Cleaner’s blog – ProCare Cleaning

Office Cleaning Tips

Thu, 08 Aug 2019 20:21:00 GMT

We can all be a little guilty of having a messy office from time to time. However a clean working space should be a top priority as it will help with employee happiness and increase productivity.

Whether it’s an office building, a retail outlet, conference hall or healthcare facility, a clean environment is a must for the safety and peace of mind of employees, tenants, and visitors. Commercial cleaning companies , like ProCare Cleaning, have their procedures and their processes, but we also have tips and tricks that you can benefit from to keep your commercial spaces clean and looking great.

To make sure you can maintain a clean workplace here are few tips and tricks.

Create a Plan and Checklist

No matter what type of commercial space needs to be cleaned, having a plan and a checklist is one thing all professional cleaners swear by. When you have a checklist to use, you won’t have to worry about missing important areas, and you will end up getting the job completed much faster. It’s also a good idea to take care of the most challenging cleaning duties first and then move onto the easier ones, so you don’t get bogged down later on in the process.

Clean up before you leave

Before you go home for the evening make sure you tidy up your desk, and place used cups and dishes in the kitchen. When you arrive in the morning everything will be ready for you to get started straight away, rather than an overwhelming feeling that you are already behind.

Organize papers

If you set yourself a rule such as no loose papers on your desk, this means you will have to maintain an organised filing system or cut down your use of the printer.

Clean your computer

Look at your desktop screen and ask yourself if you can see your desktop background. If not, it’s time to clean up your computer and delete the documents you no longer need. This will save you precious time searching for files when you need them next.

Fridge

It’s very common that food is left in the office fridge and left for weeks or months until you realize an odd smell coming from somewhere inside the chock-a-block fridge. To avoid this, make it part of Friday afternoons to throw out any expired food. Additionally organize the cleaners to clean out the fridge every season with disinfectant.

Everything has a place

Everything from pens to your jacket and umbrella should have a designated space for to be stored so that you can stay organised. If you’re organised not only will you benefit but also your guests and fellow employees. Not to mention your increased level of professionalism.

Desk Cleaning Kit

If you have a stockpile of wipes and disinfectant on hand for dusty electronics, desk stains and dirty keyboards. This will ensure your space remains germ-free and reduce your overall cleaning time.

Use White Vinegar

White vinegar has a high acidity content and is very useful for cleaning out the gunk that is hard to remove. It’s important to dilute it with hot water, so the smell isn’t overpowering, but you can use a spray bottle to make a nice solution that will work. You can also use white vinegar and baking soda to clean stainless steel sinks in the workplace by sprinkling the baking soda on and then wiping with a cloth saturated in vinegar.

Cleaning Professionals At Your Service

Remember during busier times of the year, it’s always worth investing in an extra cleaner and getting more help around the office to make it a more enjoyable atmosphere. If you need a last minute helping hand we’re here for you in your local area to help with the office cleaning . Commercial cleaning is a skill, and it pays to have a team in place you can trust.

The post Office Cleaning Tips appeared first on ProCare Cleaning .

Be Clean to Keep Cool

Fri, 05 Jul 2019 00:06:00 GMT

Summer Is the Best Time to Clean Your House On the Inside and the Outside

How Often Are You Cleaning Your Home?

Despite the hot summer weather in Vancouver, Wash., you will want to keep your home clean. One of the best ways to have a clean home in the summer is by maintaining the air conditioner. In addition to ensuring that you have cool climate-controlled air while you are completing your household chores, an air conditioner that is maintained properly will help to keep your home cleaner. This means that you should change the air conditioner’s filter once a month along with making sure that it isn’t covered with debris.

Do You Have Fans Inside Your Home?

You likely have fans inside your home that are covered in debris. The exhaust fan on your stove may have a screen that is covered in grease, but you can remove it to soak it in the sink. If you have ceiling fans, then turn the items off to use a long dust wand to clean the blades, or you can climb on a ladder to clean the items. The exhaust fans in your home’s bathrooms can also become dirty, making it impossible to remove humidity. Remove the vents to clean the items thoroughly. If you have box fans, then you can unplug the devices before using a screwdriver to remove the screens. Wash the screens outside with a garden hose, or you can place the items in a bathtub to remove the debris. Dry the screens before placing the devices back onto the fans.

Clean Closets and Cupboards

When your house is cool during the summer, you will feel more energized so that you can tackle the difficult cleaning tasks that you avoided during the winter. You can open the curtains to let the sunlight in while you empty kitchen cupboards and bedroom closets to sort though items to get rid of things before washing the shelves, rods and other surfaces. This is a great time to organize with storage systems such as special containers or hanging devices so that you can find things faster.

Wash Walls and Ceilings

Use a ladder to reach higher areas in each room to clean along the door frames. Fill a bucket with warm soapy water to wash the walls and the ceilings. You will feel amazed at how dirty the water is after you complete this chore. You can take down the window blinds or the drapes to clean the window coverings. Make sure to wash the windowpanes and the windowsills because this is a difficult chore during the winter. If you have removable window screens, then you can take the items outside to wash away debris with a garden hose.

Upholstery, Rugs and Carpeting

If you have dirty carpets, then summer is the best time for shampooing the items because you will have air circulation to dry the fibers. When you have washable rugs, you can toss these into a washer or a bathtub filled with water to get rid of the dirt. You can hang the rugs outside on a clothesline to dry. This is also the perfect time to shampoo the upholstery on living room furniture, or you can rent a machine to steam clean the mattresses on the beds.

