Roof cleaning is not something to do regularly; considering the risks associated and the city’s hustle and bustle. Chances are there are countless things you are supposed or would rather do. However, you can’t wholly ignore the fact that there’s a roof on your home that obviously gets dirty over time. And unless you clean it, the dirt is going nowhere. As a result of dirt and paint pilled off, your whole house will look dingy. Who wants to own a house that neighbors and passers-by take a double take for the wrong reasons? By now, you ought to know that you never get a second chance to make a first impression.
But if you are not doing it for the looks, think about the expenses involved in repairing your roof. Mostly, natural rainfall is enough to wash off the appearance of dirt. But there’s a catch; your rooftop makes a perfect environment for the growth of algae, fungus, and moss. Now those are trickier to get rid off by rain. Additionally, letting your roof get overridden by moss and algae goes much deeper than appearance.
They actually damage your roof by eating up and rooting your shingles and wood; shortening its life. Also, when your roof is covered up with mold, it is unable to reflect the sun’s ray off of it. Therefore, your home reflects more heat than it should. So cleaning your roof is more economical than having it repaired. With that, if you are planning to clean your roof, it’s only reasonable to know your way around it. To increase your curb appeal and home value, here are some dos and don’ts to consider while you are at it.
Take proper precaution
Do: Since roof washing is not in your top 10 things to do on a Sunday afternoon, it’s only fair to take the necessary precautions. Most people think washing the roof is simple. What can it take? Just taking soap and throwing it up there, and then rinse it with water. If you have the same mentality, don’t even think of washing it. There are precautions you should take to ensure you are safe while cleaning. Consequently, you will need more than a ladder to get it done. If you can do the job on top of the roof while maintaining three points of contact, then do it—it can be quite a sight.
Don’t: if you notice it is too risky for you, at no point should you take the chance. The fall might not claim your life but there can be dire consequences. You safety takes preeminence. Majorly, know what you are doing or get someone who does.
Check the roof
Do: check your roof first for any damage before you start the cleaning process. If you have a helper it would be great. An extra set of eyes cut the work by half. If the shingles are damaged or there is leakage, consult a professional to prevent further damage.
Don’t: do not ignore repairing any damage on your roof. Importantly, don’t even begin washing if there’s one. A single, small damage is cheaper to repair than when it’s bigger.
High volume, low pressure
Do: As much as you want to have a clean roof, you don’t want to damage it. Soft cleaning is very essential. As mentioned earlier, rain does a good job of cleaning your roof. Nevertheless, if you don’t do maintenance, you might have stains to deal with too. The unattractive, dark stains on your roof are caused by algae. As a result, you might be tempted to wrongly scrub it away. Or you might blissfully use a pressure washer. It gets the work done but problem is, it doesn’t know the difference between the algae and loose shingles. It can tear, uplift, or dislodge your shingles. With that said, now the job looks overwhelming but it doesn’t have to be. You can get suppliers that will do the work for you really. And all you’ll have to do is use high volume water with low pressure.
Don’t: never use a pressure washer on your shingles. When damaged, they are expensive to repair.
Assess the surrounding area
Do: It is important to assess the surrounding area of your roof. It sounds like a no-brainer but you’ll be surprised by how many people ignore to do this. It’s vital for endless reasons. With houses so close to each other, the dirty water can find its way into your neighbor’s compound. Worse still, if you are using products that are harmful to plants, you will destroy them. Assessing the area also helps you get round cleaning easier because you’ll have an idea of where you’ll start and end. Meanwhile, be sure to cut off any extra limb tree from your roof for easy cleaning. You will also be able to take notice of potential dangerous area in your site. For instance power lines and unsafe roof access areas.
Don’t: never ignore your landscape and the surrounding areas to prevent accidents and damage.
When to clean
Do: No doubt it’s not every day you wake up thinking of cleaning your roof. In fact, if it was just for aesthetic purposes, most would have just left it to be the mess it’s supposed to be. Unlike vacuuming your house, roof cleaning is more efficient under certain conditions. Try to clean your roof on a calm cloudy day. When there is no threat of rain and no wind is blowing.
Don’t: Avoid working in extremely cold or hot weather. Extreme weather conditions might damage the shingles or prevent them from sealing properly. When you work on a sunny day, when using bleach, it is quickly evaporated. This will, therefore, limit its cleaning effect.
Prevent growth
Do: When it comes to your roof, you should embrace the cliché, prevention is better than cure. Use the necessary chemicals to keep algae at bay. Also, trim the tree branches overlying on your roof, and keep your gutter clean to allow proper drainage.
Don’t: avoid letting dirt accumulate and cause damage for you to take control.
Be sure to take the necessary precautions while you are at it. If you are unsure about something concerning your roof, you can consult with a professional.
It is a no-brainer that germs at home are bad news. They are small living organisms that cause diseases in your body. Majorly, they include bacteria, virus, fungi, and protozoa. They are found in all kinds of places and can easily spread from one person to another if hygiene is not observed. Unfortunately, since they are invisible to bare eyes, most people wholly ignore they exist. Well, you might have gotten away with that severally but if it’s the flu season, you have to disinfect your home. Unless you are a fan of washing handkerchiefs, you’d be grateful you read this.
However, before you even think of disinfecting your home, it is important to take precautions. I don’t mean you live your life so tight up but simply develop good habits. Consider the small things, sometimes it’s all that matters. For instance, you should wash your hands regularly. By doing just that, solves your problem by half. It helps prevent the spread of germs to your home from various places. This is a habit you’d want to also instill in your kids since they find everything else to eat but their food. Otherwise, regular disinfecting your home will be a big step in ensuring you and your family live healthy lives.
