Author: Swaara Heli

Keeping Your Home Clean During the School Year: Tips for Busy Families

Posted on by Swaara Heli

Once the school year is back in swing, you know you’ll find much of your spare time taken up in helping the kids with school work. That makes keeping your home clean and organized a challenge. But fear not, weary parents!

In this article, we will share expert cleaning tips for busy families straight from the professionals at our house cleaning services in North York.

Keeping your home clean during the school year: Tips for busy families

Prepare for the School Year by Decluttering

The end of the summer is a great time to declutter to free up space in closets, toy boxes, front halls, etc. Since kids grow quickly, you’ll need to make way for this year’s new clothes by getting rid of the clothes they’ve outgrown over the summer. 

You can also clear out old, damaged toys they no longer use. Anything in good condition can be handed down to friends and family or given away to charity. Also, don’t forget last year’s school supplies! Go through their pencil cases and toss out all those pencil stubs, broken crayons, and dried-out markers to make room for their new supplies. 

Keep a Family Calendar

Whether it’s something managed through an app or a good old-fashioned calendar hanging in the kitchen, a family calendar is a great time-management tool.

Having everyone’s schedule in one place makes it easier to slot in cleaning time, breaking down tasks into manageable bites. Everyone in the household should pitch in with age-appropriate chores that help keep your home tidy and clean. 

Have a Daily Cleaning Routine

A daily cleaning routine ensures all the tasks that can contribute to a major mess at the end of the week are taken care of in a timely manner. This would include each family member pitching in with the following chores:

  • Making beds
  • Putting dirty clothes in the laundry hamper
  • Cleaning up dishes
  • Cleaning up after meal prep
  • Sweeping the kitchen floor
  • Wiping kitchen counters and stovetops
  • Putting away toys and school supplies
  • Wiping up messes in the bathroom (like toothpaste blobs)
  • Wiping down shower walls with a squeegee after showers
  • Rinsing out the bathtub 

Making sure everyone is doing their part also teaches kids important lifelong cleaning and organizational skills.

Create a Weekly Cleaning Routine

Kids are creatures of habit, which means introducing a cleaning routine will become an expected part of their week. Setting specific days of the week to tackle certain cleaning tasks will help create an ongoing team effort to keep the home clean. 

For example, you can have a laundry day where kids know they have to pitch in with sorting, folding, and putting their clothes away. Another day might be for dusting and vacuuming, and another for cleaning the bathroom. Remember, by keeping on top of your daily cleaning tasks, the weekly jobs will be much easier!

Have a Before-Bedtime Tidying Game

Having a tidying game before shower, bath, or bedtime will keep your home neat and organized. Everyone can pitch in to make sure all the toys are picked up, homework is put away in knapsacks for the next morning, dirty clothes are tossed in the hamper, snack plates and wrappers are put away, etc.

Parents, you’re part of the game, too, so set a good example by taking care of your own messes. This also makes mornings less hectic with homework and agendas ready to go.

Pay Attention to Messes and Spills

When we’re busy, we often overlook things like all those little spills, drips, and messes we create in the kitchen and bathroom. Paying attention to these types of messes and taking care of them right away goes a long way in keeping your home clean.

When spills and drips go unnoticed, they make cleaning time that much harder, with more effort required to remove them once they get caked on or stains set in. So, watching what you and your kids are doing (especially the little ones who can’t clean up after themselves) and taking care of all those oopsies is a great way to keep on top of the dirt.

Create an Organized Homework Station

Having a dedicated area for the kids to do their homework improves focus while also helping keep your home clean. Even if your kitchen or dining room table is providing double duty, the key is to keep everything they need for school work organized. 

Head out to the dollar store and purchase a storage box or caddy for each child, and stock it with new school supplies such as assorted pens, pencils, markers, crayons, rulers, glue, scissors, etc.

Make a day of it, so the kids can pick out their own storage containers, and then have them help set everything up when you get home. Not only will their school supplies be organized, but it will also help create some excitement about going back to school.

They’ll have a dedicated place to work that’s free of distraction, with everything they need in their caddy. Once their homework is done, they can put everything away, ready for the next day. This saves a lot of tidying time while also ensuring the kids have what they need to do their homework frustration-free.  

Have a Lunchbox Routine

Teach the kids to place their lunchboxes, water bottles, etc. in a designated spot in the kitchen after school so you can easily toss them in with the day’s dirty dishes. This helps streamline both the evening cleaning process and getting ready for the next day’s lunch/snack preparation in the morning, so you won’t feel rushed. 

Wipe Down Frequently Touched Surfaces

Unfortunately, the return to school is also the return to germ city! Getting back into the habit of wiping down frequently touched surfaces will help reduce the spread of germs that the kids might bring home from school.

Keeping antibacterial cleaning wipes handy is the best way to stay on top of this task, which should include at least wiping down the fridge handle, common light switches, and bathroom doors, faucets, and toilet handles. 

Hire Biweekly House Cleaning Services in North York

All of these tips can help keep your home tidy and reduce stress. However, if you find it impossible to keep on top of the cleaning, then hiring biweekly house cleaning services in North York can help. When your cleaning is taken care of, you can focus on the kids and still find some much-needed downtime for yourself.

For more information about Maid4Condos’ house cleaning services in North York, click here. You can also call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.

Back-To-School Cleaning: How Recurring Services Can Help Busy Parents

Posted on by Swaara Heli

What is worse: cleaning an endless mess that the kids make everyday when home during the summer, or finding time to clean when the hectic back-to-school routine returns?

If you’re dreading that back-to-school chaos, recurring residential cleaning services in Toronto can help. In this article, we will discuss how.

Back-to-school cleaning: How recurring services can help busy parents

What are recurring residential cleaning services in Toronto?

Recurring cleaning services are professional cleaning services provided on an agreed-upon ongoing schedule. They offer weekly, biweekly, or monthly cleaning appointments, covering a customized list of cleaning services that help parents maintain a clean, safe, and hygienic home. 

A typical example of recurring cleaning service packages includes the following: 

  • Weekly: Ideal for extremely busy families with many social obligations, after-school programs, and community and sports events.  
  • Biweekly: This is best for the average family that has the usual social engagements and involvement in activities that allow basic home cleaning.
  • Monthly: This is great for all families, as it provides a deep cleaning package and a more thorough cleaning for an ongoing complete base clean. Monthly cleanings allow you to maintain a clean home with less intense basic cleaning duties throughout the month. 

Recurring Residential Cleaning Services in Toronto Keep You on Top of Things

Once the crazy life returns in September, it becomes impossible to find time to help kids get to and from school, complete their homework, drive them to their after-school activities, sports practices, play dates, etc., and contend with cleaning.

With recurring cleaning services, the cleaners will arrive on an agreed-upon day, so you can cross off a pile of cleaning tasks on your to-do list. You can more easily keep on top of the things that count, without worrying about the mess!

