Posted by: in cleaning tips on June 20th, 2010

Like migratory bird patterns, humans find the changing of the seasons to be a time when our thoughts turn to spring cleaning. What seasonal patterns have to do with keeping our homes clean is a mystery, but it continues to be a factor nonetheless. It’s almost as if we only recognize the dirt, dust, clutter and debris only at certain times of the year.

After seeing my brother-in-law’s home however, I’m grateful for any reason, that would make him want to clean that filthy disgusting bathroom. [Smile]

The bathroom should be regularly cleaned if only to keep germs under control. There are some cleaning chores that can be done on a somewhat longer schedule than the weekly cleaning.

1. Take a look under the bathroom sink and you probably see a good collection of half used personal hygiene products. Go through each and every one of them and decide if they’re worth keeping. Some products like medicated shampoos and possibly suntan lotions are good to keep handy. That green strawberry mint flavored shampoo that promised that men would go wild but only gave you a rash could probably be tossed into the garbage.

2. Take a look at how you store all the paper goods to the bathroom. Are they organized and easily snagged when needed? If not, maybe it’s time to give those boxes of facial tissue and rolls of toilet paper, a place of their own.

3. Next up are the washcloths and towels. If you’re like most of us, we tend never to discard old towels. We end up with a pile of towels and actually only use the first one or two. If this sounds like you, take stock in how many towels and face cloths you actually need and send the rest to the rag box.

4. If you’re cabinet has drawers, they’re probably filled with miscellaneous hair decorations, bands, pins etc. Go through them and anything not used in the last 2 years should be thrown out.

5. Vacuum the inside of the vanity cabinet and drawers to remove hair and lose dirt. Heck, give them a good cleaning by getting one of those old washcloths damp with clear water.

6. Wash the liquid soap container or soap dish. Come on, you know that thing is disgusting, especially if you have children.

7. Use a vinegar solution or commercial product like CLR to remove bathroom scum and hard water deposits from bathtub or shower enclosures. Take down and wash any fabric shower curtains.

8. Use a 10% bleach solution in a spray bottle to remove any mold buildup in the tub area.

9. Check everything in the medicine cabinet and throw away any prescription or over-the-counter drugs that have passed their effective expiration date.

10. Replace that disgusting toilet brush with a new one.

By following through on this quick list, you will find a lot a lot less cluttered bathroom. Visit the site below for more information on how your vacuum cleaner can be used to speed up many household cleaning chores and find more quick house cleaning tips.

Posted by: in cleaning tips on June 16th, 2010

When it comes to House Cleaning Tips maintaining your kitchen worktop surfaces is essential to a fabulous and stunning kitchen. But looking fabulous is not the only purpose it has, afterall, it has a an everyday essential use, and regular cleaning is a task that requires regular attention. So here are brilliant Home Cleaning Tips for a range of alternative surfaces one finds in the kitchen.

General Surfaces

It helps to clean as you go, using a mild cleaner (washing up detergent and water in a spray) or anti-bacterial substance. Remember that, this is where most of the food handling occurs.I think it is very important that you should wipe your kitchen work top surfaces on a regular basis.

Kitchen Tiles

Kitchen tiles also need cleaning, and sometimes can be the work surface in your kitchen, so, one should be cleaning, again either with mild cleaner as above or antibacterial spray. In addition, if there is grout, one will want to make up a cleaning substance consisting of water and bleach (a 1:4 ratio of bleach and water). Consider utilising an old toothbrush, as it is brilliant for getting into the narrow grout.

Laminate Surfaces

Laminate can be wiped down and cleaned as normal, with particular hard stains, it is my considered opinion that a cream cleaner works wonders. If you do not want to use a cream cleaner you can make up a paste of bicarbonate of soda and washing up liquid.

Wood surfaces

Wooden surfaces require oiling on a regular basis. It is essential to halt the wood taking on too much water. Deal with any spills from food that stains, such as curry or tomato sauce with haste. Remember a mild cleaner, and antibacterial cleaner is fine for wood surfaces. You need to rub firmly, and you will have your wood kitchen worktops appearing beautiful.

Glazed Tiles

If you have opted for special tiles – such as glazed tiles, one must make sure to make sure one is not using anything that maybe abrasive or corrosive.

Stainless steel surfaces.

Stainless steel work surfaces can look brilliant, but one will find one having to deal with fingermarks everywhere. A good microfibre cloth is brilliant at eradicating the nightmare of finger prints. Some people find that all they need to do is use some baby oil (in very small dosages), then the fingermarks soon be eradicated in no time. With metal surfaces do not utilise any abrasive or harsh cleaners and cleaning material as you will only scratch and damage the your stainless steel pride and joy.