Cleaning a Basement

When you have a basement at your home, you may ignore it when the weather is cold, but if you use it for an entertainment space or guest bedrooms, then it requires extra cleaning. Alternatively, you might only use a basement for a laundry area or for storing items, but if it is filled with cobwebs and a collection of dust, then your home isn’t really clean. You can spend one day cleaning your basement with a vacuum cleaner and a mop, making you feel better about the cleanliness of your home.

Outdoor Cleaning Chores for the Summer

Are you remembering to take care of the exterior of your home? You can use a garden hose or a power washer to remove debris from the roof and siding of your house. Make sure to have a friend nearby as you climb an extension ladder to perform these chores, and also, make sure to avoid any power lines. While you have your power washer or garden hose, it is a good time to clean the driveway, porches or a deck to eliminate dirt and insects from the surfaces.

Keeping Barbecue Equipment Clean

If you have an outdoor cooking area, then you should keep it clean to avoid infestations from insects, birds or wildlife. You can use a garden hose to wash a charcoal grill, or you can clean a propane grill by using paper towels that are saturated with a mild cleanser mixed with water. Make sure to clean picnic tables, chairs and other items near the outdoor kitchen at the same time.

Indoor Kitchen Cleaning Chores

Cleaning your home’s kitchen can require an entire day, but when you do this chore, make sure to take the time to complete extra tasks. Remove everything from the refrigerator to clean its interior along with the drawers and shelves. Pull the refrigerator away from the wall to clean its back and to wash the floor. It is also a good idea to clean the stove to remove its buildup of grease, and you should lift the top of the stove to clean around the burners. In addition, move the stove away from the back wall to clean behind it to remove food particles, grease or cobwebs.

Bathroom Sanitizing Chores

You may have multiple bathrooms inside your home, and cleaning each one is a long-term project. It is easier to clean a bathroom when you remove everything from its medicine cabinet and cupboards. Clean these storage systems with paper towels and cleansers before placing the items back into the cupboards and cabinets, but throw away outdated medications, makeup and other items first. It is a good idea to keep medications in a safer location than a bathroom’s cabinet. You can wash the bathroom’s rugs, shower curtains and other fabric items, but you may prefer replacing these things once a year. Scrub the bathtub, sink and toilet thoroughly. Mop the floor, and also, wash the walls or ceiling to eliminate mold growth.

Handles and Doorknobs

The doorknobs and handles in a home are often filthy because the items are touched frequently, but you can clean all of these quickly by using a spray bottle filled with cleanser. Walk from room to room to spray the cleanser on the handles or doorknobs before using a paper towel to dry the items completely. Change to a new paper towel occasionally to keep the doorknobs and handles as clean as possible. Don’t forget to sanitize the buttons on the remote controls for televisions and other electronics by using a soft microfiber cloth.

The post Be Clean to Keep Cool appeared first on ProCare Cleaning .

The Ultimate Guide to Washing Machine Cleaning

Tue, 04 Jun 2019 18:39:00 GMT

Like most of the population, cleaning your washing machine may have never crossed your mind. After all, the washing machine is designed to clean your clothes; clean being the operative word. With the amount of antibacterial laundry soap and hot water that courses through your machines, no one would really think that this work horse still needs cleaning. “Cleaning a washing machine that cleans” sounds really redundant.

But yes, your washing machine actually needs periodic maintenance to keep it in its tip top fighting form. The worst nightmare of any woman (or man who does the laundry) is for a machine to conk out on wash day. With massive and a mountain like load of soiled clothes, this is the last thing you need. Thus, washer maintenance is a necessity.

Besides, things in the washer can end up smelly and disgusting because of mildew and molds. On top of that, detergent, fabric softener, and hard water builds up over time. The exterior of the washer is probably full of your fingerprints and smears from your fingers and the soiled clothes. Once a month washer cleaning and maintenance are key components in making sure your expensive gadget lasts for a long time. In addition, regular cleaning means the mess will not build up to unmanageable proportions over time. Regular cleaning makes for a faster and easier cleaning job. Here are some tips on how to clean your washing machine.

Gather those Cleaning Materials

The first step to your massive washing machine clean-up job, especially if you have never ever done it at all, is to prepare your materials. Your best bet is to go for environmentally safe cleaning tools that don’t harm your skin and your lungs due to their toxic fumes. Get your apple cider vinegar ready and lemon juice. Both acids are great at combating build up, while being nice smelling and one hundred percent all natural to boot. Baking soda also helps in taking away yucky grime. Prepare a cleaning rag to help you wipe away years of gunk. Prepare an empty spray bottle where you will mix your all-natural cleaning solution. Put the acids halfway through the bottle, add a teaspoon of baking soda, and then dilute with some pure water. You can then use it to spritz away.

Note: if you are feeling lazy to make your own concoction, then you can buy a gentle and earth-friendly all purpose cleaner at your favorite super market. On top of that, good old reliable bleach is a good cleaner and bacterial killer.

Clean the Exterior of your Washer

Spritz your cleaner on the exterior of your washer. Vinegar is always a good cleaning choice because everyone has it in their pantry. It is abundant and inexpensive while doing a great job of erasing finger prints and detergent build up. Lemon juice also functions extremely well. They both easily break down years of grime. If there are particular stubborn spots, you can use the solution to soak the spot for a little bit. If soaking is not a possibility, spray the solution on a rag, and use it to press on top of the stubborn spot to help eradicate soap scum. Be sure not to neglect any part of the machine including the knobs that get the most hand manipulation. And as many people say, bulk of the germs are in people’s hands.

