clean year-round, it’s even more important to do so in the winter.
This is because our homes tend to become more humid in the colder months when the heating goes on and temperatures plummet which can cause mould and mildew to form.
Not only can it become difficult to get rid of, but mould can be dangerous to our health if it’s left untreated.
As a result, the experts have urged homeowners not to skip the showerhead when cleaning the home ahead of Christmas.
They explained: “Unclean shower heads aren’t just unsightly; they are a breeding ground for bacteria and mould in the winter months, when bathrooms are prone to lingering dampness.
“However, cleaning a shower head isn’t as daunting as it may seem.
“Once you have detached the shower head from the hose or arm, the trick is to submerge it in a sandwich bag filled with white vinegar and leave it to soak for 30+ minutes.
“You can also do this with shower heads that won’t detach by fastening the sandwich bag on with a few rubber bands.
“Then, give it a scrub with an old toothbrush to remove all the loosened debris, and give each part a very thorough rinse.”
MILLIONS have already logged into Pokémon TCG Pocket, collecting more than 300 cards from the Genetic Apex set.
However, it’s been about two months since the game’s original release, and people were eager to get their hands on a new set.
TCG Pocket has just launched its first expansion Mythical Island, featuring 86 new cards for players to collect.
It contains 16 new full-art cards and five new EX cards, among others, that will change up online battles.
Players can still pick cards from the Pikachu, Mewtwo and Charizard Genetic Apex booster packs, but now the Mew Mythical Island booster pack joins the set.
Some of the stronger cards in the set involve Serperior, which doubles your attached Grass energy.
This works with Lilligant from Genetic Apex, which adds extra energy, and Celebi EX, which requires lots of energy to work well.
Vaporeon is another strong addition, as its ability adds extra Water energy to your active Pokémon.
There are also new Solo Battle events so you can see how the AI uses the new cards and builds them into decks.
Cards with abilities are particularly strong, and you can find new ways to use them by looking at the new deck lists.
If you want to know all of the cards that will be available in Mythical Island, we’ve got everything you need.
Here’s the Pokémon TCG Pocket Mythical Island expansion full card list.
If you want to read more about the game, check out the latest TCG Pocket Premium rewards.
Get the lowdown on more of the latest Nintendo Switch releases from our expert reviewers.
For Xbox Series X and PS5 reviews, check out our full game reviews section.
WILL LEVIS endured a HORROR Sunday after it was revealed ex-girlfriend Gia Duddy was in attendance to see him benched.
The Tennessee Titans quarterback threw three interceptions and lost a fumble before being taken out of the 37-27 defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals.
After one of the worst days of his pro career, it was then revealed that Duddy was watching the game from a corporate box.
Duddy, 23, has become a social media hit after she was spotted next to Levis during the 2023 NFL Draft.
She now has more than 285,000 followers on Instagram and 600k on TikTok and has secured multiple paid partnerships.
Duddy, who was wearing a Titans jacket, has stayed in Nashville despite splitting from Levis.
One video from the game showed her drinking outside the stadium with the caption: “When you’re still drunk from the night before but the show must go on.”
Another image showed her and a group of friends sat together watching the game.
Duddy, who met Levis at Kentucky, was seemingly a guest of Raising Cane’s as she also shared images of her holding a branded cup.
Levis managed just eight completions, 49 yards, three interceptions – including a pick-six – and a lost fumble before he was replaced by Mason Rudolph, who threw two touchdowns.
Head coach Brian Callahan has not yet confirmed if Levis or Rudolph will be starting against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
He said he’s going to take a few days to make the decision.
Speaking about the decision to bench Levis, Callahan said: “There’s a standard of play, there have been multiple guys in our team that we’ve sat [because of] performance.
“Guys that weren’t in the right tackle position. We’ve made changes at linebacker, at safety.
“Those are all things that are part of NFL life and performance and trying to win football games.
“You just have to make sure when you’re making decisions and coaching that it’s the same across the board for all positions.
“The quarterback position is part of that as well.”
