Category: Cleaning Tip

If your leather couch is your pride and joy, the feather in your home’s stylish cap, or the best place to hunker down for an excellent binge-watching session, keeping it clean is essential. Leather is one of those materials that ooze luxury and presents a challenge when it comes to cleaning. 

Whether you are worried about wear and tear or what to do if you spilled a glass of red wine when that jump scare caught you off guard, you can use our leather cleaning tips to not only keep your leather couch clean but also help it age gracefully. Here are tips on how to safely clean your leather couch and other leather furniture.

Use the Right Tools and Cleaners

To take advantage of the tricks of the trade, it makes sense to start with the trade tools. Cleaning leather requires the following:

• Saddle soap
• Water
• Leather cream
• Soft cloth
• Rubbing alcohol
• Cotton swab

These items help address dirty spots while helping maintain that luxurious leather suppleness you love.

Step1: Good old soap and water

Your cleaning begins with a good old fashioned cleaning with soap and water. It is the best way to remove mild stains. Choosing saddle soap is your safest bet to avoid causing damage. Saddle soap is designed specifically for cleaning, conditioning, and protecting leather using gentle, moisturizing ingredients like lanolin and natural preservatives like beeswax. 

It is an excellent choice for all things leather, including your shoe collection and purses. You can find it at hardware stores, and often big box stores will carry it. Some chain shoe stores sometimes stock it as well. Fill a pail or large bowl with warm soapy water and then dip and wring out a clean washcloth. Wipe away any stains or dirty marks on the leather.

Step 2: Remove deeper stains

Saddle soap is an excellent first step as a general cleaner. However, something like ink is harder to tackle. Using a cotton swab dipped in rubbing alcohol, gently dab at the stain, avoiding touching the surrounding area. Otherwise, you can spread the colour.

Step 3. Thorough drying

Use a clean, soft dry cloth to remove any dampness from the leather. This will prevent mildew from forming. If you were explicitly cleaning away a spot, avoid touching this area when drying the surface.

Step 4. Use a leather cream

Leather is just like skin: It needs moisturizers to remain smooth, soft, and supple. Leather creams are available at fine leather and shoe stores. They help re-moisturize leather. Keep in mind it is not a cleaner, nor is it a polish. 

You simply want to massage it into the leather using a soft, clean cloth and let it sink in. You can then rub it off to remove residue. However, when applied in the right amount, it will simply be sucked into the thirsty leather.

Preventing Stains

First and foremost, you want to attend to a stain as soon as the accident happens. The longer it is left, the more it will penetrate the natural material. Prevent stains with these tips:

1. Clean often

Stains occur on leather not just when you spill something or mark it with a pen but also over time. So cleaning your couch once a week helps prevent dirt from setting in and making noticeable marks and discolourations.

2. Condition

Following our conditioning tips keeps the natural oils in the leather healthy, maintaining that soft sheen. The smoother and more supple the leather, the better it will look and the more quickly you can use your cotton swab and alcohol to remove stains when you spill something.

3. Wipe damp spots

Step 3 is crucial to keep your couch stain free. If you own a leather coat, boots, or shoes, hopefully, you know how important it is to treat them often to prevent water damage. Your couch is no different, and water is not its friend. Although you can use soap and water to clean your couch, water can’t be left on your leather, or it will cause water damage. Use water in small amounts, and be sure to wipe it off the couch once you are finished cleaning.

4. Follow care instructions:

Despite all these cleaning tips, each manufacturer can use different treatments and dyes on their leather products. It is best to follow care instructions provided by the furniture store or that come from the manufacturer.

Leather Care Tips

Cleaning is one thing, but care is another. If you want to get the most out of your leather furniture, use these leather care tips to keep it comfy and perfectly patinaed.

1. Avoid drying leather out

If possible, avoid placing your leather furniture in direct contact with air conditioning, heating, or fireplaces. These things all contribute to drying the leather out, which can lead to cracking. If you must position your furniture in these areas due to lack of space, remember to use that leather conditioner to keep it from getting too dry.

2. No pets

Fido or Kitty won’t like this rule, but it’s a must if you want to avoid damage. Keep your cats and dogs off your leather furniture and train your cat so they will find something else to scratch!

3. Moisturize

As mentioned twice now, moisturizing your leather furniture is a must. Creams keep your leather soft and will even help smooth away scratches if you’ve had trouble keeping the pets off the furniture. Just keep in mind most creams will darken the colour of the leather. You might want to test a small spot that is less visible before you go to town on the whole couch.

4. Make repairs

While leather can be pretty challenging, accidents do happen. If you somehow manage to cut the leather, call a leather repair service to come in and assess the damage. They will know how to fix the issue, so it becomes less visible and less vulnerable to further ripping.

These tips are a leather couch owner’s best friend. If you’re not one for cleaning, hiring basic cleaning services to come in and take on the job is your safest bet. 
To learn more about how to clean your leather couch safely, call Maid4Condos at (647) 822-0601 or contact us here.

You know it’s hard to resist cutting corners and finding the easy way out to keep your home clean. You’re busy and have too many other things you could be doing. However, you also know when you come home to a messy condo, it is downright depressing and even stressful. 

How do you know if those old wives’ tales about cleaning are true? Here we ask our condo cleaning services gurus to help us bust the most common cleaning myths.

Germ Killers

A common claim for household cleaning products is that they “kill 99% of germs”. Keep in mind if germ killing is your goal, which let’s face it, it is for most of us, thanks to COVID-19, you need to find a germ killer approved for killing all germs. Check out the government’s disinfecting and hand sanitizer list online. Otherwise, you might not be getting the germ-killing benefits you think you are.

Vinegar: The Best Natural Cleaner

Look, this one is true, but only in certain situations. Vinegar is acidic, so you don’t want to be using it on every surface in your home. Avoid using it on any natural surfaces such as wood, stone, and granite or else you could wash away the surface or finish.

Too Much Vacuuming Ruins Your Carpet

This is an interesting one because most of us use a vacuum on our carpeting. Luckily, it just isn’t true. You can vacuum your carpets as often as you like, as long as your carpet is not a natural fibre like wool. Synthetic rugs are designed to withstand vacuuming, and it is the best way to get a deeper clean.

