Category: General Category

Although we view our pets as members of the family, our four-legged pals (and two-legged if you have birds) carry diseases and germs that can make family members sick. In fact, your home might have germs and bacteria that can make your pets sick, too!

With this in mind, if you have children and pets, it’s important to sanitize your home to help keep everyone healthy. In this blog, our Toronto house cleaning services professionals will explain why and how to sanitize.

Why Cleaning Isn’t Sanitizing

First, we think you should understand that cleaning isn’t the same as sanitizing. When you clean your home, you’re removing dirt and germs from surfaces, but the typical cleaning products used don’t kill germs—and that’s the difference. 

Sanitization uses special ingredients that kill germs, which is why it is better in homes with pets and kids.

Why is sanitizing important?

As mentioned, sanitizing kills germs that can cause illness. When you sanitize surfaces in your home, you reduce the risk of pets and people spreading germs and getting sick.

Although we love to get kisses from our furry friends, we hate to remind you what your pets use their mouths to clean. We’ll let that sink in while we continue to explain more about sanitizing!

Pet Pee and Poo

Unfortunately, your four-legged chums carry traces of poop and pee in their fur and on their mouths and paws, which have bacteria and diseases that can make you sick.

A good way to look at it is considering how we’re all taught to wash our hands after using the bathroom to avoid illnesses related to human pee and poo. Since pets can’t follow suit, we need to be careful and call our Toronto house cleaning services to remove the germs they are spreading around the home.

Pet Diseases

Your pets can carry germs that might or might not make them sick. Whether they are showing symptoms or just carrying the disease isn’t important. What is important is that they can spread the illness to those with compromised immune systems, children under 5, adults over 65, and very young or older pets.

What types of pets can make you sick?

Although cats and dogs can make us ill, you’re actually more likely to get sick from pet rodents, reptiles, or amphibians. These animals tend to carry germs that are more likely to transfer into illness to family members, especially if you aren’t disinfecting their bowls, water dispensers, and cages.

The risks are even higher if you touch these items and don’t wash your hands! However, this also includes picking up dog poop and dealing with kitty litter. So, regardless of pet type, whenever you’re touching anything with the potential to have poop or pee traces, always do so carefully and wash your hands.

How to Clean and Sanitize Pet Items

Here are a few tips to clean and sanitize pet items:

Where to Clean Pet Items

Although you can use your kitchen sink to wash dog and cat bowls, you can be extra safe and wash all hard items for pets somewhere else, like your laundry sink or even your bathtub. However, regardless of where you clean these items, it’s important to sanitize the area directly afterwards.

If you wash these items in the kitchen sink, you greatly increase the risk of germs getting into your food. So, if this is the only place you can clean items, thoroughly wipe down all surfaces using a 99.9% germ-killing, kitchen-safe cleaning product. Another option is to use a wash tub reserved for cleaning pet items. 

How to Clean Pet Items

Choose a disinfectant cleanser that kills germs and follow the directions carefully. In many cases, you’ll need to clean the items first to remove dirt, as germs can cling to dirty surfaces. By cleaning the items first, you allow the disinfectant cleaners to reach the germs and safely kill them.

Be sure to keep the items out of sight of your pets until they are properly cleaned and rinsed, as the cleaners are toxic when still wet and will make your pets sick. 

Use the Dishwasher

If you have a dishwasher, it’s safe to clean pet items like bowls and rubber/plastic toys using the highest setting. The heat will kill the germs and not impact your own dishes in the next cycle. Just make sure these items are labelled as dishwasher-safe. 

Use the Laundry Machine

You can also safely use your laundry machine to wash soft items for pets, such as plush toys, leashes, blankets, etc., especially if you have a sanitize setting. 

Use Bleach or Disinfectant Wipes/Sprays

For the best results, you can use either bleach or disinfectants as follows:

• Bleach: Wash the items first with soapy water and then soak them for 10 minutes in a mixture of ¼ cups of bleach to a gallon of water. Rinse thoroughly and then let them air dry.
• Disinfectant: Follow the directions on the label and be extra safe to ensure you a) leave the disinfectant on long enough to kill the germs and b) thoroughly rinse it off before allowing your pets to use it. 

