Maintaining your Curtains after Cleaning
Keep your newly revived curtains looking fresher for as long as possible with our tips!
Minimise the food sources that encourage mould growth
• Clean soft furnishings regularly according to the manufacturer's instructions. This usually involves a regular light vacuum, with less frequent dry cleaning or laundering.
• Regularly clean windows and wipe down window surrounds and venetian blinds or shutters with a mild detergent in warm water.
• Consider selecting window coverings manufactured from man-made materials, particularly in damp areas such as the bathroom, kitchen and on south facing windows.
Minimise moisture in your home
• Use lids on pots and pans when cooking.
• Never hang clothes to dry inside and vent your clothes drier to the outside.
• Keep your roof, cladding and guttering in good repair.
• Check that stormwater is being discharged to an appropriate outlet.
• Check plumbing for leaks.
• Replace any unflued gas heaters with flued gas or electric heaters.
• Avoid bringing wet clothes or shoes into your home.
Ventilate your home to reduce moisture build-up in the air
• Open north facing doors and windows when you are home during the day, even during the colder months.
• Use exhaust fans in areas where water vapour is created (e.g. the kitchen and bathroom).
• If all else fails, consider a heat recovery ventilation system to replace stale damp air with fresh air.
Maintain an even inside temperature throughout your home to prevent moist air from condensing onto cold areas like windows
• Insulate ceilings, floors and, where possible, walls.
• Improve the insulative properties of your windows by closing your curtains/blinds as soon as the sun goes down each day.
• Replace any thin or unlined window coverings with quality thermal or lined curtains or roman blinds.
• Fit your curtains or blinds as close to the wall as possible to trap air against the window and take your curtains all the way to the floor to prevent air circulating out from under the curtain
• If you are planning any home renovations, consider upgrading joinery to double glazing or installing a retrofitted secondary glazing.
Spring gardening tips
Dreaming of a garden bursting with colour and fresh produce? Shane Fairbairn, Ryman Healthcare’s Landscape Manager, shares his top tips to make it happen. You’ll be set to create a gorgeous, relaxing space in no time - grab your trowel, and let’s dig in.
Click read more for more information.
Poll: Do you think NZ should ban social media for youth?
The Australian Prime Minister has expressed plans to ban social media use for children.
This would make it illegal for under 16-year-olds to have accounts on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
Social media platforms would be tasked with ensuring children have no access (under-age children and their parents wouldn’t be penalised for breaching the age limit)
.
Do you think NZ should follow suit? Vote in our poll and share your thoughts below.
-
84% Yes
-
14.7% No
-
1.3% Other - I'll share below
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.