Category: Cleaning Tip

With so many years in the cleaning game, Maid4Condos know how to clean windows best. It takes a keen eye and a gentle hand to ensure that every pane is spotless and streak-free. We often get questions about how to best tackle a dirty window task, and whether there is a right or wrong way to do it. Here are some tips from the experts at Maid4Condos on window cleaning the best way we know how.

Research Your Cleaning Products

Before getting started, be sure to choose the right product for you and your home. If you have allergies, consider scents and the harshness of the chemicals you choose. There are many natural options that do a wonderful job to wipe away smudges and streaks. According to Good Housekeeping Magazine, the best commercial cleaners include:

• Invisible Glass
• Cinch Glass Cleaner
• Hope’s Perfect Glass
• Windex Original Glass Wipes

You can also make your own cleaner by mixing a simple solution of 1 cup of white vinegar with 1 cup of water in a spray bottle. Alternatively, you can mix 1 cup of water and 1 cup of rubbing alcohol with 1 tablespoon of vinegar.

Choose a Cleaning Tool That Won’t Streak

Since the invention of the window, the search has been on for the best tool to clean them. From paper towels to microfiber cloths, there are plenty of ways to polish your panes. We support the microfiber cloth suggestion, as these products are perfect for wiping away smudges without scratching the delicate surface of your window. Microfiber cloths are durable, soft, and pick up any dust and debris as they go along.

There are plenty of microfiber cleaning products on the market, including mitts that fit over your hands for easy wiping and dusting. Choosing the right one for you may take a few practice trials. Reading online reviews also helps select the right tool for the job.

Remove Dust and Dirt Buildup Before Attempting to Polish

While most windows need a mere polish to look their best, some get grimy over time. Wiping away dirt and dust before you start polishing is the best way to protect the windows from scratches. It also prevents unnecessary smearing.

The best tool for dusting is the same you’ll use for washing. A dry microfiber cloth will wipe away residue. Be sure to wipe the window frame as well. Anything that’s really crusted on can be tackled with soap and water, or a Windex wipe.

Choose a Mild Day When the Sun is Hiding

Weather impacts the effectiveness of your window cleaning spree. If it’s cold, the water or cleaning product you use may not provide enough lubrication to move dust and smears. Wiping a window in the heat of the sun also poses a problem. Cleaning products may dry onto the window before they are thoroughly wiped, leaving streaks and splash marks from spray bottles.

If possible, choose a dry day free from rain or snow, and one that isn’t too cold or too warm. If you can avoid the sun directly shining on the window while you clean it, do so. Cloudy days are normally no fun, but when it comes to window cleaning, the best weather is no weather!

Tackle Windows One Room at a Time

Washing windows is a time-consuming task, especially if you have a home with multiple floors and many windows to get through. Breaking down the chore room by room will help you maximize time and efficiency. If you can only take on one room a day, it may take a few days to get through all your windows. There’s no reason every window must be cleaned all at once. One room of windows a week should have your home looking spic and span over a month or two.

Another great trick to speeding up the window cleaning process is to start on rooms with the fewest windows. Bathrooms are usually a great place to begin because you can check off a room after one or two windows and move onto the next. This provides a sense of accomplishment and diminishes the intimidation of the task ahead.

Do a Thorough Cleaning Once or Twice a Year

Wiping windows for a sparkling polish is a job that varies in frequency. Some homes may only need window cleaning once every two months. Households with small children who press fingers and faces to windows may need cleaning once or twice a week. It all depends on your home, family, and lifestyle. Even with these quick cleanings occurring regularly, you’ll still need to break it down and give your windows a good thorough cleaning once or twice a year.

Most windows come apart for easier washing. Removing all the pieces you can and giving them a good scrubbing in the tub or over a rubber mat will ensure that all mildew or bacteria that has built up is cleaned away. Even the best-sealed windows take on residue because of the moisture that occurs during temperature change.

Be sure to take time to wipe inside the window frame, as well. Keep an eye out for any warped wood or discolouration. If you sense that mould is present or that the wood isn’t sturdy, you may need to call a window specialist to have a look.

Call in the Professionals for Clean Windows and Best Rates

Cleaning windows shouldn’t be stressful. It’s just part of the pride you take in your home and another chore on the chore chart. For many families, window cleaning takes up far too much time to tackle alone. If this is the case for you, calling a professional could be a big help.

At Maid4Condos, cleaning windows is one of our specialties. We understand how much work goes into scrubbing and polishing glass, and we take extra care with each pane. If you’re interested in learning more about our services or want to schedule a window cleaning, contact us today. Call Maid4Condos at 1-647-822-0601 or visit our website to sign up for a free quote on your home cleaning.

Your home should feel like a sanctuary, but it’s tough to relax when things get messy. Even when everything is in its place, microscopic dust mites and bacteria lurk unseen. Hiring a deep cleaning service is an excellent way to ensure your condo isn’t just clutter-free, but also germ-free. There are many deep cleaning benefits to hiring a professional cleaning service.

Deep cleaners have an eye for grime. Everything from tub scum to dust bunnies gets washed away without you getting your hands dirty. Throughout this blog, we’ll uncover the reasons many homeowners are investing in a deep clean.

Clean Air and Fewer Allergens

Dust, pet dander, hair, and food grease get into the air we breathe and stay there. Hiding in plain sight between floor cracks, baseboards, and furniture, you continuously inhale these allergens without noticing. If you’ve got cold symptoms you can’t shake, or your respiratory system feels off, then it could be debris in your house, causing irritation.

