Mold Season + Exterior Surfaces
Most think of mold inside the home as a big problem — and it is. But what about that mold that grows on the outside of your home, such as on vinyl siding and other surfaces? While not as much of a health concern, it’s still a nuisance that must be handled. Mold typically does not grow on clean, dry surfaces. And most materials, such as the plastic construction materials used on homes, is not a food source for mold. So why does it grow? Because of the dirt, soil, grime, and other organic matter that builds up on surfaces. While your vinyl siding may be vertical, it still gets dirty, and mold will grab onto that and grow like wildfire. And when there are trees and vegetation around your home, they release particles that attach to exterior surfaces and that just makes the problem worse. The solution? Cleaning. Keeping surfaces clean, physically removing both molds and their food sources, is the best way to keep your home looking good. While the solution seems simple, unless you have a ranch-style home, reaching all those high surfaces is not easy. You will need ladders, extension poles, and plenty of safety gear. If you have all that, and are ready to get to work, here are a few tips. Get a good scrub brush, something you can put on a pole, and something that will scrub the surface but not scratch it. Softer nylon bristles are great. Have plenty of garden hose available, with a concentrated spray nozzle. A large bucket, a pump-up sprayer, or a sprayer assembly that you can put liquid cleaning products in, one that automatically dilutes and applies the cleaner to your home. You need all this before you get to work. Purchase a quality exterior cleaning solution specifically for siding and removing mold. While you can create your own solution with a variety of household products (bleach, vinegar, detergent) what you find at the store is not expensive. Then get to work. Hopefully on a nice, sunny day. Apply your product with the hose attachment or your pump-up sprayer, allow to dwell for a few minutes. The bleach component in your solution will take time to work. Scrub the surface and spray it all off. Let it dry and inspect, repeating as necessary. Take your time, section off areas, and you will see fantastic results. But what about mold inside your home? That’s a different problem altogether. When you see mold inside, contact your favorite disaster restoration company. After all, it pays to call a pro! 6 Items Many Neglect to Replace
Do you have the tendency to collect items, never letting them go? Or maybe you tend to get as much use out of items as you can, keeping them longer than perhaps recommended, before replacing them? No one wants to be wasteful, yet there are many items you use that should be replaced on a regular basis, on a schedule. While there could be dozens of items like this, today we will concentrate on just six everyday items that need to be regularly replenished, for a variety of reasons. Sponges Sponges are great tools we use for cleaning surfaces, and some of those surfaces can be quite germy. While the appearance of your sponge may be acceptable, you should replace it every 3-4 weeks. Toothbrushes Advice for changing your toothbrush comes from a solid source. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), replace your toothbrush every three to four months. If you use a battery powered toothbrush, you should change the bristles on a similar basis. Toilet brush You use these to clean toilets. Enough said. Change them every six months, or even more often in a busy household. Water filters Filters that supply your drinking water can be found attached to your water spigots, and in your refrigerator, among other uses. Most manufacturers recommend replacing filters every six months. While some can taste the change in water when a filter is dirty and not effective, don’t base frequency on this. Follow a schedule. Pillows Pillows are meant to be comfortable and usually used just by you, but they are also a reservoir of dead skin, hair, and other potential contaminants. Replace them every one to two years, even if you really love your pillow. Fire extinguishers This is a no-joke type of monitoring and replacement because a fire extinguisher is meant to save your life. It is recommended to change them every 12 years, and recharge them halfway through their life. Keep an eye on the pressure, making sure it isn’t losing strength as it sits unused, which is how you want fire extinguishers to exist. Never used. Replacing items that can go bad, or have expired, is an act of cleaning, tidying things up, keeping your home in optimal operating condition. And when it comes to cleaning, you can get excellent advice from your favorite cleaning company. After all, it pays to call a pro! Does Carpet Cleaning Kill Fleas?
