‘Ten minutes every day’: Kim Woodburn’s top tips for keeping your home clean

Kim Woodburn, best known for the Channel 4 show How Clean is Your House?, has died aged 83 after a short illness. Along with her co-host Aggie MacKenzie, she took people to task on their dirty and cluttered homes.

Woodburn’s trademark plaited bun and sharp tongue were recognisable to millions, and many found her cleaning advice invaluable for keeping their homes spotless. Here are her top five tips:

Keep it natural

Woodburn was well known for not using harsh chemicals, instead preferring natural household solutions such as baking soda and white vinegar. Over the years, these two common household items became something of a trademark of hers, as she appreciated them for their kindness on the skin and gentler impact on the home.

All it takes is 10 minutes a day

The Queen of Clean said in a 2022 interview that to avoid your home becoming like the ones you often see on TV. “10 minutes every day and you can keep everything manageable”.

Little and often was the key: she encouraged people to do just 10 minutes a day or, if they couldn’t manage that, to “clean as you go”.

The kitchen is the heart of the home

According to Woodburn, wiping down appliances and cleaning up spills straight away are essential in the kitchen. In particular, cleaning inside the fridge every two months with a cloth dipped in warm water and bicarbonate soda are key.

“When you start going over that timeframe, by God, you’re asking for trouble,” she said. Along with binning leftover food, these tasks were essential to avoid attracting flies or worse – the unwanted attention of pets.

Use a wet feather duster

This method catches dust and stops it spreading around the home. Once you’re done, wait for it to dry then shake it out outside or into the bin.

When hosting a party, lay down the law

When giving advice on hosting a house party, Woodburn kept it simple: don’t have one. For her, a party meant mucky beggars messing up her home. But if you were brave enough (or foolish enough) to ignore her and go ahead anyway, the advice was equally to the point.

Before the party say: “This is what’s going to happen. I love you, but if you’re not willing to adhere to these rules, mate, you can’t come.”