Category: General Category

Do you find your home tends to have a musty, mouldy smell even after cleaning? Do you see white powdery stuff on your shower curtain, bathtub, and bathroom walls? Are there black or dark coloured areas in your home such as on the walls, under the sink, or in the shower? 

If any of these things sound familiar, you’re likely one of the many households facing Toronto’s hidden cleaning challenges, namely, mould and mildew. In this blog, we will share our cleaning tips to help prevent and remove these dangerous culprits.

What are the signs of mould?

A musty smell indicates higher amounts of mould in the home, but doesn’t always mean you have a serious mould issue. If you aren’t sure where the smell is coming from, try to follow the odour and look under the sink, behind furniture, and in places like laundry hampers where dampness might promote mould growth. 

Mould can also be more obvious. Discolouration that ranges from a white to grey powdery substance on surfaces, to a deeper dark green or black substance is very likely mould. 

Why are mould and mildew dangerous?

While mildew can be more of an irritant, there are more dangerous forms of darker moulds that present the real danger in your home. Black mould can not only damage surfaces and materials in your home, but also present health risks that impact your family, including:

• Nasal congestion
• Eye irritation
• Rashes
• Sneezing
• Chronic cough
• Wheezing
• Respiratory infections
• Worsening asthma and allergic conditions
• Impact on people with weakened immune systems

However, prolonged exposure to mould can also present far more serious health risks due to its toxicity, including headaches and migraines, chronic exhaustion, and unexplained muscle cramps.

How to Prevent Mould and Mildew

Some tips to help prevent mildew and mould growth in your home include the following:

• Reduce humidity: Mould and mildew love humidity, dampness, and moisture. Reducing humidity levels below 50% is the best way to avoid growth.
• Repair leaks: Continuous leaks are the number one cause of mould growth, providing the ideal environment for mould to thrive. Repairing leaks immediately will prevent mould.
• Use mould-prohibiting materials and paint: When renovating or redecorating your kitchen and bathroom, using mould-prohibiting materials and paints that stop growth can make a world of difference.
• Use mould-killing cleaners: Bathroom cleaners designed to kill mould can help prevent it from spreading. However, these cleaners are quite toxic, so following the label instructions is essential.
• Use air vents: Be sure your home has proper ventilation in the bathroom to help reduce humidity when using hot water.
• Address water damage: Anything in the home with water damage should be replaced or dried completely to avoid mould growth.

How to Clean Mould and Mildew

When dealing with mould and mildew, it is important to wear a mask, goggles, and gloves. This not only protects you against the spores, but also the chlorine bleach used on most surfaces to destroy the mould.

Chlorine bleach, vinegar, and hydrogen peroxide can break down mould’s structure and kill the spores to stop it from spreading. It’s important to use these solutions, as they work as disinfectants to remove organic matter. They are also safe for use on typical surfaces where mould tends to grow. 

Here are some tips to clean mould and mildew safely from fabric, appliances, and walls:

Fabric

• If possible, take the item outside to reduce the risk of spreading spores.
• Use a dry brush to remove the mould.
• Wash or dry clean the fabric according to the cleaning instructions.
• For mildew, use an oxygen-based bleach cleaner.

Leather

• Follow the first and second steps used for fabric.
• Wipe any remaining mould away using white vinegar or rubbing alcohol and a soft cloth.
• Be sure to rinse the cloth after each swipe to remove any mould residue, and then soak in more alcohol or vinegar.
• Allow the leather to air dry.
• Use leather-cleaning and conditioning products to finish the cleaning and keep the leather supple.

Washing Machines

• Run a hot water cycle with either two cups of chlorine bleach or hydrogen peroxide (never mix these two solutions together!).
• Once the cycle is finished, dampen a cloth with the same solution you used in the wash cycle and wipe down the seals and gaskets.
• Allow the washer to dry with the door open.

Clothes Dryers

• Dampen old towels with a mix of chlorine bleach and water, and run them in the air-only cycle for five minutes.
• Remove the towels and then rinse the interior with a clean sponge and water.
• Clean door seals and the exterior with the bleach solution, and allow it to air dry with the doors open.

Fridge

• Clear out all food from the fridge.
• Wipe all the surfaces with undiluted distilled vinegar.
• Rinse the cloth off thoroughly between surfaces and re-soak with more vinegar.

Coffee Maker

• Run a brew cycle using distilled white vinegar in the water tank.
• Empty the vinegar and then run two more cycles using water.

Tile and Grout

• Open the windows or run the bathroom fan.
• Mix one cup of bleach with a gallon of water.
• Use a rag or soft-bristled cleaning brush to apply the mixture.
• You can also mix a smaller batch in a spray bottle and spritz the mould. 
• Let it sit for 15 minutes.
• Scrub the surface to remove the mould.
• Rinse well with fresh water.
• You might have to repeat the process a few times. 

Interior Walls

• Mix together one part dishwashing liquid, 10 parts bleach, and 20 parts water.
• Use a sponge to apply the mixture, being careful not to use too much.
• Allow the mixture to air dry, repeating until the mould fades. 

Recurring Mould

You can attack recurring mould in small amounts using specialty cleaning services such as GermBlasters and deep cleaning to help reduce the risk of mould growth from spreading.

However, because mould is toxic, when you encounter severe mould growth in your home, it is important to call a mould-remediation service right away. Trying to remove black mould on your own can actually spread it by releasing toxic spores into the air. 

While tackling small amounts of mould using these tips can work, if mould is recurring, it is best to either inform your landlord of the issue, or call the remediation services if you own the home.

Contact the Cleaning Professionals

Hopefully, we’ve helped clarify the dangers of mould and mildew, and explained why it’s important to prevent mould growth. Using our cleaning tips to both prevent and tackle mould growth can help keep your Toronto home mould-free. 

Reach out to Maid4Condos for a quote on our cleaning services here to help stop mould growth in its tracks. For more information, you can also call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.

If you’ve just moved into a new home, it can be challenging to figure out how to tackle your cleaning routine. This is especially true if your new home is much larger than your previous home. 

In this article, we will offer tips from our house cleaning services in North York to help you set up a regular cleaning schedule that keeps your new home comfortable and presentable.