Disinfect the Tub

Pour two cups of vinegar or lemon juice into the tub. You can also add a cup of bleach as this really gives things squeaky clean look and feel. Bleach is also well known for taking away nasty soap scum and other residues. After the aforementioned steps have been done, run the washing machine in the hottest and longest setting. Be sure to complete the entire wash cycle. This will help remove nasty odors, ugly stains, and stubborn detergent build up. If you have very hard water, the acid present in the vinegar and lemon juice will help blast away mineral deposits.

Pay Attention to the Lid or Door

You probably don’t pay attention to the edge of the lid. But newsflash: that is the part where mildew, dust, and detergent builds up. Be sure to scrub the edge of the lid or door with your cleaning solution. If there are stubborn spots, use an old toothbrush or a small scrub to get into all the hard to reach grooves and tight areas. Apply gentle force to take all those nasty gunk away. Be sure to keep a balance with your efforts because anything too strong, and you risk damaging the seams of the lid.

Check the Rubber Door Seal

If you have a front loading washing machine, gently pull back on the upper portion of the rubber door seal to check for molds and mildew. Once again, use your ever reliable vinegar and lemon solution to take them out. You can use an old toothbrush if your rag is not reaching those stubborn spots. Remember, there’s no need for you to be wonder woman so manage your strength.

Sanitize the Bleach and Fabric Softener Dispensers

Temporarily take out your washer’s bleach and fabric softener dispensers. Be sure to scrub them in the sink and wash them with your favorite anti-bacterial dish washing soap. Then, you can thoroughly dry them before returning them inside your washing machine. While you have them out, take a bit of time to scrub around the crevices they are stuffed into with an old toothbrush and some vinegar. You’ll be amazed at how much detergent and fabric conditioner builds up over the course of time.

Clean the Inlet Hose Filter

This all important filter is responsible for catching all the yucky minerals and debris which comes from your water. This prevents your water from polluting your wash cycle. Over the course of time, the filter can get clogged with deposits preventing the water from flowing effectively into the washing machine. This is the primary reason why this must be cleaned regularly. If you do this, it is vital to switch off the water supply, so you can easily disconnect the house and remove all the debris in the opening of the hose itself.

Inspect the Hose

While you have actually taken the time out to clean your washing machine, be sure to spend time to inspect the washer hoses. These are the lifeblood of your washer. Without them, there will be no water coursing through the machine and you obviously cannot do your laundry without water. Making sure the hoses are still firmly in place and in good condition matters a lot. Ideally, these hoses should be replaced every few years or so. Remember that wise old adage that prevention is better than cure? Well, that totally applies for this scenario because you spend a few bucks for your hose as opposed to spending so much because the machine conks out due to years of neglect.

Vacuum to Clean Out Hair and Other Small Debris

Humans shed hair every single day. Some of these attach to the clothes. On top of that, many people now have fur babies around their house. These pets shed large amounts of hair, too. All of these hair strands inevitably make their way inside the washer. Even as the water drains in washer cycle, some of them get left behind. It is important to dry the inside of the but before vacuuming. Ensure that you use the soft brush attachment of the washer to make sure all the human hair and animals fir are cleaned from you tub’s washing machine. It it is best to do this part before any cleaner is applied. That way, you don’t have to recirculate the debris as you clean with your rag and cleaning solutions.

Other Helpful Hints

These are helpful hints that must be done each time the washer is used. This will help keep mildew and foul odors away. Always remember:

Do a visual inspection of the tub before placing your dirty laundry inside, so you can take away any big debris, like coins or toys, which can damage the machine.

Leave the lid open in between your loads, so the machine will have a chance to air out and dry. Molds and mildew thrive in a damp environment with insufficient air flow. If you want to keep those away, just leave the lid open. If you have small kids and pets, be mindful of this. If you have a lock in you laundry room, do it to keep them away.

Commercial fabric conditioners have been known to leave residue over time because of their components. If you make vinegar as your fabric softener of choice, you’re machine will have less residue and it won’t need to be cleaned as often. Vinegar is not as strong smelling as fabric softeners, but the sour scent of vinegar could barely be detected after the wash cycle is done.

Once the machine is done working per load, it is critical to empty the washing tub immediately. If you leave the clothes in the washer for too long, you risk having a wet dog stench in both your clothes and the machine. Doing things promptly is critical!

The cleaning and maintenance of your washing machine is an easy task that needs to be done regularly to extend the life of the machine. If you have run into some bit of trouble or you spot issues that you cannot resolve yourself, then it is time to call in the professionals. Call a company like ProCare Cleaning. This is a family-owned residential and commercial cleaning company in Vancouver Washington. They use safe, high quality, environmentally-friendly cleaning supplies. That’s quality cleaning and caring with a heart!

The post The Ultimate Guide to Washing Machine Cleaning appeared first on ProCare Cleaning .

Nothing To Sneeze About! How To Survive The Pollen Season

Mon, 06 May 2019 18:49:00 GMT

Aside from torturing allergy sufferers everywhere, spring pollen season can wreak havoc both in- and outside your home. Considering all that pollen, here’s a spring allergy survival guide. You’ll have a little longer to try these eight unconventional strategies to get you through it:

8 Quick Tips for Surviving the Worst of it

Get ahead of the forecast. Find a weather app that tracks and reports local pollen levels; on heavy days or when pollen ‘storms’ are predicted, keep windows and doors closed.

Clean outside. Pollen that settles in and around roofs, screens, and windows has a greater chance of eventually blowing its way inside. Likewise, pollen left to sit on drives, walkways, patios, decks, porches, and outside stairs will come in on shoes. Sweeping, hosing down, or power washing these outside areas can help to minimize the work you will need to do inside. Removing shoes upon entry will help as well.