Recurring Residential Cleaning Services in Toronto Are Customizable

You might feel that hiring a cleaning service once a week is far too often. However, recurring services are customizable, allowing you to set the frequency to suit your needs. You set a schedule, whether it’s weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly, and can decrease or increase the frequency as required.

Recurring Residential Cleaning Services in Toronto Reduce Risk of Spreading Germs

The last thing you need is a sick kid spreading cold, flu, COVID-19, or something distasteful like pink eye germs to the entire family. You know you can’t miss work, whether it’s because you have to care for your child, or the germs have made you sick.

Having recurring cleaning services is the best way to reduce the spread of germs. A routine cleaning of your home reduces allergens, bacteria, and germs on frequently touched surfaces in your home, so everyone stays healthy.

Recurring Residential Cleaning Services in Toronto Increase Quality Family Time

Although some families have family cleaning days when everyone pitches in to clean the home as a team, you know there are other things you’d much rather be doing together!

Recurring cleaning services free up more time to spend with the kids, thus creating stronger relationships, improving family dynamics, and always putting your kids first.  

Recurring Residential Cleaning Services in Toronto Reduces Stress

You might not even realize that your messy home is adding to your stress. However, living with clutter and dirt strains your brain because it is a constant distraction.

You can try to ignore the mess, but your eyes are constantly collecting information that your brain has to process, and the mess says, “You have to take care of me eventually.”

The mess can also impact your kids’ ability to focus on things like homework because it is a constant distraction. By engaging in recurring cleaning services, your entire family can reduce stress and enjoy a state of calm.

Recurring Residential Cleaning Services in Toronto Are Affordable

A common objection to hiring a cleaning service is the cost. Although this is true for increasingly more families today, you might be surprised just how affordable these services are.

First, you can set the frequency, such as biweekly or monthly schedules, to save money while helping maintain a cleaner home. Second, you don’t use as many cleaning products because the cleaning service provides their own. 

Third, you should never underestimate the value of your time. Cleaning services allow you to find more time to focus on important things in life. Finally, you can find a cost-effective solution with your recurring cleaning service company through a customized plan that suits your budget. 

Recurring Residential Cleaning Services in Toronto Improve Indoor Air Quality

Most people don’t give much thought to the air they breathe at home. However, indoor air pollution is a real thing that can impact your family’s health. Poor indoor air quality is caused by things such as dust, allergens, pet dander/hair, food odours, mould, and mildew. Other factors include the release of volatile organic compounds in cleaning products.

Recurring cleaning services help eliminate these factors to improve the air quality in your home, and reduce issues such as worsening asthma and allergy symptoms. For example, we use environmentally friendly cleaning products that are pet and human-safe for a fresh, clean home that’s free of toxic chemicals.

Recurring Residential Cleaning Services in Toronto Keeps Your Home Presentable

Once the school year begins, your kids are more likely to want to have friends over after school. Whether working on school projects, enjoying a playdate, or having a sleepover, you want your home to be presentable for guests.

You don’t want parents worrying they’ve dropped their kids off at a disaster area. With recurring cleaning services, your home will always be kid-friendly and guest-ready, so you pass the safe test, and your kids aren’t on the “avoid” list!

Recurring Residential Cleaning Services in Toronto Provide Peace of Mind

There’s something to be said for a clean, tidy home when it comes to peace of mind. Knowing your home is being maintained by a team of professional residential cleaning services in Toronto can take a load off your mind. 

You’ll never worry about when you’ll find time to vacuum, clean those dirty toilets, scrub the tub for the kids’ nightly bath, or clean your appliances when you have a team providing the support you need to keep a clean home.

Contact the Residential Cleaning Experts


For more information on Maid4Condos’ residential cleaning services in Toronto, click here. You can also call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.

9 Time-Saving Cleaning Tips for Working Parents

Posted on by Swaara Heli

Being a parent is filled with joys and a lot of messes that are hard to keep on top of with today’s hectic schedules. Use our nine time-saving tips from our Scarborough cleaning company professionals to help maintain a clean home so you can spend more quality time with the kids.

9 time-saving cleaning tips for working parents
  1. Make sure you’ve got all the right cleaning supplies

Maintaining a stock of all the right cleaning supplies and tools helps save time in a few ways:

  • It allows you to make quick work of spills and accidents on the spot to reduce time scrubbing built-up grime and soaked-in stains.
  • The right cleaning supplies can tackle all the various cleaning jobs in your home more efficiently because they are designed for that specific task.
  • You don’t have an excuse to procrastinate on cleaning because you’ve run out of toilet bowl cleaner!
  1. Create a cleaning schedule

It’s easy to fall behind on cleaning if you don’t have some sort of cleaning routine. By choosing a convenient time to tackle cleaning tasks, you can clean in shorter, more effective spurts.

Your schedule doesn’t need to include an entire day of cleaning, either. Instead, it tackles specific tasks on certain days, so you’re never faced with hours of cleaning when you should be out enjoying time as a family. The trick is to break things down into the following:

  • Daily tasks like picking up after the kids (enlist them to pitch in), doing the dishes, cleaning counters after meal prep, and sweeping up kitchen floors.
  • Weekly chores like vacuuming, light bathroom cleaning, and dusting.
  • Bi-weekly heavier duty cleaning like mopping floors or scrubbing the tub and toilet.
  • Monthly deep cleaning such as steam cleaning bathroom surfaces or dusting light fixtures, ceiling fans and air vents, windows, etc. 

To make cleaning much easier, employing a professional cleaning company for your Scarborough home or condo is worthwhile. When you work with professional cleaners like Maid4Condos, it makes it easier to keep your home clean on a consistent basis. 

Even if you only add a cleaning service to your schedule once a month, that makes it easier to stay on top of everything. Let us handle the bulk of your cleaning, so you only have to do some light picking-up to maintain it! 

  1. Keep appropriate cleaning products nearby

If space allows, it helps to keep appropriate cleaning products nearby, such as toilet bowl and bathroom cleaners under the bathroom sink (or in a handy cleaning basket under the toilet if your kids are older), kitchen wipes on the kitchen counter, etc.

This makes cleaning each room easier, while also offering an opportunity to do some random cleaning if you notice things are looking a little dirty, like the toilet! Just remember that cleaning products should be kept out of reach of small children.

  1. Make cleaning a family affair

Cleaning should never fall on the shoulders of one family member. Although it’s harder if you’re a single parent with very young children, teaching your kids to pitch in to keep the home clean is an important life lesson. 

It’s all about age-appropriate tasks that teach kids cleaning skills while creating a family activity everyone does together. It also makes the cleaning process quicker.

Teach the kids to put their toys away, place their dishes in the sink after dinner, throw garbage in the trash bin, wipe up toothpaste spills, etc. This will reduce the level of cleaning required, too.

