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Share your Spring DIY tips and Win with FrogTape

Share you’re spring DIY household tips and WIN 1 of 5 FrogTape bundles.  To find out how to enter, scroll down to the bottom.

This competition is now closed. Congratulations to our winners, Ian, Paul, Gwen, Carol And Diane who have all been notified.

Spring has truly sprung and for most of us that means – chocolate, bunnies and of course decorating.

As the Easter bank holiday approaches it’s the perfect time to give your home a little revamp and what better way than slipping on those old overalls and dusting off the paint brushes.

You will win a FrogTape bundle which will have 1 Multi Surface and 1 Delicate Surface inside.  Each prize set is worth around £15 from www.frogtape.co.uk

About FrogTape’s Product

Painting is not just the most cost effective way of making a huge change to your room but it is also the quickest – especially if you take time at the beginning of the project.  FrogTape’s innovative Multi Surface and Delicate Surface masking tape will ensure a professional look every time.

Using PaintBlock Technology which reacts with the moisture in paint to create a block preventing the paint from seeping under the masking tape, FrogTape keeps paint out and helps create crisp, straight edges everytime – Phew no more squint patterns for us!

Multi-surface (green roll) is perfect for use on: Emulsion walls, wood trim, glass and metal. While Delicate Surface (yellow roll) is ideal for use on: Wallpaper, freshly painted surfaces, newly plastered walls, treated wood, veneer, laminate, vinyl and more.

With the vibrant tape (so that you don’t miss it!) you can create professional stripes and mosaic – if you are brave enough to try? Plus the tape can be applied to a surface 21 days before you paint – talk about time saving!

FrogTape retails from just £7.59 and is available from Homebase, B&Q and all good DIY outlets.

How to enter to Win 1 0f 5 sets

1. Comment in our box below & share your Spring DIY household tips.

2. For an extra entry, Tweet, Like or Share on Google Plus.

The competition will end on 1st May 2014. Winners will be notified the following day. Good Luck!!


Please read the very long UnderTheChristmasTree Terms & Conditions.


120 Comments

  1. Angela Youngman
    April 2, 2014 / 9:14 am

    very useful

  2. paul stead
    April 2, 2014 / 9:17 am

    Put tape on a tile when drilling, it will stop it cracking.

  3. anne Jenkins
    April 2, 2014 / 9:28 am

    Put vinegar and baking soda down the plug holes of your sinks and then put a kettle of boiling water down for sparkling drains

  4. Margaret Spicke
    April 2, 2014 / 9:54 am

    You can only cut once, so measure at least twice

  5. Sharon Griffin
    April 2, 2014 / 9:54 am

    use bicarbonate of soda and white vinegar to clean up discoloured grout

  6. Stevie Fairbairn
    April 2, 2014 / 12:06 pm

    A new paint brush for cleaning is your friend. There is nowhere you cant dust.

  7. GLENDA PROFIT
    April 2, 2014 / 12:19 pm

    Take all your knick knacks off the shelves and dust thoroughly, then think one third returns to the shelves, one third goes to a charity shop and one third goes back to the place they were until you moved them!!! It makes a difference – I do the same with my clothes once a year, getting rid of those I will lose the weight and fit into these

  8. Linda Whitehouse
    April 2, 2014 / 12:30 pm

    a can of Coca Cola poured into the toilet overnight removes limescale

  9. James Kelly
    April 2, 2014 / 1:18 pm

    Get someone else to do it!

  10. Rebecca Gransden
    April 2, 2014 / 4:15 pm

    Pick out those small weeds now, before they turn into monsters.

  11. Lynne OConnor
    April 3, 2014 / 1:42 am

    Keep old toothbrushes for getting between tiles and into those awkward corners

  12. mary m
    April 4, 2014 / 4:43 pm

    Never put it off.

  13. Gwen Biviano
    April 6, 2014 / 8:35 am

    To clean silver, immerse in an Aluminium foil lined bowl of water and bicarbonate of soda.
    Amazing results without the hard work.

  14. Rachel Craig
    April 8, 2014 / 7:07 pm

    Lemon is useful for cleaning :- As it cuts through grease, whilst it smells fresh.

  15. jennifer k
    April 8, 2014 / 7:45 pm

    preparation , preparation ,preparation

  16. Gill Colling
    April 8, 2014 / 8:17 pm

    The hoe is your friend, 15 minutes of hoeing saves hours of weeding.
    Hoe your emerging annual weeds now and leave in the sun for free green manure.