While plain water and soap do a great job of cleaning your home, there are situations that they won’t do the trick. There are sensitive areas such as kitchen, bathroom and other high traffic areas that need to be disinfected regularly. Viruses such as flu can breed very well in bathrooms because of the warm steamy atmosphere that germs love. Therefore, be sure to stock up on the right supplies to get the job well done. And you can also go green by using natural means of disinfecting. Here are some ways you can use to disinfect your home.
Washing
You can start sterilizing your home by washing house linens such as towels, and clothes that can harbor germs. Taking much care of tablecloth and towels. If you are going to wipe down your surface using a dirty tablecloth, it beats the whole purpose of doing it. It is important you wash your household linen properly with the disinfectant that’s working for you. Additionally, something that helps kill germs is the use of hot water. While you are washing, try to set the highest temperature that the cloth instruction allows. For those that are soiled, you can soak and bleach them before putting them in the washer.
Soaking
Soaking both your surfaces and clothes will cut down the time needed for a complete job. Soaking is done mostly on stained surfaces. Although for a much easier time, it is better for you to deal with stains as soon as they happen. It is another way of reducing the number of germs you will have to deal within your home. Furthermore, it is much effective to disinfect a surface that’s already clear.
Water, Soap and Detergent
After your surface or linen is stainless, you can now clean it wholly. Plain water and soap do a good job of cleaning. Although to maximize cleaning and minimize time spent on the task, a detergent will come in handy. The detergent helps to break down any organic matter and make cleaning simpler. Most detergent products really work and are worth the investment. Since they not only make work easy but also maximize the cleaning process by breaking down slime, which can harbor germs.
Antibacterial Spray
Since you are sanitizing, what better man for the job than an antibacterial spray. You should, however, know that disinfecting should only be done on a clean surface. Otherwise, your work will be in vain. Therefore, for the antibacterial spray to be effective, ensure you have cleaned the surface. The best feature about the spray—apart from the fact that it can kill germs; it’s effective to use on hard to reach areas or irregular shapes. Before using it though, ensure you read the instructions for antibacterial sprays range from each other. For instance, some will require to air dry while other will need a wipe to remove excess residue. Yet with all of them, you should rinse after spraying.
Disinfectant Wipes
Disinfectant wipes are as effective as an antibacterial spray. However, they are not so practical to use in certain areas, such as wiping the toilet flush. They are best used to wipe large, flat and easy to reach places like your kitchen counter. But of course, feel free to use wherever you want. You use by simply treating it as you would a sponge. Try to always have a pack in your kitchen so that you may disinfect after every meal preparation.
Natural Disinfectants
For some reason, you might lack commercial disinfectant but there’s no reason to panic. There are numerous household ingredients that can suffice as a disinfectant. And anyway, disinfectants are so many in the market all claiming to be the best; you can do with the reduced pressure. Here are some of them.
Vinegar
Vinegar is the one thing that should not lack in your home; in fact, lacking it should be made illegal. It comes through in many ways to solve cleaning emergencies at home. Its household uses are endless, plus it works miracles as a disinfectant. Furthermore, it’s affordable, biodegradable, and non-toxic and has been used as a disinfectant for years.
Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen peroxide is used to for many applications and among them is disinfecting. Unlike vinegar, hydrogen peroxide doesn’t have a strong scent. It is a colorless and odorless liquid that has bleaching properties. Plus it’s non-toxic and, can be used to disinfect literally anything; from your toothbrush, wounds or kitchen counter. However, you need to store the bottle in a dark place because it becomes unstable in contact with light.
Tea Tree Essential Oil
It is mostly used for cosmetic and skincare purposes and still makes a great household cleanser. This is because it is naturally antiseptic, antibacterial, and antifungal. Both natural and manufactured products get the job done. Settle for the one you are most comfortable with and be proud of your healthy home.
The things we consider the hardest are most likely to be done in a simpler way and actually work. Some of us view the kitchen as a room for the experts only and shy away. The very complex things you see being done in the cooking channels are as easy as a walk in the park if you try some of these simple kitchen hacks. They are suitable for saving time and money. You can call them shortcuts that really go a long way.
1. Keep Your Tomatoes Fresh
The most nagging problem in the kitchen is finding your tomatoes rotten after some time. We buy enough tomatoes to last us through the week but before it ends, you start seeing rotten sports on them. Keeping them in the fridge is not the solution because eventually, they will still go bad after some days. What you should do is, when buying tomatoes, be sure to mix both raw and ripe tomatoes. Buy some lemons as well and put them together in one basket. Be sure to place a lemon in the middle of four tomatoes. The lemon slows down the ripening process making the tomatoes stay fresh for longer.
2. How to Store Your Coriander
Putting coriander stem in water won’t keep them fresh. They wither after some time and turn yellow. The best way to ensure that they stay fresh for up to 10 days is very simple. Buy your coriander and cut off the roots. Do not cut up to the stem. Wash them thoroughly and put them in a container. Seal the container tightly to make sure no air goes inside. Store them in the fridge and only open it when you need to take some out and use it. Close the container and return to the fridge for use on another day. Your coriander will stay fresh up to two weeks or more. Remember, store in the fridge and not the freezer.
3. Slice Your Onions Without Tearing Up
Every time you slice an onion, you always find yourself ‘crying’. The smell of the onions irritates our eyes which causes us to tear up. A helmet could work yes, but having to go to the store and buy a helmet yet you don’t own a bike could seem awkward to yourself. It is also expensive to incur unnecessary costs. To avoid all this, peel your onions and soak them in salty water twenty minutes before you cook and that will do the trick.
