Category: Cleaning Tip

Considering you spend about eight hours each night in your bed, you’d like to think that the bed is clean. However, many people overlook the importance of cleaning their sheets and bedding on a regular basis. The thing is, your bed is filled with all kinds of unpleasant things including dead skin cells, sweat, oils, and out and out dirt dragged in from your feet.

The less often you wash your sheets the more of this stuff there is in your bed. We’re talking about serious allergens and irritants that are not only yucky but also bad for your health. Not quite the bed partner you dream of we imagine. With this disturbing thought in mind, here is how, why, and how often you should wash your sheets.

Why wash your sheets?

Clean sheets reduce the amount of debris in your bed that can actually make you sick. All that body oil, sweat, and dead skin in hand with the dreaded dust mites, dead and living, are breathed in the night after night while you sleep. It’s pretty sci-fi when you consider your bed is filled with microscopic dust mites that pretty much everyone is allergic to in some way.

While they aren’t biters or even remotely noticeable compared to say bed bugs, they still are living little critters you ideally want to reduce in numbers as much as possible. Plus, along with the multiple hundreds of thousands of dust mites, your dead skin cells – which by the way, are what dust mites eat – can trigger other symptoms like contact dermatitis. So more ew, and ew, which really means one thing: Wash your sheets.

How often should you wash your sheets?

Wait for it – you actually need to wash your sheets once a week. Yep, we thought that might surprise you. And it gets worse. If you have a pet that tends to sleep with you, you’re looking at it twice a week. If you have breathing issues like asthma or allergies, it’s more like every few days if you want to reduce your symptoms. Sweaty nights in the summer? Every day or two. Seasonal allergies? The same. So if you want to have those crisp, clean sheets like mom (or maybe grandma) always had, read on.

How should I wash my sheets?

So since your sheets are clearly gross, you now have an incentive to wash them often. To get the freshest, cleanest sheets possible follow these steps:

• Check for Stains: Sheets can have stains caused by blood, sweat, and let’s throw in tears, along with other things like lotions and makeup if you’re too tired to wash your face before bed. So check for stains and pretreat them with a stain cleaner before you toss them in the washer.
• Follow Instructions: With any luck, you might have a label on your sheets that tells you how to wash them. Different materials need different care. While today most of the sheets you buy will tend to be cotton or a cotton blend, you might have sheets that are polyester blends. These sheets need warm water, while cotton needs hot water. In general though, to kill those dust mites and other possible germs, the hotter the water the better. Just check the label to make sure there isn’t some kind of instruction saying cold.
• Wash with Like Colours: Hopefully, when you do the laundry you separate the colours. Do the same with your sheets to avoid colours running or ‘bleeding’. Darks with darks, lights with lights.
• Respect Your Allergies: If you tend to have sensitive skin or other allergies, keep in mind many detergents and dryer sheets, especially ones with those pretty fragrances can irritate your symptoms. While the idea of those fresh scents like “dreamy breeze” seems cleaner, a fragrance-free detergent and dryer sheet get your sheets just as clean sans irritation.
• Dryer Setting: Living in a condo, chances are you can’t hang your sheets out to dry. Make sure you follow the instructions on the best setting for your sheets when you put them in the dryer.
• Iron them: Yeh, it’s a pain and added step, but an important one. The heat of the iron provides that one-two punch to wipe out any remaining germs that didn’t get taken out in the washer and dryer.

These steps will keep your sheets fresh and clean. A good tip is to invest in at least one other set of sheets so you can rotate them.

How do I wash my other bedding?

Good question, since those comforters, pillow shams and other bedding can get dirty too. The good news is, these layers tend to be exposed to less “soiling”. But you still want to clean them once in a while. We always recommend you invest in a duvet cover because you can easily remove it and toss it in the laundry along with your mattress cover and pillow shams.

Some fancier pillow shams might have special washing instructions so be sure to read the label. Items such as blankets and duvets/comforters should be washed every few months or at least four times a year on the seasons. Thicker duvets or those filled with down require dry cleaning, so again read those labels!

Can I keep my sheets cleaner between cleans?

Yes, there are a few things you can do to keep your sheets fresher for longer including:

• Always remove your makeup at bedtime
• Avoid slathering yourself with lotions and moisturizers at bedtime
• Never eat or drink in bed
• Don’t let your pets sleep on the sheets, instead make them sleep on their own cover
• Brush your feet off before you get into bed to remove crumbs and debris

These little tips will help keep your bed cleaner.

One Last Tip: Mattresses and Pillows

While clean sheets and pillowcases are always nice, don’t forget your mattress and pillows. The smaller debris found on your sheets can shake right through to your mattress. This includes your pillows where things like drool and sweat can also cause issues. First, make sure you use pillow protectors and a mattress cover that you wash along with your sheets. Next, vacuum, yes vacuum your mattress during your cleaning routine to remove debris, allergens, and dust mites.

Looking for residential cleaning services? Contact us!

For more information about residential cleaning in Toronto, call Maid4Condos at (647) 822-0601 or contact us here.

You’ve got enough to worry about when it comes to cleaning your condo. Do you really want to add another cleaning job to the list? The truth is, cleaning houseplants might sound ridiculous but it really helps keep them healthy.

Clean houseplants look greener and healthier. However, they actually are healthier because they aren’t smothered in dust. Here’s why you should clean your houseplants with tips on how to keep them green and thriving.

Why clean houseplants?

Your houseplants have a ton of unwanted residue on them from the moment they arrive in your home. Unfortunately, most greenhouses use all kinds of things to keep their plants “healthy” until they go to the retailer. This includes pesticides and “cleaners” but even something as simple as dirty hard water that might drip on them from condensation or leaks in the greenhouse roof.

So why is this a problem? The hard water contains tons of minerals that lead to those spotty whitish marks on your plant’s foliage. A good wipe of the leaves removes that gunk and allows your plants to breathe.

