Latest Articles - janemalvisi.co.uk

Person spraying clear plastic wrap over a kitchen sink with running water from a modern faucet.

The Housekeeper’s Cling-Film Enzyme Method for Removing Odours

Harriet Wainwright • October 16, 2026

The smell that meets you at the door is not always overpowering. It can be the weary trace of bin...

Person gardening colourful flowers including purple, pink, orange, and white blooms in a backyard garden.

15 Perennials That Will Transform Your Garden This Spring

Harriet Wainwright • October 16, 2026

Many amateur gardeners see spring as the time to start again from scratch: fresh shrubs, a new border and a...

Woman kneeling to organise a wicker basket under a white bathroom sink with rolled towels and toilet paper nearby

Lidl under-sink cabinet: Scandinavian design and storage for under €33

Harriet Wainwright • October 16, 2026

Many bathrooms soon feel cluttered even though there is barely any room for towels, toiletries and cleaning products. The space...

Person tying a red string with leaves to a door handle in a sunlit bedroom with a phone on the bed.

Hanging Bay Leaves on Bedroom Doors: Protection Ritual or Placebo?

Harriet Wainwright • October 16, 2026

In a London flat, a young woman tapes three bay leaves above her door handle. In a Greek village, a...

Person ironing a white shirt on an ironing board in a bright room with folded towels nearby.

The Salt Trick for Cleaning Your Iron

Harriet Wainwright • October 16, 2026

The pile of shirts keeps growing while your free time keeps shrinking. Your iron drags across the fabric, catches on...

Person holding garden plan and watering can near pebble pathway and lavender plants in backyard garden.

How Garden Design Wastes Water and How to Save It

Harriet Wainwright • October 16, 2026

The first sign is often audible. It is the faint hiss of sprinklers running in the middle of the day,...

Man organising beige and brown clothes in a neatly arranged bedroom with natural light from a window.

The Space-Saving Alternative to the Classic Bedroom Wardrobe

Harriet Wainwright • October 16, 2026

The wardrobe doors no longer shut properly. A stack of jumpers tilts towards you, poised to topple onto the first...

Person scooping laundry detergent from a box near a washing machine with folded towels on a wooden table.

Bicarbonate of Soda in the Washing Machine: A Simple Powder Makes the Difference

Harriet Wainwright • October 16, 2026

A simple powder can make all the difference. You fill the machine, select a cycle, add detergent, fabric conditioner and...

Man adjusting a thermostat on a wall inside a bright living room, holding an energy bill.

Should You Leave Heating On All Day? Jorge Morales de Labra Explains

Harriet Wainwright • October 16, 2026

Across the UK and Europe, many families wonder whether leaving radiators on all day at a low setting is worthwhile....

Person cleaning the glass of a burning wood stove with a cloth, holding a bowl in a cozy room with firewood.

How to Clean Stove Glass Naturally with Vinegar and Bicarbonate of Soda

Harriet Wainwright • October 16, 2026

With a simple household trick, the glass can become transparent again. Anyone with a wood-burning or pellet stove in the...

Man inspecting a freshly paved asphalt driveway with a wheelbarrow and tools nearby in a residential neighbourhood.

Recycled asphalt surfacing for driveways: a greener alternative to concrete

Harriet Wainwright • October 16, 2026

Cracks, puddles and a grey appearance: the large concrete slab outside the house has long ceased to feel contemporary. At...

Person holding a cream pillow with neatly stacked pastel-coloured pillows and linens on shelves.

The simple bed linen folding trick for a tidy linen cupboard

Harriet Wainwright • October 16, 2026

Chaos in the linen cupboard, unruly piles and missing pillowcases – it is a familiar problem for many. One straightforward...

Person cooling a plastic water bottle with steam in front of a running electric fan in a sunlit room

The Spanish Water Bottle Trick for Cooling Your Home Without AC

Harriet Wainwright • October 16, 2026

The fan is already running at full power, yet it is only shifting hot air around. Outside, the road shimmers...

Person rinsing black-rimmed glasses under running tap water over a kitchen sink with white cloth.

How to Clean Glasses Safely Without Damaging Lenses

Harriet Wainwright • October 16, 2026

From humid commutes to greasy fingerprints after lunch, glasses put up with plenty every day. It is common to reach...

Man in shorts checking smartwatch while standing with a red lawnmower on an overgrown lawn in suburban garden.

Lawn Mowing Ban Between Noon and 4 p.m. Starts on 21 February

Harriet Wainwright • October 16, 2026

The lawnmower spluttered twice before bursting into life as the sun reached its highest point. On the other side of...

Person standing in a modern shower pod lifting one foot as water sprays around the base in a bright bathroom.

Japan’s “Washing Machine for Humans”: The Future of Showering

Harriet Wainwright • October 16, 2026

More people are turning on the tap less often nowadays - because they are short of time, concerned about the...

Sunlit minimalist living room with beige sofa, wooden coffee table, architectural plans, and tall floor lamp.

Why Architects Are Dropping Skirting Boards for Shadow Gaps in 2026

Harriet Wainwright • October 16, 2026

Architects are discreetly abandoning a century-old feature at the foot of our walls, with a remarkably powerful effect on light,...

Bottle of distilled white vinegar, measuring cup, and laundry detergent near open washing machine in bright laundry room.

The forgotten laundry trick: distilled white vinegar in the final rinse

Harriet Wainwright • October 16, 2026

Warm shirts sat in a loose pile, first carrying a faint hint of perfume, then… very little. Come morning, they...

Person standing barefoot on wooden floor holding a floor plan in a sunlit living room with energy rating chart.

Four Underused Floor Materials That Cut Winter Heating by 12%

Harriet Wainwright • October 16, 2026

In brief 🔬 Researchers identify four frequently overlooked flooring solutions-cork composites, hemp-lime screeds, rammed earth pavers, and PCM underlays-which moderate...

Hand pouring a creamy liquid from a glass into a white sink with toiletries and a brush nearby.

How Half a Glass of Conditioner Helps Clean Your Drain

Harriet Wainwright • October 16, 2026

The smell was the first warning. It was not the dramatic sewer odour from cleaning-product adverts, but a dull, greasy...

Woman standing on a step stool adjusting beige curtains next to a large window in a bright, minimalist living room.

The Ten-Centimetre Curtain Rule That Makes Rooms Feel Taller

Harriet Wainwright • October 15, 2026

Sarah gazed up at the ceiling in her living room, trying to work out why the walls seemed to be...