Cleaning a hardwood floor is easy; the challenge is avoiding damages during the process! Harsh cleaning products are the main risk, but moisture can wreak havoc on the hardwood surface too. In this blog post, you’ll learn the safe method to clean dirty hardwood floors!

How to clean hardwood floors

As mentioned above, cleaning your hardwood floor is not a difficult task. However, a simple mistake could take a toll on the floor. Since flooring should last for decades, damaging it is a big deal!

The following process focuses on telling you the considerations to avoid any risk of harming your floor. Maybe you know most of them! However, it is worth taking a look to make sure.

Step 1. Sweep and remove loose debris

Removing large particles is the first step before a more thorough cleaning session. To avoid scratches on the finish, use one of the following tools:

• Soft-bristle broom
• Dust mop
• Vacuum cleaner with a hardwood floor attachment (beater bars will scratch your floor!)

Note:

Sweeping (or vacuuming) a hardwood floor should be part of every cleaning routine! That’s why Think Maids includes it in its regular cleaning checklist!

Step 2. Choose a cleaning product for the mop

Most hardwood floors have a finish that works as a protecting coat. However, not all wood finishes are the same, and each one has a different reaction to cleaning products. 

Since, in reality, you are cleaning the wood finish, you need to find a safe cleaner for it. You should avoid bleach and ammonia in all cases! But popular green choices like vinegar could also do more harm than good on your floor. 

To choose the best cleaning product for your floor, consider the following:

1. Learn what type of wood finish you have: It could be wax, polyurethane, urethane, and many other hard-to-pronounce chemicals products!
2. Read the manufacturer’s guidelines: You don’t need to be an expert chemist to clean your hardwood floor properly. If your hardwood floor reacts badly to some cleaning product, the manufacturer will let you know!
3. Use the safest option first: Plain water and a good microfiber mop can remove build-up dirt! If the grime remains, try a few drops of pH-neutral dish soap. Don’t bring your stronger products if you can avoid them!

Think Maids recommendation:

You can clean most dirty hardwood floors with a gallon of warm water and a few drops of castile soap—or dish soap. Unlike vinegar, soap is not acidic, and it’s safer for most types of wood finish.

However, if you have a waxed floor, soapy water could remove the coating. Use plain water instead!

Step 3. Clean the floor with a slightly damp mop

During this step, your main focus should be to avoid wetting your floor. 

With a microfiber flat mop or a sponge mop, the process is simple. Dip your microfiber pad or sponge into the cleaning solution and wring it out completely.

If you have a string mop and a bucket with a built-in wringer, use the device until the mop is almost dry. Otherwise, you’ll need to get your hands on and wring out the mop—or invest in a new mop! Bob Vila compiled a list with the best mops for hardwood floors; check it out!

Step 4. Mop the floor

If you are cleaning a big room, it’s better to work in sections. Mop the first section in the wood grain direction. Then, rinse the mop with plain water and wring it out to give a final rinse to the area. Keep mopping until the entire floor is clean!

Warning!

A string mop can seem dry but wets your floor anyways! If this happens, dry the floor with a cloth or towel and go back to the wringing process!

Step 4. Spot clean tough stains with a microfiber cloth

If a stain remains after mopping, it is best to remove it with a soft microfiber cloth. Dip the cloth in the cleaning solution and wring it out thoroughly. Then, get down on your knees and scrub the stain! Finally, rinse the spot with a slightly damp cloth.

Note:

It could be tempting, but you should never use steel wool, scrubbing pads, or excess cleaning solution. Elbow grease is enough!

Daily wood care and cleaning routine!

Wood is easy to clean and can give your home an excellent look. However, it needs care! You can apply most wood cleaning and maintenance tips to your floor and furniture alike.

Check this infographic to learn the best wood cleaning tips!

How often should you clean hardwood floors?

As mentioned before, you should remove dust, crumbs, pet hairs, and other loose debris during your regular cleaning routine. 

However, mopping the floor is not necessary until grime starts to build up. Roughly, every few weeks for high-traffic areas and more than a month in low traffic areas.

To keep your hardwood floor spotless for longer:

Place rugs on the entryway, hallways, and other high-traffic areas. Place a doormat, so people can wipe their shoes before stepping on your hardwood floor. You can also place rugs on other high-traffic zones inside your home—like hallways and play areas.

Need help with the chores? 

Think Maids knows that cleaning services become a necessity in fast-paced areas like Washington, DC. Do you have little time for your cleaning chores? Get your quote here!

Kitchen cabinets are where we all store the food and kitchen supplies. However, we have seen how kitchen cabinet cleaning could be neglected for months! Keeping them clean and organized should be a priority in every household.

Grab a gentler cleaning product and prepare to use some elbow grease! Here we tell you the best way to clean kitchen cabinets! 

Why kitchen cabinets need your attention

An unclean kitchen cabinet can get covered in sticky, grease stains and grime. Although food splatters affect the aspect of cabinets, it is not the worst part.

The food particles and dirt might represent a risk for your household’s health, being the perfect breeding ground for bacteria. Also, grime can affect the finish or even the materials of your cabinets. In other words, not cleaning your kitchen cabinets will cause them to break down slowly!

The best way to clean kitchen cabinets

Although every kitchen cabinet is made from different materials, these are the basic steps to clean them: 

1. Dust the surface.
2. Spray a cleaner safe for the surface of your cabinets and wipe it with a soft sponge.
3. Use a toothbrush dipped in the cleaner to scrub the crevices details.
4. Rinse the surfaces with a damp cloth
5. Wipe the excess water with a dry cloth to prevent damages. 

What cleaner should I use to clean my cabinets?

What is the best cleaner for wooden kitchen cabinets? It depends on the wood and finishes, but we recommend starting by dusting the surfaces with a dry microfiber cloth. For tough stains, dish soap and water can do the trick, but commercial wood polishers are also a good option. 

Protecting the finish while cleaning tough stains is what makes choosing the cleaning product the hardest step. Follow these guidelines when selecting the best cleaning product for your kitchen cabinets:

1. Go from milder cleaners to harsh ones: Wiping the cabinet with a dry cloth is the safest option to protect the finish. The rule of thumb is starting with soapy water and changing to a harsher cleaner only if needed.
2. Test the products in a small area before using them: Most cleaning products are harsh chemicals. Before trying a new cleaner, rub it in a hidden spot of the cabinet, so you can see how it reacts. 

Kitchen cabinet cleaning weekly routine

How often should you clean kitchen cabinets? Homeowners tend not to clean their cabinets until it’s time to deep clean the whole kitchen. However, the best way to keep your cabinets in top shape is to wipe and spot cleaning them at least weekly. 

1. Dust every exterior surface of the cabinet. For deep cleaning, you could take everything out from your kitchen cabinets and wipe inside too.
2. If the cabinet is dirty, spray the cleaner and wipe them using a soft sponge or cloth. As we mentioned before, the safer choice is warm water with a few drops of dish soap. Be careful not to wet the surfaces too much because excessive moisture can damage wood and metal cabinets. 
3. If your cabinets have intricate hardware or crevices, use a toothbrush dipped in the cleaner to scrub them.
4. After every stain is gone, wipe the surfaces with a damp cloth to rinse the cleaner.
5. Lastly, wipe the excess water with a dry cloth to prevent damage. 

How to clean sticky grease off kitchen cabinets?

If you haven’t cleaned your kitchen cabinets for a while, there might be some stubborn stains. Your first option should always be patience and elbow grease. However, if they are really tough grease stains or grime, you might need a more abrasive product. 

The natural way to remove grease stains is by scrubbing the spot with a baking soda and water paste. Be careful when using it because it is an abrasive paste that could easily damage the cabinets. Test how the finish reacts before applying it!

Busy people in Washington DC, remember that you can add cabinet cleaning when booking your service with Think Maids! If you haven’t tried out our home cleaning, check it here!

Looking for a home cleaner in Washington DC could be overwhelming with all the options available. Before hiring a cleaner, you should know if they are professional, reliable, and well-trained to do the job. In this blog post, we tell you some signs to identify a trustworthy cleaner. 

1. They are credible

Knowing if a cleaner is credible could be challenging at a first impression. However, if you pay close attention to what the cleaner is offering, you can notice if something doesn’t sound right. A trustworthy cleaner should be able to prove experience, accreditations, and affiliations. If a cleaner is still a beginner, they should be honest about it. Discard everyone that might be boasting about something not entirely true.

2. They care about you

Cleaners are working to make a living, but your needs should be a priority for them too. When a cleaner genuinely cares about you, they treat your home as if it was their own. Does the cleaner use only top-quality products? Are they bonded and insured in case something gets damaged?  Do they guarantee the safety of your family and pets during the cleaning? Make sure you are a priority before trusting a professional cleaner.

3. They are constant and reliable

Hiring a housekeeper or maid to help you with your cleaning chores is often a recurring and long-term commitment. Maybe a cleaner seems trustworthy at first, but they can show their true colors once the work starts. Also, housework sometimes involves demanding chores, which makes it hard to know if someone is up to the tasks beforehand.

We do a trial cleaning before hiring a new team member to ensure we are taking in only skilled and friendly cleaners.

4. Their background is clean

Assessing a cleaner’s values and ethics could be almost impossible at first sight. However, running a background check should be manageable enough for homeowners. You never know who you’re hiring, so before letting a cleaner enter your home, make sure their background is clean.

Most companies do it before hiring someone for the same reasons. In fact, Think Maids applies a background check as part of a nine-step selection process before taking a new employee.

5. People speak wonders of them

Another common step you should take before trusting a cleaner is asking for referrals. When a cleaner is skilled and trustworthy, people will recommend them. Speak with the maid’s previous or current clients and hear what they have to say. Nowadays, rating and reviewing someone’s job is a matter of minutes with online platforms.

6. They don’t hesitate to go the extra mile!

Some people love doing their job, and it shows. When looking for a professional maid, hire someone ready to go the extra mile. A cleaner with the right attitude won’t just fulfill what’s expected; they’ll give extra attention to detail. A great attitude is what we look for in every cleaner!

We are Think Maids, a cleaning company in Washington DC that believes cleaning is much more than removing dust and grime in your home. If you want to dive further into what makes a trustworthy cleaner, we invite you to read more about our selection process. We start by reviewing every application through a rigorous process, and after that, we interview them face to face! Roughly, one of twenty interviewed applicants make it into the team, so you can be sure our employees are trustworthy.

Everyone wants clean, pristine windows so that they could peep through and savor the colorful, blooming abundance of Spring. However, window washing is a challenging physical job; there’s no other way. If you use paper towels and glass cleaners, you’re far from a perfect cleaning tenure. For best Spring Cleaning of Windows, you need to follow a dedicated approach. Here’s how to ensure effective cleaning. 

Tools for Spring Cleaning of Windows 

Here’s a list of tools you may need for the cleaning process. 

Drip cloths or absorbent towels – They protect floors, sills, and furniture from drips. 

A large bucket/tub – Fill it with warm water. Add a couple of drops of low sudsing soap or a regular dish- washing liquid. 

Spray bottle – Fill it with the same solution that you’ve in the tub/bucket. The spray will come in handy for small panes and French doors. 

Razor or plastic scraper – It removes dead bugs as well as debris that get stuck into glass panes. 

A top-quality squeegee – It can come in handy to avoid streaking and remove water. Just be sure you pick a 

new and quality squeegee for the best results. 

A large, soft sponge – It can wring thoroughly with no problem. A sponge will offer maximum coverage with minimum effort without slopping soap, water that may pose damaging threats. 

Absorbent rags – They let you quickly wipe out spills and drips from floors, sills, and other water-sensitive areas. 

Good-quality microfiber cloths – They’ll streamline the final drying process. Plus, they’ll buff panes in a more pristine manner. 

A vacuum – Attach it with a dusting device for cleaning hard-to-reach window screens and frames. 

A garden hose – A quality hose with some old rags is ideal for screen washing. 

Method of Spring Cleaning of Windows 

First of all, choose a cloudy day for the job. Bright sunny weather will make it difficult to spot subtle dirt, dust, and streaks on clean windowpanes. Also, the sunny heat will dry the panes faster, thus affecting the streaking task. 

Lay down towels and cloths. Now inspect any crusted debris and scrap it out. Use a vacuuming device to collect dead bugs as well as other debris accumulated within the frame. 

Soak the sponge in the bucket/tub and wring it thoroughly. Hold the absorbent rag in the other hand to collect drips as they occur. 

Start from the top; wash each pane on all sides. Also, get to the corner areas to remove dirt and dust from edges. 

After washing, squeeze the panes immediately. Use a rag for drying a small portion of the pane. Subsequently, draw the squeegee from the dry part to the bottom of the pane. That will keep any dripping during the squeegee process. 

Once the squeegee task is over, wipe out the moisture from sills and frames using the absorbent rag. Finally, polish the pane using a dry microfiber cloth for a lovely, streak-free shine. 

Bottom line 

Spring cleaning of windows can be a daunting chore. However, you may do away with this challenge with the right tools and an effective method. Follow the above advice and stick to it properly. Within no time, you could have clean and pristine windowpanes to enjoy the colorful, blooming abundance of Spring, if you,  call us and schedule your next cleaning with Think Maids!

For anyone who has to deal with allergies, they know pollen can make you feel awful. While it’s not good for anyone, it’s much worse for people affected that have allergies. Below are some tips you should take notice of so the next day you have to deal with pollen, you don’t have to suffer from your allergies.

1. Stay Up To Date On The Weather: Find reports or apps that will give you the information on pollen
counts. If the pollen happens to be high on a certain day then make sure your windows and doors stay closed that day.

2. Don’t Ignore The Pollen Outside Your House: If there is any pollen around a window, screen or roof then there is a good chance that pollen will make it into the house. Any pollen left on the ground like the driveways, porches or the stairs outside your home will make it into the house when someone walks through those areas. The best way to get rid of pollen left in these areas is to either power wash or sweep the pollen away. If pollen is getting into the house because people walked through it, have people take off their shoes right after they enter your house.

3. Don’t Slack When It’s Time To Clean: Over time, pollen will get harder and it is more difficult to get rid of the longer it’s left around. Pollen can stain more than you might think so it’s best to get rid of it as soon as possible and to keep your place clean is a good way to get a head start on keeping the pollen from ruining anything indoors.

4. Filter The Air Inside Your Home: This is something you should definitely consider if you suffer from allergies. Have a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter on which removes allergy triggers from the air.

5. Remove Pollen Grains: If pollen is in the home, do not dust or vacuum unless the vacuum has a HEPA
filter because doing these things with pollen in the air will spread them all over the place unless your vacuum has a HEPA filter.

6. Use Microfiber Cloths To Get Rid Of Pollen: If the pollen is on a surface that is not soft, then use
whatever you usually clean with and wipe the area with a cloth made of microfiber. The reason you want the cloth to be made of microfiber is that those cloths are better at picking up particles then cloths that aren’t made of microfiber. You can also use a squeegee if you choose instead of a cloth made of microfiber.

7. Shake The Things You Can Take Outside: If there is pollen on rugs, couch or chair cushions or
clothes then take those items outside if it’s possible and shake the pollen off those items outside. If pollen still remains after shaking those items then use a lint roller to lift the pollen that didn’t come off when you shook the item. If there are stains from the pollen then either soak the item in cold water or if the item is too large then wash the stain with cold water and blot the stain with a cloth.

If you are still dealing with a stain from pollen then try something that is meant to get rid of laundry stains. If the stain still isn’t gone then you may want to take the item to a dry cleaner and have them remove the stain. You don’t want anything dried with heat until the stain has been removed completely. 8. Don’t Forget About The Patio: For furniture that may be outside, you can usually get rid of pollen with a hose, clean cloths, and dishwashing liquid is enough to get rid of pollen. If that doesn’t work then you may need something like a Magic Eraser to get rid of the pollen that you couldn’t remove with the hose.
Dealing with pollen is never fun and if you leave it around for too long, it could be harder to remove completely. Some of these steps you won’t have to follow if you manage to keep pollen outside the home. But if pollen does make it into your home, you know what you will need to get rid of it. If not, a think

Think Maids can help with your pollen issues if you decide not to tackle it yourself. Call us and schedule your next cleaning today!

