Give the Gift of a Clean Home: Why a House Cleaning Gift Card Makes the Perfect Present

If you’re looking for a unique gift that shows how much you care, a house cleaning gift card could be the answer. In this blog, we will look at the occasions when a house cleaning gift card is the perfect present and why it’s the unexpected gift they’ll truly appreciate.

What occasions are best for house cleaning gift cards?

There are several occasions where you’ll find a particularly happy response when you give someone a house cleaning service gift card. From housewarming gifts to the arrival of a new baby, and Mother’s/Father’s Day gifts to Christmas, house cleaning gift cards can work in just about any situation.

While they might not be right for Valentine’s Day, you might consider a house cleaning service gift card to apologize to your significant other. It’s also a nice “just because” surprise to help someone going through a particularly stressful period. The possibilities are endless!

Who will appreciate house cleaning gift cards?

We’d like to think that everybody will love a house cleaning gift card! Some people who might appreciate a cleaning service gift card the most might include:

  • Your daycare provider.
  • Someone caring for a sick loved one.
  • The person in your household who tends to carry the burden of the cleaning duties.
  • Elderly loved ones, especially those living alone.
  • Someone who is recovering from illness, injury, or surgery.
  • The host or hostess of a gathering.
  • An employee who’s been putting in lots of overtime.

House Cleaning Gift Cards Are the “Gift of Time”

What makes cleaning service gift cards unique is that it’s like sharing the gift of time. When someone suddenly has access to a cleaning service, they can free up time to do the things they love. What could be better?

House Cleaning Gift Cards Can Pamper 

Not everyone loves the idea of spending time at the spa, but most of us want to be pampered. Professional house cleaning is a luxury that indulges our lazy side! While it isn’t overly pampering at first glance, when people see the results of their freshly cleaned home, they’ll feel like they’ve been treated like royalty.

House Cleaning Gift Cards Say “I Care”

We think it’s safe to say there aren’t too many people out there who wouldn’t consider a cleaning service gift card a way of showing you care. Cleaning is an inconvenient chore most of us have to contend with daily; it’s hard work!

When you share the gift of cleanliness, you’re helping those you love to live their best life. You create a cleaner, more pleasing environment, reduce their stress, and provide a break from the everyday humdrum chores of life.

House Cleaning Gift Cards Are Unexpected and Unique

Unless someone’s asked for a cleaning gift card, you probably can’t make more of an impact from a surprise standpoint than handing them a gift card for cleaning services. After all, everyone can use a helping hand every now and then. 

There are so many typical gift cards exchanged on special occasions. This is a way to stand out with something different. Instead of a coffee, restaurant, or retail gift card, you’re offering to help someone with their dreaded cleaning chores. Relief from the everyday tasks makes this type of gift card feel pretty darn special.

House Cleaning Gift Cards Are Useful

So many gift cards get tossed in a drawer where they lie forgotten and unused for years. A cleaning service gift card is something everyone can use. Whether they book the service right away, or set it aside for a special occasion, very few cleaning service gift cards go to waste!

House Cleaning Gift Cards Can Help When You Can’t

There are many times in our lives when we wish we could help, but for whatever reason, we can’t. Some great examples of sharing a gift card for cleaning services when you can’t assist someone might include:

  • Helping out the family member who ends up having to host all the major holiday meals.
  • Assisting a friend or family member acting as an overnight host for your wedding guests.
  • Helping care for a sick loved one when you live out of town.
  • Helping to clean up after a party when you aren’t physically able to.

House Cleaning Gift Cards Are a Great Way to Say Thank You

If you want to show someone that their good deeds have not gone unnoticed, a gift card for cleaning services is an excellent option.

For example, maybe a family member is always cleaning the house and you want to thank them for their effort. Or, you might want to thank a friend for spending the past few weekends assisting you pack for a move by helping them catch up with their house cleaning.

Maybe a neighbour is always lending you their tools and you want to do something special to thank them for their kindness. A house cleaning gift card gives thoughtful people a break from their own chores as the perfect thank you for helping make your chores easier.

House Cleaning Gift Cards Can Keep on Giving

House cleaning gift cards are totally customizable, allowing you to share a gift that keeps on giving. Cleaning service gift cards can offer several weeks or even months of cleaning relief, so you make a lasting impression.

House Cleaning Gift Cards Are Flexible

People can use gift cards for house cleaning services at their own convenience based on the services they desire. For example, as a housewarming gift, your loved one can use it for a move-in/move-out cleaning.

