Sweeper King Residential

Janitorial Commercial Cleaning

How to Maintain Your New Carpet

Carpet Maintenance Tips

Carpets are a favorite for almost every household. It’s a flooring option that offers an array of benefits compared to other types of flooring, including warmth, pattern, color, and texture. There is also the advantage that it comes in many colors, textures, styles, and materials to pick from and thus allowing you to pick something that matches your needs and preferences.

However, carpets are also susceptible to wear and tear, and the daily traffic, spills, stains, and dirt can drastically reduce their lifespan. Properly maintaining your carpet can be challenging, but there are a few things you can do to ensure your carpet retains its appeal and functionality for years to come.

Here are ways to maintain your carpet:

Vacuum Regularly

It’s imperative to vacuum your carpet at least twice a week to prevent the toll that dirt, mud and other substances can have on a carpet. Regardless of how careful or proactive you are, dust and dirt will always find a way into your home. Oh, and let’s not forget about pet hair and dander …

cat hair on carpeting

As such, the only way to ensure that your carpet is well maintained and prolong its lifespan at the same time is to vacuum it on a regular basis. Vacuuming removes crumbs, dirt, and dust and reduces the impact of foot traffic. It also helps alleviate the dullness of a carpet while getting rid of allergens that can have adverse effects on people in the household.

Ultimately, the more you vacuum the carpet, the better it will appear. So, ensure that you regularly vacuum high-foot traffic areas at least twice and once for the less-trafficked regions.

Implement the Wipe Your Feet/Remove Your Shoes Rule

To reduce the amount of dirt and dust that gets into the house, you should ask your guests and loved ones to remove their shoes and wipe their feet when they enter the house. Putting a doormat at each entry point to the house is one way to remove dirt on everybody’s feet.

In addition to putting doormats, implement the “take off your shoes” rule to reduce further the amount of dirt that comes into contact with your carpet. Having a basket of slippers/flip-flops and a shoe rack by the front door is an excellent way of reminding your family and guests to take their shoes off before entering.

Don’t Carpet High-Foot Traffic Sections

When deciding which parts of your house should have a certain type of flooring, it’s imperative to keep in mind areas that have high foot traffic and avoid carpeting them. A great example would be the front door entry. Carpets are excellent for living rooms, bedrooms, and dens due to the warmth and coziness that they provide. However, they are less than ideal for front door entries as dirt is usually present in these sections.

Protect The Carpet

Other than vacuuming your carpet regularly, it is also imperative to apply some kind of carpet protector spray, particularly after professional cleaning. You should do this on a regular basis as the protector tends to wear over time, especially in stain-resistant carpets.

However, ensure you do a test on a hidden part of the carpet to ensure that it’s ideal and doesn’t damage the carpet. Applying a protective coat is undoubtedly one of the best ways to ensure that your carpet lasts for long.

Remove Stains and Spots as Soon as They Appear

Regardless of how careful you are, once in a while, you’ll spill or stain the carpet. This is understandable, but you should ensure that you deal with the issue as fast as possible. Blot the spill with a cloth first, and avoid rubbing as this will only spread the contents and stain the spot permanently. Then use a mixture of warm water and vinegar to clean the area and blot it again. Lastly, vacuum it. Ensure that the carpet is completely dry, as wetness will only encourage mold growth.

Of course, there are specialized products for carpet cleaning, but the best ones tend to be costly. You can avoid this entirely by taking good care of the carpet regularly. Of course, if the stains are hesitant, you should use carpet cleaning products but ensure you pick the right ones and do a test before the major attempt.

Hire Professional Carpet Cleaners

You might follow the regular carpet cleaning schedule, but it is also important to have your carpet professionally cleaned once in a while if you want to really prolong its life. Professionals use various carpet cleaning methods when it comes to carpet cleaning. That said, it is important to ensure you hire the right team for the job. Reputable carpet cleaners will have years of experience and will use top of the line cleaning products and equipment to make sure that your carpet is not only clean but doesn’t sustain any form of damage.

With these tips, you should be able to take care of your carpet and prolong its life.