Hiring a team of professionals provides deep cleaning benefits such as clean air, fewer allergic reactions, and reduced asthma symptoms. Not only does this help your body, but also your mind. When you’re not constantly feeling under the weather, your mood brightens, and you feel more comfortable.

Affordable Services and Reduced Medical Expenses

Hiring a deep cleaning service isn’t as expensive as you may believe. Deep cleaning services are only required about once a month. Depending on the square footage of your condo, it could cost anywhere from $50–$90 per hour. This also varies by the number of cleaners required to get the job done. As a single monthly expense, it’s well worth the cost.

There’s also the advantage of saving in other areas of your life. When you consider all the deep cleaning benefits you receive, the cost is offset by the savings you make. Without ongoing allergy and asthma symptoms, you spend less on medicine and sick days home from work. You also save on cleaning supplies and heavy-duty cleaning equipment such as floor steam cleaners.

Less Equipment and Storage Space Required

Professional cleaning services bring their own equipment. Mops, brooms, scrub brushes, buckets, sprays, wax, steam cleaners, and everything else that goes into deep cleaning takes up space. This is a big deal, especially for condos that are short on storage room. You want to use your storage for the things that matter to you, not the things you need to keep your space clean. It’s also nice to have all of this equipment out of sight when guests appear.

Using a regular cleaning service for your deep cleaning needs means you can stick with the basics like a vacuum, broom, and dustpan, and leave the rest to Maid4Condos. This saves you money on equipment you’ll rarely use, and lets you and your guests enjoy every inch of your home clutter-free.

Nobody Knows How to Clean Like a Professional

Even if you’re a meticulous cleaner, chances are a professional service will check out germs and gunk you didn’t realize existed. Cleaning as a full-time job guarantees a deeper understanding of stain removal, reaching unreachable spaces, and disinfecting like nobody else. At Maid4Condos, we pay close attention to those “invisible zones,” the places that remain out of sight and out of mind, such as the base of the toilet and the inside of the trash container. You’d be surprised to learn how many germs live just behind the sink faucet and underneath the bathroom cabinet.

Hiring a professional service allows you to rest easy, knowing the things you don’t want to think about living in your home are being eradicated. This means a brighter, cleaner space and a healthier home.

More Time for You

Perhaps the greatest of professional deep cleaning benefits is saving time. Getting all those tough to reach spaces means moving furniture, purchasing the correct cleaners, and spending time scrubbing. This takes away from time spent with family and friends, doing the things you love.

Hiring a team of professionals lets you catch up on your reading, go for a walk, or spend a day with your friends. There’s nothing worse than having a day free from work, only to spend it working in another way. Homes are meant to be enjoyed, and Maid4Condos is in the business of making every home a happy home.

Finding Lost Items and Donating to Those in Need

A deep cleaning digs up plenty of fun knick-knacks you’ve forgotten about. It also locates garbage or recyclables that have been hiding around the condo. This provides an opportunity to clear out unneeded belongings and dump the trash you don’t want inside. Donate clothing and furnishings to charitable organizations to declutter your space. You’ll feel better about your home and yourself.

Hiring a maid service is an excellent opportunity to dig deep into your closet, give it a good vacuuming, and reorganize your wardrobe. The same goes for linen cupboards, storage spaces, and other forgotten zones in your condo. Out with the old and in with the clean, that’s what we say.

Reap these Deep Cleaning Benefits for Yourself

Deep cleaning isn’t designated to the wealthy. Anyone can invest in deep cleaning benefits. At Maid4Condos, we love hearing from new and current clients. Having served the Greater Toronto Area for so long, we’ve gotten to know our clients well. As a member of this community, we want the best for our friends and neighbours. We value your time and want you to live life to its fullest.

You can book a cleaning directly from our website. Simply go to www.maid4condos.com and fill in your answers to the questions you see. By entering your postal code, neighbourhood, the number of bedrooms, bathrooms, square feet, cleaning type, frequency, and extras, you’ll receive a free estimate immediately. Then, simply schedule service for a time of your choosing.

If you’re interested in learning more about deep cleaning benefits, or you’d like to book a cleaning by phone, then give us a call at 1-647-822-0601 or contact us here!

Instant hotels have become a huge trend in the past few years. Some rentals are lived in by the owner, while others are for guests only. One thing that all Airbnbs should have in common is cleanliness. A clean Airbnb is a successful Airbnb.

Nobody wants to spend money on lodgings only to find food in the mini-fridge, hair on the pillow, or dust bunnies under the bed. Your guests want to find a clean Airbnb when they arrive. At Maid4Condos, we know our way around a broom and dustpan. To get your rental in tip-top shape, we’ve compiled a list of our top six cleaning tips.

1. Clean Top to Bottom for an Ultra Clean Airbnb

For rentals with multiple levels, the best way to begin your cleaning routine is at the top. By starting at the top and working your way down, you reduce the risk of spreading dust and debris on freshly cleaned floors. If you start at the bottom of the stairs and work your way up, every new step you sweep sends dust onto the steps you’ve finished. If you start sweeping from the top, everything is falling naturally downward for a thorough clean.

The same goes for laundry and garbage. Most garbage bins and laundry machines are located on the main or basement level. If you begin upstairs, there’s no need to run up and down discarding items. Instead, simply create a pile and bring it down when you finish the top floor and begin work on the next level.

2. Check Ventilation and Air Quality

If there’s something no renter wants to deal with on vacation, it’s bad odours. Stuffy condos capture good and bad smells left from previous guests. Food, perfume, bath products, and pet odours stick to furniture and carpets. Opening windows, spreading baking soda on floors, and vacuuming freshens things up.