How Often to Clean

Our Toronto house cleaning services do things the easy way, which is to clean pet items as often as we clean human items! So, for example, you should be washing your dishes every day, and you should also be washing your pet’s water bowls and dishes every day.

It just makes it easier to remember. However, if you’re busy, wet food bowls need daily cleaning, while dry food bowls and water dishes can be cleaned every second day.

Pet “laundry” can also follow your own weekly schedule, while hard pet toys would be along the lines of your kid’s toys, which should be cleaned at least monthly. If your pet or anyone in the home is sick, washing more often is highly advised. Of course, if it looks gross or smells bad, wash it right away, or consider throwing it out!

How Often to Sanitize

For sanitizing, anything that is in contact with poop or pee should be sanitized once a week and daily if you live with small children or elderly adults in the household. Daily is also best if your pet or someone in the family is sick. 

Pet-Specific Warnings

Different animals respond differently to various chemicals, so, in some cases, extra precautions are necessary. Follow these tips based on pet type:

• Cats: Never use cleaning products with any form of phenol on the label, as this chemical is highly toxic to cats. Also, it’s best to clean your cat’s litter box daily before parasites can form.
• Birds: Birds are very sensitive to the fumes from disinfectants, so always use disinfectants outside to avoid impacting their sensitive respiratory systems.

Contact the Cleaning and Sanitizing Experts

So, there you have it. While we love our pets, we need to keep them and our family members safe through regular cleaning and sanitizing.

If you’re too busy to be sanitizing once a week, Maid4Condos’ Toronto house cleaning services are here to help. Click here for a free online quote. You can also call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.

As a real estate agent, you want your clients to enjoy a quick sale for top dollar. This can be difficult for busy homeowners who struggle to keep their home clean. You can help reduce seller stress by introducing them to essential cleaning services that will show their home well.

In this article, we will discuss cleaning recommendations from our professional cleaning services in Toronto.

Why Professional Cleaning Services in Toronto Are Important

Essential cleaning services are critical to sellers for several reasons, including the following:

Homes That Show Well Get Top Price

You know that when homes show well, you can get top price for your clients. A clean home is just as important as a staged home, as it shows the home is well-maintained. It also removes the “ick” factor home buyers feel when a residence has mysterious unpleasant stains and smells that can make them feel uneasy.

Save the Homeowner’s Time

Today, people are strapped for time, which means keeping the home presentable isn’t always possible. When time is an issue, professional cleaning services in Toronto make life easier while avoiding missed opportunities and low-ball offers. 

Decluttering Frees up Space

Decluttering helps free up space and showcase storage, which are two important selling factors.

Professional Cleaning Is Thorough

Even the most organized, clean homes don’t present themselves with the level of cleanliness achieved by professional cleaners. It’s the safest way to ensure every inch shows at its best for a quick, profitable sale.

Decluttering and Organization

The first step is decluttering and organization. This can sometimes be tackled by the homeowners, but a decluttering and organization or junk removal service is one of the best ways to help create a welcmoning environment. 

Decluttering helps prepare your home for the next important step: deep cleaning. With clutter and claustrophobia eliminated, it’s easier for cleaning services in Toronto to come in and scrub your home from top to bottom. Proper organization also helps showcase the home by making it feel more spacious with ample storage.  

A decluttering service works with the homeowner, going room by room and closet by closet to purge all unnecessary items prior to listing. These items are packed on the spot and put into storage off-site until the client moves.

Anything the client doesn’t need is also packed and then either disposed of, sold, or given away. This ensures key areas of the home, including all closets and storage areas like basements, utility rooms, garages, and attics, are clear to show off space the buyer can envision using for their own belongings.

Deep Cleaning Before the Home Hits the Market

Deep cleaning services in Toronto ensure every room, surface, and corner of the home is spotless to stand up to buyer scrutiny. Buyers don’t want to see stained carpets, marked walls, built-up kitchen grime, or soap scum in the tub of a home they’re considering buying. Instead, they want to envision moving into the home with little to zero effort. 