All-Natural Cleaning Products are Safe

Natural is a term that is used loosely for all kinds of products, including cleaners. Therefore you should be careful when choosing a product claiming to be natural. For example, ammonia is natural, but it is very dangerous as a cleaner as it leaves trace amounts behind that are hazardous.

Bleach is a Cleaner

Bleach is not a cleaner. It is a disinfectant. So if killing germs is your goal, it’s a good choice. For anything else, you are doing more harm than good. Overall using pure bleach is not recommended because ammonia is not good for your health. 

Choosing appropriate surface cleaners is always your safest bet, as is following the instructions on the label. And never, ever, ever mix bleach with other cleaners. It creates a noxious gas that could cause serious lung issues.

Newspapers Make Glass Sparkle

Any kind of paper can help clean glass, so it is not specific to newspapers. But the thing is, just rubbing glass with newspaper doesn’t accomplish much unless you have lots of time to stand there rubbing away until the dirt is removed. Instead, you should choose an absorbent cloth with glass cleaner to quickly make those windows and glass surfaces sparkle.

“Febreze” It and It’s Clean 

So, Febreze is just a glorified air freshener. Because it smells fresh, you feel you have just cleaned your entire home with a pump of the can. However, it is not a cleaner, nor is it a sanitizer. If you want your home to smell nice, spritz away.

Hairspray Removes Ink Stains

This is a funny one, as it used to be true. Your grandma’s hair spray contained higher hair frizzing alcohol levels, which did assist in ink removal from grandpa’s shirt pockets. However, today, with hair care brands trying to provide hair-friendly ingredients, there is very little in a can of hairspray that will do any good.  If anything, you’ll seal that stain in for good.

Hot Water Kills Germs

You can boil water as much as you like, but in the end, it won’t kill germs. Although hot water can help loosen grimy, stuck on dirt like food gunk, it does nothing to kill germs.

Dirty Clothes? Use More Detergent

Nope. This is not a good idea. All that will happen is you’ll put your laundry machine in a frenzy as soapy suds make it work harder. The suds also are harder to rinse from your clothes and wreak havoc with front load washers.

Cola Cleans Toilets

Apparently, not only does cola clean toilets, but it can also be used to clean pots and pans and even truck engines. Nope. All of these things are nothing more than myths.

Hot Sponge Anyone?

This is a weird one, but it pops up a lot: Tossing sponges in the microwave kills germs. This is rumoured to help kill germs left in your sponge. So people toss their sponges in the microwave for a few minutes to keep them clean. 

What you’re doing is destroying your sponge and probably causing a fire hazard to boot. Don’t do it. Technically, this can’t be an old wives’ tale since microwaves only appeared in kitchens in the mid-1950s, so really not so old.

Use White Wine to Remove Red Wine Stains

Keep a good grip on those wine glasses because this just isn’t true. You’ve already wasted a glass of red wine; do you want to add to the tragedy by adding white wine to the scene? This does nothing and probably makes it worse. Dabbing the red wine right away with a clean cloth sops up the wine, while some salt sprinkled on the stain helps to absorb the rest.

Lemons, Like Vinegar Wash Anything

Lemons have a few uses in the kitchen. When squirted on a sprinkle of baking soda, you can scrub away stains on surfaces like laminate kitchen counters. However, like vinegar, they aren’t intended to clean. As a result, if you are hoping to clean away germs, lemons won’t cut it.

Ketchup Cleans Silverware

Another weird one, this came up often because of the vinegar content in ketchup. However, as mentioned, vinegar is abrasive and acidic and will harm your silverware. And the ketchup? It just makes a horrible mess. 

These old wives’ tales don’t do much to keep your home clean, but a condo cleaning service sure does. If you want an easy way to clean your condo, a cleaning service is an answer. 

To learn more about which old wives’ tales are real and which are not, call Maid4Condos at (647) 822-0601 or contact us here.

You love your pup, but they can make keeping your home clean seem impossible. Although you can keep things neat and tidy, your dog’s fur is a significant contributor to the dusty dirt build-up throughout your home. From shedding on furniture to leaving clumps of hair and skin behind on the carpets and floors, it can seem to be an endless challenge to keep your home fur-free. 

The good news is, there are many cleaning tips you can use if you have a dog that sheds. Here are our top tips from your friendly neighbourhood residential deep cleaning services to keep the furry fury under control.

Lint Rollers: A Dog Owner’s Best Friend

If your dog sheds, chances are you have a few of these handy little tools around. Dog fur and hair can cling to clothes, so you probably need a good brushing with a lint roller whenever you head out. However, they can also make short work of your fur-covered furniture and upholstery. 

Keep a stock on hand and place one in each room. You can then use them to remove hair and fur whenever you notice a build-up. Keep one in your car or purse so you can also give yourself a once over before heading into work.

Spray Bottle: A Spritz a Day Keeps Fur Away

Much like a lint roller, a quick spritz of clean water from a spray bottle on your upholstery in hand with a clean sponge is an excellent way to wash away fur. You just need a bit of water and a dry sponge that you can gently drag over furry spots to remove the hair quickly. Some people find a clean rubber glove works just as well as a clean sponge.

Vacuum: Dog Fur’s Worst Nightmare

While you might take a broom to your floors to try to sweep away fur, they tend to more or less just move the hair around. The hair also forms a hairy mass of dust bunnies when sweeping. Instead, choose a vacuum to suck up the fur. 

While your dog might run for cover when you fire it up, it stops the fur from floating away like it does when you sweep. Everything gets sucked away instead. Move the vacuum backwards and forwards as you work to make sure you get up all the stray fur.

Mop: Shaggy Versus Shaggy

A damp mop pits shaggy cleaner against shaggy floors, with the mop always coming out the winner. Just dampen the mop with clean water and use it to collect hair. It reaches those tight corners a vacuum can’t go and can slide under furniture quite nicely to grab all those dust bunnies and stray hairs.