A List of Clean-As-You-Go Items

One of the most important methods of keeping a clean home is to use the clean-as-you-go approach. By cleaning up noticeable messes you create every day, you keep your home looking far neater. Some examples would include:

• Putting dirty clothes in the hamper instead of on the floor.
• Wiping up toothpaste globs and other product spills in the bathroom when you get ready for work or bed.
• Putting away anything you take out and no longer need.
• Wiping up foot or paw prints from wet shoes.
• Hanging up coats, knapsacks, etc., when you get home.
• Making the bed (some people do not believe in this, so we respect that!).
• Wiping down the microwave after a boil-over.
• Giving the toilet bowl a swish after particularly scary “sessions”.

Create a List for Daily Cleaning Chores

Daily cleaning chores ensure your home remains tidy and avoid really messy build-ups. This includes all those very noticeable messes you create every day, including the following:

• Dishes: You should either load your dishwasher every day or wash your dishes by hand to reduce issues like caked-on dirt, attracting pests, and avoiding odours and germs. If you don’t have time to tackle the dishes from each meal, set aside time each evening to wash the dishes. It helps to rotate duties with others in your household, such as someone who empties the dishwasher, puts dishes on the dishrack away, and loads the dishwasher or washes the dishes. Another good rule is that everyone washes, dries, and puts their own dishes away if you have roomies.
• Kitchen counters and stove top: All meal preparation areas should be cleaned and wiped down with disinfecting cleaners and wipes to reduce germs and bacteria that can make you sick. This also avoids stains and caked-on messes. 
• Rinsing the kitchen sink: Once the dishes are taken care of, the sink should be rinsed clean, and all food debris should be emptied from the sink strainer.
• Sweeping up: The kitchen floor should also ideally be swept every day to get rid of crumbs and other food remnants.

Create a List of Weekly Cleaning Chores

Your daily cleaning greatly reduces the effort needed for your weekly cleaning chores. It also makes your life easier by spreading the chores across different days so you don’t waste your weekend cleaning. 

For example, you might vacuum on Monday while a load of laundry is running, then do some dusting on Tuesday, and then tend to the floors on Wednesday. Weekly cleaning chores include the following:

Bathroom

A weekly cleaning of the bathroom is a must because of all those germs. This would include:

• All surfaces
• Tub or shower
• Toilets
• Floors
• Mirrors

Floors

Floors should be cleaned weekly, including vacuuming rugs, sweeping hard-surface floors, and mopping hard surfaces with a material-appropriate cleaner. If you have pets, you likely need to vacuum more often to tackle all that hair and dander.

Dusting

Not all homes have enough dust accumulation to justify needing to dust weekly. Keep an eye on dust build-up on furniture surfaces to decide if you happen to be lucky enough to dust less frequently. Make sure you use a static-style duster to attract dust so you aren’t releasing it back into the air.

Laundry

Most people just need to do the laundry once a week. However, if you fancy yourself a fashionista who changes a few times a day, then you should do a load every few days.

Remember that laundry isn’t over when the dryer alarm goes off! You should not only be taking the clothes from the dryer, but also folding or hanging it and putting it away. 

Make a List of Monthly Cleaning Chores

Again, the more diligent you are at sticking to your daily and weekly cleaning schedule, the less effort you’ll need to tackle your monthly cleaning chores. However, an important tip for tackling monthly cleaning is to rotate the tasks, so every major chore is addressed one at a time. 

These chores include the following:

• Washing baseboards 
• Cleaning light fixtures
• Laundering your full bedding
• Vacuuming the furniture
• Cleaning your oven
• Wiping down your small appliances
• Washing windows
• Wiping down things like walls and light switches in high-traffic areas

By tackling one or two of these things each month, you’ll keep on top of the heavier-duty cleaning tasks for a comfortably clean home.

Tips for Balancing Life and Cleaning

Although this list seems overwhelming, no one is going to call you out for not following the schedule to a tee! Remember, a tidy home reduces stress, but keeping a tidy home shouldn’t contribute to that stress. 

Some tips to help balance life and cleaning might include the following:

• Be flexible: Your schedule should be flexible, allowing you to swap out days when something more important comes up.
• Share duties: When you live with others, whether it’s a partner, kids, or roommates, it’s important to share duties equally. This makes cleaning easier and reduces resentment that can create a less-than-happy living environment.
• Find cleaning opportunities: Look for opportunities to do a little cleaning here and there, such as dusting the living room while watching the news, picking up the kids’ toys while dinner is cooking, or throwing in a load of laundry while listening to a podcast.
• Add cleaning to your calendar: Having tasks on your calendar acts as a placeholder to take care of your cleaning jobs. It also allows you to consider other things you’ve got on the go so that you can manage all aspects of your life from one place.

Hire House Cleaning Services in North York

When life gets too busy, there’s no shame in admitting that you can’t do it all. Hiring a cleaning company to come in weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly will ensure your home is always clean to reduce pressure and stress.
Maid4Condos offers house cleaning services in North York and across the GTA with affordable prices. For more information, call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.

There are so many little decisions we end up making as new parents. These are the things we don’t give much thought to until we’re in the thick of things and the new parent “overwhelm” sets in. 

Believe it or not, one of the most important decisions you make for your baby’s health and safety is the types of cleaning products you choose. In this article, we will offer a guide for choosing baby-safe cleaning products from the experts at our home cleaning services in North York: Maid4Condos.

Does your family have a history of allergies?

Bringing a new baby into the family creates a world of new discoveries and a touch of havoc. Getting to know your little one is a joyful experience, but it can also feel a little scary when you consider all the uncharted ground ahead. One of those things is the development of allergies.

As a result, when it comes to choosing cleaning products, it’s important to consider the allergies of other family members as a guide to guarding against introducing allergens to your baby. Some examples of possible allergies in cleaning products include:

• Fragrances in all types of cleaning products.
• Ammonia that’s common in products such as window cleaners, mould/mildew removers, and toilet cleaners.
• Bleach itself, as well as an ingredient in products such as laundry detergents and bathroom cleaners. 
• Sulfuric acid found in drain cleaners.
• Formaldehyde, which is common in many types of aerosol air fresheners.

Does your family have a history of immune challenges?

This is an important question as immune deficiencies require special cleaning products that are disinfectants. Disinfectants kill germs and bacteria that can make you sick, but are also very strong and should be what is called “NSF-certified”.

These products are food-safe for use on all surfaces in the home. On the other hand, products labelled “antibacterial” should be avoided as they contain pesticides.

To be safe, you might consider using home cleaning services in North York that specialize in disinfecting homes. For example, Maid4Condos offers a GermBlasters service that sanitizes all surfaces, including upholstered furniture, using an EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant proven to safely kill a wide range of viruses and bacteria. It also doesn’t release those nasty VOCs, and has low toxicity. 

