HOW OFTEN SHOULD I CLEAN IT!?

 

How Often Should A Carpet Be Cleaned?

Do you wait until the carpet starts to look dirty before calling a professional carpet cleaning company to perform 'restorative carpet cleaning?

Waiting for a carpet to look dirty before calling in the cleaners is what most people do but, is that leaving it too late?

When you leave a carpet so long that it looks dirty, lots of permanent damage has already occurred. You will have been walking on a carpet, with lots of trapped dirt, cutting away at the fibres, causing premature wear. This same dirt will have ground its way into the fibres and permanently changed the colour of the carpet.

Leaving the carpet to look dirty before cleaning means, your carpet has already worn down and permanently discoloured. How can you prevent this from happening?

Professional carpet cleaning is the only way to guarantee removal of deep down dirt, that causes wear and discolouration, but how often should you perform professional carpet cleaning?

If you leave carpet cleaning to once a year, you can expect the level of appearance to be as follows

(The values change depending on variables such as number of children, number of pets and frequency of vacuum maintenance.)

On average, you can expect a carpet to look 50% of what it did, when new, after just one year. By having professional carpet cleaners in, you can restore the appearance to 80% of what it was when new. Leave the carpet another year and, the carpet deteriorates to look 30% of what it looked like when new. Having your carpet professionally cleaned at the end of year 2 restores the look to 50% of what it looked like when new. At the end of year 3, the carpet falls to look 20% of what it did when new and professional cleaning of the carpet at the end of 3 years improves the look to 40% of what it did when new.

Have your carpet professionally cleaned once a year and, after 3 years you can expect it to look 40% of what it did when it was new!

Having carpet protection applied at the same time as professional carpet cleaning, improves the level of appearance significantly.

Can You Have Your Carpet Professionally Cleaned Every Month?

The level of appearance improves dramatically, if you can have your carpets professionally cleaned on a monthly basis. Have your carpet professionally cleaned once a Month and, after 3 years you can expect it to look 80% of what it did when it was new! In fact, the level of appearance only drops a small amount and, if the carpet also had carpet protector applied on a regular basis. The carpet would still look almost like new after 3 Years of use!

You now know that you should have your carpets cleaned as often as possible but, how often should your type of household have professional carpet cleaning?

Below, is a carpet cleaning maintenance plan, which is the IICRC (Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification) guide to carpet cleaning frequencies. "The Clean Trust S100 Standard and Reference Guide for Professional Carpet Cleaning".

The IICRC (or The Clean Trust as they are now known) is one of the world's foremost authority and examining board for professional carpet cleaners.

When looking at the following carpet cleaning frequency guide, please consider factors such as:-

• Amount of traffic
• Soil levels
• Vacuuming schedules
• Spot cleaning methods
• Professional periodic cleaning frequency
• Restorative professional carpet cleaning

Please note: Follow the carpet manufacturers cleaning schedule to maintain your warranty.

Carpet Cleaning Maintenance Plan

Should your household have...

Light Soiling

• Vacuum once a week
• Spot clean as and when required
• Professionally clean 'tracking areas' every 12-18 Months
• Restore - Professionally clean all areas every 2 Years or as manufacturer's warranty

Normal Soiling (families with children or elderly staying at home)

• Vacuum twice per week
• Spot clean as and when required
• Professionally clean 'tracking areas' every 6-12 Months
• Restore - Professionally clean all areas annually

Heavy Soil (families with pets or smokers)

• Vacuum 2 - 4 times per week
• Spot clean as soon as spots appear
• Professionally clean tracking areas every 3 - 6 Months
• Restore - Professionally clean all areas twice a year

Extreme Conditions (large families, multiple pets etc.)

• Vacuum daily
• Spot clean immediately spots appear
• Professionally clean tracking areas every 2 - 3 Months
• Restore - Professionally clean all areas quarterly every 3 - 4 Months)

I hope this information has helped you understand the necessity for regular carpet cleaning, so that you can keep your carpet looking good for many more years to come, compared to not having carpet professionally cleaned.

Do not let your carpet look dirty before calling a professional carpet cleaner. But, do have your carpet cleaned as often as possible.Have carpet protector applied often, to extend the time your carpet keeps looking good.

My name is Gerwyn and I've been running Mr Spotless, the leading cleaning company in Cardiff, South Wales for over 25 years! There is a lot more information and articles including links to Facebook, twitter, LinkedIn and Google+ on my website http://expertcarpetcleaningcardiff.co.uk please take a look

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11 Cleaning Hacks from Professional Cleaners THAT REALLY WORK

 

Professional Cleaning Services Can Cut Your To-Do List in Half

Sometimes, keeping your home clean and organized can be overwhelming and stressful. You might be a stay-at-home mom whose kids mess up an area as soon as you've cleaned it. You might be at work all day and want to spend time with your family not cleaning the house at night. Or you might be hosting a large party and are worried about cleaning on top of catering and party preparations. In any and all of these cases, a professional cleaning service can be a lifesaver. A cleaning service pro can come to your home daily, weekly, monthly, or for a one-time cleanup or clean-out job. You'll have the clean space of your dreams, and you'll be free to focus on the things that truly need your attention.

Indoor Home Cleaning

Whether you're home all day or at the office 9 to 6, you lead a busy life. Sometimes, chores just don't fit neatly into your schedule. Rather than live with a messy, dusty home or stay up past your bedtime to mop the kitchen floor, you can hire a cleaning service for regularly scheduled visits. Depending on how often the cleaning pros come to your home, you can ask for different levels of cleaning a once-a-month deep cleaning versus a daily dusting, wipe-down, and tidying up, for example. When you know that you've hired someone to handle the dirty work for you, you'll have one less thing to worry about in your day-to-day life.

Outdoor Cleaning

Some cleaning services offer exterior cleaning and property maintenance services, such as gutter cleaning, power washing, window cleaning, and lawn care. As with indoor cleaning, you can hire a property maintenance crew for regular appointments to ensure that your building and your property look their best at all times. If you know you want both interior and exterior cleaning services, look for a company that does both you might be able to score a pricing deal if you hire them for multiple projects.

Special Cleaning Situations

Are you hosting a backyard wedding in two weeks and want your home and property to sparkle? Are you moving and need to clean out unwanted junk and leave the empty space spotless? There are a variety of reasons you might hire a residential cleaning service for a one-time visit. In this case, you can direct the cleaning professionals toward your intended goal, whether that's trash removal, yard debris cleanup, deep cleaning and scouring, or an all-over surface cleaning. Some cleaning services even offer hoarding clean-outs among their offerings, for homes that are buried under piles of trash or unwanted belongings.

Cleaning services exist to take on the jobs that you don't want to do or don't have time to do. Rather than stress and moan about your growing to-do list, look for cleaning services in your area that may be able to tackle the work on your behalf. You won't regret handing the cleaning and organizing off, and you'll relish all of that extra time for family and fun.