Carpet Strategy: 3-Steps to Fur-Free

Carpets are like dog fur magnets. Depending on your carpeting colour and your dog’s fur, it can be challenging to spot the mess. However, you can keep on top of dog fur build-up by using these three residential deep cleaning services approved steps every few weeks to get rid of that hair quickly:  

• Lightly, very lightly, spritz your carpet with clean water. Take a rubber brush and run it across the rug to collect the hair.
• Toss out the ball of fur, and then use your vacuum to get the hair your rubber brush missed.
• Get a squeegee (aka window cleaner thingy) and do one last brush across the rug to get any strays that evaded steps one and two.

Damp Cloth: Don’t Dust, Wipe

Like a broom, using a dry dust cloth more or less just moves dust and fur around. Instead of dusting fur and dust everywhere, choose a damp clean rag or cleaning wipes instead. The thing about using a wet wipe is that the dirt and hair cling to the dampness while the dry cloth either moves the mess around or sends it into the air to land on other surfaces. 

Damp and clean cloths or wipes are your best defence to keeping surfaces indeed dust and fur-free. Remember, the keyword here is moist, not wet. Wet leaves a residue on many surfaces, while damp acts as a magnet.

Dryer Sheets: Cling Free, Hair Free

Nothing is more frustrating than reaching into your closet and finding your favourite outfit is covered in hair. Dryer sheets are designed to help remove static cling. However, they are also magnets for hair and dust. 

Many savvy house cleaners use dryer sheets for dusting. However, you can also toss your fur laden clean, dry clothes in the dryer with a dryer sheet to remove hair and fur. It just takes 10 minutes in the dryer, and your clothes will smell nice too.

Throws: The Lazy Man’s Cleaning Buddy

To keep fur off your furniture, provide it something else to cling to. Throw a blanket or throw over your upholstered furniture and toss them in the laundry every week. Have a few on hand, one in the laundry and the other on the couch. If you are expecting guests, just remove the cover before they arrive. This keeps your upholstery fur-free and also reduces the amount of work required to keep it that way.

Brush: Dog Grooming 101

Using a grooming brush designed for your dog’s coat type can do wonders to reduce the amount of shedding. It allows you to remove loose fur and collect it on the brush, so it can be balled up and tossed instead of spreading around the home. Don’t brush your dog in a carpeted area, and choose a room with hard surfaces instead. 

You can also do it on the balcony or outside, so you don’t have to clean up after brushing. Also, taking your chum for a haircut now and then won’t hurt. Speak to your local dog groomer to find out what they recommend to keep your dog’s fur manageable. Their hair will also always look doggy stylish as a bonus.

These tips will help keep your home fur-free and you and your pup best of friends. If this sounds like too much work, hiring a residential cleaning service, like Maid4Condos, can keep the fur away. 

To learn more about how to keep your house clean when you have a dog that sheds fur, call Maid4Condos at (647) 822-0601 or contact us here.

Many homeowners have spring cleaning sessions to deep clean and restore their homes to order and balance, but did you know that it’s just as important to do this in preparation for the colder months? 

The winter wonderland magic of fresh snowfall quickly wears out when snow turns into a slushy mess outdoors, forcing you to bolt the windows close and stay warm and toasty under the covers. 

The question is, is your home perfectly clean and cozy as you prepare to spend more time bundled up indoors? With the windows and doors shut to trap the heat in, you’re breathing in recycled air that only gets even dirtier as dust and allergens stay trapped with you. That’s no way to live through winter, so get the living space you deserve. Try these winter cleaning hacks to spruce up your home, and shield yourself from sub-zero temps:

Winter Cleaning Hacks for Winterizing Your Home

1. Protect the flooring

Snowy days mean tracking slush, ice, salt, and a lot of dirt indoors and onto hardwood floors and carpets. Over time, these can stain and ruin your home’s flooring, which won’t just look bad, but even affect structural integrity.

To keep your floors safe from slush and salt, try keeping your living space boot-free. A shoe-free zone prevents you from tracking dirt and snow indoors. Make it a habit to take off shoes and boots at the door and store them in a boot tray to catch moisture, salt, and dirt. Not only does this prevent tracking dirt indoors and keeps the rest of your house clean, but it also prevents moisture damage to doors and entryways.

For carpeted floors, try winter cleaning hacks like steam cleaning. This prevents stains caused by salt, mud, and slush from settling in the carpet fibres and ruining your flooring. Steam clean, fresh stains right away, or consider professional cleaning for heavily soiled areas in high-traffic areas.

2. Declutter and organize winter gear

There’s no better winter cleaning hack than keeping a tidy space. Winter means heavy gear and a lot more clothing, blankets, and other items that are likely to be left lying around and cluttering up common areas. 

Start decluttering with seasonal storage, and designate baskets or organization trays for storing accessories like hats, gloves, and scarves close to the entryway. Proper storage also reduces the amount of dust settling on furniture and surfaces, which goes a long way in keeping your home cleaner for longer, especially as we shed dry skin and loose fibres from knitted clothing.

3. Breathe clean, fresh air

Even your warmest, heaviest blankets won’t be enough to shield you against sub-zero temps and heavy snow. That’s why winter means keeping doors and windows tightly shut to keep heat in for longer and maintain a comfortable atmosphere. The downside? Without fresh air circulating indoors, you’re likely to breathe dirty, recycled air, which impacts your health and well-being, especially as you prepare to spend more time at home to escape the cold.

Don’t skip out on this crucial winter cleaning hack: book an HVAC maintenance service well ahead of the cold to repair issues early on and avoid losing heat when the temperatures start to freeze. 

Replace HVAC filters every three months to keep the air you breathe clean and healthy and improve indoor ventilation. HVAC filters pull dust particles out of the air and help prevent floors and furniture from gathering dust.

4. Deep clean the kitchen

What does the kitchen have to do with winter? A lot! These appliances harbour dirt and grime but barely get the deep cleaning they need between busy days and long hours of use. You will want to change that this upcoming winter season, though, as strong odours stay trapped indoors and energy bills skyrocket with increased heating and climate control needs.

Winter cleaning hacks for kitchens include organizing and dusting out drawers, cabinets, and the pantry, then removing grime from backsplashes and hood vents to eliminate strong cooking odours. It’s also an excellent time to degrease the oven and remove burnt food using its self-cleaning function. 