  1. Keep tidying—clean as you go

A big time-saver is always addressing messes as they occur. For example:

  • Make sure everyone puts things away when they’re done with them (no excuses like, “I still need it because I’ll use it again tomorrow!”).
  • Clean things like kitchen and bathroom sinks and counters as messes are made (keep wipes handy to make cleaning easier).
  • Rinse and clean items you use as you prepare dinner so you can load them into the dishwasher or onto the drying rack to make doing the dinner dishes easier.
  • Have a “paper goes in the recycling bin” rule (or, better yet, try to maintain an eco-friendly paperless household) so you don’t have paper everywhere.
  • Put the laundry in the laundry basket instead of the floor or tossed on bedroom furniture.
  1. Consider function

A lot of times, homes feel messy because of a lack of organization. Consider how your family functions, and try to prevent messes by making it easier to put things away.

It might be hooks and baskets at the entry for school bags, coats, shoes, hats and mitts, etc. It could be a toy box in the living room cleverly disguised as a bench that serves as seating for guests.

It might also be hanging a laundry bag on each bedroom doorknob to make laundry day easier. This is a proactive approach that helps reduce the time invested in tidying.

  1. Avoid procrastination

There’s always something more important (or more pleasurable) to do than cleaning. However, you can actually save time by tackling those unpleasant cleaning tasks based on your cleaning schedule and our clean-as-you-go rule.

Also, making sure you finish the job is just as important as starting it when it comes to efficient cleaning. For example, if you do a load of laundry, always fold it and put it away. 

  1. Consider cleaning in stages

Although we just said you should always finish the job and avoid procrastinating, this method doesn’t work for everyone. There are some jobs you can do in stages while still keeping your home tidy.

Take, for instance, the dinner dishes. When you do the dishes, whether it’s using a dishwasher or by hand, it’s not the worst or most disorganized thing to leave them to dry so they’re ready to be put away in the morning.

Cleaning in stages isn’t about procrastinating, but instead more about making the most of your time. You can also try a trendy cleaning method like the 20/10 approach to see if that helps.

  1. Multi-task

Technology makes it easier than ever to multitask without over-burdening your brain. For example, you might listen to a podcast you needed to review for work while you neaten the living room. You might listen to an audiobook of the recent bestseller by your favourite author to make cleaning more enjoyable.

You can also throw on a load of laundry and vacuum while it’s running, and then binge-watch your favourite Netflix series sitting in front of the TV while you fold it. You can get more balance in your life by multi-tasking and include a little more fun while you’re at it.

Call the Cleaning Professionals at Maid4Condos

These are just a few time-saving ideas to help you keep on top of your cleaning. If you still find you’re too strapped for time to clean, consider hiring Maid4Condos’ expert cleaning services that parents use to help enjoy more downtime with or without the kids. 

Click here for a free online quote for our Scarborough cleaning company services. Also, you can call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online for more information.  

How Recurring Cleaning Services Can Improve Indoor Air Quality

Posted on by Swaara Heli

Most of us don’t realize that pollution isn’t just something that occurs outdoors. Every indoor environment you enter—whether it’s a mall, a restaurant, your place of employment, or your home—has levels of pollution and contaminants that impact the quality of the air you breathe. 

In this article, we will explain how recurring professional cleaning services in Toronto can improve indoor air quality to help your household and guests breathe easier.

How recurring cleaning services can improve indoor air quality

What are recurring professional cleaning services?

Recurring professional cleaning services offer regularly scheduled cleaning appointments based on your desired timing. It can be weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or something completely unique to suit your needs. 

This form of professional cleaning service is more cost-effective because you establish a consistent level of cleanliness that only requires light cleaning to maintain, especially when you arrange for weekly or bi-weekly visits. 

The more frequent the cleaning, the more efficient it becomes and the cleaner your home becomes. It is an excellent option for both homes and businesses, improving the air quality and offering a more welcoming, safer environment. 

Reducing Chemicals in Your Home

When you hire professional cleaning services to come and clean your home on a regular schedule, you reduce the number of cleaning products you store in your home.

Even when the caps are sealed on household products, the containers can release volatile organic compounds into the air. This means you have a lower quality of air in your home.

Because cleaners conduct regular cleaning and use their own products and tools, you can help reduce the amount of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) released in your home.

As a bonus, you also can have increased peace of mind knowing you don’t have any toxins stored in your home that can lead to dangerous exposure for children and pets. 

Reducing Troublesome Dirt

Recurring professional cleaning services keep the dirt in your home to a minimum, including the troublesome types of dirt that can contribute to allergies and upper respiratory irritation.

This includes pet dander and dust mites that become very dangerous in households with allergy sufferers. Regular cleaning removes pet dander and dust mites from surfaces throughout your home, while also using proper cleaning methods that help reduce the release of these particles into the air as we clean.

Addressing Mould and Mildew

When you fall behind on your cleaning, you make it easier for mould and mildew to take hold in areas like your bathroom and kitchen.

Moisture contributes to mould and mildew growth. This can cause serious health issues including eye irritation, breathing issues, and even increased risk for some diseases with prolonged exposure to certain types of mould. 

Regular professional cleaning services help remove mould and mildew from your home, and can also alert you when you have a potential mould growth problem.

Reducing Germs and Bacteria That Make You Sick

Every day, your home is exposed to dangerous germs and bacteria that can make you sick. With regular professional cleanings, you can reduce the presence of germs and bacteria that can be released through your heating and cooling system. 

Although cleaning frequently touched surfaces helps reduce the spread of illness, if you aren’t also dusting regularly, germs and bacteria that cling to dust particles can be breathed in and make you sick. Germs and bacteria include foodborne illnesses and germs that cause colds, flu, and COVID-19. 

Keeping Carpets and Soft Surfaces Clean

Dust and debris also collects on soft surfaces like sofas and upholstered chairs, as well as in your carpets. Most people don’t thoroughly vacuum and clean these surfaces in their daily cleaning.

Although you might vacuum once a week (we hope!), you’re probably not pulling out couch and chair cushions to vacuum up debris. Every time you walk across your carpet, or sit down heavily on a cushioned seat, you release dust particles into the air.

Additionally, as you sit and watch TV or the kids play on the carpeted floor, these particles are breathed in. Regular professional cleaning services ensure these surfaces are as dust-free as possible.

Removing Dust From Vents

A thorough professional cleaning service tackles dust that clings to vents and returns. This is important because every time your HVAC system powers on, this dust is released into your home. This has a very negative impact on air quality.

Removing Allergens

Allergens like pollen and dust are harmful to your health and linger in the air in your home. This can increase allergy symptoms, including eye irritation, runny nose, cough, and sneezing.

If you have asthma sufferers in the household, they are doubly impacted by poor air quality related to dust and pollen, leading to more frequent attacks and the need to use more medications to help manage symptoms.