So you’re seeking info on cleaning pillows! Maybe, you face issues when cleaning them. Perhaps, you want to enjoy better results. No matter the reason, you can ensure the desired outcome by separating myths from facts. Here are effective pillow cleaning tips.

Myth 1

Regular cases can keep your pillows clean.
False
A regular case offers some kind of protection. However, body oils, dead skin cells, and plenty of perspiration seep through and get absorbed by your pillow. In addition to making your pillow dirty, it actually feeds mold and dust mites. This, in turn, destroys the fibers and shortens the life-span of pillows. You may resolve these issues by switching to waterproof pillow protectors.

Myth 2

You should only wash your pillows when they appear bad.
False
Rugged treatment doesn’t offer the sheen and shine to your pillows and they remain dirty even after cleaning. Your best bet is to wash when the dirt and dust are still low. Plus, make sure you use warm water on a delicate washing cycle. Even with a protective case, you may want to wash pillows every six months. If you’re someone who drools, perspires, or suffers from allergies, wash your pillows more often. Also, wash the pillow cover at least once a month.

Myth 3

Use bleaching agents for whitening and killing germs in pale-looking pillows.
False
If you use a powerful bleaching agent, it’ll destroy the delicate fibers of your pillow. Also, bleaching makes the pillow more susceptible to tearing and shedding. The use of a mild detergent or soft cleaning solution is among the best pillow cleaning tips. For the whitening effect, you may use borax or similar products (detergent boosters). Without damaging the fiber, you’ll enjoy fruitful results and cherish the companionship of your pillows for a long time.

Myth 4

Use softeners to keep your pillows soft.
False
Although fabric softeners can do wonders for towels and sheets, they’re a real threat for pillows. Polymers and oils in the softener get stuck to the filling fibers, which make them clump and mat. If you want to make your pillows soft, toss them into a dryer with old tennis balls or dryer balls for about an hour on a medium to a low setting. Make sure that the pillows are thoroughly dried before taking them out. Any leftover moisture will leave room for mold and dust mite growth.

Myth 5

Washed pillows become lumpy; so, replace them when they get dirty.
False
As the old saying goes, you get what you shell out for. So, invest in good-quality pillows to enjoy their longevity instead of cheap pillows that won’t last long. The better the quality of pillows, the longer its fluff retaining capacity (after repeated washings) will be. If you pick gel or non-washable pillows due to neck and shoulder issues, buy top-quality covers and wash the pillow-cases and covers delicately to enjoy their services for years.

Bottom line

Pillow cleaning is a task that should be taken seriously. So, get familiar with the myths and stick to facts. By following fact-based pillow cleaning tips, you can lengthen the lifespan of your pillows while keeping problems at bay. Get a Think Maids rep to help with your pillow cleaning needs. Call us and schedule your next cleaning today!

Lets face it, spring cleaning day is not exactly everybody’s favorite day. As a matter of fact, you can spend an entire day doing cleaning activities only to up with a house that’s partially clean. When cleaning your house, avoid these 10 common mistakes.

Cross Contaminating

This only distributes bacteria and other pathogens from one place to the other. From bathroom slides to hairbrushes we do this all the time! Imagine using cleaning equipment for both your kitchen and bathroom. Be like our pros who use cloths with various color codes to avoid the mix up when cleaning different places.

Cleaning With The Wrong Equipment

Using effective cleaning tools makes all the difference. For instance, if you are still using a feather duster to clean dusty surfaces, not only are you wafting dust into the air but putting yourself at risk of catching a cold! Choose the right vacuum cleaner, and cleaning detergents including bleach and soap to effectively clean your house.

Wrongly Cleaning and Drying Your Equipment

We all forget to clean and dry out cleaning tools from time to time. For instance, wet sponges, brushes, and cloths should be cleaned and hang out to dry. Failure to do so only creates a breeding ground for bacteria and viruses. Ignoring the Small Cracks and Spaces in Your House
Cleaning small places with cracks and spaces can be hard. However, over the course of time, these areas become perfect breeding grounds for living organisms that could make your life hard. These include mites, bacteria, fungi, cockroaches and other nasty organisms.

Forgetting to Air Out Your Beddings

I know you’ve read dozens of articles that encourage you to religiously make your bed every morning. However, we are constantly shedding dead skin which makes a perfect home for dust mites. By simply letting your bedsheets air out in the sun, the dead skin dries of and dies along with dust mites. Alternatively, you could leave your sheets tucked in but open your windows and expose them to as much sunlight as you possibly can.

Cleaning Your Windows in the Head of the Day

Doing this makes it difficult for your eyes to detect dirt because exposure to sunlight has a negative effect on our vision. Additionally, the sun’s heat waves make it almost impossible to clean the windows because water keeps drying off quickly. Pick a cloudy day to do your windows.

Cleaning with Furniture Polish

Furniture polish is not meant for cleaning but treating the furniture. In addition, it will make your furniture look shiny and glossy. Don’t use furniture polish to clean!

Cleaning Your House in the Wrong Order

Following a specific cleaning, order makes it easier to clean your house. Start from the furthest point from the entrance as you work your way to the house’s entrance. This prevents redistributing dust from the house interior. Not Applying The Rules of Chemistry Have you ever mixed some cleaning solutions only for you to end up choking and coughing wildly? Read the instructions on the label before mixing cleaning agents because some are highly hazardous and could pose a threat to your well being.

Failing to Read Instructions

Before using any cleaning tool or detergent, follow the instructions on the label to maximize their efficiency. Otherwise, you’ll end up having a poorly cleaned house. Let Think Maids make your life way easier! Call us so we can do the cleaning for you!

Showers and bathtubs are frequently used by many people and pets for bathing. To make sure that bathing is efficient, it is important to clean bathtubs frequently. Cleaning of bathtub and tiles includes 4 different methods, so here are these methods:

Smooth surfaces

To smooth the tub and tile plane the most major difficulty is soap scum. Soap scum is a bonding of many molecules such as dirt, oils, etc. it is the mixture of these deposits and other deposits such as soaps, shampoo, body wash. Scum is generally formed when soap is used in hard water, as hard water includes salts of magnesium and calcium in it. If someone lives in a place where hard water is found then the chances of having soap scum would be more. There are many reasons for soap scum as well. Too much warmth and vapor from bathing and not cleaning your bathroom and tiles regularly will create difficulties for you. It is better if you clean your bathtub and tiles regularly. Before choosing materials for cleaning, it’s better to understand what kind of material is used in the making of your bathtub and tile. It is good if you clean the tub and tiles at least once in a week. To clean the tiles spread the all-purpose cleaner and allow the liquid to sit there for 11 minutes and meanwhile you can clean other areas of your washroom. After 11 minutes you can scrub the surface and rinse it with water. This would make the tiles and your bathtub scum free.

Using sealers

Newly set up tiles and bathtub frequently replicate grout. This provides you the way of cleaning the grooves just like you used to smooth the surfaces. Meanwhile for old setups, one has to adopt a different method for cleaning. It is noted that grout is spongy making it vulnerable to mold and tarnishing. In order to prevent this, it is your responsibility to clean your bathtubs and tiles regularly.
If the stains start developing along with other problems, go after removing stains and start with a less aggressive method. The basic step you should follow is to remove the stains. To remove the stains, you should use the mixture of water and baking soda or you can also use the mixture of baking soda and dish wash. Spread the mixture on the grout and let it rest there for some time. Then scrub the grout gently with a brush. If baking soda is not successful in removing the grout then you should use hydrogen peroxide or bleach or mildew liquid. If you are utilizing the latter, make sure that the washroom is very well ventilated.

Fixtures

Deposition of minerals from hard water is the most common trouble for taps, showers, metallic handles, and bars. It can be removed with the help of a liquid solution of water and vinegar.

Drain

Sometimes cleaning the drain once in a week may not work. It requires tlc to remove unpleasant smell and removing of hair and other things that can clog the drain. Clogging of drain may lead to slow draining of water. If draining of water is normal then you just need vinegar or lime juice to remove the odour.

A cleaning professional will clean your tiles and tub best. Call us for a quote!

Window treatments can be susceptible to plenty of harmful allergens. They can also absorb and retain odors. That said, there’s no denying how largely window treatments can affect the indoor air quality which is why they should be kept clean.
It’s important to adhere to the manufacturers’ instructions if you’re doing the cleaning by yourself. Each window treatment has its own specific set of cleaning tips. Here’s a list of window treatments and the cleaning tips that are associated with them;

1.DRAPES
Regular Cleaning; Remove loose dust using a vacuum upholstery attachment while focusing on the top areas and folds.
Deep Cleaning; Drapes made from a non-washable fabric should be dry cleaned either bi-annually or annually. In the case of drapes made from washable material, ensure that you confirm that its colors won’t run. Also, avoid heat drying the washable window treatments to avoid unraveling of the stitching thread.

2.CURTAINS
Regular cleaning; Vacuum regularly while paying attention to areas around the hooks, rods, and tabs.
Deep cleaning; Be sure to adhere to the manufacturer’s instructions when laundering and also test for colorfastness. Sheer curtains tend to be a bit more delicate which is why you should either handwash them or use a mild detergent and use the delicate cycle setting when machine washing. Place it on a flat surface to dry and iron while slightly damp.

3.VENETIAN BLINDS
Regular cleaning; Use a cotton/microfiber glove to remove loose dirt (the gloves can be improvised using a clean pair of cotton socks). For vinyl blinds, use a clean cloth and mild detergent to remove stubborn grime. Water should be avoided when cleaning wood-slatted blinds.
Deep Cleaning; In the case of vinyl blinds, take them apart and leave them to soaking in a basin of warm water and mild detergent. Afterward, rinse and airdry them before hanging them again.

4.VERTICAL BLINDS
Regular cleaning; Before vacuuming, retract and place the blinds in one direction to make cleaning easier.
Start from the top working downwards while carefully vacuuming the blinds. If the blinds are made of vinyl or similar material, ensure that you use the soft brush attachment. On the other hand, if it’s made of fabric, the upholstery attachment will be better suited.

5.ROMAN SHADES
Regular cleaning; Use the soft brush attachment of a vacuum to remove dirt from sides of the shades.
Deep cleaning; Get them professionally cleaned annually if you can. For shades made of a washable type of fabric, you should either handwash them or use a washing machine on the delicate cycle using mild detergent.

6.WOVEN OR BAMBOO SHADES
Because of how delicate they are, make sure you support them with your hand when dry cleaning using a cloth made of microfiber or while vacuuming.

7.CELLULAR SHADES
Use a cloth made of microfiber or vacuum using the soft brush attachment. Spray compressed air through the shades to get rid of any dead bugs or dust. Spot cleaning can be done using a soft cloth and mild detergent. Afterward, you could either blot dry it with a dry cotton cloth or a blowdryer on a low setting. Avoid water at all costs.

8.DECORATIVE INTERIOR SHUTTERS
Clean them according to the material. That is, if its made from wood, adhere to the cleaning instructions intended for wood.

Think Maids can help with your treated window cleaning needs. Contact us for a quote today!

You must be aiming at ensuring that your house remains clean all along this year. For you to achieve this, you need to lay some regulations. You will need to be prepared for any cleaning job. You need to come up with solutions and tools that will help you in the cleaning process.

There are a variety of essential tools that you need to ensure you have to succeed in the home cleaning process. They include:

1. Dedicated brush and toilet bowl cleaner
In case you are using a single brush in cleaning all your house rooms, you need to lay some rules. It will help in the use of the brush in a way that it will not interfere or contaminate other regulations.
2. Nonabrasive and multicolored cleaning pads. With colored pillows, you will find easily different from the kitchen, table room, bedroom, and bathroom pad. When you do this, you will decrease the chances of transfer of germs from one place to the other.
3.Lint-free cloth. It will assist in the buffing of various streaks from glass surfaces and multiple mirrors.
4.A floor cleaner. It should be containing a PH balanced solution for the sake of sanitizing and disinfection of surfaces.
5.A glass cleaner and all-purpose spray for spraying. It is balanced with PH to sanitize and disinfect a variety of surfaces.
6.Gloves
7.A lint roller. It is highly essential particularly while having babies in the homestead
8.Brushes with nylon-bristle. They are coming with varying sizes for scrubbing purposes. They will be able to penetrate all the different crannies and nooks.
9.Waffle-weave and absorbent towels. They are highly useful for use in drying and wiping
10.Micro-fiber cloths with high quality.

Infrequent/Specialty Cleaning

If you are cleaning your place daily, the items listed above will be enough for you. If you are cleaning the house after a while, you also need to include the details below. The things will ensure that they leave your house sparkles and fresh. They are including:

Squeegee- A tool you must purchase mainly while cleaning the windows. It will also help you a lot with the cleaning of floors and mirrors.

Baking Soda- It is not just in use in deodorizing and baking. Baking soda is an excellent option in the cleaning of burnt pans and pots, cooktops, and in the cleaning of ovens.
A Goo Remover for stains removal- Normally in use when people are engaging in art. It helps in the removal of sticky items.

Wood Soap- The soap in useful in the cleaning of all furniture’s that are made by the use of wood Mildew/mold remover- Useful in the killing and containing the multiplying and living organisms

Scum soap remover- It is offering the best chemistry in dissolving chemical bonds found in the chemicals present on minerals and soaps. They include magnesium and calcium present in hard water.

A Stain Kit

A stain kit is necessary for the removal of stains. The items present in a stain kit are including:
A dry cleaning nonflammable solution

Glycerin

Rubbing alcohol

White vinegar

Corn starch

Baking soda

Oxidizing agent

Hydrogen peroxide

Chlorine bleach

Ammonia

Acetone

Dishwashing degreasing liquid

Conclusion

Ensure you are making use of Think Maids services to get your house sparkles clean. Get to the market today and ensure your order for these items or call us and schedule your next cleaning today!

No person can be completely protected from all infectious diseases only by cleaning. However, it is important to get factually correct information on what type of cleaning will prevent infectious diseases. This will help you do a realistic amount of preventive cleaning which is effective in disease prevention. Some key facts about cleaning a home during the flu and cold season are discussed below

Sanitizing and disinfecting

There is a major difference between disinfecting and sanitizing. Sanitizing affects bacteria only, killing 99.9% of them while disinfecting will kill 99.999% of the bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The main difference is that proper sanitization will reduce the exposure to germs by a thousand times, while disinfecting properly reduces the amount of harmful microbes a person is exposed to by 100,000.

Disinfecting and immunity

If there are no sick people, people with low immunity or high-risk people like the elderly, babies in a home, experts claim that it is not necessary to disinfect a home like a hospital during the cold weather season. It is usually sufficient to wash and sanitize the hands regularly. Other activities that will help boost the immunity of a person like eating nutritious food, getting adequate sleep has a greater impact. Hence disinfection is necessary only when people are sick or vulnerable or only areas that should are touched frequently should be disinfected. Some of these areas which many people in a family touch frequently are light switches, drawer handles, doorknobs, sink knobs, toilet flushes, and TV controls

Effectiveness

All the infectious germs are not killed by disinfectants and sanitizers. The company which claims that its solution is killing 99.9% of the germs, only has to pass a test of killing pathogens on a clean, flat and non- porous surface. Only the fine print will specify what germs the solution will actually kill.

Dirty surfaces

The effectiveness of a disinfectant is greatly reduced when it is applied on a dirty surface. The claim that a solution kills 99.999% of the germs, is usually only valid when applied to a surface that is already clean. The dirt and grime on the dirty surface can shield the pathogens from coming in contact with the disinfectant solution. Some types of dirt may react with the solutions’ active ingredients or make them inactive. Since 100% of the germs are not killed, the germs may grow again because of the grime and dirt, even after disinfecting a surface. Hence it is advisable to clean the area before disinfecting it. Only cleaning solutions whose ingredients bond with the dust, grime particles and lift them away should be used. The cleaning tools should be absorbent enough, to remove all the dirty water from the surface which is being disinfected.

