Category: Home Tips

We could all use a little help to save time on our cleaning duties. Since the kitchen is prone to messes and has germs that can make you sick, it can be the most time-consuming room to clean. 

However, fear not! In this article, we will look at 10 useful hacks and kitchen cleaning supplies that save time in the kitchen so you can get on with your life. 

1. Keep on top of cleaning

A rookie cleaning mistake is only cleaning the kitchen on “cleaning days.” This allows dirt and grime to build. As a result, once cleaning day rolls around, the kitchen is filthy and needs some serious elbow grease to tackle the mess. Instead, keep on top of cleaning with these hacks:

• If you spill something, wipe it up right away. 
• Clean the counters after food preparation.
• Sweep the kitchen floor at least once a day.
• Add kitchen wipes or paper towels to your kitchen cleaning supplies so they are handy for quick cleanup.
• Clean the microwave after explosions and boilovers. 
• Do the same for the oven and stovetop. 

2. Use the right tools and kitchen cleaning supplies

You wouldn’t use a pot to fry pancakes—or would you? No judgment here! We can at least agree that you’d get very odd results if you did because using the right tools makes a big difference. Make sure you have a good assortment of kitchen cleaning supplies to make quick work of your cleaning tasks, including:

• A gentle scrub brush to get rid of cooked-on or stuck-on grunge.
• Dishcloths or wipes for washing everyday messes on surfaces.
• Paper towels to catch those big spills. 
• Plastic scraper for ceramic/glass stove tops, especially things like burnt cheese, milk, and sugar.
• Multi-purpose kitchen cleaner to tackle the grease.
• Broom and dustpan to keep the floors crumb-free.
• Oven cleaner. 
• Kitchen-safe abrasive cleaner.

If you prefer natural cleansers, here are some kitchen cleaning BFFs:

• Lemon or vinegar and baking soda for scrubbing. 
• Lemon and salt to scrub cutting boards.
• Some lemons to run through the garbage disposal to eliminate odours.
• Vinegar to clean glass surfaces.

3. Have a schedule

It helps to know how often you need to clean different things in your kitchen. Although the basic rule of “cleaning it when it looks dirty” works, this tends to allow dirt and grime to build up. Instead, use this schedule for kitchen cleaning tasks:

Every day:

• Kitchen surfaces and floors
• Dishes (seriously, do it every day!)
• Kitchen sink
• Loading, running, and emptying the dishwasher

Weekly:

• Wash the floors

Every three months:

• Inside your fridge

Twice a year:

• Kitchen hood
• Cupboards, drawers, and pantry
• Oven cleaning using a cleaner or your automatic oven cleaner

4. Pay attention when cooking

This might seem like it comes out of the left field, but messy cooks tend to be the ones not paying attention to their work. Keep organized and put things away as you follow each recipe step. 

Pay attention to things cooking on the stove or in the microwave to avoid messy boilovers. Don’t let things burn in the oven, as that can also cause boilovers and smoke. All of these little details keep things neater in the long run. 

5. Get organized

An organized kitchen keeps things within reach so you can find them when needed. For example, having your cleaning items stored in a hall closet means you’re less likely to sweep up every day or try to remove a stain on the counter when you spill your wine. Staying organized keeps the cleaning items you need handy, so you have fewer excuses not to clean. 

6. Do double duty 

When you can, do double duty on your cleaning tasks to get more done yet take less time overall. If you happen to be vacuuming, give the kitchen floor a quick run. When dusting, do the top of the fridge and microwave while you’re at it. If you’re washing the bathroom floor, you might as well do the kitchen floor too. 

7. Use a vacuum as part of your kitchen cleaning supplies

Vacuums aren’t just for carpets. If you have a vacuum with attachments, use it to speed up messy kitchen cleaning tasks like:

• Clearing away crumbs
• Cleaning inside drawers and utensil trays
• Cleaning shelves
• Sucking up things like onion skins in your fridge drawers

It’s a handy tool with a lot of uses, so make the most of it. Just keep in mind that it’s not for wet work like spilled milk!

8. Pay attention to details—use a toothbrush

Your kitchen can look dirtier if you tend to miss the same spots repeatedly. For example, you might scrub your sink but never do the drain area because it’s too hard to tackle with your sponge.

Use a toothbrush to get those hard-to-reach areas for a quick and easy scrubbing solution for finicky little areas. A few more examples of toothbrush cleaning include:

• Removing grime from detailed kitchen knobs
• Cleaning tile grout
• Scrubbing electric stove elements (with the element off, of course)
• Removing grime from panelled kitchen cupboard surfaces

Your kitchen will always feel cleaner when you reach the tiny areas commonly missed. You’ll also do it quickly with the scrubbing power of a toothbrush. 

9. Clean your dishwasher with Tang

These retro drink crystals are still sold in stores and can go a long way in creating a sparkling clean dishwasher. Tang targets those hard water deposits that build up in your dishwasher, causing it to become less effective at keeping dishes and glasses sparkling clean. Just pour the tang crystals into the dishwasher and let it run through an empty cycle to create a cleaner cycle for your next load! 

10. Let it soak!

There is so much unnecessary scrubbing involved in kitchen cleaning. You can avoid some of the scrubbing by letting certain things soak, such as:

• Oven racks: Soak them in the bathtub with powdered laundry detergent for about four hours, rinse them, and admire the sparkle.
• Range hood filter: Grab a pot wide enough to fit the filter. Fill it with water and a ½ cup of baking soda. Bring it to a boil, and then take it off the burner. Then, soak your range hood filter for about 30 minutes to remove the gunk. You’ll have to flip it to clean both sides.  

Contact the Cleaning Experts

These hacks and kitchen cleaning supplies tips will keep you out of the kitchen so you can do what you love. If it still sounds like too much work, let the Maid4Condos pros clean your kitchen for you!

For more information on our services, you can call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us Here.

The build-up to moving day is a stressful experience with so many things to do. Although you want to avoid adding things to that list, there is one thing you can’t avoid: cleaning your home before you move in. Nothing is worse than arriving at your new home only to find it feels like it hasn’t been cleaned in ages. 

There are an alarming number of areas that people tend to forget to clean when they move. In this article, we will help make it easy with a checklist of the seven things you need to clean first.