Kelly Robertson is a home cleanup expert and a senior Internet marketing strategist for Prospect Genius, a leader in SEO advertising.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7161748

How A Cleaning Company Offered Essential Services During Uncertain Times

 

Hire a Home Cleaning Service for Regular Visits or Special Cleaning Needs

In todays economy, having someone come into your home to clean it regularly might seem like an unattainable luxury. But in truth, hiring a professional cleaning service might not be as expensive as you think. Cleaning companies offer many different services at many different cost levels, and so you can tailor your cleaning experience to both your needs and your budget.

If you cant afford to have a maid clean your home top to bottom once a week, consider bringing someone in every other week or once a month, or having her clean only certain rooms while you take care of others yourself. If youre comfortable with handling regular dusting, mopping, and other chores on your own, you can still hire a cleaning service for a deep cleaning before a special event, to make your house sparkle. Or you might bring in a professional for specialized cleaning jobs, such as window washing and carpet cleaning. Basically, depending on what you need and what you can afford, the skys the limit!

A regular weekly or bi-weekly home cleaning might include:

• Dusting
• Vacuuming
• Garbage removal
• Bathroom cleaning
• Kitchen cleaning
• Mopping and dry-mopping
• Fabric and leather upholstery cleaning
• And more

A maid service can generally tackle as many of these standard cleaning options as you need. For instance, your cleaning professional can do everything each week, or alternate some services, such as dusting one week and mopping the next. And even if you arent a regular client, most cleaning companies will send out a team for a one-time cleaning. Whether youre planning to host a large party or youre preparing your home for an open house in anticipation of selling it, there are times when you need everything to look perfectand you may not have the time or energy to devote to the amount of cleaning thats required. Thats where a cleaning service comes in.

Some cleaning tasks you dont have to do weekly, or even monthly, but they make a big difference in your homes overall appearance and upkeep. Carpet cleaning is one such job. Even if you vacuum more than once a week, over time your carpets can start to look dingy and stained, and only a deep steam cleaning or shampooing will get them looking like new again. Professional carpet cleaning will also help get rid of any allergens and microorganisms in the carpet fibers, making your home a healthier place to live. Depending on the amount of use and abuse your carpets receive, you probably want to have them professionally deep-cleaned at least once a year.

Cleaning services exist to make your life easier. When you hire someone to take a cleaning task off your handsfrom standard dusting and vacuuming to full-house exterior window washingyoure making an investment in your property and in your life. After all, not only do you get a clean house at the end of the day, you also get back those hours that you would have spent cleaning. Thanks to a cleaning service, you can devote your time to what really matters: your family, your friends, and your life.

Kelly Robertson, a senior Internet marketer for Prospect Genius, writes about SEO advertising and issues related to home ownership.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7278832

How to clean dirty grout lines the SAFE way! Toni Interior

 

Professional Grout Cleaning Tips

Grout cleaning can be a tedious chore for the average commercial real estate owner. It is the porous material that is used to fill spaces between tiles. Grout can be used for tiling floors, walls, swimming pools, showers, and more. The absorbent and permeable qualities of grout can easily collect and store dirt, causing discoloration and mold buildup. Maintaining the luster and shine in tiles is simple; but keeping grout clean and unblemished can be tricky. To learn how to clean tile grout for a commercial property, catch up on some tips and advice on how to clean grout safely and effectively.

How to Clean Grout between Tiles

There are a few different approaches to take when it comes to cleaning the grout between tiles. Most people are familiar with the vinegar or baking soda routine. If using common household items is in your agenda for grout cleaning, then this is the direction to take. When using vinegar, be sure to dilute it with an equal amount of water. This ensures that the acidity levels are balanced so that it doesn't damage the tile or grout. Too much vinegar can eat away at grout, quickly. If you have baking soda on hand rather than vinegar, simply mix it with a small amount of water to create a paste-like substance. Once your solution is chosen, mixed, and ready to go; use a stiff brush or thick bristled comb to get the best results. Scrub in a consistent circular motion, and then rinse away the residue and excess cleaning solutions with clean water. It is important to dry the area completely.

Other common strategies that reduce grout stains and dirt include household cleaning items like Mr. Clean, chlorine bleach, hydrogen peroxide, and even steam cleaners. The steam lifts and loosens the dirt in the grout, allowing a more effective cleaning process. You can even buy brand name grout cleaners and sprays that are specially pH balanced to treat grout and protect tile; however, these are more recommended for regular maintenance rather than full on cleaning and grout stain removal.

In most cases, all of these options can get you fast and inexpensive results. It requires a lot of manual labor and time, but it can be just the right option for small grout cleaning jobs. If the job is a much larger, it is recommended to try a more aggressive approach.

Grout and Tile Cleaning for Large Areas and Properties

A great way to tackle a full-blown grout and tile cleaning job, in a large space or property, is using oxygen bleach powder. Powdered oxygen bleach is a great choice because it's non-toxic. It doesn't create uncomfortable fumes or harmful odors, and it doesn't damage or fade commercial tile. The most attractive quality of using oxygen powdered bleach is the simplicity of the cleaning process. It doesn't require an extensive amount of work or labor; and it's highly effective for removing grease, food, and dirt stains, as well as other discolorations. The process involves mixing the powder with warm water and applying it to the desired areas. It is best to let the solution to soak in the grout for fifteen to twenty minutes before rinsing it away. Allowing it to soak longer can be even more effective. After rinsing, repeat the process applying more solution, but using a brush, or brush broom, to scrub the grout.

This is a very effective approach for large grout and tile cleaning projects; but if your project is even bigger, perhaps hiring a professional commercial cleaning company is your best option. They retain the proper equipment, tools, and industry knowledge to successfully clean and remove grout stains for commercial properties. For reliable grout cleaning, choose a licensed company with experience in the facilities management and commercial cleaning industry.

To learn more about tile and grout cleaning, call Service Cube of Kentucky right away. We are licensed and trained facilities management specialists that have decades of experience cleaning commercial properties in and around Louisville and Lexington. We provide commercial cleaning services for a wide variety of industries in Kentucky. We offer restaurant cleaning, floor cleaning, power washing, kitchen hood and exhaust cleaning, Terrazzo Floor Vitrification, and much more. Check out our grout cleaning webpage at [http://servicecube-ky.com/grout-cleaning-louisville-ky.php] to get more details about tile and grout cleaning services for commercial properties in Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky areas.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7555898

41 Tips to Make Your Entire Home Cleaner Than It's Ever Been

 

Home Cleaning - Tips For A Successful Clean!