Check Product Labels

When using cleaning products, always check the label for approval from trusted associations such as dermatologists, Free & Clear, Eco Logos, or Green Seals, for example. Be wary of products labelled as “biodegradable”, as this does not necessarily mean they are baby-safe.

Biodegradable simply refers to how the product breaks down when introduced into the environment. You can also do a quick online research at the Environmental Working Group Skin Deep Database where you can look for products with an A rating, indicating low toxicity. 

Know What Ingredients to Avoid

Along with all the label approval logos, you should also know what ingredients to avoid. In hand with the list provided for allergens, we recommend steering clear of products containing the following:

• 2-butoxyethanol
• Ethanolamines
• ADBAC
• Benzalkonium chloride
• Phosphates
• Phthalates
• Sulphates
• Ingredients with names with “-monium chloride” or “triclosan” in them

Understand the Chemistry of Cleaning Products

Cleaning products contain a mix of chemicals with varying degrees of cleaning power. The chemistry of these ingredients is safe when mixed together within each product, but becomes highly volatile when mixed with other cleaning products. 

As a result, it’s important not to mix two different cleaning products together. This can release toxic gases that present serious health emergencies.  

Opt for DIY Cleaners

One of the safest ways to keep your home clean with the arrival of a new baby is to opt for DIY cleaners instead. This is great for the entire family and the planet! Some DIY cleaning recipes include the following:

Vinegar and Water

When to use it: This mix is perfect to tackle grease, and can replace your disinfectants as it is safe for food surfaces.  

Recipe: Use a mix of half water and half vinegar or just vinegar when cleaning windows and mirrors.

How to use it: Put it in a spray bottle and spritz surfaces like your stove, countertops, tabletops, etc., and wipe clean with a microfiber cloth or paper towels. 

Baking Soda for Scrubbing Power

When to use it: Tackle those hard-to-clean messes such as toilet bowls, shower scum, counter stains, etc.

How to use it: Sprinkle the powder on stubborn stains, spritz with your vinegar mix, and scrub with a clean sponge. Rinse the grit away with water. 

Hydrogen Peroxide (Instead of Bleach)

When to use it: This is perfect when cleaning surfaces and stains commonly tackled with bleach.  

Recipe: Mix half water and half hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle.

How to use it: First, remove signs of dirt or grime with dish detergent and water. Then, spritz the surface with your mixture, and let it sit for at least five minutes. If the surface is used for food preparation, rinse it away. Other surfaces can just air-dry. 

Choose Natural Cleaners

Natural cleaners, like castile soap, are also available and safe to use on just about any surface. As mentioned, mixing cleaning products is never a good idea, including what you assume to be natural and safe.

In this case, for example, you can’t mix castile soap with vinegar. Although this doesn’t present a health issue, it creates a white filmy stain. 

Another natural cleaner is lemons. They are perfect for the following:

• Cleaning cutting boards with a bit of salt to remove food remnants and odours from garlic or onions
• Cleaning stains on countertops
• Cleaning garbage disposals
• Getting rid of odours from your drain
• Scrubbing stinky bathroom surfaces, and more

Hire the Expert House Cleaners in North York

Having a new baby is overwhelming, which means you probably aren’t even thinking about cleaning. Instead of letting your home slowly become scary dirty, treat yourself to North York’s professional house cleaners. We can come in once a week or biweekly with our AutoPilot scheduled cleaning packages which benefits of up to 20% off your celaning to keep your home clean and safe for the baby.

We are your cleaning angels who will swoop in and take care of your cleaning chores until you get over those first stressful months and find your groove as new parents. Once you set a routine, cleaning becomes easier. We promise. 

Maid4Condos offers the perfect solution for new parents with cost-effective house cleaning services in North York and throughout the GTA. Call us at 647-822-0601 for a free online quote, or contact us here.

When you list a home for your clients, you want to get top dollar and sell the home as quickly as possible. One of the best ways to sell homes faster is investing in a move-in ready service provided by a cleaning company in Scarborough to appeal to a home buyer’s sense of order. 

In this article, we will take a deep dive into the psychology of home buyers to understand why thorough cleaning is a must.

First Impressions: Passing the Online Test

As you probably know, today’s home buyers start their search online. As a result, you need to post professional photos that show each listing in the best possible light. 

First impressions are critical to home sales, so your listings need to stand out from the rest. When your listings sparkle, you can be sure you’ll have an edge over the agents who don’t take the time to do a floor-to-ceiling deep clean. 

Cleanliness Creates Positive Emotions: Passing the White Glove Test

Even if an unclean listing passes the online test, you should still face the home tour test. Home buyers are notoriously picky and will look at every square inch of the home, opening closets, peeking behind shower curtains, pulling out kitchen drawers, etc. 

As a result, you need every surface, nook, and cranny to be clean enough to pass the white glove test without an ounce of grime, speck of dust, or hint of grease.

Scent Triggers a Memory Response: Passing the Sniff Test

Scent is a memory trigger that can evoke visions of holidays past, mom’s homemade cookies, and a sense of calm with familiar pleasant aromas like fresh lemon and citrus. 

Unfortunately, they also bring up bad memories or trigger alarms that a home feels unsafe, such as smells of mould, pet odours, cigarette smoke, or marijuana. 

A clean home with fresh, familiar scents will trigger those positive emotions that buyers are more likely to relate to hominess, providing the positive response that translates into offers. 

Clutter Creates Stress

Another important psychological response is stress. A clean home creates a sense of calm and peace. If a home feels crowded and cluttered, buyers feel stressed and can’t imagine themselves relaxing in the home.

Ensuring the home is decluttered and cleaned helps present an atmosphere of calmness that feels like home instead of a gut reaction that tells the buyer to get out of there.

People See the Mess, Not the Home

Order reduces distractions that can take away from the best points of a home. When buyers enter a clean and organized home, they are less likely to become distracted and experience mental overload.

Cleanliness Is Associated With Health

When buyers step into a dirty home, their guard goes up with fears of germs and bacteria lurking in every corner. A clean home feels fresh and healthy, so buyers don’t feel their health is at risk. 

In fact, things like clutter, dirt, and mess are linked to our decision-making process. As a result, everyday messes can influence a home buyer’s decision to purchase because they feel unsafe due to the following issues:

• Unpleasant smells
• Pet stains
• Dirty toilets, showers, and tubs
• Kitchen grease and food stains
• Crumbs
• Dust
• Poorly maintained window treatments
• Unclean light fixtures

The cleaner the home, the healthier it feels, and the more likely people will have a positive response. The messier the house, however, the more likely it is you’ll trigger the flight response!