Difference Between Janitorial Office Cleaning & Commercial Cleaning

Every business owner, whether they operate an office space, a retail store, or a warehouse, understand the importance of keeping the workspace priestly clean and organized. The state of a workplace is an important contributor to first impressions for people that come to your business. While for some this might be considered as a trivial issue, the truth of the matter is that it can have a profound effect on the bottom line. Few people will be interested in engaging in business with another business that is incapable of keeping their workspace clean and organized.

 

clean retail store interior

 

Additionally, maintaining cleanliness in your workplace will positively impact the performance of your employees. Studies have shown that workplace cleanliness has shown that workers are generally more productive and happier when their working environment is clean and comfortable.

There are companies that hire an in-house cleaning crew to keep their workplaces in tip-top conditions. However, there are companies that do not have the resources and our capacity to handle in-house cleaning crew. Instead, they hire third-party services providers. They hire professionals to provide commercial or janitorial services.

Janitorial services and commercial cleaning services and often time but wrongly used interchangeably. Each term is used to describe a different type of service. If you are on the market for professional cleaning services, it will help you a great deal to have an intricate understanding of the differences between these two services. It will help you hire a professional cleaning services provider that suits your needs.

The Difference Between Janitorial Services & Commercial Cleaning

The main difference between commercial cleaning and janitorial services is that commercial cleaning services involved wide-scale professional cleaning that is infrequently carried out. On the other hand, janitorial services which include office cleaning services, involve handling small cleaning tasks frequently – typically, on a daily basis.

Example: Janitorial services will include regular daily carpet vacuuming while commercial cleaning will involve deep cleaning of the carpets quarterly throughout the year…

vacuum cleaner

Contracting professional cleaners for janitorial services is beneficial for everyday cleanliness and typical maintenance. Commercial cleaning services are perfect for businesses looking for deep clean of their business’ workplace.

Janitorial Services

Janitorial services will handle the daily task of keeping your workplace clean and tidy, as mentioned above. This is the regular cleaning services you need regular maintenance as well. With this type of service, ideally, you will end up with facilities and offices that are clean and ready for your clients, customers, and business partners. Businesses tend to schedule janitorial services based on their needs. This could on a daily, bi-weekly, or weekly basis.

When you hire professional cleaners for janitorial services, it is important to note that your company will be responsible for scheduling and determining the cleaning tasks to ensure that the cleaning job is done right.

However, professional cleaners trained to offer janitorial services are trained to handle a wide variety of cleaning tasks. They are adept at using cleaning equipment and products, thereby ensuring you end with a clean environment while reducing the risk of cross-contamination.

Janitorial services typically include:

Restroom cleaning
Dusting
Cleaning of the employee kitchens and or break-rooms
Vacuuming of the carpet
Sweeping and mopping of all the hard surface floors
Emptying trash

Commercial Cleaning Services

Commercial cleaning services tend to cover a wider scope, tackling the variety of cleaning tasks that do not need to be handled on a daily basis. With this in mind, the vast majority of businesses will hire cleaning companies for one-time commercial cleaning services. Alternatively, businesses can schedule commercial cleaning services several times a year.

With this in mind, businesses should determine the bigger cleaning jobs they need to hire a commercial cleaning crew for and when these tasks should be handled. This helps with planning. When looking for commercial cleaning services, you should also ask plenty of questions to ensure they meet your needs. Importantly, they should offer a satisfaction guarantee.

Some of the cleaning services provided under the commercial cleaning services include:

Deep Carpet Cleaning
Power washing
Tile and grout cleaning
Window washing
Hard surface floor cleaning
Furniture and upholstery cleaning

Deciding Between Janitorial Services And Professional Commercial Cleaning

woman thinking

Businesses looking for consistent cleaning services to keep their working environment in pristine conditions and their premises presentable should go for janitorial services. On the other hand, companies looking for a thorough and in-depth cleaning job that covers everything including upholstery and power washing should consider commercial cleaning services.