4. Need to Store Peeled Potatoes?
For instance, you go to prepare dinner, you have already peeled your potatoes ready to be cooked then, a friend pops in with the takeaway food. That situation is tempting and you suddenly feel like you don’t want to cook anymore. What will happen to your potatoes? If you leave them like that, they will turn black by morning and you don’t want to boil them. Just wash them well and put in a bowl with water then place small slices of bread on the water. Bread floats on water while the potatoes are underneath the water. By the next day morning, the potatoes will still be very fresh, as the bread will have sacked up the gas that causes them to darken.
5. Do Not Throw Out Your Jars
Most if not all stores, sell empty jars for us to buy and store spices, sugar, salt and other things in them. To avoid these costs, just improvise on what you already have. The empty Nutella and honey jars can come in handy. Simply remove their labels and put nametags of what you want to keep in them. This is a good form of cost-saving.
6. Peel Tomatoes With Less Hustle
Sorting tomatoes peels on the side of your plate as you are having dinner is a lot of work. You could even lose appetite while at it. You don’t have to keep doing that. If you don’t prefer blending your tomatoes, you could opt for this very simple hack. Soak your tomatoes in hot water for thirty minutes. This will soften their skin making it easy to peel with your hands. Peeling with a knife is not a good idea as you might deeply cut out some part of the tomato, leaving you with a very small tomato.
7. Replace Plastic Bags With Containers
Storing food leftovers in plastic bags and placing them on the shelves look a bit messy. The entire kitchen tends to look clustered just because of that shelve. The best way to avoid this is to get rid of plastic bags and opt for containers. Foodstuff like beans and peas can be put in cereal containers instead. If you need to have plastic bags around, get a drawer for them.
8. Do Not Throw Out Leftover Bread
For the lovers of bread, you do not have to throw the one remaining piece every day. Dry the bread and put it in a jar in form of crumbs. After a few times of drying your leftover bread, your jar will be full and you can use the crumbs to fry chicken or make meatballs. You will have saved the cash that you could have used to buy breadcrumbs from the store.
9. Preserving Your Tomato Paste
Whether in the fridge or not, tomato paste seems to go bad soon as you have unsealed the can. You end up throwing away a merely used can of paste. To prevent this, simply pour some little olive oil on the paste. The oil prevents bacteria from forming on the paste keeping it fresh for longer. You could use cooking oil too in case you are out of olive oil.
The Bottom Line
These simple hacks are a lifesaver for almost every situation. Some of the hacks are basic science that we learned in our early school days. Do not attempt any hack that you are not sure of to prevent loss or damage to your stuff.
Sometimes a drain gives warning signs that it’s about to clog. For example, you notice water pooling around your feet when you take a shower or the sink takes longer to drain when you wash dishes. Depending on what is stuck in your drain, you could also smell unpleasant odors. While dealing with a clogged drain is not always pleasant, the good news is that you may be able to unclog it yourself.
Common Mistakes Homeowners Make When Trying to Unclog a Drain
If you see hair in the shower or food particles that didn’t go down the garbage disposal in the kitchen sink, you may remove it by hand and think that is the end of your clogged drain problem. Unfortunately, that is rarely the case. A product such as Liquid Plumber or plunging the clogged drain manually may also fail to produce results.
Home Remedies You Can Try
You will need to do something quickly or risk having a pipe burst. One of these do-it-yourself strategies may work for you:
Pour a mixture of baking soda and vinegar into the drain. The mix should contain one-third of a cup of each ingredient that you pour into a measuring cup. You will know the two ingredients are mixing together as they should when they start fizzing inside of the cup. Be sure to pour the mixture down the drain immediately to avoid it overflowing and making a mess. After the baking soda and vinegar has sat for an hour, pour a cup of hot water down the drain.
Use a wet and dry vacuum cleaner. If you are fortunate enough to own a shop vac with wet and dry settings, it might help you clear your clogged drain. You will first need to adjust the setting to vacuum liquids. Next, cover the vent and create a tight seal over your drain. A head from an old plunger will work well for this purpose. You should now turn the vacuum cleaner to its highest setting for liquids to see if it can get the job done. Although there is no guarantee that it will work, it is always worth a shot.
Use a bent wire hanger. This is an old trick, but it can still be an effective one. Find an old wire hanger and bend one end of it into a small hook. Holding the hanger from the large end, insert the hook into the drain by pushing it down as far as you can. The goal is to pull out as much junk as you can without pushing it further down the drain. Once you have as much as you think you can retrieve, run hot water over the drain.
Use a drain snake. A drain snake is a simple piece of equipment that you can buy at any hardware store. Once you have it home, place it down the drain to attempt to loosen whatever is causing the clog in the first place. You will first need to remove the bottom of your drain and place a bucket underneath it to catch anything that the drain snake loosens.
Use sodium hydroxide. Also known as caustic soda, this chemical is available at any hardware store. However, you need to use extreme caution if you choose to work with it since it can cause chemical burns if you don’t protect yourself with gloves. Start the process by pouring three-quarters of a gallon of cold water into a large bucket and then add three cups of the sodium hydroxide. Use a large wooden spoon to mix the ingredient with the water. It should start fizzing and getting warmer right away. You should now pour the entire bucket of water and sodium hydroxide into the clogged drain and wait approximately 30 minutes. The last step is to use a bucket full of boiling water to flush the drain.