Granite surfaces

Most people view the granite kitchen worktop as the toughest of the kitchen surfaces. Granite surfaces mostly avoid staining, and can look fantastic. It is essential to maintain and you still need to clean on a regular basis as per the instructions above, and mild cleaner is all you need. Further, like surfaces made from stainless steel you must make sure that you are not opting for the use of cleaners and cloths that are likely to damage the surface as you do not want to create scratches the kitchen worktop.

For me, family life often evolves round the kitchen, and a clean kitchen is a healthy kitchen, and should be respected and enjoyed. Therefore, always keep the place looking lovely. Follow these great House Cleaning Tips and wipe and tidy regularly and one will find one has somewhere where you can have lots of fun and enjoy being in.

Posted by: in cleaning tips on June 15th, 2010

Some people also like to clean their leather furniture and accessories regularly, in order to prevent molding. If you are not sure of how leather products must be cleaned, read on for some great leather cleaning tips.

General leather cleaning tips
The leather cleaning tips given here apply to all types of leather. These leather cleaning tips will give you a good idea of how to clean and maintain any leather product in your home. Leather must always be kept away from sunlight. Leather is also prone to molding, so it is a good idea to clean leather products at regular intervals. You can use soft, micro-fiber cloth to clean leather. Buffing leather with a damp cloth and some moisturizing soap, is a great way to make it look shiny and brand new. Make sure to choose a leather cleaner that preserves the lubricating oils that naturally occur in leather. Some cleaners strip leather of its oils, and these are to be strictly avoided. Cleaners that leave behind greasy residue should also be avoided, as it leads to infection by bacteria. In fact, it is a good idea to test an leather cleaner by using it on an area of your leather product that is not immediately visible. Once you have made sure that a cleaning product is suitable, apply it with a moist piece of cloth.

Leather cleaning tips to remove spots
Removing spots from leather can be very tricky, and leather cleaning tips on the topic can be quite helpful. If you find spots in your leather products, try gently cleansing the area with a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol. For more stubborn spots, a non-oily cuticle will do the same job. There are also many leather cleaning tips on removing spots using home made solutions. For example, a paste made from cream tartar and lemon juice and can be very effective in removing those unsightly spots. Use a piece of fine cloth to apply the paste to the area with the spot and wait for the result. After cleaning leather, remember to let it dry in the shade or indoors. Never expose leather to direct sunlight.

Leather cleaning tips to remove road salt
Leather products that are used outdoors, such as belts, wallets, shoes and bags are prone to accumulating road salt. Some of the best leather cleaning tips I have ever received have been about removing road salt. To remove road salt from leather, prepare a formula of water and vinegar mixed in equal proportion. Moisten a piece of cloth with this solution and rub the leather with it. Repeat this several times to completely remove the road salt. After removing road salt, it is a good idea to buff and polish the leather.

Leather cleaning tips to remove mildew
Leather products that have been left in a moist or damp condition for too long, can get mildew. Leather cleaning tips to remove mildew from leather can be invaluable. To remove mildew simply mix rubbing alcohol and water in equal amounts and use a piece of micro-fiber cloth to wipe the mildew affected area with this solution. A mild soap, along with a germicide diluted with water cal also be used on more stubborn mildew. The pores of leather are most responsive when the leather is dry, so always remember to treat leather before it dries out.

Leather cleaning tips to condition leather
A great variety of leather conditioners are available on the market. The conditioners can make your leather products look really clean and well maintained. Leather products are unique and natural. The conditioners will help retain the natural characteristics of leather products. Leather conditioners can also breathe new life into neglected and uncared for leather accessories, by restoring the natural scent, shine and texture of the leather. Never forget that conditioners are not meant for frequent use.

You might have heard many leather cleaning tips before, but remember that when it comes to cleaning your precious leather furniture or accessories, it is best to stick to tried and tested cleaning methods. If you are in doubt, it is safer to consult a professional.

Posted by: in cleaning tips on June 14th, 2010

Heart is where the home is. Though every person knows that, we would still like to remind everyone because the above anecdote holds more truth than we can ever imagine. Home is what comes to your mind when you are at work, when you are driving, when you are away at a party with friends and family. No matter where you are, the desire to get back to one’s home is overwhelming in all its persistence, filling you with a sense of euphoria when you finally get home! This goes on to become the main reason why everyone wishes to keep their homes neat and clean, for there is absolutely nothing like a clean and inviting home after a hard day at work! Though house cleaning and the various other processes like dusting, scrubbing, polishing and the like, are really important, they can be quite exhausting, and can tire or bore a person quickly, calling for the support professional cleaning services assistants who can handle all of that, leaving you with enough time to supervise.