Using the Right Cleaning Products

Recurring professional cleaning services use eco-friendly cleaning products that help reduce chemicals in your home.

Eco-friendly cleaning products are designed to leave behind nothing but cleanliness, without any chemical residues or smells that impact your family. Children and pets are especially sensitive to these chemicals and will benefit significantly from a switch to eco-friendly, chemical-free cleaning products.

No More Dust Bunnies

Professional cleaning services clean under furniture, where dust bunnies like to hide. Dust bunnies are a result of hair, pet dander and fur, cobwebs, and other types of debris that can build into something that seems to have a life of its own. 

These balls of dust are a major contributor to poor air quality because they are often missed when you clean your home yourself. With recurring cleaning services, you can feel confident nothing too disturbing is lurking below your bed or couch!

Contact the Cleaning Experts

As you can see, using recurring professional cleaning services in Toronto not only makes life easier but also reduces allergens, bacteria, and other particles that negatively impact your indoor air quality.

Not only can you reduce health concerns for your family, but you can also keep your belongings clean to help them last longer and keep your living space tidy for total peace of mind.
Click here to learn more about Maid4Condos’ auto-pilot cleaning services to schedule your regular cleanings in order to suit your needs. You can also call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online for more information.

DIY Cleaning vs. Professional Cleaning Services: Which Offers More Value?

Posted on by Swaara Heli

Cleaning your home is one of those necessary evils most of us could do without. However, you’re probably stuck with DIY cleaning because you think professional cleaning services are too expensive. But are they really?

In this article, we will take a closer look at the two options to help you decide which one offers more value for your lifestyle.

DIY cleaning vs. Professional cleaning services: Which offers more value?

How much is your downtime worth?

We start here because you probably never considered putting a dollar amount on your downtime. However, whether you’re spending quality time with the kids or unwinding with friends after a hard day at work, your downtime is worth much more than you think.

Consider the benefits of the things you could be doing compared to time wasted cleaning. This will help give you an idea of how much your time is worth. Although you might not come up with an actual number, what you will come up with are the restorative qualities of resting, such as the following:

  • We all need time to relax to avoid becoming burned out.
  • Doing “nothing” might seem lazy, but it actually allows your brain to recover to maintain wellness.
  • Downtime helps improve creativity.
  • You can maintain mental health by enhancing your mood through rest and doing things you enjoy.

We’d say these benefits add up to much more value to your quality of life compared to the small amount of money invested in professional cleaning.

But DIY Cleaning Can Be Calming

Now, if you’re a neat freak, you might just find DIY cleaning is calming. It’s hard not to stay in the moment when you’re focused on scrubbing the toilet! As a result, for some, it can be highly meditative and mindful as you are present and focused.

So, if you find the cleaning process calming, and it helps you feel like you’ve accomplished something, then it’s a practice you should keep enjoying for your own personal peace of mind.

Cleaning Services in Etobicoke Save on Replacements

Proper cleaning techniques help protect your home’s surfaces, saving you money over the time you live there. Professional cleaners know how to safely clean every surface to reduce wear and tear on things like kitchen counters, appliances, floors, tiles, carpets, area rugs, etc.

As a result, you don’t have to worry as much about costly replacements. And this doesn’t even include wear and tear on your cleaning equipment like a vacuum, mops, dry floor cleaning tools, and so on.

But I rent my home, so who cares?

Remember, you’re responsible for maintaining your rental home and can be left on the hook for repairs for anything you damage. This includes wear or stains caused by using the wrong cleaning products on things like marble kitchen counters, wood floors, or stainless steel appliances.

Even if your home has basic finishes, you can still damage things like laminate floors or formica countertops with the wrong cleaning methods.

Cleaning Services in Etobicoke Reduce the Costs of Cleaning Products and Tools

Cleaning products and tools are expensive. When you use a cleaning service, the products and tools they use are included. As a result, you just need to keep a few basic cleaning items handy to manage day-to-day messes, saving you money in the long run.

But You Still Need the Occasional Cleaning Products

Yes, you’ll still need to make the occasional cleaning product and tool purchases. For example, your vacuum is a purchase you would make whether you use cleaning services or do your own cleaning.

So, if you do the math on the products you still need to purchase to contend with everyday messes, and it seems high, you might find the idea of also investing in professional cleaning a little less attractive.

Cleaning Services in Etobicoke Reduce Your Overall Time Spent Cleaning

Professional cleaning services can be used to reduce the effort needed for the overall time you spend cleaning. Remember, you don’t have to invest in weekly professional cleaning if it seems like too much.

Instead, you can have your cleaners come in once or twice a month to tackle the big messes, so all you have to worry about is day-to-day cleaning. This schedule helps maintain an acceptable level of cleanliness in your home with less effort.

It’s the perfect balance that saves you time and money, without sacrificing your home’s cleanliness. It’s a win-win.

The Cost of Pain Management From DIY Cleaning

When you’re not as mobile as you’d like to be, suffer from conditions like a bad back, arthritic knees and hands, or simply find cleaning physically exhausting, DIY cleaning can add to your medical costs.

If you injure yourself, trigger old injuries, or aggravate pain symptoms related to health conditions, you’ll end up needing to take over-the-counter painkillers or booking an appointment with your chiropractor or physiotherapist to help you recover. That can really add up!

But I’m in Fine Shape

If you’re in great shape, cleaning doesn’t present an issue with your mobility and pain management. So, it’s not costing you in this area. However, if you’re in great shape, you probably also would rather be out and about doing your favourite activities instead of cleaning!

Cleaning Services Etobicoke: Contact the Cleaning Experts

As you can see, there are cost-saving and time-saving benefits when it comes to professional cleaning services.

Although some people are perfectly fine with their DIY cleaning duties, if you’re strapped for time, want to keep your home spotless, or are a little on the lazy side and hate cleaning, then professional cleaning offers far more value than DIY cleaning.

For a free online quote on Maid4Condos’ cleaning services in Etobicoke and throughout the GTA, click here. You can also call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.

Preparing for the Summer BBQs: Why Deep Cleaning Is Essential

Posted on by Swaara Heli

Torontonians look forward to BBQ season with relish, anticipating the day they can fire up the grill to prepare their favourite carnivorous meals. However, that BBQ is exposed to all kinds of germs left behind from the ghosts of barbecues past, which means it needs a deep cleaning to prepare for the new season’s feasts.

In this article, we will explain why deep cleaning your BBQ is essential and how to achieve a pristine grill for safe, flavourful summer dining with tips from the pros at our deep cleaning services in Toronto.