Avoid Clogged Drains With Regular Maid Service
A clogged drain can be a nuisance besides taking time and money to fix. The good news is that you can prevent them entirely by arranging for regular Chicago housecleaning services from Companion Maids. We can clean your drains during each visit or on a schedule that you determine. Companion Maids offers customers the option of a one-time service or having maids clean your home weekly, every other week, or every four weeks.
Why You Should Choose Companion Maids for Your Housecleaning Needs
Trust and superior service are two of the top things that a cleaning service can provide to its customers. We are happy to let you know that our customers consistently give us high rankings in these and several other areas. Our company has received a Superior Service Award from Angie’s List, a watchdog organization for consumer rights that provides information and reviews on thousands of companies nationwide. This award is so prestigious that only the top five percent of businesses in all categories are eligible to receive it.
Are you ready to put messes and clogged drains behind you? Book with Companion Maids today.
Whether you get blood stains on clothes, furniture, carpets, or another area of your home, it can be distressing to see a continual reminder of an accident. Depending on the amount of blood and how long it had to soak in, you may be able to remove it with one or more of the tips that we outline below.
Removing Blood Stains From Clothes
The first thing to do when blood has splattered onto clothes is to remove them and soak them in cold water. Next, you can pre-treat the garment by placing liquid detergent into the cold water and allowing it to sit for up to five minutes. You may need to push down on the item of clothing with one hand to ensure that it remains fully under water.
You are ready at this point to wash the blood-stained clothing with other clothing items or sheets and towels. The other items you wash with the pre-treated clothing should be as close to its color as possible. There is no need to rinse the water or detergent off the piece of clothing with the blood stain before you put it in the wash machine with the rest of the items.
Run a load of clothes through the wash machine as you normally would but make sure the dial is set to cold water. Unfortunately, using warm or hot water will cause the stain to set into the clothing rather than remove it. If the bloodstain does not come out completely when the load has gone through a drying cycle, you can try to repeat the same process. You may need to hire a maid service if you do not want to do this yourself.
Removing Blood Stains From Furniture
If your child had a nose bleed while sitting on the sofa or your cat got a claw stuck and left a little blood behind, you might think the stains are impossible to remove. While some will be difficult to get rid of entirely, others will come up with the right combination of elbow grease and cleaning product. Keep in mind that blood is always easier to clean up when it is fresh and has not yet had the opportunity to dry and harden on the surface of your furniture.
Many home goods, discount, and online stores sell cleaning products designed only for removing blood stains. These products work by making the properties of the stain water-soluble so you can simply wipe it up. At Companion Maids, we encourage you to research several blood removal cleaning products and to read the reviews about each product. With so many options available, it really becomes a matter of preference as to which one you will buy. You can even use a magic eraser.
You also have the option of trying to remove the blood stain without special cleaning products. Here are some tips that can help:
Pour hydrogen peroxide on the blood stain. This is a common trick in the medical and veterinary fields.
Spray window cleaner on the blood stain before you attempt to wash the fabric. You will need a cloth to rub the window cleaner gently into the stain.
If the fabrics of your furniture are washable, try pouring salt water on the blood-stained area.
For removable pieces of furniture such as couch cushions, place several inches of water in the bathtub and then add a denture cleaning tablet. The blood-stained item can remain in the bucket for up to one hour before you remove it and wash it by hand.
Try rubbing lava soap on the stain and then return in three hours to see if the stain is gone.
Tips For Removing Blood Stains From Carpets
The first step in getting blood out of carpet is to saturate the area with cold water. After allowing the cold water to sit for several minutes, try to blot out the stain with a clean rag. Be sure not to use a wiping motion since this will spread the stain rather than remove it. A wet/dry vacuum cleaner can also work on a blood stain that has not set in yet. As an alternative to water, you can try using a tablespoon of ammonia and the same blotting process.
You may need to buy a carpet cleaner if neither of the above methods is effective at removing a blood stain. Be sure to follow the instructions on the back of the can, which will likely call for you to sprinkle some cleaning product onto your carpet, allow it to sit for a specified time, and vacuum the area.
Hiring A Maid Service
What each of the above tips have in common is that they may or may not be effective while still costing you time and money. It could be a better use of both resources to contact Companion Maids for a one-time cleaning session. We use strong, professional-grade cleaning supplies that you probably don’t have access to as a consumer. We have also made a significant investment in heavy-duty cleaning equipment such as wet/dry vacuum cleaners.
The likelihood of getting a blood stain out of your furniture or carpet is much higher when you work with us. Companion Maids also offers laundry services as an add-on to regular cleaning sessions. Whether you have concerns about set-in stains or not, the best way to prevent your home from becoming dirty and cluttered is to arrange for regular maid service. For your convenience, we offer cleaning packages every seven, 14, or 28 days.
We welcome you to call our office in Chicago at 773-346-6714 to learn more about how we can clean your home and reduce the stress in your life. You can also request services by completing this form.
First patented in 2004, the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, a melamine foam sponge—which was billed as one of Time Magazine’s “Coolest Inventions” of that year—has since been busy removing dirt, grime, and sticky stains from everything from shoes to stovetops.
Learn more about how this unique sponge works, the many ways in which you can utilize its cleaning powers, and a few things you should never use a Magic Eraser to clean.
How Does A Magic Eraser Work, Anyway?
Although a Magic Eraser looks like an ordinary sponge in many ways, this unique cleaning tool is actually made from melamine foam. Melamine resin is a versatile plastic that is created by mixing melamine with formaldehyde; when this resin is used to create foam, the final product is an ultra-fine abrasive that’s similar to sandpaper. Adding the power of water retention to this microscopically gritty sponge gives it a cleaning power that is truly magical.