Clean quickly and often. Like many other soils, left untreated, pollen will harden into a film that gets more difficult to remove over time. And, un like many other soils, pollen stains both fabrics and surfaces!

Clean your air. If spring allergies are a particular issue in your household, consider running a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter, which is designed specifically to remove such allergens as pollen, pet dander, and dust mites from the air.

Do not disturb. Especially if you have spring allergy sufferers living in your home, the focus needs to be on removing pollen grains with as little disturbance as possible, so avoid dusting or even vacuuming with anything but a HEPA-filtered machine, as these activities will drive pollen grains up into the air.

Microfiber is your friend. To remove fresh pollen from hard surfaces, spray an everyday cleaning solution onto a high-quality microfiber cloth, which is built to trap and remove particles. Wipe slowly and carefully. OR, borrow a page from the professional window cleaner’s playbook: spray, then use a squeegee to neatly and thoroughly remove all the offending yellow muck.

Shake, shake, shake . For pollen grains that have landed on fabrics, furniture upholstery, and carpet, avoid rubbing or wiping at all costs. First, if possible, take the item outside and shake vigorously to get rid of loose grains. Next, try a lint roller or postal packing tape to lift away the stickier grains. If you can still see a stain, soak the item for several hours and rinse thoroughly using cold water alone; if you can’t submerge the item in cold water, spritz then blot gently with a white cloth until the blotting cloth comes away clean. If all that fails, try an oxygen-based or specialized laundry-stain solution, following package instructions for use. If the laundry solution fails, move on to a home dry-cleaning solution or take the item to a professional dry cleaner. Avoid heat drying (which will set the stain) until you are absolutely sure the pollen stain is gone.

Remember those outside living spaces! For non-fabric patio and other outside furniture, a good, strong-spraying hose, clean rags, and dishwashing liquid will usually work to remove loosely settled pollen. For pollen that has become set on these surfaces, a Magic Eraser or similar tool may also be needed.

The post Nothing To Sneeze About! How To Survive The Pollen Season appeared first on ProCare Cleaning .

Spring Cleaning With The Pros

Wed, 10 Apr 2019 18:52:00 GMT

While the official start to spring is still weeks away, it’s never too soon to start planning your spring-cleaning gambit—especially for those big jobs that might require booking professional services or renting specialized equipment. By the time that throw-open-your-windows-and-doors weather finally hits, you’ll be way ahead of the game.

Spring Cleaning Checklist

Closets/drawers/basement/attic/garage storage areas. This one comes first on the list, because you can get started with purging and organizing your stuff long before the weather turns nice, which lays a nice groundwork for all the heavy-duty cleaning to come. For inspiration, check out Marie Kondo’s smash Netflix hit Tidying Up . Add efficiency by pre-gathering suitable containers for carting away no-longer needed or wanted items, plus a list of local organizations that accept donations—or, even better, ones that will come and pick your donations up.

Curtains/drapes/blinds. Some curtains can go right into the washing machine, but many will require professional dry cleaning. For washable types, you’ll want a detergent formulated specifically for delicate fabrics and/or to guard against color fading. For vinyl blinds, especially if you don’t wipe or vacuum them regularly, be prepared to take them down for a good soak and scrub either in the tub or using a wide, shallow basin outside.

Carpets/rugs. Here is why to deep clean carpets and rugs at least once every 12 to 18 months. And spring is the perfect time for steam- or dry-machine cleaning, which can be done either by a professional service or with rented equipment. Either way, book your slots early to beat the spring-cleaning rush.

Mattresses. Here are some unfortunate truths about mattresses, but in short, they should be flipped, rotated, and vacuumed thoroughly with an upholstery attachment at least twice a year. If you’re able, spring is also a great time to move mattresses outside for a few hours of fresh air and bright sunshine to kill off any dust mites that might have taken up residency.

Heavy bed linens. Wool blankets need professional dry cleaning, but virtually everything else can go right into the wash with a mild detergent. Note that down and other heavy comforters and quilts need front-loading machines and dryers with extra-large capacities (think, laundromat) both to ensure cleanliness and to avoid damaging the filling. Avoid using fabric softeners with down, and use dryer or tennis balls to restore maximum fluffiness.

Pillows. It’s best to wash bed pillows at least once every six months. For regularly-maintained pillows, a regular daily detergent should do the trick; for heavier soils, add a detergent booster such as OxiClean or Borax. Never use bleach or fabric softeners, which will damage the filling. Use dryer or tennis balls for fluffing.

Furniture upholstery. While regular vacuuming is best for preserving upholstered furniture, deep cleaning at least once a year is recommended. How you clean depends entirely on the material, and most sofas and chairs will be clearly labeled (usually under the cushions) with cleaning instructions. For fabrics that can withstand a little moisture, steam cleaning—often with the same machine you rent for cleaning carpets—is one great option. Sprinkling with baking soda or even a bit of rug cleaner then vacuuming after 30 or so minutes is an effective, dry alternative.

Bathroom. Check out this earlier post on how to tackle spring cleaning for bathrooms, and this one for tips on keeping things tidy under the sink. A few other things to address specifically include: de-clogging slow drains; cleaning steam exhaust fans; washing or replacing mildewed shower curtains and liners; and addressing any hard soap scum buildup on shower doors and walls.

Windows/screens. Easily one of the most time-consuming and labor-intensive cleaning jobs of spring, you will be happy you washed your windows and screens come May and June when everything’s in glorious bloom. What’s more, with the right set of tools—a low suds-ing soap; soft sponge; squeegee; and plenty of absorbent, lint-free cloths for the panes (NOT glass cleaner and paper towels); and a vacuum or garden hose for the screens—you can have a sparkling, clear view of spring’s blooming magic with less effort than you might think.