Home cleaning is a must for everyone, but is often perceived as a big job. Every day, there are many jobs that are added to our list. As a result, completing cleaning duties within the home often end up on the bottom of our daily chores. Unfortunately, a home that is not cleaned effectively may prove to be more than what it seems. According to medical professionals, it may prove to be exceptionally detrimental to your health. When home cleaning is not completed regularly, many unhealthy bacteria and pests may start to grow and quickly multiply within the structure. Examples include the development of mold, the onset of a dust mite infestation, an invasion of bacteria and viruses, and the build up of dust. These substances and pests may lead to complications such as allergies, breathing difficulties due to the onset of asthma, skin irritations, different types of infections and many of other complications. However, if you are time poor for home cleaning, what other choice do you have than to suffer from these health complications? The simple answer is easy; you simply hire a professional home cleaning service. This is the easiest and best way of ensuring that your home receives the care that it requires and that the health of all that live in your home is properly protected.

Home Cleaning Services at a Glance

There are many home cleaning services in and around the area in which you reside. When it comes to your home, it is quite likely that you have high expectations when it comes to its appearance. It is commonly known that a home directly reflects you, as a person. Expert home cleaning services take the hassle and frustration out of caring for your home and ensuring that it looks great. These professionals make sure they deliver a high level of cleaning in every home that they are required to clean. These companies combine premium products and high-quality, advanced equipment to ensure the highest caliber of cleanliness. In addition to this, home cleaning professionals can make up a customized plan for each home that they service to make sure that the home's unique cleaning needs are met. The professionals that come to your home do a thorough job, than compared to if we cleaned it ourselves, with superficial cleaning that most of us engage in. They actually deep clean to ensure that allergens are properly controlled and that the indoor air quality of your home is optimized to ensure that you and your family enjoy the highest quality of health. In addition to this, these cleaning experts are able to successfully penetrate dirt and debris on the deepest level in an exceptionally fast amount of time. This is why home cleaning services are considered to be, by far, the easiest way to clean your house.

The Benefits of Hiring Cleaning Experts

There are many benefits, apart from those previously mentioned, associated with hiring bonded home cleaning experts. If you are ready to ensure that your home is completely spotless and are considering enlisting the assistance of a professional, you should be aware that these services will offer you the following advantages:

1. By enlisting the services of a home cleaning professionals, you will always enjoy a sparkling, clean home as these professionals dedicate their time and effort in making certain that this is achieved.

2. You will no longer have to worry about your busy schedule to make time to perform the tasks that are necessary to keep your home beautiful and protect the health of those that reside in your home.

3. By creating a contractual schedule with a home cleaning expert, you can have the peace of mind in knowing that what needs to be done in your home to keep it clean, will be done - no excuses.

4. The experience, expertise and high-quality equipment used by professionals will ensure that your home is cleaned correctly and on the deepest levels. These professionals will not only meet your expectations, they will exceed them.

5. Each home cleaning expert that works in your home has been extensively trained to ensure that they know what areas require the highest level of attention, what type of attention to give to other areas and to use only products that are considered to be safely used on various surfaces in the home and around people, without causing health complications.

Conclusion

As you can see, home cleaning services are the most effective and easiest way to ensure that all of the interior regions of your home are properly cleaned. A clean house is more than just a matter of appeal. It is also a matter of necessity. Lack of attention to the cleanliness of your home could result in the development of numerous health complications for both you and your loved ones. However, a clean home ensures that your health and the health of those that you love are not only protected, but optimized. This will increase your peace of mind and allow you to focus on the people and the things that mean the most to you. By enlisting the services of home cleaning professionals now, you are making sure that you have many enjoyable years with those that you love, and having more quality time that you need to do the things that you enjoy.

To find out more on home cleaning the effective and professional way, here is a site that will help you tremendously www.domesticcleaningbrisbane.org

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7787421

Spring Cleaning Tips, Hacks, Checklist

 

Spring Clean Tips - Helpful Advice You Can Use!

Spring Clean Tips will give you information that you can really use when your home is due for a big clean. These tips will give you the chance to make your home a much cleaner and a better place to live in. Consider hiring cleaners to come regularly, either daily or weekly or fortnightly as this will keep your home well maintained and in a good condition all the time. You really need to allocate for a spring clean at least once per year! Your home needs a thorough clean after winter to sanitize everything and make your home an enjoyable place to be in. it is better for your health to have a spring clean and a regular clean to prevent too much mold, dust and dirt build up in your home.

Planning what you intend to clean before you start and working to it is much better than starting one job and jumping to the next! Without a detailed list of the jobs you need doing you will not be working in an organized manner as to which areas you have cleaned. It is a good idea to list everything you need cleaning. Put the most obvious on your list first. This way you will cover everything that needs doing. Many houses need curtains washed, windows cleaned, window frames wiped, cob webs removed, light fittings, window tracks, oven and range hood, ceiling fans, cupboards, carpet cleaned as well as many other things, cleaned.

Once you have an idea of what you want cleaned you can get a professional to do the work or do it yourself. Use the list you have made to get quotes before deciding to hire a professional cleaning company.

If you would to do the cleaning yourself do one job and finish it first before moving on to the next. Get a friend to help you, this will make it more enjoyable and you can get the work done faster. You could do this over a week or so as you will not get tired this way from all the scrubbing.

Cleaning Supplies

Make sure you have the right supplies before you start your clean. You will need the right chemicals, gloves, before you start your spring clean check your supply of chemicals, microfiber cloths, for polishing and dusting, furniture polish, general all purpose surface cleaner, kitchen and bathroom surface cleaner, limescale and mould remover products, oven cleaning spray, and other essentials you will need for your spring clean. The supplies you will need include a mop and bucket, a cobweb remover, a broom, dustpan and brush, step ladder, and a pair of gloves. Do not use general cleaners on stone surfaces unless the directions say it is OK to do so. Always remember the delicate surfaces. It is also advisable to wear a mask to prevent dust and especially oven cleaning chemical fumes from being inhaled.

Bathroom Cleaning

The bathroom can be a difficult area for some people to clean! You will need a strong cleaner such as CLR (Calcium, and limescle Remover) for the glass and shower tiles if you live in an area that has a lot of calcium in the water. Wipe your bathroom cupboards and empty. Through away unwanted and empty products, use a disinfectant cleaner inside and outside. Wipe down walls also. You will be surprised how much extra space you will have afterwards. Clean any stainless steel fittings such as towel rails and toilet roll holders, shine with a microfiber cloth.

Kitchen Cleaning

In the kitchen you meed to clean inside your fridge and behind it also. Discard of out of date food products. Spray your oven as well. Clean inside and outside of the kitchen cupboards, wipe or wash plates if they need washing. The top of the kitchen cupboards need cleaning of grease, as well as walls and fans. Range hood filters can be put in the dishwasher. Wipe down appliances and shine up. The splash back in the kitchen will need a degreaser applied then shine up with a cloth. The light fitting in the kitchen will need cleaning as well.

Bedroom Cleaning

Most people neglect to clean under the bed. you should remove everything and vacuum. Clean inside of wardrobes as well as drawers. Skirting boards and walls need wiping.