Ensure the area behind the fridge, particularly the wall, floor, and the refrigerator coils. Dirty coils reduce the fridge’s energy efficiency and further increase energy costs — a monthly expense already on the rise with the heater turned on.

5. Fix clogged drains

Another less common winter cleaning hack is flushing out sink drains. While clogged pipes pose waste disposal and plumbing problems year-round, the risk of an emergency increases in the winter as lines are likely to freeze and break without sufficient winterizing. Call your plumber if you see familiar signs of clogged drains, such as pooling or standing water in the sink to unclog the pipes, and ask them about winterizing to prevent frozen or burst pipes.

6. Empty the dryer vents

With sweaters and coats, your winter laundry load just got a whole lot heavier. That means a lot more lint in dryer vents, which pose a significant fire hazard, mainly because the winter months are dry. Make sure to clean the dryer exhaust hose and clean the tray after every use to prevent lint from accumulating.

7. Clean the windows

Chances are, you’re keeping the windows shut during the cold months to stay warm and toasty indoors. But with little to no fresh air streaming in, you’ll want to keep a clear view of the outdoors at least and let light in. 

Scrub both the interior and exterior of your home’s windows to remove grime that blocks sunlight and cast a gloomy shadow during the dark, cold months. Also, swap out dust- and allergy-ridden spring or summer window treatments with thermal curtains or shades to keep your home cozy and improve energy efficiency.

8. Clean the chimney

This winter cleaning hack isn’t just to pave the way for Santa to drop off this year’s presents. A clean chimney helps improve circulation by keeping the air in your home clean and smoke-free. Don’t climb up the chimney if you can’t do it safely — leave it to professional cleaners to cover all the surfaces and clear the area of dust and debris.

For more pro winter cleaning tips to keep your home spotless, call Maid4Condos at 647-822-0601, or contact us here.

Ask any interior design lover and trendy homeowner about their favourite easy hacks to brighten or spice up any place — the chances are, they’ll recommend a soft rug to create dimension on the flooring and contrast different areas of your living space. In particular, Shaggy rugs are wildly popular because of their luxurious texture and versatile design that will suit virtually any room. With that soft, plush feel on tired, bare feet, 

Unfortunately, shag rugs tend to live up to their name. Their soft and luxurious fabric also attracts dust and dirt particles that lodge deep inside the rug’s fibres. This dirt gets so deep that they require careful cleaning to preserve the carpet’s appearance and eliminate allergens and dirt. But don’t throw out your favourite shaggy rugs just yet — with these essential cleaning tips, you can keep them looking and feeling as fresh as when you first got them:

Ways to Clean Shag Rugs

1. Shake it off

An essential task for basic cleaning services is tidying up your entire house, including fixtures and decor like shag rugs. There’s no method simpler or easier than a good old shake to remove dust and dirt lodged in the rug’s fibres. Simply take the carpet outside, hold it by two corners, and shake it to loosen up the threads and allow dust particles to fall off.

If the rug is too big to hold up and shake properly, hang it over a clothesline, fence, or balcony, and use a sturdy instrument like a broom handle or stick to beat the rug repeatedly. The beating should loosen up the rug fibres to send dust particles flying off. It also gives your rug some time to air out and eliminate foul odours caused by bacteria and mites trapped in it.

2. Use a vacuum

You need all the right tools for basic housekeeping, and that includes a trusty vacuum. If you’re a fan of shaggy rugs, it’s even more important to own one because it’s one of the best ways to get rid of its dingy appearance and fluff up its fibres.

Start by setting the vacuum to its highest setting to avoid getting the fibres trapped in the brush. Make sure to turn off the beater bar and use the hand attachment; alternatively, you can also use a handheld vacuum. Make sure to vacuum the entire surface thoroughly, then flip the rug to vacuum the underside. Take the rug outside to shake it off for an extra clean, then set it back in place with fibres all fluffed up.

3. Give the rug a dry bath

Take a cue from professional carpet cleaners with this shag rug cleaning hack. A dry bath is best when you haven’t vacuumed for a while, and so much dirt has collected that the rug looks dingy.

But what’s a dry bath? Just like when you don’t have time to wash your hair, or you’re in between washes, there are dry shampoos specially formulated for shaggy rugs. To give your shaggy rug a dry bath, use a soft bristle brush to work the dry shampoo into the fibres, then let it sit for about 10 minutes as recommended in the instructions. Vacuum the rug afterwards to remove the shampoo and restore it to its original shape and colour.

4. Steam clean

Basic cleaning service includes dusting off decor like shaggy rugs, but sometimes this isn’t enough. Instead, a professional cleaner may recommend a more thorough cleaning, especially if it’s been a while since your rug was last vacuumed. When these simple cleaning hacks don’t work, a steam cleaner might remove deeply set in soil and odours. 

To steam clean a shaggy rug, you need a vacuum and steam cleaner. Ensure that the carpet is freshly vacuumed first, and then add water to the steam cleaner to run it over the rug. You’ll see the stains and discoloured spots disappear right away, then air it out under the sun to dry. Your shaggy rug will look and feel brand new in an instant and resume its job of brightening up the room.

5. Hand wash with shampoo

Washing a rug isn’t like washing your clothes, so don’t attempt this advanced cleaning hack lightly. For the uninitiated, there are many ways of cleaning a shaggy rug could go wrong. For one, the fibres might not handle the moisture and dry properly, so they’ll end up limp and soggy, or worst case, get ruined and fall off.

For best results, check with a professional cleaner if they can include hand washing your old and dirty shaggy rug in your regular basic cleaning service. Before they even risk contact with moisture, they will first check the rug care instructions to see if the material can handle water. 

Then, they will use shampoo and hot water to wash and brush the front surface while vacuuming up the liquid at the same time to lift soils and stains. Once it’s clean, they need to let the rug air dry outside to prevent mildew from setting in. 

Whatever you do, though, make sure to avoid loading the rug in a washing machine. Even the gentlest cycle can be too rough and cause the fibres to fall off, which ruins an otherwise beautiful decor that spruces up your home.