  17. adele knight
    April 8, 2014 / 11:12 pm

    To get the pull cord on your blinds clean, wrap cord in cling film filled with bleach, scrunch up, leave overnight, rinse well, nice bright white!

  18. Carol Whitney
    April 9, 2014 / 5:32 pm

    When cleaning kitchen cupboards put cling film on the shelves to save you cleaning next time. Just
    remove the old cling film and replace.

  19. Sandy Hill-smith
    April 12, 2014 / 11:29 pm

    The jobs you’re putting off probably don’t take as long as you think! Try giving yourself permisssion to stop after 10 minutes – by then you’ll probably have got into it and be happy to keep going, but if not then you’re 10 minutes further on than you were and you can come back to it tomorrow 🙂

  20. Emma Harris
    April 13, 2014 / 12:52 am

    Lemon juice for limescale is a godsend. We live in a very hard water area so our sinks, bath and taps get coated in limescale very quickly. Just spray on, leave for 5-10 mins and it just wipes right off, smells great too.

  21. Sue Nicholl
    April 13, 2014 / 1:23 am

    Use white vinegar and cold water to clean windows and mirrors 50/50 solution – sparkling windows and mirrors really fast.

  22. tracy steer
    April 13, 2014 / 5:27 am

    preparation , preparation ,preparation

  23. Mary Hope
    April 13, 2014 / 7:36 am

    When drilling in to tiles, put a bit of frog tape where the hole is to be drilled. Then make a mark on the tape with a pencil where you want the hole to be. The tape will stop the drill from slipping and protects the surface of the tile.

  24. Catherine McAlinden
    April 13, 2014 / 7:51 am

    Buy a steam cleaner, it has changed my life!

  25. Amy
    April 13, 2014 / 7:53 am

    If you’ve got kids or pets use white vinegar as an alternative to weedkiller

  26. Nicola Richardson
    April 13, 2014 / 8:34 am

    Just about to paint my stairs, so this will be perfect xx

  27. Grace Newbould
    April 13, 2014 / 8:43 am

    Don’t rush

  28. Jo Jones
    April 13, 2014 / 8:55 am

    To remove the mould in bathrooms use lemon juice as a natural bleach agent. One part lemon juice & one part baking powder, apply paste, leave 2 hours & rinse off. Use lemon juice in a spray bottle for everyday lime scale remover on appliances, handles etc.

  29. Marycarol
    April 13, 2014 / 9:20 am

    Take one room at a time and give a real blitz because it can be overwhelming doing a wee bit here and there

  30. Marina Wilson
    April 13, 2014 / 9:33 am

    When u buy an oven,or clean your old one, mix some bicarbonate of soda and water to a paste and paint it on with a pastry brush. Next time you spill something, it just wipes off without chemicals. Repaint with bicarb paste each time. Saves lots of elbow grease.

  31. Leah Wheatley
    April 13, 2014 / 10:36 am

    When painting use maskin tape to get a clean sharp line for all your borders etc

  32. Jessica Wilde
    April 13, 2014 / 11:08 am

    After washing glasses in hard water areas, dip glasses in a very mild mix of warm water and vinegar to stop limescale marks forming on the rim.

  33. S Hitchener
    April 13, 2014 / 11:15 am

    Always use frog tape when cutting in paint. It makes me hopping mad when I get paint on the ceiling!!

  34. Bernie
    April 13, 2014 / 12:25 pm

    Think carefully before you decorate! It’s heartbreaking to do a great job but find you really don’t like the colour!! In our case I normally go at least one shade lighter then my eye tells me too and normally love the results – but I’ve made some duff choices in the past.

  35. Carol Massey
    April 13, 2014 / 1:59 pm

    use old toothbrushes for cleaning the fidly bits behind taps and around toilets

  36. Dawn Totton
    April 13, 2014 / 2:47 pm

    Double check measurements before buying supplies and starting the work.

  37. A James
    April 13, 2014 / 3:38 pm

    White vinegar gets rid of nasty pet smells

  38. darren hay
    April 13, 2014 / 7:12 pm

    Use tape on tiles to stop the drill bit slipping and to stop the tile cracking

  39. CAROL PATRICK
    April 13, 2014 / 7:26 pm

    Put a little dishwasher rinse aid into a bowl or bucket of warm water and use this to wash your windows. They will gleam and be streak free and they seem to stay cleaner for longer.