With spring weather comes all types of pests, from those emerging from hibernation to those who thrive in warm weather. And some of them end up where they don’t belong: In your home. One pest that tends to really stick around when it invades your home is the flea. The world has some 2,000 types of fleas, and they are found virtually everywhere. And when you spot one, you might notice how fast they are. They are said to have an acceleration rate some 50 times faster than a rocket. They seem to fly, but they are really jumping, and more than a foot in distance at times. Fleas live by consuming blood, as their main meal. If you have a dog or cat, which is a flea’s best friend and food source, and your pets go outside, odds are you will face a flea in your home from time to time. And even if you have no pets, they can attach to you when you venture outside and come back in. The big question is, how do you get rid of fleas? Many feel that laundering items and deep cleaning the home will do the trick. And since your pets lay on the carpet, a good carpet cleaning should kill fleas. That’s not entirely true. Fleas are tough. If you try to submerge one in water and let it go, it will pop out and survive. If you clean a surface, normal soap and water won’t kill them, either. While steam cleaning a carpet may kill some fleas, there is no guarantee that the entire flea infestation will be handled. You must remember that, depending on the state, province, or area you live in, killing fleas falls under the pesticide umbrella. A licensed pest control expert is the best qualified professional to handle a flea infestation issue. That doesn’t mean there isn’t value in having your carpet cleaned, especially by a professional. A thorough, professional deep cleaning of your carpet will physically remove many contaminants, from soils to bacteria and even fleas and their larvae. The hot water, detergent, and physical action of cleaning flushes them out. What you have remaining is a nice, fresh, clean carpet. And don’t forget to launder other items that may have fleas. It's especially important to have your home cleaned after the pest control expert has done his work. Do the right thing. Call your favorite cleaning company with any questions. After all, it pays to call a pro! Dust Control Made Easy
The amount of dust that builds up in a home varies greatly from one house to the next. Even the most fastidious of homeowners will have dust somewhere in the house. Dust itself is complicated because it can come from many different sources. It can be skin cells, pet dander, fibers, soot from your furnace, pollen, even particles known to be carcinogens depending on the air quality where you live. Think about this: Every time you cook something, you put particles in the air, and it has to land somewhere. Dust. You can’t avoid it. But you can remove it. Here are a few tips to create a dust-free home (well, almost dust-free). Top to bottom Most of the time, the best, efficient method to clean is from the top down. It’s how the pros do it and it is a good way to avoid having to clean surfaces twice. Let gravity be your friend. Using quality cloths also traps dust and particles so that will help in the cleaning process as well. Reaching really high surfaces, such as on the top of cabinets or the top of ceiling fan blades, requires special extension tools. You can always grab a ladder, but think safety first. Using a tool to reach high areas is safer and works great. Stuff you need Besides extension tools and quality cloths, using microfiber cloths work well for most because the cloth itself grabs soil and dust and holds onto it. The construction of microfiber cloths positively charges them, which attracts the negatively charged dust. Think magnets. It works! Plus, you can wash microfiber cloths and use them over and over again. Some prefer natural materials, such as lambswool dusters or cotton cloths. That’s fine, they all work, it just depends on what you want to use. Compressed air may be necessary to reach into crevices where a cloth or tool just won’t work. A good vacuum is another tool that helps. With special attachments, vacuuming surfaces picks up dust and collects it all in the vacuum bag. Keep it dust-free When you are done, you can also rub a dryer sheet onto surfaces to keep dust from sticking. Many do this with their baseboards, which are very susceptible to dust since they are close to the ground. And don’t forget, when you need cleaning done right, do the right thing. Call your favorite cleaning company. After all, it pays to call a pro! Toilet Brush Choices
While toilet brushes are rarely a hot topic at meetings, parties, or social events, they are extremely important in every home, building, and facility. Without toilet brushes, especially of high quality, the situation in the restroom can get downright messy — really fast. Cleaning the restroom is not a chore many people look forward to, but it is a necessary task. Cleaning the toilet or commode is something you need to do regularly, because if you skip it, even in the short term, the “buildup” will be something you will soon regret. Even with the very best toilet cleaning products or chemicals, applying them does help with cleaning… but without a way to scrub the inside of the toilet, your success will be limited. A quick internet search will reveal that you have many options when it comes to toilet brushes. You have long handled brushes; short-handled brushes; plastic; metal; wood; stainless steel; anti-slip grip; extended reach; and many more. And that’s just the handles. For brushes, you can choose from silicone; natural; yarn (which can be natural or synthetic); even disposable. The material used for scrub brushes is extensive. The main thing is to choose one that works for you. Consider how often you will use them, in how many restrooms, the type of chemical for cleaning. Obviously, the more caustic the cleaning chemical, the more damage to natural materials. Don’t skip the brush holder, either. It needs to completely encase the brush but also be able to breathe, so it can dry out. It needs to be stable, secure, so it doesn’t fall over. Keeping the entire toilet brush/holder ensemble clean and disinfected is the way to keep everyone healthy. Online reviews are a great way to find what’s best for your home. When you find the very best combination of toilet brush and holder, nothing lasts forever. A good rule of thumb is to change it all out every six months. A synthetic combination will last longer than a natural material combination, as synthetic material isn’t as absorbent, but all materials should be occasionally replaced. Bacteria can build up in the tiniest of crevices and even the most diligent homeowner can miss potentially harmful contaminants. Of course, when it comes to anything related to cleaning, it’s always best to consult with your favorite cleaning company, and use them for the toughest challenges, such as your carpet and furniture cleaning chores. After all, it pays to call a pro! How to Remove Ink Stains from Clothes