Most professional cleaning services will render both types of cleaning services and most businesses will benefit from both service given the benefit of each type of business. When you search for commercial cleaning services provider, it is important that you chose a consistent and reliable services provider that offers both types of services. This negates the need to work with multiple services provider.

4 Indispensable Steps To Get Cleaning Contracts

Just like any other industry, the cleaning industry is also competitive.

For this reason, increasing your customer’s lifetime value should be your paramount focus; even when you first start your cleaning business. However, how do you achieve this?

Well, learning the steps to get cleaning agreements is the best way to stabilize your income, guarantee work, and run your business effectively. The truth is that getting a cleaning contract can be a lengthy and involved process, which may not always work.

Nevertheless, this does not mean that you should not bid on cleaning contract. As a matter of fact, you should constantly search for new contracts and try to increase your opportunities.

How To Get Cleaning Contracts

You should never expect a customer to approach and request for a contract; you have to be proactive. In other words, you should always look to promote your services, offer competitive quotes, as well as use your network.

Below are some techniques that will help in getting cleaning contracts:

1. Create a Website

website displayed on laptop computer

Potential customers looking for cleaning services often turn to the web. This method gives them access to different companies, which makes online presence important. Some clients will overlook the bidding process when they come across an impressive cleaning company’s website.

The website should provide all the details about the company, such as the services they are offering, price range, working hours, experience, company authenticity, and contact information. The website should also contain reviews and testimonials from previous clients. However, to get the most out of a website, you should invest in online marketing techniques. These techniques will not only help rank your website but become visible to potential clients.

2. Local Organization Partnership

Another excellent way to secure cleaning contracts and build a company’s reputation is to partner with other organizations or companies that offer similar services, but they are not in your industry. For example, you can partner with a real estate company. Such a company may know a homeowner who is interested in house cleaning services. You can also partner with an office supply wholesaler in your area.

networking associations

It is important to create a professional relationship, but first, you have to brainstorm on ways you can partner with them. It does not matter if it is the best way to reach new customers, share leads, run marketing campaigns together, or a way to minimize cost on marketing, partnerships will improve your chances of getting cleaning contracts.

3. The Bidding Process

Customer service should never be the reason you miss out on the cleaning contract. This is an important fact you should fully understand. You should know that pricing and contract lengths are two of the main factors that cause a company to lose a majority of the cleaning contracts while bidding.

Details and communication are key during the initial steps of bidding on a cleaning contract. Before quoting anything, it is wise to walk-through the premise with the potential client and discuss the work to be done. The next step is creating a detailed quote so that the potential client could understand.

The moment you have submitted your quote, you should always follow-up. If the potential client decides to go with another company, find out why. This question may help you improve your services and help you get cleaning contracts in the future.

4. Create Referral Programs

A satisfied client can be the best person to get you cleaning contracts. For this reason, you should always request satisfied clients to recommend others through referrals. Many companies offer incentives for referrals. All you need to remember is that a referral package can be in various ways; all that is needed is creativity. Remember, a client who has been referred to you by another person is most likely going to trust you and your services.

referral marketing flow chart

According to a Wharton study, referrals have 16% – 20% lifetime value compared to other forms of marketing.

The moment you get verbal confirmation; it is wise to put everything in writing. We have created suites of free contract templates if you are looking for a more natural way to create a contract. Furthermore, you can easily customize them to fit your business ideals.

10 Questions You Should Ask Before You Hire a Cleaning Company

Some say that the quality of a man’s questions reveal the quality of his life.

pile of question mark signs

We tend to think that the same applies for the apparent quality of a cleaning company.

As such, we’ve assembled this list of 10 crucial questions you should ask your cleaning company before you sign up for your next cleaning contract.

So, let’s dive into 10 questions you should ask if you want to find the best cleaning company:

1) Do you have any references from buildings similar to ours?

A proven company can offer you multiple references from any buildings that are similar in scope or size to your own. These references should be able to vouch for how high quality their services are. While our systems can be scaled to a number of different scopes, time, costs, and sizes, we acknowledge the fact that a program we offer a 10,000 sq. ft. commercial space is going to be different from a million sq. ft. warehouse.

2) Can I see your training program?