1. Do a white glove inspection

As soon as you get the keys, go to your home and give it a white glove inspection. Make a list of the messes you know you can’t live with for even a second and make them your priority. Those are the jobs you want to tackle first. 

We should also add here that whether you own or rent your new home, the prior tenants are obligated to leave the house in reasonable condition. If this isn’t the case, call the landlord or your real estate agent to ensure they take care of the issue before you move in.  

2. Toilet seats

We’ll make this simple: replace them.

3. Change air filters

If you are moving into a house for the first time, change the air filters for your HVAC system. Apartment life usually doesn’t include this. However, they are packed with dust, which then spreads throughout your home whenever you turn on the heat or AC. Choose a HEPA filter and make a note to change it every three months.

4. The bathroom

We don’t have to tell you that this is the germiest place in the home. This is why we mentioned changing the toilet seats earlier. You want to wear gloves and use a good quality bathroom all-purpose disinfectant cleaner to tackle the following:

• Vacuum or dust the exhaust fan, and then give it a good wipe-down.
• Scrub the shower/tub or, if it is sparkling clean, give it a good wipe with your disinfectant cleaner.
• Wipe down the walls all the way to the baseboards and start at the ceiling.
• Scrub the toilet bowl, tank, and handle, and finish with the floor and bottom of the toilet bowl where traces of drips are likely lurking.
• Open the medicine cabinet and vanity to clean the shelves.
• Wipe down vanity counters, sinks, and faucets.
• Scrub all surfaces, including things like towel racks and light fixtures.
• Clean the mirror.
• If there is a window, clean it, and don’t forget the window sill and top of the window frame.
• Let everything dry, and then vacuum the bathroom floor before giving it a good clean with a mop and floor-appropriate cleaner.

Bonus tip: Make sure you have all your personal hygiene items handy, so you can take a shower, brush your teeth, and towel off without going crazy trying to find everything. A box or travel bag specifically for these items can be thrown into your car, so it’s easy to find.

5. Bedrooms

Pack an easy-to-find box or suitcase clearly marked as bed linens. You want to sink into a nice clean bed at the end of your hectic moving day. Be sure to pack either clean sheets or a new set of sheets and comforter for your new bedroom(s). 

You want to also make sure the room is clean before setting up your bed, hitting all of these areas:

• Windows and window sill (if they are dirty)
• Cobwebs and dust from the walls
• The light fixture or ceiling fan 
• Door knobs for the bedroom door and closets
• Baseboards
• Vacuum the floors or clean them with a floor-safe cleaner and mop

6. The kitchen

Chances are you are just eating takeout for dinner, as who has the time or the inclination to cook on a moving day? Also, delivery gives you a grace period before you have to tackle cleaning the kitchen, which is a big job. 

In the morning, make a coffee run, so you have the energy to tackle this very long cleaning list:

• Clean the inside of the fridge, taking out the drawers and shelves if they are removable.
• Wash everything with warm soapy water, rinse them, and make sure they are dry before putting them back in the fridge.
• Wipe down all the walls using a mild cleaning product.
• Leave the door open to let everything air out and dry.
• Place a box of baking soda in the fridge to absorb odours.
• Pull the fridge away from the wall and vacuum the dust.
• Wash the floor and then push the fridge back into place.
• Clean the stovetop and scrub away any grime.
• Wipe down the inside of the oven.
• Pull out the oven from the wall and vacuum and clean the floors; then, push it back into place.
• Clean the counters and sink using a safe cleaner and disinfectant spray. 
• Scrub the sink and tap, and sprinkle some baking soda down the drain.
• If there’s a garbage disposer, feed in a few lemon slices to refresh it.
• Wipe down the cabinet faces, and vacuum the shelves and drawers.
• Check under the sink and give the area a thorough cleaning.
• Sweep the floor and then mop it with a floor-safe cleaning product.

7. Everywhere else

Finally, take care of the following cleaning chores in the remaining living space:

• Dust from ceiling to floor.
• Use an all-purpose cleaner on all the walls and switch plates.
• Disinfect frequently touched areas like doorknobs and window handles.
• Vacuum, including halls and stairs.
• Mop all hard surface floors with a floor-save cleaner.
• Clean the windows if they need it.
• Clean the closets, including light fixtures, shelves, and floors.

If you have a laundry room, be sure to clean the lint tray, vacuum up all the lint, and dust in and around the dryer. Then, wipe down the washer and dryer inside and out.

A thorough cleaning helps make you feel more at home. If this work seems like way too much trouble, you can depend on our team at Maid4Condos to provide a professional move-in cleaning. For more information, you can contact us online or call us at 647-822-0601.

Have you recently found black spots around your home or detected a musty smell when you walk through the door? There is a chance that mould is present in the house.

Don’t worry, a small amount of mould will not cause illness. However, it’s important to address mould as soon as possible and take steps to prevent its growth. As mould can spread quickly, it’s crucial to address the issue while it’s still contained in a small area.

If you find yourself dealing with mould, here’s our comprehensive guide on how to remove it from: 

• Tile and grout
• Fabric
• Leather
• Washing machine
• Exterior concrete, brick and stone walls

Safety Considerations

Mould spores can spread in the air when cleaning, so make sure to wear protective gear while cleaning to limit your exposure. Wear long rubber gloves to protect your hands and forearms, and don’t forget goggles to protect your eyes. We also suggest wearing a respirator or face mask during cleaning. 

If you find the mould problem on your hands is severe, it’s best to call the professionals to remove all the mould safely.

Remove Mould From Tile and Grout

Keeping your shower tile and grout mould-free can be tricky since it’s a damp and warm environment, perfect for mould growth. If you spot some mould, you do not need to worry. There are plenty of effective grout cleaners on the market.

If you prefer the DIY route, follow these instructions: 

1. Mix a cup of bleach with a gallon of water.
2. Using rags and a brush, apply a generous amount of the mixture to the mould-affected areas.
3. Let the mixture sit for at least fifteen minutes before scrubbing with a brush.
4. Rinse and wipe dry. Treat any leftover spots again if necessary.