6. Practice spot cleaning

Still, the best way to care for a shaggy rug and preserve its luxurious feel that spruces up your living space and prevents stains from setting in. It’s often just one soiled spot from food or drinks spills and dirt tracked indoors, so clean these out right away to keep them from turning into deep-set stains.

To spot clean a shaggy rug, press firmly on the soiled area right away using a clean rag to soak up as much liquid as possible. Then, spray the area with a carpet cleaning solution, mild dish soap, or detergent mixed with water, and let it sit for a few minutes before blotting the area with a new rag and working your way from the edges of the spill towards the centre. Repeat these steps until the stain is diluted or desaturated.

7. Book a basic cleaning service

When was the last time you cleaned the shaggy rug sitting in your living room? These routine cleaning hacks are suitable for light cleaning, but for deep-set stains and dirt, you’ll need extra help from the pros to restore your rug — and your living space — to excellent condition. Trust a professional cleaner to deep clean your carpet and restore its brand-new condition, without the risk of damage to its luxuriously soft and delicate fibres. 

To learn more tips and tricks for cleaning shaggy rugs, call Maid4Condos at 647-822-0601, or contact us here.

The truth is, for the busy, modern homeowner, there’s no chore wheel big or flexible enough that allows you to enjoy the dream house you fell in love with and keep up with its maintenance requirements. 

So what do you do? It’s not healthy to live in perpetual dust, dirt, and piles of laundry either — and you certainly can’t do it alone. The last thing you need is to lose your entire weekend to never-ending cleaning and chores, so much that you don’t even get to enjoy the lifestyle perks you worked so hard to save up for.

Sometimes, all you need is a helping hand with condo cleaning services. And before you fret, it’s not a luxury reserved for the rich. Think of it as an investment in your happiness and wellness, so you can finally live the way you deserve: in a clean and healthy home. Here’s how a condo cleaner holds the key to your long-lasting health and happiness at home:

No More Lost Weekends

We can all agree that after the nine-to-five grind on Mondays to Fridays, our weekends are sacred: these two short days give us back precious winks of sleep and rest. The last thing you need is to lose your weekend to taxing chores and more work. 

With condo cleaning services, you can enjoy your weekend as you deserve and relax in the home you worked so hard to save up for. Rather than spend these precious two days cleaning, you now have time for other errands and hobbies, while your house gets the cleaning and upkeep it needs.

Work Out a Regular Cleaning Schedule

When do you even find time to clean — and when was the last time you did a deep clean of your home? It’s natural to feel guilty about this, but many homeowners feel even guiltier at the thought of hiring someone to do it. But condo cleaning services aren’t a luxury: they’re an investment in your health and comfort — and your home.

With regular condo cleaning services, you’re guaranteed a thorough, regular cleaning of your entire home. That means the bathroom is cleaned regularly, the dishes are stored properly, the shelves are dusted, and the floors are mopped at least once a week. Condo cleaning services allow you to get a handle on your home’s regular upkeep, so it’s perfectly clean, vibrant, and conducive to your rest and wellness.

Do What You Do Best

Many of us can barely keep up with our busy schedules, let alone carve out time for ourselves. Even then, we often feel guilty for stopping to breathe and recharge — and even more remorseful at the thought of asking for some much-needed help. But the truth is, none of us can do it alone.

Hiring outside help may have been a luxury reserved for the rich and pampered, but that’s all history. Today, condo cleaning services are specially designed for the modern homeowner’s schedule, lifestyle, and budget. You shouldn’t feel guilty for turning to outside help to keep your home in order; in fact, it’s a smart investment in your overall comfort, wellness, and productivity. 

Without an endless list of chores on your to-do list, you now have time to focus on what you do best: work, childcare, hobbies, and other activities that require your attention or enrich your life while making sure that your living space is looked after. 

Think of how much more productive and present you can be, whether it’s at your job doing what you love or in your family and community cultivating relationships that matter. Suddenly, you have a lot more energy to do your best because your living space — and its sacred, refreshing peace — is cared for by the pros.

Nourish Your Mental Health

The hustle and bustle of your career, relationships, and even only life in the city can all take a toll on you. Your home is where you should be at your most relaxed and peaceful, but it’s hard to find comfort amidst the clutter, dust, grime, and even allergens. With all the stress you deal with daily, you deserve to come home to a place where you can truly unwind and relax without worrying about another chore.

Condo cleaning services help restore balance and peace in your life, starting by decluttering your living space and transforming how you live. A clean, organized, and vibrant home is key to your mental health, so it’s important to invest in its regular upkeep to reap these benefits.

Eat, Sleep, and Live Better

What do eating and sleeping have to do with a clean home, you ask? A lot! Think of where and how you prepare your food, the bed you sleep on to re-energize, and the space you rest and relax in: are they clean and safe? 

The risk of an allergic reaction or an illness disrupting your routine is often high outdoors — and the effects of missed work and events and a prolonged recovery costly. But what if it was your own home that made you sick?

A regular condo cleaning service covers these basics to help take care of your health. When you eat, sleep, and work in a tidy space, you’re a lot less likely to be exposed to allergens like pollen, mould, pet dander, and dust mites, as well as toxins and other chemicals and disease-causing germs.  Trust a professional condo cleaning service to deep clean your home and create a safe living space conducive to your busy lifestyle and wellness.

To learn more about how hiring a condo cleaning service can make you happier, call Maid4Condos at 647-822-0601, or contact us here.

The laundry room is where you go to clean anywhere from stained clothes and dusty linens to long-overdue sheets, covers, and towels. With all the time you spend in this room cleaning everything else to get your house — and life — in order, when do you get the time to clean this space? All the dirt and grime washed away from clean, fresh-smelling clothes and sheets also need to be cleaned up — and a clean laundry room is the key to clean laundry.

But when was the last time you cleaned the laundry room? When you head down there, you’re carrying baskets of dirty clothes that need to be washed, dried, and folded. By the time that you’re done, you barely have time to look at the mess left behind, let alone think to clean up — and the cycle goes on for the next batch of clothes and essentials you wash. So, how clean will your freshly washed clothes really be?

