How to spring clean like a traveller: I spent years living on a caravan site with my MMA fighter partner and these are the household hacks I learned

by

As someone who’s always looking for clever ways to make life easier, I’ve picked up some amazing cleaning tips – and the source is pretty unexpected! My ex was a traveller and a cage fighter, and his family had a knack for keeping things spotless, even on the go. They shared some seriously effective hacks with me, and I’m excited to share them with you. It just goes to show, you can learn life lessons – and cleaning secrets – from anyone!

The radio presenter, who is Jessie Wallace’s younger sister, had an on-again, off-again relationship with cage fighter Tony Giles for nearly a decade, from 2010 to 2019. They have two children together: Rudy, age 14, and Delilah, age 12.

I’ve always been fascinated by Danielle’s story! She really came into her own when she was with Tony – I even saw their wedding on My Big Fat Gypsy Weddings! Living with the traveller community for those two years, she became an absolute expert at cleaning – it’s incredible what she learned and how skilled she became.

Oh my gosh, Danielle was practically raised by Tony’s mum! She always said they weren’t officially married, but Danielle learned everything from her – it was a whole lifestyle. Seriously, every single day started at 7am with cleaning, all day long, while Tony was off working. It wasn’t just housework, it was… a way of life, a whole set of skills she picked up. She really learned the ropes from the inside, you know?

This meant a thorough cleaning of the entire house, inside and out—including washing the roof, cleaning the exterior windows every day, and scrubbing the porches.

Danielle transformed her talent for cleaning into a successful business, Miss Mason Cleaning, which she showcases on Instagram. She’s even expanded her reach by appearing as a presenter on QVC.

Danielle, known for her spotless home – from sparkling windows to a gleaming oven – has revealed the cleaning secrets she learned from Tony’s mother and other members of her community. These tips include things like consistently removing shoes at the door and effective methods for tackling tough messes like water stains and grease.

Danielle’s domestic cleaning tips

Streak-free windows

You know, I always say a clean home is a happy home, but even I have those moments where it feels like a never-ending cycle! Just yesterday, I spent time cleaning my windows on Monday, and honestly, they looked like they needed another go by Tuesday. It’s a reminder that some chores just need constant attention – especially with things like windows!

This often happened because kids playing outdoors would touch people’s windows, leaving fingerprints.

The simplest and most affordable way to get sparkling clean windows is to wash them with a damp cloth and a bucket of warm, soapy water.

Danielle explained that the windows of the chalet get cleaned daily by the women, mainly because the children constantly leave fingerprints on them.

Fluffy towels

I’ve always admired Danielle – she really made our house a home. It wasn’t just about being clean, but about making everyone, especially her kids and Tony, feel pampered. She always insisted on having the fluffiest, most luxurious towels – seriously, they felt like something you’d find in a fancy hotel! It was her little way of making life special.

Danielle recommends only filling the washing machine drum about halfway to keep clothes in good condition after washing.

Use half as much detergent as normal and use a few drops of white vinegar and run a cycle on 40C.

After washing, she suggested tossing the towels in the dryer with some scented balls to keep them smelling fresh.

Hotel-crisp sheets

Danielle shared a surprising tip for getting hotel-quality sheets: it’s not about how you wash them, but how you dry them.

She explained that the method works by letting sheets air dry and then smoothing out wrinkles while they’re still a little wet.

Danielle suggests ironing items while they’re still slightly damp, and then finishing with a spritz of linen spray for a fresh scent.

Couch cleaning

Danielle explained that people used to be ashamed if their house was untidy or if they hadn’t cleaned it properly.

She explained that with Tony’s entire family – his mother, sisters, nieces, and nephews – staying in nearby chalets, they were open to unexpected visitors at any moment.

They always felt pressured to have a perfectly clean house, because they never knew when family or friends might unexpectedly drop in.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m always sharing little secrets to make hosting easier, and this is a good one! I always make sure my couch looks inviting for guests. My trick? I quickly wipe down the fabric with a mix of hot water and a lovely-smelling cleaner. It keeps things fresh and plump – instant cozy factor!

Danielle suggests keeping sofas fresh by either quickly wiping them down, including the cushions, or covering them with plastic.

If your sofa is looking worn, Danielle suggests first cleaning it with a fabric cleaner, then using a steam cleaner, and finally wiping it down with fabric softener.

Red wine stains

Red wine spills can be stressful, but Danielle has shared a surprisingly easy and affordable solution.

If you spill something, she suggests quickly soaking up as much liquid as possible with a thick cloth, and then covering the stain with salt.

After leaving overnight, she advised hoovering the remains and then wiping down with white vinegar.

Degreasing the oven

The oven can be a backbreaking task as grease builds up after every use.

But for Danielle, there is a much easier way to clean it without using too much elbow grease.

To really clean your oven, she suggests mixing baking soda and water into a paste. Cover the inside of the oven with the paste and let it sit overnight.

In the morning, spray the baking soda with white vinegar and use a steam cleaner to finish off.

For a quick daily clean, the mom of two suggests slicing lemons, placing them in a dish of hot water, and using the steam to clean the inside of your oven.

She confirmed that ‘lemons and white vinegar are the tricks of the trade’.

Watermarks on shower walls

Cleaning water spots off shower doors is a task many people put off because it can be time-consuming and hard on your back.

Danielle says she always uses Viakal limescale spray and white vinegar because they’re so effective and save her a lot of work.

She recommended cleaning the glass by spraying it with vinegar and limescale remover, letting it sit overnight, and then wiping it clean the next morning.

Danielle explained that she doesn’t always do this work alone. Within the traveller community, girls are taught cleaning skills from a young age by their mothers and other women.

She believes young girls naturally learn to keep things tidy as toddlers, and by age 12, they should be capable of cleaning a whole house effectively.

Danielle’s daughter continues to help her grandmother with cleaning during visits, and is still picking up valuable skills from her.

Pan cleaning

After only a few months of cooking, pans can easily become stained and develop a stubborn black buildup on the bottom.

Instead of spending time and effort scrubbing pans with steel wool – which can actually harm them – Danielle has shared a simple method for restoring them to their original condition.

To clean the pan, she suggested spreading Pink Stuff Miracle Cleaning Paste all over it with an old toothbrush, and then gently scrubbing away any dirt or buildup.

Danielle has tried lots of cleaning methods over the years, but she says white vinegar is a simple, affordable product that works wonders for most household cleaning.

Danielle initially became well-known through the reality show My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding. She’s also worked as a glamour model and made an appearance on The Jeremy Kyle Show back in 2008.

Read More

2026-04-03 20:22