Remove Mould From Fabric

Have you left your damp clothes sitting for a little too long? Damp towels or gym clothes can create an optimal environment for mould to flourish over time. But, if you catch it early, mould can be easily removed from machine-washable fabrics.

Start by taking the item outside and brush any surface mould off with a bristle brush or toothbrush. Brushing it outside will prevent the spores from spreading in your home and making the problem worse.

Next, throw the item in the washing machine, ideally with bleach if the fabric allows, and run the machine on the hottest setting possible. If the item cannot be machine washed, use a mould removal product for the fabric or bring it to a dry clean professional.

Remove Mould From Leather

Like fabric, mould on leather can be taken outside to be brushed. Make sure to use a soft bristle brush, as leather is very delicate and can be easily scratched.

Next, dip a rag in distilled white vinegar or rubbing alcohol and carefully wipe away the mould spots. Do not use bleach or hydrogen peroxide, because these chemicals can damage the leather.

Follow up with a wipe-down with soap and warm water before letting the item air dry completely.

Remove Mould From Washing Machine

The rubber seals in washing machines are particularly vulnerable to mould as they are designed to keep water locked inside and tend to collect moisture. Over time, the mould can eat away at the seal and cause the machine to leak.

To keep your washing machine mould-free, gently wipe a rag dampened with white vinegar around the entire circumference of the seal. Make sure to get into the folds and turn out the seal to ensure any remaining mould is wiped away. Rinse it thoroughly with some warm water and leave the door open to let the seal dry completely.

Remove Mould From Refrigerator

If you suspect your fridge might have mould, don’t panic. Start by removing everything from the fridge and wiping the inside surfaces with distilled white vinegar. Avoid using bleach, as it’s not safe to use near food.

Afterwards, wash any rags you used and throw away any paper towels immediately.

Remove Mould From Concrete, Brick and Stone

Bleach works best for any mould spots on exterior walls. Here’s what you need to do: 

1. Mix a cup of chlorine bleach with a gallon of water in a bucket.
2. Use a garden sprayer to apply the solution to the wall. For smaller surfaces, use an abrasive sponge to scrub the mould spots off.
3. Wet the mouldy areas with plain water, then again with the bleach solution. This time, allow it to sit for several minutes.
4. Rinse the area with plain water or scrub again. If the stain is still visible, the mould may require multiple treatments.
5. Make sure to give all surrounding areas a rinse once the spots have been lifted.

How To Keep Mould At Bay

The key to avoiding mould is to control the moisture in your home. Humidity levels above fifty percent can make it difficult to control mould growth. Even if you clean up the mould, it will come back if the room is humid and poorly ventilated or if there is excess moisture from a leak.

This means that prevention is the only permanent way to keep mould at bay. After you’ve repaired any leaks or moisture issues, follow these tips to create a mould-free environment: 

• Use a dehumidifier at home.
• Open bathroom doors and windows, or turn on the exhaust fan during and after showers and baths.
• Leave the shower curtain open to help it dry.
• Avoid storing items such as linens, books and furniture in the basement or attic.
• Seal bathroom tile grout lines every year to ensure that your walls and floors are waterproof.

Having a hard time keeping your home mould-free? Maid4Condos is the deep cleaning service that Toronto trusts to put everything in order. For more information, give us a call at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.

There’s no denying that white kitchen cabinets are a popular choice among homeowners. Why? They instantly bring a bright, clean, and light feel to any home and work well with any texture, colour, patterns, and materials. Their universal marketability and appeal also make them a safe choice if you plan on selling your home.

The downside, however, is that they do require more maintenance to keep them looking pristine. Unlike darker colours, white doesn’t hide dirt and grime as well, and if you love cooking in your kitchen, then you’ll probably end up with a buildup of dust, grime, or grease on your white cabinets.

Fortunately, it’s fairly easy to get your white cabinets looking spick and span once again with the proper tools. Here, Maid4Condos will share our tips for keeping your kitchen cabinets white and spotless, as we’re the cleaning service that Toronto trusts to keep their homes clean.

At-Home Cleaning Solutions

Dish Soap Solution

The easiest way to keep your kitchen cabinets clean is to use a simple mix of dish soap and warm water. Dish soap is strong enough to clean and remove grease from your cabinets while gentle enough to preserve the finish.

Here’s what to do: 

1. Fill your sink or a large bowl with two parts warm water and one part dish soap.
2. Swirl the mixture.
3. Dip a microfibre cloth in the solution and wring out any excess moisture.
4. Wipe down the kitchen cabinets from top to bottom.
5. Add a drop of dish soap to the cloth for stubborn spots.

Vinegar Spray

Vinegar can effectively remove dirt and deodorize, making it a useful cleaning solution for cabinets with built-up grime. However, it can also strip stain or paint, so it’s important to test it on a small area first.

We do not recommend vinegar for regular cabinet cleaning, as the high levels of acetic acid can damage the topcoat and dull the appearance of your cabinets over time.

The best way to use vinegar to clean your cabinets is to dilute it with equal parts of warm water and put it in a spray bottle. Spritz your cabinets with the solution and let it settle and break down the grime before wiping it away with a sponge or brush. Make sure to follow up with a damp towel or cloth to wipe away any remaining residue.

Baking Soda

If you’ve got some tough grime build-up that needs a little extra scrubbing, a baking soda solution is your best bet. Baking soda packs a punch when it comes to cleaning, but it won’t scratch or damage the finish of your cabinets.

Here’s what you need to do:

1. Mix a solution of one part baking soda and two parts warm water. You can even add a little lemon juice if you have it on hand.
2. Use a clean, dry cloth to dab the paste onto the dirty spots, and let it sit for a couple of minutes.
3. Wipe the paste away with a damp cloth and gently rub until the mark is gone.
4. Clean the spot again with a damp cloth and then dry it with a microfibre cloth.

Other Tips to Keep in Mind

Don’t Get Your Cabinets Too Wet

When cleaning your cabinets, just apply the cleaning solution to a microfibre cloth or rag, making sure it’s damp, but not soaking wet. Too much moisture can ruin your cabinet’s paint or finish. 

Clean each cabinet door starting from the top, paying extra attention to the spots where dirt and grime like to hide, like trims or moulding. Don’t forget to also clean the hardware and the inside of the doors.