As a baby shower gift, it will be appreciated when the new baby comes home and cleaning is put on the back burner. As a general gift, the cleaning services can be used when the person is feeling a little lazy.

Contact the House Cleaning Experts

Although you might not think that a house cleaning gift card is overly romantic, thoughtful, or creative, it actually shows how much you care by simply making life easier.
Purchase a Maid4Condos’ house cleaning gift card and receive a 15% cash bonus for your own cleaning services for every gift you give! You can also call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online for more information.

How to Keep Your Nursery Clean and Safe for Your Baby

A new baby needs lots of love and attention, often making it difficult to maintain a clean home. In this blog, we will share our top nursery cleaning tips to make parenting easier while providing a safe, hygienic home for infant health.

How to keep your nursery clean and safe for your baby

Declutter Your Baby’s Room to Simplify Nursery Cleaning

Often, we start off with many toys and decorative items in the nursery to up the cute factor. However, once reality sinks in, you’ll likely realize that those items take up space needed for necessities.

A good tip to help keep your baby’s room clean is to start by decluttering. Simplifying your nursery keeps things as neat as possible so you can “clean as you go.” Here are a few organizational tips:

  • Keep things close: Consider how you use the room so you can keep what you need within reach. For example, your changing table should be free of anything other than fresh diapers, wipes, and a place for dirty diapers. This makes it easier to quickly wipe down the changing pad to remove germs and bacteria.
  • Use storage baskets: Storage baskets keep things organized. For example, you might need baskets for a few small soft toys, fresh bibs, face cloths, blankets, onesies, bathing items, etc.
  • Keep toys to a minimum: Stuffed toys are dust collectors. Choose a small selection of age-appropriate toys and add new toys as your baby enters a new developmental stage. Give away any toys that are no longer age-appropriate as soon as possible to reduce clutter. Sort toys into categories, such as wipeable books, washable soft toys, rattles, etc., to make it easier to tidy up. You can then tackle each basket, cleaning based on toy type.
  • Sort out old clothes: Babies grow out of their clothes very quickly. Keep a basket or mesh bag handy to toss any clothes they’ve outgrown. Once it’s full, place the clothes in a bag or box and drop them off at a donation centre when you get a chance. You can also pass them on to someone you know with a baby or join a children’s clothing exchange group.

Use Washable “Everything” to Make Nursery Cleaning Easier

Things such as removable changing pad covers, mattress pads, machine-washable soft toys, chair pad covers for the rocking chair, and plenty of fresh crib sheets make it easier to keep surfaces clean and hygienic in your baby’s room.

You can toss these items in the wash following an accident or add them to your weekly laundry. Having at least two of each item makes it easier to quickly swap out dirty items for clean ones, and schedule a weekly rotation on laundry day.

Use Eco-Friendly Cleaners to Disinfect While Nursery Cleaning

Shop for convenient, baby-safe cleaning products designed to kill bacteria without harsh chemicals. Harsh chemicals present a number of risks for babies, including respiratory issues and rashes.

A mix of equal parts white vinegar and warm water kept in a spray bottle makes it easy to quickly wipe down surfaces. You can also test essential oils such as lemon or tea tree oil to keep your baby’s room smelling fresh. Some babies are sensitive to smells, so speak to your doctor regarding the safest oils.

Target Frequently Touched Surfaces When Nursery Cleaning

Being busy with your baby can make it easy to overlook cleaning basics such as frequently touched surfaces. However, this is important for nursery cleaning as babies often put their hands in their mouth and touch surfaces within their reach, increasing the spread of germs.

This is doubly important if you have pets in the house that can lick the same surfaces babies touch. Some examples of overlooked surfaces might include crib rails/bars, changing tables, the baby tub, and the wall behind or beside the changing table.

You should also be more diligent and clean frequently touched surfaces throughout your home such as light switches, door knobs, and faucets. This will help reduce the risk of passing germs onto your baby.

Include Toys in Your Nursery Cleaning Routine

Regularly cleaning baby toys is important because babies explore with their mouths. Chances are that they put toys in their mouths several times a day, so toys should be washed at least once a week.

Also, if you know that your baby has a favourite toy, you might want to wipe it down daily with a baby-safe sanitizer or toss it in with the laundry while they nap.

Dust Weekly to Improve Indoor Air Quality in Your Baby’s Room

Dusting is a big hassle, but essential for infant health. Dust contains harmful tiny particles that your baby inhales. Keeping dust to a minimum can improve the quality of the air in your baby’s room, removing irritants such as pet dander, allergens, pollen, and common household toxins from things such as cleaners.