Once your plants settle in, your own home contributes to their tribulations. The biggest culprit is dust. Dust makes it difficult for your plants to “respire”, their form of breathing shall we say. Also, indoor plants can still get infested with bugs such as aphids and white flies. These nasty little creatures secrete a sticky substance that usually contains eggs. You really want to wipe this away or else your home will be a mess of tiny flying insects that will drive you insane. But most of all, clean plants just look prettier, greener and happier.

DIY Houseplant Cleaner

Now that you know why you need to clean your houseplants we can get to the how. We recommend using this DIY houseplant cleaning concoction that is healthy and won’t cause harm to you or your plants:

• 1/2 – 3/4 cup white vinegar
• 1/2 gallon water (around 8 cups)
• 5-10 drops of non-toxic dish soap

Shake it all up in a clean spray bottle and you are ready to go.

Steps to Cleaning Houseplants

Here is all the love and attention your plants need to look their best:

• Dusting: Yes dusting! Your plants get a dusty build up just like the other surfaces in your condo. The good news is you can actually just use a microfiber duster to keep the dust under control. A light touch makes short work of the dust or, if you’re feeling extra tender towards your plants, you can use a soft damp cloth to wipe the dust away.
• Shower: Well, not exactly a shower, but a nice spray of water will do. You can put your small plants right in the sink and give them a gentle spray once or twice a month. It takes off the excess dust nicely. Let the plants rest in the sink for a while before putting them back in their place.
• The Cleanse: Using your spray bottle filled with DIY houseplant cleaner, spritz your plants and let it drip from the leaves. This removes the dirt. You’ll also want to lay down paper towels to catch the drops. If you have a balcony, place your plants out there and spray away.
• Wiping Down Large Leaves: For plants with big leaves, soak a soft cloth in your DIY mixture and wipe each leaf down individually when they’re looking dusty.
• Trim and Pluck: While you’re cleaning, give your plant a nice trim and pluck to remove dead, dry leaves. This encourages new growth while getting rid of the ugly yellow or brown leaves. Don’t forget to remove dead leaves from the soil.

One more tip: Always just let the leaves air dry when using water or your DIY spray cleaner.

How to Avoid Damaging Houseplants

There a few mistakes people make when cleaning houseplants that can lead to damage including:

• Putting Wet Plants in the Sun: It might be tempting to move wet plants into direct sunlight to help them dry faster, but this can actually burn them.
• Using Commercial Cleaners: Even if the product says it is good for “leaf shine” always stick to your own DIY cleaner. Otherwise, the commercial cleaners will clog your leaves’ pores so they can’t respire. You’ll also make your plants look like they are plastic which kind of defeats the purpose of having real plants.
• Adding Shine: If your indoor plants don’t have a natural shine to them, avoid using tips you might find online like coconut or olive oil or mayo! It might work but honestly, this would never occur in nature, so it’s best to just stick to the regime we’ve covered here and let the leaves keep their natural look.
• Fuzzy Leaves: Plants with fuzzy leaves, like African violets, don’t react well to spraying. Only dust these plants with a dry microfiber duster.
• Night Cleaning: Although you have more spare time at night, avoid late-night cleaning for your plants. This is when they respire so you want to let them respire in peace.

How often should you clean your houseplants?

A good rule of thumb is to get into the habit of spraying your smaller plants regularly. For larger plants take a look when you’re doing the rest of your dusting and fit in a wipe down when they look like they need it. The good thing about houseplants is that you can usually do one good cleaning and then keep them pretty clean with regular dusting.

Remember, the whole soak in the sink thing is like a spa day for your plants, so it’s a nice treat for them once or twice a month. You can even place them in the shower for a nice natural “rain”, but only if you have a light flow adjuster so they don’t get pelted. Leave them in there to drain and enjoy the nice humidity. This is not recommended for cacti though!

Need help? Contact Maid4Condos

To learn more about professional cleaning in Toronto, call Maid4Condos at (647) 822-0601 or contact us here.

Whether you are moving in or out of a home, you want to know that it will be spic and span clean. First of all, often when moving out, a professional clean is part of the terms and conditions of leases and offers. Second, if you are moving into a home, you really have no idea of how clean the former owners or tenants left the place. Professional move out cleaning tackles both scenarios beautifully. Here are 10 reasons you need to get a professional move out cleaning:

1. It’s the right thing to do

When moving out, simply put, it’s just the right thing to do. You wouldn’t want to move into a home that wasn’t clean, so using the whole “do unto others” idea here will make you feel better about yourself. Also, even if you never see the people moving in, it will feel horrible knowing they think you were disorganized and inconsiderate because you left a mess behind. It’s all about karma.

2. You’ll feel better

When moving in, you’ll feel better knowing you have that move out cleaning freshness; this means you can settle in comfortably. Every corner of the home will be scrubbed and sanitized so you can feel confident preparing food in the kitchen, or taking a shower without encountering germs.

3. You can’t do it yourself

Even if you are cleaning obsessed (like Monica Green-level obsessed on Friends), you just can’t get the same quality of clean as one from a professional service. Also, you might not have time, even if you have every intention of cleaning yourself. Moving is a big job with packing and hiring movers, or renting a van. What if you run out of time? Your best bet is to hire the pros so you can worry about other things.

4. Stress free

Both from a move in and move out position, hiring professional cleaning services is stress free. You have the team come in either after you move out or just before you move in, and it’s one less thing to worry about on moving day.

5. It’s more efficient

Professional cleaners have the process down pat. They send in a team of trained employees who have a checklist they use to complete the job quickly and efficiently. They have the tools they need in hand with the safe cleaning products to tackle all messes so you can be confident the job is done to meet even the most discerning resident’s expectations.