Carpet Cleaning

Get your carpets cleaned to freshen up the look and smell. A professional will remove stains and they will look like new afterwards. Also you could get your curtains steamed cleaned or dry cleaned once per year. Your fabric upholstery can be steamed cleaned as well by a carpet cleaner.

Window Cleaning

Wash your windows inside and out. Use a mixture of warm water, washing up liquid, and or cleaning vinegar, in a bucket or spray bottle and wipe off with a microfiber cloth.

Living room

Dust picture frames, wipe marks off walls, remove cobwebs,tidy and throw any unwanted materials. Wipe all skirting boards and clean behind the appliances and cupboards, dust behind and wipe with a damp cloth.

A spring clean will make you feel good as you get rid of all the unwanted things and freshen up your home. To make it sparkle again.

To get more useful tips on Spring Cleaning this site will help you greatly! http://www.domesticcleaningbrisbane.org

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7796406

5 psychological BENEFITS of A CLEAN HOME

 

How Important Is Home Cleaning?

Everyone can enjoy the comfort of a clean and well kept home. Home cleaning is a necessity and many people are unable to keep their home cleans owing to their hectic schedules. Homes should be cleaned regularly in order for unpleasant odors and vermin infestations to be prevented. Regular cleaning ensures that people can look forward to going to a fresh and sanitary home at the end of the day. While home owners are aware of how important cleaning is, they may not have the energy or time to do it by themselves.

Without regular cleaning a house can succumb to damage that is preventable. Damage results from dust causing wooden floors to fall apart and compromising the quality of electric appliances. Permanent stains can also be a problem when they are not dealt with in a timely manner. Breathing in dust often can adversely affect health that everyone in the home can suffer from. This is why it is important for the home to be dusted and kept clean at all times. Cleaning regularly has the effect of preventing dust and dirt from piling up.

The frequency of home cleaning generally depends on factors such as the size, the structure of the home and how many people live there. People's home cleaning needs will vary in accordance with the type of living environment that they have. Cleaning checklists make it easier for people to ensure that all areas of their homes are addressed. Effective cleaning also requires the use of the right kind of cleaning products and supplies. For people who find it challenging for them to keep their houses clean, a professional cleaning company is highly recommended.

Clean homes promote overall good health and provide a relaxing atmosphere. Cleaning the place thoroughly is recommended every month with the help of a professional company that has the skills and supplies necessary for the job. Lack of regular cleaning will cause excessive dirt to build up, which results in the presence of germs that can cause illness and general discomfort. Cleaning equipment is designed to ease the task of cleaning houses.

Products that are used for cleaning are specially formulated for various parts of the house such as floors and areas that are prone to wetness. Products are also made for washing items and appliances. The products must always be used for the purpose that they were made for. All rooms in the house need to be cleaned.

The type of product that is used depends on the nature of the room and what is used for. For example, the cleaning requirements for a kitchen will differ slightly from the cleaning requirements for a bedroom. How often home cleaning needs to be carried out is dependent on a range of aspects that include number of people living there, presence of pets, plumbing problems and amount of exposure to dust. It always feel good to wake up in a clean home and helps to start their days on a positive note without dealing with a dusty or untidy environment.

Copyright @ The Maid Home Cleaning

If you want much more information for our Home Cleaning, please call us on 020 8226 2007.

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Are You Making These 10 CLEANING MISTAKES?

 

Spring Cleaning Mistakes to Avoid

While you eagerly await the arrival of spring, one thing you may not be eagerly anticipating is tackling your spring cleaning list. You long for a shiny, spotless house, but thinking about all you have to do in order to get your home in pristine condition, is leaving you unmotivated. Rather than giving you tips on how to spring clean your house, we'll clue you in on common spring cleaning mistakes that are slowing you down. We hope our tips will help you get through your to-do list a bit faster so you can get out and enjoy the warm air.

Mistake #1: not having a battle plan

You make a list before you go grocery shopping and make a household schedule for appointments and events you need to attend, so why not make a list and schedule for your spring cleaning? It's best to have a clear plan of attack before you grab your cleaning supplies. Decide the order you'll clean each room and what needs to get done in each room. Don't stress about getting everything done at once. This leads us to mistake #2...

Mistake #2: trying to get everything done in one day

Spring cleaning has a negative connotation for some people because they associate spring cleaning with having to get a lot of cleaning done in a short amount of time. Trying to get your entire house clean in one day or even one weekend is a recipe for disaster. Depending on the size of your house, break down your chores over the course of several weekends. Limit the amount you clean each day to prevent burnout and to make sure you give yourself enough time to clean each area properly.

Mistake #3: tackling it alone

Two hands are better than one, and we say, the more hands the better! Enlist the help of family members to help you clean. Delegate tasks to your children according to their age and capability; Younger children can help put their toys away, while older children can help vacuum and dust.

Mistake #4: Not having enough cleaning supplies

Nothing will slow you down faster than realizing midway through cleaning that you're almost out of cleaning supplies and need to go buy more. Avoid having to stop your cleaning momentum by taking an inventory of your cleaning supplies before you start cleaning. Once you have all your cleaning supplies, place them in a bucket or a basket with a handle for easy carrying between rooms.

Mistake #5: using the wrong cleaning equipment

According to the pros at GoodHousekeeping.com, using the wrong cleaning products can slow you down and make cleaning take longer than necessary. Four must-have products to have, include microfiber dust cloths, a steam mop, tools with extension wands, and a vacuum with attachments. Microfiber cloths work by grabbing dust, rather than just spreading it around like regular dust rags or feather dusters can. Steam mops clean and disinfect floors without the use of chemicals or abrasive cleaners. Water is heated to approximately 212 degrees Fahrenheit to produce a germ-killing steam. Extension wands are great for hard-to-reach areas, while vacuum attachments help to get into tight spaces.

Mistake #6: Not letting cleaning products do their job

In an effort to get your cleaning done faster, you might be making the mistake of spraying a surface with cleaner and scrubbing right away. Follow the directions on labels carefully. Many cleaners, especially bathroom cleaners, suggest spraying an area and waiting a set amount of time before wiping or rinsing to help loosen dirt. Following directions saves you extra scrubbing time.

Mistake #7: Cleaning with a dirty cloth

To avoid streaks on surfaces, avoid using the same dirty cloth. Keep extra cloths nearby and switch them, especially when you see they're getting grimy. When using a dry microfiber cloth, remember to shake it out periodically over a garbage can or outdoors to remove trapped dirt.

References: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/cleaning-organizing/spring-cleaning-mistakes#slide-3

Enviro Maids LLC is a family-owned and operated maid service based in Stamford, CT and serving homes throughout Fairfield County, CT and Westchester, NY with professional green cleaning maid services.