Messes Can Make People Feel Anxious

While not all people are affected by messes, those who are can become anxious when faced with an untidy home. 

So, although the home might be “clean,” newspapers on a coffee table, clothes hanging on the backs of chairs (or even on hooks), or clean dishes in a dish rack can contribute to feelings of anxiousness that can send some home buyers headed for the hills!

Therefore, it’s important to advise sellers to maintain a tidy home during the selling process. Hiring a cleaning company in Scarborough to conduct a weekly cleaning can help owners maintain a tidier home.

Clutter Can Erase Memory

When home buyers see several homes in a day, they compartmentalize each home in their memory using something that stood out. Whether it’s kitchen counters, funny artwork, or a spectacular backyard, you want to provide a positive memory that helps keep your listing in the running. 

Unfortunately, clutter creates a visual distraction that can lead to cognitive overload and reduce a buyer’s ability to remember things. Thus, you want to minimize clutter, so buyers can remain focused on the home’s good points, find something positive to compartmentalize, and process this information using their working memory.

Clutter Disrupts Emotional Readings

Clutter disrupts a buyer’s ability to read the emotions of others. When buyers feel stressed or anxious from clutter, they might be less able to read the facial expressions of their partner, which means they might incorrectly interpret their impression of the home.

Not only can this change their minds about the home subconsciously, but also increase the risk of couples having conflicts due to the misinterpretation. This creates a negative memory of the home, so they are less inclined to make an offer.

Call Our Cleaning Professionals in Scarborough

You want to leverage every opportunity to be the best house on the block and sell your listings quickly. The decision to work with a house cleaning company in Scarborough or the GTA is a powerful tool that will help you manage home buyers’ emotional response for more positive results.

A clean home makes yours the listing that stands out and triggers positive emotions that increase offers and perceived home value.

If you want to maintain a cleaner home, reach out to Maid4Condos to learn more about our cleaning company in Scarborough and the GTA. You can also call us at 647-822-0601.

When you’re preparing to move, you have an obligation to make sure the new tenants or owners find a fresh, clean home to move into. That calls for a professional move-out cleaning in North York that tackles every square inch of the home.

Although the cleaners will manage the cleaning, there are still some things you should do to prepare your home for their arrival. Use this list to make sure your home is ready for the cleaners, and that you adhere to your lease or sales agreement. 

Remove Your Belongings

Packing away your belongings and removing them from the home clears the way for move-out cleaning in North York. It’s important to check every closet, shelf, pantry, under the sink, laundry room, etc., to look for anything you might either have forgotten or thought could be thrown away by the new tenants/owners.

Leaving unwanted belongings behind is actually not allowed based on most leases and sales agreements. So, avoid charges and issues, and make sure you haven’t left anything.

Vacuum or Sweep Floors

Move-out cleaning services will wash the floors. However, it helps to do a final sweep or vacuum before you leave. This allows the cleaners to come in with their equipment and do a professional-grade cleaning to adhere to the rules of leaving the home in sanitary condition.

Meet Your Obligations

As our list progresses, you’re probably wondering why you hired professional cleaners if you have to clean anyway. The truth is that you have an obligation to clean the home.

Whether it’s you or the landlord/real estate agent who arranges for the move-out cleaning services, you have to show that you’ve done your part to leave the home in good condition.

Wipe Down Surfaces

This is especially important for things, like the stovetop, kitchen/bathroom counters, and cabinet fronts. Move-out cleaners will use heavy-duty cleaners and sanitizers to ensure the home is move-in ready. However, any sticky messes you leave behind will slow them down and can end up costing you or the landlord more money.

Depending on the level and type of dirt you leave behind, you could face issues with the new buyers or the landlord if they feel you did not meet the requirements to leave the home in good condition.

Clean Inside Kitchen Drawers and Cabinets

This is very important, especially if the home might sit empty for a while before the new tenants/owners move in. Even small amounts of food debris can attract pests to the home, which can lead to an infestation in a matter of days. 

Insects can multiply at a frightening speed, especially roaches and ants. By removing all your food and cleaning out kitchen drawers, shelves, cabinets, and pantries, you help reduce the risk of infestation before move-in day.

Repair Nail Holes and Minor Wall Damage

If you used nails to hang art and pictures on your walls, the damage must be repaired before the cleaners arrive. This should be done as soon as possible, as it takes time for the filler to set and harden completely.

Since the cleaners will wipe down and wash the walls, ensuring holes are filled once the nails are removed will follow your lease/sales agreement while allowing the cleaners to do their job without damaging your repair work.

Repaint the Walls or Do Touch Ups

If you leased your home and did not have written permission from the landlord to paint the walls, you’ll have to repaint them to a similar, neutral paint colour to avoid losing your deposit.

If you own the home, you likely already painted or did touch-ups before you listed, so this is not usually necessary unless it was included as a condition of the sale.

Clean the Appliances Inside and Out

Removing all food from the fridge and freezer and cleaning your appliances inside and out is a given when you move out. For the fridge, chances are the landlord will unplug the appliances until the new tenants move in. As a result, any food left in the fridge or freezer will rot, leading to cleaning issues and odours that can stay in the apartment for weeks. 

Remove the food and clean all the shelves and drawers of the fridge and freezer, as this is not always included in move-out cleaning services. Although the cleaners do wipe down the outside of your stove and fridge, you should do this as the final step in case the landlord or new buyers arrive before the cleaners. 

The oven is also important, as you might attract pests to the baked-on food on the stove top as well as in the oven. Vacuum out the oven drawer to remove crumbs and food drips. And don’t forget the dishwasher. Be sure to run a wash cycle using a product like Finish or Affresh for dishwashers. 

Tackle the Bathroom

Of course, move-out cleaners will sanitize all the surfaces in the bathroom. However, leaving behind toilet bowl stains, damaged dirty tiles and grout, dirty counters, and spattered mirrors is not acceptable.

Wash your bathroom using disinfecting, surface-appropriate cleaning products to provide a clean surface ready for a professional-grade deep cleaning. Again, you don’t want the new tenants or owners to arrive to check out the home and find a filthy bathroom before they move in. That’s just embarrassing!