6. Sell your home faster

It makes even more sense to arrange for a move out cleaning when you put your home up for sale. This way, everything is presented in the best possible light. Floors shine, grout is pristine, kitchen grime is completely removed, old worn out carpeting is steam cleaned to look new again, and windows and appliances sparkle. Your home will never look as good, and buyers will see it. A thorough cleaning also makes your home feel fresh.

7. Nothing is missed

As mentioned, your cleaning company uses a checklist, so nothing gets missed. You don’t want to receive phone calls with complaints once you’ve moved out. This can even lead to additional costs if your landlord or new owners decide you didn’t comply with terms. A professional cleaning company will do the job right the first time, so you never have to worry about it. Your cleaning will include:

• General cleaning. This includes every room in the home, including hallways. It is the best overall cleaning you’ll ever see with every surface addressed to remove dust and dirt, vacuuming and all the buildup of grime and germs in the bathroom, including and especially the sinks, toilets, and tubs. These are all the key areas people worry about when moving into a new home.
• Kitchen. The kitchen needs its own level of cleaning, including wiping down and removing stains from all the surfaces such as backsplashes, counters, cupboards, and floors. Things that tend to build up grease and grime will receive special attention, so everything looks as clean as possible. Inside the cupboard shelves are also cleaned to remove particles of food and other debris so people feel safe storing all their dishes and other items. Floors will receive a thorough cleaning all the way up to the baseboards, and walls are also wiped down with the proper cleaners to attack bacteria and grime.
• Windows. Smudgy windows are a real turn off and interfere with sunlight filtering into the home. While the old joke is that cleaning companies don’t do windows, this is a must when it comes to your move out cleaning services.
• Appliances. Dirty appliances really raise the ick factor when someone moves into a new home. A thorough cleaning of appliances both inside and out keeps them user ready while also making them shine. This should include not only fridges and stoves, but also microwaves and hood fans over the oven. All of these items can be extremely difficult to clean and need special attention to ensure the surfaces are hygienic for the new residents.

8. Smoke smell

Smoke from tobacco and marijuana can last forever in a home if not properly cleaned. A professional move out clean wipes down all surfaces that smoke odours tend to cling to. This includes walls, floors, and especially carpeting.

9. Pet mess

Another thing that contributes to odours is past pet messes. This also leaves unsightly stains that might have been hidden by area rugs and furniture. A thorough cleaning will tackle stains and past pet messes to help reduce odours and provide a cleaner appearance to the home.

10. Hidden messes

As mentioned above, once furniture and areas rugs are packed up and moved out, suddenly all the hidden messes you didn’t know were there become obvious. Move out cleanings are done when the home is completely empty, so every little detail is addressed.

Contact Maid4Condos

If you would like to hire a truly professional and thorough move out cleaning team, speak to Maid4Condos today.

When you live in a condo, you might find that your closets seem to lack space. Often, this is because you either don’t have enough closets, have too much stuff, or aren’t optimizing the space. Regardless, you can take steps to make the most of your closet space. Here are some tips to clean your closet and keep it organized:

Prepare Yourself with the Right Tools

While it might seem strange to need tools to clean a closet, if you want to do it right, you will need:

• Rags
• A pail of warm soapy water
• Vacuum or broom
• Cleaning gloves
• Dust mask
• Trash bags
• Laundry basket
• Boxes
• Matching hangers
• Hooks and closet organizers
• Marker/pen, paper, and tape

All of these items will help make short work of your cleaning project and help you get everything organized.

Empty it Out

A big mistake people make when trying to clean and organize a closet is that they try to do it as is. Instead, you first need to empty everything out so you can make a fresh start of it. Also, this is the only way you can clean all the surfaces and remove dust. This is where your dust mask comes in. Even though you keep the door closed, dust can accumulate on surfaces, on the floor, and on your stuff, so wear your mask to avoid getting an allergy attack!

Clean Away

Once everything is removed, it becomes easier to see the dirt. Put on your gloves and dip your rag in the water to wipe down the walls and shelves from top to bottom. Then, use a broom or vacuum to tackle the floors before you wash them with your mop. Pay attention to corners near the ceiling where cobwebs might be hanging. If there is a light, see if it needs an energy efficient bulb, and if there are any dead bugs in the lamp shade!

Get to Sorting

Now that everything is clean, it’s time to start sorting through your stuff. Use your laundry basket, boxes, and bags to organize everything. Label the boxes so you don’t accidentally throw anything out. The things you keep can be folded and placed in piles on the floor, while the trash bags are for garbage, and the boxes are for charity. Go through each piece and consider how often you wear it, if it still fits, if it is in fashion, and whether it is suited to keep, toss, or donate. As you work, group things that you wish to keep into their own piles by their category such as pants, shirts, sweaters, purses, shoes, and so on.

Put Away Your Clothes

Once everything is sorted, it’s time to put everything away. Hang up the items that need to be like blouses, dress shirts, jackets, suits, and dresses. You can get very organized and decide to sort by colour as you hang your clothes if you are so inclined. Items that go in drawers or on shelves should be neatly folded and placed in their proper area. This is a good time to consider if you could use a shoe rack or some form of storage for your shoes. Handy shoe racks come in hangable varieties, including ones you can hang on the inside of your closet door. Put the shoes you wear most often in the easier to access areas, and the others can be stored on a higher up shelf.

Use Organizers

At this stage, assess your closet and decide how you can make the most of the space. As mentioned in your list of tools, this might include things like hooks, or other forms of organizers like boxes or shelves. Consider if you can use wall space, have room to add more shelves, another rod, and so on. Some fun ideas include:

• Place scarves on shower rings hung over a hanger so you can loop them through the rings.
• Keep jewellery in clear pocket organizers.
• Decide if some items might be best kept elsewhere like the bathroom, a dresser drawer, or your bedside table.

The key is to be creative and find new ways to use items, or better ways of using the space you have.

Clean Your Clothes

Anything you tossed in the laundry basket can now be put in the laundry or placed by the door for the dry cleaners. Ideally, you can get the laundry done the same day, so you can assess your space again once it is put away.