Ten Ways To Use Your Magic Eraser
In addition to the seemingly obvious uses for a Magic Eraser (like scrubbing soap scum out of showers and sinks, cleaning scuff marks from walls, and wiping burned-on spills from an induction cooktop) there are dozens of other situations in which a Magic Eraser is truly a secret weapon.
1. Erase Crayon or Marker From Your Walls
If you have children (or have hosted children) who tend to view your bare walls as a canvas, don’t fear cleanup—the Magic Eraser can handle both waxy crayons and penetrating markers, even permanent markers.
2. Remove Rusty Residue from Porcelain
For households with hard or iron-heavy water, rust stains on porcelain can be tough to get rid of. But a Magic Eraser makes short work of these stubborn red and brown streaks, easily restoring your bath, shower, or tub to like-new condition.
3. Refresh Grout and Caulk
If your tile is looking dingy, a good scrubbing with a Magic Eraser may be enough to bring back that bright white grout. And if you’ve caulked around the edge of your sink, shower, or tub, this eraser can remove stains and grime that could potentially degrade the caulk seal over time.
4. Protect Walls from Artwork
By cutting a tiny slice from a Magic Eraser and using it as a “bumper” behind shelves or mounted artwork, you’ll avoid scratches and scuff marks on your walls. Just attach the Magic Eraser to your frame with a tiny bit of superglue (which you can later use a Magic Eraser to remove!)
5. Eliminate Sticky Residue From Just About Anything
Whether you have hairspray build-up on your curling or straightening iron, the sticky remnants of a label on a glass jar, or another type of hard-to-remove stickiness, a Magic Eraser can break down these gluey bonds quickly.
6. Detail Your Car
Whether you’ve got a dusty dashboard, a smeared windshield, or sticky leather seats, a Magic Eraser can give your car that brand-new appearance again (albeit without the new-car smell).
7. Remove Stains From Fabric
If you’re dealing with a stubborn stain that even pricey laundry detergent won’t remove, try using a Magic Eraser. Often, this abrasive surface can be just the trick for stains that seem impervious to other cleaning agents. It can even remove blood stains in some cases.
8. Shine Your Car’s Headlights
Over time and with exposure to salt, hard water, and road dust, your vehicle’s headlights can become dingy and dull. A few quick swipes with a Magic Eraser may be all that’s needed to restore your headlights to new.
9. Try Your Toilet Tank
One fun experiment involves placing a Magic Eraser in your toilet’s water tank. As the Magic Eraser remains waterlogged, it will slowly release its micro-abrasive particles as it dissolves, helping keep your toilet bowl clean and sparkling.
10. Shine Your Silver
Because silver is generally hard enough to resist scratching, it’s a great candidate for a good cleaning with a Magic Eraser. Remove tarnish, water spots, and other discolorations without using harmful chemicals or tarnish removers.
Five Things To Avoid Cleaning With a Magic Eraser
While a Magic Eraser can seem like a fairly innocuous cleaning tool, its micro-abrasive surface isn’t a good idea for certain materials. Here are just five of the things you should never use your Magic Eraser to clean.
Your Car
The abrasive surface of a Magic Eraser is almost certain to leave tiny scratches in your car’s paint job. Resist the urge to use a Magic Eraser to get your vehicle super-clean; instead, opt for cleaning tools that are specifically designed for vehicles.
Your Kitchen Counters (Usually)
Some countertop surfaces are quite delicate. Using a Magic Eraser on marble or granite countertops can scratch them; and while you may not notice this damage at first, over time, the use of abrasive cleaning products can lead to pitting, discoloration, and cracks.
Your Television or Computer Screen
You wouldn’t use sandpaper to clean your television, would you? Because a Magic Eraser’s micro-scrubbers rely on the same physical principles as fine-grained sandpaper, using one of these sponges to wipe down your television or computer screen could give you permanent wipe marks. (However, using the Magic Eraser to clean the keyboard is just fine.)
Fine China
Magic Erasers are so good at removing surface dust and grime, they’re a poor choice to use to clean fine china or other delicate dishes, as they may scratch the surface or remove patterns.
Anything You Haven’t Tested First
Unless you’ve used a Magic Eraser on a certain surface before (or know, beyond a doubt, that the surface is Magic-Eraser safe), it’s a good idea to do a small spot test in an inconspicuous area. This test will reveal whether the Magic Eraser might damage the surface and help you avoid causing a much larger mess than the one you’re trying to clean.
With these Magic Eraser tips, tricks, and cautions, you’re ready for just about any cleaning project that comes your way! But if you’re ready to take the next step toward improving your home environment, consider hiring an outside cleaning company like Companion Maids. Our flexible scheduling and experienced staffers can help you get your home into ship-shape on your schedule and at your convenience.
Cleaning as essential as it is, is not everyone’s cup of tea. We were born and found that people have to clean stuff. To most, I included, is just about “when you go to Rome, do what the Romans do”. Some even feel cleaning is overrated, but seriously though, a clean home is a happy home. It an activity that you can barely look up to, but in a big way very important. The reward is great, who doesn’t enjoy the peaceful vibe that comes out of a clean home? And while there’s not just one way of cleaning your home, there are smart cleaning ways of doing it. The bottom-line is to have a clean home, therefore, why not achieve the same result but now in half the time you used to.