Using disinfectants

The disinfectants may not be effective if the user does not follow the directions of the manufacturer for using them precisely. Typically a canister containing disinfecting wipes will specify that the surface which is being disinfected has to soak the disinfecting solution for ten minutes to be effective in destroying the germs. Additionally, multiple wipes are usually required to ensure that enough disinfecting solution is applied on the surface. If you need your house disinfected for the flu season call us and schedule your next cleaning today, with Think Maids.

Having a clean and organized refrigerator and freezer is not only good-looking but functional, as well. Cooking and generally meal prepping is gonna be much easier after you clean those two important devices. Cleaning both of them on the same day is much easier and if preferred, you can divide the task into more simple and brief mini tasks. In each case, the process for both the freezer and the refrigerator is almost identical, therefore you can save some important time if you clean them both on the same day.

Steps to cleaning your refrigerator and freezer

Fully empty both devices

The first thing you need to do before you start cleaning is to empty both machines. Getting rid of products that are rotten or beyond their expiration date is really important. Check the label of each product you store into the freezer or refrigerator and get rid of anything unnecessary. After that, try to organize the products by separating them into some major categories. For example, those that will go back to the freezer or refrigerator can be divided into categories: fruits, veggies, meal preps, leftovers or beverages.

You should also, remove any drawers or shelves that seem to need a bit of washing. Bring them down to the sink and wash them. Alternatively, wipe clean them with caution.

PRO TIP
If you cannot remove a shelter or drawer all by yourself, check online for a Youtube video or a piece of advice by someone who has tried this before.

Wipe the freezer and refrigerator from side to side

After you have emptied those devices, it is time for you to wipe clean them carefully. This step is a bit different in terms of the materials you will need for cleaning each of the devices. For the refrigerator, prefer to use a mixture of Castile soap and warm water. On the freezer, you can use just a mop towel to wipe clean it.

You can also, use a clean vacuum cleaner to effectively pick up all the crumbs, dog hair and anything else that can be found in the crevices of both the refrigerator and the freezer.

If you discover any tough spots, you can effectively use a toothpick. However, you need to be careful when using it. In fact, it is vital that you use it almost parallel to the crevice. That will ensure that it will not break off and that no damage is gonna occur on the surface of the machines.

PRO TIP
Make it your goal to wipe down your refrigerator once a week, parallel to your writing of your grocery list. That will help you maintain your refrigerator clean and neat at all times and you won’t have as much food waste as before.

Organize your refrigerator and freezer

Before it is time for you to store everything inside your clean refrigerator and freezer, you really need to organize a bit of the available space. If you find it helpful, you can stick some notes on the shelves to be able to identify your products quickly. The freezer is typically easier to organize. The top drawer is usually used for butter storage, Ice packs and yeast are placed in the door of the freezer. The lower shelf is used for the storage of meats and leftovers on one side and some frozen vegetables and fruits on the other. Homeowners usually possess a larger freezer in their garage, therefore, that is more of a freezer for immediate needs.

Hire a cleaning professional to get your refrigerator neat and tidy. What are you waiting for to call?

Even though vinegar is probably the single best cleaning agent in your household, you might be reluctant to use it due to its poignant smell. Here is an idea of how can you use other ingredients to naturally subdue the scent, and at the same time, keep all the good ingredients that will help you maintain your home clean, fresh and toxic-free. It doesn’t take more than 15 minutes to make the mixture that will then marinate for about 2 weeks. It’s simple, cost-effective and good for your health, what else can one ask for?

You want to start with freshly prepared herbs, such as thyme or lavender, that can overpower the acetone-like vinegar smell. If you mix herbs of your choice with apple cider vinegar, you will get a delicious salad dressing that can be used with just about anything. But if you are looking for an organic cleaning spray, then you should mix white vinegar with citrus peels. Cloves can be a great addition to the mixture if you enjoy the smell of freshly brewed mulled wine on a cold snowy day. Back to the subject, after peeling the fruits, make sure to use the first layer as it contains the essential oils which are what will make the real difference. Adding vinegar and filtered water, and voila, there is your super effective and good-smelling spray! You can also stick to the simple formula where you mix distilled white vinegar with herbs. Fill up half of the jar with herbs and then pour the white vinegar just enough to soak them up. The crucial thing here is to give it a gentle shake every now and then for about two weeks. Once you decide to use your freshly prepared spray, add a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil and add more white vinegar to your liking. Simple, right?

The vinegar-based spray is the perfect choice for every corner of the house. The spray is perfectly safe to be used on all surfaces and around animals or babies. When preparing the blend, make sure to combine 50% of vinegar with 50% of water so the acid doesn’t ruin some of your favorite natural surfaces. The acid won’t be of much help when it comes to killing off bacteria, that is why we would always recommend you scrubbing the area with a natural-based soap and water. Spraying an aromatic vinegar-based liquid will then have higher chances of successfully removing the microbes. Rinsing the affected area with this spray will also leave a pleasant smell in the room. What is the real advantage of this product is that you will get to use it for months, without having to worry about the expiration dates and the bad effects traditional chemicals cause. It is also ridiculously cheap to make your own cleaning spray, as you have all the ingredients readily available in your local store. Think Maids can handle your cleaning needs when it comes down to it call us sooner than later.

Cleaning agents’ toxicity is a well-known issue in today’s modern world. As if our land, air, and waters are not already terribly polluted, now we have to pay attention to what we use when cleaning the house. Chemicals tend to compensate for their poisonous ingredients by cleaning efficiency, which can seriously damage your health. Taking care of your well-being should be the most important thing you look at when opting for an organic and powerful product that will leave your bathroom sparkly clean.

Let’s start with the basics. None ever taught you how to properly clean a toilet seat or a toilet bowl. This is one of the notoriously famous bacteria-infested spots in your house, and it should be thoroughly wiped. You want to make sure that the entire exterior surface is well sprayed. We would always recommend using DIY natural-based sprays. A little bit of vinegar, alcohol, lavender or peppermint essential oil and water should do a terrific job. For the best results, we suggest you use a microfiber cleaning cloth that is known for well-handling grease and dust. If you want to disinfect properly, then you will need a strong agent such as hydrogen peroxide that will leave your toilet in a hygienically immaculate state.

You might get surprised to hear that castile soap does a wonderful job cleaning the interior of the toilet bowl. Don’t forget to let it sit for a while before you scrub it away to remove even the most persistent of stains. Traditional bowl cleaners are known to cause allergies, which is why scrubbing the toilet with a natural soap or baking soda is by far a better option. If you want to make your toilet look brand new in tones of snow-white, then a small dose of oxygen whitener should do the trick. Combining strong clearing agents from nature with a compactible toilet brush will change your mindset about toilet cleaning. These brushes are replaceable, which means that you and other fastidious family members will find it more convenient to spruce up the toilet. With as little effort as a daily regular five-minute maintenance, your toilet can stay fresh and spotless,

Toilet bowl rings can be such a nuisance sometimes. Not only that it is nearly impossible to properly clean that area and restore the previous shine, but many people opt for strong chemicals in the process. Apart from its highness, the baking soda, there is one more fantastic prop that can help you diligently remove the ugly ring spots. Pumice stone, the same one that you use to heal your cracked heels, is the second-best solution to the problem. We recommend buying this volcanic rock with a handle, so it makes the job of cleaning the toilet more enjoyable.

Concerning those narrow hidden spots, you can always wash them with antiseptic tissue wipes. In that way, you will also refresh the toilet by getting rid of the residue odors. If you want to add a personal touch, consider dipping the tissues in your cleaning spray, which can be easily made by combining baking soda, citric acid, hydrogen peroxide and any essential oil of your choice. After you prepare the disinfecting spray, make sure to give it a good shake and let it rest in a transparent glass spray bottle. You can choose to not be bothered with tasks like these by reaching out to your local Think Maids.

After an illness your body will be so vulnerable to germs and other infections and it is thus important that you find some effective ways to disinfect yourself. You also need to prevent spreading the illness to other people in the home. So how do you go about disinfecting yourself after a sickness? Well, the tips discussed herein are key to keeping you healthy after an illness.

1.Replace the toothbrush

Tossing your old toothbrush is the best way to prevent re-infecting yourself after an illness. You should also avoid storing multiple toothbrushes together as this would spread the bacteria to other family members. Doctors recommends that each toothbrush to be stored separately without getting in contact. After a sickness cleaning your toothbrush by either using vinegar or even dipping it in a boiling water may not be effective at all. Replacing it with a new is the most effective way to opt to sanitize after an illness.

2. Thoroughly cleaning the entire house

After a cold season it is obvious that bacteria will invade your home and therefore it is advisable that you disinfect the entire house to avoid spreading the illness to other family members. Some of the major areas that you need to thoroughly cleanse includes the kitchen as you use hot water to clean all the utensils, wipe the kitchen counterparts, and wipe down the refrigerator and the electronic devices as well.

3.Washing the bedding

The bathroom, towels, bedding and other clothing should be thoroughly washed and cleansed as well. Most people tend to forget about the pillow covers and throw blankest. These are also ideal areas where germs can manifest and therefore you need to thoroughly wash them as well. Washing them in hot water may be more effective. However, if you consider using cold water then adding about 10 drops of tea tree oil to disinfect your laundry.

4. You should also Clean the air after a sickness

Cleaning the air is also key to disinfect after an illness. The process is not complicated either and therefore you need to work it out to prevent re-infecting yourself or spreading the illness to your family members. There are quite a range of things that you may need to do to clean the air in your home. Some of these tips include; frequently dusting the floors, windows and the entire house is ideal to minimize germs in your home. You should also vacuum the carpets and the entire floor surface. You should also leave the windows open for maximum ventilation in the house. You should also avoid smoking form the house or even burning candles or woods in the house. Such measures are key to purifying the air in the house and as a result preventing the spread of germs and bacteria to other family members.

Even after a sickness, you need to disinfect your home to avoid re-infecting and spreading the germs to your loved ones. A reputable cleaning service can deeply clean your home and surroundings, to disinfect your environment. Call and schedule a cleaning today!

Keeping your house free of insects should be among your top priorities. Unfortunately, through the summer, spiders will crawl into your home, and you might realize it when your house is full of cobwebs. Cobwebs might be harmful to some extent, and they will also make your beautiful house to look messy. However, you shouldn’t worry as cobwebs are not a big deal, and you can eliminate them from your home with ease. The core thing is to locate where they are, and everything will be simple from there. You will be able to see them using your naked eyes and wash or wipe them. But in some situations, cobwebs might hide in your house, and you will need more effort to locate them. So what are the common hiding places for cobwebs?

Under furniture

Spiders will hide under your bulky furniture that you move less. You will find many cobwebs hiding under your bed, sofa set, or your wall unit. When cleaning your house, don’t forget to vacuum underneath every furniture.

Door frames

Another primary hiding place for spiders is doorframes. Spiders will love these places because they feel more secure and less interrupted. When cleaning, check every door frame and also cracks.

Clutters

That pile of old books and clothes in your bedroom will also create a good place for spiders leaving cobwebs. Make sure you dispose of anything that you don’t need including books, toys, and old clothes. This will reduce clutters in your house, and spiders will have fewer places to hide.

Ceilings and ventilation vents

These are the most unattended parts of your house. This makes them the best place for spiders to hide hence more cobwebs. When looking for cobwebs in your home, don’t forget to check these places as they will be potential hiding places.

Windows

Spiders will love to stay around the windows, as this is where they will get their food from. Many insects will enter your house through the window, and this is the main reason why spiders will wait for them there. Always move your curtain and check if you will see any cobwebs around there and wipe.

Floor corners

Floor corners will create hiding places for cobwebs. Especially corners that are close to furniture will create a good place for spiders to stay hence cobwebs. Any furniture that is around the corner should be moved regularly to ensure no cobwebs will accumulate.

How to eliminate cobwebs

After locating cobwebs, the next step is to eliminate them. This shouldn’t be a complicated thing, and you can do it on your own using simple equipment in your home. If you involve any chemicals, take all the necessary precautions. You can eliminate cobwebs through wiping, sweeping, dusting, or vacuuming.

Conclusion

Cobwebs can be disturbing and even make your beautiful house to look old. Locating and eliminating cobwebs in your home shouldn’t be overwhelming. Check all the hiding places and remove the cobwebs with simple procedures. But it would be best if you kept rechecking all the hiding places as cobwebs will always come back after some time. If you don’t want to handle the cleaning Think Maids can do it for you. Call us when you next need a hand.

Spring is the best season to give your home a thorough clean. You need a dose of fresh air once the house has gotten stuffy. But who said you can’t clean your house in winter, summer or fall? Well, if you learn how to clean the house in all seasons, you’ll have less work in spring. Whether you DIY or let us do the job for you, the idea is to have a more enjoyable home.

Summer cleaning

While summer implies more time for barbecues and vacations, it’s also the best time to get to clean your house. Start by opening the windows and doors to ensure they are working properly. If you have swing doors, you should vacuum all debris. And if there’s any build-up grime, you can scrap it with a screwdriver.

Next, go to the laundry room and check all the cleaning supplies. Dust, mop, and vacuum the area. Because the summer season presents all sorts of stains like grass, ice cream, and dirt, you should sort the colors. After that, clean the empty bottles that may have accumulated the laundry room. Another area that needs thorough cleaning is the bathroom. This should be done twice a week due to the increased humidity of the summer weather. To prevent mold build-up, you should run the fun as you bathe. And when the bathroom is not in use, you should leave the door open.

The kitchen requires cleaning as well. Get into the nitty-gritty of everything including the appliances. The microwave needs more attention, especially if you’ve been cooking snacks all summer long. You may want to heat a bowl of water and add lemon slices to get rid of the odor.

Now, it’s time to get outdoors. You should scrub the deck, driveway, and hose down the playsets. Clean the patio furniture and grill in your backyard.

Cleaning your home for winter

During the winter season, you should get your home ready for cooler temperatures. This is the time you should swap your summer clothing with winter clothing. Since winter is the holiday season, you expect a lot of guests in your home. You should focus on bathrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and guest rooms.

Make sure the cabinets and ovens are clean. After that, you should vacuum upholstered furniture. Use a damp cloth to clean the window sills and vacuum the drapes. Also, clean your patio furniture before you keep it in the store. Finally, make sure the gutters are clean.

Spring cleaning

This is the time to shake off the winter doldrums and get active. The temperatures are warming up and the flowers are blooming. Grab your cleaning gear and vacuum beneath the furniture. Next, clean the ashes from the fireplace and any dust on the nearby surface. And to ensure the indoor air is clean, you should change the air filter of your HVAC system.

Vacuum the mattress to ensure there is no room for bacteria growth. Wash the windows and check for any broken panes. You should also spend some time in the laundry by sorting out the clothing you no longer need. Don’t forget to set up your patio and give your furniture a good cleaning.

If you want to enjoy a cleaner and healthier home, why not let Think Maids do the cleaning for you? Of course, you’ll have more time to do what you love, now is the best time to call.

Your home is meant to store odors as you cook, eat, bath, and do your other daily habits. Even if you have time to clean your house regularly or hire someone to get rid of the mess for you, odors are just inevitable. But, you don’t need to face this problem alone. You can do quick hacks to make your home free from foul odors from your kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom, and laundry room. Here’s what you can do.

1) Get rid of everyday odors.

There are plenty of ways to do this. You can open your windows and backdoors during daylight so to allow fresh air to come into your house. The more windows are open, the more odors will come out of your house. Don’t forget to do home remedies as well such as cutting a lemon in half and placing them in any spot of your house so it can absorb the bad smells. Making your own deodorizers helps too. Just get the basic materials such as baking soda, detergents, and sprinklers.

2) Dealing with your laundry room odors.

Your pile of dirty clothes might be the number one cause of your laundry room odors. Before you wash, make sure to clean your washing machine first with hot water, baking soda, and vinegar. Put your solution into your detergent and fabric softener dispenser to wash away the dirt and odor coming from these areas. After cleaning the machine, get rid of the odors coming from your dirty clothes. Wash them and leave the lid of your machine open after laundry. If you have a trash can in the room, make sure to throw away the trash every day and regularly wash the trash can.