Preparing for the summer BBQs: Why deep cleaning is essential

Why a Clean Grill Is Crucial

A clean grill is a first-of-summer must for several reasons:

  • Your grill can harbour harmful bacteria and food-borne illnesses that can make your guests sick.
  • All that burnt-on crust from past meals will interfere with the flavour of everything you cook.
  • Debris also attracts pests, which can leave behind unthinkable things, including feces and urine.
  • You’re less likely to experience those tiresome flare-ups that can burn your food.
  • Such flare-ups can also increase the risk of the fire getting out of control.
  • A deep cleaning of your entire grill keeps it looking its best.
  • Deep cleaning maintains the durability of your grill’s surfaces.
  • A clean grill makes it easier to maintain control of temperatures for an easier cooking experience. 
  • Foods are more likely to be evenly cooked to the proper internal temperatures. 

Do I just need to clean my grill for the first BBQ of the season?

We certainly hope you’re cleaning your BBQ after each use! This is the only way to prevent all of the above issues. However, you only require a deep cleaning once a year at the beginning of the grilling season, twice with an extra cleaning at the end of the season if you use your grill frequently.

What’s the best way to clean my grill after use?

This is good to know because the better you become at cleaning after use, the less deep cleaning your BBQ will require at the beginning of the season. Here are some tips:

  • Heat your grill to high heat and let it burn off the leftover bits for 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Turn the heat off, and then let your BBQ cool down until it is warm to the touch. 
  • Using a wire brush, remove the debris from the grill/grate.
  • Wipe down the grate and any messes on the grill’s exterior with a damp clean cloth using mild dish soap and warm water.
  • Rinse everything off with clean water.
  • Let the grill air dry.

What’s the difference between a deep clean and an after-use clean?

A deep clean tackles every surface by removing the grates and other removable parts to safely disinfect the entire grill. Cleaning after use helps maintain your grill and remove food debris that can attract pests, while avoiding foodborne illness.

How do I deep clean my grill?

Before you begin, review the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure you don’t do anything that might damage your BBQ. You can then follow these steps to achieve a deep clean (unless they are not recommended by the manufacturer):

  • Heat your grill to high heat and let it burn away the leftover parts for 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Turn off the heat and let your BBQ cool down until it is warm to the touch. 
  • Using a wire brush, remove the debris from the grill/grate.
  • Allow the grill to completely cool down and remove the grates and other removable parts.
  • Clean the parts in warm, soapy water using a mild dish detergent.
  • Rinse and dry them with a clean cloth.
  • Scrape off debris and burnt-on food in the interior.
  • Wipe down the inside of the grill and pellet hopper (if you have one) using a clean, soft cloth dipped in warm soapy water.
  • Rinse everything down with a clean, damp cloth. 
  • Dry all the surfaces with a clean, dry cloth.
  • Follow the user’s manual instructions to remove and clean the burners using a wire brush and warm, soapy water.
  • Rinse and dry them thoroughly.
  • Clean the igniter with a wire brush to remove built-up grease.
  • Use a cloth dipped in warm, soapy water or a stainless steel cleaner, if appropriate, to wipe down the entire exterior.
  • Rinse and dry the exterior.
  • Once everything is clean and dry, you can return all the parts.

How can I maintain my grill to optimize performance?

It really depends on the type of grill you own. Again, we suggest reading your user’s manual to understand what the manufacturer recommends. However, there are some general rules to help keep your grill in good shape, such as the following:

  • Clean your grill after each use to avoid grease and food debris buildup that can ruin the taste of your food and increase the risk of flare-ups and fires.
  • Keep an eye on your grill, and repair or replace any worn parts.
  • Invest in a suitable cover to protect your grill from the elements.
  • Store your grill in a dry area over the winter if space allows.
  • Pay attention to how your thermometer functions, and replace it if it seems to be off.
  • If you have fuel lines, check them often to make sure they aren’t worn or damaged.

Can I use eco-friendly cleaning products on my grates?

One of the easiest natural cleaners is a mix of vinegar and baking powder to tackle debris and grease. You can remove the grates and sprinkle them with the baking powder, and then spritz the powder with vinegar. Allow it to fizz to loosen the debris, then scrub the debris away and rinse and dry off the grate before returning it to the grill. 

What happens if my grates are rusty?

It’s essential to remove the rust before using the grate again. First, use a wire brush to remove loose rust, and then soak the grate in a mix of equal parts vinegar and wire.

After a few hours, check to see if the rust has dissolved. Rinse off the vinegar and dry the grate. Apply a thin coat of vegetable oil to prevent it from rusting again. If the rust does not come off, replace the grate.

Contact the Cleaning Experts

Although cleaning your BBQ is a hassle, it’s the only way to enjoy top-notch meals, avoid foodborne illnesses, and maintain your Godlike status as the grill king or queen.

Just like your BBQ, the rest of your house or condo needs the occasional deep clean, too. The start of summer is a perfect time to bring in the cleaning professionals at Maid4Condos to kick off the warmer months with a much-needed deep cleaning. We’ll scour your home from top to bottom, tackling dirt, dust and grime until you’re living in a fresh, clean oasis. 

Interested in starting your summer off with deep cleaning services in Toronto? Click here for an online quote. You can also call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.

Post-Construction Cleaning: Getting Homes Ready for the Market

Posted on by Swaara Heli

Post-construction is the critical last step in preparing a property for its occupants. In this article, we will look at the process and how thorough residential cleaning services in Toronto help get homes ready for the market.

Post-construction cleaning: Getting homes ready for the market

Who hires post-construction cleaners?

Typically, post-construction cleaners are hired by the property owner, manager, or developer.

Does it help to have mid-construction cleanings?

This is a very different process than post-construction cleaning. Mid-construction cleanings help create a safer work environment, while post-construction cleaning ensures the space is ready for its intended use.

Don’t contractors handle the cleaning?

Contractors take care of the basic cleaning that removes things like dangerous debris, material waste, their equipment, etc. This still leaves a large cleaning job to tackle before the level of clean is reached for safe occupancy.

What do post-construction cleaning services include?

Post-construction services include a thorough cleaning of the entire space to ensure it is safe. This typically includes:

  • Dusting
  • Vacuuming
  • Sanitizing surfaces
  • Removing debris
  • Cleaning windows (inside and out) and mirrors

What is the post-construction process?