Use an Old Toothbrush

If your kitchen cabinets have intricate timing or deep grooves that are hard to clean, you can use an old toothbrush dipped in cleaning solution. Gently scrub those hard-to-reach spots, like crevices around cabinet handles and the edges of cabinet doors.

Keep Your Hinges Dry

While your cleaning solution works great on finished or painted wood and laminate, it’s not meant for your cabinet hinges. You don’t want to end up with rusty hardware after all your cleaning efforts!

Just use a dry microfiber cloth to wipe away dust and grime from the metal. If you come across a spot that’s extra greasy, give it a quick spritz of cleaning solution, scrub it with a cloth, and wipe it dry.

Keep a Cleaning Schedule

The best way to keep your white cabinets pristine is to stick to a routine. Carve out some time, ideally once a month or once every quarter, to thoroughly clean and declutter your kitchen cabinets. A quick wipe-down with the dish soap solution should be enough to prevent discolouring. And, of course, if there’s any splatter, spot clean immediately.

Contact the Cleaning Professionals

If you still have trouble keeping your white kitchen cupboards clean, then call the experts at Maid4Condos. Our professional cleaning services in Toronto are ready to help keep your kitchen clean. You can call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us here.

Vinegar is one of the most eco- and budget-friendly cleaners around. While it packs a potent smell, you can put together your own mix of 1:1 vinegar and water, and add a few drops of your favourite essential oils to produce a customized cleaner with a boost of fresh fragrance. 

Also, while the smell is quite pungent, it is far less irritating than bleach, thus providing a great germ and dirt-fighting cleaning bleach alternative. Often dubbed the miracle cleaner by dirt and germ-haters, here we offer ten places around your home that you can clean with vinegar, and eight places to avoid doing so.

10 Things You Can Clean With Vinegar

First, let’s look at ten places you can clean with vinegar:

1. Kitchen sink

Vinegar is great for cleaning your kitchen sink, as it is food-safe. Once the cleaning is finished, you can rinse the smell down the drain.

2. Stovetop 

Vinegar is very acidic, so it can cut through greasy messes on stovetops. For extra buildup, spray the vinegar onto the surface and then let it sit for about fifteen minutes before wiping it away.

3. Sheet pans 

Sheet pans start to look discoloured as they get older. You can use a half cup of baking soda with a half cup of white vinegar on your sheet pans for thirty minutes to create a bubbly cleaner that makes short work of greasy stains. Rinse it away with hot water. Then, scrub any remaining stains with a scouring pad.

4. Pots and pans 

If you have messes stuck onto your stainless steel or enamel pots and pans, boil vinegar and water in them for about five minutes. This will dissolve the stains, and then you can toss them in the dishwasher or sink to finish washing them.

5. Microwave 

Pour equal parts vinegar and water into a microwave-safe bowl, and then run it in the microwave for about five minutes. This creates a potent steam that loosens the remains of microwave accidents. Wipe away the residue with a clean sponge.

6. Coffee makers and tea kettles 

Get rid of mineral buildup in your coffee maker and kettle with equal parts vinegar and water mixture. Just fill the reservoir, and run it like you would when making coffee or boiling water for tea to descale the reservoir. Dump the vinegar mixture in the sink, and repeat with fresh water to rinse away the residue.

7. Blender/food processor 

Give your half-and-half water/vinegar mixture a whiz in your food processor or blender before cleaning and rinsing the parts.

8. Cloudy wine glasses 

The instant evaporation of vinegar rids you of watermarks on wine glasses caused by minerals. Use undiluted white vinegar to remove those tell-tale marks, and then rinse with hot water.

9. Plastic cutting board 

Plastic cutting boards are a breeding ground for germs and bacteria. Water and white vinegar will kill the germs, as this mixture is a powerful natural disinfectant that is food-safe.

10. Spice grinder 

Stainless steel spice grinders leave behind oils that can ruin the purity of your spices. Strongly fragrant seeds like cumin or spicy ingredients like dried hot peppers are particularly potent. You can wipe your spice grinder down with white vinegar and then let it dry to thoroughly remove the fragrant oils.

8 Things to Avoid Cleaning With Vinegar   

No matter what you read about the safety of using vinegar as a natural cleaner, there are still several things that are not very vinegar friendly. Here are eight things you should never clean with vinegar:

1. Knives 

The term “please take your knives and go” shows you how vital knives are to cooking. To care for your knives, only use dish soap and warm water to clean them. Anything else, especially vinegar, can corrode them and make them dull.

2. Marble and granite countertops 

It’s not uncommon to assume that because vinegar is natural, it will be safer to use on your marble or granite countertops than countertop cleaners. However, the acid in vinegar is very harmful to natural stone.

3. Ceramic tiles 

Do not use vinegar on your ceramic tiles. Instead, use gentle dish soap. When you are concerned about germs, vinegar is not the answer. Your antibacterial dish soap is the safest bet to kill germs and bacteria and avoid damaging ceramic surfaces.

4. Eggs 

If you slosh eggs while cooking, never wipe them up with vinegar. It actually causes a reaction that hardens the eggs, thus making it much harder to get up the slime.

5. Wood 

Earlier, we mentioned using vinegar to clean plastic cutting boards, but you should never use it on wood. Also, always avoid using pure vinegar if you want to clean greasy messes on delicate wood furniture. Instead, make a half-and-half mix of oil and vinegar to create a natural wood-safe polish.

6. Dishwasher 

This one is controversial because many people swear by vinegar as the ultimate dishwasher cleaner. However, they can’t see the corrosive effect the vinegar is having on the rubber parts of the dishwasher. Vinegar is very harmful to rubber, causing it to crack and shrink. This messes up the integrity of the dishwasher, causing issues from malfunctions to leaks. 

7. Device screens 

Your computer monitor and device screens have a protective coating that vinegar will damage. It’s safer to use isopropyl alcohol if you are worried about germs. However, because these devices are so expensive, stick to what the manufacturer recommends for cleaning and care.

8. Washing machine 

Never add a dash of vinegar to your laundry in the hopes of killing germs and reducing odours. Doing so is very harmful to your washing machine. Only use products made for laundry to remove stains and odours from clothes.