3) Wash off your bedroom odors.

Your bedroom houses millions of bacteria and skin cells from your body. Don’t let your mattress absorb all of those. Make your own cleaning solution using water, baking soda, and vinegar. Put the solution in a sprinkler for easier use. Take off the bedsheet and start sprinkling the solution in your mattress. Allow it to sit for at least 2 hours. After that, vacuum your mattress to remove the excess solution. Replace your bedsheet at least once every week and make sure to vacuum your mattress twice in a year.

4) Taming your kitchen odors.

Baking soda and vinegar are pretty useful cleaning solutions at home. You can always combine these two in order to come up with your own sprinkler. When you are storing food in your refrigerator, make sure to leave an open container of baking soda to absorb the smell of the food. Clean your sink regularly with your home-made solution and don’t forget to deodorize your garbage disposal. Throwing away your trash every day contributes a lot in making your kitchen fresh.

5) Keeping the smell of bathroom fresh.

You don’t want to use a stinky bathroom when you are taking a bath. Always deodorize it with your cleaning solution. Include your bathroom sink and bowl when cleaning. You might also want to scrub your bathroom tiles and wipe your shower wall panels with vinegar and baking soda for anti-bacterial.

At Think Maids we clean deep and can get the odors under control, find out how or book us by giving us a call.

When we clean our house, we usually overlook the baseboard area. Furthermore, we often don’t see them unless we drop something or give the house a once-over when we are expecting company.

Baseboards can get a grimy look after some time if you don’t clean them. Therefore, it’s a good idea if you include them in your cleaning routine.

The good news is that baseboards are fairly easy to clean, although you’ll have to put in some strength to move some furniture.

Follow this guide about baseboards if you want to know how to clean them and maintaining them that way regularly.

How to clean heavily soiled baseboards

If your baseboards have not been cleaned in a long time, you’ll need to make a couple of hours for this task. Before starting, gather dishwashing liquid, water, a bucket, microfiber cloths, a towel, and cotton swabs. You could add a vacuum cleaner with attachments if it’s possible.

Cleaning baseboards step by step

Ask for help to move the furniture away from the walls.
Using a microfiber cloth (or the vacuum), dry dust the baseboards. You can put the towel on the floor to keep pressure off your knees if you are using cloths.
Mix a few dishwashing liquid with warm water in your bucket.
Dip the cloth in the mix and wring it so you don’t ruin your floors. Besides, a damp cloth is more effective than a saturated one.
Wipe the baseboards and change your cleaning solution when it’s too muddy.
Dip a cotton swab in the cleaning mixture to clean corners.
Dry your baseboards with the help of fans before moving the furniture again.

How to clean baseboards routinely

Now that you have cleaned your baseboards in-depth, you need to keep them looking good. Follow the next three simple ways to easily clean your baseboards every one or two weeks.

Microfiber cloth

Move away the furniture and wipe the dust out of your baseboards.

Vacuum attachment

This is an easier way to keep baseboards looking nice. Besides, you can do it standing.

Sock and a yardstick

A creative, yet effective way to clean up baseboards. Useful for people with injuries and difficulty to be on their knees.

Slip a microfiber sock over a yardstick and you can easily remove dust particles with it. You could also use a normal sock, although it won’t be as effective.

Have a baseboard that you can’t clean? Let Think Maids do it for you. What are you waiting for to call?

How to declutter the kitchen

Kitchens can get very cluttered and it’s important to clear it out regularly so that you can be in a safe and happy environment. By using the following system, you can have a clean and fresh kitchen at all times. If yours really needs a declutter, you just need to follow these steps.

1 – Plan out all the different tasks

It’s a great idea to plan out the tasks you need to complete in the kitchen, either in a planner, calendar or simply by using a checklist. This gives some order to the job at hand and you will get such a feeling of satisfaction when you get to check off every job as completed.

2 – Empty and clean the refrigerator and freezer

Cleaning out your fridge and freezer can feel like such a mammoth task, which is why it’s advised to get to them first. Go through the food, checking expiry dates and see what can be put in the trash. Take any drawers/shelves to the sink and wash them in some soapy water. You can also use a dishcloth to wipe inside the interior. Don’t forget to wipe the outside of the appliances too. Keep on top of this task by cleaning out your fridge/freezer every week and give it a quick wipe down too.

3 – Cleaning cabinets, drawers, and storage

You need to go through all your cabinets, drawers, and general places of storage in the kitchen and declutter your heart out. Be brutal, only keep what you love and for everything else you can donate it, relocate it to another room or throw it away.

4 – Organize small appliances and towels

Next, you need to look at kitchen tools and appliances. Consider if you use all the appliances you have and if not, can you give them away or maybe some are in bad condition and just need to be binned? Go through your kitchen towels, fold them up neatly and put them in a drawer or somewhere else you like to store them.

5 – Clean under kitchen sink

Finally, it’s time to clean underneath the kitchen sink. Go through everything and decide what you are going to keep, donate, toss and relocate. Check for empty containers because many people seem to keep empty containers under their sink and completely forget about them. Organize your items as best as you can and also wipe down the inside of the cupboard using a damp cloth. Let Think Maids do the cleaning. Call to schedule a cleaning today!

Oh no! You just picked up your dog’s bed and it smells absolutely horrible! It’s not too hard to throw your dog in the bathtub or into the car to take them to your favorite pet groomer, but the dog bed is a completely different beast altogether. Lucky for you, Think Maids has got your back whether your baby is small or large. So are you ready to have a better smelling home? Well c’mon!

How to Keep Your Dog’s Bed Clean

Unfortunately, you’re not just making sure your dog smells good; you’re also keeping everything clean to protect your dog and their belongings from fleas. We all know how much a nightmare those are, right? You should plan to clean their beds a couple times a week. You need:

A handheld pet vacuum
A lint roller
Shake the bed off outside to get rid of any loose debris
Air your dog bed out on a dry, grass-free area to reduce the risk of fleas.
Vacuum the area around the pet bed.
Vacuum the bed to pick up any stubborn hair or dirt
Still have some hair that just won’t let go? Use a lint roller to get rid of it.

Washing the Dog Bed

But occasionally, thorough vacuuming isn’t enough to keep the bed clean. About once a month, you’re going to need to wash your dog bed with soap and water to really clean it. You can use these instructions with both small and large dog beds. You’re gonna need:

A bathtub (preferably a clean one)
A vacuum
A lint roller
Pet-friendly laundry detergent
Vacuum the dog bed cover and pick up any remaining dog hair with the lint roller.
Remove the slipcover and shake it off outside to get rid of any grime that slipped inside it.
Soak the slipcover in hot water for about 10-15 minutes to kill off any flea eggs
Wring out the cover out as best you can.
Wash your cover in the washing machine with cold water and hang it out to dry (the dryer will cause shrinkage)
Fill the tub with new hot water.
Vacuum and lint roll the foam padding.
Put some of the detergent into the bathtub.
Scrub the detergent into the foam.
Repeat step 6.
Rinse out the foam until there is no more soap.
Let the slipcover and foam bedding dry away from grass.
Flip the foam over to dry the other side.
Vacuum around the bed area.
Do you want to really make sure there’s no odor? Spray the bed with an odor eliminator that’s safe from pets.

When it comes to washing your dog’s bed, treat it like your own. If you wouldn’t sleep in that bed, your dog doesn’t either. Once it’s clean, your dog is sure to be way happier than they already are. Have a Think Maids professional handle this for you. Don’t hesitate to call us.

Many homes have a musty smell during the winter season due to the lack of air circulation. Taking the time to eliminate these odors is well worth the effort and can help you create a much cleaner environment for you and your family. Here are a few key tips that can help you get rid of a musty smell during the winter.

#1 Keep Your Home Clean

One of the best ways to prevent a musty odor is to keep your home clean. Dirt and dander can quickly add up in the wintertime, especially if you have indoor pets. However, taking the time to dust and vacuum the floor is important in preventing these odors. It is also a good idea to keep your fireplace, furniture, and floors clean during the winter season.

#2 Don’t Skip on Chores

It can always be tempting to skip on chores during the winter months. However, it is always important to consistently perform routine chores, whether it is doing the laundry, carrying out the trash, or cleaning the dishes. Skipping out on these basic chores can cause unpleasant odors in your home.

#3 Neutralize Home Odors

One of the best ways to keep the air fresh in your home is to use air fresheners or burn seasonal candles. You can also soak your shoes in baking soda overnight to keep your shoes smelling fresh throughout the cold winter months.

#4 Take Advantage of Warm Days

It is always a great idea to open the windows for fresh air if you ever experience warm days in the winter. A cool breeze always feels pleasant and is an excellent way to keep your home fresh throughout the winter season.

If you call professional cleaners or follow these simple tips it can play a crucial role in keeping the air clean and preventing musty smells during the winter season. Give us a call today!

Cleaning services are quite useful and in demand in numerous industries. Here are some of the top industries that need cleaning services.

1. Medical Private Practices

Large hospitals have janitorial staff to handle their cleaning. However, private practices are quite smaller and they often outsource their cleaning needs. Running a private practice can be a challenging affair. However, by outsourcing the cleaning needs, your patients will gain the reassurance of the quality of service offered.

By hiring our cleaning company, we will handle the medical spaces, the bathrooms, offices and waiting rooms effortlessly. We understanding that running a private practice is time-consuming and you will not have enough time to clean the area. If you leave the cleaning to us, you can focus on the important things and leave the cleaning to us.

2. Restaurants

Many restaurants have hired employees who handle the cleaning in the establishments. However, a few things tend to fall through the cracks. If any areas are overlooked, customers are going to be uncomfortable, especially if it’s where they are eating.

That’s where Think Maids services come in handy. We have a commercial cleaning crew that will handle all your cleaning needs. That way, you can focus on providing an excellent experience to all your customers. We will handle everything from the bathrooms and other areas of the restaurant that are often forgotten.

3. Start-up Companies

Starting a new company from start means you have a lot of work to do. For instance, you need to acquire new clients and manage the existing ones effortlessly. It’s no surprise that most start-ups can’t handle their office cleaning needs on their own. Without a clean work environment, there will be lower productivity and morale and it will affect how the company is viewed in the professional terms.

Start-up owners can focus on other areas of the business when they hire a cleaning company. We understand the type of work that goes into starting a new business. Let us handle your cleaning needs while you focus on the rest of your business needs.

Hire us today contact us and enjoy our top-notch cleaning services. We are dedicated to keeping your premises clean and pleasant to all your customers!

We all wish to live in a clean and healthy environment. Many people are more comfortable living in a clean and well-organized home as compared to a dirty, unkempt one. That said, you should always strive to keep your home as clean as possible. Living in a clean environment also reduces the risk of infections and disease. Here are 4 tips and tricks to a clean and tidy home.

1. Create A Cleaning Routine

The first step to a clean home is by creating a routine whereby all-important cleaning jobs are handled on time. Identify essential cleaning tasks and handle them first before taking on anything else. Assign a specific day or days when you’ll be handling the major cleaning tasks, then handle minor ones on the go. Try to stick to this routine to prevent backlogs of the same.

2. Declutter

Many of us tend to hang on items we don’t need for too long. Some of these items are magnets for grime, dirt, bacteria, and germs, hence shouldn’t be allowed in the house for too long. This also includes clothes and utensils you no longer need. Decluttering your home will not only help create more space in the house but also make keeping it clean much easier. You can give up or even donate items you no longer need too.

3. Wash Dished on The Go

Do not let dishes and other utensils to pile up in the kitchen sink and dining table. Make it a habit of washing the dishes right after eating, and even clear out the sink by washing any dirty ones as you prepare your meals. This way, you’ll have fewer dishes to worry about. Letting the dishes pile will only make your work harder – you’ll also find yourself postponing when these should be washed as well.

4. Take Trash Out of The House Everyday

Do not gather trash for several days; instead, take it out every day and preferably in the evening. Don’t focus on removing trash from the kitchens and bathrooms alone; check all the other rooms to ensure none is left behind. Doing this reduces the risk of trash and possibly bacteria from piling in the house. Getting rid of trash on time will also make spring cleaning easier too.

Consider hiring a professional cleaner if this seems too much for you. Professional cleaners’ provider a higher quality job as compared to a DIY cleanup, here’s a number you can call.

Are you looking for the best way to keep your windows clean? Do you feel like it’s frustrating and daunting to do it over and over again without any positive results? Well, a lot of people have been in the same boat. As much as try cleaning your windows, if you are not doing it correctly, you will always leave smudges. Here are the best window cleaning tips and tricks to guarantee the best results.

1. Clean On A Cloudy Day

Yes, most people assume that cleaning their windows on a sunny day is the best. However, that has few flaws in it because when it’s sunny outside, the cleanser will dry out too fast. On the other hand, when it’s a little cloudy outside, you can clean your windows at a slower pace and make sure you get every smudge. Doing this allows you to completely clear out the streaks and smudges without any issues.

2. Buy A New Window Scrubber

How long have you had your window scrubber? Have you been using it for years? Well, it should be worn out by now so it’s the best time to replace it. If you are still using the old scrubber to clean your windows, it’s the reason why they are still dirty. A new one will definitely do a good job. If you want clean windows without streaks or smudges, get out there and buy a new scrubber immediately.

3. Always Use Vinegar Solution

For most people, window cleansers are the best choice when cleaning windows. That’s because they can do an excellent job when removing the dirt. However, some of these window cleansers might be too harsh on your windows. Rather than ruining the structural integrity of the glass on your windows, you can always use a vinegar solution when cleaning and enjoy the same results. Vinegar has a higher acidity level which makes it strong enough to remove nasty stains or any buildup on your windows effortlessly.

4. Proper Scrubbing Techniques

When you are washing your windows from the outside, you need to scrub them from the top going down. Also, when washing your windows from the inside, move the scrubber from left to right to remove the dirt. Using the right scrubbing techniques will help you avoid smudges and streaks once you are done cleaning.

Try these and many more window cleaning techniques for the best results! We also suggest getting a service provider like Think Maids to do it for you. Contact us for more information.

Your time is valuable. With how busy life is, it isn’t always possible to fit in all of the things that you want to do – especially if you have to waste time cleaning. When you hire someone to clean your home, it frees up more of your time to do things that you enjoy, whether that means spending more time with your family or simply relaxing.

A More Suitable Space For Socializing

When your house is dirty, having guests over can be embarrassing. You might find yourself avoiding socializing at home, simply because you are ashamed of the way that your space looks.

By using the services of a house cleaner, on the other hand, you can invite people over with confidence, knowing that your home is totally clean. There is no need to be embarrassed about your space when everything is neat and tidy, which can help you enjoy a more active social life.

Easier To Concentrate

Cluttered spaces often make it difficult to focus. Being surrounded by piles of clutter can distract your mind, keeping you from concentrating on the task at hand. If your space is clean and neatly organized, on the other hand, there are fewer distractions, which can wind up improving your ability to focus.

Avoid Cleaning Jobs That You Don’t Enjoy

Everyone has certain cleaning duties that they hate. Imagine how nice it would be to pay somebody else to take care of these tasks for you. If you want to keep the cost of professional house cleaning down, you can hire someone to just deal with the tasks that you don’t enjoy doing on your own. Even if you still do the bulk of the cleaning on your own, eliminating your least favorite tasks can make the process a lot more enjoyable.

More Downtime After A Long Day

Whether you have a job or are a full-time parent, by the end of the day, you probably are ready to just relax. The last thing you want to do is clean your house.

That is exactly what professional house cleaners are for. They can deal with the dirty work for you so that you can take a little bit of extra time for yourself. Go ahead and give us a call.

Kitchens are notoriously difficult to clean. You can make the task easier by following these simple tips. One easy way to keep the space cleaner is by getting in the habit of picking up any clutter and wiping down the table and countertops at the end of each day. That way, you can wake up to a clean, fresh kitchen each morning.