When it comes to home cleaning, many household cleaning services often come to the rescue of harassed housewives and househusbands alike, giving them the much needed hand when it comes to scrubbing and tidying up your place of dwelling. As such, though there are many companies that would be more than happy to offer their services, one should still have to exercise a little bit of caution, just to make sure that you get your money’s worth. More often than not, though many professional cleaning services offer to tidy up your place for you, they may not take into consideration many things that might hold a lot of importance for you as the owner of the house. Which again brings us back to square one, as to why and what you should know before calling upon the assistance of professional cleaning services.
The most important thing that one must consider by all means, is the insurance status of the household cleaning services agency that you are planning to hire for your home. Despite the not-so-important appearance that is projected by every company, insurance can be quite the savior when the need arrives for one. Any kind of a home cleaning session is likely to involve a few untoward incidents here and there, that come in the form of minor cuts and bruises, which are bound to happen to anyone, both to you and any other person who is doing the cleaning bit. Though you might choose to ignore these things as a member of the family and as a part of the house, if it were to happen to yourself, the home cleaning company is most likely bound to have a little problem, which can lead to extremely unpleasant situations that can go as far as suing for compensation and benefits.

It is to eliminate the very problem that one will have to a bit of research before hiring an agency. This will not only make sure that you do not put yourself in a spot, but can also bring about the best of support from the professionals, who feel safe too, with the insurance rightly in place.

While this takes care of the home cleaning professionals, there are a few things regarding you that will have to be considered too, to ensure that you or your family will not get affected with the cleaning process. Cleaning up a home, though sounds very common and natural, has a different meaning altogether when the services of the professionals are involved. Since the household cleaning services use a lot of dusting powders and chemicals, you will have to make certain that your family does not react to the allergens, which more than just defeats the whole purpose of hiring professionals to clean up your home, should a member of the family come down with an allergy. Choosing a company that uses HEPA filters is going to work to your advantage, instead the more common filters that can dispel the dust particles. Having said all of that, we leave to you to take the final call on this one, because ultimately, nobody would know your home better than you do!

Posted by: in cleaning tips on June 13th, 2010

Everyone loves a clean home. And why not? Practically every single TV show and movie known to man has at least one well-kept home that you’d die to live in. Not every house is a Hollywood location though and the duty of keeping it spotless isn’t just daunting, it can be downright scary.

Though it can be daunting, there are thankfully a few secret cleaning tips to follow so you don’t end up forever being intimidated by the clutter. First off, make sure that you’ve got your things sorted out. A common mistake is organizing and cleaning at the same time. Although it may seem more effective to just move those odd bits of furniture around as you dust them, or stop your sweeping to restack those DVDs, it leaves you tired and out of breathe right in the middle of your work. Organize the room that you plan to clean before you whip out that broom and start sweeping yourself into a dust cloud. Even if it can be the most demanding part of the job, it gives you a lot more space to work with and makes the actual cleaning a lot easier. Also, you manage to clear out even the usually ignored places like the back of bookshelves and under the couch.

The next of my cleaning tips would be to pick something comfy to wear. Nothing that you’d want to get stains on, of course. Cleaning is serious business and you have to dress the part. The sooner that you realize you’re in for a good workout, the more ready you are to face it head on. An old t-shirt and pants normally do well. Just don’t think of putting on those jeans as they’ll eventually feel tight and restricting once you break a sweat.

One of the best cleaning tips I know is to make sure that all your cleaning products are in one place. This prevents you from wasting time trying to find them later on when you’re down to polishing wooden floorboards. It doesn’t matter whether you prefer to use a “tote-all” or a bucket to hold everything. What’s important is that you’re comfortable, because you’ll be using it to carry all those cleaning supplies around.

Some essential cleaning supplies to consider keeping close while working are:

Window cleaner Furniture polish Cleaning cloths Carpet cleaner Air freshener – for that pristine finishing touch. Garbage bags – it’ll save you a couple of trips to the trash bin every time your dust pan is full.

Remember to pick out the right cleaning supplies for the job. This not only saves time, but money. Remember that there’s no sense scrimping if it still leaves traces of a stain.