These tips will help you to maintain the things that are vinegar-safe, and clean and protect everything else from damage.

Maid4Condo’s house cleaning services offer expert cleaning for every surface in your home. For more information, you can call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.

Kitchen floors are hard enough to keep clean without worrying about that tiresome grout between your tiles. Most people don’t have time to get down on their hands and knees to scrub kitchen floor grout, which is why it starts to look dingy over time. 

While it’s easy to keep putting off cleaning your grout, eventually, you’re going to have to tackle it. When you do, you’ll be happy to have some useful hacks. Here, we share our grout-cleaning tips from the cleaning services that Toronto trusts to keep their homes clean.

Consider the Type of Grout

Believe it or not, there are actually different types of grout. To make things a little more complicated, it can also be hard to tell what type of grout you’re contending with in your home. Here are the different types of grout and how to spot them:

• Sanded grout: Sanded grout tends to be more common in kitchens, as it is used in high-traffic areas. It can feel and even look sandy. It is the most difficult to clean because there are so many tiny places for dirt and grime to build up between those grains of sand.  
• Unsanded grout: Unsanded grout is smoother and, as a result, easier to clean.   
• Epoxy grout: This is less commonly found in kitchens, especially for floors. It is designed for areas exposed to a lot of water, like the bathroom or laundry room. It is also the easiest to clean.

If you are unsure about what kind of grout you have, a good rule of thumb is that the grainier the grout looks, the more likely it is sanded. It is important to avoid getting too aggressive with your scrubbing, as this can loosen the little bits of sand.

Consider the Age of the Grout

Next, consider the age of the grout. Older grout is more likely to break apart as you work, while new grout is tougher and can withstand a bit of scrubbing. While you want to follow the instructions below for all tile floors, a newer floor tends to be more resilient. As a result, if the grout is extra filthy, it can stand up to a more aggressive approach if need be.

The Scrub-Free Method

Scrub-free grout cleaning is not only easier on you, but also on the grout. You can create your own grout cleaner by filling a spray bottle with ⅓ cup of baking soda and ¼ cup of hydrogen peroxide with a teaspoon of liquid dish soap.

You can then spritz it onto the grout lines and let it do its job for ten minutes. Lastly, wipe it up with a clean towel or wet mop. You can also try a second round if it isn’t as clean as you expected. 

The Professional Method

If you find your homemade cleaner doesn’t work, or your grout is looking worse for wear, you can try the professional method. This is a one-two-punch approach that calls for some scrubbing. It’s a gentle scrubbing, though, not an aggressive scrubbing. The tool of choice is a toothbrush. 

Believe it or not, professionals still prefer a homemade cleaner. However, their mixture is a 1:1 ratio of vinegar to water combined in a trusty spray bottle. Spritz the grout with the mixture, and then use the toothbrush to gently loosen the dirt. Wipe away the residue with a microfiber cloth. The results should be noticeable. If not, give it a second try. 

Be Careful as You Clean

Avoid damaging the grout with these tips:

• Don’t scrub: The less scrubbing, the better. Although instinct tells you it takes scrubbing to remove the kitchen grime, this is actually the best way to damage the tiles. Remember, you might have to use the scrub-free method a few times to see results, but it is the safest way to remove grime, damage-free.
• Don’t use high-friction tools: We’ve heard of all kinds of aggressive methods to try to clean grout, including wire brushes and even sandpaper. As we mentioned, however, you’re not going to remove dirt, but instead, remove little bits of grout by being too aggressive.
  
  So, if you decide to use a tool, stick with our recommendation and use a soft-bristle toothbrush.
• Avoid harsh chemicals: Our homemade cleaning solutions are just as effective as the products you buy at the store. The one key difference is that they don’t contain harsh chemicals like bleach. As a result, you are less likely to damage your tiles and eat away at your grout.  
• Avoid “dousing”: It might seem like you need to douse your floors with tons of your homemade cleaner, but this is not the case. You just want to lightly spritz the grout to see the best results. The wetter the grout, the more damage you cause.
• To whiten: If your grout looks dingy and grey, this calls for the whitening approach. Use a teaspoon of cream of tartar (which you can find in the baking or spice aisle at the grocery store) with a squirt of lemon juice as a spot tester. It should be the consistency of runny toothpaste.
  
  Smear it on a less noticeable area covered with grout and let it sit for about five minutes. Wipe it away with a clean, damp cloth to see if it works. If all seems well, carry on with the rest of the floor.
• Avoid scrapers: The scraper might seem like a good workaround to the wire brush, but again, you should avoid anything that will wear down the grout. A scraper is very likely to cause damage and even remove an entire chunk of grout. 

These hacks will protect your grout while keeping it clean.

Bleach: The Big Guns

Although we advise against using bleach, if all else fails, you can bring in the bigs guns as long as you stick to these steps:

• Mix: Use three tablespoons of powdered bleach with warm water in a bucket.  
• Protect: Bleach is harsh, so be sure to wear gloves, and don’t touch your face or eyes as you work.
• Apply: Apply the mixture to the grout with a clean cloth or sponge.
• Wait: Wait for about ten to fifteen minutes.  
• Rinse: Rinse away the bleach with clean water and a sponge.  

If you don’t like using bleach, hydrogen peroxide is an excellent substitute. It is much safer and has equal cleaning power for grout. You can make a paste with hydrogen peroxide and baking powder, and apply it to the grout for added cleaning power. Let it sit for about ten to fifteen minutes before you wipe it away with warm water and a clean sponge. 

If you still have trouble keeping your kitchen or home clean, then Maid4Condo’s professional cleaning services in Toronto are ready to help. You can call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.

When you are the host with the most among your group of friends, you are also the one left with a party mess to deal with. Since the holidays are party central, you want to prepare yourself for the worst-case scenario with a post-holiday party mess plan in place. 

In this article, we’ll discuss 14 tips for minimizing the mess so that you can maximize your fun.

1. Create a party zone

The more guests you have in your home, the more unruly the mess becomes. Try to create a party zone by closing off rooms that you want to keep off-limits. This will reduce the rooms where you’ll likely find empty glasses, cigarette butts, leftover food, and who knows what else. 