  40. Caroline H
    April 13, 2014 / 7:26 pm

    Straightforward, relatively cheap sugar soap really is the quickest way to give woodwork a thorough clean.

  41. sarah birkett
    April 13, 2014 / 9:00 pm

    Just do one room at a time, and then you will see your results more quickly

  42. Hassina begum
    April 13, 2014 / 9:49 pm

    Take your time when doing DIY jobs so you don’t mistakes.

  43. Victoria
    April 13, 2014 / 10:03 pm

    let the shower run warm for a few minutes before cleaning the bathroom – the steam helps shift grime.

  44. cecelia Allen
    April 13, 2014 / 10:30 pm

    If you need to move heavy furniture to clean underneath, on wooden or vinyl flooring like chests or wardrobes, place a clean folded towel under either side and it will slide easily. If it is on carpet place some clean heavy duty polythene underneath in the same way and it is easier to move.

  45. Vakhida
    April 14, 2014 / 11:06 am

    Remove rust spots from your kitchen knives by soaking them in lemon juice

  46. Vicky S
    April 14, 2014 / 3:03 pm

    Be ruthless when clearing out. Not touched it since last year? Do you actually need it then?

  47. Tracy Newton
    April 14, 2014 / 7:32 pm

    Walk around each room at a time and write down every thing that needs doing. Then tackle each job one at a time. It is less stressful than trying to tackle everything at once.

  48. Emma Baker
    April 14, 2014 / 7:39 pm

    it’s just the tip that gets dull on a utility knife blade. When it does, snap off the tip with pliers and you’re in business again!!

  49. Katie W
    April 15, 2014 / 1:12 am

    When doing diy research is key for me to look for tips esp if its a task you have never done before, plenty of fantastic information, the skill is weeding out the rubbish though

  50. Helen Grayson
    April 15, 2014 / 12:17 pm

    When you have a paint pot, tie a piece of string around the tin and use this to wipe off the excess paint. This stops it from getting on the rim and makes the paint easier to open next time 🙂

  51. John
    April 15, 2014 / 5:39 pm

    Measure twice, cut once

  52. john bratton
    April 20, 2014 / 7:19 am

    get someone else to do it for you

  53. Linsdey C
    April 20, 2014 / 7:58 am

    A bit of company always helps – my Mum and Dad come to stay for a DIY weekend and we blitz everything in a day

  54. Eddy Keeling
    April 20, 2014 / 10:26 am

    Make sure you look after your paint brushes and they will always provide a good finish

  55. Sally Collingwood
    April 20, 2014 / 11:20 am

    White Vinegar gets rid of limescale, stains and kills weeds.

  56. iain maciver
    April 20, 2014 / 11:37 am

    Measure twice, cut once

  57. David Pickstock
    April 20, 2014 / 2:36 pm

    Paint ceiling before wallls to prevent spray on newly paintedwalls.

  58. felicity
    April 20, 2014 / 2:44 pm

    Buy a goat hair radiator brush – it cleans downs inside the radiators so well, especially after you have been redecorating

  59. DAWN ADAMS
    April 20, 2014 / 2:55 pm

    Place the shower head in a Sandwich bag of White Vinegar, it really does remove all the muck. One of those jobs that looks worse than it is.

  60. Hazel Rea
    April 20, 2014 / 2:55 pm

    Always wear the right safety equipment (mask etc.)/use a circuit breaker etc.

    Make sure you have enough materials to finish the job or work from highly visible areas to less visible areas – different batches can have slight colour variations.

  61. Roger Owen
    April 20, 2014 / 3:09 pm

    Adopt a ‘little and often’ approach to DIY – otherwise it will all get too much!

  62. Rachel Craig
    April 20, 2014 / 7:52 pm

    Emulsion and paint luckily have improved over the years. I would recommend considering those which haven’t got a strong smell. As I believe they are easier to work with, though still ensure ventilation is available. Whilst they may also be kinder (gentler) on the respiratory and immune system etc.

    Also I prefer to make use of emulsion and paint for condensation and dampness. These seem especially good for kitchen and bathroom. As well as woodwork around glass windows etc.

  63. Christine Ball
    April 20, 2014 / 8:53 pm

    If you immerse old copper coins (especially pre-decimal) in vinegar and leave them to soak for a while, it brings them up almost sparkling new

  64. Laura Pritchard
    April 21, 2014 / 12:39 pm

    Fill a sandwich bag with white vinegar & wrap it round your showerhead/tabs to remove limescale.