It’s not just smells which need to go. Dust accumulates over time, causing allergies and asthma symptoms to run wild. If you don’t want your guests to leave a review rife with sneezing complaints, an air purifier goes a long way. Regular dusting and vacuuming help with air quality, as well.

3. Take Out the Trash and Clean the Bin

You might be surprised to learn that one of our recommendations for a clean Airbnb is wiping the inside of the trash can. It sounds backwards, but it makes sense. As food is tossed in your trash bin, particles miss the bag or leak through the bottom. This leaves the inside of the can sticky and smelly.

A quick scrub of the garbage bin will minimize bad smells in your kitchen and bathroom and make your Airbnb look meticulous. At Maid4Condos, this is one of the tactics we use during our deep cleaning service.

4. Get the Hair Out of There

Hair happens. It falls off brushes, gets washed down the shower drain, and left behind on pillows. It’s a normal part of hosting a rental but has a major ick factor if noticed by guests. Nobody wants to see or touch someone else’s hair while staying in your Airbnb. Before you turn over the suite to a new renter, be sure to check everywhere for hair.

Vacuum, sweep, change bedding, shake out rugs, and check the drains in your tub and bathroom sink for any unwanted hair. It’s not the most pleasant of tasks, but your guests will certainly thank you.

5. Clean All Linens After Each Visit

Even if your guests don’t use all the linens you leave out for them, be sure to wash everything after each visit. Conserving water is essential, but providing clean bath towels, face cloths, and bedding at a guest rental is also important. You never know what might have been used, even if it has been refolded and looks clean. A quick load of laundry and everything is fresh and new again.

Changing bedding after each guest not only makes your Airbnb look cleaner to the next guest, but it keeps your linens in good condition longer. This is especially true for bedding that collects skin particles and sweat as guests sleep on them. Regular washes help maintain colour and protect against stains.

Once every 3–6 months, invest in an upholstery cleaning to remove stains, odours, and debris from sofas and chairs. Any frequently-used furnishings covered in material should be washed 2–4 times a year.

6. Focus on the Kitchen and Bathroom

Aside from the bedroom, the two rooms used the most in any rental are the bathroom and kitchen. Not only are these rooms frequently used, but they’re also rooms which endure a lot of mess. From soggy towels on the bathroom floor to dirty dishes in the kitchen sink, there’s plenty to do before new guests arrive.

Spend extra time perfecting the kitchen and bathroom. Wipe everything down, even if it looks clean. A great tip for a spotlessly clean Airbnb is to Windex your faucets and taps. A quick polish with window cleaner will enhance the shine and make everything shiny and new. Don’t forget to wash your shower curtain. A cloth curtain can be tossed in the washing machine, while a plastic curtain can be sprayed down with cleaner and hot water.

In the kitchen, organize all cabinets and wipe down the inside of the fridge if any spills have taken place. A great way to ensure your fridge is always fresh is by placing an open box of baking soda in the door. The baking soda absorbs odours in the air, so your food doesn’t.

Contact Maid4Condos for a Clean Airbnb

If you’re interested in a deep clean for your Airbnb, contact Maid4Condos. Our team of professional cleaners will have your guest rental looking spic and span in no time. Serving the Greater Toronto Area, we know what it takes to reflect the best this city has to offer. For a free quote, contact us here!

The word “dust” sounds innocent enough, and even kind of charming. The phrase “a light dusting of snow” brings to mind images of the sun glimmering off of a beautiful white landscape on an early winter morning.

But don’t let the word fool you: dust isn’t pretty. Unlike rolling hills glistening with snow, surfaces covered with a coating of dust aren’t scenic, photogenic or charming—but they may be hazardous to your health.

While it’s all too easy to let dust accumulate, there are some important reasons why dusting is an integral part of keeping your condo clean.

Dust = Dead Bugs

Nothing dispels the myth that dust is charming faster than finding out what dust actually consists of. Many people know that dust is made up of dead skin cells that fall off the body, but that’s far from the only thing lurking in the powder-like substance on your floor.

In addition to skin cells, dust is composed of bugs that are in various stages of rotting. And if you have pets, your dust is even more diverse; it likely contains fur and animal dander as well. The exact makeup of the dust in your home will differ from other people’s, depending on what kind of substances you pick up or interact with throughout the day. But when you look at the list of individual components that make up the dust that collects in your space, you’ll likely find that you don’t want any of them in your home.

Allergies and Other Health Issues

As well as being annoying and kind of gross, dust can potentially be harmful to your health, especially if the dust particles in your place are small enough to be inhaled.

In the short term, when the dust is inhaled, it can bring up a host of potential health issues. Coughing and sneezing are common when the dust is inhaled through the mouth or nose, but when the dust particles are small enough, they can also lead to irritation of the eyes.

Dust also exacerbates already existing conditions. If you suffer from asthma, hayfever or a respiratory condition, having too much dust in your home can bring on more attacks—and unfortunately, even small amounts can make your symptoms worse.

If you have pets, the dust in your home will also contain pet dander, which could trigger an allergic reaction for any guests in your home who are allergic to animals, even when the animal is not in the room.

The potential long-term effects of living in a chronically dusty home could be even more serious. If you’re exposed to extremely dusty conditions over a long period, it could potentially result in a reduction of lung function, or lead to other disorders like bronchitis or even heart and lung disease.

Problems for Electronics

If the threat of some potentially serious health consequences isn’t enough to get you to start dusting, maybe the threat to some of your most prized possessions will be.

