The Cleaning Professional

How to motivate your kids to help

admin — Mon, 14 May 2012 15:18:39 +0000

When cleaning your home include your child in the process. Yes, it may slow the house cleaning process down but it is an essential step in showing your kids that they are part of the cleaning process and it will be there responsiblity. Teach your child step by step how to do whatever household job you are doing, obviously we do not recommend starting off by scrubbing the toilet or shower while the little one just stands there.
The idea here is for your child to watch what Mommy or Daddy are doing first and being part of the process. Here are some examples of some chores that are pretty simple and can be easily guided. Obvioulsy, taking into account the age of your child. These are typical for a 5 year old to do: 1) Make his/her bed, it may take some time but it will improve over time. 2) Put clothes back into closet or dresser. 3) Put toys back into toy chest. 4) Help feed the family pet. 5) Help clean the family car. Teach your child step by step expectations of whatever chore you are trying to teach them. The goal is to show, teach and train. Each child is different and it may take some patience but eventually they will get a routine down. Most important, from the begin stages when your child is finished completment them, reinforcing this behavior. What are some chores you are teaching your children to do around your home? “Disorganization breeds stress, worry and tension”

How to disinfect?

admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:34:47 +0000

How to disinfect?
In order for something to be disinfected the product that you are using has to achieve a 100% kill rate of the germs. Prior to disinfecting make sure you clean the area first. The product that you are using has to get to the germs that it is trying to kill, if there is dirt and other gook the disinfectant that you are using will not have the full strength. Once the surface is clear of dirt, use the product on the surface and let is saturate the surface for at least 10 minutes. Once the disinfecting agent sits for 10 minutes you can rinse with warm water to remove any residue. As with all products, not just disinfectants read the label and follow the instructions as some products may not be suitable for certain surfaces.

Baking Soda

admin — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:28:30 +0000

Baking soda is a great deodorizer. When we do residential cleanings we leave two open boxes in the fridge and freezer after we thoroughly clean the refrigerator to prevent those foul odors from coming back. The key however is to replace the baking soda boxes every 30 days.
Baking soda can also be used in dishwashers, poured down the drain with vingear and boiling water to control those awful scents that sometimes creap up the drains. Used as a cleaner you can mix it with warm water and it is a mild abrasive all natural cleaner that can lift tough stains.
What are some of the things you use baking soda for?

Cleaning Artwork?

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 16:17:55 +0000

Whenever my wife and I travel we typically purchase original pieces of work rather than the trinkets that sit around the house, collect dust and clutter up the shelves, and then eventually are sold at an annual tag sale.
When speaking of art work I mean anything that has value, whether sentimental or cash. I have read stories where many art pieces have been compromised due to poor handling/cleaning. Valuable art work requires the owner to take necessary precautions to preserve the integrity of their piece.
Identifying what type of work it is, is the first step in taking proper care of your piece. If it is a valuable piece, request to have the piece framed in a conservation frame. Choosing an appropriate mat board, hinges, glazing, and backboard will help to protect and preserve your piece of art work. Second, make sure that you are hanging your piece somewhere in your home where it won’t be exposed to direct sunlight which will cause fading. Once these precautions are taken the only thing you want to use on your piece of work is a dry micro fiber cloth or feather duster for your regular dusting. DO NOT use any cleaning chemicals to try to clean your piece. If your piece needs more detailed care I would recommend locating a professional to handle your piece. An added note: if you have a home cleaning service maintaining your home make sure you verbalize to the cleaning tech that you do not want your valuable pieces to be cleaned.

When was the last time you changed your AC filter?

admin — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 15:35:00 +0000

By replacing your air conditioning filter regularly you improve the efficiency and life of your unit, saving you money in the long run. When you forget to change your filter every couple of months; dirt, dust and grime block the flow of air, forcing it to bypass the filter and carry dirt directly into the evaporator coil. Because the coil is the part of you’re AC unit that absorbs heat, you want to keep the coil clean to keep it functioning smoothly and to prevent your compressor and fans from failing. If you have pets like we do or someone in the household is a smoker and refuses to go outside to a smoke, it is best to change the filter more frequently. Regular filter changes and yearly servicing will help your home stay cleaner and save you some extra cash.

What’s Inside Your Microwave?

admin — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 19:06:49 +0000

Everyone knows how disgusting it is to open the microwave and see layers of splattered meals all over its base and walls. No one wants little bits of crusted on food particles falling onto their delicious Hot Pocket.
To clean your microwave I would stay away from using commericial cleaning products, because the thought of chemicals being around my food is pretty unappetizing to me. If you feel the same way, here are two natural alternatives you can use. They are equally effective and very inexpensive.)