There are three phases of post-construction cleaning, including the following:

  1. Initial cleaning

This phase is performed by industrial professional cleaners as it addresses the larger, most prominent cleaning issues to make room for cleaning equipment that finishes the job. This includes:

  • Removing large debris like cast-off materials and building supplies
  • Window and mirror cleaning
  • Hardware and fixture cleaning
  • Removing protective coverings and residue left behind from packaging
  • Vacuuming
  • Removing hazardous material containers 
  1. Main cleaning

This is the nitty-gritty of the cleaning, addressing all surfaces and tasks, and often performed by commercial or residential cleaners. It includes:

  • Dusting 
  • Removal of drips such as globs of glue or paint splatter
  • Wiping down all surfaces, including walls, counters, floors, etc.
  • Cleaning and removing wrapping from fixtures, appliances, etc.
  • Vacuuming and cleaning carpets and floors
  • Disinfecting surfaces, especially in kitchens, bathrooms, and frequently touched surfaces
  1. Final cleaning

While phase 2 is quite thorough, phase 3 takes care of all the touch-up cleaning for anything that was missed. The most important step in this phase is a final walkthrough to identify issues that will need to be taken care of. This list is usually handled by residential cleaning services in Toronto who tackle the following:

  • Spot-cleaning of various surfaces, especially fingerprints and smudges
  • Spots on windows and mirrors, as well as other glossy surfaces such as marble counters, floors, and walls
  • Polishing fixtures in the bathroom (as well as lighting)
  • Removing garbage

Who should perform post-construction cleanings?

Post-construction cleanings require specialty cleaning equipment, as well as a familiarity with removing substances not usually encountered in the average living or workspace. This is especially true in phase 1. 

As a result, it is a job best left to professional cleaners who understand the risks and hazards encountered during post-construction cleaning. This might include:

  • Hard-to-remove adhesives, paints, and finishing products
  • Dangerous empty containers under pressure
  • Specialty surfaces requiring treatments such as marble and natural stone
  • Potentially dangerous fumes
  • Sharp and dangerous debris such as broken glass, mirror fragments, lumber, used blades from utility knives, etc. 

What types of specialty equipment are required for post-construction cleaning?

Some examples of the specialty equipment used for the post-construction cleaning process include:

  • Cleaners designed to remove adhesives
  • HEPA commercial vacuums to capture excess dust and debris
  • Commercial-grade disinfectants
  • Safety gloves to avoid injury from sharp objects and debris
  • Goggles and masks to deal with hazardous fumes
  • Proper, safe containers for disposal of hazardous materials

What are post-construction cleaning safety hazards?

There are several potential hazards encountered during the post-construction cleaning process that must be handled properly to make new homes safe, including:

  • Discarded nails and screws
  • Glass shards
  • Power tool parts and broken equipment
  • Loose fixtures
  • Falling hazards, such as loose materials on walls and ceilings
  • Dangerous construction dust such as sawdust, metal filings, drywall dust, and cement dust
  • Exposure to volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) released from various building materials
  • Harsh cleaning chemicals and solvents

It’s also important that those working on the post-construction cleaning process are trained on these hazards and have the proper protective gear and equipment to safely and effectively remove all traces of these hazards. This is the only way to ensure the home is ready and safe for occupancy. 

What are some post-construction cleaning best practices?

The three most important best practices in the post-construction cleaning process are as follows:

  1. Safety: We can’t stress enough the importance of putting safety first following a construction project. Construction sites are filled with threats and hazards, even once the contractors are finished and have turned over the property to the property manager or owners. There are still all kinds of dangers from broken glass and stray nails to dust containing dangerous materials such as concrete.

    During each phase of the post-construction cleaning process, cleaners must be aware of the risks and wear proper safety gear to avoid injuries. Proper removal of hazardous materials is also essential to ensure the home is fit for living.
  2. Top-down cleaning: Top-down cleaning is the safest process to remove dust efficiently and thoroughly. By working from the ceiling down, falling dust is captured at each stage all the way down to the floors. The final stage then uses a thorough vacuuming process with commercial-grade HEPA vacuums to remove any remaining irritable fine debris and dust for the best possible air quality. 
  3. GermBlasters service: Our GermBlasters service provides an effective disinfection of new homes. It not only targets germs such as the common cold, the flu, and other superbugs, but also other harmful substances such as mould, mildew, allergens, and odours. These are all common in new-build homes due to open exposure to the elements at different stages of the build in hand with massive amounts of dust and particles in the air.

    GermBlasters effectively eliminates contaminants left behind from the final clean, creating a safer environment using highly efficient surface and airborne coverage from ceiling to floor.

Contact the Cleaning Professionals

With all the expense and effort put into building new homes, you don’t want to risk your reputation by missing a thorough post-construction cleaning in the final stages. This information will help ensure this critical step is carried out properly to create safe living environments for new homeowners.

Visit our website for more information about Maid4Condos’ residential cleaning services in Toronto. You can also call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.

The Role of Deep Cleaning in Preparing Homes for Sale

Posted on by Swaara Heli

When you think of all the things that go on in your home, it’s no wonder rental and home purchase agreements both have clauses requiring a professional cleaning to prepare occupancy for the next residents. 

The role of deep cleaning in preparing homes for sale

There are far too many germs and bacteria left behind on surfaces to not insist on having a clean home. However, at Maid4Condos, we say it makes sense to have that same level of clean using deep cleaning services Toronto trusts when preparing your home for sale. Here’s why:

Calming the Fears of Germaphobes

Although not everyone is a germaphobe, you can count on the average person becoming extra-sensitive about the idea of germs when shopping for a home. There’s really no way around it.

By investing in deep cleaning services in Toronto when preparing your home for sale, you’ll ensure your home is beyond reproach even to the most obsessive germaphobes out there.

Showing Off Your Home’s Strong Points

Home buyers sometimes get caught up in the less important details when they first view a home. They’re looking for all those designer features that will make them proud to entertain guests in their new home.

That includes things like trendy backsplashes, impressive countertops, designer cabinets, high-end flooring, and more. 

As a result, you need to deep clean all of these surfaces to show off your home’s strong points, so people see the feature, instead of the caked-on, obviously lived-in wear and tear, grime, and crustiness that instantly devalues your home’s selling points.

Appealing to Buyers’ Senses

Deep cleaning services in Toronto tackle every square inch of your home, providing an all-around clean that just doesn’t compare to a basic cleaning.

Even if you’re a germaphobe intent on scrubbing away germs and bacteria obsessively, there’s something about a deep cleaning that tends to stand out from any cleaning you can perform on your own.

It makes things smell undeniably fresh, look sparkly clean, and feel smooth to the touch without any stickiness or grime.

Removing Musty, Mouldy, and Unpleasant Odours

As mentioned above, a deep cleaning gets rid of odours. While there are lots of cleaners available on the market today with built-in air fresheners, they only mask odours.

A deep cleaning removes the source of the odours including mildew, mould, caked-on dirt, pet hair, smoke residue, and more. You just can’t beat that level of odour removal. 

Making Bathrooms Feel Newer

You can’t get around the fact that bathrooms will always feel used. It’s a room we all use every day and often, which means it is under the most scrutiny when buyers are touring your home.