Get your freshly washed clothes cleaner for longer. Check out these simple tips for keeping your laundry room — and every batch of laundry — clean and fresh as you deserve:

Tips for Keeping a Clean Laundry Room

1. Clean lightly with each use

Many homeowners book home cleaning services when they can’t get a handle on the mess anymore, especially in areas like the laundry room, where they already dump a lot of dirty items waiting to be cleaned. But professional cleaners show that it’s easier to stay on top of chores when you do a little bit of cleaning every time.

Start by devoting a few extra minutes to tidying up the laundry room every time to keep the space cleaner and healthier with every use. It’s not an extra chore on top of the piles of laundry you’re already scrambling to keep up with just so you have freshly washed clothes to wear, but a genius hack to keep the mess from piling up. 

Make it a habit to wipe down shelves with a wet rag, and clean up stray splashes of detergent to keep them from getting sticky and attracting lint and dust. Then, wipe down the exteriors with a soft microfibre cloth and glass cleaner to preserve their shine. The best part is, you can do this while waiting for a load to finish washing.

2. Clean the dryer lint trap

Over time, lint accumulates in the dryer lint trap. But when you’re always rushing to load clothes in and take them out to fold and store, you end up forgetting to pay attention to the dryer itself. However, you will want to keep the dryer lint trap clean because it comes in contact with freshly washed and dried clothes to prevent them from getting dirty even before you get the chance to wear them again. A dirty lint trap is also a serious fire hazard.

Here’s how the pros of home cleaning services do it: start by gathering lint in the dryer lint trap, then remove the tray for thorough cleaning. Soak it in a mixture of hot water and dish soap, and scrub it lightly to remove accumulated lint. Dry the lint trap in time for your next laundry day, and vacuum the remaining lint.

3. Keep the floors clean

Think of the floors as the catch basin of your entire home — all the dirt you track indoors and the spills from food and drinks accumulate throughout long, busy days. And no room in your home is safe, especially the laundry room where dirty clothes pile up along with lint, detergent spills, and grime. 

The last thing you want is to drop bright, freshly washed whites onto a dirty floor, so make sure to keep them clean. Even basic home cleaning services include sweeping and mopping the laundry room floors regularly and vacuuming the washer and dryer area to keep every load clean and fresh.

4. Organize the laundry room and your laundry

A lot of people dread laundry day because of the mountain of clothes they have to wash. The most common culprit? A messy, disorganized laundry room makes it hard to locate the detergent, bleach, and dryer sheets and store freshly washed clothes afterwards.

One of the long-lasting ways to keep laundry rooms clean is by organizing the space. Start by adding shelves above the washing machine to store laundry products and discard items that you no longer need or use. Make sure that similar things are stored in one area to make them easier to find.

For other laundry essentials like the ironing board and hangers, make sure that these are properly stored when not in use to free up working space. Install hooks or a retractable drying line to hang clothes that wrinkle easily or aren’t safe for dryer use to allow them to air-dry. Finally, make it a habit to organize your laundry — use separate baskets for different types to make loading a breeze, and prevent mishaps like discolouration and shrinkage.

5. Hire a home cleaning service to clean appliances

It sounds daunting to clean the washing machine and dryer on your own, mainly because they are built with multiple parts, including knobs, detergent trays, the wash drum, and the dryer exhaust hose. 

For more simple tips to help you keep your laundry room clean, call Maid4Condos at 647-822-0601, or contact us here.

Living with allergies or asthma can make it difficult to breathe easy, even when you are at home. This is because there are many allergens in your home that can be irritating to your respiratory system. 

As a result, if you don’t stick to a strict cleaning regime, you can be adding to your own misery. The good news is you can adopt a weekly cleaning schedule or a professional home cleaning service designed to reduce common irritants that can worsen your allergy and asthma symptoms. Here are 12 ways to reduce allergies in your home by cleaning.

1. Use the right tools 

First, investing in the best tools for the job can make a huge difference in capturing allergens in your home:

• Vacuum with a fine-particle HEPA filter vacuum, or double bag your existing vacuum to capture allergens.
• Use washable microfiber cleaning cloths and mops to capture dust.
• Use disposable synthetic dusting wipes and wands that use static to hold onto the dust instead of moving it around or releasing it into the air.
• Use dye-free, unscented laundry products to reduce skin irritation or that have scents that can cause your allergy symptoms to worsen. 

2. Use the right personal protection equipment 

Wear a disposable or washable mask and cotton-lined rubber gloves, so you are less likely to trigger allergy symptoms while cleaning.

3. Avoid irritating cleaning products   

Use allergy-friendly cleaning products and avoid any containing:

• Ammonia
• D-limonene
• Formaldehyde
• Sodium hypochlorite
• Sodium lauryl sulphate

If you aren’t sure, be sure to read the labels to look for these irritants.

4. Make your own cleaners 

Use homemade cleaning solutions with a mix of distilled white vinegar or lemon with baking soda as a natural scrubber. Vinegar on its own is also excellent for cleaning surfaces like glass and mirrors.

5. Control your environment

Keep your home as allergy-free as possible by controlling your environment:

• Keep your home thermostat set between 20˚C and 22˚C and a humidity level of no more than 50% to kill off dust mites.
• Remove clutter from shelves and tables that can act as dust magnets.
• Don’t smoke or allow smoking anywhere within the home.

If you have pet allergies, avoid having them in the home, or if you can’t do without the little critters, bathe them at least weekly and wash their bedding.

6. Clean bedding

Your sheets, pillowcases, and blankets need to be laundered in hot water weekly. Tumble dry instead of hanging dry as this can attract more allergens to your bedding. Don’t forget your pillows, which should be done at least once a month.

7. Dust weekly

Dust every room in the house weekly. Always start at the top of the room, including wiping away cobwebs, light fixtures, ceiling fans, and working your way down. This ensures you aren’t just moving the dust around.

8. Wash curtains and blinds

These are big dust and allergen collectors. Dust blinds weekly if possible, and choose curtains that can be thrown in the washer and dryer at least once a month. If you have drapes that can’t be washed, vacuum them down weekly.

9. Vacuum weekly

A thorough vacuuming every week keeps the dust to a minimum. You might want to do it more often if you have pets. If you have hardwood, sweep daily, using a static dry mop to attract dust, hair, dander, etc.