It’s so easy to claim that you have a great training program. However, a company that has a great system should be capable of providing checklists and videos so you can ‘virtually’ assess their team training for yourself. Be sure that you ask for information about what training the staff cleaners receive, who it is that trains them, and how frequently their training gets refreshed. If you’re a specialized facility such as a school or hospital, then ask if you can see how they train for your kind of facility in particular.

3) What type of insurance are you carrying?

Be sure that any commercial cleaning company that you consider gets fully bonded and insured for the security and safety for yourself, company, and facility. If a company doesn’t actually meet your requirements, then that’s okay. However, they do need to be able and willing to get the required insurance as part of your contract. If you’re not sure what type of insurance that you need, then ask them about the things they do for any other clients similar to you.

4) What sort of availability are you offering?

Ask the cleaning company about any blackout times that are in their schedule? Are there any? What policy do they have regarding emergency requests or issues that show up outside of normal business hours? Get actual instances of how they’ve previously come through for any specific clients that had special requests. Consider the last time you yourself had a special request; ask them how they’d handle it and what their extra costs would be?

5) How exactly do you hold your staff accountable?

Learn how the company measures and tracks success on any job site. Do they do electronic inspections? How do they define ‘clean’ (scoring, ranking, pass/fail, etc.)? Does their company have a department or program handling quality assurance? How can you provide feedback to them? What do they do with that? Do they have a formal procedure for complaints? Are they able to offer you tracking tools?

6) Do they offer green cleaning methods?

This is one is particularly important to find out if you’re a LEED-certified facility. Discover what specific green cleaning certifications, processes, and cleaning products that the cleaning company has. Also ask if they can help your own business attain the types of green certifications that can help you meet the environmental goals that you have.

7) Can your cleaning programs get customized?

Don’t get overly cornered into a specific cleaning program that offers either too much or even not enough for your own facility. For some buildings, it could benefit you to just use your provider’s standards. This is something that can save you hassle in terms of management and money. However, if you have particular needs, like if you are a lab, then you should ask your provider if they can add extra scheduled project work or additional services that wind up meeting your distinct needs.

8) What do you do to make safety a high priority?

The sad reality of cleaning happens to be a quite a bit of unsupervised work. Even in a large campus environment that has dedicated non-cleaning supervisors, many times, staff happen to be spread out through various areas of the building. Also, if a building is remote or small, such as a small office or a bank branch, then your crew is probably not going to be supervised most of the time.

9) What supplies and equipment are you going to utilize in my account?

Are they eco-conscious? Do they buy things locally? How much do they spend on their supplies? Are they always actively looking for ways that they can save? Where do they get their supplies and equipment? Do they get faster service and better pricing thanks to direct relationships with manufacturers? If so, be sure to ask what they use for your account as well as why? For instance, some cleaning companies might use scrubbers instead of mops in your bathrooms. However, that might mean you only get weekly cleaning with a scrubber instead of daily mop cleaning.

10) Who is going to manage my account?

Ask to meet the specific folks that are going to be responsible and/or accountable for the management of your account. If your contract is really big, then the cleaning company might need to hire a specific person for that role. It that happens to be the case, then be sure you ask what they are looking for and also meet the specific person who is going be boss over them. Find out the specific procedures in place for the replacement of cleaning personnel that are just not getting the work done or just otherwise not a good fit in your facility.

Professional Carpet Cleaning Tips

Vacuuming is the cleaning method that most people start with when it comes to carpet cleaning.

That is why this article will focus more on removing stains and other cleaning problems that are not easy to deal with.

The Basics Of Carpet Cleaning.

To maintain the quality standards of your carpet, it is advisable that you vacuum it at least once a week. Moreover, in areas where there is heavy traffic, you can have the carpet vacuumed more often. Vacuuming your carpet frequently prevents the buildup of debris and other rough particles that can easily damage the carpet fibres.

carpet fibre close up

Because of this reason, it is advisable that you sacrifice a little bit of your time and use a crevice tool to clean around the baseboards, radiators, and other areas that are not easy to reach. When vacuuming wall-to-wall carpeting, start by dividing the floor into few quadrants and then take time to vacuum each quadrant before moving to the next one.