  65. Angie Hoggett
    April 21, 2014 / 1:13 pm

    put together a mood board first to get all your ideas in one place before buying

  66. susan miller
    April 22, 2014 / 1:15 am

    will come in very useful for some of the jobs i have got lined up for hubby to do at home 😉

  67. Carol Bell
    April 22, 2014 / 5:06 pm

    Invest in some 00 gauge steel wool – tough enough to remove grime and stains but not so rough as to cause scratches – great for cleaning the glass in wood burning stoves and removing baked on fat from oven/ barbeque racks.

  68. Kuli
    April 23, 2014 / 3:08 pm

    BUY EVERYTHING YOU NEED BEFORE YOU START.

  69. William Gould
    April 23, 2014 / 4:30 pm

    Take time to think through and plan before you start anything. Make sure you have everything to hand to ensure you don’t have to stop to look for something. Oh, and measure twice, cut once!

  70. David C
    April 24, 2014 / 6:18 pm

    Not trying to think no one will notice it if you can see it then they may will

  71. Christina Palmer
    April 26, 2014 / 11:58 am

    Keep hold of your old toothbrushes. Works wonders for cleaning around those difficult areas around water taps. Also very useful for cleaning around the Knobs on your oven and edges of gas burning rings

  72. TRACY MOORE
    April 26, 2014 / 1:47 pm

    To clean the top of a hob where food has spilt or burnt in, use Bicarbonate of Soda & water. It cleans quickly & effectively.

  73. Holly
    April 26, 2014 / 2:24 pm

    Wrap your used paintbrushes in cling film if you are going to use them the next day that way they won’t dry out or go hard

  74. helena
    April 26, 2014 / 3:11 pm

    sweep with wet broom on carpets before hoovering will pick up pet hairs quickly

  75. Karen Holden-Craufurd
    April 26, 2014 / 3:35 pm

    Prize would be very useful for my multi paned kitchen door where I always get paint on the glass. Its going to get a new coat of paint as soon as the weather allows.

  76. kelly-ann murray
    April 26, 2014 / 5:45 pm

    Plan ahead, and have everything ready that you might need.

  77. Rebecca Jones
    April 26, 2014 / 9:52 pm

    Invest in a steam mop, couldn’t live without mine, no hassle and much cleaner, I clean my floors more often now as it is so easy!

  78. Eleanor Powell
    April 27, 2014 / 10:34 pm

    most cleaning jobs can be done without chemicals, vinegar and lemon juice are brilliant and can save you a fortune

  79. Solange
    April 28, 2014 / 3:48 am

    To keep your washing machine limescale-free, pour a bottle of white vinegar into the drum and start the cycle. It will do the job cheaply.

  80. melanie allen
    April 28, 2014 / 4:39 pm

    white vinegar and newspapers to clean the windows

  81. Joanne Jackson
    April 29, 2014 / 4:25 pm

    microfibre cloths when cleaning mirrors or windows

  82. Emily Hutchinson
    April 29, 2014 / 4:36 pm

    Work slowly and use masking tape even if you’re sure you won’t paint over the edges!

  83. Helen Allan
    April 29, 2014 / 6:10 pm

    If you’ve not quite finished a painting job and want to carry on another day, don’t worry about washing out the brushes, roller and paint tray, just wrap the whole lot up in a bin bag and this will stop everything drying out so you can pick up right where you left off and save yourself a whole load of hassle.

  84. Janet Rumley
    April 29, 2014 / 7:03 pm

    Old toothbrushes should be saved and used for fiddly bits eg behind taps

  85. Jayne K
    April 29, 2014 / 11:13 pm

    Cheap baby wipes for quick cleaning of small stains

  86. Monika S
    April 30, 2014 / 12:09 am

    when washing windows add a little bit of vinegar to rinsing water , this will make glass sparkling clean and as added bonus will stop the windows from steaming

  87. Naomi Buchan
    April 30, 2014 / 5:34 am

    Diet Coke is great for cutting through stubborn grease, i use it to soak grill racks and it works a treat x

  88. kate andrews
    April 30, 2014 / 8:53 am

    Score the wallpaper and spray with a stripping solution, it should come off a lot easier

  89. April 30, 2014 / 8:53 am

    ive just converted the understairs space, to a bunny house

  90. Ros Irwin
    April 30, 2014 / 9:18 am

    use white vinegar with water and a few drops of washing up liquid to clean the windows and polish off with newspaper for a sparkling and streak free finish

  91. Andrew Hindley
    April 30, 2014 / 11:02 am

    Every house needs a great dust brush: Look for one made with a natural fiber—over time it will build up an electrostatic charge that collects dust easily. The hairs should be dense, flexible, and soft, and if you clean it with baby shampoo it’ll last forever.