Frankly, life gets in the way most times than we would prefer and cleaning your home seems to be the fair option to be kept aside (I mean, without your salary, you won’t have the house in the first place). Therefore if you are a victim of circumstances like most, you need all the help you can get. Lucky for you, we have some smart ways that will keep things tidy and neat in time. With a few simple changes to your daily routine, you can buy back several of those hours for whatever activity you want to do. Here are some smart cleaning ideas:
Simplify your closet; less laundry
When it comes to the closet, we know the drill. On our good days, we thoroughly organize our stuff only to go back to square one when looking for an outfit the next day. While there are several ways you can solve that problem, there’s one that is most effective. Simplify your closet. Get rid of all the clothes that don’t fit or are out of trend for you. Having less can reap huge rewards in not only having an organized closet but also less laundry to wash. Speaking of laundry, there are clothes that don’t need to be washed as frequently as we do. For instance, jeans should be washed only if it starts showing dirt (we are talking about washing it after about four times of wear). You bras don’t need to be washed after every wear too because they easily get out of shape.
Break up chores
If you are looking for cleaning short-cuts, chances are you don’t have the whole day to do cleaning or you don’t want to put a whole day’s effort. Therefore, instead of spending the whole day cleaning on weekends, break up the chores. Most of us wait until weekends to do our cleaning, in which we are most likely to talk ourselves out of because there will be too much to do. It is easy to distribute the work throughout the week, dealing with the basic ones like washing utensils daily.
Less is more in the kitchen
I can’t think of a room that can be a huge turn off when dirty from the kitchen. Essentially this is the heart of every home. It is a place where meals are prepared and very critical to our health. Therefore, it is important to maintain order in the kitchen by creating a place for everything. This will mean that you cut on some things because our kitchens are not as spacious as our stuff demands. Therefore, go through your utensils donating or keeping in the garage or store the things you don’t need. Also those that are in double. You will then, have an easier time keeping your counters free and clean.
Make use of dead time
This simply means maximizing your time. For instance, if you are leaving a room, you can grab something and put it in its right place. Or you can be setting the table as the food warms up. Or straightening up your throw pillows when the show goes for a break. This, though, should not be mixed up with multitasking. There’s a fine line between the two.
Have a junk drawer
A floor that has only furniture and less clutter is way easy to clean. That is why you need to have a place for everything. Yet there’s this hack that most people overlook. A junk drawer. This is a drawer that is used to keep things that are regularly used. And by regular, I mean nothing more than a week. These can be your keys, remote, pen or the novel you are recently reading. You can have a draw for that purpose in every room. You will have an easy time wiping surfaces due to less clutter.
Get your kids to help
You might roll your eyes at the thought of your kids doing the cleaning. We get it, all they seem to get well done is having stains on their clothes. But if you know your way around getting your kid to do a task, they can be very good at it. Allocate them responsibilities according to their capability. There’s so much they can help you do, for instance, feed the pet, water the garden, set the table or put away grocery. Mostly, to have it easy when cleaning, talk to them to ensure their toys are always contained in the right place. You will love that you did, kids are smart and they get it. Trust them and teach them smart cleaning ways to make it easier for them.
Clean the bathroom after bathing
By now you know it is best if you clean your kitchen after every use, same applies to the bathroom. It might sound inconvenient but gradually you will realize it is easier that way. You will rarely have to deal with stains and scum. Bathrooms can get really gross if you let them. Therefore, after you finish bathing, swiftly squeegee your bathroom. You will be grateful you didn’t leave the dirt to accumulate for a week.
Have area rugs in high traffic areas
You don’t want to be mopping or vacuuming every other day. You can solve this by having a no-shoe-indoor policy, or enjoy the comfort of your shoes but then invest in area rugs. You will simply take them out to hose or air them.
It goes without saying that clothes look their best when the colors are crisp and new. It is everyone’s wish to maintain their color. After a few tossing and drying of your brightly colored clothes, they tend to fade. While this is almost inevitable, you can surely prolong the youthful look of your garment. Especially if clothes grow on you and have favorites like me, which I will still wear even with the faded bright hue. But with time you painfully know you have to let them go unwillingly. That literally hurts, unless of course, you are going for that comfortably stained and faded look.
Then there are stains. If not well treated after they appear on your cloth, stains can be such a turn off on a brightly colored cloth. Wait till it sets and become permanent, then your fancy dinner dress becomes utterly useless. If possible you can recycle and use it as a nightgown (for those who can’t just let it go). If you thought you are the only one struggling with maintaining your whites white, then you are wrong. You have found your people. It has been a struggle for several of us until we learned of a few tips. Try them and see the transformation.
Keeping Whites White
The first step in maintaining your white clothes while washing is by sorting the dirty laundry. Put the whites together and start with that load. As you are loading the washer, do not overload it. This is to prevent the dirt from redepositing itself in another cloth. There should be enough space between clothes for whiter clothes. With white clothes, select a detergent that has optical brighteners. These brighteners fool the eye into seeing the cloth is whiter than it actually is. This is achieved by bending the UV light waves to showcase blue light and minimize the amount of yellow light our eyes perceive making the cloth look whiter.
I should have probably started by mentioning that you should adequately deal with stains. Before you load the washer, ensure that stains are taken care of. Otherwise, due to the pressure applied to the fabric while washing, they might set and be impossible to remove. After you have properly washed the garment, add one cup of distilled white vinegar to the rinse cycle. This is to ensure that all dulling detergent residue is removed. If ready for drying, line-dry them outside if possible. The ultraviolet rays from the sun will naturally whiten the fabric. If there’s hard water in your area, then you’d want to invest in water softeners and add to each load of laundry. If not, the minerals in the water will deposit in your cloth making it look yellow regardless of how well you’ve washed it.