Clean The Floor At Night

Over the course of a typical day, a lot of crumbs can accumulate on the floor in your kitchen. Sweeping the floor before you go to bed doesn’t take long and can make a big difference in how clean your kitchen stays. Every so often, you may even want to mop in the evening to keep the floor as clean as possible.

Focus On Pantry Organization

Oftentimes, pantries become dumping grounds for unused items. Try organizing the space by going through everything in your pantry and getting rid of items that you don’t need. This includes food that is past its expiration date. Always store the food in your pantry in airtight containers to avoid attracting pests. If any food items spill, always clean them up right away to prevent staining.

Frequently Wash Your Kitchen Sink

Kitchen sinks are breeding grounds for germs and bacteria. Each time you use them, you should wash them out when you are done. This will help prevent staining and unwanted odors. Along with cleaning out the sink itself, you should also wipe down the cabinets directly in front of the sink. Periodically check the plumbing in your kitchen to make sure that there aren’t any leaks. If you find any problems, repair them right away to keep mold or bacteria from forming in your kitchen.

Keep Your Fridge Tidy

Go through your refrigerator at least once a week to throw away any old leftovers or items that have gone bad. It is easy for food like this to get pushed to the back of the fridge and forgotten about. By periodically cleaning it out, you can keep spoiled items from affecting the fresh food in your refrigerator. Every month, you should also take all of the items out of your fridge and wipe it down to keep it clean. If you don’t want to clean it yourself call our offices and let Think Maids do it for you.

Teaching children to clean up their own messes is an important part of parenting. A good place to start is by getting them in the habit of cleaning their own rooms. Children are often reluctant to clean, which means that they require a little bit of encouragement. The tips below on how to get your kids to clean their rooms should help:

1. Inject Some Fun Into The Cleaning Process

Cleaning is usually seen as something to dread rather than something to enjoy. It doesn’t have to be that way, however. Adding a little bit of fun to the cleaning process can give your kids a whole new perspective, making them look forward to cleaning. One option you can try is having them listen to songs that they love while they clean, turning it into a dance party or a sing-along. You can also turn cleaning into a little bit of a competition by offering a prize to the first child who successfully completes all of the chores on their list.

2. Establishing Rules

Children do best in environments where there are clearly defined rules that they can understand. There are a lot of ways that you can set boundaries in relation to cleaning. For instance, you could require your kids to put away all of the items from one activity before they can start something new.

3. Pitching In

In some cases, kids can use a little bit of help when it comes to cleaning. Don’t be afraid to pitch in and lend a hand. Most kids will appreciate the extra help and it can make the cleaning process a lot more fun. The key to success, however, is to avoid doing all of the work yourself. Remember, you are just there to offer support – your child should do the bulk of the work.

4. Create Small Cleaning Tasks

Kids can easily become overwhelmed if you give them cleaning tasks that are too challenging. One way to get around this problem is by breaking larger tasks down into small, bite-size pieces. For instance, if you want them to clean their room, try coming up with a list of smaller tasks that they need to do to complete the larger project. For instance, this might include picking their toys up off of the floor or putting any clothes they have worn into the hamper.

5. Lead By Example

Ideally, you should model the behavior you want to see in your kids. Anytime you clean, don’t complain. Instead, act like the task is enjoyable. That way, kids will learn that cleaning is something fun rather than something to dread. You can also let your neighborhood cleaning professionals show your kids how to do it. Get in touch and find out how you can.

If you simply don’t have the time to get every little cleaning job done, don’t worry, you don’t have to. You can always follow these easy house-cleaning tips which could make a huge difference and help you to stay on track when it comes to cleaning your home.

Put The Kitchen Sink First

Make a point of sanitizing your kitchen sink every day. Put the plug into the drain hole and fill your sink with water. Pour a capful of bleach into that water, and let the mixture sit for around 20 minutes, then remove the plug and let the water drain away. Doing this every day will kill any germs and keep your sink looking, and smelling nice. Remember, you prepare food in the kitchen so you want it to be hygienic!

Scrub The Stove Too

If you are struggling with stubborn stains on your stovetop, then treat it with a small amount of baking soda and vinegar. Apply the mixture to the stained area, then scrub it to remove any gunk. You can do the same with the burner covers because it is not unusual for those metal components to end up covered in grime. Fill the sink with dish soap and hot water, put the metal components in the water and let them soak for an hour before washing them and scrubbing them with a brush. You should find that the grime just fades away when you wash the components. If it doesn’t go after one wash, repeat the process until you have sparkling clean burners.

Have a Bed Sheet Washing Routine

It’s a good idea to get into a routine when it comes to washing your bed sheets. Aim to wash them at least once per week. Clean the mattress too by sprinkling baking soda on it then letting it soak in for at least 30 minutes. Next, carefully vacuum the baking soda away using a handheld vacuum cleaner. Don’t let dirt build up on your bedding, because the combination of dust and oil can attract dust mites.

Set a Simple Schedule

Try to find a schedule that works for you. Aim to tackle one room a day, or even just a few small tasks, so that you always know that you have gotten something done. Contact your local Think Maids, if you just can’t get the time to do the cleaning. We’ll do it for you.

Cleaning is not just cleaning; every method has its unique qualities. The tradition cleaning method differs significantly from a deep cleaning.

Most professional house cleaners will provide the options of deep cleaning as well as the standard (traditional) cleaning. If you cannot distinguish the two, then you may not know if you paid for a deep clean but got the regular one. That is why you should know the differences between the two. That way, you will have a better understanding of what to expect and from the cleaners.

The traditional cleaning method will have some basic cleaning services that include:

• Dusting the rooms

• Sweeping and vacuuming floors and carpets

• Mopping

• Scrubbing the bathtub, shower, and toilet

• Wiping mirror

• Cleaning countertops

• Picking and disposing of the trash

They are the essential task that you can do to ensure that you have a clean home. They are not that difficult and do not take long to do. However, ignoring them can lead to a disorganized and dysfunctional home. Hence, they are essential if you want to have a home that looks clean and tidy.

The Deep Cleaning Process

With deep cleaning, the cleaners will need to put in a bit more effort and have an eye for detail. One of the best instances where this type of cleaning is necessary is when moving into a new home or moving out. But even then, it is recommended that you give your house a deep cleaning at least twice a year. Some of the things that are involved when doing this are:

• Sweeping, vacuuming and shampooing the carpets

• Dusting the ceiling and wiping the windows

• Vacuuming the furniture

• Pulling out kitchen appliances such as the fridge and over to wipe and to clean them

• Scrubbing between the grout in the tiles on the floors and walls in the bathroom

Expect the professional cleaner you hire to do more than the things listed above when they deep clean your home. That is why this type of thorough cleaning is not necessary all the time. It is a once or twice in a year type of cleaning that will be well worth the money spent, here is a number to call. Deep cleaning ensures that the dirt, grime, and dust that accumulate in some of the areas that are often overlooked when doing the regular cleaning are removed.

You expect the professional house cleaners you hire to deliver quality work. But may not be what you get. So how do you tell if they are doing a good job? What are some of the signs to look for?

1. Hardworking

Overall, you want your home spotlessly clean. To get this, then you need to make sure that the professionals you hire have the reputation of delivering quality services. You should feel confident and comfortable in what they do; that is how you will feel satisfied that your home is in the right hands.

2. Trustworthy

You might always be present to supervise the cleaners you hire to clean your house. At times, you may have other pressing matters that demand that you leave the cleaners to do their job as you attending or other issues. Therefore, you should make sure that the cleaners you hire are trustworthy professionals to whom you can entrust your property and belongings.

3. Attentive

The cleaner should be keen to listen to any instructions that you may have and pay attention to every detail. They should not object to any specific things that you want them to handle. They should be professionals that follow written or verbal instructions or directives. Inspect the house once they are done with cleaning to ensure they did not miss a spot or fail to listen to your instructions.

4. Loyalty

Last-minute emergencies can happen even to the best of planners. You may want the house cleaned under short notice, and you need cleaners that will not think twice when you call them. However, remember that they may have a tight schedule. But even then, a loyal house cleaner will not be quick to cancel on you or overlook your request.

5. Flexibility

Life can be messy and full of unexpected things. Even so, you need professional house cleaners that will be flexible enough to meet your needs even when you or they are facing some constraints. How well do they rise to the occasion when the unpredictable occurs?

Finding a Quality House Cleaner

Ideally, a professional house cleaner is in the business of trying to make your life less tasking. If you find a cleaner that lacks the above qualities, then you should consider getting another person. You are paying for cleaning services expecting quality results. But even then, you need to be aware of the signs to check for so that you are confident about the work the cleaners deliver. Contact a professional cleaner in your city.

Due to the popularity of social media, there are now dozens of channels offering information on “cleaning hacks” and how to make routine housecleaning simpler. Regardless of whether you are inspired by DIY cleaning products or the cleaning myths passed down from your elders, the cleaning hacks do not always produce the results you want. In some instances, a cleaning hack can cause damage to appliances and your home, leading to more effort and money being spent on cleaning.

It can be difficult for most people to determine if a cleaning method is efficient or a myth. This article refers to the different options available, and your specialists at Think Maids discuss the most common cleaning myths – and debunk the routines that do not work.

What Are The Most Common Cleaning Hacks To Avoid?

#1: Using Newspaper TO Clean The Windows

While specific types of newspaper can be useful when cleaning windows, it is advised that you use a microfiber cloth or a coffee filter instead of a newspaper. Newspapers continue to use petroleum-based ink which can stain your hands and leave smears on the glass. Read the post to continue learning about preferred methods for cleaning windows.

#2: Using Bleach For All Situations

Even if your parents and grandparents swore on bleach for housecleaning, bleach is not a cleaning product at all. The product is a stain remover and disinfectant as compared to other cleaning items. Of course, diluted bleach can be used to sanitize surfaces; however, too much bleach can become toxic, particularly when combined with other cleaning products. If you opt for bleach, you must read all the labels and keep the area well-ventilated.

#3: Using Lemons Or Coffee Grounds In The Garbage Disposal

If your garbage disposal starts to produce odorous smells, it may be tempting to remove them using coffee grounds or lemon slices. Many sources claim that lemons or coffee grounds keep the disposal blades clean. Unfortunately, both of these cleaning hacks can result in clogged disposal. Instead, it is recommended that you use a combination of boiling water, white vinegar and baking soda to clean and deodorize the garbage disposal.

#4: Immediately Removing The Cleaning Products.

As the majority of cleaning products are filled with potent chemicals, you might assume that they have an immediate effect. In reality, it takes approximately five to ten minutes before any cleaning product to start working. The longer a cleaning agent is left to work, the more bacteria, germs and grime it can remove. Allow the product to sink in, and you will save time on further scrubbing; plus, the surfaces will remain clean for longer.

#5: Cleaning The Surfaces With Vinegar And Dawn

The “vinegar and dawn” cleaning product is a popular option among DIY fanatics across the globe. While this mixture does result in some cleaning, the levels of soap liquid used makes it difficult to remove without streaks or smears. It should also be noted that the product does not have any disinfectant. For a more effective homemade cleaner, you should consider our concentrated peppermint cleaning option. Contact your local cleaning professionals for the right cleaning hacks, what are you waiting for?

It is highly unlikely that you would want to spend your whole weekend tidying up your bedroom because you were disorderly and left clutter lying everywhere. Here are three quick organization tips you can use each day and which can assist you to tidy up effectively.

Clean up after yourself

It almost appears obvious, but it is a simple goal that few can achieve consistently. It is necessary that you place stuff in its rightful place in your bedroom, otherwise the whole room will be disorderly. Some tasks you can implement to declutter by placing items back in their proper positions include:

After using mugs and glasses return them to the kitchen

Place back magazines and books onto magazine racks or bookshelves after you have finished reading them

Pack fitness gear such as resistance bands, yoga mats and weights in their storage spaces after workouts

Tidy up and return the 15 sweaters you removed from your drawer or cabinet while searching for your best-liked sweatshirt

Reflect on this: Any of the above tasks only takes a few minutes to complete. It is time well spent to utilize a few minutes to organize and declutter your room to avoid spending a few hours in the future tidying up.

Tidy up your clothes

Chaotic clothing is a leading issue you will experience when trying to clean up. You get back from your morning bike ride and toss your socks and shorts on your desk chair. After taking a shower you drop your towel on the floor. Then you are in a dilemma on what to wear to work. You pick through your options hurling unsuitable ones on your bed and leave them lying there. Certainly, this is turning shambolic!

Save on time in the future by spending a few minutes to clean up your clothes today. First, pick the dirty biking wear and towels and put them in the hamper where they are supposed to be. Proceed to the discarded wardrobe options. Working at a quick pace, hang them back onto their respective hangers and hang them in your clothes cabinet to wait for another workday. Get into the habit of ensuring that you do not leave any items including pajamas scattered on your bed. Instead, place them in your drawer after folding them or hang them on an “emergency” hook in your closet. You will be thankful you performed these simple tasks when you avoid having to rummage through your bedroom floor to sort dirty and clean clothes.

Discard bedroom trash

These may include paper wrappers, receipts, clothing tags, empty beverage cans, package boxes and so forth. Bedroom trash takes many forms and if not dealt with immediately it can build up and become an uncontrollable menace. Ensure that all trash is immediately consigned to its proper place – the bin.

Some bit of tidying up daily can mitigate the risks of accumulated junk. Also, these tasks only take up a few minutes of your day. Get a cleaning professional to handle bedroom cleanups. Furthermore, it is an investment to guarantee your more free time in the future. So beginning today, form a habit of decluttering or give us a  call. You will be thankful in the future.

Marble is a top choice in the home when it comes to countertops and floors. We can give credit to its classic beauty. Along with the elegant look, marble also comes with a higher price tag, not to mention special care is required to prevent wear and tear and possible damages.

Some Things To Remember When Cleaning Marble

If this is your first time or if you’re completely clueless on how marble floors and countertops should be cleaned, here are some things to remember:

First and foremost, check the instructions from the manufacturer. You may also want to take a look at the warranty to make sure that you’ll not use certain cleaning products that will void the warranty. The last thing that you want to experience in this case is voiding your warranty just because you’re not aware of what agents or products to use.

One of the things that you should avoid using is acidic cleaners. This includes vinegar or other cleaners that have citrus ingredients on it. These shouldn’t be used on any type of marble surface or even any stone. These acids can cause irreversible damage to your tops and floors.

Instructions On How To Cleaning Marble Floors

Marble surfaces are considered porous. This means that when you’re looking for cleaning solutions, you may want to consider using those that have a natural pH level, and those cleaners that are mild and gentle on these surfaces. When you’re shopping for cleaners, you may want to look for those that are particularly made for marble surfaces. You’ll often see them in the bottle.

Other than special cleaning agents, did you know that marble can be cleaned with simple warm water? Use a soft mop that won’t cause scratches to your marble floors. Once you’re done mopping, make sure that you thoroughly dry the floor with a microfiber cloth to prevent watermarks. To make drying easier, you can wrap the microfiber cloth or towel to the end of your mop.

If your floors have started to look grimy, you can make a simple cleaning solution by using these simple products below:

One bucket of warm water
Mop with a soft cloth
Large microfiber towel
Gentle dishwashing liquid or ammonia

In your bucket of water, mix 1/4 to 1/2 cup of either dishwashing liquid or ammonia. Mix the solution with your mop. Using the same solution, mop the floor and immediately dry it with your large microfiber cloth.

Instructions On How To Clean Marble Countertops

For daily cleaning and maintenance, the same goes with marble countertops. You can use warm water wiped with a microfiber cloth to clean your marble countertops. You would also need a dry microfiber to make sure that your countertop is dry after wiping it with warm water.

If your marble countertop needs more cleansing, here’s a simple recipe and instructions you can follow:

Microfiber cloths
Plastic spatula
Warm water
Gentle dishwashing liquid

Just like with the floor solution, mix 1/4 to 1/2 of dishwashing liquid to your warm water – should be at least one gallon. Get one microfiber cloth and lightly dampen it with the solution you just made and wipe your countertops. Make sure that you wring out and rinse the cloth you’re using regularly.

