Clean Living

House cleaning tips

October 16, 2014 by souleye

Cleaning your house is not exactly an activity that most people will find exciting. However it is a job that needs to be done, no matter how busy we are. We all love to have a clean home, kitchen, bathroom and everything always smelling fresh but when we think of how long it will take, we may want to ease on a couch, watch our favorite show and put it off until tomorrow that never comes.

Wouldn’t you rather have fun doing the things that you love to spend your free time on? You are busy juggling between job and family life all week long and when comes the weekend you want to enjoy your hobbies, hang out with your social circle or just rest. I don’t think many people want to spend their leisure time on housekeeping chores.

The first part of cleaning is to go room-by-room and toss, recycle, put away everything that isn’t needed anymore in order to reduce clutter. Remember clutter can make your house look dirtier than it is. The less clutter you have, the quicker and easier it is to clean your home and keep it neat.

The second tip is to schedule 2 to 4 hours cleaning each week. One week you devote to the living areas: one for bedrooms, one for the bathroom and etc. Deep clean windows, vacuum mattresses, clean oven, microwave etc…

Finally, it’s a good practice to do it regularly. Do not wait for the mess to build up as you idle by. For instance you need to clean your bathroom weekly or twice a month, otherwise you will be spending a lot more time trying scrub off the ring you’ve allowed for build up around the tub and the mold that has begun to grow in the tiles.

If you’re too busy, it may be better to consider having a maid from BA Cleaning Service Etc. come once a month or week, and do the dirty job for you. Please call 212 234 9807

How to clean garbage cans so they won’t stink

July 4, 2013 by amie

Is your trash starting to smell? Is there some unknown sticky substance on the can? Time to put on your cleaning gloves and get down to business. Because we tend to throw away food trash, diapers, and other similar items, garbage cans quickly become a breeding ground for bacteria. Nix odor and germs by following these steps for keeping odorless garbage cans in your kitchen:

Practice prevention. Keep your garbage can clean in the first place to cut down on work. Always line the can with a bag and take it out daily.
Never overfill the trash. Fight the urge to push down garbage to fit more. Allowing it to overflow is a no-no.
If your garbage can stays relatively unsoiled, wash it once a month or so. Also wash immediately after any spills or messes.
After removing the trash bag, rinse out the garbage can with a garden hose or even in the shower. Then pat it down to dry it.
Spray the inside and outside of the trash can with white vinegar. Follow with a mist of hydrogen peroxide (don’t mix the two in the same bottle as a chemical reaction can occur). Allow the mixture to sit for a few minutes. It will de-stink and disinfect. You can also use an earth-friendly, non-toxic store bought disinfectant.
Scrub the entire garbage can, inside and out, top to bottom.
Rinse the garbage can with warm water and dry. For best results, let the garbage can air dry in the sunlight.
Be sure the trash can is completely dry before using another trash can liner.

Do you have any helpful tips for cleaning household garbage cans?

Is a messy roommate ruining your cleaning?

July 3, 2013 by amie

Messy roommate? It can be frustrating when the dishes are always piling up and you’re stuck doing the bulk of the washing. Don’t let friction over chores cause an argument. Here are some tips for ensuring your home stays clean and all housemates are happy:

Compromise and reach an agreement on a general level of cleanliness that is acceptable to all parties. Determine what tasks need to be done to maintain it.
List tasks and all supplies necessary. Split the cost of the supplies evenly and take turns shopping for them.
Ask what your roommate doesn’t mind doing. For example, if someone loves to vacuum, by all means assign them that task. If you both hate doing a certain chore, alternate on a weekly basis. If no one likes any of the options, randomly assign chores. For example, pick tasks out of a hat.
Agree on how often each chore needs to be done and stick to it.
Assign chores to each roommate. Write down the tasks on a calendar in a communal area as a reminder.
No one is the same when it comes to how they go about doing something. If the way your roommate cleans the kitchen drives you crazy, consider taking it on yourself.
Each roommate is responsible for looking at the calendar and knowing what they have to do, when, and how often. Don’t nag. If you notice that a roommate is slacking recently, have a friendly chat. Perhaps it has been a busy week at work or they’re going through a rough patch. Offer to switch chores and let them do something easier temporarily. Hopefully they will return the favor.
If a roommate is just plain messy and skips their assigned tasks repeatedly, call a house meeting. Calmly discuss what is going on and what can be done to remedy it.
If you are both messy or you don’t have time to get everything done, hire a full service cleaning company and split the cost.

By dividing the job and sticking to a schedule, each roommate will only have to do their fair share of housework. Keep the lines of communication open so that no one feels slighted or taken advantage of.

How do you divide housecleaning with your roommate?

Health hazard of un unclean house

May 31, 2013 by amie

Housecleaning goes beyond just looking good. A dirty house can actually lead to poor health. Since we tend to spend a significant amount of time indoors, it’s essential to create a safe, clean environment. Consider the following:

Injuries, poisoning, and conditions, such as asthma, can be directly linked to the cleanliness of your home.
Because children are still developing, they face the highest risk of being affected by hazards in your space. Little ones put objects in their mouth, play on the floor and carpet, and come into contact with a variety of surfaces.
Pregnant women shouldn’t be exposed to things such as lead, mold, cigarette smoke, and bacteria. Contaminants can potentially affect the health of the baby.
Clutter and unkempt staircases lead to accidents, particularly for children and senior citizens. It also makes it more difficult to escape in the event of a fire.
Dirty carpets are a breeding ground for bacteria, dust mites, and allergens. This can worsen allergies and asthma and stimulate respiratory conditions.
Food that has been left out, piles of unwashed dishes and linens, and pets lure in pests and bacteria, like E coli and salmonella. This is a surefire path to illness.
Household cleaning products and chemicals that are not properly stored increase the likelihood of poisoning.
A dirty, cluttered house affects your sense of wellbeing and mood. Disarray is stressful.
If fresh air isn’t circulated indoors, irritants, moisture, allergens, and mold collect.
Contaminated surfaces cause colds and flu.
If your house is not maintained and cracks, chipping paint, and dangerous structural defects occur, injuries, lead poisoning, and contact with gases, including radon, become more common.
Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, pollute the air. Smoking, using harsh cleaning supplies and paint without proper ventilation, and exposing your family to pesticides and other compounds are linked to nausea, memory loss, throat and nose irritation, and even cancer.
When someone enters your place they can track in allergens, dirt, and even fecal matter. Letting these accumulate is toxic.

For optimal health, developing a regular cleaning routine is non-negotiable. Break down tasks into smaller chunks to avoid getting overwhelmed. If you don’t have the time or desire to do the cleaning, hire a maid service in your area.