Use a damp or microfibre cloth to collect and hold onto dust to avoid spreading particles into the air. You want to remove dust as opposed to stirring it up. When dust is simply moved around, it will end up back on the surfaces in the room.

Nursery Cleaning Tips for Floors

Finish your cleaning routine by wiping the floors. By leaving the floors until the end of your nursery cleaning routine, you collect all the particles released into the air as you dust.

If your baby’s room is carpeted, you should vacuum at least twice a week to keep the rug clean for crawling and playing. This also helps improve the air quality in your baby’s room.

Hard floor surfaces, such as wood, laminate, and vinyl, can be swept or vacuumed. For hard floors, always turn off the beater brush, as the brush will spread particles around, leaving debris behind as you work.

Bonus Floor-Cleaning Tip

Have a no-shoes policy in your baby’s room to reduce the amount of dirt carried into their space.

Schedule Nursery Cleaning Services on “Auto Pilot”

If finding time to clean your baby’s room is too overwhelming, consider booking regular professional cleaning. You choose the frequency of cleanings suited to your schedule and budget, and the cleaners will perform all the above cleaning tasks and more.

These nursery cleaning tips can make it easier to keep your baby’s room tidy while creating a safe environment to promote infant health.

Click here to learn more about Maid4Condos’ residential cleaning services that are ideal for new parents. You can also call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.

The Hidden Dangers of Poor Home Hygiene: What You Can’t See

Poor home hygiene is the perfect example of how things you can’t see can hurt you. It can lead to health risks such as allergies, respiratory issues, and foodborne illnesses. At Maid4Condos, we specialize in deep cleaning and sanitization to help eliminate these hidden dangers. In this article, we will explore the hidden dangers of poor home hygiene and provide tips to keep your home safe.

The hidden dangers of poor home hygiene: What you can’t see

What is home hygiene?

Home hygiene focuses on maintaining a clean home for a healthy environment. Home hygiene practices help:

  • Reduce the risk of germs spreading.
  • Eliminate foodborne bacteria by following proper food handling. 
  • Improve indoor air quality by removing allergens such as dust mites. 
  • Keep your home smelling fresh.
  • Reduce the risk of attracting pests.
  • Keep your home sanitized and safe. 
  • Remove pet dander and hair to reduce odours and allergy symptoms.

Reducing Germs on High-Touch Surfaces

High-touch surfaces are covered in germs and bacteria. Home hygiene reduces germs to help minimize the risk of household illness. Simply put, washing hands and surfaces helps reduce the spread of germs. However, you can’t just clean. You need to disinfect using cleaning products designed to kill 99.99% of germs and bacteria.

Foodborne Bacteria From Poor House Hygiene

Proper food preparation, handling, and storage helps eliminate foodborne bacteria such as salmonella, E. coli, and listeria. Food safety best practices include the following:

  • Store food based on packaging recommendations.
  • Keep raw meat in sealed containers separate from cooked foods and fresh produce.
  • After handling raw meat and poultry, wipe down surfaces with a food-safe disinfectant and wash your hands.
  • Use separate cutting boards for fruits and vegetables and raw meat and poultry.
  • Use paper towels or disinfecting wipes for kitchen cleaning to avoid spreading bacteria (sponges and reusable dishcloths harbour germs and bacteria).

Mould From Poor Home Hygiene

Although some mould is visible to the eye, mould growth can occur in hidden damp areas, such as behind walls. Mould also produces invisible spores that, when breathed in, cause allergy symptoms such as eye, nose, and throat irritation, and increased asthma attacks.

Common causes of mould are poor ventilation in the bathroom or moisture from hidden leaks. If you spot mould in your home, such as black discolourations on grout, or peachy grayish or greenish discolouration on bathroom walls, you can tackle small areas using warm, soapy water.

Always wear a mask when cleaning mould. Areas larger than 3’ x 3’ require a professional assessment to determine what type of mould growth exists and whether remediation is required.

VOCs From Household Products and Cleaners

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are found in most homes. They are produced when chemicals in household goods or finishes evaporate, releasing toxins into the air.