For more information, visit our website [http://www.enviromaidsllc.com/]

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/8382642

7 Secrets of Professional Cleaners!

 

Top 10 Reasons to Schedule House Cleaning Services

Many residents think that keeping a clean home is infeasible, especially when you work long hours and don't have the time to clean it by yourself. Thus, it's often a good idea to hire a house cleaning service to take care of your home for you. To determine if a maid service is a good choice for you, it can be helpful to know some of the main advantages when hiring one.

1) It's perfect for a busy schedule. Hiring a house cleaner is the best solution when you have a busy schedule. Such a service will clean your home and you will not have to worry about it.

2) You have time to focus on other things. Booking a maid service will allow you to focus on other more important aspects of your life, instead of worrying about cleaning your home.

3) You will always come home to a clean place. This can make your life much enjoyable and your house more relaxing and aesthetically pleasing.

4) Having a contract ensures regular cleaning. When you hire a house cleaning service and sign a contract, you get a regular home cleaning, usually at a specific rate. This will guarantee you will always come to a clean place.

5) Professional cleaning services are easy to find. Finding a home cleaner is quite easy as there are many cleaning contractors in the area (especially in large metro areas). Look online, read other customer's reviews and choose the most appropriate for your cleaning needs.

6) Licensed cleaning contractors are reliable. One advantage of hiring a home cleaning professional is that the majority are extremely reliable and you can count on them to provide you with the highest quality of cleaning services.

7) Trust their experience. A pro house cleaner can offer a great deal of experience in the cleaning industry, which results in amazing services.

8) Trust their expertise. Most cleaning pros are experts at what they do, because of the extensive training on how to use cleaning equipment and solutions properly.

9) They use quality cleaning equipment. Some of the professional-grade cleaning tools can't be rented by you as a homeowner. Thus, you won't be able to clean your home deeply and effectively.

10) You will get a custom cleaning plan. A house cleaning service can work directly with you to develop a custom cleaning plan that suits your specific needs and requirements. Such a plan can involve determining how deeply you want to house cleaner to work in your home, as well as which areas you want them to give the most attention.

Hiring a maid service is an excellent solution for homeowners who want to maintain a clean house without the hassle of cleaning it themselves. The services can offer you many benefits and I hope it was helpful to know some of the main reasons you should hire one.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9191642

COSY/AUTUMN SPEED CLEAN/DE CLUTTER WITH ME! TIPS & HACKS (MRS HINCH INSPIRED) Gemma Louise Miles

 

10 Autumn Cleaning Tips For Your Home

We've all heard of spring cleaning, but it has been suggested by health experts that such a deep clean should be carried out twice a year - with the second time being autumn.

Autumn is an essential time to give your home a deep clean due to the falling temperatures outside and the heating being on, combined with windows being closed, making it the perfect conditions for carpets to harbour dirt, germs and harmful allergens.

To help you clean your home, in this post we've compiled 10 autumn house cleaning tips.

Wash Your Windows:

Surprisingly it has been suggested that rain water is good for cleaning windows, due to containing fewer contaminates than tap water - and you may have the temptation to leave the cleaning of your windows until the spring.

But if you haven't cleaned your windows in awhile, you will notice come the next autumn downpour they look dirty, with streaks appearing. Prevent this from happening, by giving your windows a thorough clean over the coming weeks.

De-Clutter Your Cupboards:

We are all guilty of storing items which we no longer have a need for, and over time such objects can begin to clutter up the home.

Use the big autumn clean as the perfect time to de-clutter your home, removing all those items which have been sat collecting dust on your shelves or in your cupboards and aren't going to be used again, along with any summer (and winter) clothes which no longer fit or you want.

De-cluttering your home doesn't mean you need to fill your bin up with unwanted goods either. Instead donate any items which are still in good quality to a local charity shop, or consider how else you can recycle them in and around your home.

Clean Behind & On Top of Furniture:

When running the vacuum around the home on a weekly basis, very few of us will move the couch, wardrobe or sideboard out of the way to clean behind. A top house cleaning tip when carrying out a big clean, is to clean on top, behind and underneath your furniture.

By taking the time to clean behind, underneath and on top of furniture will help to ensure all dust, dirt, debris and allergens are removed - providing you with a healthier and cleaner home.

Remove All Cobwebs:

Autumn is spider season, and following the warm but damp summer we've experienced - which created the perfect breeding climate for house spiders - this year will be no different. But, despite the cobwebs adding to the Halloween experience it's recommended to remove them from your home.

The easiest two ways to remove cobwebs from your home is with an extendable duster, which will enable you to reach the cobwebs in the corners near your ceiling, or, by using the hose and extension tube on your vacuum cleaner.

Defrost The Freezer:

Your freezer is one of few appliances which is used on a daily basis, and to keep it working to its full potential it is important to make sure you keep on top of freezer maintenance. Key to such maintenance is to defrost your freezer - if you don't have a self-defrosting model.

If you haven't done this for awhile or you've noticed a build up of ice, autumn is the perfect time to defrost it.

Clean Bedding, Upholstery & Curtains:

Whilst changing your bedding on a weekly basis will help to keep the bed clean, you may be surprised at home much dirt can be harboured on your mattress. Along with dirt, bedbugs are becoming more common in UK households - so it is important to clean the mattress on a regular basis to kill these off.

One way to clean your mattress is with a vacuum cleaner and mattress tool. But one of our top autumn cleaning tips is to use a suitable steam cleaner.

Steam cleaning kills 99% of germs and bacteria, at the same time as removing dirt without the need for chemicals, and the heat produced by a steam cleaner will kill off any bedbugs and eggs which may be lingering on your mattress.

In addition to using a steam cleaner on your bedding, we would also recommend using the steam cleaner to clean upholstered furniture and curtains - providing the surfaces with a deep and thorough clean.

Remove Muddy Foot / Paw Prints:

Autumn is a naturally beautiful and colourful month, as the trees change colour and the crisp leaves scatter across the pavements - bringing joy to children as they walk through them, kicking them up into the air.

But, autumn is also a typically wet and muddy season - and this can play havoc for homeowners, as muddy footprints and paw prints are traipsed through the home.

To clean muddy foot/paw prints from hard flooring - whether laminate, wood or tiles, we recommend using a steam mop as soon as possible, as this will lift and remove the dirt, leaving the area looking spotless.

When it comes to removing muddy prints from carpets, it is often best to leave the mud to dry before tackling. Once the mud has dried, sprinkle bicarbonate of soda over the area and leave this for at least half-an-hour to lift out the dirt, and then vacuum as normal.

Clean & Test Chimneys / Smoke / Carbon Monoxide Alarms:

Wood burners and real fires have seen somewhat of a boom in popularity over the last few years, and with the temperatures starting to fall, they will soon be put to use - providing warmth and comfort on those dark, wet nights.

But, before you begin using your wood burner / real wood fire we recommend you have the chimney professionally cleaned, ensuring it's free from any dirt, debris and bird nests.