If you’ve noticed some chunks of gunk on your countertop, use your spatula and wrap it with a microfiber cloth and gently apply pressure until the rest of the residue is gone. Don’t forget to use fresh microfiber cloth when drying out your countertop.

Removing Stains From Your Marble Surfaces

Unlike other surfaces, bleach and other stain removers won’t work.

In general, the method or the agents that you need to remove the stain will fairly depend on what caused the stain to begin with. For this in particular, get in touch with Think Maids. Contact one in your area to get a quote.

Wicker baskets have natural wood fibers that bring a warm decorative touch to your home. They can be used to store items that can clutter your home such as toiletries, mail and also electronics. As a result, you can use wicker baskets for proper organization in your home.

However, they have one huge disadvantage. They always collect dust and grime thus might not make a good first impression, especially if you place them in your home. Well, you shouldn’t let a dirty wicker basket ruin your home’s style. Here are some useful tips for cleaning wicker baskets to keep your home clean and decluttered.

1. Using A Microfiber Cloth

You can use a microfiber cloth to clean anything including wicker baskets. Here, you need:

• Mild liquid dish detergent

• Microfiber cloths

• A large bucket or bowl

Start by emptying the contents of your wicker basket. Wipe down the wicker basket using a dry microfiber cloth. Mix a few drops of dishwashing liquid into a large container of warm water. Dip the microfiber cloth into the soapy water to make it damp. Make sure the cloth is not oversaturated since the cleaning process will be ineffective. Also, you could end up damaging your wicker basket.

Now, you can use the damp microfiber cloth to clean the wicker basket. Make sure the water doesn’t get into the weave. Don’t forget to clean the base of the basket. Use a clean and dry microfiber cloth to wipe down the wicker basket and air dry it. Next, you can place your items back inside once the wicker basket is completely dry.

2. Using A Vacuum Cleaner

You can also clean your wicker basket using a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment. You can remove any dust and grime using this process effortlessly. You need the following:

• A vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment

• A clean microfiber cloth or duster

Start by removing all the items from the wicker basket before you start cleaning. Wipe down the basket using the microfiber duster or cloth. Next, you can vacuum the entire wicker basket using the brush attachment. Make sure you clean everything even the grooves between the weave. Don’t forget to vacuum the inside part of the basket.

When Cleaning Wicker Baskets Will Not Do The Trick

Wicker is an organic material and with time, it will break down, especially because of build-up of dust and grime. If cleaning will not do the trick, you need to throw away the wicker basket. Well, you can always look for new storage solutions to decorate your home and improve organization.

Note that, if you want your wicker baskets to last a long time, you need to add them to the cleaning schedule in your home. Wipe them down, dust or vacuum your wicker baskets at least every 2 to 3 weeks for the best results. Use these cleaning tips to make your wicker baskets last longer or contact

a cleaning professional to do it for you.

More and more people choose DIY cleaning solutions over ready-made products, out of their desire to use natural, eco-friendly and less toxic products. However, some of these people believe that they can mix and match any substances to create powerful and effective all-natural cleaning solutions.

This is a wrong approach. Some combinations of natural substances can be extremely dangerous health hazards.

Whether you prefer regular household cleaning products or DIY combinations, keep in mind that there are substances you should never mix. Here are a few of the forbidden combinations.

Bleach And Ammonia

According to the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services, bleach and ammonia should never get in contact with each other. Their combination releases toxic gases known as “chloramines.” When inhaled, these gases can trigger health issues such as shortness of breath, coughing, nausea and chest pain, as well as pneumonia, fluid in the lungs and severe lung damage.

Bleach And Vinegar

Most people use vinegar to prepare effective household cleaning solutions. Nevertheless, you need to keep in mind that vinegar is an acid. This means that in combination with bleach, vinegar releases toxic chlorine gas. Even a low level exposure to this substance can cause severe nose, eye and throat irritation, coughing, chest pain, and various other breathing problems. You are at risk of permanent respiratory system damage. Higher concentrations of this gas can be lethal.

Rubbing Alcohol And Bleach

Rubbing alcohol in combination with bleach create hydrochloric acid and chloroform. You may have already seen action movies in which kidnappers and criminals use chloroform to anesthetize their victims. While you won’t knock yourself out, you’ll still risk to injure your eyes, your skin, and your airways. Chloroform can also affect your central nervous system, causing severe health problems. As it can be absorbed through the skin, not inhaling it doesn’t keep you away from danger.

Vinegar And Hydrogen Peroxide

Although vinegar and hydrogen peroxide are known to be among the most effective household cleaners, mixing them is a very bad idea. The combination of these two substances creates peracetic acid. It is true that peracetic acid is oftentimes used to disinfect food processing equipment and medical offices. However, in those situations, the dosage and the concentration are strictly regulated. Exposing yourself to this substance may cause irritations of your eyes, skin, and respiratory system, according to renowned medical authorities. There’s also a high risk of severe and irreversible lung damage. This should be a good enough reason to avoid mixing these two household cleaners.

As you can see, trying to add some power to your regular household cleaning products by adding bleach is a very bad idea that can lead to severe injuries. Think Maids knows the right combinations for cleaning. Call us for a quote and in the mean time, as a general rule, you should only mix bleach with water, in order to be on the safe side.

Regardless of the event, you would be embarrassed when relatives and friends have to sit in your dusty living room. The following is a simple guide that explains how to clean dust your home in readiness for the holiday season.

Step No. 1: Create a Cleaning Plan

When planning for visitors in your house, it is important to come up with a house cleaning plan. This schedule is crucial, so detail everything that requires to be handled before the visitors start arriving. Also, a house cleaning plan allows you to allocate your time effectively. In your plan, ensure that you have included the activity “clean dust” so that you are not involved in a last-minute rush as the visitors’ arrivals approach.

Step No. 2: Walk Your Guests’ Path

You will have a full plate, you will be occupied with preparing delicacies and confirming that visitor bathrooms are spotless, this means your time for dusting will be limited. However, this is alright as you will only require to clean dust the spaces the visitors will see.

Move across the rooms your guests will stay in, rest in, and walk through, typically the living room, kitchen, mudroom, bathroom, and dining room – and take heed of the sections that appear dusty. Treat your home as an outsider would so that you avoid ignoring areas such as kitchen cabinets, mantelpieces or bookshelves.

Step No. 3: Buy the Right Tools

No special tools and equipment are required unless there are some ugly cobwebs suspended around your house. In most cases, microfiber wipes are sufficient to use in clean dusting. When it comes to cleaning compounds skip commercial cleaners as most of them leave behind some residue. Instead, use a dry microfiber cloth to clean dust.

If your mini-blinds or ceiling fans are swarmed with woolly gray threads and you fear that your visitors might notice, be prepared to use your dust mop and purchase blind cleaners made from microfiber to wipe them off.

Step No. 4: Clean Dust

To clean the dust quickly, pick the microfiber wipe and use it to dust the areas you highlighted during your walk-through.

While you may overlook certain items by wiping them partially, for instance, only wiping book shelve edges, book spines or the visible parts of furniture you must comprehensively clean dust holiday decorations. Your guests may be interested in having a thorough examination or close admiration of your seasonal decor, ensure these items are rigorously cleaned. Also, fully clean dust your mantelpiece and coffee tables. Luckily, this will not consume a lot of time.

After you have finished dusting, vacuum or sweep the room to eliminate any dust particles or bits of grime that may have settled on the floor.

You are done! This is how cleaning dusting before guest arrivals can be accomplished quickly. And preparing the whole house for seasonal festivities? Look into these party organizing guides to ensure that family and friends are impressed by your hosting skills. Think Maids can help you with your dusting needs, get in contact with us today!

If you’re one of those people who’s planning on cleaning your home, the thought alone is pretty overwhelming! Will you have enough time to clean the fridge before you’ll be able to jump to an online webinar? The showerhead looks dirty, when was the last time it had a good scrub? While all of these are normal thoughts, not too many individuals take into consideration how to do these things safely. However, cleaning safety is something that everyone should always take into consideration especially when you’re about to perform a routine housekeeping project.

By now, you’re aware that there are simply some products that don’t go together and that your garburator needs to be unplugged whenever you’re scrubbing it. However, other than these, here are some safety practices you may want to take into consideration.

Some Cleaning Jobs Need More Than One Person

While the majority of jobs can be done solo, certain cleaning activities are requiring two such as:

Moving Large Furniture Pieces: Whenever you’re trying to pull the fridge out to clean the back area, or whenever you’re trying to move large furniture pieces, make sure that you ask help. We all want to make sure that everything’s clean, but it doesn’t mean that you’ll abuse your body. Remember, you only have one back and one set of knees.

Cleaning High Areas: You want to make sure that someone is holding the ladder for you to make sure it’s safe and secure whenever you’re cleaning ceilings, light fixtures, or even the top layers of shelves.

Protect Your Eyes

As you continue cleaning your home, you may notice that some of the product mist, dust, and other particles will be in the air. With that being said, you should always observe doing these safety cleaning practices such as wearing protective eyewear. Whenever holding a spray bottle, always point it outwards, away from your face and eyes.

Be Mindful Of Your Surroundings

Among all the other cleaning safety tips listed, this is by far the most important one to consider. Different types of accidents occur at home and in the office just because people are not mindful of their surroundings. A perfect example is to make sure that you check the vacuum cords whenever you’re moving around to prevent from tripping and falling.

When you’re cleaning stairways, always start from the top going down to the bottom and not the other way around. Consider standing on your side as well to prevent falls. Also, make sure that you’re cautious about your surroundings and check for wet floor areas, mops, and buckets that may be laying around the floor.

Keep Your Cleaning Gear Organized

By making sure that your cleaning gear is all organized, it helps you stay focused on all your tasks. You don’t need to go running around the house needing one product, then running to the other end to get your mop. This makes cleaning faster, easier and more efficient for you, not to mention this limits accidents since you don’t find yourself going around the house all the time.

Remember You’re Dealing With Cleaning Chemicals

The majority of cleaning products in the market are made up of chemicals that could potentially cause burns when it touches your skin or makes breathing difficult if you inhale them.

As much as possible, keep the area ventilated to prevent breathing in the chemicals and wear protective gears to make sure that your skin is well-protected. You have the opportunity to also leave this to the professionals. Get in touch with Think Maids by contacting them.

At the end of the day, there’s nothing more relaxing that can be compared to lying down and sinking your face in a soft, warm, fluffy pillow. But, the moment that you realized that there’s more than just fluff and feathers there such as hair, dust mites and other unpleasant stuff that’s in your pillows, you might think twice and would not look at your pillow the same way ever again.

With that being said, how do we avoid lying down on a pile of filth?

How Many Times Should You Wash Your Pillows?

You should wash your pillows at least twice a year, given that you haven’t gotten ill, or haven’t soiled anything into it. For those living in warmer and humid areas, pillows need to be washed at least three times yearly, or every 4 months.

Washing Instructions For Your Pillows

The good news is, you don’t have to wash these pillows by hand. The majority of pillows these days is that they’re machine washable. Before you throw your pillow into the washing machine, make sure that you check care instructions or tag, if any. If there isn’t any, the method you’ll need to do to wash your pillows greatly depends on the materials your pillows are made of.

Instructions For Washing Your PIllows In A Washer

Here are the things that you need:

Liquid laundry detergent – about one to two teaspoons. Best to choose those that are low in suds.
Wool dryer balls or tennis balls

To get started, your washing cycle should be set to gentle, with cold water then add your detergent to your washer. Then load one pillow at a time – try and put pillows on all corners or sides to ensure that the load is balanced. Proceed and turn on with the washer just like how you would wash clothes. Just make sure that you add another rinse cycle to ensure that no suds are left. Suds can potentially damage your pillows. When you take them out of the washer, make sure that you fluff the pillows.

To dry them out, use low heat and use dryer ball or tennis balls. Stop the drying process every ten to fifteen minutes, take out the pillows to fluff them out and repeat until the pillows are dried out.

If you have synthetic pillows and you’re about to put them in the dryer, follow the instructions above except:

You can wash your pillows with warm water instead of cold.
Certain synthetic materials can’t be placed in a dryer, an example is foam pillow.

When Should You Replace Your Pillows?

Unfortunately for us, there are no “best before” dates when it comes to pillows, and the frequency on how often you need to replace them generally depends on the environment they are kept. Other than that, there are also different factors to take into consideration in helping you determine how often your pillows need replacing.

Fluffy: Is your pillow still fluffy, or has it started to feel lumpy? Do you need to form the pillow for you to become comfortable? If it starts to feel lumpy and extra effort is needed from your end to feel comfortable using the pillow, then it’s time that you need to get a new one.

Springy: A good way to test the springiness of your pillow is by folding it in half. If your pillow jumped back to its original form, then it’s still good to use. If it remains folded, it’s a sign it needs to be replaced.

Age: Ideally, pillows need to be changed once every 18 months. The longer you use them, the more skin cells and dust mites may sit in there.

Can you wash pillows? Absolutely and you should wash them. Contact a Think Maids in your town to care of your pillow cleaning for you.

When you begin cleaning a house, do you start in any room and move to the next without any plan? If you use this random cleaning process, then you are not alone. However, for effective cleaning, it is recommended that you have a plan of attack. Without planning or preparation, cleaning may not be as effective. Furthermore, planning your routine cleaning makes the task more manageable. So, what is the most beneficial method to clean your house? This article offers an answer.

#1: Begin With The Most Difficult Room To Clean

While the bathroom is one of the smallest rooms in a house, it is also the most time-consuming when it comes to cleaning. You not only have to clean the bathtub and shower, but there is also the sink, toilet and other fixtures that need to be scrubbed.

Due to the bathroom being a tiresome and time-consuming cleaning task, it is recommended that you clean this room first. Afterwards, all the other chores will seem relatively easy. If you save the bathroom for last, you may be worn out and abandon the task entirely or do a poor job.

#2: Dusting And Organizing

Dusting can be a challenging task when cleaning the surfaces throughout the house. Why is it tiresome? When cleaning, all the dust needs to go somewhere, and that somewhere is often the floor. If you opt to clean the floors before dusting, you will have dirty floors once more.

Before you start scrubbing and vacuuming, it is advised that you head through the house with a duster. You will want to reach all areas, such as ceiling fans, blinds and baseboards. As you dust hard surfaces, it is recommended that you organize the untidy areas.

#3: Vacuuming And Mopping

After dusting the floors will have a specific layer of dust on them, so now it is time to clear this away. First, vacuum throughout the property. This should be done on both carpets and hard-surface floors because vacuuming is simpler than sweeping with the same result.

After the vacuuming, it is time to start cleaning or mopping the floors as necessary. Rooms like the kitchen and bathroom may need a mopping each time you clean the house. However, floors in other rooms may not need to be cleaned during each cleaning schedule, unless there are spills and accidents.

#4: Cleaning The Kitchen

If you wipe down the kitchen counters regularly and deal with spills when they occur, cleaning the kitchen can be simple. After all, the floor will have been cleaned.

To clean a kitchen, wipe down the exterior of the refrigerator, appliances and cabinets. Next, move onto the microwaves, sink and stovetop. Simple, right?

Final Words

The plan above is most effective when performing a weekend cleaning session as it can maintain the house efficiently. If you require major cleaning to prepare for the routine sessions, contact the local cleaning company, and they will help you start.

Cleaning is not something that most people enjoy. This can be made more unenjoyable when you make some of the common cleaning mistakes. When you learn how to avoid these mistakes, you will save yourself a lot of time and effort.

Using Too Much Product

When it comes to household cleaners, a lot of people assume that more is better. This is not the case and you are simply wasting cleaning products. When you use too much of a product you will oversaturate your cleaning materials. This is one of the reasons why you have streaks left behind.

Using A Dirty Cloth

If your cleaning materials are dirty, you should not bother cleaning anything. Soiled sponges and cloths are not going to do a good job as they only spread the grease and grime across a surface without removing any of it. Other than this, using dirty materials will also be unhygienic.