1. First remove and wipe all crumbs with a damp paper towel. Then use baking soda and warm water mixed in a bowl or spray bottle, use this solution to scrub the walls with a non-abrasive sponge to remove the remnants of last week’s spagetti sauce off of the walls. You know what I’m talking about.
2.Fill a glass bowl with 1/4 cup of vinegar, 1 cup of water and a splash of lemon juice. Then place it in the microwave and run it on high for 5 minutes. (Microwaving the solution forces it to form condensation on the microwave walls, making the caked-on food remnants easier to remove.) Next, remove the bowl carefully, as it will be very hot. Lastly, take your non-abrasive pad/sponge and use the solution to wipe the walls of the microwave.
As is the case with all cleaning it is always best to stay on top of your cleaning by cleaning up as soon as the mess it made, thus saving you time in the long run. Make cleaning and organizing a part of your everyday routine. No one wants to waste their hard-earned weekends tackling layers of build-up and clutter.

Cleaning For The Holidays

admin — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 21:35:22 +0000

With the holidays around the corner the last thing you want to do is spend a full day cleaning in preparation for visiting family and friends. Cleaning your entire home in one day is labor intensive and overwhelming, so I recommend you break the cleaning to-do list into smaller parts. Take 5 minutes and write down cleaning tasks that can be done throughout the week. You can make the list of chores as specific as you want if you want. Here is a general sample list, to get you started:
1. Monday: Kitchen: cleaning cabinets, counters, appliances, and washing the floors
2.Tuesday: bathroom(s)
3. Wednesday: bedrooms
4. Thursday: living room
5. Friday: family room
By the end of the workweek you will have cleaned the whole house one day at a time. By Saturday, a light 30 minute touch up cleaning will be all you’ll need for your home to be company ready. If you’re strapped for time, as everyone usually is during the holidays, rushing around getting rid of clutter is not going to make things any easier. Commit to keeping your home clutter-free every day. Eliminating clutter makes your home appear “cleaner”. Is it time to purge some of the items that have been sitting around collecting dust?
Henry David Thoreau’s motto was “simplify, simplify.” That’s good advice.
Have a blessed Thanksgiving and be thankful for all that you do have.

Prevention Is Half The Battle: 3 Simple Steps To Daily Home Maintenance

admin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:46:04 +0000

Taking preventive measures is the key to staying on top of your cleaning routine. The work starts right when you enter your home. Taking your shoes off is the first step in your daily cleaning routine. Your shoes are like the Trojan horse of dirt; they conceal the enemy and bring it into your home…
The second step is washing your hands as soon as you come home. Your own hands will betray you by bringing germs from the outside world into your domain, spreading them to everything you touch.
The third step has to do with preventing clutter from building up day after day. Take five minutes to put away whatever articles you bring through the door with you. At the end of a long day at work, it can be very tempting to throw your keys, purse, briefcase, umbrella, mail, coat, scarf, files, etc. on the first surface you see. Don’t! If you do, by the end of the week you’ll have a week’s worth of stuff (or more) to put away. So, take five minutes to put whatever you bring into your home at the end of the day where it belongs. The “I’ll get to that later” mentality inevitably results in clutter, which creates disorganization, which bring with it stress, worry and tension. Nip that slippery slope in the bud.

Are you Effectively Disinfecting?

admin — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:06:19 +0000

Many people think that once they spray a surface with a disinfectant and wipe the area down it is properly disinfected. I have seen many folks spraying and wiping, spraying and wiping, thinking that the product will immediately work when that is simply not the case. It is important to recognize that disinfectants need to be in contact with the surface you are attempting to disinfect for a specific period of time in order to work effectively. Contact times usually are between 2 to 10 minutes depending on what micro-organism you are trying to destroy.
To be safe I would recommend spraying the surface and letting the active ingredients work for about 5 minutes then wiping the area with a damp micro fiber cloth. Prior to doing this please read the label of all products you are using, as they may compromise the surface area you are attempting to disinfect and do more harm than good. Be especially mindful of porous surfaces, as they are the most vulnerable to potential damage from cleaning products and disinfectants. Find products that will demolish germs without demolishing your counters and floors.

Sir Charles speaks…

admin — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:03:54 +0000

The November 2009 Men’s Journal Charles Barklely speaks about survival skills. One of the questions asked was “What skill should every man possess?” His response was, “It’s important for a man to know how to do his own cleaning around the house. Further stating this is just my opinion in life: People who are messy, their whole lives are messy. I dont believe in stockpiling junk. You use it, then you get rid of it. Clutter depresses me” As a lifelong basketball fan, social worker, and business owner, I was quite pleased to see that Barkley’s life philosophy mirrors my own. My personal mantra has always been, “Disorganization breeds stress, worry and tension.” I agree with Barkley wholeheartedly and have seen firsthand how, not only disorganization, but cleanliness, or a lack thereof, directly affects all aspects of one’s life. A clean, organized physical space, allows for a clean organized mind, which in turn , leads to a more productive, happy life. Cleaning is not just about disinfection for physical health; it paves the way for mental health and rational thinking. A clean physical space carries over into a clean mental space. Stockpiling junk, as Barkley refers to it, can be seen both literally and as a metaphor for the negative thoughts and memories we have that impedes our mental health and overall success. A clean physical space makes for a healthy physical environment, which in turn gives us the opportunity to turn our attention to providing ourselves with a clean mental space. So, let’s pay attention to cleaning, not just for our physical well-being, but for our mental well-being, as well. Clean your house and clear your mind.