Air ducts/vents/chimneys/flues. After winter’s heavy use, spring is the perfect time to have air ducts, chimneys, and flues professionally cleaned and inspected so they will be safe and ready to use again come fall and winter.

Walls. Along with windows and screens, there’s virtually no way to get your walls washed well without some serious time and labor (unless, of course, you hire a professional service to do it for you). To determine if major wall washing is needed, remove a picture, clock, or other hanging item. If there’s a notable difference in color between exposed and non-exposed areas, it’s time for a wash. This post has tips for cleaning different types of wall coatings. In general, you’ll need a small step ladder (so you can start high and work down); a bucket with a solution of water and a pH-balanced cleaner; plus loads of clean, absorbent clothes for catching drips.

Floors. The floors in your home bear the biggest burdens of both winter (wet, salt, and grit) and early spring (mud). You last BIG task of the Spring Cleaning season should be to deep clean your floors, plus any needed stripping, waxing, and re-sealing (definitely do floors after walls). For tools needed by major floor type, check out this post.

If heavy duty Spring Cleaning just isn’t your thing, call ProCare Clean today to see what big tasks our local cleaning crews might be able to take off your hands.

The post Spring Cleaning With The Pros appeared first on ProCare Cleaning .

Wall To Wall Cleaning With Kids (The Struggle Is Real)

Mon, 04 Mar 2019 18:55:00 GMT

There is something about a pristine expanse of wall that no toddler—momentarily unsupervised with a crayon, marker or, heaven forbid, permanent marker in hand—can resist.

And, while you might be tempted to spend a few moments appreciating your pint-sized Picasso’s brilliant artwork, time is not on your side when it comes to effectively cleaning the wall.

A quick Google search yields dozens of potential solutions for removing crayon, regular-, and permanent-marker stains from walls—everything from mayonnaise to non-gel toothpaste, baking soda, hand sanitizer, vinegar, nail-polish remover, hairspray, WD40, rubbing alcohol, turpentine, pencil erasers, Magic Erasers, dry-erase markers, hair dryers, and more.

What is often left out of these articles is that some of the solutions work by being oily—meaning they lift the marks away, but can leave their own permanent, greasy stains behind. Others work by reacting chemically with the stain–meaning they can also alter your wall’s paint chemistry, leaving it tacky, discolored, or faded. OR, they work by being abrasive—meaning that, along with removing the offending marks, they might also rub away some of your wall’s paint or paper covering.

Four essential rules for reacting to a pop-up toddler art show are to:

Here’s a quick rundown of how to approach different wall finishes:

Semi- or high-gloss paints. If you’re lucky, your toddler will have chosen to draw on a door, doorframe, or molding, which are the most likely to be finished with glossier paints. These finishes are the least likely to absorb stains and least susceptible to staining from oil-based solutions or permanent discoloration from use of mild abrasives.

Eggshell and satin paints. These moderately glossy finishes are popular because they do a reasonably good job of hiding wall-surface imperfections, but are less likely than flatter finishes to absorb surface stains or to sustain damage from rigorous cleaning. While you should always start gently, if you know for sure that a wall is finished with an eggshell or satin paint, you can afford to be somewhat more aggressive with how you escalate stain removal before facing the prospect of repainting.

Matte or flat paints. Popular for their superiority at hiding wall-surface imperfections, flatter paint finishes are, unfortunately, the most stain absorbent and susceptible to damage from cleaning. Use only the mildest pH-balanced cleaning solutions and avoid heavy scrubbing with abrasives on any colored surface. This includes baking soda, white toothpaste, steel wool, abrasive sponges, and so-called magic erasers, which, while seeming soft, use microscopic glass beads to abrade stains away. Be prepared for the possibility of needing to repaint matte- or flat-finished walls.

Wall paper. Most modern wallpapers contain some vinyl or plastic-type coating that can withstand gentle washing and stain removal tactics. But, even if designated as washable, stick to only mild pH-balanced cleaners and avoid abrasives of any kind. For small marks, try a pencil or art eraser followed by judicious use of either a commercial chemical cleaner or common-household solution such as nail-polish remover, hairspray, or hand sanitizer. Especially with wall paper, test somewhere inconspicuous before using on the main stain.

The post Wall To Wall Cleaning With Kids (The Struggle Is Real) appeared first on ProCare Cleaning .

9 Cleaning Myths That Could Be Wrecking Your House

Fri, 04 Jan 2019 19:44:00 GMT

Urban myths live forever on the internet. Enter your PIN backward at an ATM and you’ll summon the police! (Cool, but not true.) The cast of “Friends” is in talks for a reunion! (For the millionth time, this ain’t happening.) Actual sharks were caught up in Hurricane Irma! ( No.) With such rampant lies in mind, is it any surprise that some of the housecleaning myths you read online are equally fake?

Put aside the bleach. Step away from the coffee grounds. And read on to uncover some of the biggest cleaning myths that could be doing more harm than good in your house.

1. Bleach is the best cleaner for your bathroom

“Bleach does not clean anything,” says Leslie Reichert , cleaning coach and author of “The Joy of Green Cleaning .”

“It does disinfect, but before you can disinfect a surface, you have to clean it with something that will lift off the dirt,” she advises. (Imagine trying to clean muddy feet with hand sanitizer, and you get the idea.)

Wipe down your bathroom with your choice of household cleaner, then you can disinfect with a diluted bleach solution, Reichert says.

What about those combo bottles of household cleaner + bleach? They’re OK, Reichert says, but less efficient.