Take Your Giveaways to Charity

Don’t put off taking your giveaways to your local charity. The sooner you get it out of your home, the less chance there is for you to have a change of heart. The goal here is to downsize, and deciding to keep things you had slated to toss is a step backwards. Consider asking friends if they’d like first dibs on items you are giving away. Another idea is to have your best items dry cleaned and then post them for sale on a site like Posh. It’s a great way to make a little money on the side.

Have a Plan

Once everything is organized, have a plan so it can stay that way. This should include:

• Schedule regular laundry days so you avoid a major pile up.
• Always put your laundry away as soon as you take it out of the dryer.
• Invest in more hangers if you find that you are running short.
• Get into the habit of placing dirty clothes in the laundry hamper instead of on the floor.
• Keep clothes that need dry cleaning near the door in a laundry bag so you can take it each week.
• Remember to sweep inside your closet when you are sweeping the rest of your condo.

Contact Maid4Condos

These steps might be hard to stick to, but if you have a plan, you are more likely to keep your closet organized. If you would like help, at Maid4Condos, we cater to all your Toronto condo cleaning needs to keep everything neat and organized. Reach out to us today.

It can be hard keeping the slush, snow and salt of winter out of your front hall without using condo cleaning services. Wet boots and pets track in salt from the street that can wreak havoc with your floors and carpets. If you are sick and tired of trying to remove the mess of winter from your front hall, use these eight tips to keep things dry and salt-free.

1. Use a “welcome mat”

If your condo allows, place a welcome mat outside your door to wipe your boots off before you walk into the home.

2. Five steps of foyer matting

In your foyer place a winter mat that provides at least five steps’ worth of space. This allows you to walk into the front hall without stepping onto your carpet, laminate or hardwood. You can then wipe your feet off before removing your boots. By wiping as much of the salt and slush residue off your shoes and boots as possible, you can reduce runoff as the snow melts.

Be sure to choose a mat designed for this purpose. These mats use a material ideal for scraping, while also offering safety underfoot with antiskid backs. They aren’t necessarily pretty but they serve the purpose. If you are ultra-sensitive about keeping your home looking snazzy, consider using an outdoor area rug that can provide a punch of colour, while also doing the job of absorbing the mess. Good outdoor area rug materials include wool, sisal, seagrass, hemp and polypropylene.

3. Use a boot tray

Next, keep a boot tray designed specifically for winter footwear right at the door. Once you wipe your feet, take your boots off and place them in the tray. Boot trays are designed with a lip – and often ridges – to help allow the snow and slush to melt and then keep the melt from running off the tray or staining your boots and shoes.

4. Use a winter rinse floor cleaner

This is a special formula that can be harder to find if you don’t use condo cleaning services. Your best bet is to check hardware stores or search online to order it. This is the only solution you can buy to target the salt stains left behind from melting snow. Be sure to choose one suitable for your floor type. The right winter rinse will break down salt deposits, without leaving behind a residue to dull floors.

5. Wipe floors often

Keep a handy floor cleaner ready at the door to wipe up any splashes right away. This helps you keep on top of the cleaning and removes salt before it can set in. Products like Swiffer can work well as you can do a quick spritz and wipe away the mess. Just be careful about the “grit” as it’s hard to spot the salty residue but it’s easy to feel it. The gritty feel can damage flooring, so if you do have hardwood or laminate, first sweep gently to remove grit and then use the Swiffer gently to avoid scratches.

6. Salt stains on matting

If you notice your mats are getting gritty and stained, you should give them a clean too, otherwise, you can track the salt into your home. Winter rinse products are usually okay for use on carpets too. However, you’ll actually need a wet/dry vacuum to use on carpeting or mats. This is a messy job and most people don’t have such a fancy cleaning machine if they live in a condo. If this is the case, be sure to at least vacuum your mats regularly to suck up any salt that might get tracked in.

7. Pet safety

If you have pets, keep in mind that salt and ice melt products can be very harmful if pets eat them. Try to find a place in your closet to keep your boot tray and shoes so there is less risk of them licking or chewing at them and getting residue into their systems. It is also equally important to keep carpets and floors as clean as possible with frequent wiping and cleaning if you have pets.

8. Professional cleaning

If you have wall-to-wall carpeting, you should arrange to have a professional cleaning once spring arrives. The salt and other ice melt products can get into the air which is not really healthy to breathe. A good cleaning will extract the residue and leave your home feeling fresh and your carpets softer and cleaner.

For help removing salt stains from your front door, call Maid4Condos at (647) 822-0601 or contact us here.

Household chlorine bleach is made to avoid damaging common household surfaces, such as stainless steel, nonporous surfaces like many kitchen and bathroom countertops, porcelain, glass, and stainless steel. That means it is safe to use as an effective disinfectant cleaner for things such as toilets and sinks, most floors, trash cans, and more. Because bleach has a strong smell and can also be irritating to the skin, eyes, and lungs, there are ways to use it properly to make it safer when cleaning your home. Here are 9 ways our house-cleaning services experts recommend you use bleach safely.

1. A little goes a long way

Bleach is highly effective and, therefore, doesn’t require large amounts to do its job. The safest way to use it is to dilute it with water using a ratio of ⅓ cup of bleach to 4 litres of water. This will provide a bleach disinfectant cleaner ideal for home use.

2. Only mix bleach with water

While it might be tempting to mix bleach with other types of cleaners, this is a big no-no. Bleach with water is fine, but mixing it with anything else including vinegar will produce toxic gases. These gases are harmful and can cause breathing issues, burning watery eyes, and shortness of breath. Bleach and ammonia together are even worse, as it produces the highly toxic gas, chloramine. It too can cause issues including chest pain. Your safest bet is to avoid mixing bleach with anything other than water. For example, avoid using bleach even in combination with another cleaner such as when wiping down a counter with bleach, followed by another kitchen surface cleaner, which can contain things such as alcohol that produces chloroform.