Has this, or something similar, ever happened to you? You put on a nice, fresh shirt and head out the door. When you arrive at your destination and are chatting with friends or colleagues, someone points at your shirt and asks, “What’s that?” You look down, and a small blue or black spot is starting to grow. That’s right, the ink pen in your pocket is leaking. Or perhaps your nice, fresh shirt or other item of clothing has a small spot on it, and you learn it was from simply touching an ink pen to your shirt and the ink transferred to it. It’s small, but everyone sees it. An embarrassing moment, one you wish you could have avoided. This type of stain doesn’t just wipe off. It takes a lot of effort to remove an ink stain, and if you don’t do it right, you will just make the situation worse. Ink spreads and migrates out, creating a bigger stain as you work on it. While not an easy task, here are some tips to make ink stain removal a little easier for you. But remember, this isn’t typical cleaning, it’s aggressive, so there is always the chance of damaging the fabric. Hair spray: Using an aerosol version, alcohol-based, apply liberally to the stain. Work it in and dab at it with a white paper towel. Hair spray sometimes works because the alcohol disperses some inks. Wash immediately. Acetone: The ingredient in traditional nail polish removers, acetone is a very dry solvent that will work on ink. When you saturate the ink stain, it will dissolve and migrate so be ready for that, working your way from the outside in, to limit spreading. In addition to acetone, other liquid dry solvents, such as rubbing alcohol, can be used. After application, wash immediately. Detergent treatment: Use a product meant to pre-treat laundry and apply to the ink stain liberally, work it in, from the outside in to limit spreading, and then wash immediately. No matter the type of treatment you use, washing the garment will help remove more of the ink. Be sure to wash separately, and do not dry the garment until you are satisfied with the ink removal results. When you dry an item of clothing, attempting to remove more of the stain is often futile. And remember that true fabric cleaning experts know how to remove ink stains. When you have a challenging cleaning situation, do the right thing. Call your favorite cleaning company. After all, it pays to call a pro! Cleaning Up the Medicine Cabinet
Although springtime is generally the accepted time of the year to clean out the medicine cabinet, it is something you should do on a more regular basis. Medications, drugs, and other items can expire between annual cleanings, and it’s important to keep on top of what makes you healthy and happy. If you take a peek inside your medicine cabinet, you will find all types of items, some of it medicine, some of it not. Look at all expiration dates, from prescription drugs to over-the-counter products, toothpaste, sprays, and more. Here are a few quick tips to consider as you start rummaging around in your medicine cabinet (or wherever you tend to store your products): Date check: Look at the expiration of everything in the cabinet. Although it is generally accepted that the expiration date is usually before items become obsolete, it’s safer to go by the date. Discard any items beyond the expiration date. Quality: Look at how your items are stored. If not in airtight containers, the quality may have taken a hit. Look at the color, check the consistency… is it the same as when you purchased these items brand new? If not, it’s time to replace them. Unmarked goods: Some people like to put things in baggies and other containers that aren’t marked. If you aren’t 100% sure of what’s in that baggie, discard it. Be safe. Discarding items: Just throwing drugs, pills, and other items into the toilet is a bad habit. Flushing it away might damage the environment. Instead, properly dispose of any items that you are replacing in the trash, preferably in a sealed bag in case the trash spills or moisture gets into what you are discarding. That can cause an unwanted reaction (rare) or create an odor (more common) that you might find distasteful. The big picture: Although items that are beyond their expiration date may not harm you if you use them, they may not help you, either. The effectiveness of the item diminishes over time, and if you consume products that aren’t helping you, you are wasting your time. And when it comes to cleaning anything in your home, it’s always a good idea to consult a cleaning expert. Call your favorite cleaning company today with any questions you have. After all, it pays to call a pro! How to Fix the Mess in the Microwave
There is no greater compliment to your cleaning skills than someone commenting that your microwave oven is the cleanest they have ever seen. You’ve never heard someone say that about the microwave in your kitchen? Then let’s get to work! Microwaves are known to be messy. After all, they are designed to warm up food, and usually, that involves spills, spatters, and for some food items, explosions. Who hasn’t put something in the microwave to heat it up only to hear that dreaded POP as it expanded and flung remnants all over the inside of the oven? Some of you may be diligent with covering up food you are warming, but most of us… just hope for the best. And when that fails us, here are a few practical tips to a perfectly clean microwave oven. Start smart The first step to cleaning a dirty microwave oven is to wipe up as much excess food particles you can. Spraying them just means a smeary mess. Use a dish cloth or paper towels to remove food particles, paying special attention to the inside of the door and corners, where particles can build up over time. Steam it up Nothing works better than a little preparation. Take an uncovered bowl of water and put it in the microwave and cook it for two or three minutes. The steam and heat of the water will help loosen the grease and remaining food particles for easier removal. This head start is a very smart way to clean your microwave oven. Wipe it all down It’s best not to spray the interior with just any cleaning solution. What you smell might end up in your food. Residues and odors can affect the next dish you prepare. Instead, use a cloth, hot water, and dish detergent as your cleaning arsenal. With the dampened cloth, wipe away greasy residues and food particles, repeating often until you have a squeaky-clean surface. You can also put the dampened cloth on really stubborn areas and allow the detergent to work a few minutes and then wipe it away. When you are done, dry it all with fresh towels and inspect, recleaning any areas of concern. Of course, to really get something clean in your home, do the right thing. Call your favorite cleaning company. After all, it pays to call a pro! |
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