Tips Fairfax Maid Service : Maids Fairfax, VA, Virginia Maids : House Cleaning Fairfax, VA : The Maids Home Services

"Nitty-Gritty" Tips

Home Cleaning Products too Costly? Consider these healthy alternatives:

Mix a paste of baking soda and vinegar to remove stubborn toilet bowl rings.

Rub windows down with a cotton-swab of rubbing alcohol to remove old cleaning product residue and wash with a mixture of two tablespoons vinegar and one-quart water.

Polish wood with three parts olive oil and one part white vinegar.

Use multi-purpose baking soda for scouring or to remove scuff-marks from vinyl floors. Add a small square of aluminum foil, boiling water, and it makes a great silver bath!

Be Prepared for Unexpected Guests! Keep this checklist handy for impromptu hosting:

Use a laundry basket to pick up miscellaneous items and store in a bedroom closet.

Close all doors to bedrooms and other rooms not intended for guests.

Make room in the coat closet for guest's coats.

Place extra rolls of toilet paper in a decorative basket in the bathroom.

Wipe off fingerprints on appliances.

Remove any dishes from the sink or countertops.

Light dust the coffee table and other spots where guests will congregate.

Vacuum high traffic areas.

Burn scented candles in the bathroom and kitchen or set out potpourri.

Take a deep breath, relax, and enjoy your company.

Does Your Home Make You Sniffle? Use the house cleaning tips to cope with allergies:

Thoroughly clean places where molds flourish, like drain pans under your refrigerator, old flowerpots and shower curtains.

Encase box springs, mattresses and pillows in allergy-proof covers to keep dust – and dust mites – away.

Clean and service air conditioning units to remove pollen and other allergens trapped during prior use.

Always wash bedding in hot water (at least 130 F) to kill dust mites and launder every one to two weeks.

Dust regularly. Wear a mask if you are allergic to dust and replace dusting cloths often to prevent dust transfer from one piece of furniture to the next.

Stay away from dustwands, brooms and feather dusters. These tools merely move dirt and dust around. Vacuum all surfaces thoroughly, preferably with a HEPA-filter vacuum, catching dust on baseboards, high ledges, upholstery and ceiling fans.

Restrict your pets' movement to as few rooms as possible, especially with regards to bedrooms. Frequently damp-wipe feeding areas and launder bedding often.

Keep Your Kids Clean Throughout Their Messy Summer Fun! Try these kid-friendly tips:

Chewing gum – Whether it's stuck on the bottom of your shoe or in a pocket, leave item in the freezer overnight and gently chip away. For stubborn gum, use a small amount of paint thinner.

Crayon on the walls – As ingenious as your child's art may be, the best way to remove it from walls is to rub the stain with a small amount of paint thinner and wipe with a clean, dry cloth.

Playdough in the carpet – Place a large amount of dry-cleaning solvent on a clean white towel. Leave the towel on the affected area for one minute, lift and gently rub the playdough away, moving towel in one direction.

Dirt and Dust – It's everywhere! Ask children to remove shoes before coming into the house to keep as many allergens outside as possible. Vacuum entryways often to remove allergy and asthma contaminants.

Fingerprints – Buff surfaces with a clean cloth dampened with a neutral disinfectant. This will not only remove fingerprints, but childhood germs as well.

Lipstick on your collar (or wall!) – Little girls love to play with make-up. Scrape excess wax away with a soft spatula. Pretreat clothing with a small amount of dishwashing liquid and rinse. Mix 1/3 part white vinegar to 2/3 part water to gently blot stain away or wipe surfaces clean.

Get Fido and Fluffy Ready for In-Home Service Workers:

Notify the service provider that you have a pet.

Tell your service provider the pet's name in the event that your pet should become disagreeable or disappear.

Show your service provider where you keep the pet's leash and any treats as a means to lure a missing pet back home or out of hiding.

If there is an animal mess, clean it up before the service provider arrives. Animal excrement can lead to the spread of dangerous diseases if not handled properly.

If possible, relocate your pet. Put your pet in a kennel or in a clearly marked room that the service worker is not scheduled to enter. Leave a few favorite toys with your pet to keep it from getting restless.

If you are expecting a cleaning service, be sure to mention your pet's favorite hang-outs so special attention can be paid to removing excess pet dander from those areas.

Fight Mold Growth for a Healthy Home. Hang the "not welcome" sign with these tips:

Windowsills. Check the insides of windowsills for mold growth and wash with mild soap and water. Re-glaze windows for a better seal and make sure any drainage openings in the tracks are clean and not clogged.

Humidifiers and Vaporizers. Empty these appliances daily and clean every three days with a solution of vinegar and water. Vaporizers should be cleaned daily with the vinegar and water solution.

Air Conditioner. Air conditioners need to be serviced often to reduce mold growth. Clean the coils of the central unit every other month with mild soap and water, followed by a solution of heavily diluted vinegar and water, and replace the filter.

House Plants & Dried Floral Arrangements. Re-pot your houseplants with a sterilizing potting soil and don't over-water. Throw away dried floral arrangements with signs of mold growth.

Bathrooms. Clean those really tough areas in the bath and shower with a non-ammonia-based detergent and thoroughly dry. Keep a squeegee handy to quickly wipe down shower walls after each use to reduce the amount of standing water in your shower.

Kitchens. Clean under sinks where mold is present with denatured alcohol and one-cup water. Check plumbing under sink periodically to look for leaks.

Refrigerators. Wash the inside of refrigerators with a mild soap and water solution. If the refrigerator has a bad smell, add a teaspoon of lemon extract or a teaspoon of vanilla to the wash water.

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