A deep cleaning addresses dirt and build-up so that your tiles, fixtures, and tub have that brand-new sparkling clean look and feel. As noted, deep cleaning also helps tackle those odour-causing things like mildew and mould, so your bathroom also smells clean. You’ll know everything is clean, including:

  • Bathtub and shower enclosure
  • Inside, outside, and behind the toilet
  • Lights, mirrors, sink, and countertops
  • Ceiling fan cover
  • Light switches and door knobs
  • Garbage bin
  • Floors
  • Baseboards

Making Kitchens Feel Eat-Off-the-Floor Clean

We all know that buyers view the kitchen as the heart of the home, but they also plan to prepare their food in this area. They will be scrutinizing every surface, opening every cabinet and drawer, and inspecting the appliances with a very critical eye.

As a result, you need to know your kitchen will pass all these tests with that eat-off-the-floor kind of clean that helps chase away thoughts of salmonella. Everything is addressed including:

  • Emptying the dishwasher 
  • Microwave, inside and out
  • Stove top
  • Fridge front 
  • Backsplash, counter tops, and cupboard fronts
  • Sink
  • Light switches and door knobs
  • Garbage and recycling bins
  • Floors
  • Baseboards
  • Window ledges

Creating a Welcoming Living Space

Creating a welcoming living space isn’t just about staging with the right furniture and paint colour on the walls. It also includes creating a clutter-free, dust-free, and crumb-free home.

A deep cleaning ensures the living space feels ready, and shows you take good care of your home. This includes making sure the following cleaning tasks are taken care of:

  • General tidying
  • Tidy sofa seating
  • Table tops, picture frames, and window ledges
  • Clean mirrors and dust ornaments
  • Wipe telephones, switches, and door knobs
  • Vacuum and mop floors
  • Wipe baseboards
  • Clean under and behind furniture
  • Vacuum sofa seating

Removing Evidence of Pets

Although Canadians owned about 8.1 million cats and 7.7 million dogs in 2020, people don’t want to smell your pets! Deep cleaning addresses common surfaces that can hold pet odours, including flooring and wall-to-wall carpets. 

As a result, you can remove all evidence of your pets, so people with allergies don’t feel turned off by lingering smells of cat and dog odours.  

Passing the Appliance Inspection

No one wants to buy a home with broken, filthy, and uncared-for appliances. A deep cleaning addresses appliance cleaning needs, ensuring they’ll pass that initial inspection by buyers.

You want to know that when a potential buyer opens the dryer, for example, they won’t find a dirty lint trap. You also want to feel confident the oven and fridge will be up to snuff without any obvious grunge, grease, slime, or caked-on foods.

Clean appliances speak to your commitment to maintaining your assets, so buyers will feel more confident they’ll work when they move in.

Contact the Cleaning Experts

While you should clean your home when preparing to list it for sale, you can create a far cleaner foundation by investing in a deep cleaning first. This will clean every surface in every room, as well as your kitchen and laundry appliances, for an all-over clean that can’t be beat.

At Maid4Condos, our move-out and deep cleaning services in Toronto tackle this essential cleaning job to help you get top dollar for your home. For more information about our deep cleaning services, call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.

Move-In vs. Move-Out Cleaning: What’s the Difference in Toronto?

Posted on by Swaara Heli

When you move homes, you need to arrange for move-out and move-in cleaning to ensure your old home is clean and sanitary for the new residents, and your new home is a clean slate when you arrive.

Move-in vs. Move-out cleaning: What’s the difference in Toronto?

You might be thinking, “But if everyone is supposed to do that, doesn’t it mean I should just worry about the move-out cleaning service?” You would think so, but there’s a difference between the two, and also, not everyone follows the rules!

In this article, we will look at the difference between move-in and move-out cleaning in North York, and why both are so important.

What is move-out cleaning in North York?

Move-out cleaning services provide a deep cleaning of your old home to leave everything disinfected and sparkling clean for the new residents. This is almost always part of your tenant’s agreement or terms of your home sale, typically including a thorough scrubbing of every surface in bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms, living areas, closets, and hallways from top to bottom.

If there are rugs, these are shampooed, and the floors are mopped and/or treated with protective coatings. All walls, window sills, and baseboards are wiped down, and appliances are also cleaned inside and out. Other services might include polishing surfaces and cabinets.

The purpose of the move-out cleaning process is to guarantee the landlord or new owners/tenants are satisfied with the condition of the home. It helps to take pictures and request a receipt from the cleaning service as proof the job was completed to ensure you get your deposit back.

What are move-in cleaning services?

Move-in cleaning provides a similar cleaning process to the one mentioned above at your new home before you arrive. Although tenants and previous owners are expected to conduct a move-out cleaning, a move-in cleaning is intended to remove all traces that the move-out cleaning might miss.

This ensures that your home is move-in ready so you aren’t sitting in your new home wondering if it has in fact been cleaned by the previous residents.

What’s the difference between move-in and move-out cleanings in North York?

When looking at the above descriptions of each, it might seem there aren’t any obvious differences, which is true! However, where the difference tends to lie is in the check-lists used for the two services.

In the case of move-out cleanings in North York, there might be specific requirements made by the landlord depending on the type of property. These differences might also be noted in the case of a home sale, where certain conditions apply. This typically might include additions such as:

  • Cleaning windows inside and out.
  • Power-washing exteriors such as siding, paths, patios, etc.
  • Ensuring all marks and stains are removed from surfaces.
  • Ensuring all garbage is removed from the property.
  • Steam-cleaning certain elements of the home, like carpets or bathrooms.

The landlord dictates what is done for a move-out cleaning, whereas it’s the new resident who dictates the list for the move-in cleaning.

What are the benefits of move-out cleaning in North York?

The main benefit of move-out cleaning services is that you guarantee you’ll get your full deposit back. You’ll not only have a professional cleaning team following the required cleaning list, but also have a receipt proving the cleaning was conducted and paid for.

However, there are also fringe benefits to move-out cleaning, including the following:

  • You don’t have to worry about doing it yourself (with so many other things to do on moving day).
  • Proper cleaning equipment and products will ensure there is nothing to dispute with your landlord.
  • It’s the respectful thing to do for the new residents.
  • It will reduce the stress of not just moving, but also worrying that you’ll lose your deposit.
  • Move-out cleanings also pay it forward for you when you arrive at your new home!

What are the benefits of move-in cleaning services?

Move-in cleaning services are all about peace of mind. You’ll know you’re moving into a clean, safe environment free of all the germs, bacteria, and unthinkable things left behind by the previous residents.

You can concentrate on packing at your old home and then unpacking at your new home, confident that everything is cleaned to your standards. As a result, moving day is all about settling in, adding your own touches to your new home, and enjoying your new space with family and friends.

Move-In/Move-Out Cleaning FAQs

Can my landlord actually hold back my deposit just because my apartment is dirty?

Yes, your lease will explain what is expected when you move out, namely, returning the apartment key with the apartment in the same condition as when you moved in. Leases do consider normal wear and tear, but have the expectation that the home will be clean and sanitary for the next tenant.

If everyone has to perform a move-out cleaning, why should I pay for a move-in cleaning?

