When your business is cleaning, like ours, it helps to have a sense of humor. That's why we love to find funny stories about cleaning on the Internet. Here's one,…
Help With Spring Cleaning
All across Perth, Spring Cleaning sneaks up on us. It’s a daunting task for anyone, but with multiple children in the house, it becomes especially challenging. So, how can you keep a tidy house whilst caring for small children, who don’t always share your passion for clean living? There are several options, ranging from fun to practical.
How do I keep the house clean with kids?
Make cleaning fun!
For about the same price as ordinary soap, you can purchase soaps that come in fun shapes for children. You can also purchase a do-it-yourself soap kit online, or from many local retailers.
If these options aren’t readily accessible, let you children decorate their own dish soap bottles with permanent marker. Something as simple as this will give them a sense of ownership, and make cleaning fun. When your kids are involved in the cleaning process, they’re more likely to take pride in keeping the house tidy as well.
Keep up with cleaning during the day.
Don’t put it off for later. We’ve all been there. It’s the end of the day. We’re exhausted. We take one look at that pile of dishes in the sink, or the clump of pet hair on the carpet, and we tell ourselves, “I’ll tend to that in the morning.”
Only, the morning comes with its own messes. The breakfast dishes pile on top of the dinner dishes, and the bin starts to smell like yesterday’s tuna sandwich.
While it may seem redundant, keeping up with messes during the day as they occur—rather than waiting to do it all at once—will help you to stay on top of your chores. Give the hallway a quick vacuum if the kids have tracked in some mud.
Encourage your kids to wash their own dishes, and make a game of it by using homemade soaps or bottles that your children have decorated themselves. A few seconds here and there will save loads of time in the long run.
Call in the pros.
If all else fails, hire a cleaning service. We have customers across the Perth metro area as well as Yanchep, Midland, Fremantle, Joondalup, Rockingham and Mandurah. Ask us about our no-obligation quote. Home cleaning services are more affordable than you may think.
How do I clean the house before guests arrive?
Many Australians fear the judgment and stigma of hosting guests in a house that isn’t up to par. Especially when relatives are visiting us for long periods of time. But something as simple as a thorough clean can leave your home feeling as though you’ve just had a remodel!
The vacuum is your friend
In order to provide your home with a proper deep clean, the vacuum is your best friend. Begin by moving the furniture and vacuuming underneath.
You might be frightened of what’s been lurking under your couches and behind your end tables, but the good news is that a thorough vacuuming will take care of it. Be sure not to vacuum up any spare coins!
If you have curtains, your vacuum’s hose attachment should be used on those as well. Work in vertical lines from top to bottom, and repeat as needed to remove all pet hair and dust.
Don’t forget corners and hard-to-reach spaces.
When disinfecting your counter-tops, don’t forget to wipe down the splash-back, stove, and sink handles with a soft cloth. You may use a cleaning product designed for these areas, but hot soapy water will also do the trick.
For hard-to-reach stains, two parts baking soda combined with one part white vinegar can be used to form a paste. Leave this paste to set on grease and other stains up to 24 hours, and then rinse with water and scrub with a sponge.
Let cleaning lead to rearranging.
Because we look at our homes every day, we become accustomed to how they look. But pushing the sofa across the living room or moving the lamp can have benefits beyond reaching that decade of dust. It can also offer a fresh perspective of how you view your home. A little spring-cleaning rearranging can do just the trick to make your home not only be clean, but also look like a five-star hotel.
Out of sight, out of mind (but still in the air).
You’ve tidied up, and the room looks clean. But is it? Airborne allergens, like dust, pet dander, and seasonal pollen, live in the air and aren’t always seen.
The best way to minimise these allergens is to dampen surfaces while dusting. There are several appropriate cleaning agents that will help you get the job done. If you prefer a chemical-free approach, dampen a cloth and give your surfaces and valuables a gentle once-over.
What are some problem areas that often go overlooked when cleaning?
Ironically, the areas designed to keep your home clean collect the most bacteria. You already know to clean the toilet bowl. You can buy a discreet, even stylish, bowl brush for a reasonable price.
But when you brush the bowl, how often do you wipe down the seat? The underside of the toilet seat is filled with all those unpleasant splatters you don’t see when you make your daily visits. Be sure to lift it and wipe both sides with a disinfectant designed for bathrooms.
Another area that needs extra sanitising is your sink. Whether it’s in the kitchen or the bathroom, those knobs and faucets are touched dozens of times. Be sure to sanitise them as a part of your routine home cleaning.
Don’t sweep it under the rug. It’s easy to give your rugs a good vacuum. But at least once a month, be sure to lift it and vacuum underneath it as well. Over time, dirt and debris that gets swept under the rug will lead to odour, and even cause your floors to fade and scuff.
How do I clean and sanitise when moving into a new apartment?
Fresh paint and cleaners are the two most popular smells one enjoys when moving into a new home. The same can be said when you’re moving out as well.
Clean as though you’re about to move in, rather than about to turn in your keys. This level of consideration really stands out to landlords, who are often left with nasty surprises when their tenants move out. This will also make things easier when it’s time for you to collect your bond.
Give the walls, floors, and counter-tops a thorough scrub. Be sure to read the labels when using cleaning agents to make sure they’re appropriate for the area you’re cleaning.
For hardwood floors, select a cleaner that’s designed for wood. Using bleach or other harsh chemicals may damage the finish. For tiles, pay extra attention to the grouting. If the grout is white, it’s safe to use bleach and a cotton swab to get in the creases.
For walls, dye-free soap, water, and a dye-free sponge or cloth will work miracles. Pay extra attention to high-traffic areas, such as around doors and electrical switches, as these areas are exposed to a lot of hand oils.
Don’t wait until the last minute. Moving is stressful. Therefore, it’s easy to put cleaning off until the last minute. But this will only make the task more of a challenge. Instead, cleaning as you go will make the project far more manageable.
Call in the experts. If the wall can’t easily be cleaned, or is damaged, be sure to hire a professional to perform the repairs. If the wall requires a fresh coat of paint, you may contact your landlord to inquire about the colour.
You may also take a small piece of the paint (if the wall is damaged) to your local paint shop. Most paint shops are equipped to match the colour. Due to sun exposure, the paint will have faded over time, and the new coat will stand out. Therefore, it’s important to get enough paint to cover the entire wall.
Don’t overlook the details. Be sure to scrub down the baseboards. These high-traffic areas will see a lot of scuffs from shoes and normal vacuuming.
Fortunately, most of these scuffs will come off with a little bit of soap and water. If that fails, a fresh coat of paint will do the trick.
Take care to also vacuum inside closets and behind doors. These seemingly small details will leave your apartment looking brand new for the next tenants. And your landlord will thank you.