10. Reduce mould and mildew

Your bathroom and kitchen offer the perfect environment for mould and mildew growth. These are terrible allergy irritants that need some strict cleaning to reduce growth. Unfortunately, it takes harsh cleansers with chlorine bleach, hydrogen peroxide, or other chemicals to get rid of these irritants, so wear your gloves and mask. 

Keep the fan on or open a window to keep the area well ventilated, and leave it on for at least an hour once you are done cleaning. It will often take some scrubbing to get rid of the mould and mildew. However, if you then spray your shower and bath area with a scrub free mould and mildew remover, you can keep growth at bay. Make sure you turn on the fan or crack open the window when showering or bathing to stop development.

Bonus Tip: If you have plants, cover the soil with rocks to reduce mould growth risk.

11. Clean entryway

You can easily track lots of dirt when walking in from your condo hallway. To reduce the amount of dirt you bring into your home, be extra diligent in cleaning your entryway. Use a mat to wipe your feet and vacuum it daily if you can. Also, always remove your shoes and keep them inside a closet, if possible, to reduce the spread of dust and other allergens.

12. Clean Window Sills

If you tend to open your windows often, be sure to clean your window sills each week. This removes pollen that can come in through the screens.

For more information about reducing allergies in your house by cleaning, call Maid4Condos at (647) 822-0601 or contact us here.

With the coronavirus looking like it has no intention of going away any time soon, many families are ramping up their cleaning. It’s essential to reduce the risk of catching COVID-19, yet, how do you know if you are cleaning your home with the right cleaning products, or cleaning all the surfaces that can put you at risk? 

Health experts warn that we should be wiping down “high contact surfaces,” but how do you know which surfaces to clean? To help keep you safe, these COVID-19 cleaning tips list the most common high contact surfaces likely to spread germs. Here’s what surfaces you should be cleaning frequently. 

High Contact Surfaces

These are the high contact surfaces in your home:

1. Phones

Wipe down your landline phone at least once a day and your cell phone whenever you have touched other surfaces that could be germy.

2. TVs

With everyone home for longer periods, watching TV is a popular pastime. Be sure you are wiping remotes down often, and don’t forget any gaming equipment as well.

3. Bathroom surfaces

Surfaces in the bathroom, including the toilet seat, toilet handles, light switches, faucets, and doorknobs, are touched all the time. Put a roll of paper towels in the bathroom and stop sharing towels for the duration of the pandemic. Or if you can’t find paper towels in stock, have everyone use their own towel and wash them frequently.

4. Tables

All the tables in the home should be wiped down following meals and following working or playing at the table. Keep wipes in the center of the table so you remember.

5. Computers

Especially when people share a computer, keeping the mouse and keyboard wiped fresh after each use will reduce the spread of germs. For touch screens, be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

6. Toys

If your kids’ stuffed toys are washable, toss them in the laundry at least once a week, but preferably every few days. If you aren’t sure, try placing them in the dryer for a few minutes to help kill germs. Dishwasher safe toys can be cleaned every day, and all others should be wiped down with safe disinfectant. Follow instructions to avoid using dangerous cleaners your kids shouldn’t touch.

7. Linens

Sheets, blankets, and towels should be laundered at least once a week. When doing the laundry, be sure to wash your hands after handling the dirty clothes and linens.

8. Doorknobs

Front doors are the worst for germs, so be sure to wipe them a few times a day. As mentioned, bathroom doors are a must, but any door knobs for rooms where the doors are opened and closed by family members should be wiped down at least once a day.

9. Light switches

Wipe down light switches that are used frequently by family members.

10. Kitchen

Any surfaces in the kitchen shared by family, such as kettles, fridge handles, cupboard handles, toasters, oven knobs and handles, should also be wiped down twice daily or more.

And don’t forget hand washing before and after touching these surfaces!

What Products to Use

To ensure you are not just wiping, but instead, you are disinfecting, be sure you are using cleaners that target and kill germs and viruses. Disposable disinfectant wipes are the best choice, with disinfecting sprays with disposable paper towels the second best. Avoid using reusable cloths or sponges when disinfecting surfaces. 

Professional Cleaning Services

If you want to know you are safe and are killing the coronavirus, you can hire our team’s GermBlasters service. We use a highly effective yet safe cleaner to target germs, including COVID-19. Our safe cleaning process ensures the germs are killed, but your surfaces are still safe to touch. 

When cleaning yourself, it is possible to leave traces of dangerous chemicals on the surface that can be touched by your family and pets. To avoid contact with such chemicals, we use a safe GermBlasters Solution.

EPA and Health Canada Approved

Our GermBlasters services use cleaners approved by the EPA and Health Canada as an effective solution to fight COVID-19 and other common infections. This is a customized disinfecting process that targets germs at the molecular level. What does this mean? It means we kill germs and bacteria before they can multiply. 

House Disinfecting and Sanitizing Service 

When you use our GermBlasters Solution, our team enters your home wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) for added prevention. This ensures our team does not spread any germs in your home when providing our cleaning services. 

Not only do we attack germs on surfaces, but also the air in your home. Your family’s risk for contracting germs such as the common flu and colds, but also superbugs like COVID-19 is significantly reduced.

What is GermBlasters?

GermBlasters disinfecting method uses electrostatic spraying technology to deliver our hospital-grade disinfectant. Not only does it provide a highly efficient surface cleaning, but it also offers airborne coverage. 

As a result, even the hardest to reach areas of your home are targeted. Because other cleaning companies look at just the surfaces, they aren’t attacking all the germs you are exposed to in your home. 

Our unique solution and disinfecting process kills all germs in our path, reducing the number of germs loosened and sent into the air on soft surfaces such as your couch. Because our solution evaporates within minutes, contaminants are removed from your environment, but there is no harmful residue left behind.

Why use GermBlasters?

As mentioned, we use an EPA and Health Canada approved solution that is a registered hospital disinfectant. That means you are getting more for your money as we are attacking just about every harmful element in your home, including germs, mould and mildew. Your air is more comfortable to breathe, and everything is left safe while smelling fresh and clean. 