Soak Brightly Colored Clothes in Salty Water
Soaking brightly colored clothes in salty water is actually a habit I learned from my mother. There are commercial products that you can use, yet salt is not only cheap and environmentally friendly but also gets the job well done. Your clothes will be brighter and prevent running to a degree too. Before soaking any cloth with another, ensure it is not colorfast to prevent stains. Fill the washer or basin with cold water, add half a cup of salt then add your cloth. In the morning, add detergent and other clothes if you wish then run the washer as you normally would.
Do Not Over Dry
While over-drying in the sun is good for your white colors, it goes bad with brightly colored ones. Whether you are line drying or using a dryer, don’t let it dry for long. The heat is harsh on dyes and cloth fibers. Makes the color fade quite fast. Or if you are cloth lining, do it under a shade.
Turn Inside Out
It is not rocket science that the more friction is applied on the surface of the fabric, the more faded it will be. Therefore, turning the cloth inside out, will help in keeping the damage on the inside where it is not seen. The same applies to when you are line drying, you need to turn the clothes.
Wash Only When Necessary
Sometimes we wash clothes more often than we should. For the sake of preserving your clothes’ fabric and color, washing when necessary is the easiest way. If you are careful not to get stains on your cloth, you can get several wears before you wash. Use a dry sponge to remove any deodorant streaks and dust collected throughout the day. Some clothes like jeans don’t need to be washed unless they start to show dirt. That can be four to five years.
Don’t Stuff The Washer
Just like when washing whites, do not stuff the washer. This is to prevent removed dirt from redepositing itself on another fabric.
Use Vinegar
White vinegar is heavenly sent. It can not only maintain the bright hue of your clothes but also restore luster to your clothes. After a proper wash, add half a cup of vinegar to every rinse cycle to rinse away detergent residue from the fabric that may cause yellowing. You can also soak new items in a solution of vinegar to prevent them from running. Additionally, one cup of household ammonia added to the rinsing water will help brighten clothes. But do not use ammonia if bleach has been in use.
Amount of Laundry Detergent
Use as little laundry detergent as possible. That which you only need, overdosing on the laundry detergent is not a guarantee for a cleaner cloth, in fact, it has the opposite effect. When the residue of the detergent stays on the fabric, it makes it turn yellow. If line drying, the suds tend to attract dirt.
Launder brightly colored clothes after every wear even if they look clean. This is because body oil and perspiration can easily stain then fabric. It is also essential for you to clean your washing machine regularly to prevent staining.
Chances are, anyone entering your home will request to use your bathroom. If there are urine stains on the toilet seat, dirty, wet and stained floor, cluttered counter and misty mirrors; then you receive guests. They’d think you are gross. And to be fair, they will be right. If they see that, it is not rocket science why they will decline to eat. Your bathroom, as insignificant as it may seem, it is a very important room that you can’t leave without. It is no place to take cleaning shortcuts and procrastination. It is not one of those rooms you will close the door and wait until you feel like cleaning to get the job done.
You just have to regularly clean the bathroom. If it is of any help, you are not alone in dreading the job. Moreover, it is in your best interest when the room is clean. It’s so worth it. For instance, it’s a good place to decompress if you had a long day or just want to disconnect from the world for a while. As a matter of fact, I can’t think of a matter way than to take a long shower. Very relaxing, plus a majority of people know better than to bother someone while they are in the bathroom.
We know that if your bathroom is in a bad state, it was never your intention for it to get that gross. We know the drill, you plan to wash your bathroom on the weekend then you end up ‘forgetting’ about it for weeks. That’s why we got you. After you have made the necessary steps to thoroughly clean your bathroom, here are some tips to ensure your bathroom is always ready for impromptu guests.
Clean the bathtub and walls
There are a good number of us who can’t just seem to clean the bathroom unless you hear guests are on their way. By then, it is not a simple task and you’ll be there beating yourself as to why you never keep it clean in the first place. If you are in that position, where you can’t clean before it is out of hand, then this habit will help you. After you have loathed yourself, use a sponge filled with detergent and vinegar and swiftly clean the bathtub. Then as you rinse yourself, you’ll also be rinsing the tub. If you are feeling too lazy to scrub, after showering you can spray your walls with a mixture of water and vinegar. Then whisk away the excess moisture with a squeegee.
Keep things put away
The first step in keeping a place clean is by removing clutter. This is especially true in the bathroom where space is small and an impressive amount of grime can collect. You will have such an easy time when cleaning the surface if it’s free of clutter. Plus your bathroom will instantly look cleaner. Strive to have almost empty surfaces in your bathroom. Neatly store items in the drawers and cupboards.
Keep cleaning tools close
How many times have we talked ourselves out of cleaning the bathroom just because the disinfectant is upstairs? Fight that by having designating their place close by. In the same voice, ensure you have all the arsenals you need to clean your bathroom. It goes without saying that you must own a brush and a disinfectant of your choice. Also have a basket of rolled washcloths on your counter, which you can easily retrieve when you want to wipe the surface.
Let it sit
For an easier time while cleaning your toilet, let the disinfectant sit for some time, you could be wiping the surface or brushing your teeth as you wait. After about five minutes, all you will have to do is swiftly scrub then rinse thoroughly. And your toilet is super clean without much effort on your part. A good way of also cleaning your tub is to let it heat up. Fill the bottom of the tub a couple of inches with the hottest water you can get from the tap. Let it sit for a while, this action will double up the effectiveness of the cleanser you are using. You can also throw some hot water on the walls and surface.
Clean before it gets gross
This can be as simple as wiping off soap on the counter before it hardens and becomes more irritating to clean. Now that your surface is clean and have the necessary tools at hand, make it a routine to daily spread some soda ash on the toilet and give it a quick scrub. When you do it more often, it will be so easy and fast.