Deep cleaning ensures the home appears move-in ready, and includes the following comprehensive cleaning list:

• Bathtub and shower enclosure
• Inside, outside, and behind the toilet
• Lights, mirrors, sinks, countertops
• Vacuum ceiling fan covers
• Empty garbage bins and replace garbage and recycling bin liners
• Vacuuming and mopping all floors
• Wiping all baseboards
• Spot wiping all walls

• Making beds
• Tidying any clothing
• Dusting counters, table tops, and picture frames
• Cleaning mirrors and polishing ornaments
• Wiping all light switches and door knobs

• If dishwasher is empty, starting new load
• If dishwasher is full, putting away clean dishes
• Cleaning inside the microwave
• Stove top cleaning
• Fridge front polishing
• Backsplash and cupboard fronts
• Wiping window ledges

• General tidying
• Vacuum and tidy sofa seating
• Wipe telephones, switches, and door knobs
• Clean under and behind furniture
• Cleaning laundry room including vents, lint trap, washer and dryer, and floors

House Cleaning Before Open Houses

As life goes on after the deep cleaning, the listed home will start to become untidy and dirty. Life happens, and when clients are still living in their home, especially with kids and pets, keeping on top of the cleaning is difficult. 

Therefore, when planning an open house, it’s important to arrange professional cleaning services in Toronto to conduct a light house cleaning to ensure everything is neat and organized, the home smells fresh, and there’s no obvious dirt anywhere. 

Open houses can see a parade of buyers who will scruitinze the home, so ensuring everything is beyond criticism is essential. This is hard to obtain without professional cleaners who will work fast and have everything ready for even the most picky buyers. 

House Cleaning Before a Showing

This is likely the trickiest cleaning because homeowners often have little time to clean before a showing to ensure everything is presentable. Calling in dependable same-day professional cleaning services in Toronto is the best way to ensure the home is ready to view without inconveniencing the homeowner (who is likely at work or attending to more important things).

Not every cleaning company can accommodate same-day cleaning. However, you will find some companies, like our team at Maid4Condos, understand there are times when homeowners have rush cleaning jobs and, therefore, can come in and clean with little notice.

This type of cleaning focuses on tidying each room and wiping down surfaces, as well as using cleaning products that leave a fresh, clean smell in the home. 

Move-Out Cleaning

The final cleaning when selling is the move-out cleaning that ensures the home is completely cleaned and sanitized for the next homeowner. This is built into most sales agreements as a standard contingency, making it an important step that can’t be missed.

Move-out cleanings are similar to deep cleaning services, but are conducted once the seller has vacated the home. This provides full access to every room, all walls, floors, and surfaces for a thorough cleaning that leaves the home spotless.

Most importantly, move-out cleaning services in Toronto ensure your clients meet the requirements of the sales contract.

Cleaning Services in Toronto: Contact the Cleaning Experts

There is no getting around the fact that clean homes sell faster. Recommending these essential cleaning services to your client will help keep their home clean for a fast, profitable sale.

Click here to learn more about Maid4Condos’ cleaning services in Toronto and the surrounding area. You can also call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online for more information.

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

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

How much is your downtime worth?

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

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

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

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

But DIY Cleaning Can Be Calming

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

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

Cleaning Services in Etobicoke Save on Replacements

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

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

But I rent my home, so who cares?

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

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

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

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

But You Still Need the Occasional Cleaning Products

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

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

Cleaning Services in Etobicoke Reduce Your Overall Time Spent Cleaning

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

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

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

The Cost of Pain Management From DIY Cleaning

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

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

But I’m in Fine Shape

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

Cleaning Services Etobicoke: Contact the Cleaning Experts

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

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

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

Whether you’re leaving a rental or just sold your home, leases and purchase agreements clearly require you to perform a thorough move-out cleaning in North York to present the home in livable condition.

In this blog, we will cover the essential steps to ensure you leave nothing behind, and you fulfill your end of the bargain. 