3. Excellent for disinfecting

A diluted bleach solution is perfect for sanitizing things such as toys, doggy bowls, shower curtains, etc. It not only kills germs, but can also help remove stains. If you find your outdoor furniture has grown mould, it is the perfect solution to remove it and keep it away. When using bleach, even a diluted kind for anything that might come into contact with food, hands, or mouths, always thoroughly rinse it away.

4. Kitchen use

As mentioned, bleach is safe for use on most kitchen surfaces. This includes sealed granite countertops and stainless steel. For kitchen use, dilute the bleach with ½ cup of bleach for 4 litres of water. Apply the bleach to the surface, wait 5 minutes, and then rinse it away. Allow it to air dry. Other areas you can use bleach in the kitchen include:

• To clean the inside of the fridge
• Cleaning the sink
• The outside of other kitchen appliances
• To disinfect trash cans
• To disinfect cutting boards
• To clean your scrubbing sponges
• Kitchen floors

5. Bathrooms

People have used bleach to clean bathrooms for years. It does a great job in showers, sinks, tubs, toilets, and floors. It is the ideal choice for bathrooms because this is a room where germs like to hide. Use the same dilution as for the kitchen, and follow the same instructions. You can also pour a ½ cup of bleach directly into the toilet bowl, give it a good scrub with your toilet brush, and wait about 5 minutes before flushing it down the toilet. If you have kids and keep bath toys in the bathroom, they will be prone to germs and bacteria. Place the toys in a bucket with a ½ cup of bleach and 4 litres of water, and let them sit in a well-ventilated area for 5 minutes. Make sure you rinse them thoroughly and air dry before using them again.

6. Laundry

Bleach cannot be poured directly onto clothes. It will actually bleach out colours and leave marks that will ruin your clothes. To use bleach in the laundry, it has to be placed in the washer bleach dispenser. About ¾ cup of bleach should do the trick. If you have tough stains on whites only, you can soak them in ¼ cup of bleach and 4 litres of water for no longer than 10 minutes. In the case of some light coloured clothes, you can do this as well, but only if the instructions on the label say they are bleach safe. If you aren’t sure, avoiding bleach altogether for laundry might be best. A better option might be using powdered oxygen bleach products. When dissolved with warm water, it can be used to remove stains. However, you should do a spot check somewhere, like under the collar or where the shirt might be tucked in before trying it! If it seems safe, apply the powder/water mix, and let the clothes soak in cold water overnight.

7. Outdoor use

We’ve already mentioned using bleach on outdoor furniture, but you can use it for many things in the garden including:

• Cleaning garden tools in 1 part bleach to 4 parts water to reduce the risk of spreading diseases to plants.
• Plant pots should also be cleaned with the same solution before reusing to reduce the risk of diseases.
• Hardscaping such as stepping stones, masonry, concrete, and brick can also be cleaned with bleach solutions to remove moss and algae growth using 1 cup of bleach to 4 litres of water sprayed in areas with growth.

Make sure you rinse everything well. In the case of hardscaping, when rinsing with a hose, direct the water away from garden beds.

8. When not to use bleach

First and foremost, bleach is a disinfectant. Therefore, for everyday cleaning, using an appropriate surface cleaner is best. That’s because bleach won’t remove dirt or residue, but instead kills germs. If you want to use bleach as a disinfectant on dirty surfaces, always clean the dirt away first, rinse with water, and then apply the bleach solution.

9. Beware of fumes and skin contact

If you’ve used bleach in the past, you know it stinks! However, those fumes can cause harm. When possible, either open the windows or turn on a fan when using bleach to help keep the fumes to a minimum. As well, always work wearing gloves to protect your skin from irritation.

If you want to keep your home germ-free and spotless, leave it up to our expert house-cleaning services at Maid4Condos to keep your house clean. Reach out to us today.

You’ve seen those cheesy commercials where the woman opens her Tupperware cupboard, and everything comes tumbling out. While that might be an exaggeration, it probably rings true for most of us. All those lids and containers create a horrible, disorganized mess that makes it frustrating to match things up when you need them. However, don’t despair. The following kitchen organization tips can help you make the most of your space so you can easily find the perfect sized container without an avalanche of plastic.

Declutter

The first step is to declutter. Take everything out of the cupboard and match up the lids and containers. Anything left over should be tossed. Next, consider how many containers aren’t actually yours. We tend to start a collection of other people’s Tupperware from the food they’ve given us, which can really start to build up over time. Put those aside and give them back to the person who gave them to you. Then, try to figure out a realistic number and assortment of sizes you actually need. You don’t want to come up short, but it will make a big difference in how much space your Tupperware takes up. Last, anything that isn’t Tupperware will need a new home.

Organize Based on Use

Look at the containers you have and place anything you tend to use less frequently on the hardest to reach shelves (if they fit). Work your way down from least used to most used so that the most popular items are easiest to reach.

Choose a Sorting Method

There are a few ways you can choose to sort and organize your containers:

• Stacking and “filing”. Because you more than likely have an assortment of sizes, stack the container bottoms inside each other from largest to smallest. Then, take the lids and “file” them on their sides in order from largest to smallest beside the bottoms. This helps take up less space, and will also make it easier to find the bottom and lid that goes together.
• Like with like. You can choose to sort the containers with like sizes or shapes together on each shelf. This way, you don’t have to worry about any matchups. You stack the bottoms in each other and put the lids together to the side or beneath the bottoms.
• Separate shelves for bottoms and lids. Another idea is to stack the bottoms inside each other on one shelf and then file the lids on the shelf above on their sides from largest to smallest. This takes a little more effort to keep in order, but works nicely.