Some carpets have dirt that is deeply embedded such as plush carpets. That is why it is necessary that you take extra time when vacuuming such carpets. Counter-check each section and work at a slow pace so that you can give the suction time to get rid of all the ground-in dirt and dust.

Areas, where people step on a lot when they sit, should also be given special attention. That is why it is advisable that you vacuum such areas in a crisscross pattern and overlapping strokes to remove tough stains.

You can also apply soil retardants on newly cleaned carpets, but make sure that you follow the manufacturer’s instructions or advice when doing this. Moreover, also make sure that you use the recommended equipment and techniques to carry out this task.

Fight odours by adding baking soda inside the vacuum bag.

Odours are not easy to deal with. Spills and spots are also another problem. However, one thing for sure is that spills and spots usually happen on almost all carpets and they are not easy to remove. Below, we will provide you with some tips on how you can deal with such blemishes.

Cleaning Carpet Spills And Spots.

The first rule of cleaning spills and spots on your carpet is to clean such stains immediately when they happen. That is because it is easy to clean a spill when it is fresh.

Here are a few tips to help you through the cleaning process.

First, do not apply any cleaning solution but instead, carefully scrape or blot the affected area and remove as many stains as possible.

carpet cleaning scraping method

The next step is to make sure that your carpet will not get damaged by the cleaner you plan to use. You can do this by testing your carpet in an open area. Test all the cleaning agents before applying them on your carpet.

Avoid rubbing the spill. That is because rubbing will only cause the spill to spread.

Furthermore, when cleaning any stain using a spot cleaner, make sure that you start cleaning from the outside moving towards the inside of the stain to prevent the stain from spreading. Once you apply a cleaning solution, remove or wipe out the moisture.

A white bath towel that is very clean is considered to be better for drying carpets and brushing them compared to other materials found in the market.

Deep Cleaning Method.

Even though vacuuming is considered to be the best way of maintaining your carpet, it comes a time when vacuuming is no longer reliable for restoring the appearance of your carpet. There are four signs which indicate that your carpet is in need of a deep cleaning process. These four signs are forming of dust storm when one runs across the carpet, discoloring, forming of grimy circles especially around the tables and chairs and lastly, the carpet feels sticky and matted.

If your carpet does indicate any of these signs, then it is necessary that you deep clean it. If you do not have the strength and the time to clean the carpet thoroughly, then you might want to contact a carpet cleaning expert for assistance. Here is how deep cleaning of carpets is done.

Start by testing for colourfastness before you begin cleaning the carpet. After that, moisten a clean white towel using a cleaning solution and then apply it on an inconspicuous area. If the clean white towel does not get any stains of colour, then it means that the solution is safe to use on the carpet.

Also, try to clear the room by removing furniture and once you are done, place plastic film or foil under the bases and legs on the rest of the furniture as a way of preventing stains.

Before you can proceed on to shampooing your carpet, it is advisable that you first vacuum it thoroughly, spot clean and then pre-treat the stains.

Follow all the instructions printed on the side of the carpet cleaner.

Use single strokes patterns when cleaning over the carpet surface.

When using a machine, avoid applying heavy pressure.

Wipe and dry the foam as well as cleaning solutions from the bases and legs of furniture immediately after cleaning to prevent damage. Also, do not forget to shake off the damp fibres after shampooing to help with drying. Furthermore, make sure that you put your carpet in a room that has good air circulation so that it can dry faster. Lastly, avoid walking and stepping on your carpet until it is completely dry.

A Compendium of Carpet Cleaning Countermeasures

With everything from coffee to chocolates, …

it can seem the universe has conspired to besmirch your lovely carpet.

But never fear, in the following section we will show you how to meet each challenge with precision and aplomb.

Acid stains

coffee and chocolate stains

Anything with acid content like vinegar, drain cleaner needs to be addressed right away. Apply baking soda or club soda to neutralize the acids and blot with a paper towel or cloth rags. Apply a solution of 1 part ammonia and 10 parts water to the affected area and blot again. Rinse with cold water, blot and dry. Vacuum.