Allowing dust to pile up too much means it could potentially make its way into your electronic devices, and possibly cause significant damage. Depending on the device and the amount of dust in your condo, your devices could jam, overheat and potentially catch fire if too much dust collects in the wrong places.

Dust Mites

Dust may be ugly and attractive to humans, but one species happens to love it: dust mites.

Dust mites both consume and contribute to the dust in your condo. Dust mites eat the dry skin cells that are present in the dust — hence their name — but unfortunately, this doesn’t result in less dust in your condo. The excrement that dust mites produce further contributes to the problem, and also creates an additional health risk: it contributes to year-round allergies.

The best way to ensure that dust mites aren’t present in your condo is to remove their food source altogether—the less dust you have, the fewer dust mites you’ll have, too.

Wrapping Up

Dusting is an essential part of keeping your home neat, tidy, presentable and healthy. If you have kids who frequently crawl on the floor, it’s especially important because they’ll be at an even higher risk of some of the negative health consequences listed above.

Dusting often is crucial, but it can also be time-consuming and hard to fit into a busy schedule. To learn more about the importance of frequently dusting, call Maid4Condos at 647-822-0601 or contact us here.

Coming home to see clothes strewn around your apartment, dishes piling up in the sink and dust collecting on your floors can be demoralizing—partly because it looks so messy and dishevelled, and partly because when the mess really starts to pile up, you never quite know what kind of germs or bacteria might be lurking out of sight.

You probably know that you need to clean your condo frequently if you want to stay organized and keep your place looking its best. But many people don’t know that there can potentially be health consequences to waiting too long between cleanings and letting bacteria build up over time.

Some areas of your home require fairly frequent cleaning, while others can go a little bit longer before they need to be tidied, cleaned or disinfected. Keep reading to find out how often you should clean some of the key items and areas of your home to keep them clean and safe.

The Refrigerator

The refrigerator is one of the most important parts of your home to clean, but also one of the most often neglected. Your fridge is one of the most dangerous places to let bacteria build-up, for an obvious reason: it’s where you store the stuff that you’re soon going to put in your body.

Unfortunately, despite the temperature, bacteria can still build-up quite rapidly in the fridge, so you should make sure you give it a good cleaning at least once a month. Drawers that contain produce need special attention because studies suggest bacteria can rapidly build up to unsafe levels in small spaces, especially if the produce is left too long.

Bathtubs

Even though your bathtub is the place you go to get clean, it can actually be one of the dirtiest places in your bathroom, and quite possibly in your whole condo. One study out of Boston found that your bathtub may contain more bacteria than your garbage can! And the bacteria that are lurking in your tub isn’t harmless; the study also found that it could potentially cause skin infections.

To keep your bathtub clean—and your skin safe from possible infections—you should clean it at least once per week, and probably more if you fully submerge yourself and take baths often.

Carpets

Carpets can be cozy and help keep your floors warm, especially during the frigid Toronto winter, but unfortunately, they can also play host to bacteria—a lot of bacteria. Studies suggest that each square inch of carpet could contain nearly 200,000 of them.

You should vacuum your floors every week, but if you really want to keep bacteria at bay, you’ll need to have your carpet professionally steam cleaned once every six months.

Kitchen Counter

As with the fridge, anything that stores or comes into frequent contact with food is a potential breeding ground for bacteria and requires more attention. It would be best if you cleaned your kitchen countertop daily. Most people tend to clean it after making dinner, but on the days that you eat out or skip making dinner at home, it’s still a good idea to give your counters a quick wipe.

The area immediately surrounding the sink tends to be the worst culprit in terms of bacteria because your sponge comes into frequent contact with food — and with it, bacteria — which then makes its way to the area around the sink. Make sure to swap out your sponges weekly, and give the area around the sink a good wipe down when you have a fresh sponge.

Computers

When you think about the items and areas in your home that are most in need of cleaning, your computer probably doesn’t even come to mind. But computers are exposed to a lot more bacteria than you may think.

Many people eat at their desk or with their computer nearby, exposing it to food and the bacteria that accompanies it. Plus, as you make your way through your day, your hands pick up a lot of bacteria, which you transfer to your computer every time you touch it.

It is recommended that you clean your computer once a week, being careful not to let any substances seep into the cracks and damage the hardware. To clean your keyboard, try dipping a Q-tip in alcohol — making sure that it’s damp but not dripping wet — and running it between the keys.

Bed Sheets

Throughout the day, your hands pick up more bacteria than other parts of your body, but that doesn’t mean your other body parts are bacteria-free. And just as your hands transfer bacteria to your computer — or anything else you touch — any bacteria that might be on your body gets transferred to your bedsheets at night. Make sure to clean your sheets once every two weeks to keep the amount of bacteria in your beed to a minimum.

Pillows

Most people throw their pillow cases in when they clean their bed sheets, but most of us don’t think to wash the pillows as often as we should. While the pillow cases should be washed every two weeks, the pillows themselves should be washed about every three months or so.

The various items and areas of your condo may have slightly different cleaning schedules, but all of them will benefit from vigilance. The more often you clean, the more organized, neater and healthier your home will be.

To learn more about how often you should clean your home, call Maid4Condos at 647-822-0601 or contact us here.

The inside of a messy microwave can look like a Jackson Pollock painting. Only instead of world-class artistry that evokes a wide array of emotions, it’s more like a world-class pain in the butt that evokes a lot of frustration.