Tied in with cleaning the chimney, you should also test your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide alarms, making sure they are in full working order. Doing so will make all the difference in an emergency situation, providing you with those vital extra moments of warning and enabling you and your loved ones time to get out.

Don't Forget Your Light Fittings:

With darker mornings and nights becoming a common feature of autumn, now is the perfect time to give your lights, lamp shades and lamps some extra attention.

These are areas of your home which often become victims of dust, but are also overlooked when the home is being cleaned. With your lights becoming even more important over the coming months, it's important to make sure they are cleaned and free from any dirt.

In addition to providing them with a dust, for even brighter lighting in your home we would recommend switching to LED bulbs, not only will these brighten up your home but they'll also help save you money in the long term.

Keep Dirt Outside:

Introducing mats to the internal and external entrances of your home is a great way to help prevent unwanted dirt and debris from being brought into your home. And to ensure you keep as much dirt as possible out, we recommend you use a heavy duty scraper mat on the outside of your home.

Such a mat will tackle mud, grit and all manner of dirt at your door, whilst internally a mat which covers the first few steps into the home will help prevent dirt being carried further into your home, making the everyday cleaning a lot easier - and ultimately quicker.

By following these 10 autumn cleaning tips, you can ensure your home will be clean leading into the winter months, making it the perfect place to unwind, relax and hibernate when the weather outside is dull, grey and wet.

Give your house that sparkle by keeping your cleaning appliances in full working order, with the help of BuySpares and our range of spare parts and accessories.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9199412

Frequency and Types of House Cleaning Services

 

What Are the Various Types of Cleaning Services?

As the world gets busier with each day, domestic cleaning duties usually become a daunting job and frequently get neglected. The establishment of cleaning businesses has seen to it that this burden has been eased off the shoulders of people and institutions. Prior to booking cleaning services, it is advisable to know what you require when it comes to cleaning. These are some of the preferred services:

Basic cleaning

Basic cleaning services entail the simple yet vital cleaning requirements in properties. This service involves dusting of surfaces, vacuuming carpets, mopping floor surfaces and spot cleaning. Basic cleaning often takes place throughout the entire house where places such as bathrooms, toilets, sinks, living rooms, and kitchens are cleaned. The cleaners eliminate trash from the kitchen and other areas in the house and tidy up the space. Basic cleaning can be regularly where the customer subscribes for the service to take place once a week, once a month or according to their requirements.

Deep cleaning

Deep cleaning is an intricate service that combs the entire property using extensive cleaning procedures. The cleaning experts are employed to scrub floors, deep clean carpets using power and steam vacuums, scrub kitchen equipment like refrigerators and grills, washing or steaming upholstery and cleaning small things like cabinet knobs and door handles. In depth cleaning is an essential service that aims at getting rid of all the dirt in the house from dust to stains on the carpet. Thorough cleaning can be a regular service that will happen every two months or so. This service is strongly recommended for households with children so that you can maintain an exceptional level of sanitation.

End of tenancy cleaning

The move in or move out cleaning service is available to both tenants and landlords. Landlords could book this service before a new tenant moves into a house to keep the property presentable during viewing and on the actual move-in day for the tenant. A tenant could get this service when leaving an old property or when moving into a new home in order to have the cleaning completed to their preferences. This service can be rendered in the form of a basic cleaning or a deep cleaning service depending on the preference of the customer.

One off cleaning

The one off cleaning service has a high variance rate since it depends on the reasons why the customer is taking up the service. The service could be in depth or basic cleaning based on the stated needs of the customer. Many customers hire one off cleaning services after hosting parties, carrying out renovations and repairs in the property and garage sales. The one-off cleaning service is tailor made and could be personalized to fit particular needs of the household.

Firms offer lots of cleaning services that are aimed at making life great and hygienic for customers. The most wonderful advantage of selecting trained cleaners is that they offer effectiveness and convenience in regards to cleaning. The best part is that you do not need to lift a finger throughout the entire procedure.

To get your service, you need to ring 020 3322 7095.

To get additional info, get in touch with Fast Cleaners Westminster [http://www.fastcleanerswestminster.co.uk].

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9414090

Cleaning Lady is Coming - Should I Clean Up First?

 

How Cleaning Services Could Assist You

Cleaning is one of the upkeep processes that's almost impossible to undervalue. No customer or business associate would take seriously a company with a dirty or poorly-cleaned office; presentation is often the difference between failure and success. Although every cleaning business offers their own set of cleaning services, there are a few common service areas worth discussing.

Window cleaning

It's hard to explain how imperative is to keep the windows clear. Window cleaning is time consuming and usually dangerous or hard to accomplish, that's why many of the home and office owners choose to contact cleaning businesses. A typical window cleaning service consists of a few steps. First of all, the windows get rubbed and scrubbed to release the accumulation of grime, grease and airborne contaminants. The next stage is to clean it with a squeegee. The objective of that is to remove all the dirt and water from the pores of the glass. Finally, the edges and sills are wiped clean and dry.

Carpet cleaning

Carpets are good when they look, feel and smell fresh. There's nothing more revolting than a grimy carpet. The accumulated dirt, dust and pet dander also makes the carpet look discoloured. Skilled cleaning companies usually clean the carpets in two steps. First, the cleaner sprays an exclusive heated carpet cleaning solution; it helps to loosen the dirt as soon as it reaches the fibers. The next step is the final one; it includes the pH-balancing of the carpet fibers, the rinsing and extraction of the dirt and cleaning substance.

Air duct cleaning

Although air ducts aren't something that directly influences the presentation of the house or office, a dirty air duct could cause many issues. Several of the components that naturally accumulate inside an air duct are contaminants. Cleaning an air duct will not only enhance the quality of the air inside the room or building, but will possibly increase the performance of the HVAR system, because a dirty duct might create an issue with the air circulation. The air duct cleaning services consist of the usage of powerful suction tools to vacuum out the accumulated debris.

Upholstery cleaning

Another important element of a great looking room is clean furniture. Upholstery usually requires the same cleaning procedure as carpets. An expert cleaner would first apply the chemical detergent to the fabric to loosen embedded filth and then rinse it, extracting both the dirt and the cleaning substance.

Hardwood floor cleaning

It is simple to clean a tile floor, but many people face numerous problems in terms of cleaning hardwood floors. Although the basic cleaning process of that type of floor is easy and simple, the outcomes are far from what they could be. That is why people who want to bring the looks of their office or house interior to a new level often hire office cleaning services. A comprehensive cleaning process includes three important steps. First, the floor is being vacuumed to remove large loose particles; then, a specialized cleaning solution is being applied to the floor in order to get rid of the filth from the fine crevices and micro-bevels in the floor. Finally, a neutralizing substance is being applied to the floor to remove the minor remains of filth and help the floor stay clean for a longer time.