Clean the Laundry Appliances

Cleaning the laundry appliances avoids the smells and dangers of dirty washing machines and dryers. Using a product like Affresh in the washer will get rid of mouldy residue and soap scum that can cause a musty smell in the home if left for too long. Additionally, the dryer lint catcher should be cleaned and vacuumed to remove as much of the lint build-up as possible. 

Wipe down the dust and lint that tends to collect on the walls beside the dryer and any cabinets or shelves for storage. Make sure you check the machines for stray clothing you might have missed. You’d be surprised how many people move out and leave an entire load of laundry behind!

Contact the North York Move-Out Cleaning Experts

These tips will ensure that not only is the home ready for the move-out cleaners in North York, but also that you adhere to the terms of your lease or sales agreement. This way, you can avoid hassles that can make a moving day even more stressful.

To learn more about Maid4Condos’ move-out cleaning services in North York, click here. You can also call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.

You put a lot of effort into listing a home, knowing your clients depend on you to present their homes in the most positive light. Of course, that includes ensuring the residence is spotless. Maid4Condos offers stellar home cleaning services in North York and understands what it means to have an ultimate clean when preparing homes for sale. 

In this article, we will share how professional cleaning can boost property value to attract top dollar for your real estate clients.

Appeal to the Senses

The moment a buyer walks into a home, their senses go into overdrive. They take in the look of the home, perk up their ears if they hear street sounds, and also breathe in the air to detect the slightest odours that can turn them off from wanting to buy the home. This calls for an aggressive approach that appeals to buyer senses, including their sense of smell.

Although the old real estate trick of baking a batch of cookies helps trigger an emotional response, professional home cleaning services in North York ensure every ounce of the home is odour-free. A floor-to-ceiling clean eliminates any trace of debris that contributes to unpleasant, stale, or unclean smells that turn off buyers. That translates into cash in your pocket.

Make a Good First Impression

You know that cleanliness is a big selling feature for home buyers, and when buyers enter a home, you can be sure they’re going to snoop. That includes inspecting kitchen drawers and cupboards, looking up close and personal at the kitchen backsplash, opening appliances, and pulling back shower curtains to make sure everything is clean and sanitary.

Therefore, it’s not enough to bake some cookies and call it a day. The sniff test is always followed by a white glove test, where every surface is inspected to make sure there are no signs of grime, mould, mildew, or debris.

Home cleaning services in North York tackle every surface to pass inspection by the most fussy buyer, keeping your listings in the running when it comes time to make an offer.

Stand Out as the Clean House

You need your listings to stand out from the rest. It helps to be remembered as a clean house, where buyers felt completely at ease knowing the home was sparkling clean, smelled fresh, and was move-in ready.

Allowing your listing to stand out from the rest as a well-maintained home with a fresh, clean scent isn’t a bad thing. You know all too well that there are far worse things to be remembered for! Cleanliness is a very positive identifier.

Open Up Space

A thorough cleaning begins with a complete decluttering. By removing clutter from the home, you open up space and highlight the function of each room. Home cleaning services in North York tackle cluttered spaces, helping to clear out unwanted items, making the most of storage areas, and showcasing the space you have instead of the space you don’t. Once the clutter is removed, the cleaning can begin, ensuring every surface sparkles. 

Your Clean Might Not Be “Buyer Clean”

You might think of yourself as a neat freak, but buyers might not agree. No matter how carefully you clean the home, there are always going to be some buyers who think that little speck of spilled spaghetti sauce on the kitchen cabinet makes the entire house filthy.

With home cleaning services in North York, you can feel confident that when the cleaners leave the home, they’ve met everyone’s cleaning standards, no matter how picky or unreasonable that clean might seem.

Highlight Your Listings’ Best Features

The brand-new backsplash, stunning shower, and beautiful hardwood will lose their appeal if they aren’t clean. It just takes a hint of mould, a few scratches, and a spot of yesterday’s ketchup to turn off a buyer who can’t see past the dirt and focus on a home’s best features.

Dirt makes even the newest features feel old and outdated. With a thorough professional house cleaning, you can highlight your listings’ best features and avoid the scrutiny of picky buyers who are looking for any excuse to make low-ball offers.

Create a Clean Slate to Appeal to Buyers’ Imaginations

No one knows better than you that you need to create a clean slate that allows buyers to imagine themselves living in a space. By eliminating all the personal touches, and staging homes with a neutral style, you appeal to a buyer’s imagination.

Part of that staging includes creating a clean backdrop where homes are free of clutter, mess, unfamiliar or unpleasant odours, and signs of someone living in the home. 

All these issues act as distractions that can take away from a buyer’s ability to picture themselves cooking in the kitchen, relaxing in the tub, or watching their favourite movies in the living room.

Eliminate All Traces of Pets

We all love our pets. However, some buyers may not share your affection. A professional house cleaning in North York eliminates all traces of your clients’ pets, including odours, scratches, scuff marks, and hair.

As a result, buyers are unaware the house has pets and won’t worry about the messes, wear and tear, and general, smelly issues that tend to go hand in hand with pet ownership.

Draw Attention to New Appliances

Buyers love the idea of new stainless steel appliances, as long as they appear new. Stainless steel appliances are only a buying feature when they feel new. That means you need to eliminate telltale signs of yesterday’s dinner or traces of that cucumber forgotten at the back of the crisper drawer.

A thorough cleaning of appliances inside and out makes them feel new and modern and free of streaks, odours, and food debris that are red flags to buyers.

Call the Home Cleaning Experts

Home cleaning services in North York are essential to help create a clean residence where buyers feel comfortable and can picture themselves moving in their belongings and settling into a life of home ownership.

This translates into a higher perceived value of the home, leading to increased offers. Click here for a free quote from the home cleaning professionals at Maid4Condos. You can also call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us here.

Ensuring your new apartment is clean should always be a top priority on moving day. Unless you’re the first tenant in a spanking brand new building, you can be sure the last tenant has left behind at least a few germs and ick factors that call for a move-in cleaning.

In this article, we will explore the importance of move-in cleaning in Toronto to help create a clean, safe, and pleasant living environment from day one.

Former Tenants Might Not Clean Thoroughly

Although leases likely state that tenants are expected to conduct a thorough cleaning before moving out, chances are they aren’t cleaning as thoroughly as you’d like. By taking the reins and hiring move-in cleaning services in Toronto, you ensure every inch of the unit is cleaned to the highest possible standards so you feel safe and can settle into your new home comfortably and stress-free. 