Steps to Follow Throughout Your Home

First, there are several move-out cleaning tasks you’ll need to complete throughout your entire home, including the following:

• Dust and clean ceiling fans and light fixtures.
• Inspect your walls for damage from nails and screws. Then, fill any holes and paint them.
• Wipe down all the walls and dust the baseboards.
• Clean the windows and sills/ledges.
• Wash the doors and knobs.
• Wash the light switches.
• Sweep, vacuum, and/or mop the floors.
• Dust the vents and exhaust grates.
• If the window treatments come with the home, have them dry-cleaned or launder them.
• Dust any blinds that come with the home, slat by slat.

Steps to Follow in the Kitchen

Along with the above list, the kitchen requires special attention in the following areas:

• Empty the fridge and clean it inside and out.
• Clean the oven using an oven cleaner.
• Wipe down the stove top and replace the burner covers if necessary.
• Run a cleaning cycle in the dishwasher with a dishwasher cleaner.
• Scrub the sink.
• Clean the garbage disposal (if applicable).
• Disinfect the countertops and backsplash.
• Empty the cabinets and drawers, vacuum out crumbs, and wipe down the surfaces.
• Replace missing knobs (if you rent, only do this if they were there when you moved in!).
• Check under the sink for messes or mould, and spritz with a mould-remover.
• Make sure all food and belongings are removed from cabinets, under the sink, the fridge, etc.

Steps to Follow in the Bathroom

The bathroom is one of the most important rooms to clean before moving, using these steps:

• Scrub the shower and/or tub surround with a bathroom cleaner.
• Consider steam-cleaning the grout and surfaces to remove germs.
• Clean the sink and counter.
• Wash all faucets.
• Scrub the toilet inside and out.
• Consider replacing the toilet seat if it’s damaged.
• Make sure all the cabinets and vanity drawers are clean inside and out.
• Remove all your products, especially medications.
• Remove the shower curtain.

Steps to Follow in the Laundry Room/Closet

Whether you have a full laundry room or just a laundry closet, the following steps will ensure it’s clean for the new residents:

• Run a cleaning cycle in the washer using a rinse product (not all washers have this option).
• Clean the surface and interior of the washer and dryer.
• Pull out the washer and dryer if you can, so you can vacuum or sweep up all the lint and mess.
• Check both machines for stray socks and other clothing items.
• Clear out storage areas.
• Clean the lint catcher.

Tips to Power Through Your Move-Out Cleaning

Move-out cleanings aren’t easy, but can be less stressful with these tips to help you power through your tasks:

Stock up on Cleaning Products and Tools

Before you begin, check your cleaning products and tools to make sure you have everything you need to work efficiently. You don’t want to have to make a trash bag and paper towel run when you’re in cleaning mode! Here’s a checklist of what you’ll need:

• Microfiber cloths and/or paper towels
• Rubber gloves
• A good scrubber, such as steel wool
• Large trash bags
• Antibacterial cleaning solutions for the bathroom 
• Glass cleaner
• Multipurpose cleaner or your own natural cleaners like baking soda, vinegar, lemons, etc. 
• Dish soap

Work Top to Bottom

By working top to bottom, you continue to clean dust and debris that falls as you clean. By ending with the floors, you capture all that mess and leave a pristine home in your wake.

Tackle the Job Room by Room

You might have a way you prefer to work, but we recommend tackling the job room by room. This will keep you organized. Also, working task by task in each room often keeps you working efficiently. The trick is to avoid working chaotically, as this will a) stress you out and b) make it almost certain you’ll miss more than a few spots.

Check Behind Every Closed Door and Drawer

By using our tips, you’re not likely to find anything you’ve left behind. That said, it never hurts to check behind every closed door and drawer, just in case you missed something.

Sweep and Dust Closets

Once you remove all your belongings from your closets, be sure to sweep them out and dust the shelves so they’re nice and clean.

Do a Final Once Over

After you move all your belongings out, check the home for any glaring messes or issues that you missed or that appeared out of nowhere. This might include things like dust bunnies, damaged walls, or things like random nails left behind from wall art.