While this might sound like a cleaning solution that is also tough on your family, it is non-irritating to the skin and completely safe. The disinfecting solution is tough on germs but gentle on surfaces, as it is NSF-certified. That means it does not need to be rinsed off, and you can safely prepare food on surfaces treated with our cleaner.  

What are the benefits of GermBlasters?

Our GermBlasters disinfecting service offers many benefits, including: 

• EPA registered hospital disinfectant proven to kill a wide range of viruses and bacteria
• Won’t mutate bugs to create a more potent virus
• Doesn’t contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• No rinse required
• 99.999% sanitization on food contact surfaces
• Odourless and tasteless
• Kills common food preparation bacteria including E-Coli, Salmonella and Listeria in less than 60 seconds
• Mould and mildew killer that also prevents spores from forming for up to seven months
• Safe on a wide range of high-volume touchpoint surfaces
• Eliminates allergens including dust mites and pet dander
• Safe on pet bedding, sleeping areas and kennels
• Eliminates odours
• Effectively cleans HVAC and Air Ducts for antimicrobial control
• Can sanitize soft surfaces while also removing odours
• 100% Biodegradable
• No aquatic toxicity
• No Carcinogens, Mutagens or Reproductive Toxicants

To learn more about the high contact surfaces you should be cleaning in your home, call Maid4Condos at (647) 822-0601 or contact us here.

Cleaning your living room is a pain, but it is a must if you want to maintain a Zen-like calm at home. Mess and even slight untidiness can dampen your mood. With a clean living room, you can enjoy your home and feel less stressed. 

Disorder and clutter in the home create disorder and clutter in your mind, making it difficult to concentrate or relax. However, with these living room cleaningtips, you can create a neat and tidy environment that keeps you happier. You will also find it easier to maintain the clean then once you get the intense clean out of the way!

What You’ll Need to Clean Your Living Room

Make sure you have the tools of the trade to make the job easier, including:

• Dust mop 
• Step-ladder to reach high places
• Cleaning cloths
• Small bucket 
• Sponge
• Vacuum preferably with attachments
• Gentle cleanser products
• Linen deodorizer
• Furniture polish (optional)
• Glass cleaner

Quickly Tidy

Clear up all the clutter, such as dirty dishes and coffee mugs, magazines, and paperwork to neaten things up. That leaves your surfaces clean, so you can start dusting.

Dust

Dust starts with the ceiling and makes its way down. Use a broom to reach cobwebs along the ceiling line, and don’t forget those high up vents. Make your way down to the baseboards, and you’ll be amazed at what a difference it makes. You also want to lightly dust pictures hanging on the wall, knick-knack shelves, and all surfaces. Don’t forget light fixtures and ceiling fans. Remove books from shelves to get all the dust cleared.

Clean Glass

Glass furniture is popular in condos, and it can start to look dirty fast. Use a glass cleaner to remove dirt and dust for a sparkling clean you will appreciate.

Drapes and Blinds

These décor features are usually overlooked in the cleaning process. Most ready to hang drapes can be washed at home. Check tags and follow the instructions. If they need dry cleaning, take them down and give them a good shake to remove dust. Then decide if they look dirty or can be rehung. Use a rag to dust each slat of your blinds.

Vacuum

Vacuum every floor surface, including under the couch. If you have attachments put them to good use; vacuum the sofa and chairs, and remove the cushions to get all the crumbs that have fallen in the crevices. You can also use attachments to clean light shades and drapes.

Wash Floors

If you have hard surface floors, use a wet mop to do a once over and remove any dirt left behind after the vacuum. Just make sure you use a product that is not going to damage wood floors or laminate.

Shake-Out the Door Mat

Doormats are magnets for dirt. Shake them off, or give them a thorough vacuuming to get all the dirt and dust out of them. Be sure if you shake them out, you don’t do it on the balcony or inside your unit. You should take them downstairs and outside, so you don’t disturb your neighbours or send dust flying in your condo.

Flip Cushions

If your couch or chairs have removable cushions, always flip them when you clean. This helps keep wear and tear even and makes everything last longer.

Make it Fun

Turn on your favourite TV show, listen to music, choose an audiobook, or listen to a podcast while you clean. This makes it less tedious and allows you to multitask.

Clean Pet Areas

If you have a cat or dog, chances are they have a favourite spot in the living room where they like to chill. Give this area extra attention, vacuuming down their cushions or bed to get up pet dander, fur, and hair.

Freshen Soft Surfaces

Linen deodorizers work wonders to keep your home fresh. Use them on your furnishings as well as area rugs to help keep things odour free. Just make sure you do a test spray on a less noticeable area just in case the spray might cause discolouring.

Clean Windows

Cleaning windows, even just from the inside, can make a world of difference. They look less streaky, have less glare and let more natural light into your condo. Use a glass cleaner and a paper towel or newspaper for a streak-free sparkle.

Polish Wood Furniture

Give your wood furniture some TLC with lemon-scented wood furniture polish. Since condos can be dry, this can help avoid cracking.

Declutter

As you clean, look for opportunities to declutter. Do you need those old magazines? Is there anything you haven’t used that seems to always be in the way? The less stuff you have, the easier it is to keep your home clean.

Leverage Storage

Look for places to stash things away to keep the area tidy. For example, do you have drawers in your side tables, a desk or your coffee table with enough space for more stuff? Do you have shelves with space for some baskets to store away pet or kid toys, books, magazines, etc.? Every little thing you keep out of sight makes your living room look neater and reduces clutter.

Cool Storage Ideas

Some ideas to help reduce clutter include:

• Buy a bike hook and hang your bike in a corner from the ceiling.
• Take advantage of the couch and store flat boxes beneath for magazines, paperwork, devices, etc.
• Buy coffee and side tables with drawers.
• Look for corner shelves to optimize space for things like books.
• Use ties to keep home entertainment wires and plugs neat and out of the way.
• Use baskets for everything!
• See if you can store stuff behind your curtains.
• Invest in some hanging door storage or wall hooks if your living room is right at your entry.
• Take advantage of every inch by choosing shelving units with less width and optimum height.

The better your storage, the more organized you stay. That makes for a much more relaxing living space. 

To learn more about how to clean your living room and our home cleaning services available, call Maid4Condos at (647) 822-0601 or contact us here.