“An item with bleach in it will probably kill some of the germs but will actually be diluted with the cleaning agent, so my personal opinion is that it’s not going to do a quality job,” she says.

“Remember, the bleach has to stay on the surface for 10 minutes to kill germs, so washing with a cleaner that has bleach in it is like trying to add hair color to your shampoo.”

2. Washing machines clean themselves

We hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it just isn’t so.

“This is a common misconception, because the purpose of a washing machine is to clean things, but they do need to be cleaned, too,” says Debra Johnson , home cleaning expert at Merry Maids.

“Many people leave their clothes in the washing machine long after the cycle’s done running, which can cause a musty smell that’s then transferred to your clothes,” she explains.

Even if you’re not guilty of that, you should still run a cleaning cycle every month to maintain your washer’s functionality and keep it smelling fresh. If your machine doesn’t have a special cycle, add a half-cup to 1 cup vinegar and 1 cup baking soda to the detergent dispenser and run a normal small cycle with hot water, Johnson advises.

3. Polish is the best way to care for wood

Commercial polishes contain a host of different ingredients, from the recognizable (beeswax) to the huh-what’s-that (polydimethylsiloxane). The good news: They shine up your wood. The bad: They can also leave a waxy buildup. So it’s lucky that you don’t really need polish.

“Most wood furniture has a finish that seals the wood, and really just needs to be kept clean and free from dust and dirt,” Reichert says.

All you need is a damp microfiber cloth. Its tightly woven fibers trap dirt without the need for an additional cleaner.

4. Too much vacuuming ruins your carpets

This myth was likely started by someone looking for a way to get out of cleaning carpets. But the truth is, “dust and dirt that gets down into the base of a carpet can do more damage than a vacuum,” Reichert says.

Of course, you will need to use care when vacuuming delicate floor coverings such as Oriental rugs and handmade carpets. And you should never leave your vacuum in one spot too long.

“The constant beating can heat up the fibers, cause them to melt, and leave a burn mark,” Reichert says.

5. Coffee grounds are a great way to clean your garbage disposal

Legend has it that coffee grounds can deodorize and clean unidentified gunk off the blades of your garbage disposal. Alas, you’re better off using it as compost in your garden.

“The grounds often clog up the drains and pipes,” Johnson warns.

A better way to clean that’s still natural: Place two to three small lemon, lime, or grapefruit slices in the garbage disposal, then turn it on and rinse with warm water, she advises. (Don’t use the full fruit—just the peels.)

Fresh out of citrus? Run warm water in your sink while pouring a half-cup baking soda down the drain.

6. Mopping just pushes dirt around

Reichert admits she’s not a fan of brooms, but don’t dis mops—so long as you invest in one made of high-quality microfiber.

“It picks up the dirt and holds onto it,” she explains. “There’s no cross-contamination because once the mop head’s dirty, you remove it and put on a clean one.”

Compare that to a traditional mop, where you’re basically “mopping up dirt, rinsing it in dirty water, then spreading that water all over the floor,” Reichert adds.

7. Hand-washing dishes is more effective than a dishwasher

Sorry to burst your soap bubble, but no matter how much time you spend scrubbing dishes, you’re still no match for a dishwasher. Its water temperature is much hotter, the dishes are exposed to soap longer, “and if you use a ‘drying cycle,’ you’re also sanitizing your dishes,” Reichert points out.

8. You need specialized cleaning products for every job

While the shelves of cleaning supplies at your grocery store certainly make it seem that way, you don’t really need an army of bottles under your kitchen sink.

“I’ve found that I just need an all-purpose cleaner for tough jobs and a few high-quality microfiber cloths ,” Reichert says. These cloths get high marks because they contain millions of tiny, plastic fibers which easily trap dirt and even bacteria.

9. Washing clothes in cold water doesn’t get them clean

Busted! Why is this myth, well, a myth? For starters, the detergent, not the water, has the biggest effect on how clean your laundry comes out, Johnson says.

And, in fact, cold water is typically better for washing clothes than hot.

“Cold water preserves clothes both in quality and color better than hot water, which can also cause certain types of stains to set in the fabric,” she says. And to top it off, using cold water saves you energy, so it’s a win all around!

The post 9 Cleaning Myths That Could Be Wrecking Your House appeared first on ProCare Cleaning .

THE 12 STAINS OF CHRISTMAS – AND HOW TO GET RID OF THEM!

Mon, 03 Dec 2018 19:22:00 GMT

It’s the festive season, and this undoubtedly means that your carpets and upholstery are likely to be hit by an array of stains.

Here are the 12 most common stains of Christmas and how to get rid of them.

RED WINE
The dreaded red wine stain needs to be treated swiftly, before the stain has a chance to set in. Your first step is to spray water on the stain, to keep it wet. Alternatively, you could pour soda or sparkling water over the carpet. Secondly, grab an old tea towel and blot up as much of the red wine as you possibly can, making sure that you don’t spread the stain.

CHOCOLATE
Got yourself a chocolate stain? Mix washing-up liquid in some warm water and using a sponge, gently work the bubbly solution into the stained area. Hopefully the stain will lift, and further attention won’t be required.

COFFEE
With all the guests likely to arrive at your home over Christmas, drinks are bound to get spilled, and coffee could be one of them. If this happens to you, grab the bicarbonate of soda and once mixed with some warm water to make a paste, apply a thick layer to the stain and leave it to work its magic. Finally, use a brush or something sturdy to work the stain out of the carpet and hopefully the brown coffee stain will have vanished.

CREAMY DIPS
Firstly, arm yourself with a paper towel and get up as much of the creamy dip as you can. Secondly, apply some rubbing alcohol onto some cotton wool and apply to the affected area. If the creamy dip has a strong odor, for example garlic, your final step is to mix water with some white wine vinegar and apply to the area.