Now, the last thing you’d want is for those dust bunnies on your ceiling fans to mess everything up again after you’ve swept , dusted and mopped so once you’re done getting things arranged, clean from the top of the room down to the bottom. At least then, by the time you get to clearing all that dirt away, they’re all in one place. Another thing to keep in mind is pacing. Focus on one room at a time. This way, in case you get tired, you’ll have somewhere to retreat to. It’s also more efficient since you don’t have to tidy it all up at once.

Finally, don’t be so hard on yourself. If at the end of the day you still don’t have a house worth filming in it’s not that big of a deal. After all, unlike a set, your house is a home. That means it’s lived and not just for display. A realistic well-kept house is also a practical one. With these cleaning tips hopefully you’ll have less clutter, making it easier to move around and a lot more comfortable to stay in. You’ll also have the peace of mind that it is a cleaner safer place for you and your family.

Posted by: in cleaning tips on June 12th, 2010

A major aid to keeping your house clean is a home cleaning guide. Few people enjoy living in a dirty and disorganized home.  While keeping a home clean, hygienic and tidy is challenging it needs to be done.  Cleaning can at times be an overwhelming task and maintaining a home that is spotless can often seem impossible. However, if left a dirty home may become an insurmountable task which is able to discourage even the most enthusiastic among us.  It takes an organized effort to transform a home from messy and dirty to clean and organized.

Organization is the key
Get organized before you start the task of cleaning. Clear away the debris and sort things into their proper places.  Pick up the clutter, throw away rubbish and store what needs to be stored.   Clear surfaces and floors in anticipation of what is to come.  Tidying up alone can sap you of energy so be sure that you approach it in a relaxed manner.  Put your favourite music on and dress in old and comfortable clothes.  Allocate yourself time to accomplish your task without having to rush and watch the clock.  If needed arrange to have a take-out food delivered or stock the fridge with a few delicacies.  Keep plenty of water on hand and don’t punish yourself.

Before you begin the great tidy up you need to have nearby a few garbage bags and a few storage containers.  As you tidy it will be easy to find a place to put those things you aren’t sure about.   Keep your storage containers to a minimum of about three. One will be for items you need to keep, one is for items you will be donating and the last is for items you wish to relocate to other areas of your home.  Complete one room at a time before moving to the next.  Start with your main living areas first as this will give you the incentive to keep going.

Don’t punish yourself.  Organizing your home is the first and the most important step on the ladder to a clean and comfortable home.  Take the time you need and make sure that your task is accomplished effectively.

Home cleaning tips
Apart from organizing your living spaces, clearing away the clutter will help speed up your cleaning time.  Having to stop every few seconds to move or pick up something will slow you down.  At the end of your cleaning if your home is clean but still messy and untidy you won’t feel the benefits or sacrifices you have put into cleaning.

Before you begin cleaning, gather together all the cleaning supplies you will need.  Keep them in a bin or bucket, or create an apron with pockets that will not only serve to protect your clothes, but will ensure that wherever you are cleaning you will be fully prepared. In this bin or apron you will need to keep dusters, rags, window cleaner, furniture polish, anti-bacterial sprays, detergents, garbage bags and carpet cleaner. You will also need a bucket, mop and vacuum cleaner.

Establish a strategy
Cleaning effectively relies not only on the correct cleaning supplies but also on a well planned methodology.   It is recommended that you completely clean one room at a time before moving to the next.

Start from the back rooms so that you don’t tramp dirt or dust through your newly cleaned rooms.  The strategy many professional cleaners employ is from top to bottom and in a circular pattern.  Start with ceilings using a damp cloth or duster to clean away dust and cobwebs. Move onto the walls and then windows.  After this you can concentrate on furniture or counter tops, bookshelves and desks before moving onto the floor.

This strategy will not only save you time but once a room has been completed it will give you the incentive to move onto the next.

A dirty and disorganized home has the ability to change your mood and your lifestyle.  A dirty home can breed viruses and bacteria and can be a health hazard to all who live or enter it.

Once you have cleared away the clutter you can arrange a schedule that suits your lifestyle.  We all want a clean home and cleaning your home is about nothing more than consistency, commitment and pride and a home cleaning guide will help you keep it so.

Posted by: in cleaning tips on June 11th, 2010

Many people say that they like to clean house, but these people are few and far between. Their veracity might be questioned for it is hard to believe that anyone likes to clean house. Unfortunately, your home needs to be clean for hygienic reasons no matter how onerous a task. There are some fast house cleaning tips that can make the job go more quickly. The first fast house cleaning tip is to involve as many people as possible. Remember Tom Sawyer from the Mark Twain novel. Tom acted like painting the fence was fun and soon had many kids helping him with his assigned task. A wise person in charge of cleaning your house will get as many as possible to help with the task.