While it can be challenging to keep an eye on everyone, closed doors usually mean off-limits to most people, so this is your best defence. Also, have all the party-friendly decorations, drinks, food platters, etc. in a central area, so it helps contain the messier aspects of the party in that one space.

2. Consider the smokers

If you have a no-smoking policy, let guests know where they can smoke, whether it is your balcony, front porch, or backyard. Set up large, noticeable ashtrays to encourage them to put their butts out in a designated area. 

Since it is winter, they most likely won’t want to linger outside for too long. If you want to be extra nice, though, you can consider setting up a few chairs with a table for your smoking friends.

3. Keep the dishwasher going

Before guests arrive, empty your dishwasher so you can load it as you go. That way, if you are using glasses, you can keep filling the dishwasher and run it once it’s full. This plan can make life easier and also reduces the risk of broken glasses from people leaning into a crowded counter or table.

4. Think single-use

Now, before the term gets you up in arms, we are with you. We want to reduce waste, especially plastics. However, there are a lot of products available today that are recyclable, including napkins and certain types of paper plates. 

If you use these items, they will make life easier, and you can also sleep easier, knowing you aren’t contributing more garbage to your local landfill.

5. Create a trash zone

Consider placing trash bins strategically in the party zone, as most Torontonians have an innate trash alarm that causes them to look for trash cans to dispose of garbage. Setting up your trash zone in the kitchen will also allow people to toss their used napkins and single-use items in the appropriate recycle bins. Most guests will do this instinctively.

6. Use tablecloths

Tablecloths save the step of wiping down tables, while protecting wood from glass rings. You can find some festive paper tablecloths during the holidays, or use your table linens. Paper is great because you can leave discarded paper plates, napkins, and food on the tablecloth and just wrap it all up and toss it. 

7. Think easy

Choose easy everything whenever you can. For example, there are disposable options, LED candles that won’t spill wax all over the place, and finger foods that require napkins but not necessarily plates (although this can increase the risk for spills). There are also stemless wine glasses that are harder to knock over, champagne and white wine that won’t stain, and so forth.

8. Tidy up as you party

As you mingle, look for things that you can quickly tidy up. Remove abandoned glasses and plates, full ashtrays, empty bowls and liquor bottles, etc. that you can clear in the kitchen, throw in the trash, or place in the dishwasher. Don’t get carried away. Just casually look for opportunities and avoid deep cleaning. 

Actual cleaning will make guests feel uncomfortable and also take away from your fun. Keep your sink filled with soapy water, so you have a place for dirty dishes and glasses when the dishwasher is full.

9. Be prepared for spills

Spills are bound to happen as revellers get into the spirit of the holidays, or more likely, the spirit of the holidays get into them! Be prepared with cleaning supplies, clean cloths, etc., so you can act fast to avoid stains.

10. Remove area rugs

If it’s not too much trouble, consider removing area rugs until the party is over. It’s a lot easier to wipe up spilled wine from hardwood or laminate flooring than it is to try to remove stains from carpets.

11. Provide coasters

Cover your table, coffee table, and side tables with several coasters to encourage people to use them. This will prevent rings from forming on your wood furniture. Coasters are a must if you have expensive furniture, heirlooms, or antiques that will be ruined by rings.

12. Co-host your party

Co-hosting is all the rage these days. Friends join forces to make organising the event a less stressful experience. When you co-host, you have a partner to help manage the mess, corral guests, and generally share all the duties that come with hosting. With two people hosting, you split the chores, so you can both have fun.

13. Send leftovers home with guests

Having too much food comes with the territory. It also takes up a lot of time to store everything away. As the night winds down, lay out some “take out” containers and encourage guests to help themselves to the leftovers. 

While not everyone will be interested, people who are feeling a little peckish after their drinking or who don’t want to contend with food the next day will be grateful to have something to help them recover from the night.

14. Call a maid service in Toronto!

The holidays are a time to enjoy yourself, even if you are hosting. If you call in the pros for your post-holiday cleaning, you can actually relax without worrying about the mess you’ll have in the morning.

At Maid4Condos, we are your post-party angels, ready to swoop in and erase all signs of messes. Think of it as your reward for being generous and inviting everyone to your place. Problem solved. 

If you are simply too tired to deal with the post-party cleanup, Maid4Condos is the maid service that Toronto trusts to put everything back in order. For more information, you can call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.

Your kitchen is a busy place where dirt and germs accumulate pretty quickly. Although you are hopefully cleaning your kitchen often, especially after prepping raw meat, there are so many areas of your kitchen that might not be cleaned as thoroughly or as often as they should be. 

Here, we look at the most commonly overlooked areas of the kitchen that you should be disinfecting and cleaning more often.

Frequently Touched Surfaces

Your kitchen is filled with often-touched surfaces that you are likely not cleaning. 

Cabinet handles, appliance knobs, touchpads, light switches, and more are all touched day in and day out by hands which are at higher risk of transferring dangerous bacteria that cause foodborne illnesses like salmonella, listeria, and E. coli. 

Because you are handling raw food, all of these surfaces need to be wiped down with a disinfectant wipe daily.

The Sink and Faucet

The faucet is another frequently touched surface that is probably covered in all kinds of germs and bacteria. Your entire sink, surrounding counter, and faucet need to be washed daily. 

In fact, 45% of home sinks test positive for E. coli or coliform bacteria. That calls for disinfecting cleaning solutions, whether it is disposable wipes or a spray cleaner with paper towels. 

When you consider how much spray and splash there is from a sink possibly contaminated with bacteria, it just makes good sense to take the time to disinfect the sink, faucet, and surrounding area every day.

Sponges and Dishcloths

Although sponges and dishcloths reduce paper waste from paper towels, they are not intended to be used repeatedly without being washed. These items are even more likely to have coliform bacteria than the sink. 

After using them, you should clean them thoroughly with an antibacterial dishwashing liquid and warm water, and then leave them to dry away from the sink, so they don’t get recontaminated before the next use. 

If you also use items like scrubbing brushes, toss them in the dishwasher after you use them.

The Fridge

Wiping down the fridge handle is just the start of cleaning the fridge. Inside the fridge, there are all kinds of residue (both seen and unseen) that leave behind bacteria that can live in cold temperatures. 