Move Out Cleaning North York: Call the Professionals

If there’s one time we recommend calling in the pros, it’s to complete your move-out cleaning in North York. The cleaning list is exhaustive and will be hard to tackle while your home is filled with boxes and furniture. 

It makes far more sense to hire move-out cleaning services to come in after you’re all moved out to ensure every surface, nook, and cranny is pristine. The new owners/renters will feel safe and at home when they move in. At Maid4Condos, we address all of the above and more for a very reasonable price and complete peace of mind.

The move-out cleaning process is a necessary evil and something nice to do for the new residents. However, it’s a daunting task that is usually best left to the professionals to make life easier and ensure you meet the expectations of the lease or purchase agreement. 

If you’re running out of time, click here for an online quote on Maid4Condos’ move-out cleaning North York services. You can also call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.

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

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

Why a Clean Grill Is Crucial

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How do I deep clean my grill?

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

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

How can I maintain my grill to optimize performance?

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

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

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

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

What happens if my grates are rusty?

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

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

Contact the Cleaning Experts

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

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

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

When you’re selling your home, you need to keep it presentable for potential buyers. Since you don’t want to turn down an opportunity to show your home, it helps to have some quick cleaning tips under your belt so you never get caught in a mess.

Fortunately, you can use these hacks from our professional cleaning services in Etobicoke to prepare your home for those last-minute showings.

Make Your Beds Every Morning

As painful as this might sound for some homeowners, making all the beds in the morning allows your real estate agent to show your home with confidence while you’re at work. 

This is a basic step that just takes a few minutes. Take care to completely smooth out the duvets, and keep some designer-friendly throw pillows handy to toss on the bed before you go.

Declutter Now to Keep Things Neat

Performing a complete home-decluttering the moment you decide to list helps keep your home neat in a number of ways:

• You clear up storage space for things like shoes and coats at the door, items on your kitchen and bathroom counters, etc.
• You find places to store things neatly away so you can tidy up faster.
• You remove unused items from all of your closets so they show better and appear more spacious.

Rid Yourself of Paper

The less paper you have in your home, the easier it is to keep clean. Use eco-friendly paperless tips, including ending newspaper, newsletter, and magazine subscriptions, and signing up for digital versions instead.

You can also get rid of excess paper from manual billing by opting for automatic payments. Anything you don’t need that comes in the mail should be tossed in the recycle bin right away. If you receive flyers, coupons, newsletters, etc. you think you’ll use, store them in a kitchen drawer to keep them organized and out of the way. 

Wash as You Go

Whatever you mess up should be cleaned immediately so you don’t have to find time to circle back and clean it. Some examples include the following:

• Keep wipes on your bathroom and kitchen counters so you can clean up spills right away. 
• Spritz your shower and bath after use with one of those scrubless cleaning sprays to keep your bathroom clean and smelling fresh. 
• Clean your toilet after use, paying close attention to the area around the bottom, behind the seat, and under the rim to keep it sparkling clean. 
• If you use something, put it away.
• Either hang clothes you’ve worn, or toss them in the laundry hamper. 

These are a few examples of how you can keep on top of messes so you’re ready for those last-minute showings.

Manage Dirty Dishes

We understand that you don’t always have time to wash the dishes before heading out to work. If you have a dishwasher, do your best to at least either put away clean dishes, or load the dishwasher with dirty dishes and turn it on before you leave. 

If you don’t have a dishwasher, consider using paper plates, or eating something you can grab and go like yogurt, energy bars, or fresh fruit, so you don’t use dishes at all in the morning.

Leave the Lights On

Although you’ve probably programmed your family to turn lights off whenever they leave a room, keeping lights on makes rooms appear more spacious and welcoming. Also, remember to leave your curtains wide open to bring in more natural light.

Vacuum/Sweep Daily

This is a huge pain that makes a big difference. If you don’t think you can manage this in the morning, squeeze it in before you go to bed. Then, you just have to contend with crumbs on the kitchen floor after breakfast.