Use Organizers

Don’t overlook the need for a little kitchen organization assistance with organizers you can place in cupboards, in drawers, or on shelves such as:

• Boxes. If you have smaller Tupperware containers, place them in a box on the shelf so you can just take them out to find what you need and avoid them falling all over the place.
• Use vertical plate racks. Lids can be easily stored in vertical plate racks so they can’t fall over as you put them away or pull them out.
• Tension rods. Tension rods are great if you store Tupperware in deep drawers. They allow you to stand the lids upright and keep them stored vertically to stay in place.
• Book bins. Book bins are another great organizer that can help keep different sizes of containers together, or to file your lids.
• DIY cereal box. Cut off the top of a cereal box and place it on the counter or in the cupboard as a cheap and cheerful storage solution for lids.
• Tupperware kitchen organizer kits. Believe it or not, this problem is common enough that you can actually buy Tupperware kitchen organizer kits and storage systems. While this is more of an investment, it adds value if you own your condo, as everyone loves custom storage solutions. You can find them online.

Use a Matching Set

Consider investing in a matching set or line like Tupperware to make it easier to sort. These sets are designed for nesting, so the ideas discussed above work better. As well, these sets are designed so you can mix and match lids to bottoms, so that even if the sizes are different, the tops are designed to fit the same lids. This means no more sorting through everything to find the right tops and bottoms. Heaven! If this idea isn’t in your budget, you can gradually build up your collection. As your old Tupperware ages, toss it and replace it with the line you want to collect. Soon, you will find you have a matching set.

Keep Things Going

No matter what kitchen organization method you choose for your Tupperware, the key is to keep things neat. You’ll be proud of your work at first, but it’s easy to start slacking when it comes to putting your clean Tupperware away. Some tips to help avoid letting things slide include:

• When putting away your dishes, take the time to place the containers in their rightful place.
• If more than one person does the dishes, make sure everyone understands the container organization setup and rules.
• Investing in a nesting set will really make a big difference in how much effort is needed to keep things organized.

Throw Out Tops and Bottoms

Make sure you toss out both tops and bottoms if you find something damaged. It’s not uncommon for someone to notice a damaged lid or bottom and just throw away the one piece. This leads to kitchen organization issues when you have too many of one or the other! This might not seem eco-friendly, but your plastic food containers can be tossed in your recycle bin.

Take Good Care of Your Tupperware

Last but not least, make sure you follow these basic food container care rules so they last longer:

• Make sure your containers are microwave safe before heating food in them.
• Use non-stick spray lightly in the container before putting foods that can stain in them, such as tomato sauces and curry.
• Consider handwashing your plastic containers instead of putting them in the dishwasher to avoid damage and discolouration.

If you need help with kitchen organization, let our condo-cleaning experts at Maid4Condos help! Reach out to us today.

You know the scene. You open your cutlery drawer looking for a certain spoon and all you see is a mess. You sort through everything until you find what you need and slam the drawer in disgust. Drawers can be tricky because when they are closed, the chaos is out of sight and out of mind. However, every time you open that drawer, you are reminded how messy it is. This can cause hidden stress that simmers and keeps you tense. So, if you want to keep organized and avoid that seething tension, use these kitchen organization tips to keep your cutlery drawer neat.

Clear it Out

The first step is to open the drawer and take a good look at what’s in there. Chances are you’re going to find a lot of things that don’t belong. Take out anything that isn’t cutlery to help to declutter the drawer. Read on and we’ll let you know where to put them!

Everyday Cutlery vs. Special Cutlery

Living in a condo clearly has storage space issues, so you probably stuck all forms of cutlery and flatware into one drawer. If this is the case, consider removing the fancy stuff and making room for it elsewhere. Don’t worry, we’ll give you tips on finding more room further down!

Do you need it?

Be really efficient and do a declutter while you consider the things in this drawer. We’ve already addressed junk and fancy stuff, but now that you’ve pared down the drawer to strictly everyday flatware, ask yourself: Is there tons of it? Is a lot of it mismatched? Consider what you’re left with, and if you really need the odds and ends that are just taking up space. A good rule of thumb is to consider:

• How many people live in the house?
• How many meals, on average, do you eat at home?
• How often do you do the dishes?
• How many sets of forks, knives, and spoons do you need?
• What additional things do you need (such as a butter knife for toast, or a spoon for coffee and tea)?

From there, you can decide if a) you can get rid of anything, or b) if you actually need to buy a new set.

Buy a Cutlery Tray

Once everything is all sorted, purchase a cutlery tray (if you don’t already have one). Then, sort everything into sections so you can find spoons, forks, and knives each in their own spot easily. Next, look at the items you removed from the drawer. Cutlery trays tend to have a few additional larger slots for things such as serving spoons or corn cob holders. Consider which ones you use most often and place them in one of the sections so you can find them easily.

Wash Dishes More Often

Although dishwashing is a pain, try to wash your dishes and put them away after every meal, or at least at the end of each day. This way, you keep on top of your cutlery and have everything ready to use in the morning. Nothing is worse than needing a spoon for your morning tea or coffee and having to dig through the dirty dishes to find one.

Good Silverware

This is where you might want to pull out your hair. If you had your guest silverware mixed in with your everyday cutlery because of space issues, what can you do? Consider all the other drawers in your home. Is there one you could sacrifice for your guest silverware? Is there a shelf in your kitchen cupboards where you could place a cutlery tray for your good silverware? Is there anywhere else in your condo where you could use a box, basket, or even a plastic leftover container to store your good silverware? Here are some other great ideas:

• Cloth drawer liners. Cloth drawer liners are designed for storing silverware. They have sections like a cutlery tray, and a zip. Many can also be rolled, which makes them easier to shove into a drawer elsewhere in the condo until you need them.
• Hang them. Little buckets are perfect for cutlery and kitchen organization. They hold them together, allow them to stand upright so you see what’s inside, and provide designated containers for each type of cutlery. Your dollar store probably has several items you can use. Then, find a place to hang them on the wall or behind a closet door.
• Try layers. Sometimes, a deep space is wasted by using it for a single layer of storage. See if there is a way to fit two trays in one of your deeper drawers so you can use the space more wisely.
• Think vertical. Storing your cutlery vertically takes up less space. Use the little bucket idea to sort and store them upright in a deeper drawer. While counter space might come at a premium, maybe the little buckets can find a snug corner that’s out of the way.
• Create your own tray. Sometimes, the whole cutlery tray idea backfires because they aren’t designed well. When this happens, they might actually waste space. Use thin slats of hobby wood, or other types of ¼ inch wood, to create a cutlery drawer that maximizes space. This helps you to make the most of the single drawer.

