Category: Cleaning Tip

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.

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.