Most people don’t wash fruits and vegetables until they are used, which adds bacteria and pesticides into the mix of the dangerous substances lurking in your fridge. 

There are also other products like raw meat, fish, and poultry, which all carry their own germs and bacteria. While it’s unrealistic to recommend washing the inside of your fridge daily, always clean up leaks that you notice immediately with an antibacterial wipe. 

Also, you should pull out the drawers and clean them in antibacterial dishwashing liquid, and wipe down the shelves monthly.

Cutting Boards

Regardless of what your cutting boards are made of, they also harbour bacteria. They should be washed after every use to remove food debris and bacteria. 

We recommend having two or three cutting boards, with one used for raw meat, fish, and poultry, one for fruits and vegetables, and another for bread. This helps avoid cross-contamination. 

Boards should be washed with hot soapy water and then thoroughly dried to avoid bacteria growth. Another recommendation is to choose dishwasher-safe cutting boards so you can sanitize them after each use.

Small Appliances

All small appliances should be thoroughly washed after each use. They can also harbour bacteria that can make you sick. For example, that milk frother and espresso machine can have germs from milk products, as well as yeast and mould. 

For more complicated appliances, take them apart at least once a week to get at every surface. Some parts are dishwasher-safe, so read the manufacturer’s care guide to get the best clean possible. 

This includes appliances like can openers, mini-blenders, food processors, etc.

Reusable Grocery Bags

All kinds of debris, leaks, germs, and bacteria are left behind in your reusable grocery shopping bags. 

They should be washed after each use to remove bacteria that can lead to contamination the next time you shop. 

You should consider having designated shopping bags (especially for meat) to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. It’s also a good idea to keep cleaning supplies in a separate bag. If this seems like too much work, most shopping bags can be tossed in the laundry.

Countertops

You probably clean your countertops, but the question is, how well? You might have a safe habit of cleaning after each food preparation, but what about before? You never know what bacteria or germs have been left behind from things you toss on the counter like dirty dishes, mail, handbags, cell phones, lunch boxes, and more. 

All of these things can carry germs and bacteria. Before you begin food preparation, wipe the area of the counter where you work with a disinfecting wipe, so you know you are working from a clean, germ-free surface. 

Also, do a thorough cleaning of your entire counter once a week, including under your small appliances. 

Move everything away so you don’t miss a spot. Don’t forget that questionable area between the stove and countertop and fridge and countertop. This is the perfect place for mould to grow and for germs and bacteria to fester.

Spice Shakers

You often use salt, pepper, and other spice shakers while you whip up a batch of your favourite foods. You don’t always wash your hands before you grab the shaker, exposing them to germs and bacteria. 

Get into the habit of keeping the shakers you use out on the counter clean, and then disinfect them after your meal preparation is done. 

This will reduce the spread of germs and bacteria from meal to meal. This is especially important for shakers not kept in the pantry or cupboard, as they are exposed to all kinds of splashes and spray daily.

As professional cleaners, Maid4Condos knows to hit all the right areas for a thorough kitchen cleaning to keep your kitchen germ-free. Click here for a free quote. You can also call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.

When you move into a new home, you might not be thinking too much about the people who lived there before you. After all, moving is an exciting time that keeps you so busy that your mind is often on other things. 

Although you might have done a thorough job of cleaning your home before you moved out, you can’t be 100% certain that the ex-residents of your new home weren’t as careful.

In fact, there are a lot of areas that people miss or simply choose not to clean before they leave. Here, we look at the ten most common spots people forget to clean when they move.

1. Dusting everything

Dust accumulates quickly. The former residents might have dusted, but the move had open doors for a few hours that let in dust and debris that has now settled throughout your home. 

Start at the ceiling and work your way down, using a damp cloth, so you don’t send most of the dust up into the air. A static microfiber cloth also works well to contain the dust as you clean. Once you’re finished, you can sweep or vacuum the floors which are next on our list.

2. Sweeping and cleaning the floors

You’d think this is a given. When you consider all the foot traffic that takes place on moving day, though, even if the former resident cleaned the floors before moving, they tracked in a lot of dirt loading the truck. 

To make sure your floors are spic and span clean, you want to first sweep hard-floor surfaces like wood and tile and then use an appropriate cleaner to disinfect the floor. If you have carpeting, you want to do a good vacuuming. 

Also, unless the landlord or previous owner provides proof they had the carpets professionally cleaned, you might want to consider hiring a steam cleaner to come to remove stains, pet dander, and odours.

3. Dusting and cleaning the walls

Walls are often not noticeably dirty until all the art is off the walls and the room is empty. If the former residents did wash the walls, they probably did it before moving day, which means there can be missed spots, dust, and cobwebs hanging around once the room was cleared out. 

You might even find that they left hooks, nails, and tacks in the walls. Remove these first, and then fill any holes with putty. 

Keep in mind that you’ll have to paint to hide the puttied spots. Wipe down the walls first with a duster or dry clean cloth, and then tackle any marks or dirt with an all-purpose cleaner.

4. Wiping and disinfecting kitchen and vanity cabinets

Kitchen and vanity cabinets have a bit of an ick factor. You should clean the doors and handles with a good disinfectant spray to get them nice and clean. The insides will probably require cleaning as well. 

You can vacuum out crumbs on shelves and in drawers, and if you like, lay down some shelf paper to give them a nice finished look. Other areas that might have cabinets would be pantries, utility rooms, and laundry rooms/closets.

5. Missing light bulbs

This isn’t cleaning per se, but many residents will sneak off with the lightbulbs for no good reason. 

Be sure to bring a few boxes of eco-friendly light bulbs along so you can either replace burned-out or inefficient light bulbs or any lightbulbs that are mysteriously missing. It will really make you feel at home when you have the type of light you prefer. 

6. Polishing windows, mirrors, and glass doors

Dirty windows, mirrors, and glass doors really take away from a new home. Windex works well to get windows, glass, and mirrors to sparkle. Clean windows let more natural light shine into your home, which makes it feel more cheerful. 

Mirrors with smudges or other messes are unpleasant, and dirty glass on features such as glass doors in the living room or shower stall can increase that ick factor.