The good news is that getting your microwave clean doesn’t have to be that hard. Follow the tips below to make cleaning your microwave as quick, easy and efficient as possible.

Line Up Your Supplies

Before we get to the techniques, you should make sure you’ve got the right supplies for cleaning your microwave. The good news is that you don’t need fancy cleaning products to get your microwave spotless; a lot of the supplies — and even a few pieces of fruit — that you already have around the house will do the trick.

Everyday household items like baking soda, vinegar and even regular dish soap can all be used to give your microwave a makeover. Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons and limes can also be used. Make sure you have a decent sponge, a roll of paper towel and a dish towel handy as well.

As a word of caution, you should avoid using any cleaning products that contain chemicals. In addition to posing a potential health risk, cleaning products that contain chemicals could make some of the plastic parts of your microwave brittle and potentially cause damage to the machine.

Cleaning the Inside of the Microwave

When you first look inside a microwave that’s splattered with gunk, it can be intimidating; scrubbing off all that excess splatter often looks like a lot of work. But with a few household supplies and a microwave-safe bowl, the whole process can actually be as easy as wiping up a small spill.

How to Clean Your Microwave

Grab a bowl that’s safe to go in the microwave and fill it with one cup of water. Then slice up some citrus fruits like oranges, lemons or limes and add the citrus slices into the mix. If you don’t have any citrus fruit, you could also mix a few tablespoons of vinegar into the bowl—this method works with either option.

When your mixture is ready, place the bowl in the microwave and run it for about five minutes on high power. You will want the water in the bowl to come to a boil, and the steam to coat the walls of your microwave. Keep an eye on it during the five minutes, checking to see when the window of the door steams up.

When it’s done, leave the microwave door closed for a few minutes to let it cool off, and to keep the steam contained within the box. After a couple of minutes, open the door and remove the bowl — and remember it’s hot! Thanks to the steam, all of the gunk that was previously dried to the walls of the microwave will be liquidy. Grab a sponge or a sturdy paper towel and wipe down the walls, and the gunk should come right off.

Cleaning the Door of the Microwave

The door of the microwave can be one of the most annoying parts to clean. Food and liquid often splatter into the rubber gasket that surrounds the door, and once it dries, it can be tricky to get out.

Using the bowl method outlined above will help loosen up the gunk on the door, but if anything is hiding within the rubber of the gasket, it may have been protected from the steam. This is one area where a little elbow grease can go a long way.

Grab a bowl and mix up a couple of teaspoons of baking soda in one cup of water. Then grab a sponge and dip it in the mixture until it’s damp, and use it to wipe around the gasket. Go slow and press hard when necessary to make sure the sponge gets into the little crevices of the gasket.

To wipe the window, you can use a mixture made of one part water and one part vinegar. The bowl method mentioned above will help loosen any gunk, but the vinegar will be effective at wiping off any grease that may be on the window.

Cleaning the Outside of Your Microwave

To clean the outside of the microwave, grab your sponge and dampen it with water, then add a little dish soap. When cleaning the outside, the main thing you want to remember is that you don’t want any water seeping into the machine through the vents or the control panel, so make sure your sponge is damp but not soaking wet when you apply it to the microwave.

After you’ve wiped the outside with the soapy sponge, use a dry sponge or paper towel to wipe it clean, then do one more pass with a dry paper towel to make sure the surface is totally dry, and you haven’t left any residual wetness that could seep in through any openings.

Cleaning your microwave is not just important for aesthetics but also for your health. According to a report in the New York Times, microwaving food doesn’t kill bacteria, meaning that the excess gunk needs to be cleaned in order to be removed.

Opening your microwave to see the remnants of your former meals splattered all over the walls can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. By using the methods and supplies laid out above, cleaning your microwave can actually be both quick and easy.

One of the most effective ways to make microwave cleaning easy is to do it often so that excess gunk doesn’t pile up—or to hire a trusted cleaning company to do it for you.

For more quick and easy ways to your microwave and other appliances, call Maid4Condos at 647-822-0601 or contact us here.

Floors can be notoriously tricky to keep clean—especially in a condo.

Condo dwellers don’t have the benefit of a mudroom where they can take off their shoes or boots and put them away before moving inside the house.

In fact, in many condos, you barely have enough space for a proper entranceway! As a result, they can’t help but track dirt, debris and other substances into their homes, and all of that unwanted refuse eventually ends up on their floors. While this obviously causes a problem for people who want to keep their condo neat and tidy, it also has the potential to create an unhealthy environment by bringing in bacteria.

Because bacteria are invisible to the naked eye, it’s trickier to get rid of than many people think. That’s why it’s important to make sure you use the safest and most effective methods for cleaning your condo floors.

Below are three steps that constitute the safest way to clean your floors. Follow all three steps to make sure your floors — and any bacteria that might be lurking on them — are thoroughly and effectively cleaned.

Remove Stray Dirt and Debris

The first step in removing bacteria from your floors is removing all the substances they cling to.

The little bits of litter, dirt and debris that you inevitably track through your condo from the outdoors may not look all that harmful, but since you don’t know where they came from, you also don’t know what’s on them. Removing them will not only make your place look cleaner and tidier, but it will also significantly improve the healthiness of your home.

The best method for removing surface-level debris depends on what types of floors you have. If your floors are carpeted, a good vacuum cleaner will be the most effective way to pick up stray litter. But for pretty much all other types of floors—including hardwood, laminate and tile—you can sweep up using a broom and dustpan.

When emptying your vacuum cleaner or dustpan into the garbage, it’s best to wear gloves to protect your hands. If the bits of debris you picked up does contain any bacteria, you don’t want to risk transferring that bacteria onto your hand while disposing of it.