CANDLE WAX
Ooops! Did some candle wax get on your lovely festive tablecloth? Fear not! You’ll need some ice cubes, an iron and a paper bag to remove this stain. Step 1 is to rub some ice cubes over the wax until it hardens. You will then be able to scrape up a lot of the wax quite easily. Secondly, get a paper bag and position it over the area where any stubborn wax bits remain. Using a warm iron, rub over the area and liquefy the wax, allowing it to absorb onto the bag. Thirdly, wash your table cloth as normal and watch it regain its former self.

SOOT
MOVE AWAY FROM THE WATER! Repeat – do not add water to a soot stain. The worst thing you could do here is grab a wet cloth and start scrubbing. Soot is oily and water and oil are a match made in hell. Your first step in removing a soot stain is to get a dry sponge and try to get rid of and remove as much soot as you possibly can. If this method fails, and leaves you with a few stubborn bits, some rubbing alcohol on the edge of a sponge, rubbed into the stain should be enough to get your carpet clean again.

CRANBERRY SAUCE
It wouldn’t be Christmas without cranberry sauce, but unfortunately its red color is notorious at causing stains. After removing the excess sauce that has spilled, your next step is to mix some dishwasher liquid and warm water and apply to the affected area, using a sponge to blot up the liquid which should hopefully be lifting the stain. Keep repeating this process until the stain is gone.

TREE SAP
Christmas is over, you’re throwing out the tree, and there it is, a tree sap stain. Before you attempt to treat the stain, make sure that the tree sap is dry. If it is, you should be able to easily pick it off the carpet. To treat any that is left behind, water mixed with some dish washing liquid should be enough to sponge and clear up the rest of the stain.

DIRT & MUD
Prevention is better than cure, so make sure that you’ve armed your front door with quality door mats. This will help keep dirt, mud and leaves from entering further into your home. However, if you do find that guests have brought this mess indoors and onto your carpet areas, in most cases, a quality vacuum cleaner should be enough to get your carpet clean again.

TREE WATER
Using a solution of vinegar and water to neutralize the browning effect caused by spilled water from the Christmas tree, should be enough. However, if the water was rusty due to the tree stand being metal, the stain will be more stubborn, and we recommend consulting a professional or your carpet manufacturer for advice.

CHRISTMAS PUDDING
Crumbly, sticky and sweet, some mice pie or Christmas pudding landing on your carpet could be very messy, especially if there’s brandy sauce involved, however fear not, a solution of water and washing up liquid should be enough to get rid of the stain. Simply use a sponge to wipe the stain away.

GRAVY
Like cranberry sauce, a gravy stain that has dripped, splashed or run onto your carpet can be treated in a similar way. Again, it’s your trusty mixture of water and washing up liquid that will hopefully save the day here. After wiping up any excess gravy with a cloth, simply blot the stain away with the water mixture. When the stain appears to have been lifted, sponge the area with cold water and dab dry with a clean cloth or sponge.

For more advice on treating carpets, contact us at ProCare Clean in Vancouver WA today .

The post THE 12 STAINS OF CHRISTMAS – AND HOW TO GET RID OF THEM! appeared first on ProCare Cleaning .

CO-WORKERS MAKING YOU SICK?

Mon, 05 Nov 2018 19:20:00 GMT

Your co-worker is doubled over with another coughing fit. Should you be worried?

After all, anyone who works in an office knows just how hard is to stay healthy during cold and flu season. It certainly doesn’t help when co-workers show up sniffing and sneezing. Fortunately, coughing or sneezing does not necessarily pose a high risk of contagion for others. That said, there are certain hygiene measures you should take to avoid catching whatever is going around.

The sad truth is that most people do not wash their hands nearly often enough. And when they do, they rarely do it properly. The average person washes his or her hands for only 10 seconds. Although this can eliminate up to 90% of germs, it leaves 10% of the bacteria behind to grow and double in number in less than 20 minutes . Within 80 minutes , the number is back to what it was before hand washing.

Remember that people mainly spread germs by touching things with their hands, and that touching one’s face plays a central role in this transmission. The average adult touches his or her face (eyes, nose and mouth) 18.5 times every hour! Hence the reason why it’s so important to wash your hands all the time when the flu or a cold is going around.

During cold and flu season, wash your hands frequently (every two or three hours) with soap and hot water and scrub vigorously, or use a hand sanitizer. You can also clean your work station once a week with disinfecting wipes. If you’re sick, avoid touching things as much as possible to prevent contaminating your workplace. If you have to sneeze or blow your nose, use tissue paper and immediately put it in the garbage.

Can you name the most germ-laden items in your office?

Some of them include the sink taps and microwave and refrigerator door handles in the employee break room, the faucets on water coolers and the buttons on vending machines. Avoid touching these items as much as possible during cold and flu season.

But one of the most overlooked items has to be computer keyboards. Not only does your keyboard harbour all those lost breakfast crumbs, but countless germs as well. Which is pretty gross. Regularly cleaning and disinfecting these and other frequently touched surfaces such as work desks and tables, elevator buttons, photocopiers and doorknobs will help to reduce the risk of infection. If someone at the office is sick, these surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected even more often.

And while you’re at it, steer clear of any utensils or dishes that have been used by a sick co-worker; they should go in the dishwasher or be thoroughly hand washed with soap and hot water before being reused.

The bad news is that 7.5 million Americans get the flu each year. The good news is that you can significantly reduce your chances of becoming the next “victim” with these daily preventive measures. Remember to wash your hands well and often – and give sick co-workers a wide berth. And if despite doing everything right you still manage to come down with the flu, stay at home so that you don’t spread it to your other co-workers!