Each house will have a limited amount of possible cleaners so the person with few helping hands needs to find plenty of fast house cleaning tips for a more pleasant life. There are experts that will help uou out. A lady named Heloise has a series of books that provide plenty of fast home cleaning tips. There are other books available at the bookstore or public library that also provide fast home cleaning tips. Time spent reading the tips could save plenty of time on the actual task.

A Fast House Cleaning Tip Saves Time for Enjoyable Tasks

There are some fast home cleaning tips available from a variety of sources. Every person probably learned some from their parents already. They might have learned a few from their brother like push the junk on the floor under the bed. Friends and neighbors will probably have a few fast house cleaning tips that can easily be adopted with proper credit. Every person in charge of cleaning the house might invite friends and neighbors over for a cup of coffee to pick up fast house cleaning tips.

On the web, there are some great fast house cleaning tips. A great one that is available on the web advises to use a blow dryer to get the dust off lamp shades. This one works so everyone should try it. The websites also recommend tools that will help with house cleaning. A feather duster, a lint remover and a chamois are tools that will make house cleaning faster and better. Each person responsible for cleaning the house can make the job much easier and faster with the proper resources. Take some time to find the tips before starting the onerous task of cleaning the house.

You can visit home cleaning tips

Posted by: in cleaning tips on June 9th, 2010

You know how it goes….you have every intention of getting some cleaning accomplished during the day, only to find that by the time the kids are in bed, your house is no cleaner than when you woke up! How does time get away from us?

Here are five quick cleaning tips that any busy mom (or dad!) can incorporate into their day to clean their home a little bit each day.

1. Let the cleaning products do the work by pre-treating.

Instead of trying to speed up the cleaning process by quickly spraying a cleaning product and scrubbing away, spray a generous amount of cleaner onto the surface (tubs, shower walls, countertops, toilet seats) and walk away for five minutes while the cleaning product does the work. Most products work best when allowed to penetrate the stain and break down the grime and surface dirt. Take those five minutes to throw a load of laundry in the washer, change a diaper or wash some baby bottles. At the end of those five minutes, wipe the surface clean with paper towels and admire your work! You just completed two tasks in the time it takes to complete one!

2. Chunk like projects together.

As long as you have that bottle of glass cleaner and roll of paper towels in your hands, why not do all of the mirrors in the house one after the other. By not switching between cleaning products and cleaning tasks, you will actually save time because you will already have all of the necessary tools at your disposal. Switching between tasks, even in the same room, can sometimes take longer than simply completing the same task in each room in quick succession.

3. Let machines and technology work for you.

You only have ten minutes to clean before taking the kids to their playgroup? Use that time to set up your machines (i.e. appliances) so they can work for you during the time you are en route with the kids. Finish loading the dishwasher and turn it on. Switch the laundry and get one load drying while another one washes. Pre-treat surfaces with cleaning product while you cart the kids around. And finally, if you are fortunate enough to have a Roomba or Scooba, clear the floor and set up your virtual walls so that your floors will be clean when you get home!

4. Stash the right supplies in the right rooms.

Your bathrooms should all be stocked with a bottle of toilet cleaner, a toilet brush, paper towels, glass cleaner and all-purpose anti-bacterial cleaner. Kitchens should have an anti-bacterial dishwashing soap, dishwasher-safe brush for scrubbing dishes (no sponges!), anti-bacterial all-purpose cleaner for counters and surfaces and a standard glass cleaning product and paper towels for the front of ovens and diswashers. Instead of storing all of your cleaning products in one place in your home, assemble these cleaning kits in each room so you always have access to the appropriate tools.

5. Keep laundry going all day.

Too often, laundry is left to pile up until no one can find a clean pair of socks! Head off these laundry crises by maintaining the laundry pile everyday, all day….yes, all day! Start first thing in the morning by switching the laundry and starting a new load. Set up baskets for each person in the home who is old enough to fold and put away their own laundry and sort clean laundry as it comes out of the dryer. Let each person match their own socks and put away their own clothing. In the evening, put baskets outside each bedroom and have everyone load them up with dirty clothes and bed linens. Each morning, collect the clothes, sort, wash and dry and let your kids (if they are old enough) do the rest!

In general, quick cleaning comes from setting up systems that work in for your family. Setting up your environment for success is the first step toward success in any area, and by establishing routines and stocking rooms with the appropriate tools, you’ll be able to take advantage of those precious few minutes every day to make a nice dent in your cleaning tasks!

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