The Other Stuff

Now you’re staring down at the other stuff you had tossed in your cutlery drawer. Hopefully, a lot of it is junk like old ketchup backs and take-out Chinese food chopsticks. Throw out anything you don’t need. Anything you do need, consider its use, how often you use it, and where it might make more sense to store it. As with the suggestions above, it might just be a matter of finding some little baskets or buckets to toss them in and store in a corner on the counter, or in a deeper drawer. The odds are it’s a bunch of small finicky stuff, so the silverware ideas should work just as well for all your odds and ends.

If you need help with kitchen organization, let our condo-cleaning experts at Maid4Condos help! Reach out to us today.

Having hardwood, laminate, or tile floors provides a finishing touch to your condo. However, you might find your dream floors harder to care for than you imagined. While carpets just need a quick vacuum once a week, frequently, flooring can show more dirt than carpeting. This can have you wondering how often you should be mopping your floors to help keep them looking clean. If you are finding that your floors are less than pristine, here are some tips to keep them looking spic and span from our condo-cleaning services experts.

Type of Floor

First, you have to be very careful when approaching your mopping because different floor types require different care. You want to use the right cleaner and tools to get the best results, whether it is a combination of a broom, mop, and cleaner, or a quick sweep, often in hand with spot cleans now and then.

Target Weekly Cleaning

Regardless of your flooring type, your target should be a weekly cleaning to avoid buildup of dust, dirt, grime, etc. If you have pets, you might find sweeping is required more often to keep on top of all that fur and hair floating around. As well, your kitchen tends to be the worst when it comes to mess, so keep an eye on things there. You might find you have to sweep daily, especially if you have a full house. Buildup of any kind can slowly cause your floors to look dull and even affect its finish, so cleaning is a must.

Sealed Floors

Sealed wood floors do not need to be mopped and swept as frequently as unsealed floors. This is because they have a shield to protect them against wear and tear. As well, when you mop a sealed floor, as long as you use minimum dampness, they dry quickly, which actually helps shield them from damage and mess. Unsealed floors, on the other hand, have less resistance to water. Therefore, using a damp mop works best, as it can help maintain their condition.

Frequent Traffic

The busier your home, the more attention your floors will need. This goes for how much traffic each room sees. For example, your entrance area will tend to see the most traffic, so it will have the most dirt. It’s also the place every guest will see, as it’s the only way into the condo. So, you’ll want to keep the area looking neater than, say, an office no one ever enters other than you. Areas with more traffic will most likely need a good sweep and mop every few days to keep up with the dirt being brought in from outside. Otherwise, people will start tracking the dirt from the entrance into the rest of the home.

How a Room is Used

This is a little different from traffic. For example, you might not use a hobby room often, but it might be more prone to potential floor messes such as paint and glue drips, shavings from woodwork, glitter, and paper bits from scrapbooking. In this case, you should wash the floor every time you use the room. Another consideration is if you have pets and kids. The rooms they favour will tend to need more attention. As mentioned above, the kitchen usually needs a daily sweep and, sometimes, even a mop since crumbs, food, drips, and so on make a mess almost every time you cook.

Tips to Reduce Mopping Time

If you want to reduce the amount of time dedicated to cleaning your floors, here are some tips to help:

• Use floor mats. This is a good idea for the entryway where people are constantly tracking in mess. A floor mat to wipe feet can reduce how often you find yourself mopping up, especially in the winter when people carry in slush, snow, and salt from the street.
• Boot trays. Keeping boot trays at the entry can also reduce the amount of runoff from boots and shoes in the winter that can create stains and muddy marks on the floors.
• Swiffer. Keep a product such as Swiffer handy to manage messes as they occur. One swipe of drips in the kitchen, for example, can really make quick work of messes and then reduce the time needed for a major mop up.
• Unused areas. Keep an eye on unused areas of the room because they can get dust buildup since no one is walking in to kick it away! Make sure you dust them with a dry mop or cloth to avoid the dust from those areas swirling around the room.
• Dry mop. Dry mops with a microfiber cloth can collect all kinds of debris. This makes it easier to use your wet mop because there will be less dry dirt swooshing around and getting caught in the mop.

Tips to Mop Your Floors

Use these tips to make mopping easier:

• The right tools. Use a sponge or string mop, bucket, and mild cleanser, and keep a nylon scrub pad handy to tackle tough spots.
• Sweep first. As mentioned above, using a dry microfiber mop first or even a vacuum to suck up debris, larger particles, and hair will make it easier to mop up without dragging dirt around.
• Clean water. Use warm water and just a small amount of floor-appropriate cleaner in your bucket. If you don’t choose the right cleaner, not only can you damage your floors, but you can also make them dangerously slick even after they dry. As well, if the water becomes very dirty, you really should replace it.
• Work smart. Don’t clean yourself into a corner. Start at one end of the room and work your way back from side to side. This allows you to swipe at least twice as you move backward and wipe away all the mess. Aim to make an easy exit so you don’t walk across your clean floors.
• Wring out the mop. It can be tempting to slosh more water and cleanser on your floor to clean more effectively, but the opposite is true. You need to wring the mop out so you can get the floors to dry quickly. This way, you won’t leave any stains and watermarks from soppy puddles. Dip and wring out the mop every few steps or so.
• Attack scuffs and buildup. Use your nylon scrub pad to attack grime and stains by hand.
• Clean water rinse. Once you cover the whole area, replace the water with fresh, warm water, and do a quick swipe to remove cleanser residue.