Also, this only applies to rooms you use every day. Your guest room, for example, won’t need daily vacuuming. We recommend easy-to-use cordless stick vacuums for this job.

Clean up After Your Pets

We can’t stress how important it is to clean up after your pets. Pet hair, dander, and bathroom accidents all add up to noticeably dirty homes that are also more likely to have pet odours. If you want a quick sale, you might even consider having your pets stay with a friend to keep your home as clean as possible. 

Take Out the Trash Every Morning

Kitchen garbage stinks up quickly, even if it’s food from a single meal. Take out your trash every morning, or, if you don’t want to waste garbage liners, put out your whole garbage bin. If you live in a condo, send it down the garbage chute or take it to the garbage room.

We would also do the same for your bathroom garbage, as there can be some embarrassing cast-offs you wouldn’t want strangers to see. (We won’t list them; we’re sure you know what we mean!)

Create a Catch-All Area With Baskets

If you have many miscellaneous items that make it difficult to keep things tidy, create a catch-all area in one of your closets.

Add a few baskets where you can toss stuff for a quick tidying every day, making it easier to keep things neat in the closet while also allowing you to find stuff quickly. This tip is especially important if you have kids with lots of toys and school stuff.

Organize Your Entry

The entry is one of the hardest areas to keep clean, and essential to make a good first impression. Since people walk directly into your entry, you want it to feel organized and spacious.

If you don’t have an entry closet, consider installing some hooks for coats, shelves for shoes, and containers for winter hats and mitts. This is a quick fix that makes it easier to keep everything out of the way, so people don’t walk into a big mess that screams “We have no storage!”

Hire Weekly Cleaning Services in Etobicoke

Having a cleaning service come in weekly will also help keep your home neat for potential buyers. If you find you’re just too busy to do it on your own, this is the best solution.

In fact, it can even be more frequent than weekly if you need help with things like dishes, keeping the bathroom and kitchen clean, and generally keeping your home tidy and smelling fresh.

Call the Cleaning Professionals

By following these hacks, you can help sell your home faster so you can go back to your usual routine. At Maid4Condos, we offer cleaning services that you can customize to meet your needs.

Check out our website to learn more about our residential cleaning services in Etobicoke. You can also call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.

Whether you are a landlord or property manager, the turnover period between tenants is a time-consuming, often stressful process. One of the most important aspects of tenant turnover is the turnover cleaning.

In this blog, we will share tips on how to prepare rental units for new tenants from our Toronto condo cleaning experts to increase tenant satisfaction and improve tenant retention.

Conduct a Walk-Through

Tenants require 24 hours’ written notice before you enter their apartment. You also need to either perform repairs or a unit maintenance inspection. To reduce stress, ensure the tenant has received the notice and prepare a walk-through checklist so you know exactly what you are looking for.

Your tenant should be present so you can discuss possible issues. Ideally, part of your tenant turnover process is taking pictures of the unit in its pre-tenant condition. This provides a reference for the inspection so you can determine what (if any) damage was caused by the tenant.

Keeping in mind that normal wear and tear is expected, some of the things you want to check for include the following:

• Broken appliances
• Plumbing issues
• Unauthorized changes to the decor (such as paint, wallpaper, alterations to kitchen cabinets, etc.)
• Dirty carpets that require replacement or shampooing
• Broken windows or doors and locks
• Torn or missing screens
• Security issues such as broken window latches
• Mould and mildew

You can then arrange for repairs and any specialty cleaning requirements. Anything that falls on the tenant’s shoulders should also be discussed both in person and in writing so they understand why you might withhold part or all of their security deposit.

Schedule Repairs and Maintenance

To help prolong the life of finishes and systems, it is best to schedule repairs and maintenance to ensure that the new tenants are happy. This would include things such as:

• Plumbing and electrical
• HVAC maintenance
• Appliance maintenance
• Changing air filters
• Addressing leaks
• Considering installing water-saving fixtures to reduce costs
• Mould remediation
• Pest control
• Repairing things like locks, doors, broken windows, etc.
• Eliminating clogs
• Replacing blown light bulbs in light fixtures and appliances

Consider Opportunities for Possible Upgrades

Making upgrades before you list the unit justifies rent increases. Upgrades will also help improve the quality of tenants you attract and encourage them to become long-term tenants.