They are also produced from things such as tobacco smoke, but can occur in everything from new carpeting and flooring to adhesives and composite wood furniture to household cleaners. Some other unexpected VOC sources include:

  • Frying foods
  • Burning candles and incense
  • Some air fresheners 
  • Leaks from attached garages
  • Poorly ventilated fireplaces/wood stoves

Toxins can range from formaldehyde to carcinogens such as benzene. While it’s hard to confirm what items in your home are producing VOCs, there are a few things you can do to help reduce them, including the following:

  • Be careful about the products you choose, opting for low-emission items whenever possible.
  • Check the labels when purchasing cleaning products and opt for ones that are VOC and chemical-free.
  • Reduce the use of scented products and room deodorizers and rely on regular cleaning to keep your home smelling fresh instead.
  • Always open the windows or work in a well-ventilated area when using things like paint, glue, and varnishes.

Dust From Poor House Hygiene

The problem with dust is that the tiny particles are a mix of potentially harmful contaminants that negatively impact indoor air quality. We can’t list all the possible chemicals and toxins, as air quality varies from household to household. Suffice it to say, dust can cause health issues.

However, regular dusting can help reduce the signs of poor indoor air quality, including:

  • Dry, irritated eyes, nose, throat, and skin
  • Constant headaches
  • Coughing, sneezing, congestion, and in severe cases, shortness of breath
  • Increased allergy symptoms or asthma attacks
  • Dizziness and fatigue
  • Nausea

The solution is simple: dust at least once a week with a microfiber cloth to ensure the dust doesn’t get released back into the air. You should also dust from the ceiling down, so you continue to remove dust as you work your way to the floor. 

Dust Mites From Poor Home Hygiene

Dust mites are tiny pests that feed on dead skin cells. Unfortunately, they’re so small that they’re undetectable and tend to settle in warm areas like your bed! Dust mites contribute to the same issues as dust, and are also an allergen for many people.

Other than your bed, they’re also found in soft furnishings, carpets/area rugs, window treatments, and more. Once again, it’s cleaning to the rescue following some basic steps:

  • Wash your sheets and throw blankets weekly in hot water to kill mites and allergens.
  • Use mattress, pillow, and duvet covers to block dust mites from settling in. 
  • Vacuum and dust at least weekly, avoiding brooms or non-microfiber dusters that can spread the dust mites around.
  • Keep your home clutter-free.
  • Wash stuffed toys often.
  • Opt for hard floors over carpeting.
  • Use a HEPA filter vacuum.

Masking Odours Due to Poor Home Hygiene

There are all kinds of contributing factors that cause odours in the home. However, you might be surprised to learn that masking those odours can make you sick! As mentioned, regular use of some home-deodorizing sprays, candles, incense, etc. can contribute to poor indoor air quality.

Some scents can also trigger headaches and allergy symptoms. It’s far safer to keep your house clean using chemical-free cleaners to help eliminate odours than using harmful aromatic products that only mask odours.

Contact the Professionals at Maid4Condos

Adopting basic home hygiene habits can help improve indoor air quality, reduce the risk of spreading germs, and keep foodborne illnesses at bay.

To keep on top of house hygiene, consider Maid4Condos’ recurring cleaning services or click here to learn more about how we can help. You can also call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.

The Science Behind the Importance of Professional House Cleaning

Professional cleaning offers many benefits, including improving your ability to keep a healthy home. In this article, we will look at the science behind the importance of professional house cleaning for a sparkling, safe household.

The Science Behind the Importance of Professional House Cleaning

Proper Application of Professional Cleaning Products

Professional cleaners are trained to use specific cleaning products designed for different cleaning tasks throughout your home. This is essential to maintaining a healthy home because how the solution is used impacts how effective and safe it is.

Professional cleaning ensures that every surface of the home is treated with safe cleaning products adhering to recommended methods, including the following:

  • Ensuring the right solution is used for each surface.
  • Understanding the purpose of use; for example, to polish, sanitize, stain removal, etc.
  • Special requirements include spot testing, proper rinsing, setting sanitizers, etc.

Avoiding Dangerous Chemical Reactions of Professional Cleaning Solutions

Professional cleaners avoid dangerous chemical reactions when using a wide variety of professional cleaning solutions. Chemical reactions can not only damage or stain various surfaces in the home, but also create dangerous gasses and solutions that can lead to injury.

Understanding how the chemicals in cleaning solutions react with each other avoids the following issues:

  • Incompatibility such as oil-based and water-based solutions that can lead to damage to surfaces and materials.
  • Toxicity caused by mixing certain ingredients found in cleaning solutions. 
  • Creating chlorine gas from mixing bleach and vinegar that can harm the eyes and cause breathing issues.
  • Creating chloramine produced by mixing bleach and ammonia that can cause chest pains and shortness of breath.
  • Creating chloroform by mixing bleach and rubbing alcohol.
  • Creating corrosive peracetic/peroxyacetic acid by mixing hydrogen peroxide and vinegar.
  • Contributing to pollution by mixing incompatible oil and water-based solutions that won’t dissolve and safely rinse away.