Alcoholic Beverages

Dilute the spill with clean water and absorb as much of the liquid as you can. Use a mixture of 1 tsp. of vinegar, 1 tsp. of mild detergent and a quart of warm water apply this to the affected area and absorb as much as you can. Let it dry and vacuum.

Blood

Soak up as much of the blood as you can, then use this mixture on the spot: 1 qt. of warm water, 1 tsp. of white vinegar and 1 tsp. of detergent. Apply abundantly to the spot and soak up the excess. Repeat until all the blood is gone and allow to dry.

Butter

Collect as much of the butter as you can from the carpet fibres. Apply a dry-cleaning carpet cleaner to the affected area and allow the spot to dry. If the spot is still there, repeat the procedure.

Candle wax

candle wax removal

 

Melted wax from a candle can be frozen and easily removed just use a block of ice to cool the wax till it is solid and pull it from the fibres. Use a toothbrush to fluff the fibres and vacuum.

Chewing gum

Chewing gum is another sticky mess that must be frozen and pulled off. Apply the ice as needed and then begin gently crushing the chunks with needle nose pliers and scraping the frozen bits together, vacuum gently.

Chocolate

Begin to carefully pick up all the pieces you can with a credit card. Apply a solution of vinegar, detergent and water to the affected area and begin pulling chocolate from the fibers. Rinse, dry and vacuum.

Coffee

Absorb as much of the coffee as you can with dry towels, then use this mixture. Combine 1teaspoon of white vinegar, a quart of water and a teaspoon of mild detergent. Apply this to the spot and absorb again till the coffee is gone. Allow the carpet to dry and vacuum.

Crayon

Scrape away as much of the crayon as you can and then prepare a blotter to remove the rest. A blotter will be laid over the mark and heated with and iron till the crayon melts and attaches to the blotter. Keep moving the blotter so it doesn’t get saturated. Use a dry-cleaning fluid for the rest and vacuum gently.

Fruit

Don’t allow the fruit too much time to set as it will become very difficult to clean. Scrape up the bits of fruit and absorb the juice. Use the same mild detergent/ white vinegar/ water solution mentioned before to loosen up any last vestiges and absorb that too. Apply the solution to the spot again and allow it to dry, vacuum clean.

Mud

footprint in mud

Allow the mud to dry completely before brushing it gently and vacuuming the area. If there are still vestiges mix a teaspoon of white vinegar with a teaspoon of mild detergent and a full quart of water. Use this to clean the spots that are left then use a towel to absorb the moisture from the spot. Repeat as needed.

Soft Drinks

The bubbly action of a soft drink will keep it from settling in too fast, but there are also dyes and inks to beware of so act fast anyway. Use a mixture of white vinegar (1tsp.), mild detergent (1tsp.) and water (1qt.) to begin cleaning the area. Apply this solution to the spot and allow it to dry before vacuuming. Repeat as necessary until the area is clean.

Urine

Combine the following ingredients: 1tsp mild detergent, 1 tsp of vinegar and a quart of clean water. Apply to the spot and allow it to dry, after the area is dry clean it gently with a vacuum cleaner. If the spot is still there, repeat the cleaning process.

Vomit –– You will want to work quickly to prevent acids and odours from working their way into the carpet. Remove any solid chunks and absorb all fluids with a towel. Use a solution of 10 parts clean water to 1 part ammonia to moisten the area. Absorb this first solution and rinse the area with cold water. Allow to dry and then vacuum as necessary.

Red Wine

The first thing to do when red wine is spilled on your carpet is to dilute the stain with white wine. Then absorb what you can and clean with cold water and salt. In about ten minutes you can use a vacuum to collect the salt.

If nothing else seems to be working, you can always call in the pros with the big tools.

Time Saving Tips From Professional House Cleaners

Lets start with a quick video from Clean My Space …

No matter how bad the mess, …

you’ll get it all set in order in half the time by following these professional-grade tips.