Opt for Damp or Dry Mopping

The next step in cleaning your floors safely is also the most surprising. Many people believe that wet mopping with soapy water will be the best way to disinfect their floors, but in fact, this method actually makes the bacteria problem worse.

It may seem counterintuitive, but using a wet mop actually adds to the bacteria on your floors, and not by a small margin either. Studies have shown that wet mopping adds between 35 and 50 percent more bacteria to your floor.

So, if wet mopping is out, what is the best method? Mopping with either a damp or dry cloth, both of which have been shown to be much better at removing bacteria from your floors.

Mopping with a damp cloth is the most effective way to get rid of bacteria; studies have shown it removes about 75 percent of all bacteria. Dry mopping was the second-most effective method: studies show it removes slightly more than half of all bacteria, about 55 percent. Both methods are much better options than adding to your bacteria count by wet mopping!

Use a Wood Conditioner

If you have hardwood floors, you may want to consider using a wood conditioner after you’ve swept and damp mopped. A wood conditioner doesn’t remove bacteria, so it won’t necessarily make your floors immediately safer, the same way that vacuuming and damp- or dry-mopping will.

But a wood conditioner will help make your newly cleaned floor glisten and look spotless—making it easier to spot dirt and debris the next time it pops up. That way, you’ll be able to start the cleaning process earlier, giving bacteria less chance to creep its way back onto your floor.

Wrapping Up

Using the right methods to rid your floors of bacteria is an integral part of keeping your home clean, healthy and safe, and the more often you use the steps laid out above, the cleaner and safer your floors will be. But carving out time for frequent floor cleaning can be a challenge.

To learn more about the safest ways to clean your floors, call Maid4Condos at 647-822-0601 or contact us here.

The kitchen is the centre of culinary delights like bold, new recipes and comfort foods — but did you know that part of whipping up delicious dishes and curating flavourful taste is keeping a clean workstation? You already know about removing grease, wiping down countertops, and mopping the floors, but when was the last time you checked the kitchen hood filter?

Everyone knows to scrub the stove and oven of stubborn stains and grease from your latest kitchen concoction, but did you know that the range hood filter also hosts a disgusting amount of grime and grease? That’s right — the next time you whip-up something delicious, think about where the extra grease goes, and make sure to include it in your kitchen cleanup for longer-lasting stove function. Here’s how:

Why the Range Hood Filter Needs Cleaning

First off — do you know what the range filter does? It might be hard to understand why you’ll need to spend a few extra minutes clearing out this gunk if you don’t even know what it does in the first place.

Let’s take a step back. The range hood itself — where the filter sits — keeps the kitchen ventilated by clearing the air of smoke, steam, and strong odours while you clean. Inside the hood is a filter that collects grease and food particles absorbed by the vent to prevent build-up.

The result is a clear vent that effectively pulls smoke, steam, and odours through it, which protects the rest of your kitchen appliances from turning yellow due to grease, smoke, and steam moisture that would otherwise just sit and soak through the room.

A broken range hood filter can greatly impact your quality of life at home. When blocked, the range hood filter won’t be able to perform its essential functions, such as clearing smoke and steam, as well as keeping out harmful air pollutants.

When this happens, you can experience a number of things in your kitchen, such as the fire alarm prematurely going off at the first hints of smoke, lingering food odours due to tiny food and grease particles mixing with the air indoors, and pests like fruit flies and cockroaches that are attracted to these smells.

When to Clean the Range Hood Filter

If you’ve stayed one step ahead of the usual kitchen cleaning routine, you might not have a lot to worry about keeping a clean and properly functioning range hood filter. But if you’ve let the excess gunk and grease build-up for a while now, home cleaning services may be in order for a deep, thorough, and safe clean.

As a rule of thumb, start by checking the silver screen filter on the underside of the hood; with regular cleaning, this can be reused, so you won’t have to worry about frequent outright replacements. Keeping up with this kitchen cleaning essential maintains good airflow throughout the kitchen and even the rest of your house.

Professional cleaners recommend a thorough clean at least once a year, but this number can vary depending on how much cooking you actually do. Since most people like enjoying home-cooked meals daily, you will need to clean the filter far more often than an annual deep cleanIng.

How to Clean the Range Hood Filter

Just like the recommended frequency, home cleaning service providers also note that cleaning the range hood filter isn’t just about frequency, but how it’s actually cleaned. Naturally, the more grease and gunk you create, the more you’ll have to clean the filter.

The good news is, it’s not complicated at all; all you need to do is stick the filter inside the dishwasher at the hottest setting. This removes harmful build-up and blockage, and when done regularly, helps prevent them too.

Cleaning Tools and Ingredients

Alternatively, a home cleaning service professional can come to clean your house and spend time in the kitchen to do a deep clean of the range hood filter. This can be done periodically, such as once a week, twice a month, and for those who don’t use their kitchen much, every few months. This routine cleaning uses a few household ingredients, such as:

• Boiled water
• Baking soda
• Anti-grease dish soap
• Non-abrasive cleaning brush
• Heat-proof container.

Cleaning the Range Hood Filter Step-by-Step

1. Remove the filter

In modern range hoods, the filter easily slides or pops out with a quick upward push. Check around for loop or latch to unlock the filter from its position and slide it out.

2. Place filter in a heat-proof container

Don’t worry, it’s nothing fancy; a heat-proof container can be a pot, casserole dish, or even the sink, as long as it is safe for boiling water and has enough room for the range hood filter. All you need to do is fill it up with boiling water to let the filter soak in and break down the built-up grease.