This is a logical question with a very logical answer. Do you really want to trust that the home was cleaned to your satisfaction? Consider what people might potentially do in each room and what that might leave behind.

Not to be gross, but remember the stories about what inspectors have found in hotel rooms? Well, your home could be just as bad or worse. It’s easy to fake a clean, so you don’t want to take any risks with your health or living with the constant worry of potential “ick” factors every time you bathe, use the bathroom, or prepare a meal!

If I really want to know the home is clean, why not just do it myself?

This is another good question. Let’s put it this way: do you really want to worry about cleaning your new home on top of moving? When exactly would you do it? You likely won’t have time to do it before you move, unless you get the keys early.

Even then, you’ll have so many other things to worry about that you likely won’t get to it. That leaves cleaning to moving day. How tired will you be? How can you inspect the home for dirt if the residence is filled with boxes and all your furniture?

No, we definitely say that although you could try cleaning your new home yourself, you won’t have the time, tools, cleaning products, energy, or desire to do so with everything else you have to worry about!

Contact the Cleaning Experts at Maid4Condos

So, there you have it. Although not drastically different in theory, move-in and move-out cleanings ensure you honour your commitments and give you peace of mind knowing your new home is cleaned to within an inch of its life!

Click here to get a quote on Maid4Condos’ move-in/move-out cleaning in North York packages. For more information, you can also call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.

Setting up a Cleaning Schedule for Your New Home

Posted on by Swaara Heli

If you’ve just moved into a new home, it can be challenging to figure out how to tackle your cleaning routine. This is especially true if your new home is much larger than your previous home. 

Setting up a cleaning schedule for your new home

In this article, we will offer tips from our house cleaning services in North York to help you set up a regular cleaning schedule that keeps your new home comfortable and presentable.

A List of Clean-As-You-Go Items

One of the most important methods of keeping a clean home is to use the clean-as-you-go approach. By cleaning up noticeable messes you create every day, you keep your home looking far neater. Some examples would include:

  • Putting dirty clothes in the hamper instead of on the floor.
  • Wiping up toothpaste globs and other product spills in the bathroom when you get ready for work or bed.
  • Putting away anything you take out and no longer need.
  • Wiping up foot or paw prints from wet shoes.
  • Hanging up coats, knapsacks, etc., when you get home.
  • Making the bed (some people do not believe in this, so we respect that!).
  • Wiping down the microwave after a boil-over.
  • Giving the toilet bowl a swish after particularly scary “sessions”.

Create a List for Daily Cleaning Chores

Daily cleaning chores ensure your home remains tidy and avoid really messy build-ups. This includes all those very noticeable messes you create every day, including the following:

  • Dishes: You should either load your dishwasher every day or wash your dishes by hand to reduce issues like caked-on dirt, attracting pests, and avoiding odours and germs. If you don’t have time to tackle the dishes from each meal, set aside time each evening to wash the dishes. It helps to rotate duties with others in your household, such as someone who empties the dishwasher, puts dishes on the dishrack away, and loads the dishwasher or washes the dishes. Another good rule is that everyone washes, dries, and puts their own dishes away if you have roomies.
  • Kitchen counters and stove top: All meal preparation areas should be cleaned and wiped down with disinfecting cleaners and wipes to reduce germs and bacteria that can make you sick. This also avoids stains and caked-on messes. 
  • Rinsing the kitchen sink: Once the dishes are taken care of, the sink should be rinsed clean, and all food debris should be emptied from the sink strainer.
  • Sweeping up: The kitchen floor should also ideally be swept every day to get rid of crumbs and other food remnants.

Create a List of Weekly Cleaning Chores

Your daily cleaning greatly reduces the effort needed for your weekly cleaning chores. It also makes your life easier by spreading the chores across different days so you don’t waste your weekend cleaning. 

For example, you might vacuum on Monday while a load of laundry is running, then do some dusting on Tuesday, and then tend to the floors on Wednesday. Weekly cleaning chores include the following:

Bathroom

A weekly cleaning of the bathroom is a must because of all those germs. This would include:

  • All surfaces
  • Tub or shower
  • Toilets
  • Floors
  • Mirrors

Floors

Floors should be cleaned weekly, including vacuuming rugs, sweeping hard-surface floors, and mopping hard surfaces with a material-appropriate cleaner. If you have pets, you likely need to vacuum more often to tackle all that hair and dander.

Dusting

Not all homes have enough dust accumulation to justify needing to dust weekly. Keep an eye on dust build-up on furniture surfaces to decide if you happen to be lucky enough to dust less frequently. Make sure you use a static-style duster to attract dust so you aren’t releasing it back into the air.

Laundry

Most people just need to do the laundry once a week. However, if you fancy yourself a fashionista who changes a few times a day, then you should do a load every few days.

Remember that laundry isn’t over when the dryer alarm goes off! You should not only be taking the clothes from the dryer, but also folding or hanging it and putting it away. 

Make a List of Monthly Cleaning Chores

Again, the more diligent you are at sticking to your daily and weekly cleaning schedule, the less effort you’ll need to tackle your monthly cleaning chores. However, an important tip for tackling monthly cleaning is to rotate the tasks, so every major chore is addressed one at a time. 

These chores include the following:

  • Washing baseboards 
  • Cleaning light fixtures
  • Laundering your full bedding
  • Vacuuming the furniture
  • Cleaning your oven
  • Wiping down your small appliances
  • Washing windows
  • Wiping down things like walls and light switches in high-traffic areas

By tackling one or two of these things each month, you’ll keep on top of the heavier-duty cleaning tasks for a comfortably clean home.

Tips for Balancing Life and Cleaning

Although this list seems overwhelming, no one is going to call you out for not following the schedule to a tee! Remember, a tidy home reduces stress, but keeping a tidy home shouldn’t contribute to that stress. 

Some tips to help balance life and cleaning might include the following:

  • Be flexible: Your schedule should be flexible, allowing you to swap out days when something more important comes up.
  • Share duties: When you live with others, whether it’s a partner, kids, or roommates, it’s important to share duties equally. This makes cleaning easier and reduces resentment that can create a less-than-happy living environment.
  • Find cleaning opportunities: Look for opportunities to do a little cleaning here and there, such as dusting the living room while watching the news, picking up the kids’ toys while dinner is cooking, or throwing in a load of laundry while listening to a podcast.
  • Add cleaning to your calendar: Having tasks on your calendar acts as a placeholder to take care of your cleaning jobs. It also allows you to consider other things you’ve got on the go so that you can manage all aspects of your life from one place.

Hire House Cleaning Services in North York

When life gets too busy, there’s no shame in admitting that you can’t do it all. Hiring a cleaning company to come in weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly will ensure your home is always clean to reduce pressure and stress.
Maid4Condos offers house cleaning services in North York and across the GTA with affordable prices. For more information, call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.