Doormats

A doormat is your greatest ally in keeping dirt outside, so better get yourself two –– one placed outside and the other indie the door. You will be glad you did when winter snow rolls around and you have snowy salty boots. Be sure these are cleaned regularly so they perform their best functions and don’t make the mess even worse.

Combine tasks

Whenever possible try to accomplish two tasks at one time. For example, clean the baseboards while washing the floors and clean the blinds when you are doing the windows. Combining smaller jobs into one big job is a good way to cut down on running back and forth.

Skip the bucket

Sometimes dragging dirty mop water around the floor is counterproductive. Swap pout the bucket with a handheld floor cleaning solutions and a microfiber mop.

Stock up on products

Needless to say, bathroom cleaner is not so effective in the kitchen and should never be used for cleaning windows. You need the right cleaning agent for the task at hand to get the job done quickly and effectively.

Buy a soap dispenser dish brush

Get a soap dispenser dish brush for your shower stall and mark it for use in the bathroom only. Then hang it up in the bathroom stall and use to clean up real quick before you take a shower.

Vacuum the right way

This means working systematically from one side of the carpet to the other in a vertical pattern. Then you must repeat the process in a horizontal pattern. Remember doing this right means doing it less times throughout the week.

Define “clean”

Everyone has a different version of clean and you don’t want to be extreme in either direction. Take the time to ask yourself what a satisfactory standard of cleanliness means in your home and what you will have to do each day to maintain said standard. You may find out it is not as much as you think when you hit the essentials.

A pillowcase can be a fan cleaner

Obviously, you will need to repurpose an old pillowcase for this task, but there I hardly a better way to clean ceiling fans. The case keeps the collected dust from being flung far and wide. This is a very civilized way to clean a fan.

Create a cleaning plan

Most often, cleaning is done after the mess is getting too bad to ignore and therefore done hastily and sometimes impatiently. But this is not the way, the best way I to look at your cleaning as a grand waltz through your home. Begin high and go low covering everything in-between. You will have to do a cleaning regularly so the faster you learn the steps to your dance of sanitation the easier it will be.

Use your dishwasher

Dishwashers can be used for washing all sorts of household items that need to be cleaned to perfection. Use the dishwasher to keep some of your vases, mason jars, ceramic pot holders and other dish-washer safe item clean and fresh. You will absolutely want to keep candles and things that will melt out of the dishwasher though.

DIY cleaning solutions

Sure, commercial window cleaners are fine, but there is nothing like this cost effective and highly fragrant glass cleaner solution you make in the comfort of your home.

– 1 1/2 tablespoons rubbing alcohol
– 1 1/2 cups water
– 1 1/2 tablespoons white vinegar
– 3 drops peppermint essential oil

Clean the toilet daily

Don’t get behind on cleaning the toilet, you can keep the conditions of your toilet more or less sanitary by swishing some cleaning solution in the bowl and scrubbing around with a toilet brush each day. The bathroom can get the dirtiest the fastest so staying on top of this task avoids bigger cleaning jobs later.

Skip the polish

Believe it or not, the furniture in your home only really needs to be polished once or twice a year, or when they begin getting that distinctive foggy look. The rest of the year a microfiber cloth is the best option for keeping the furniture bright and shiny. Actually the less you use the furniture polish the less dust your furniture will collect.

Prioritize

Begin with the areas that will require scrubbing like the kitchen and bathrooms before moving to the “walking around tasks” like dusting, making beds, decluttering and finally floors. Look over the task at the beginning and think which of the smaller task will require the most attention.

Speed clean

What’s this? The in-laws will be dropping by to say “hello” and your home is in shambles? Not to worry, knowing the art of speed cleaning means you will get everything in order without actually having to get into a cleaning of the home. Focus on the areas of the home that are most visible like the kitchen and bathroom, don’t work about sweeping behind the fridge or organizing the cutlery.

Purchase a paintbrush

Here is a good trick for getting dirt and dust from the edges of furniture, a suitably sized paintbrush is just the thing. Brush this debris out and away from the edge of the furniture where it can be easily collected by the vacuum cleaner.