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Welcome to our Question & Answer Forum.
As professional cleaners, we often get asked if we have suggestions or ideas on keeping one's home clean and organized. So, while we can't give away all our secrets, we do want to share some of the tips and tricks we use in our own home. |
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Don't have time for a full on Spring Clean?
Here are a few tips to quickly freshen up your house.
1) Don't have time to wash your curtains, air fluff them in the dryer with one or two dryer sheets.
2) Perk up your house rugs by tossing them in the washer, then letting them air dry on a dry rack, or over an outdoor railing.
3) Use the brush attachment on your vacuum and tackle the dust on your vents, door frames and moldings quickly.
These are quick and easy ways to freshen up your home. But may we suggest..., let CLEAN. come in and do the dirty work. If you want a deep cleaning, we will move furniture to vacuum/mop the floor beneath, wash the base boards in your house, get those rarely touched corners, nooks, and crannies. Just say the word! Remember, as with all of our clients, you get to decide what your cleaning looks like. We can provide a quote tailored to your individual needs. Just give us a call.
Here are a few tips to quickly freshen up your house.
1) Don't have time to wash your curtains, air fluff them in the dryer with one or two dryer sheets.
2) Perk up your house rugs by tossing them in the washer, then letting them air dry on a dry rack, or over an outdoor railing.
3) Use the brush attachment on your vacuum and tackle the dust on your vents, door frames and moldings quickly.
These are quick and easy ways to freshen up your home. But may we suggest..., let CLEAN. come in and do the dirty work. If you want a deep cleaning, we will move furniture to vacuum/mop the floor beneath, wash the base boards in your house, get those rarely touched corners, nooks, and crannies. Just say the word! Remember, as with all of our clients, you get to decide what your cleaning looks like. We can provide a quote tailored to your individual needs. Just give us a call.
I have leather furniture, how do you recommend that I clean and maintain it?
This is a great example of how our low-impact approach truly is best for your home and belongings. We use only warm water and a clean cotton or microfiber cloth to take care of leather. The rag should only be damp, not soaking. This simple method should remove most dirt and/or build-up on furniture. If the leather is visibly aging/drying/cracking you can use a leather conditioner (follow the product instructions for use and frequency). We find that using leather "cleaning" products or worse (eeek - don't ever use unintended chemicals or solutions on your leather!) not only have the potential to cause fading, but typically dry out leather much quicker, and leave it truly no cleaner than plain ol' warm water.
This is a great example of how our low-impact approach truly is best for your home and belongings. We use only warm water and a clean cotton or microfiber cloth to take care of leather. The rag should only be damp, not soaking. This simple method should remove most dirt and/or build-up on furniture. If the leather is visibly aging/drying/cracking you can use a leather conditioner (follow the product instructions for use and frequency). We find that using leather "cleaning" products or worse (eeek - don't ever use unintended chemicals or solutions on your leather!) not only have the potential to cause fading, but typically dry out leather much quicker, and leave it truly no cleaner than plain ol' warm water.
At CLEAN. we LOVE natural products, and one of our favorites is white distilled vinegar.
Here are a few great ways vinegar can be used to keep your home fresh and clean.
1) Get rid of odors and soap build up in your dishwasher, by running the empty machine through a full cycle with a cup of vinegar poured into the bottom.
2) Freshen your toilet by allowing 3 cups of Vinegar to sit in the bowl for about 30 minutes before flushing (lid down).
3) To clean & disinfect children's toys, combine 2-3 Tablespoons Vinegar to a small bucket of warm, soapy water.
Use a rag to wipe down the toys with the mixture.
A bonus with vinegar, is that once it completely dries, the scent is gone. However, there are some people who don't care for the scent, and seem to remain sensitive to its presence even after it dries.
Here are a few great ways vinegar can be used to keep your home fresh and clean.
1) Get rid of odors and soap build up in your dishwasher, by running the empty machine through a full cycle with a cup of vinegar poured into the bottom.
2) Freshen your toilet by allowing 3 cups of Vinegar to sit in the bowl for about 30 minutes before flushing (lid down).
3) To clean & disinfect children's toys, combine 2-3 Tablespoons Vinegar to a small bucket of warm, soapy water.
Use a rag to wipe down the toys with the mixture.
A bonus with vinegar, is that once it completely dries, the scent is gone. However, there are some people who don't care for the scent, and seem to remain sensitive to its presence even after it dries.
I find that my lampshades attract dust, as well as dog hair.
How do you clean fabric lampshades?