Understanding How Professional Cleaning Processes Remove Dirt

The cleaning process might seem straightforward. However, science is involved in creating cleaning products to remove the many types of dirt, pollutants, germs, and bacteria found in the home. For example, while one cleaner is ideal for eliminating issues such as mould and mildew, another is required to tackle oil and fat.

Cleaning science is not only reliant on the source of the dirt, but the material you’re cleaning. For example, a grease or oil stain on your carpet requires a different cleaning process and solution than a leather couch.

The science behind professional cleaning ensures that the soap or cleaning solution used is designed to break down specific substances and effectively dissolve them. This ensures that stains, germs, and bacteria are safely removed without introducing harmful chemicals into the home.

The Science of Timing in Professional Cleaning

Timing impacts both the staining and cleaning processes. 

Timing for Stains

Stains occur based on the makeup of the stain, the surface, and how long the stain sets. Grease splatters, for example, aren’t so difficult to tackle when wiped up right away.

However, grease is finicky because over time it tends to become stickier and can start to yellow as elements of the grease evaporate. When this happens, grease adheres to surfaces and collects dust and other particulates, making it harder to clean.

Therefore, leaving grease on something like the range hood above the stove for too long makes removing it far more challenging than wiping it away when the splatter occurs.

Another example is greasy tomato pasta sauce. The natural dyes in tomato can penetrate porous surfaces, such as unsealed marble, and leave a stain.

Still, even grease that is less colourless, such as bacon fat, can cause a stain when it comes into contact with a white shirt or an area rug. This is because grease is not water-soluble. As a result, it clings to fibres, causing discolouration.

If we look at a different scenario, such as wine stains on a white carpet, this is a different challenge. Acting immediately greatly improves the results of stain removal. By sopping up most of the liquid, you remove most of the dye. You can then use soap and water to dilute the residue and lift it before it binds to the fabric.

Timing for Effective Cleaning

“Dwell time” is critical for professional house cleaning, as it allows the ingredients of a cleaner to react to the dirt or stain it is targeting. For example, some solvents, like those used to remove oil, need time to break down the molecules before the oil can be safely and effectively wiped away.

Another example is using the right timing and methods for many sanitizing cleaners, which often need about 10 minutes to kill germs and bacteria, depending on the solution used.

The Science Behind Stain Removal in Professional Cleaning

Staining can be complicated. It’s important for professional house cleaning teams to consider the type of stain, the material or surface impacted by the stain, and the proper cleaning solution required to most effectively remove the stain. The science behind stains is based on the following considerations:

  • Is it water-soluble, oil-based, or more complex with a mix of both water and oil components?
  • Is the surface porous, such as fabric, carpet, or untreated marble counters, or non-porous like metal or glass?
  • Does the dirt contain molecules that will bond to the surface, such as natural chromogens that will stain?
  • What is the composition of the stain or mess, such as blood that is complicated to remove because it coagulates?
  • How long has the stain been left untreated?
  • Are odours complicating the matter, such as pet stains?

From there, the professional house cleaning process is determined based on the type of cleaner required such as detergent to break down oil or lift dirt, enzymatic cleaners to remove odours, germ-killing cleaners to sanitize, or oxidizing agents to remove deep-coloured stains.

Call Maid4Condos for Professional House Cleaning

As you can see, professional house cleaning relies heavily on science to keep a healthy home, effectively tackle stains, and safely remove germs and bacteria. 
If you’d like to learn more about Maid4Condos’ professional house cleaning services, you can also call us at 647-822-0601 or contact us online.

Kitchen Cleaning 101: 10 Useful Hacks That Save Time

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. 

Kitchen cleaning 101: 10 useful hacks that save time

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.

Move-In Cleaning: 7 Things You Need to Clean First

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. 

7 things you need to clean first when moving in

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.

How to Clean Mould Around Your Home

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.

How to clean mould around your home

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.

How to Clean White Kitchen Cabinets

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.

How to clean white kitchen cabinets

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.

10 Places Around the Home You Can Clean With Vinegar (And 8 Places to Avoid)

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

10 places around the home you can clean with vinegar and 8 places to avoid

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.

How to Clean Kitchen Floor Grout

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. 

How to clean kitchen floor grout

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.