Not Being Organized

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when cleaning is not being organized. When you are searching for the baking soda you are sure was in the cabinet, you will be wasting time. This time-wasting will create an impression that you spent longer cleaning than you actually did.

Using The Wrong Cleaning Tools Or Products

If you want to waste time when cleaning, you need to use the wrong cleaning products and tools. When you use the wrong product or tool, you will not be focused on cleaning properly. Your focus will be on how ineffective the product or tool is. Using the incorrect products and tools can also damage your home. An example of this is vinegar which can etch stone surfaces and leave them scarred.

Not Having A Routine Housekeeping Schedule

Not having a set schedule for cleaning your home is another mistake you should avoid. While it is easier said than done when you have a hectic schedule, you need to take the time to create your cleaning schedule. Leaving your cleaning for the weekend will result in all your chores piling up and seeming to be insurmountable. When this happens, you are more likely to put off cleaning because everything seems too overwhelming which results in more cleaning to be done.

There are a lot of common housekeeping mistakes that you might be making. If you are making these mistakes, you need to take the time to rectify them and everything will seem easier. You can also call the cleaning cavalry in to clean your home and get some time to relax without worrying about having to clean the house contact a cleaning company in your area today.

Whether you have plans to host a dinner for your extended family or you feel like having a fancy dinner with your significant other, bringing out your silverware service, trays, or pitchers is sure to lift the mood in your home.

Cleaning Your Silverware With Baking Soda And Vinegar

Combining vinegar and baking soda might be fun to create eruptions for a volcano in a science project. But you might not be aware that you can use these two powerful ingredients to clean other items in and around your home such as your silverware.

You Will Need:

A glass dish

500ml of boiled water (you will need enough to submerge the silver completely)

125ml distilled vinegar (white)

1 Tablespoon bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)

1 Tablespoon sea salt

Microfiber cloth

Line the glass dish with foil, with the shiny side facing upwards. Combine the sea salt and the baking soda together in a separate bowl, followed by sprinkling the mixture into your glass dish. Now pour the vinegar over and the mixture and it will start to bubble and fizz.

Now pour in the boiled water. Submerge your silverware in the dish, making sure that each piece is in contact with the foil. Allow the silverware to soak. Pieces that are only lightly tarnished won’t need longer than 30 seconds. Heavy tarnished pieces might need to soak for 3 minutes or more.

Remove the pieces using a pair of tongs to avoid burning yourself. Now buff and dry the silverware using your microfiber cloth. Repeat the process making a fresh solution every time until all your silverware pieces are clean and shiny.

How To Clean Your Silverware With Toothpaste

Toothpaste is another common, yet useful household ingredient that you are able to use to return dull silverware back to its former shine.

You Will Need

Toothpaste (Avoid using the gels)

Warm water

Soft toothbrush

2 to 3 Microfiber cloths

Rub the toothpaste over your silverware pieces using your microfiber cloth. Apply gentle pressure to avoid scratching the silver. Use your toothbrush to clean any detailed areas such as engraving or ornate details. Make sure you avoid scrubbing as this could damage the silver pieces.

Rinse the silverware in warm water making sure you remove all traces of the toothpaste. Wipe the pieces dry using a new microfiber cloth.

Cleaning Your Silverware With Baking Soda

You Will Need:

A glass bowl

Warm water

Baking soda

Soft toothbrush

2 Microfiber cloths

Combine 3 parts of the baking-soda to 1 part water. Stir the mixture until it turns into a paste. Use one of the microfiber cloths to rub the mixture gently onto the silver pieces. Use the toothbrush to gently scrub any details or engraving that may be present on the silverware.

Rinse the silverware under warm running water in order to remove the baking soda, rinse until no traces remain. Dry the silverware pieces immediately using another microfiber cloth.

For more great tips on how to clean your silverware contact a professional house cleaning service in your area.

Have you ever taken a minute to examine the back of the sink in your bathroom? If you have, chances are you have noticed a small hole under the faucet often located towards the back of the bowl. This little hole, known as an overflow hole, is one thing a lot of people never think about.

To ensure your bathroom sink stays clean and fresh, it is essential that you understand the function of this little negative space. In this article, we will be looking at how to clean your bathroom’s sink overflow hole. But before that, let’s have a look at what an Overflow Hole is.

What is the Purpose of the Overflow Hole in Your Bathroom Sink?

An overflow hole exists for one purpose only, to keep your bathroom sink from flooding in the event you have a plumbing issue or if someone left the faucet on by accident. It achieves this by diverting excess water, allowing you to act before the water starts to spill over.

Keeping Your Sink’s Overflow Hole Clear

As you can tell, it is crucial to ensure that your sink’s overflow stays clear or else it won’t serve its purpose. It is also essential that you keep it clean since bathrooms are hot and damp places and you do not want mold or mildew growing in your bathroom sink’s overflow drain hole.

To clean your overflow drain hole, you will need:
• A pipe cleaner or sink-cleaning brush
• Two to three quarts of boiling water
• A funnel or tube made of a non-heat conducting material such as silicone capable of withstanding the high temperatures of boiling water
Stick the sink-cleaning brush or pipe cleaner into the hole and push it in and out a couple of times to remove as much build-up and gunk as possible. Remove the brush or pipe cleaner and stick the funnel into the hole. Pour the boiling water through the silicone funnel to flush and loosen any remaining gunk and build up. Be careful not to splash hot water on yourself as it could scald you. It is a good idea to have an extra pair of hands around.

Repeat as needed.

How to Clean Your Bathroom Sink Overflow Drain If It Stinks

Overflow holes with mildew growing in them tend to have a nasty smell. To clean the mess up, here’s what you need to do.

You will need:
• One cup of distilled white vinegar
• One cup of baking soda
• Two quarts of boiling water
• A funnel or tube made of a non-heat conducting material such as silicone capable of withstanding the high temperatures of boiling water

Stick the silicone funnel into the overflow drain hole and pour the baking soda in it. Slowly pour the distilled vinegar down the silicone tube – expect to see some fizz as the two ingredients react with each other. Allow the vinegar and baking soda to sit for about fifteen minutes so they can work their deodorizing magic. Using the boiling water, carefully flush the overflow drain. Be very meticulous to avoid getting a steam burn or splashing hot water on yourself. If possible, have someone help you at this point.

If the odor remains, repeat as needed.

You can call a local cleaning professional  to take care of all your cleaning needs including ones that involve overflow drains.

It is a rare home that does not have any wood furniture as part of its decor. The sturdy designs and rich grains that wooden pieces have, add a touch of coziness to any home. You are not doing your decor any favor if the surfaces of your wood furniture have fine layers of dust or a coat of sticky residue.

Here are some hints about how you can clean wooden furniture so that it maintains a better sheen and can help in prolonging its lifespan.

First: An Important Piece of Information

You can still buy wooden furniture in stores or online, and even antique furniture that is made from wood. However, most of the affordable and modern furniture that you get nowadays is not made from actual wood, but from laminates and veneers.

Newer furniture will often come with a cleaning guide given by the manufacturer, or you will find online, their recommendations for the treatment of furniture. Nevertheless, it is important to understand that the instructions for caring for a desk that has laminates will be different from those that are required when you have to care for your grandmother’s inheritance – a mahogany sideboard.

Cleaning Wooden Furniture – The Basics

Most people will use polish or commercial cleaners when they need to care for the wood furniture that they have. Unfortunately, if you do so, your furniture that is made from actual wood will suffer some harm. Why?

Every polish and cleaner will have different chemical makeup. As time goes by, these products will react with the finish on the wood and make it sticky. To add to that, finishes that are of lacquer will absorb water and chemicals so that they are ultimately stripped, leading to the wood becoming bare and completely exposed to the chemicals that are part of these cleaning products. It is this reason that makes it important to use cleaning products as sparingly as you can.

Cleaning Wood furniture

Use chemical-based cleaners only if your furniture manufacturer recommends it, otherwise here are some ways with which you can have your wooden furniture looking sleek and warm, whether it is made from veneer, particleboard, balsa or cherry.

All that you need is a little water and microfiber cloth.

You can get rid of fingerprints, smears, and dust on your furniture by wiping it down with dry microfiber cloth.

If any spots are sticky, wet the microfiber cloth and use it to clean them by applying light pressure until the spots are removed. It is important to make sure that your microfiber cloth is just damp and not wet, as otherwise the wood can get damaged or its finish can be ruined.

Preventative maintenance

It does not require much effort in cleaning wood furniture as long as you do it regularly. But your furniture is better maintained if you take a few steps to prevent damage.

Always use coasters, whether the drinks you serve are hot or cold.

When you serve hot meals, make use of placemats and trivets.

Condensation rings and any spills must be wiped immediately.

Learn the right way to clean stains made by water on your furniture.

Once you know the right way of caring for your wooden furniture it will help you to preserve its looks and integrity for a long time to come. Think Maids can help you take care of your wood furniture. Give us a call today!

From time to time, we share what we think are the best cleaning supplies for spring cleaning. But have you ever wondered why we endorse some cleaning supplies and tools over others? Well, there are reasons why and we shall be discussing them in a bit. Also, we will be breaking down some of the tools that are often suggested versus their alternative. You might be surprised by how some of the tools people think aren’t that good are actually up to par.

Microfiber Cloths vs. Sponges

No matter how clean-smelling a household sponge is, these cleaners are quite the germ magnet. Considering that most of us do not have a microscope, it can be hard to tell how dirty or clean a sponge is. It is, therefore, best that you steer clear from them. Instead, go for microfiber cloths. The great thing about microfiber cloths is that apart from being way better at cleaning surfaces, they are also quick drying and machine washable. As a result, they’re less likely to harbor germs. If you cannot remember when you last cleaned your microfiber cloth, make sure that you wash it before and after your spring cleaning.

Brooms vs. Vacuums

The problem with using brooms is that they push dust and dirt around instead of collecting it, which is why you need to ‘throw-away’ your broom and forget about it. Instead, get your vacuum out of storage, dust it off, and get to work. If it has been in storage for quite some time, show it some tender loving care before you start spring cleaning. There is a high chance that you have not changed the HEPA filter or cleaned the roller brush since you bought it. Overlooking some maintenance can negatively impact your vacuum’s suction, making it less effective at picking up debris and dust – causing it to leave a lot of dirt, dust, and debris in its wake.

Floor Steamer vs. Floor Cleaner

Some floor cleaners can do it all and are your best bet when it comes to deep cleaning a floor. However, a floor steamer is one tool that you need to have in your spring cleaning toolkit arsenal. Floor steamers are not only effective at removing stains off vinyl flooring and ceramic tiles, but they also get hot enough to kill any germs and bacteria that might be lingering in tile grout or hard-to-reach places. If you or any family member went through a rough cold or flu season, a floor steamer could help rid your home of flu and cold germs for good.

Disposable Toilet Wands vs. The Trusty Toilet Brush

A toilet brush has the least glamourous cleaning responsibility in any home. After use, most of them are placed back in their holders – with their mess and all. Not hygienic at all. So, why not go for a cleaner, more sanitary solution? Toilet wands are a great alternative and come with an in-built solution. Their textures are designed for scrubbing, and their disposable toilet wands do not have the same potential of hanging onto your toilet’s unwelcome mess in your newly spring-cleaned, spotless bathroom.

Make-It-Yourself Solutions vs. Brand Name Glass Cleaner

Not only can paper towels and store cleaners be expensive, they often aren’t as effective as homemade solutions that you make with things like rubbing alcohol and vinegar.

If you think that you might not have the time to do spring cleaning this season, consider giving a call to a reputable cleaning company and have experienced cleaners take care of things for you.

Even if you clean the walls and doors of your shower regularly, you may be forgetting one major component: the door tracks. Don’t worry – there is nothing to be embarrassed about. Most people miss cleaning this part of their bathroom, as well.

Unfortunately, shower door tracks can become quite dirty over time. Soap scum, mold, and other contaminants can easily form in the tracks. Hard water deposits that build up over time can interfere with the ability of your doors to slide smoothly along the tracks, making them more challenging to open. Preventing problems like these is as easy as cleaning the tracks every time you clean your shower.

The two natural cleaning methods listed below are both highly effective and make quick work of dirty shower tracks. Feel free to try both techniques to see which one you prefer:

Method #1 – Vinegar And Water

If you have previous experience with homemade cleaning products, you probably already know that white vinegar is a powerful cleaning solution. It does an excellent job of dissolving hard water deposits and getting rid of soap scum, making it the perfect choice for cleaning the door tracks on your shower.

Supplies:

– 1/4 cup white vinegar
– Cotton pads or balls
– An adjustable spray bottle
– Distilled water
– A worn-out toothbrush
– A microfiber cleaning cloth

Wet the cotton pads with vinegar and use them to moisten the door tracks of your shower. You don’t need to douse the tracks. However, they should be relatively wet. If you have natural stone floors in your bathroom, use caution when applying the vinegar since acidic substances can damage natural stone.

Allow the vinegar to remain on the surface for up to five minutes. Then, use a toothbrush to brush away any hard water deposits or soap scum.

Using the spray bottle, spray down the tracks thoroughly, getting rid of any leftover vinegar. When you are done, dry off the tracks using the microfiber cleaning cloth.

If you need to, you can repeat this process. Some stains and deposits may be a little bit more resistant than others – especially if you haven’t been cleaning the tracks regularly.

Method #2 – Use A Steamer

If you don’t want to use harsh chemicals when cleaning your bathroom, a steamer is a great option.

Supplies:

– A steam cleaner with a handheld wand
– Microfiber cleaning cloths
– A putty knife made out of plastic

Read the instruction manual of the steamer carefully to learn how to properly use it. Using the wand attachment, gently steam away any dirt, grime, or contaminants that have accumulated in the door tracks.

Place a microfiber cloth over the end of your putty knife. Then, use it to gently scrape away any soap scum, hard water deposits, or other gunk.

Follow up with a clean microfiber cloth, wiping down the tracks to get rid of any remaining residue. Continue steaming and scraping the tracks until they are sparkling clean.

To keep the tracks from getting dirty again, use a microfiber cleaning cloth to quickly wipe them down after you finish showering each day.

For those who would rather hire a professional service to clean those door tracks, you should call and find out what you need to start.

You might change your bedding and sheets every week, but when last did you clean your mattress and your bed? If you are similar to most homeowners, you probably never think about cleaning these important furniture pieces. Yet it is recommended to clean this furniture at least 4 times every year.

This may appear to be a task that is pretty daunting, but this task is not as difficult as you may think. Here are a few cleaning basics tips on how to care for your bed and mattress.

Mattress Cleaning

Before we tell you about the cleaning instructions along with the services that Think Maids provides, we will first tell you the reason why your mattress needs cleaning. First, think about the things that you find every time you remove the sheets. In most cases, you will find grit, dust, crumbs, and grime on the mattress pad. In addition, pets and people shed hair, dander, skin cells and whiskers all the time.

All this dirt and grime eventually works its way inside your mattress. If you eat in bed, then this is even more reasons to make sure you clean it, as food spills are sources for bacteria to grow and breed in your mattress.

How To Clean Your Mattress

Cleaning a mattress is, in fact, a somewhat simple process. You should obviously first remove the bedding, your sheets and your mattress pad.

The next step involves choosing between 2 options to clean the mattress.

Mattress Cleaning Option Number 1

First vacuum the mattress using the correct attachment. Make sure you run the vacuum cleaner over the entire surface of the mattress making sure that you get into any crevices and cracks. Remember to also vacuum the sides of the mattress.

Mattress Cleaning Option Number 2

The next option involves steam cleaning the mattress. You can either rent one or buy one. The steam cleaning method provides a cleaning process that is more effective due to the water vapor that penetrates the mattress. Before using a steam cleaner for the entire mattress, make sure you conduct a spot-test to ensure it is safe to use on the rest of the mattress.

You should also flip your mattress every now and again. You should be doing this at least every 6 months unless the mattress is still new. If the mattress is still new you should still rotate it every month or so within the first 6 months. Check on the instruction manual from the manufacturer to ensure you are rotating the mattress correctly.