You have to consider what things will attract your ideal tenant, the costs involved, and the return on investment. You also have to weigh the timing to complete the upgrades, as you don’t want to miss out on rent for several months!

Think about budget-friendly easy upgrades such as repainting the entire unit including the baseboards and doors, new countertops, or upgrades to fixtures like toilets, tubs, shower doors, and faucets.

Perform a Deep Clean

Once all the repairs and upgrades are complete, it’s time to clean. This should be left until the last moment but booked in advance to ensure you secure an effective apartment turnaround cleaning service.

Deep cleaning should address every corner and surface of the unit, including the following:

Bathrooms

• Bathtub and shower enclosure
• Inside, outside, and behind toilets
• Lights, mirrors, sinks, and countertops
• Vacuuming the ceiling fan cover
• Light switches and door knobs
• Vacuuming and mopping floors
• Wiping the vanity inside and out

Bedrooms

• Wiping switches and door knobs
• Vacuuming or mopping floors

Kitchen

• Cleaning inside and outside the fridge, oven, and stovetop
• Polishing the fridge front
• Cleaning the microwave inside and out
• Scrubbing the backsplash, countertops, and cupboard fronts
• Scrubbing the sink
• Wiping light switches and door knobs
• Vacuuming and mopping floors
• Wiping inside cabinets and drawers

Living and Dining Rooms

• Wiping switches and door knobs
• Vacuuming and/or mopping floors
• Cleaning the laundry room
• Clearing the air vent and lint trap
• Wiping down the washer and dryer

For an even more satisfying clean for new tenants, consider adding a GermBlasters clean to the list. GermBlasters is even better than deep cleaning, safely targeting germs and superbugs using hospital-grade disinfectant to help prevent illness.

It also targets other harmful substances such as mould, mildew, allergens, and odours. The benefits of GermBlasters include the following:

• Proven to kill a wide range of viruses and bacteria
• Won’t create a more potent virus 
• No volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• No rinsing required, with 99.999% sanitization on food-contact surfaces
• Odourless and tasteless
• Kills E. coli, salmonella, and listeria in less than 60 seconds
• Kills mould and mildew, and prevents spores from forming for up to seven months
• Safe on a wide range of high-touch surfaces
• Eliminates allergens, including dust mites and pet dander
• Safe for pets
• Eliminates odours
• Effectively cleans HVAC and air ducts for antimicrobial control
• Safe and effective soft-surface sanitation and odour removal, such as carpets 
• 100% biodegradable
• No aquatic toxicity, carcinogens, mutagens, or reproductive toxicants

Engaging these types of thorough cleaning services will ensure your new tenants are satisfied with the unit’s condition, while setting a good first impression to improve their tenant experience!

Why Turnover Cleaning Is Crucial

Although you can leave the turnover cleaning up to the tenants, they will never clean to the standards the new tenants expect. By scheduling move-out cleaning services yourself, you can dictate the level of cleaning to ensure all of the above cleaning tasks are completed, with the added assurance of sanitization when you also include GermBlasters’ cleaning protocols.

Proper cleaning also ensures you prolong the life of materials in the unit to reduce the costs related to repairs and replacements. Through professional turnover condo cleaning in Toronto, you create a clean slate for new tenants. You can record the condition on video and with images of every room and surface as a reference when the tenants decide to move out.

All these benefits provide peace of mind, reduce stress, help save costs, and contribute to tenant retention by improving tenant satisfaction.

Call the Cleaning Experts

The apartment cleaning experts at Maid4Condos offer professional move-out, deep cleaning, and GermBlaster cleaning services for landlords and property managers.

Click here to get a quote on condo cleaning in Toronto, or reach out to our team to discuss a customized solution. For more information, you can call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.