Empty trash bin
It is a simple underrated task that goes a long way to ensuring you have a clean bathroom. After you are done showering, make it a habit of clearing your bin as you step out of the shower. Litter is an unpleasant site that can also mess with your nose by the foul smell wafting from it if you let it be long enough.
Spray and fan
A good fragrance is the easiest way of fooling someone that yours is a clean bathroom, especially with empty counters. Invest in commercial air fresheners or use an exhaust fan. Turn it on to keep the air in the bathroom fresh.
Clean glass, mirrors, and counters
Remember the rolled washcloths on your counter? Use those to quickly wipe down the mirrors and counters. You don’t need a cleanser at this point. Just dibble a little water on the cloth then wipe the surface. Same with the mirrors but if you want them shining, you can wipe them down with rubbing alcohol. Also, remember to wash your sink, and you can do it while brushing your teeth than drying the surface with the washcloth.
If you incorporate the tips listed above, it is possible to have a clean bathroom in less than five minutes daily.
For a person who hates ironing, jeans are God sent to me. I’m always on the quest to find the best pair, and no wonder it’s a never-ending job for me. I can’t seem to get enough of them –I’m what they call a total jeans addict. It’s probably because I not only love how relaxing they are but also the fact that you can manipulate them to match the occasion at hand. You know how you feel when you are in the right flattering pair of jeans, perfect, right? Most importantly, they come in different style, color, and design. Whichever your taste might be, you will be well taken care of. Jeans lovers can back me when I say, for a long time I’ve struggled maintaining my jeans.
They just seem to fade quicker than they should and I couldn’t place what I was doing wrong. Trust me, I’m a believer of buying quality, therefore cheap was out of reason (though to some people, this might be the reason. You get what you pay for. Nevertheless, you can still maintain them). Regardless, after I invested so much on a designer pair, only for it to fade so fast before I could even say ‘goodness’. I felt so betrayed (I don’t know by whom exactly…. I think the jeans) and I knew I had to do something before heartbreak. Unless you are down for the faded and stretched look, you will thank me for sharing what I’ve learned since then.
Keep them clean
It goes without saying; the cleaner the garment the better and newer it looks. Although when it comes to jeans, you don’t need to wash as frequently as other clothing. Spot washing will also help lengthen the period before the next wash. But personally, I think it’s harder for ladies to adhere to this tradition than guys. Remember the dreaded sag at the knee or bum after wearing your jeans without washing? Ladies know what I’m talking about. Washing your jeans helps them get their shape back as well as keep them looking fresh. I can’t seem to bring myself to wear my jeans more than twice if you are like me, you should take more care in the cleaning process. With just a little extra care, they will always look good even after that frequent wash. Here are some tips while washing.
Turn the jeans inside out prior to washing
Turn the jeans inside out to help reduce the detergent from wearing out its dye. Additionally, a lot of friction is involved while tossing and it will be much easier on the appearance of the jeans when washed inside out. This should become a standard habit because jeans washed inside out will maintain more of their color.
Use vinegar while washing
If you see that your jeans have started to fade with each wash, start dying. It will brighten or darken your jeans more. You can also opt to use vinegar, which will not add color to your cloth but will preserve the remaining one. You might also consider using vinegar as your detergent. While detergents are harsh in order to eliminate stains and may not be able to differentiate between a stain and dye, vinegar is milder while getting the same results.
Hugely avoid bleaching
While bleaching does very well with white clothes, it severely damages other colors. If you are using bleach on your white clothes, be good to change the water. Simple thing to do but hugely saves your jeans. You should not use any bleaching agent when washing your colored jeans. The worst thing about bleach stained clothes, Is the fact that they can’t be easily reversed. In fact, most victims I know just wholly count them as a loss.
This doesn’t mean you wholly give up on using any detergent. There are literally dozens of laundry detergents that are color-safe for your jeans. It might be overwhelming settling on one since each of them claims to be the best. Therefore, the best way to shop for the detergent you need is to understand what you need for your cloth. Choose the one that will preserve the color of your jeans or that which has an additive that prevents or reduces bleeding.
Wash with similar color
It sounds like a no-brainer but it is still worth mentioning. You should always clean jeans of similar color together. I learned this lesson the hard way. Since I had only a handful of clothes to wash, I thought why not throw them all in the washer, mark you, none was bleeding as far as I was concerned. You can imagine the shock I got when I saw the big navy blue patch on my peach silk blouse. I actually think it’s more painful to lose a cloth on a discoloring stain than on a tear. It’s because it feels so careless plus there’s nothing you can do about it and chances are, you’ll never get to wear the cloth again. Therefore, save yourself a headache by sorting out your laundry first.
Don’t use the dryer
While there are great benefits of using the dryer than line drying especially during winter, it is not so friendly to your jeans. Since you want your jeans looking new and fresh after every wash, it is best if you consider line drying them. The heat and tumbling from the dryer only weakens and reshapes your cloth gradually. Besides, line drying also has an added advantage of making clothes smell so fresh that a dryer can’t achieve in the absence of a detergent. You also need to know that the ultra-violet rays of the sun don’t go smoothly on dark colored clothes when exposed to it for long. Either hang them under a shade or remove them as soon as they are dry. If you lack a line dryer because they are literally banned in some neighborhood, either use low heat in a dryer. Or a shower curtain rod can suffice as your line dryer.
When you use these tips on your good set of jeans, you will wear them longer than before. It is also essential when it comes to jeans; you adopt the mantra of quality over quantity.
