House Cleaning Tips

Maybe you're thinking - Hmmm? What are some of the most common carpet stains? Well for me and others in my household they happen to be: Blood Stains Ketchup Stains Chocolate Stains Mud Stains Throw Up I know I'm guilty of at least two of these stains. Kids - quite a few and my husband, well he's no innocent guy either. What to Do Or Not to Do Before removing a stain, (if necessary) clean the bulk of it up first with a spoon, dull knife, old toothbrush, etc. Whatever you have handy that won't damage the carpet. Never rub the stain. Blot or dab so the stain doesn't get any bigger than it already is. Work from the outside of the stain towards the center. No need to unnecessarily create a bigger stain. Only use enough water or cleaner to get the job done. Test first in an inconspicuous place to make sure the cleaning method is safe for your carpets. When you're done and the stain is gone and dry, vacuum the area completely. Getting Rid of a Ketchup Stain In our ...

Stainless steel, sleek and beautiful but hardly ever stain-less or fingerprint proof. Right? How many of you have followed right behind the kids with a kitchen towel wiping off the fingerprints? I know I’ve been guilty of that and my kids look at me and say “Mom – It’s just a refrigerator.” Well, maybe it is just a refrigerator, but keeping it clean really adds a pop of shine to the room, don’t you think? That’s why I clean mine on a regular basis. Regular Cleanings For regular cleaning, all you need to do is take a damp cloth, wet it with warm water, wipe down the appliance then dry and polish with a clean dry lint free rag. Personally, I like to use white vinegar. I’m disinfecting as I’m cleaning and when I dry whatever appliance I’m cleaning, it dries faster. I put the white vinegar in a spray bottle and spray my cleaning rag rather than the appliance. Then I wipe it down with a microfiber cloth. Here’s a little tip for larger appliances: Work in sections. Clean and dry a sectio...

Want to know a secret? I’m not perfect. Just because I clean for a living doesn’t mean I’m immune to something getting dirty. I’ve been known to spill a little coffee, and my laundry basket isn’t full of clean clothes – I have a few kids, a husband that loves to barbecue, and a large family that comes over to gather around the holidays. Stains do exist in my house just like they exist in yours and I’m here to tell you, you can conquer the stain! I love my coffee and stain here and there isn't going to make me stop drinking it. So let’s get to removing a coffee since we all have slopped a little over the years. One of My Coffee Stain Stories I' sure this story is a familiar one to many of you. I was out meeting a friend of mine for lunch one day and when she got to the table and I reached over to take her hand, I bumped my latte, it spilled a little, and I got a little coffee on the end of my shirt sleeve. I knew I was going to be out for a few hours, so instead of getting u...

Many newer homes today don’t have the kind of attic spaces as the homes our grandparents or great-grandparents had. Maybe you're thinking of making your attic space into a bedroom? Cool! If you have a home with an attic, and you know you have to get up there and clean, why not clean with the intention of making a little money too? While you’re cleaning, think about the stuff laying around you don’t want. Wouldn’t you like to make some extra money off your old junk? I would! And if you’re like me and like to make an extra buck or two, here are some ideas for you to make some easy cash! Cleaning out the Attic We’ve all been to that place where we have been in need of a little extra cash. Having a garage sale is one such place to bring in the cash. Have a Garage Sale While you’re cleaning the attic, take a look with a critical eye as you go at what you might be able to contribute to a garage sale. Your attic could very well contain a treasure trove of old junk, but it could also ...

How to Organize Your Closets Just about everyone needs to organize their closet at some time or another. If you are the one that has to take on this de-cluttering task in your home, there are plenty of ways to do it easily, without worry that it will consume your day. Just about everyone has a closet that is packed full. Some may even be afraid to open the closet door in case the pile of clutter will collapse! Your goal is to work through each one of these closets in your home, without looking back or getting discouraged, and thoroughly de-clutter them. Sure, this is not an easy task but the benefits are numerous nonetheless- A clean and de-cluttered, organized closet! Start With One Closet Start with one closet, just one.Take a day for each closet so that you do not get overwhelmed with your organizing project. The more that you have to do; the easier it is to get overwhelmed. So it's better to take one day at a time, and tackle the project one closet at a time. You should pla...

Wintertime is just around the corner and it's time to prepare for those cold days and nights and winter snowfalls. For many people winter is a time spent in the warmth of your home gathering with family and friends and enjoying the holiday season . Winter cleaning is basically preparing for the cold weather and is holiday specific. Here is a winter cleaning checklist you can follow to make this upcoming season clean and organized. Cleaning the Chimney This type of home upkeep is just too challenging to be done by yourself, plus the dangers are great if not done correctly. A chimney fire can destroy your home and its entire contents. So before you light your first fire in the hearth, get a professional chimney sweep to inspect your chimney. An expert will check for such things as a buildup of dirt, grime, creosote, and other chemicals that can be a hazard. Don't rely on cleaning logs; they can't do the job a professional can do. If you have a wood stove in your home th...

Up to now, once-a-year cleaning chores had been carried out in the spring. Through the years, I have gradually shifted many of these to the fall. It simply makes more sense. For those who have family or friends over for Thanksgiving or winter holidays, fall is the ideal time to perform these things. It's going to ensure you have a cleaner home and don't wind up putting things off until the last minute. It makes all the holiday seasons a lot less nerve-racking! The Three Big Fall Jobs Clean The Carpets According to carpet industry experts, you should have the carpets professionally cleaned every 6-18 months depending on the traffic in your home. If you do it once a year, fall is the ideal time. Your carpets are going to be beautiful for holiday family get togethers and parties. The majority of carpet cleaning businesses offer a special deal in which they will come back and deal with any stain within so many months of cleaning. If you clean in the fall and one of the kids ...