If you want to get more information, remember to call 020 3322 1702.

For more info about cleaning services, please contact Best Cleaning Services.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9419797

10 Secrets to Hiring a House Cleaning Service!

 

Things to Look Out for When Hiring a Home Cleaning Company

You can avail the service of getting the entire house cleaned

We have advanced both technologically and intellectually but that advancement has its own price. Each day our lives seem to be getting more and more hectic. It is very difficult to escape from a busy schedule to seek some relaxation. There are days when cleaning your home all by yourself is probably an enjoyable venture. There are also days when cleaning a single dish seems to be a herculean task. For those more tiring days one may rely on organizations that facilitate the service of house cleaning.

Several home cleaning companies have come up that provide the service of cleaning an entire house. Not only do they facilitate cleaning the floor area but also the dishes in the sink. If that sounds sweet enough get ready for some more treats. These cleaning companies also do your laundry. One can also avail the services of such companies online.

If you looking for a home cleaning company all you need to do is search them up online. A person or two will arrive at your place and do the needful. They carry all the required supplies which include all sorts of cleaning products and vacuum cleaners.

The cleaning company charges a decent amount which mostly depends upon the area of the house to be cleaned. Customers can also customize the service by dropping or adding a couple of assistance. Although, it sounds too good to be true there few pointers consumers should look out for when hiring a home cleaning company:

Language: It is important that the professional in charge of cleaning a home understands completely what the consumer requires him or her to do. This implies that the professional should speak the same language the consumer does. When hiring a cleaning company one must enquire prior to the scheduled date of cleaning that whether the professional in charge speaks the same language as the consumer.

Bonds and Insurance: Cleaning staff of almost every company is well trained but accidents can happen anytime and anywhere. The last thing you would expect from a staff is that he or she accidentally breaks some of your precious chattel while cleaning. Insurances and bonds come in handy in such situations which mitigate troubles for both the consumer and the company.

Staff in charge: Several online home cleaning companies also offer subscription on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. In such cases if the company sends the same cleaning professional each time to the same house, an efficient system is created and consumers can avoid giving the same instructions each time a staff shows up.

Supplies: When hiring a cleaning company you must make sure that the cleaning professional brings the cleaning supplies along with him/her each time they show up. This not only reduces the time required for cleaning but also the cleaning in charge does not have to rely on the supplies available with consumer.

If the aforementioned points are well taken care of, a cleaning company can be a boon. Imagine coming back to home from a late night party only to find your house clean and well kept. Sounds dreamy! Right!?

BONUS

Here are a few cleaning tips that would help you when you decide to do the cleaning yourself.

· When cleaning the kitchen opt to clean the stove at last as it is the dirtiest part of a kitchen.

· Always pour a disinfectant in you sink after cleaning it.

· To get rid of odors in waste disposals, drop in half a piece of lemon, some salt and a few ice cubes. The lemon deodorizes, and the ice and salt clean away residue.

· To keep glass doors of shower free of water stains rub a teaspoon of lemon oil on them twice a month.

The author of this article is an avid writer and reader. He actively contributes his work on several DIY blogs. He sports a bachelor degree in arts. His writing skills are highly appreciated by his followers and critiques alike. You can read more articles on home cleaning companies by him on thecleaningadvantage

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9495628

Spring Cleaning Blueprint - Routines to Make Cleaning Easier!

 

Best Spring Cleaning Tips For A Clean House Year Round

The time of year you either love, or hate. Spring cleaning has always been the same since the idea started: the time to do the things you are too lazy to do more than once a year. But, some actually love doing spring cleaning and the things it entails. Some may even not have a spring cleaning because they just do these things as they see it needing to be done.

I commend those people, for I absolutely, without a doubt, hate deep cleaning. But over the years I have had to learn that it isn't about loving it or hating it - its about standard of living. I refuse to live in a dirty house, so it must be done.

If you haven't thought of any, here are some ultimate spring cleaning tips to consider.

Pressure wash

Nobody gives pressuring washing enough credit anymore. Plus, nobody thinks that the outside of the house needs to stay clean. I mean, that is why they call it the outside for a reason. Let nature do its thing. But nature also brings bacteria, mold, and bugs when you don't want it. This amazing machine can do so much you wouldn't think of to sanitize and clean the outside of your house.

Pressure wash the outside surface of your house to remove mold/mildew build up, cob webs, bee/wasp hives, and pollen/allergens. Pressure wash your driveway for curb appeal, the back patio and pool deck, the fence or even the outside of your car for a quick clean.

And these babies aren't that expensive either, so easy to use with a hose hookup, and is actually fun to use if you like the satisfaction of watching dirty surfaces just melt away (I know I do!) It just depends on how powerful of one you want, and whether gas or electric. I have just a mid grade, light duty electric one that you can find here.

Move and clean under all large furniture

Like your bedroom furniture, couch, etc. So many allergens, hair and dust that has traveled from vacuuming around them and from the air vents throughout your house has them settle in these areas. Plus, bugs find their resting places here, and that's the last thing you want to think you're sleeping over at night.

Plus, you never know what junk, food and missing things is hiding under large, heavy pieces of furniture. Cleaning under small, trapped areas can relieve bacterial causing odors as well.

Microfiber/Old Tees instead of sponges

Throughout the year you will go out and buy more sponges than you can count. You probably use them for dishes, scrubbing the shower, tub, and counter tops. Sponges aren't cheap, if you think about the number of uses you get out of one, and how many come in a pack. They hold so much bacteria, as their job is to that rightfully so, but then they eventually pile up and stay there after time and then you just spread them around your house.

I throw my sponges out after two weeks, clean in the dishwasher in between, and still depending on the duty it was used for I might just throw them out after one use.

But then I learned about the Microfiber cloths. Now, I know what you're thinking: what is the difference if either one gets the job done? I'm not going to change my habit of sponges for a piece of fabric. This is all true, but in fact, microfiber is great for cleaning because they are more absorbent and have a positive charge, which attracts negatively charged dirt, germs, grime and grease - and this is without any cleaner used! The only downfall to these is that you will need to wash them separately or with lighter loads since they do attract dirt and hair very easily.

So you can use these for just about everything you do around the house: washing and drying dishes, wiping down counter tops, dusting surfaces, cleaning the windows, wiping down the shower, tub or toilet, or spot treating the floors. Ultimately, they're long lasting and inexpensive - keeping your house bacteria and germ free as you use them without spreading them.

Another thing you could do - if you have unwanted, stained or old T-shirts - is to cut up pieces to use for dusting, polishing wood furniture, cleaning windows and for light clean ups. They're as easy as throwing in the wash and can be reused several times for tasks such as those.

Snake your drains (Drano-free!)

