Cleaning Tips
In order to give you the greatest value, we ask you to take a few minutes the night
before to pick up extraneous clothing, toys and other household items. Below are
some household cleaning tips from our professionals to get the most out of your
next house cleaning:
General Home Cleaning Tips
Dedicate 5 minutes a day to checking your home’s cleanliness. Use anti-bacterial
wipes to quickly remove stains, spills or smears. Keep your general cleaning supplies
close at hand, preferably in a tote to carry the supplies together. Keep bathroom
cleaning supplies on a bathroom shelf, kitchen cleaning supplies in the kitchen
cabinet, etc. Use professional-quality cleaning products. The products are very
efficient and work well on most surfaces. It is extremely important to read the
label on the product to confirm the product is appropriate to use on a specific
surface. Use a routine to clean. Go from top to bottom in the room, and work your
way to the right around the room. Start at the same place every time so you do not
miss anything.
Kitchen Cleaning Tips
Stick to a system of working left to right, from the top to the bottom, starting
with the top of the refrigerator (the most often-missed surface!). And after using
stainless steel cleaner for your stainless steel sink, buff it with a dry cloth
to really make it shine. Water, mild detergent and a sponge is all you need to clean
a microwave oven; avoid harsh or abrasive cleaning agents. Unplug and pull the refrigerator/freezer
out three to four times a year to clean underneath. Vacuum the front of the motor
and coils to remove dust and dirt. Your refrigerator will work better longer. A
small cotton ball with a few drops of vanilla on it will eliminate odors when placed
in your refrigerator.
Bathroom Cleaning Tips
Before cleaning, use a dry tissue to pick up loose hairs in tubs and sinks nicely.
Then use glass cleaner on tile walls and ceramic fixtures for clean, shiny surfaces.
Carpet Cleaning Tips
A small whisk broom will help you clean the carpet edges around the outside of each
room and in corners. Can't find the source of a pet odor on your carpet or furniture?
Darken the room, and then aim a black light at the source of odors which will glow. If you
spill either red or white wine on carpet, believe it or not, use salt! Pour salt
over the spill. Allow the wine to soak into the salt and then vacuum up the salt.
If the stain remains, mix 1/2 tsp of dishwashing soap with 8 oz of warm water. Apply
a small amount, then blot and repeat until the stain is completely removed. Cover
the stain with a towel and press down repeatedly to absorb the stain and the soap.
Once the stain is completely removed, rinse the area with cold water. Blot with
a dry terrycloth towel and repeat if necessary until all the moisture and residue
is removed. If the spot or stain turns to a brown color when dry, mix 1 part white
vinegar and two parts water. Apply a small amount and blot. Repeat only once.
Wood Floors
Always remember to use a very dry mop when you mop hardwood floors. This prevents
moisture from leaking between boards in the floor.
Resilent Floors
When mopping, use two mop buckets: one for the cleaning solution and one to rinse
your mop. The dirt and sand from your mop will wash out and settle in the rinse
bucket, keeping the cleaning solution cleaner longer. To remove a water-based stain
from a marble surface, mix ½ cup of flour and add 1 tsp. of hydrogen peroxide. To
remove an oil-based stain from a marble surface, mix ½ cup of flour and some dishwashing
soap (a few squeezes of the bottle will do the trick!). Pour warm water into the
mixture until the consistency is thick and no longer runny. Spread the substance
over the stain and cover it with clear plastic wrap. Tape the wrap to the floor
and let it settle overnight. Remove it in the morning and let the mixture dry. Scrape
the mixture off the marble once dry.
Upholstery Cleaning Tips
A lint remover with tape strips is a great way to remove loose hair, dirt and particles
from the fabric on your sofa and chairs. It puts less pressure on the upholstery
than a regular lint brush, pulling dirt away rather than pushing it into the fabric
weave. Windows & Mirrors You need not clean your windows and mirrors more frequently
than on a monthly basis. It is less work yet still prevents buildup from occurring.
Only use ammonia or alcohol-based window cleaners to efficiently remove dirt and
grease while minimizing smearing or streaking. A dry newspaper works better than
paper towels to clean wet windows and prevent streaking.