Landlords Must Provide Clean Units

Landlords are required to ensure rental units are move-in ready, in a good state of repair and cleanliness, and meet Toronto health and safety standards. By hiring move-in cleaning services in Toronto, landlords can maintain proper documentation that shows your home was cleaned by professionals, with a checklist that indicates everything is in an acceptable condition.

You can keep this list with your inspection report along with photos that show the unit is clean and acceptable so when you move out, you have proof everything is still in good condition.

Tenant Satisfaction

You want to feel happy knowing you live in a safe, clean, and comfortable living space from day one. You don’t want to feel discouraged if you arrive at your new home only to find it does not appear to be clean and sanitized for your safety. 

By investing in professional move-in cleaning services in Toronto, you’ll enjoy a good first impression that tells you the property is well-maintained so you feel confident you have made the right choice.

Reduced Landlord Complaints

Moving days are hectic. The last thing you want is to have to contact your landlord on moving day complaining that the apartment doesn’t meet your standards of cleanliness.

With proactive scheduling of move-in cleaning services in Toronto, you avoid complaints and ensure the moving process is streamlined and trouble-free so you feel 100% comfortable that your new home is clean.

Pest Management

Although your landlord is responsible for diligent pest control, part of an effective pest-management process includes removing food residue that can attract pests and keeping units clean and sanitized. A move-in cleaning provides an opportunity to spot pests and arrange for pest control services to step in before you move into your new unit.

Improved Air Quality

A deep cleaning using eco-friendly cleaners improves rental unit air quality. The removal of dust, allergens, and heavy chemical cleaning product residue all contribute to enhanced air quality so you are less likely to suffer from common allergy and asthma symptoms.

Deep Cleaning Kills Germs and Bacteria

Deep cleaning is a must to kill germs and bacteria left behind from former tenants. Deep cleaning creates a clean slate so you can enjoy that “new home feeling”, are comfortable moving in your belongings, and can settle in without worry. It helps maintain your rental unit by removing common issues such as mould, mildew, and greasy buildup that make a home feel unsanitary.

Move-In Cleaning Services in Toronto Are Thorough 

Move-in cleaning services in Toronto handle every corner 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

Laundry Room

• Clearing the air vent and lint trap
• Wiping down the washer and dryer
• Cleaning floors

Move-in cleaning also includes cleaning all baseboards, windowsills/ledges, and walls. 

Deep Cleaning Helps Maintain Surfaces and Materials

Proper cleaning helps protect the surfaces, appliances, and materials in your rental unit. Appliances will operate more efficiently, while debris that can damage wood floors and tiles is reduced.

You also keep carpets clean and fresh, creating a welcoming living environment where you can live happily and feel you’re getting your rent’s worth. 

Move-In Cleaning Helps Your Home Stand Out

Moving into a new home is a perfect opportunity to welcome guests to show off your new apartment. When it comes to rentals in Toronto, it certainly helps to have a presentable rental where you feel proud to entertain and spend time with the people you love.

Clean Units Encourage Lease Renewal

As mentioned above, clean, well-maintained units contribute to your satisfaction. As a result, you are more likely to want to renew your lease. Your landlord will also look forward to having you stay in your unit, knowing you are taking care of their property. 

This reduces the costs and hassle of moving when your lease comes up for renewal. No more hunting for ads, finding time to view new apartments, undergoing background checks, and generally worrying whether you’ll have a home to stay in once your lease runs out.

Contact the Move-In Cleaning Experts in Toronto

Move-in cleaning in Toronto rental apartments is essential to help create a clean slate where you feel comfortable moving in your belongings and settling in for the long haul.

It also contributes to the overall maintenance of your home, thus saving money in the long run. Click here for a free quote from the cleaning professionals at Maid4Condos. You can also call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online. 

Winter presents unique maintenance challenges for condo property managers. As a result, you need to pivot to ensure you’ve added essential winter tasks to your daily and pre-winter maintenance schedule. 

This ensures your condo property and units remain safe and comfortable no matter what weather mother nature throws at you. 

In this article, we will share seven tips that every condo property manager should know about winter maintenance from the experts at our condo cleaning services in Toronto.

1. Be prepared with a trusted snow-clearing contractor

The City of Toronto requires property owners to clear steps, landings, walks, driveways, parking spaces, ramps, and other outdoor areas within 24 hours of a winter weather event. 

As the property manager, that falls on your shoulders. You need a trusted snow-clearing contractor available to manage the work in a timely manner. When engaging a contractor for this job, have them provide an estimate based on the size of your property and the complexity of the project. 

You also want to ensure they don’t manage too many other condos, apartment buildings, and office towers that can delay snow removal at your property. Ask how many trucks and drivers they have to ensure they are equipped to tackle the job.

Also, ensure you have a written agreement outlining all the tasks they are expected to perform with a firm cost to avoid misunderstandings and hidden fees. Check online reviews and ratings to make sure they have a strong reputation for dependability and don’t forget to ask for references. 

2. Call the experts to conduct an exterior inspection

The exterior of your building is exposed to the elements year after year, wearing down important materials that keep your building winter-proof. With the volatile weather of Toronto winters, you want to call on professionals to perform a thorough inspection of your building envelope in the fall to assess the following:

• Roof
• Decks and patios
• Parking
• Door and window seals
• Garage doors
• Outdoor pipes
• Rooftop HVAC and elevator systems
• Siding
• Windows

They can provide a quote and perform the necessary repairs to avoid issues such as leaks, water damage, inefficient windows and doors, etc. This is a critical part of a preventative maintenance plan that helps you avoid costly repairs down the road. 

3. Schedule heating system maintenance and repairs

The last thing you need is a heating system failure in the cold of winter. Ensure you have your heating experts inspect your heating system and conduct fall maintenance and repairs. 

This step ensures your system is operating at peak performance and helps you achieve improved energy efficiency. 

When heating systems aren’t working properly, it leads to more tenants turning up the heat in their units. As a result, you can experience unnecessarily high utility bills. Regular heating system maintenance keeps everyone warm and energy bills down. 

4. Confirm your move-in/move-out cleaning services are on call

Because the moving season tends to be busier in the spring and summer, you might need to double-check with your cleaning services in Toronto to confirm they are available in the slower months. 

Move-in/move-out cleaning services ensure your units are cleaned perfectly to maintain high standards that help reduce resident churn. It also ensures you are providing safe, clean homes for residents to reduce possible complaints and maintain property values. 

There’s also no need to waste time chasing after former tenants who failed to complete move-out cleaning on moving day when you take matters into your own hands.

