Love April Fool's Day pranks but hate the clean-up?  Not to worry, say the cleaning experts at MOLLY MAID who share a few tricks of their own here to help you tackle two particularly icky stains.

• Vaseline  - Spreading Vaseline on a door knob can get a few good laughs, but then someone goes and wipes their hands on their shirt. It's best to pre-treat the stain before you wash it. Here's how:
  • Remove as much of the Vaseline as possible without spreading the stain.
  • Gently dab a small amount of liquid dish soap onto the stained area, and let it sit for five minutes.
  • Rinse thoroughly to flush out the soap and any remaining Vaseline.
  • Apply your usual stain removal spray, then toss the shirt into the washer with a regular load of laundry.
• Urine  - Some people still pull the 'hand in a warm cup of water' prank... yikes! While most people think urine is a stain that can't be removed, MOLLY MAID actually has a tried-and-true cleaning method that you can use to remove both the odour and stain from a mattress (if you have young kids) or carpets (if you've got pets).  
  • Mix one part white vinegar and two parts liquid dish soap.
  • Generously apply mixture to the stain with a clean, dry microfibre cloth and let sit for 30 minutes.
  • Take a clean, wet microfibre cloth and pull up as much of the soap mixture as you can.
  • Sprinkle the wet area with baking soda and leave for several hours (or overnight if possible), then vacuum the remainder of the baking soda.

As winter slowly turns into spring, the dust in your home seems to become more obvious. The fact there is more sunlight is one reason (sun seems to make dust shine too!). The other reason may be that your home is becoming a little cluttered; with the weather lately we don't know if we should have winter boots and coats or running shoes and sweaters, so everything is being pulled out of the closet frequently!

How can you keep things more pristine? 

It's almost time for your spring cleaning, so tackling the clutter is going to make a huge difference. Regular cleaning and light surface dusting will also help maintain a dust-free, beautiful home. You can even ask kids to help out; suggest they dust their own rooms and turn it into a game.) 

Here are other tips that will help keep your home dust-free:

• Use door mats to prevent dust and dirt from entering your home.
• Brush your pets because they bring in a lot of dirt and debris too.  Brushing them regularly will minimise the amount of dander and pet hair in your home.
• Use a microfibre cloth. MOLLY MAID cleaners use microfibre cloths because they work so well and capture even the tiniest dust particles.
• Go over dusted areas with fabric softener sheets. The anti-static component in the sheets helps prevent further dust build-up and can easily take the place of more expensive electrostatic cloths. But be careful not to use these on sensitive electronic items such as televisions and computers.
• Don't forget windows and blinds - close all of your blinds and briskly dust them off all at once.
• Always dust top to bottom, left to right. This ensures that you won't go over surfaces multiple times and the dust won't fall onto a surface you've already cleaned.

The cold weather may mean you are snuggling more often with your pooch... but those slobbery kisses and panting in your face are a huge reminder that a dog's breath can be pretty nasty. Here are 3 easy tricks to help freshen your dog's breath (and it won't cost a fortune!)

1. RAW BONES: If you don't brush your dog's teeth regularly (and vets do recommend that you do) help keep your dog's teeth clean by stocking raw bones.Chewing and gnawing on bones helps clean your dog's teeth and that helps to get rid of the plaque and germ build-up - that cause bad breath. An added bonus? Your dog will love the treat! Check with a butcher or grocery store meat department.
2. CLEAN BOWLS: Food and water bowls are actually an ideal environment for bacteria, which is a major cause of bad breath in dogs. The maid service experts at MOLLY MAID recommend that you wash out your dog's bowls at least every other day to prevent bacterial growth.
3. FRESH WATER: Lastly, remember to regularly change your dog's water. Having clean water helps rinse out your dog's mouth and prevents the ingestion of dirt and other items that may have fallen in the bowl.

If you need to remove pet hair from a carpet or chair, put on a pair of latex gloves and rub the surface with the pet hair on it - the pet hair should stick to your gloves.

This will also work with rubber gloves or cloth gardening gloves that have a rubber coating on the palm. (A rubber bristle push broom can work in the same way on floors.) For increased effectiveness, dampen the glove or rubber section of the gloves.

If you don't have gloves, dig out that package of birthday balloons. Blow up a balloon and tie off the end. Rub it across the surface that has pet hair on it. The static on the balloon's surface will attract the hair, which you can collect with your other hand. Then, re-use the balloon to get more hair (just think of the fun your kids could have...) 

The milder weather means that instead of struggling to get your muddy pooch into the bathtub (and leaving a mess throughout the house as you get there), you can move the doggie bath outdoors!

The maid service experts at MOLLY MAID provide these 5 easy ways to make bath time more enjoyable for you and your pet.

1. Be Prepared. Gather all the essentials you'll need ahead of time and put them outside near the hose. You'll need a pet brush, shampoo, leash, towels, etc. Having all your tools in one place will help make the bathing process run more smoothly.

2. Brush Out Excess Fur. Before you bathe your dog, brush them outside. This helps keep pet hair and dirt out of your house. Then, gather up the excess fur and add it to your compost container.  Or, spread it around the edge of your vegetable garden - the fur will help keep out wild animals. Raccoons and rabbits don't like the scent of a dog and will hopefully leave your garden alone.

3. Be Firm. Take control of your dog by asserting yourself from the beginning. Have your dog stand or sit or use their leash to keep them in one place while you turn on the water.

4. Wet, Shampoo, Rinse. Test the water temperature, then wet your pup from head to toe. Apply the dog shampoo (you can buy it at a pet store or grocery store). Once lathered, work the shampoo in for a couple of minutes - what a nice massage for your pet!  Rinse thoroughly.

5. Dry. Use old towels to remove as much moisture from your pet's fur as possible. But once you let your dog go, stand back - they'll definitely want to shake out as well. Then, let the warm sun dry the rest!

Note: If your dog doesn't enjoy getting bathed  at home, you could take them to a doggie spa to help them get used to the process.