  92. ray patrice
    April 30, 2014 / 11:39 am

    always useful

  93. Diane
    April 30, 2014 / 12:15 pm

    Don’t be tempted to start decorating wearing anything that you’re not prepared to have ruined. Spending five minutes changing out of your favourite jeans and into your old baggy jogging bottoms will save you much heartache when you find yourself splattered in paint.

  94. Liz Marriott
    April 30, 2014 / 12:35 pm

    if in doubt for cleaning, try vinegar

  95. Helen M
    April 30, 2014 / 12:53 pm

    Use a comb to hold nails in place when hammering, rather than risking your fingers!

  96. April 30, 2014 / 1:13 pm

    Paint in the spring/summer when you can have all the windows open.

  97. Kelly Hooper
    April 30, 2014 / 2:26 pm

    measure twice cut once

  98. Tamsin Dean
    April 30, 2014 / 3:19 pm

    prepare in advance as much as possible as it makes things easier later.

  99. SHAZZ
    April 30, 2014 / 4:12 pm

    Use newspapers to clean windows.

  100. Clint Howat
    April 30, 2014 / 6:54 pm

    You can only cut once, so measure at least twice.

  101. Hannah Smith
    April 30, 2014 / 7:26 pm

    Before you start a job make sure you’ve got everything you need to finish it.

  102. Danika Lloyd
    April 30, 2014 / 8:10 pm

    declutter for just 15 minutes a day throughout spring and your junk room / garage etc. will be like new!

  103. karen d
    April 30, 2014 / 8:14 pm

    preparation really does make all the difference!

  104. Gilla01
    April 30, 2014 / 8:52 pm

    It’s easier to get a professional in most of the time.

  105. Kristy Brown
    April 30, 2014 / 9:57 pm

    Wipe some essential oils on light bulbs for instant airfreshener when the lights are on

  106. Deborah Gilbody
    April 30, 2014 / 10:34 pm

    To remove limescale from tap spouts put descaler on a cotton wool pad, wrap around the tap and leave overnight. Very stubborn limescale may need a bit of persuasion with an old toothbrush in the morning. (But remember to warn your husband in case it’s the same night he decides to have a drink in the middle of the night without switching the light on.)

  107. Louise A
    April 30, 2014 / 11:25 pm

    when getting ready to do DIY make sure you have everything you need for a particular job..e.g. nothing worse than realising you have no white spirit at the end of a painting job!

  108. Chris Williams
    April 30, 2014 / 11:27 pm

    use ducktape to hold a bag under your drill when drilling it saves a lot of mess.

  109. Ali Thorpe
    April 30, 2014 / 11:35 pm

    Remember to remove masking tape before paint dries.

  110. Vicki Stapley
    April 30, 2014 / 11:46 pm

    When you have finished painting for the day put the rollers & trays in a sealed carrier bag & they will be ready to use again tomorrow.

  111. Lucy Smith
    May 1, 2014 / 12:45 pm

    wrap paint brushes in cling film to use thr next day without cleaning them

  112. Alisa Moore
    May 1, 2014 / 1:30 pm

    Dry paintbrushes by hanging upside down

  113. Jo C
    May 1, 2014 / 1:31 pm

    Don’t paint the same day as sanding – you’ll get bits/dust on your new paintwork!

  114. Adam King
    May 1, 2014 / 1:39 pm

    Use good quality equipment (brushes, masking tape etc); it’s worth it.

  115. Ian Murray
    May 1, 2014 / 3:04 pm

    Hire a cleaner??

  116. Mary Campbell
    May 1, 2014 / 3:22 pm

    A regular lick of paint does wonders for keeping the house looking fresh and bright. Also, always check your eaves and guttering as a clean exterior of the house gives a positive impression to the outside world.

  117. Lydia Graham
    May 1, 2014 / 6:45 pm

    Measure twice, cut once

  118. rebecca foster
    May 1, 2014 / 9:14 pm

    Always make sure you have the right tool for the job you are going to be doing

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