7. Dusting and cleaning window sills and baseboards

These are finicky, less noticeable areas that the former residents likely didn’t even have on their cleaning checklist. These areas can get unexpectedly grimy and will require a good cleaning with an all-purpose cleaner. 

It will take a good spritz and a clean rag or scouring pad to get rid of some of the dirt, especially if these areas haven’t been cleaned in a while.

8. Disinfecting the bathroom

A bathroom can look sparkling clean, but still harbour tons of germs. Again, the ick factor is ten times worse in the bathroom. 

You want a good bathroom-disinfecting cleaner that kills 99.99% of germs before you use the bathroom. Every part of the room needs to be thoroughly wiped down. 

We’d also recommend replacing the toilet seat, and we’re sure we don’t have to explain why. Don’t miss a thing. 

Attack the toilet inside and out, the tub/shower, walls, sink and faucet, counter, mirror, inside the medicine cabinet, and, last but not least, the floor.

9. Cleaning inside the fridge and oven  

The outside of the fridge and stove might look nice and clean, but again, you want to disinfect all the surfaces to make sure you get rid of foodborne germs left behind. Also, you really want to deep clean the inside of the fridge. 

Use a good disinfecting cleaner to wipe down all the walls and shelves in the fridge. Take out the drawers and wash them in the sink. 

For the oven, if you’re lucky, it will have a self-cleaning option. If not, use a good-quality oven cleaner to remove all the food debris and grease from a thousand meals.

10. Disinfecting frequently touched surfaces

Door knobs, light switches, and outlet covers are always especially germy and often have a greasy buildup. 

You can wipe them down with an all-purpose cleaner, then use an antibacterial wipe to kill the germs. It will make you feel a lot better when all these surfaces look clean.

At Maid4Condos, we always recommend our deep, move-in cleaning services that Toronto depends on to provide 100% peace of mind. Click here for a free quote. You can also call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.

Your dishwasher is a life-saver, sparing you having to do the dishes every day. However, this handy little kitchen appliance can do a lot more than just wash pots and pans. As professional cleaners at Maid4Condos, we love sharing our best home-cleaning hacks with our clients to help make your life easier. Here, we look at 16 items that you didn’t know you could clean in a dishwasher.

1. Plastic footwear

If you wear your trusty plastic flip-flops around the house only, you can keep them clean and remove germs and odour-causing bacteria by running them through the dishwasher. The same goes for those Crocs of yours.

2. Hairbrushes and combs

If you use many hair care products, your brush can become a sticky, gummy mess. You can toss plastic combs and hairbrushes in the dishwasher to get rid of the gunk. You’ll find your brush doesn’t pull or tug as much when you brush your hair because all that sticky build-up is gone. This saves your hair because it causes less breakage.

3. Hubcaps

Take out the top rack to make room for your hubcaps. If you like to have shiny hubcaps, this is the easy way to do it without the back-breaking bending and squatting.

4. Microwave plate

This makes sense, but you likely never think to do it. If you aren’t the best at mopping up microwave spills (especially when it starts to look gross), then this is the best place to clean it.

As an added tip, you can make short work of those sticky, gross microwave walls by placing a bowl of water and sliced lemons in the microwave for a minute or two. The steam will break down that caked-on mess, so you can wipe it down easily. Then, pop the plate back in and you’re ready for the next boil over.

5. Shower caddies

Shower caddies build up soap scum and mildew over time. This can also lead to mould growth. To keep your shower caddies nice and clean, they can be run in the dishwasher. Both plastic and metal products are fine, but you’ll have to hand-dry metal to make sure it doesn’t rust.

6. Soap dishes

It might seem odd that a soap dish would get “dirty”. After all, it’s just soap collecting in the dish, and what could be cleaner than soap, right? Wrong. Soap actually carries bacteria, which can build up in the soap scum that collects in the dish. Many soap dishes are made from porcelain or plastic, thus making them dishwasher-safe.

7. Pet toys

Dog slobber and kitty claws are packed with germs and bacteria. You want to keep your pet toys clean to remove germs that can make people sick. This works for plastic toys that aren’t hollow. Never put anything in the dishwasher that can collect water, as the water can make your dog sick due to mould.

8. Smaller fridge shelves

Depending on the size of your fridge shelves, you can remove the upper rack of the dishwasher and give the shelves a good cleaning. Things like drippy sauce bottles, leaky milk cartons, and spills leave a sticky mess in the fridge that you really don’t want near your food.

Do this when your fridge is a little emptier, so you can slide out the shelves without having to take everything out of the fridge and then put them back again.

9. Gardening tools

Plastic and metal gardening tools can be washed in the dishwasher. Just avoid putting anything in there that is made of wood. You also have to dry metal items so they won’t rust.

10. Children’s toys

If your kids are sick, then tossing their plastic toys in the dishwasher using the sanitizing setting is an excellent way to avoid spreading germs.

11. Sports equipment

From stinky baseball caps to shin guards and from mouthguards to knee pads, most sports equipment can be deodorized and washed in the dishwasher.

12. Kitchen sponges and scrubbers

If anything is a germ carrier in your home, it’s your kitchen sponges and scrubbers. As long as your scrubbers don’t have a wooden handle, these trusty cleaning items can be tossed in the dishwasher for a good rinse every now and then.

13. Vent covers

Vent covers attract dust like crazy, which then gets blown back into your home. As long as they aren’t the fancy wooden kind, they can be washed in the dishwasher and wiped dry.

14. Glass light covers

Glass light covers from your light fixtures can also be washed. They are really no different than washing a bowl, as long as they aren’t too big to fit inside.

15. Vacuum attachments

Plastic vacuum attachments, including the ones with brushes, can be cleaned in the dishwasher. This way, you aren’t spreading germs and pollutants like pet dander as you vacuum.

16. Switchplates

After your family survives a bout of cold or flu, pop the most-used switch plates in the dishwasher to remove the germs and viruses so you don’t reinfect yourself.

If you need help keeping your home clean, our team is ready to help. Not only do we know tons of home-cleaning hacks, but we can also help you avoid needing to use them often. For more information, speak to Maid4Condos today by contacting us online. You can also reach us by phone at 647-822-0601.