3. Add soap and baking soda

For stubborn grease, lodged food particles, and germs, hot water alone might not be enough. That’s why you’ll need dish soap and a ¼ to ½ cup of baking soda to sprinkle over the soap and water solution. Make sure to mix it for even distribution — and cleaning — when you soak the filter.

4. Soak the filter and get scrubbing

Now that the cleaning solution is ready, it’s time to actually soak the range hood filter. Let it sit for about 5 to 10 minutes for a thorough clean, as this will make it easier to scrub away the remaining grease. Make sure to use a non-abrasive brush to avoid damaging the screen, but tough enough to wipe out build-up in the crevices.

5. Rinse, dry, and repeat next time

Once the filter is clean, it’s time to rinse off the cleaning solution and any leftover grease. Make sure that it is completely dry using a clean rag or paper towels before placing it back in. After this, it’s ready to be used again — so get cooking!

For more information about how and when to clean your kitchen hood filter, call Maid4Condos at (647) 822-0601 or contact us here.

Rugs and carpets serve a useful function in terms of flooring and keeping outside dirt outside, and it doesn’t hurt that these come in handy for any chic and cozy interior feel. That is, at least until someone spills a glass of juice or wine, or the dust accumulates in the fibres over time, causing allergies to act up, or a persistent stench sweeping through the entire house.

Everyone knows about the benefits of regular vacuuming and avoiding pesky stains altogether — but is your regular cleaning routine up to par? There could still be allergens like pet dander, pollen, and accumulated dust lying around, especially in busy cities like Toronto where it’s not uncommon to constantly track in lots of outside dirt and pollutants.

That’s why you’re still sneezing and constantly feeling like you’re coming down with something no matter how much vitamins you take, or how clean the house looks.

Do you know how to do a deep clean of your rugs and carpets? Use this professional cleaning service guide to find out — and pick up some useful tips:

1. Vacuum regularly

Vacuuming is the most basic way to clean rugs and carpets, but you’ll be surprised to find out that proper vacuuming is also often overlooked. Even a once-a-week sweep through the entire carpeted area can already do a lot to prevent dirt build-up. If you have kids and pets, weekly might not be enough, so consider upping this frequency for better results.

When you’re vacuuming, don’t just stand there. A thorough pass means going through corners, sides, and entire rooms a few times. This helps guarantee an effective, longer-lasting clean. If it’s been a while since you last vacuumed, or you don’t have enough time to do a weekly clean, consider hiring a cleaning service to maintain optimal upkeep of your entire home in Toronto.

2. No shoes indoors

If you don’t have a no-shoes policy in your house, this new habit might take a while to get used to, but the benefits are priceless. By removing shoes at the front door, you track less dirt inside your house and keep rugs and carpets clean for longer.

If you think that dirt and icy slush are already visible on hardwood or linoleum flooring, think how much more carpet fibres absorb. Just ditch the shoes — and enjoy the feeling of plush carpet rubbing against tired soles.

3. Freshen-up rugs

Just like their humans, rugs and carpets need freshening up, too — and the best thing about this is, you can use the spices already in your kitchen cupboard. Spices are great for a natural boost of freshness and eliminate the need for artificial — and sometimes toxic — chemicals in deodorizers and fragrances.

Use generous sprinklings of cinnamon, cloves, dried thyme, nutmeg, lavender, or rosemary on the carpet; for stubborn odours, add a little baking soda or borax to the mix. Wait a few minutes to let the scent soak in, then vacuum up the spices to complete the clean.

4. Beat carpets

That’s right — for small, easily portable rugs, take them outside and give them a nice beating to loosen dirt particles and gravel lodged in the fibres. Just give it a nice toss, or use a bat, mop handle or broom to pound the dirt and dust out.

5. Remove stains right away

The number one rule of removing stains is not to let them sit. For big spills, pour cornmeal right away, wait up to 15 minutes to soak, and vacuum right after. As for coffee, wine, and juice spills, these acidic beverages will respond to club soda, which works like magic.

For juice and berry, try white vinegar. And if the stain is from greasy foods, blot it first using isopropyl or rubbing alcohol, then deep clean using liquid soap or laundry detergent mixed with ⅓ cup of water whirred in the blender, and scrub away with a brush or clean rag.

The downside of these tried and tested stain removal methods is that these are only great for immediate cleaning; set-in stains don’t always respond to scrubbing — and your knees and hands pay the ultimate price for it. Instead, use an iron.

That’s right — preheat your iron and set it to work just like a professional cleaner’s steamer. To prepare, spray ¾ water mixed with ¼ white vinegar and let it soak overnight. Then, place a terry-cloth towel over the top and iron it out at the highest steam level. You’ll see the stain evaporate right before your eyes! The real magic here comes from using vinegar, as it prevents the carpet from bleaching and destroying the interiors.

Book a Home Cleaning Service

All these methods are great for routine cleaning and removing stains overnight, but let’s face it — do you really have the time (and probably the patience) to work your way around wall-to-wall carpeting? A professional home cleaning service can provide a much-needed deep cleaning for fully carpeted homes, effectively removing dust, pollen, and pet dander, as well as stubborn, set-in stains.

Home cleaning service providers also tackle the job with all the right tools and equipment — like professional-grade steam cleaners and cleaning agents — so no stain or amount of built-up dirt is too big or too much to clean.