5. Hire a commercial floor mat service

Slippery floors in the winter increase the risk of slips and falls, which can leave you liable should personal injuries occur. Also, salt, sand, and wet tracks into the building contribute to early wear and tear of common-area floors. 

A commercial floor mat service will deliver floor mats to protect your floors and keep your building safe. They will also schedule regular pickups to replace dirty mats with a clean set to keep your lobby clean and presentable. 

Unit owners expect simple measures such as these to protect their assets and maintain property value. 

6. Set time aside to install holiday lights and decor

Bring holiday cheer to your condo community by installing holiday lights and decor. Keep things neutral and avoid decorative items that are too specific, like a Christmas tree. 

You want your decorations to feel inclusive for all owners and residents. Use a timer to turn the lights on and off to save energy, and schedule a time to take all the decor down by January 2nd. 

Another important step is to send out a communication explaining the dangers of unit-specific decorations around unit doors and walls. Decorations are often prohibited in condo corporation bylaws, as they present fire and safety hazards. 

Adding regular hallway checks to look for infractions should also be included in your winter maintenance plans. 

7. Stock up on products to keep walkways safe

Although your snow removal service can assist with de-icing and snow removal of your walkways following a snowstorm, it’s important to have a supply of salt, sand, and de-icing products on site. 

You should apply these products to your walkways whenever temperatures are expected to drop below freezing. This ensures tenants and visitors are safe, reduces liabilities, and shows tenants you are taking reasonable care to avoid slipping hazards.

However, you also have to ensure there is accountability among your employees so it is clear who is responsible to apply the salt and when. The task might not be completed without accountability, leaving your property vulnerable to accidents.

Contact the Condo Cleaning Experts

Managing winter maintenance for condos ensures you meet the requirements of your condo’s bylaws while reducing complaints from owners who feel you are not contributing to maintaining their property value.

Including these winter-specific maintenance tasks in your condo maintenance schedule will keep your building warm, safe, and presentable while creating a happier community of satisfied residents. 
Ease the stress of move-out cleanings with Maid4Condos’ condo cleaning services in Toronto. You can call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online for more information.

As a rental property manager or owner, you want to attract and retain top tenants. However, a big turn-off for tenants is living in a rental unit where the air feels unhealthy or unpleasant odours seem to permeate the home. 

This can result in negative reviews that keep top tenants from viewing vacant apartments and increase tenant churn. 

In this article, we will share our professional apartment cleaning services in Toronto’s top tips to improve the air quality in your rental apartment units. 

Hire Move-In/Move-Out Apartment Cleaning Services

Apartment cleaning services in Toronto will tackle the entire apartment, floor to ceiling, using eco-friendly cleaning products that help keep pollutants to a minimum. Every surface is cleaned and sanitized so tenants feel safe and comfortable when they move in. 

You can also control the level of clean between tenants, so you avoid buildup of dangerous pollutants such as cigarette smoke residue, pet messes, germs, and bacteria. Professional move-in/move-out cleaning and maintenance includes deep cleaning of the following:

Bathrooms

• Bathtub and shower enclosure
• Inside, out, and behind the toilet
• Lights, mirrors, sink, countertops
• Vacuuming ceiling fan covers
• Light switches and door knobs
• Vacuuming/mopping floors
• Wiping baseboards
• Wiping the vanity inside and out

Bedrooms

• Dusting
• Wiping switches and door knobs
• Vacuuming/mopping floors
• Wiping baseboards
• Wiping window ledges

Kitchen

• Inside fridge and oven
• Stove top
• Polishing fridge front
• Microwave (inside and out)
• Backsplash, counter tops, cupboard fronts
• Sink
• Wiping light switches and door knobs
• Vacuuming/mopping floors
• Wiping baseboards and window ledges
• Wiping inside cabinets and drawers

Living and Dining Rooms

• Wiping switches and door knobs
• Vacuuming/mopping floors
• Wiping baseboards and window ledges

Laundry Room

• Clear air vent
• Clear lint trap
• Wiping washer and dryer
• Clean floors

Invest in Professional Carpet Cleaning Services

When tenants leave, be sure to invest in professional carpet cleaning services. This ensures that all pollutants and odour-causing dirt and buildup are removed. 

Your carpets will not only smell better but also look newer so prospective tenants won’t feel that the unit is neglected.

Keep Control of Humidity in Apartment Units

Overly humid environments contribute to moisture that causes mould and mildew. That obvious musty smell is sure to send a clear red flag that your apartment is not clean and the air quality presents a health risk. 

With proper humidity levels, you can avoid the dryness that is uncomfortable in the winter, while reducing the risk of mould and mildew growth. The result is a cleaner-smelling unit where tenants want to live.

Replace Air Filters in the HVAC System and Units

Be sure you are replacing air filters in your building’s HVAC system and in each unit to reduce contaminants and pollutants. Ideally, you should do this every three months to help improve air quality.

Clean Furnished Apartment Upholstery

If you rent out furnished apartments, professional upholstery cleaning between tenants is a must. Upholstery holds onto odours, pet hair, and dander, negatively impacting apartment air quality.

If tenants have allergies or asthma, the pet hair and dander can also aggravate their symptoms. A thorough cleaning makes furniture look newer and creates a homier feel to your rental apartment units.

Clean the Ducts Regularly

Cleaning the building ducts every few years can also make a big difference in air quality. Cleaning removes allergens, pest droppings, dust, and unpleasant debris trapped in the ducts. 

Clear ducts produce cleaner air and create a more pleasant living environment for tenants.

Install Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Monitors

Provide peace of mind to tenants by installing an indoor air quality monitor. Although you are required by law to install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, IAQs can gauge factors that contribute to air quality including:

• Temperature
• Humidity
• Outdoor air calculations
• Carbon dioxide
• Carbon monoxide 
• Airborne particles

Understanding these factors ensures that you can maintain healthier indoor air quality. IAQs are also an excellent selling feature when seeking new tenants. 

Inspect Your HVAC System Twice a Year

Having your HVAC system inspected when the seasons change ensures it is functioning properly. This saves you money on energy, as your system will operate more efficiently.

Small repairs are also more cost-effective than leaving your unit unattended for years on end, leading to the need for a complete unit replacement. Finally, proper HVAC maintenance ensures the system is thoroughly cleaned and tested for the risk of carbon monoxide leaks.

Replace Kitchen Exhaust Filters

Kitchen exhaust fans are a magnet for grease that collects debris, reducing air quality. Replacing the kitchen exhaust fan filter is a must to create a cleaner environment.