There are several types of fabric lampshades. The three main types are smooth (this is where the fabric is smooth all the way around, without fold or pleat), pleated (this is a fairly smooth, loose pleat), and accordion (this is a very stiff, tighter pleat). With the smooth and pleated shade, I find the easiest method is to use an adhesive lint roller. It takes mere seconds to roll the entire shade, and the lint roller picks up all the dust and hair with ease. The accordion style shades are much more difficult. You can use a small paint brush to brush out the dust in each pleat, then, depending on the material, you may want to try a simple duster, or a very slightly damp cloth to remove the dust from the accessible surface. I personally avoid even purchasing these shades because they are difficult to clean.
How do you clean fabric lampshades?
There are several types of fabric lampshades. The three main types are smooth (this is where the fabric is smooth all the way around, without fold or pleat), pleated (this is a fairly smooth, loose pleat), and accordion (this is a very stiff, tighter pleat). With the smooth and pleated shade, I find the easiest method is to use an adhesive lint roller. It takes mere seconds to roll the entire shade, and the lint roller picks up all the dust and hair with ease. The accordion style shades are much more difficult. You can use a small paint brush to brush out the dust in each pleat, then, depending on the material, you may want to try a simple duster, or a very slightly damp cloth to remove the dust from the accessible surface. I personally avoid even purchasing these shades because they are difficult to clean.
I need to buy a new kitchen trash can, at a reasonable cost. Do you have any suggestions?
We have found that although round, step cans (these are trash cans with the foot pedal mechanism to open the lid) are some of the most commonly used, the rectangular shaped cans are far more conducive for everyday use. Round trash cans will not hold as much as a rectangular one will. We often put things in our trash cans that are oddly shaped. So when it is time to remove the bag, it may catch or snag, or be just plain difficult to remove from a round can. I think rectangular cans have less of an issue with that.
Step cans are the way to go though. There are touchless trash cans that have automatic sensors, that will open without a pedal, but I have found the sensors and mechanisms tend to wear out too quickly. Then you end up struggling to get into the trash can you spent extra money on, because it was supposed to make life easier. And, unless you intend to house your trash can in a
cabinet, you will want a can with a lid that fits snugly, all the way around, thus keeping any unpleasant odors inside.
We have found that although round, step cans (these are trash cans with the foot pedal mechanism to open the lid) are some of the most commonly used, the rectangular shaped cans are far more conducive for everyday use. Round trash cans will not hold as much as a rectangular one will. We often put things in our trash cans that are oddly shaped. So when it is time to remove the bag, it may catch or snag, or be just plain difficult to remove from a round can. I think rectangular cans have less of an issue with that.
Step cans are the way to go though. There are touchless trash cans that have automatic sensors, that will open without a pedal, but I have found the sensors and mechanisms tend to wear out too quickly. Then you end up struggling to get into the trash can you spent extra money on, because it was supposed to make life easier. And, unless you intend to house your trash can in a
cabinet, you will want a can with a lid that fits snugly, all the way around, thus keeping any unpleasant odors inside.
I love to cook, so I have a pretty significant collection of cookware - but I have a pretty small kitchen. How do I maximize the space that I do have?
I think many people run into this issue, regardless of their kitchen size. There is just never enough space! One of my favorite ways to create space in a kitchen is to use a pot rack. Whether you have one that is suspended from the ceiling, or mounted over a butcher's block, they create much needed space for some of your largest cookware. The trick to a pot rack is using one in a way that is most helpful. So here is the number one tip... put pots and pans on the rack that you use fairly often. Why? There are two reasons. First, a pot rack is far more accessible than digging through a cabinet or drawer. So don't put the items you rarely need on it! Secondly, if you are using the pots and pans on the rack on a semi routine basis, they are being washed pretty regularly. Which means you don't have to dust them! Now, don't forget that since your pot rack is in plain sight, for all to see, you need to remember a few things. DON'T overcrowd it. Leave some space between each item. And no matter how often you use a pot or pan, if it is really old looking or banged up, pick your next most frequently used pan. The rack can be both aesthetically pleasing and functional.
I think many people run into this issue, regardless of their kitchen size. There is just never enough space! One of my favorite ways to create space in a kitchen is to use a pot rack. Whether you have one that is suspended from the ceiling, or mounted over a butcher's block, they create much needed space for some of your largest cookware. The trick to a pot rack is using one in a way that is most helpful. So here is the number one tip... put pots and pans on the rack that you use fairly often. Why? There are two reasons. First, a pot rack is far more accessible than digging through a cabinet or drawer. So don't put the items you rarely need on it! Secondly, if you are using the pots and pans on the rack on a semi routine basis, they are being washed pretty regularly. Which means you don't have to dust them! Now, don't forget that since your pot rack is in plain sight, for all to see, you need to remember a few things. DON'T overcrowd it. Leave some space between each item. And no matter how often you use a pot or pan, if it is really old looking or banged up, pick your next most frequently used pan. The rack can be both aesthetically pleasing and functional.