My house has old pipes, so using harsh chemicals and liquids could be quite damaging in the case of having older plumbing. And it's just harmful for the environment, period. So I've made it a point in my household to have these little drain snakes in each bathroom. The job isn't the most appealing, but again if you're one for satisfaction jobs - this is a big one after you notice how much stuff gets into your sink drains.

These little plastic snakes have spokes going in the opposite direction, so when placing down in the drain and pulling up it catches literally everything in it's path. And I'm talking everything from mold to gross clumps of toothpaste that stuck to hair from days ago.

Do this weekly or monthly and you're guaranteed to have less clogging issues throughout the year!

Top to bottom cleaning

Cleaning your entire home is a step-by-step equation in itself! And to do it properly, there are steps to be taken, otherwise you'll be doing the same steps over and over. And that's not efficient. So when you're cleaning, start by cleaning from top to bottom, that way, say you're dusting the blades of your fans, the dust that falls will fall to the floor and the floors are the very last thing to clean.

Spray off/wash/wipe off those window treatments

Once a year I make a point to do this: spraying off the blinds on all of the windows in the house. You would not believe how dusty those get especially if you don't use them each day. Nonetheless, dust that carries through the house gets trapped on these and if not wiped clean regularly, they can become very stuck to the point where they need to be scrubbed off with soap/water. And that's what I do once a year, and light dusting them in between with a dry Swiffer.

It's really easy to take your blinds down, spray them off with a hose and allow them to hang dry for a day or two outside. It's makes the world of a difference with dust.

Buff up those cabinets

Those kitchen cabinets, or bathroom cabinets, where cooking grease and oil drips and splatters each and every day. Or even if you have pets that rub themselves up against them, spreading their oils and pet dander which eventually cakes onto those surfaces. And your own skin and oils that collect from the same area you touch and reach to open over time.

With a microfiber cloth, soap and water, you can easily buff up and sanitize those cabinets like new. They won't be sticky and slimy, and will actually appear brighter and shinier afterwards. The ones in your bathroom as well, especially if you have those in your household that tend to forget to wash their hands after using the bathroom. Eek!

Wash those windows (not just Windex!)

After time of using Windex, those chemicals will eventually just become caked on and soon or later not look very clear and shiny as the product promises. Once a year it's a good idea to clean your glass windows with a gentle soap and water, or even a little vinegar to help strip the cleaner.

Another tip: instead of wasting paper towels, again you can use a microfiber cloth to shine up those glass windows, or use an old trick of cleaning them with newspaper. I don't know why this works, but it does - and it works very well.

Re-caulk/seal where needed

The caulk around your house may sometimes need replacing. Especially if they are frequently getting wet. This can cause mold and mildew build up, and eventually may never come off with beach or soft scrub, no matter how hard you scrub it. Fortunately, it is very easy to remove caulk, with the use of a removal tool and now it actually comes in a liquid form.

Personally, I like the actual tool because it's quicker and easy to use in order to remove all of the old caulk. And it's also very easy to place it, with no experience needed.

For the caulk, 100% silicone is the way to go when it comes to caulking in areas such as the kitchen, bathroom, sinks and showers. The silicone is resistant to mold the most.

Cleanse your dishwasher

You would never think, right? Wrong. Your dishwasher needs the love as well after it has done the dirty work of cleaning off caked on spaghetti sauce. A lot of dishwashers come with a cleaning cycle - run that every six months - and even wipe down the inside with gentle soap, vinegar and water for an extensive removal of bacteria.

Polish up that oven

If you never do this, you are probably one of those with burnt stuck on pieces of grease, grime and food particles in your oven. I know I'm guilty of it, too. But when you're baking that cake and all you smell coming from your oven is the stench of something on fire - it's probably your oven telling you it's that time.

Sometimes it requires actually scraping off the stuck on charred mess, and most of the time a lot of the grease stains and color never actually get removed completely. But if you at least scrape out the excess food pieces and and grime built up every six months to a year - your oven will thank you.

Recently, at my mom's house, I noticed she had oven liners at the bottom of her oven. Genius! Perfect for the lazy oven cleaners in all of us, because who really wants to sit there and scrape off burnt old food and grease?

Clean out/wipe out that refrigerator

Once a year it's a good idea to go in, take everything out (maybe throw out that expired ketchup you've been hoarding), and wipe off the inside. Doing this removes collected bacteria, food and odors in your fridge. Generally, I will use a microfiber cloth, vinegar and water, and wipe down the shelves, walls and floor of the fridge.

Cleaning the fridge also includes the freezer, don't forget!

Bring the life back into your carpet

I'm not talking a regular old quick vacuuming of the carpet. Give your carpet a little love, whether it's an entire room or just an area rug. I use a high traffic foam sprayer to lift dull and lifeless carpet from high traffic areas, and it leaves the carpet smelling fresh and clean.

Generally, I will spray the area and allow the foam to sit for at least 10 minutes. Then, with a clean scrub brush (a long handled scrub brush works best for this so you use more elbow grease in a larger area) scrub the area with the foam in all directions. Don't just scrub in the direction that the carpet falls - you're trying to liven those fibers back up, so scrub against where it falls. Now, either with a deep cleaner vacuum or allowing the carpet to dry for 6 - 12 hours before vacuuming with a normal dry vacuum, you will then vacuum like normal over the treated area in all directions.

I just recently got the Shark Rotator Lift-Away True Pet for Christmas after our 10+ year old vacuum croaked, and let me tell you - with two hairy, shedding dogs and having to dust mop 3+ times a week before, it's been three days since vacuuming last and I am sincerely impressed!

Clean out/Reorganize the closets

Get rid of clothes you don't wear, boxes, trinkets, old sheets, or simply junk you don't need anymore. Reorganizing your closets frees up space and reduces clutter around your entire house. It also reduces the amount of objects for dust, dander and allergens to cling onto that travel throughout the bedrooms.

Vamp up the washing machine

If you have a newer model of a washing machine, then your washer probably has a 'cleaning' cycle already installed. Utilize that every 6 to 12 months. If you have an older washer (like me), fill up your washer with hot water, some baking soda or a small amount of bleach and let the washer finish its cycle.

Doing this flushes out the settled leftover dirty water and residue from dirty laundry over time.

Wash your pillows (not just the cases!)

When I moved in with my husband and noticed his sleep pillows the first time I ever washed our bedding... I was mortified. They were stained a yellow, orange color. I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

Sweat, oils, skin, dander and bacteria can and will go through your pillow cases and into your pillows themselves. Wash them every 6 to 12 months on a gentle cycle.

Give your walls a fresh coat

This is so easy to do it's almost cheating your way into giving your house a tiny makeover with a good excuse. A fresh coat of paint covers any odors that have soaked into the old paint on the walls (or at least I have noticed it does), it brightens the room since the sun fades paint over time, and is overall a good way of having a fresh start to spring cleaning.

Share, pin, tweet and pass it on! Feel free to leave a comment on any spring cleaning tips you might add!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9609741