Deep cleaning and sanitizing the entire exhaust fan and its surfaces also removes rancid grease, food debris, and odour-causing bacteria contributing to apartment unit smells.

Clean Window Screens

Window screens collect debris, particles, and pollutants that contribute to poor air quality. A thorough cleaning of window screens removes this debris and helps keep the apartment’s air quality cleaner. 

Clean Window Treatments

If your apartment includes window treatments such as blinds, they should be professionally cleaned between tenants, as they can hold onto odours and contaminants, including those produced by cigarette smoke. 

They can also become yellowed and fade over time. Clean window treatments will help keep apartments smelling fresher and reduce the amount of dust and pollutants floating around the unit.

Wipe Light Fixtures and Ceiling Fans

Taking down light fixture covers and giving them a good cleaning removes dust that can hold contaminants. 

Ceiling fan blades are even worse, as when dirty blades are turned on, all the dust and particles clinging to the surface are released as the airflow stirs up the mess. 

What are the benefits of improving air quality?

There are many advantages to improving air quality in rental units, including the following:

• Prospective tenants viewing new units will enter an apartment that smells fresh and clean.
• You provide a safer home for your tenants. 
• Tenants feel comfortable in their home and are more likely to renew their lease, thus reducing resident churn.
• You reduce pollutants that travel from unit to unit due to shared boundaries and passages in multi-family buildings.
• The unit becomes easier to clean and maintain between tenants.

Although it takes more effort and seems to cost more money to help improve apartment air quality, clean air can contribute to profitability in the long run. 
For more information on Maid4Condos’ professional apartment cleaning services in Toronto, click here. You can also call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.

There aren’t many people who get as excited about cleaning as your Toronto cleaning services team at Maid4Condos! And when it comes to kids, depending on their age, it can be pretty tough trying to convince them that cleaning is fun.

However, if parents get their children involved when they’re young, there’s a better chance they’ll learn the importance of pitching in as a member of the family. In this article, we’ll share 14 ways to get the kids excited about cleaning and looking forward to providing a few more helpful hands.

1. Have them create their own fun cleaning “caddy”

Cleaning caddies contain all your tools and products in a handy carryall. It makes cleaning easier, but can also make the idea of cleaning a lot more fun for the kids. 

Take your kids to the dollar store and have them pick out their own cleaning caddy, such as a colourful bucket or basket. Then, they can fill it with a sponge, cleaning brush, and spray bottle with a child-safe cleaning solution of your choice. 

2. Take your kids up on offers when they ask, “Can I help?”

We often find ourselves unintentionally giving our kids the “brush off” when they offer to help because we want to just breeze through a cleaning task and get on with our day. 

However, when your children ask if they can help, taking them up on the offer can help them become more enthusiastic about the idea of various cleaning tasks. 

3. Start with the easy tasks

Expecting young children to perform tasks that require more coordination or thorough cleaning can discourage them when they aren’t able to do the job well. Seeing mom or dad re-cleaning areas they already cleaned can create a feeling of failure. 

Make sure you assign them age-appropriate tasks and work with them, allowing them to take the lead. 

4. Create cleaning games

Make a game of cleaning tasks, like pretending to be robots, to complete the work. This makes it feel more like playing and can create a family activity that they will look forward to.

Kids have big imaginations and can really get into pretending, whether it’s imagining their toys are bones they’ve found at a dinosaur dig when putting toys away or packing up their clothes for a trip to the moon when doing the laundry, for example.

5. Clean to their favourite music

Create a cleaning soundtrack with their favourite songs and dance along with the music as you clean. Music is always a great incentive and makes cleaning feel more like a celebration instead of a boring “chore.” 

6. Complete cleaning tasks together

If the children see you sitting around while they’re expected to clean, it may send a very wrong message that can create resentment. Instead, cleaning should be a family affair where everyone participates together. 

7. Ready a fun reward after cleaning is finished

Having something fun to look forward to after cleaning creates an incentive while also connecting cleaning to a more positive experience. 

Whether you go to the park, bake some cookies, watch a movie, or play their favourite game, it teaches them that cleaning the house allows them to have more freedom once the job is finished. They will learn to take the good with the bad.

8. Set a timer to beat the clock

When completing tasks like wiping down bathroom mirrors or picking up toys, set a timer to see how quickly they can get the job done. 

For example, they can see how many toys they pick up and put away in five minutes, or time how long it takes to wipe the mirror clean. Then, have them try to beat their record on the next cleaning day.

9. Praise their work

Young children need support. Praising their work helps build confidence. Just asking them to clean doesn’t provide an incentive, whereas being praised for doing a good job does. This associates cleaning with a feel-good moment that encourages them to impress you, the parents!

10. Have a task jar 

Write down kid-friendly cleaning tasks on pieces of paper, and have the kids select the task they need to complete on cleaning day. 

This makes it fun not knowing what job they’ll “get to do” and avoid the boredom of having to do the same tasks repeatedly. It also keeps things fair if you have more than one child, as no one gets stuck doing the same tougher or less glamorous tasks all the time. 

11. Take before-and-after pictures

Have the kids take a picture of the mess before cleaning and then an after photo when the house is clean, so they can see how much progress they’ve made. 

Showing off the picture proof of a clean and sparkling home will make them feel good about the work they’ve done. It provides a visual that they can relate their work to, so they understand how much they’ve contributed. Make a big deal about it, so they feel good about their work!

12. Create a “Cleaning Day” schedule 

Have a “Cleaning Day” that kids can look forward to, and build it up the day before. Remind them with comments like, “Guess what tomorrow is?” and tell them, “We get to vacuum!” 

Although it really isn’t that exciting, they might get on board with your enthusiasm and actually look forward to their cleaning tasks. 

13. Have a fun cleaning day cheer

A cheer helps create a sense of teamwork and makes kids feel successful and productive. It can be as simple as everyone shouting, “Go [your family name]!” before you start cleaning, or something more involved like:

• Parent: “What are we going to do?”
• Kids: “Clean!” 
• Parent: “Why are we going to do it?”
• Kids: “To keep our house neat!”
• Parent: “Who’s going to do it?”
• Kids: “The [your family name]!”

Although cleaning isn’t something that the kids might look forward to, using these tips can help make them feel more excited about pitching in.
If you don’t have time to clean, then using Maid4Condos’ Toronto cleaning services is the answer. Click here for a quick online quote. You can also call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.