How To Clean Your Bed

Similar to your mattress, the frame of the bed is also not hard to keep clean. Unless the manufacturer has called for a specific type of cleaner, all you really require is warm water and a clean microfiber cloth.

Dampen the cloth in the water followed by wiping all the surfaces of the bed frame. If the frame features details or ornate carvings make sure you work into the crevices with your cloth. Make sure you rinse the cloth a couple of times, to avoid spreading the dirt which has collected on your cloth.

Tips On How To Clean For Bed Bugs

If you need your mattress professionally cleaned to get rid of bed bugs and dust mites, you can call on Think Maids for a professional and reliable service.

While most people would remember when was the last time they’ve used their vacuum cleaner, very few of them would actually remember when was the last time they cleaned their vacuum itself. Do you remember the last time you’ve cleaned yours? We bet you don’t.

It’s very easy to forget that household cleaning tools require maintenance themselves.

Cleaning Your Vacuum Cleaner

Your bagless vacuum relies on a strong airflow to work effectively. This is why you should always keep its filters and canisters clean. One of your routine maintenance jobs should be to make sure you empty and clean your vacuum’s canister whenever it becomes halfway full. You should also perform regular cleaning of your vacuum using the following tips.

Things you’ll need:

– A clean and soft microfiber cloth
– Dishwashing liquid
– Grout brush
– Scissors

Main Steps To Cleaning A Vacuum:

Canister

Unplug the vacuum cleaner, remove the canister and empty it. Wipe its inside with a dry microfiber cloth. Wash the canister with warm water and dishwashing liquid. Rinse it well and let it dry completely before putting it back into the vacuum cleaner.

Filter

The filter needs regular cleaning, as well. Check out your user’s manual to see whether there are any specific instructions on cleaning or replacing the filter. Some filters aren’t washable, so you need to make sure you find out this little detail before you proceed.
Yo wash a filter, you have to remove it and to know out the dust by tapping it against a hard surface. Do this over a garbage can to prevent dust from spreading around.
Rinse the filter with warm water by holding it under the sink tap. Don’t use any cleaning substances unless your user’s manual says so.
Let the filter dry overnight. Only put it back when you’re sure it has dried completely.

Base Plate

The next thing to do is to remove the base plate, in order to have access to the beater bar.
If there are lots of hair strands or threads, cut them carefully, taking care to protect the bristles on the bar.
Use the grout brush to clean the beater bar.
Use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe down the base plate.
Last, use the same microfiber cloth to wipe down the exterior of the appliance.

Now that you know how to care for your vacuum, you’re ready to handle your maintenance cleaning like a pro. If you need a helping hand, contact a local cleaning company to reach out for help don’t hesitate to call.

How many times have you scorched a pot when preparing a meal? Well, you should know that it’s displeasing especially with the awful smell that comes off it. Here are some tips for cleaning a burned pot you should know.

1. Soak Burned Pots With Soap Or Salt

You can clean a scorched pot by soaking it. However, the results here will be highly dependent on the degree of scorching. Some of the things you need for the cleaning part include:

• An empty sink

• Hot or cold water

• Salt or dishwashing liquid

• Spatula or wooden spoon

Pour a few drops of the dishwashing liquid into the put and run the water until the scorched area is completely submerged in the water. Alternatively, you can add 1or 2 tablespoons of salt instead of dishwashing liquid. Let the pot soak for about an hour. Use the wooden spoon or spatula to remove the residue.

If there is some burnt food at the bottom of your pot, you need to pour out the water and refill it again. Boil it and maintain the same temperature for at least 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the scorched pot remain in the mixture overnight. In the morning, boil the mixture again and use a wooden spoon or spatula to remove the remaining grime. Now you can wash your pot normally and it will be shiny and new.

2. Using Lemons To Remove Grime

Lemons contain citric acid which has some amazing properties when it comes to removing grime. Here are some of the things you need when using lemons to remove grime from a scorched pot.

• 2 or 3 lemons

• A wooden spoon or spatula

• Water

Start by filling the pot with water. Cut the lemons into quarters and put them into the water. Next, you should boil the water for about 3 to 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and let the mixture cool down before throwing out the lemons and the water. Use the wooden spoon or spatula to remove the burnt food from the bottom part of the pot. Now, you can wash your pot normally for the best results.

3. Using Baking Soda And Vinegar

For this, you will need the following:

• A cup of distilled white vinegar

• 2 tbsps of baking soda

• 1 to 2 cups of water

• A wooden spoon or spatula

Pour the vinegar into the pot and add some water. Boil the mixture then turn off the heat. Make sure the burnt pot is on the sink before you add the baking soda. There should be a fizz once you add the baking soda and let the mixture sit in for a few minutes before the fizz dies down. Now you can pour out the mixture and scrape the bottom part of the pot using the spatula or wooden spoon. Finally, you can wash your pot and rinse it thoroughly for the best results. If you’d rather contact a house cleaning professional there is a local company you can call  to find out more.

If you find it hard to keep up with maintaining cleanliness in your home, you should know that you’re not the only one in this situation. At the same time, you probably want to have a clean home to enjoy by the end of your workday. If these things matter to you, perhaps it’s time to assess the opportunity of using a professional cleaning service. Let’s see how you can budget for it.

1. Put Together A Household Budgeting Diagram

The first thing to to to see whether you can afford to hire a professional cleaning service is to create a budget spreadsheet. You’ll probably find several models of printable budget charts on various websites. Nevertheless, software programs like Microsoft Excel come with free templates for household expenses tracking and control. Just grab one and fill out the columns for your income sources and different expenses such as student loans, mortgages, childcare and groceries. If needed, take a closer look at your latest bank statements to see what your different categories of expenses are.

2. Make Sure You Add All Expenses

While doing this, remember to add yearly or quarterly expenses, as well. Car insurance payments and credit card fees need to have a place in your spreadsheet, even though you don’t need to make such payments every month. The best way to handle these payments is to set aside a small amount every month, in order to have an easier time at paying these bills as they arise. If, for instance, you know you’ll need to buy new car tires in September, start saving for them since May. Also, track your small, regular expenses. Your daily coffee fix is one of thee small things that can add up to relatively large amounts over years. Once you know where your money goes, you’ll be able to figure out whether there’s enough left for you to pay for professional cleaning services.

3. Plan Wisely

If you don’t plan your budget the smart way, each and every major expense will severely affect your household budget. It’s a good thing to save for the unexpected, in order to be able to cope with various accidents or problems that may occur. If you don’t know how to do all these, consider suing Mint or another similar financial planning resource to keep things organized.

4. Allow For Some Flexibility

Your household budgeting shouldn’t be too tight. Always leave a little room for unexpected things, for little pleasures, or for various surprises. After all, we need to enjoy our life, so there’s no point in budgeting only for the things we need and leave aside everything that could bring us a little pleasure or an easier life. Professional household cleaning services can be some of these things that you don’t really need, but you could surely use. Be flexible and you’ll have a great time in this life! Reach out and give us a call today.

When it comes to cleaning your bedroom, the bed is probably the one one that should get the most of your attention.

As the bedroom is a private space, full of personal items, cleaning it can be a daunting task, as you may have a hard time deciding what to start with.

Relax! We are here to help you. This article explains you the essentials of bedroom furniture cleaning, so that you can schedule all these chores accordingly.

How To Prepare For Cleaning Your Bedroom Furniture

First of all, you’ll need to make sure you have all necessary supplies. A vacuum cleaner, a couple of microfiber cloths, a duster and a spray bottle of water would be enough to help you get by. How hard would it be to gather all these things?

Now let’s proceed with the cleaning.

Dusting Bookshelves

The main reason why bookshelves become dust magnets is that most people overlook them. When cleaning your bookshelves, make sure you start from the top and you work your way to the bottom. This will help you prevent falling dust from settling on already cleaned shelves.

To start with, remove all books from the top shelf. If there’s a lot of dust, start by wiping it off with a duster and then use a damp microfiber cloth to remove remaining traces. If there’s barely any dust on your shelves, you can skip the duster and wipe it off directly with the damp cloth. Rinse the microfiber cloth multiple times throughout this process.

After you’re done with cleaning your bookshelves, use a vacuum cleaner to remove all dust that may have fallen on the floor.

Cleaning Dust And Spills From Desks

The desk may be the most difficult to clean, particularly if you snack or drink your coffee while staring at your computer. Even if you do have this habit, you’ll still be able to clean your desk without problems.

Clear everything off your desk. Stack all these things in the chair or directly on the floor. Get a duster or a dry microfiber cloth and wipe the surface of the desk. Try to remove stubborn stains and tough spills with a little water or with special cleaning products that suit your desk’s material. Once you’re done with cleaning the top, wipe down the sides and the legs of the furniture. Next, wipe down the desk chair with a microfiber cloth. If you have a fabric chair, use your vacuum with a special attachment to remove any grit, crumbs or hairs.

Cleaning Nightstands And Dressers

In order to clean these furniture pieces, you’ll need to remove all items from them. Place all these items on the floor or on the bed. Next, wipe down all surfaces with a dry microfiber cloth, making sure you don’t forget the sides and the legs. Scrub a little harder to remove difficult stains and traces, if any.

These are the only tips you need to follow to clean your bedroom furniture like a pro. You can also call the house cleaning professionals to help.

As a child, your mom must have asked you to help out around the house. However, she always does the most work. In the long run, it always takes a toll on her. If you don’t pay attention, she will murmur under her breath how much she is exhausted about everything as you carry on with your work.

Now that are grown up and might be a mom as well, you have an idea of how much your mom felt unappreciated in her own home. Keeping a home clean is a never-ending task. There’s always something that needs cleaning somewhere. It could be a dusty countertop or a floor where something has been spilled. Whatever the case, she has to go round looking for something to clean.

How Can Cleaning Services Help Out A Mom

Hiring a cleaning service that offers the most basic room cleaning and maintenance services will help out any mom in many ways. If you hire Think Maids, you can count on a good cleaning service that will clean every room in the house thoroughly. Even better, they will wash the floors, vacuum the carpets and remove the cobwebs in your ceiling.

They also handle various housekeeping duties such as cleaning bathtubs and toilets. If you want them to, they will also clean the microwaves and other insides without any worries. Each one of these tasks will not take a long time to complete but when they are piled together, they will take a while, especially depending on the interruptions and the size of your home.

Most people rarely have enough time to clean their entire home every day. Therefore, if you want to help out your mom, hire cleaning services for her. At least, she will get some time off to spend with the grandkids or with her friends. Even better, she can relax after work or when there are guests.

What Can We Do For Your Mom?

We understand that most moms love doing their own cleaning. However, most people love relaxing and more so our moms. Therefore, if you hire us, we can handle any cleaning required in your home allowing your mom to relax. Call us and make an appointment for high quality cleaning services today.

Whether it’s a weekly cleaning or a simple dusting task, we are here for you. It’s easy enough to go around the house removing any dust and clearing out any debris. We will clean the windows and doors as well as the floors to leave your home sparkling clean. Even better, we are professionals at it so you can always call us when you need emergency cleaning.

Vacation time is here, marked by the arrival of summer! You should prepare yourself for some bit of cleaning if you will be staying at a vacation rental.

To ensure that you have an idea of the things you need to do once you arrive, read the following list of tips on holiday rental cleaning.

Look For Garbage

Before leaving, after their last stay, your host or any guests that stayed at the property may have forgotten to take out the garbage. You can find out whether all the garbage bins are empty by taking a few minutes to search through the property. To ensure that you start with a clean slate, find new replacement garbage bin liners.

Do Some Touch Ups In The Kitchen

Your holiday rental cleaning efforts should mainly focus on the kitchen area. This part of the house sees a lot of activity given the fact that holiday activities, such as swimming and hiking, lead to huge appetites. You can ensure that your family and close friends eat off hygienic utensils and surfaces with our kitchen cleaning to-do list.

Checklist On Cleaning The Kitchen

Clean the inside of the microwave, if it is not clean enough.

Place a wet kitchen sponge in the microwave for a couple of minutes to ensure that it’s thoroughly clean. Check on the microwaving sponge; since it is bound to be hot, remember to give it some time to cool down.

To ensure that no food particles have been left inside the freezer and refrigerator, give the inside a quick wipe.

All sinks, stovetops and countertops, as well as any other surfaces should also be wiped down.

To ensure that the previous occupants of the house cleaned all cutting boards, pans and pots that are used regularly as well as glasses and dishes, conduct your own inspection.

Thoroughly hand or machine wash any dirty dishes that you intend to use on a regular basis.

The Bathroom Is Next

This part of the house should be quite clean. However, if you intend to place your own toothbrushes and any toiletries on countertops, wiping them down beforehand should not be a problem. The toilet handle, shower and sink knobs should also be included in your bathroom cleaning checklist.

Outdoors

It is also worthwhile for you to spend some time cleaning up the outdoor area, if any. Start by sweeping up the space if you can get your hands on an outdoor broom. Any outdoor furniture items should also be wiped down. A swift once over using a towel or cloth should be enough to get any deck chairs and grill, found to be reasonably clean, ready for use.

You can follow the instructions below if on the other hand you discover that some outdoor areas or items require additional cleaning:

Outdoor Furniture Cleaning Tips

Cleaning An Outdoor Barbeque Grill

No one looks forward to doing any cleaning work during their holiday. If it means that you can rest assured that your loved ones are using hygienic utensils that you have cleaned personally however, then taking 30 minutes to an hour of your time to touch up every part of your temporary home is definitely worth it.

Want cleaning advice from professionals?  Try calling a local cleaning service.

Sofas made from fabric look great and contribute to a cozy atmosphere. On the other hand, cleaning these can be a pain. However, spills are inevitable, and unless you cover your upholstery with plastic, you should be armed with the knowledge on how to properly clean your fabric sofa.

1. Review Manufacturer-Issued Instructions

Always check the instructions regarding cleaning your sofa written by the manufacturer before attempting to freshen your furniture up or remove stains. Failure in this regard can cancel out your warranty as well as lead to the ruin of your couch.

2. Check the Tags

The tags on furniture often can tell you how to handle cleaning. This is a good place to check if you can’t find the instructions issued by the manufacturer. Check the cushion tags for important facts, such as whether or not your sofa is water-soluble.

3. Learn to Properly Read a Cleaning Tag

In most cases, you will see one of four letters on a cleaning tag. These, as well as their meaning, are as follows:

W – Your sofa may be cleaned using water.
S – No water! Instead, you must use a solvent-based cleaner.
WS – You may use either water or a solvent-based cleaner on this sofa.
X – Only a vacuum is acceptable.

Cleaning a Stained Fabric Sofa

Should you find an “X” on your sofa’s cleaning tag, break out the vacuum and its attachment. If you find an “S”, locate a solvent-based cleaner that is clear regarding the instructions on how to use it on your furniture. The following instructions are suitable for a couch that is marked “W” or “WS”.

You will need to have at your disposal these items:

– A vacuum cleaner with an attachment
– 3+ microfiber cloths in a light color (to not bleed into your couch)
– A bucket
– Distilled water (Tap water can leave residue because of its mineral content)
– Distilled white vinegar
– Liquid dish soap

1. Vacuum your sofa to rid it of dirt and debris so it doesn’t get rubbed into your furniture during cleaning.

2. Take your bucket and, in it, mix 2 cups distilled water, 1 tablespoon of vinegar, and 1 tablespoon of liquid dish soap.

3. Dampen a cloth in your bucket. Gently blot stains and spots on your sofa. Don’t rub or scrub at it, as this can cause damage to the fibers.

4. Moisten a fresh cloth with ONLY distilled water. Blot the area you just cleaned to remove residual soap.

5. Using a dry microfiber cloth, blot the area again to render it dry.

6. Aim a fan at the freshly-cleaned area to ensure that it dries completely.

Steam-Cleaning Your Sofa

With a sofa that is marked “W” or “WS”, you may be able to utilize steam-cleaning. Of course, you should check with the manufacturer-issued instructions just to be sure. While these sofas are able to take water or solvent-based cleaners, heat can often be a different matter entirely. Think Maids can clean your fabric sofas, get in contact to find out how.