With regular home cleaning, you won’t have to worry about expensive wall-to-wall carpet replacement, and instead extend the useful life of your plush flooring. There’s no stain too big for a professional home cleaner to handle, so don’t give up on the plush softness of carpeted floors just yet. Trust a home cleaning service to get rid of dirt and allergens lodged in rugs and carpets, and relax in a clean and safe environment.

To learn more about how to keep rugs and carpets clean, call Maid4Condos at (647) 822-0601 or contact us here.

Asthma is one of the most common conditions that cause breathing problems, often starting in young kids. Depending on the severity, asthma patients experience episodes of coughing, shortness of breath, and wheezing — and worse, when left untreated or unresponded to right away, can even end in death, as the airways constrict and cut off the air.

But more than how common asthma is — especially in a big city like Toronto — it’s even more surprising to learn that its causes and triggers are far more common than anyone can imagine.

It’s often said that a lot of things start at home, and sadly, that means asthma, too. The most common allergens and irritants are often found lying around in a typical household, especially when you fall behind a regular cleaning schedule. This is where most parents are concerned.

The good news is, you can help prevent your child’s next asthma attack — all you need to do is stick to a regular dusting and cleaning schedule to reduce existing triggers and help your child breathe easier and better as they grow up. Here’s a short guide to what you should be looking for:

House Dust

Perhaps the most common trigger to look out for when cleaning your home to prevent asthma attacks, house dust is also the easiest asthma trigger to clean. When cleaning your house, make sure to dust often using a vacuum with a high-efficiency filter for a deep and thorough clean of carpets and fabric-covered furniture.

Follow up with a damp cloth to wipe down surfaces. But don’t forget — make sure to avoid cleaning when your child is in the room, or send them to another area in the house to prevent close contact with these asthma triggers.

Dust Mites

Dust mites are unfortunately too small to be visible to the naked eye. What you should know, though, is that these pesky allergens often take up residence in mattresses, pillows, bedcovers, stuffed toys, carpets, fabric-upholstered furniture, and clothes.

To get rid of dust mites, make sure to change sheets and blankets regularly — a good schedule is once a week. Wash them in hot water to kill these insects. If your child can’t sleep without their favourite stuffed toys, make sure that these are at least machine-washable, and stick them in the washer in hot water.

If you can, try to keep their bedtime companions off the bed, and instead have them play with these during scheduled playtimes. Most importantly, add a layer of protection to mattresses and pillows aside from sheets and pillowcases; cover them in dust-proof zippered covers to keep out allergens.

Moulds

Moulds thrive in damp places. When left unattended, they can also increase the risk for other asthma triggers, such as dust mites and other insects. To prevent mould from forming, keep surfaces clean and dry, and prevent excess water and moisture from building up. This means maintaining low levels of indoor humidity, which you can measure at home using a hygrometer from your local hardware store.

To clean your home of this asthma trigger, start by washing mould off hard surfaces and let them dry completely. If you find that absorbent materials, like the ceiling tiles and carpet, are already full of mould, consider replacing them right away. As for preventing excess moisture, look into the most common culprit, which is leaky plumbing; other sources include the fridge, AC, and dehumidifier, so make sure that their drip pans are kept clean and dry.

Don’t forget to turn on exhaust fans or air out entire rooms by opening the windows. Doing so doesn’t just remove bad smells, but also prevents the moisture build-up that causes mould. Remember to do this when showering, cooking, and even using the dishwasher. Make sure that the clothes dryer is set to vent outside.

Pests

Let’s face it — cockroaches and rats are telltale signs of dirty places, and you wouldn’t want your home to be one. Insect and rodent droppings — or worse, their body parts — trigger asthma and overall make for an unpleasant living environment.

To eliminate this asthma trigger, make sure that your cleaning routine involves storing food in airtight containers and garbage in sealed waste disposal bins. Clean up crumbs and spilled liquids right away, or better yet, avoid eating and drinking on the couch and in bedrooms; instead, limit these to the kitchen or dining area.

If you already have an existing roach or rodent problem, work on eliminating them right away before the infestation becomes uncontrollable. Use poison baits, boric acid, or traps instead of sprays, but if you absolutely have to, make sure to limit sprays in infested areas only and open windows for fresh air to prevent asthma attacks, or worse, accidental poisoning.

Secondhand Smoke

Smoking has never done anyone any good — and if your child has been diagnosed with asthma, it might be high time to consider quitting for their health. Secondhand smoke from cigarettes, pipes, and cigars have been shown to trigger asthma, along with the increased risk for respiratory issues that we already know of, the most fatal being lung cancer.

If you absolutely have to light a stick, try to avoid doing it at home where people with asthma can breathe in the smoke. Cigarette smoke often lingers, so even if you think it’s been a while, chances are, they can still inhale the toxins. The same goes for everyone who comes in and out of your house too — don’t let guests smoke in your house, or even in shared spaces like your car.

Pets

Your furry friends may give you a lot of joy, but not when it comes to the asthma attack that comes next. While pets are often a source of joy — and safety for some — their fur, skin flakes, urine, and saliva can cause asthma attacks in their humans.

If you own a pet, consider keeping them outdoors, rather than letting them climb into bed with you every night, or sit on the couch during the day. If they can’t be kept outside, at least consider keeping bedroom doors closed at all times, as well as prevent contact with fabric-covered furniture, carpets, and stuffed toys.

Even if a house looks clean doesn’t mean no hidden asthma triggers are lying around. Clean your home of asthma triggers and help your child breathe better and easier.

To learn more about removing asthma triggers from your home, call Maid4Condos at (647) 822-0601 or contact us here.