If mopping seems like way too much work, leave it up to our expert condo-cleaning services at Maid4Condos to keep your floors clean. Reach out to us today.

You love your pet, but not their smell. Pets make perfect companions. They don’t talk back and are often up for some affection when you could use some cuddles.  However, they also can make your home smell less than fresh. 

You might not even notice the smell because you become accustomed to it over time. If you have a dog or cat, chances are you also have odours. Use these tips from our home cleaning services experts to deodorize your home and keep things smelling fresh.

1. Use a doggy blanket

Most dogs find a favourite spot to hunker down and nap. Unfortunately, this is the spot most likely to contribute to pet odours. Your dog leaves behind pet oils and fur wherever they lie. If your dog is a little stinky, that stink is also left behind. Dog odours cling to soft surfaces like crazy, including your furniture. So, if you spot the areas your chum likes to chill, these are the spots you should cover with a doggy blanket. You can then throw the blankets or towels in the laundry often to keep the smells down to a minimum.

2. Use a doggy bed

Another option is to use a doggy bed. This helps provide a safe, comfy spot for your dog, so they are less likely to jump up on furniture or your bed. Most come with removable covers so you can wash them often.

3. Use fabric sprays

Just like in the commercials, a good spritz of fabric spray on carpets and other soft surfaces frequented by your four legged pal can make a difference. Because dogs can be sensitive to some chemicals, you can also consider creating your own natural spray using essential oils. 

A good choice is lavender as it smells delightful and is also pet friendly. You can add five drops of lavender oil to 1/2 cup water and 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol to a spray bottle and then give it a shake before spraying it. Use this on your doggy blankets and bed, but be careful if you want to use it on other things like your couch, as it might stain. Test a small area first before you use it.

4. Shampoo carpets

Stink clings to carpets like white on rice, so you need to shampoo your carpets often. A professional carpet cleaner is better than renting a rug cleaner from a store as you can end up with a machine that doesn’t work so well, and your carpets end up soaked.

5. Doggy spa days

While some dog breeds smell more than others, the odours mostly come from dog oils. Therefore if you don’t clean your dog often enough, they are going to smell. As mentioned, each breed is different, so coat care varies from dog to dog. 

Start with a doggy spa day with a trusted dog groomer salon and get a good base clean to keep smells at bay. The salon can then offer tips to keep your dog clean based on their coat. You can then stick to their recommendations, throwing in a few spa days in here and there as well for a fresher smelling doggy. Keep some dog grooming wipes on hand for particularly wet or muddy days to help keep your buddy clean. 

6. Lint rollers

Because dog oils cling to their hair and fur, using a lint roller to remove hair often can also help reduce odours. Do the same with things like sofa cushions and their doggy bed and blanket, so smells are removed.

7. Vacuum

Vacuuming at least once a week also keeps the amount of odour, causing hair to a minimum. This is especially important if you have wall to wall carpets. Make sure you empty the canister or change the vacuum bag often as well. HEPA filter vacuums work best, but they tend to be more expensive.

8. Attend to accidents immediately

As soon as your pet has an accident, clean it up right away. If your pet is prone to messes, always do a quick check around the house for the areas they tend to target so you can clean it up before the stain and odours set in. Using an enzymatic cleaner works best to break down stains and remove smells. Keep a pet stain remover on hand to make the job easier.

9. Simmer yummy spices

We’ve mentioned the spritzer idea to help combat odours. However, if you’re expecting guests or just want to make your home smell nicer, you can simmer a pot of water and your favourite spices like ginger, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice gently for an hour or so to help bring a pleasant smell into the home. 

Simmering citrus fruit slices like lemon and orange also smell great when combined with cloves. You can also choose non-toxic natural scented candles such as eucalyptus and lavender. Both of these stink busting tips require monitoring to avoid fire hazards!  

10. Cat Odours

We don’t want to specifically just call dogs out as little stinkers. Cats create their own fair share of smells as well. In most cases, this results from cat urine that smells very strong and can be overpowering if you don’t clean their litter or pee stains properly. The uric acid in cat urine makes it potent, and it lasts not only on soft surfaces but even on wood. The only way to attack this smelly pee is to use an enzyme cleaner. 

While other cleaners might work for the moment, this potent pee can recrystallize due to humidity. The enzyme cleaner breaks down the uric acid creating a gas that evaporates as the cleaner dries. Of course, keeping their kitty litter fresh is the number one way to combat cat pee smells. 

11. Cleaning cat pee

When you find a cat pee stain, use these tips to clean it up and get those odours:

• Blot up the urine using an old towel.
• Spread some vinegar over the stain.
• Apply the enzyme cleaner to the stain and let it do its thing while it dries. This can take several hours.
• Cover the area with a basket, so your kitty is not tempted to return to the scene of the crime.
• Open the windows, or if the room has a fan, use it to keep the airflow moving to help remove odour residues in the air.
• DO NOT use a steam cleaner on fresh cat urine as this can make the odours set into the carpet faster, and it will be harder to get the smell away.

If your cat is not one for making messes, consider taking them to the vet, as accidents can indicate health issues. 

These tips are sure to keep your four-legged related stinks to a minimum. If cleaning isn’t your thing, hiring Maid 4 Condos home cleaning services can reduce pet-related odours without you lifting a finger. Include our GermBlasters disinfecting spray as an add-on to your cleaning service for the most effective method in preventing germs and bacteria from spreading in your home.

To learn more about how to deodorize your home from your smelly pets, call Maid4Condos at (647) 822-0601 or contact us here.