The post CO-WORKERS MAKING YOU SICK? appeared first on ProCare Cleaning .

Your Complete Guide To Living Room Fall Cleaning

Mon, 08 Oct 2018 19:46:00 GMT

Most hard-winter folks know the routine of preparing their home’s exterior for cold months, but did you know that your interior needs some pre-winter TLC, too? Do you know what all should be on your living room’s fall cleaning checklist to make it a cozy and healthy environment? If not, here’s a comprehensive living room fall cleaning guide that’ll help you get everything covered thoroughly and expediently.

Why Add Your Living Room To Your Fall Maintenance List?

Living in a harsh winter state, such as Vancouver, Washington, means that common living spaces get tremendous use during winter months. Living rooms become gathering places for almost every family and social activity as the weather gets too cold to spend much time outdoors.

Before sealing up your home to keep the cold out during the winter months and focusing on seasonal Thanksgiving, and Christmas decorations, it’s important to give your living room a deep cleaning to help ensure the increased number of hours being spent come winter are comfortable and healthy for your family and guests.

Everything You Need To Know: Fall Living Room Cleaning Checklist And Tips

Fall maintenance can be a tedious and daunting process without a plan. So, we’ve created a checklist and tip list to help you get the job done as efficiently and effectively as possible. Ready to get started?

Tip #1 : Start high and finish low. As you go through the checklist, you’ll notice that each area is listed in an order from higher points, such as ceiling fans, to lower points in the home, such as floors.

Why?

Cleaning will unsettle a lot of dirt and dust that will fall downward and resettle. Cleaning from top to bottom allows you to capture the stray debris as it resettles from each task.

1. Heating Vents And Fireplaces

If your heating vents are in the ceiling, you’ll want to start there. While these vents keep your home nice and warm, improperly cleaned vents circulate dander, dust, and other air pollutants throughout your home. This can wreak havoc on your sinuses and allergies and be particularly unhealthy for those with asthma and other chronic respiratory issues. The same is true for improperly cleaned fireplaces and soot.

Cleaning Your HVAC Vents

Cleaning Your Fireplace

Leave heavy-duty cleaning to the professionals to prevent a nightmarish mess and possible injury, but you can DIY seasonally clean some areas of a completely cooled fireplace.

2. Ceiling Fans, Light Fixtures, And Lamps

Ceiling fans are actually an easy clean, or at least easy compared to the fireplace, right? Again, think safety first if it requires climbing. Ready, set, and clean.

Blades

You’re dealing with electricity here. So always flip the switch off and cut the power to the fan at the breaker box before starting.

Tip #2: Switch the direction of the blades to spin clockwise, which will help heat circulate better during wintertime.

Globes And Fixtures

Tip #3: Cleaning globes and chandlers can be done without removing each element, but it means more time balancing on a ladder and greater risk to your safety. Whether using the disassemble or leave in place method, both work best as a two-man job so that supplies and elements can be passed back and forth without you climbing up and down multiple times.

Lampshades

Lampshades come in an array of fabrics, plastics, and parchments. Which type you have dictates how it’s cleaned. You’ll always want to consult the manufacturer’s instructions first, but here’s a quick how to guide to give you a general direction for each type.

Tip #4: When working with paper-based lampshades, always wear gloves to prevent the natural oils on your hands from staining the lampshade.

3. Walls, Crown Molding, Shelving, and Wall Adornments

While it can be hard to see on dark-paint walls and printed wallpaper, dust accumulates quickly on unattended walls. Shelving and wall adornments are also heavy dust collectors. Here’s how to get your walls and wall features cleaned up for the winter months:

4. Upholstery And Blinds

Upholstered surfaces and blinds are another big dust collector. Give them a gentle pat in sunlight and you’re likely to see the tiny particles floating in abundance through the air. It’s these particles that are responsible for many indoor allergies, which can cause sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, coughing, and sinus drainage. The last thing you want is to be trapped in an enclosed house for the winter with these allergens in abundance.

5. Area Rugs, Carpet, Hard Flooring, And Baseboards

You’ve made it to the floor, meaning the living room fall cleaning checklist has almost been completed. Giving flooring that deep cleaning now is so important because you’ve unsettled all the dust above and now it’s landed where you can complete the removal process. Plus, if you have pets, you likely already know how heat and pet odors don’t go so well together in enclosed spaces. Remember, once winter gets here, opening windows and taking rugs outside will likely be a no-go. So, now is the time to get things finished up.

Baseboards

Area Rugs And Carpet

Clean your carpeting according to the manufacturer’s recommendations for pile, fabric, and textures.

Hard Flooring

Clean your hard flooring according to the manufacturer’s recommendations for tile, wood, laminate, etc.

Tip # 5: Because there are so many different types, textures, fabrics, special considerations, and other facets of flooring, there can be a lot of doubt and inability to adequately DIY clean flooring. It’s always best to call in the professionals if there’s even the slightest doubt that a DIY cleaning process could ruin your valuable flooring.

Do You Need Professional Help With Your Living Room Fall Cleaning Checklist?

Your home’s cleanliness is a major component to your health and comfort at all times, but this is especially true in winter months where fresh airflow is limited and rooms are congested with people congregating.

Whether you need a fall deep cleaning, routine cleaning services, or specialty services for hard to manage areas like flooring and lighting, ProCare Cleaning in Vancouver, Washington can help you get the job done. Family owned and operated, ProCare Cleaning only uses high-quality, safe, and environmentally-friendly cleaning supplies and has the expertise in service to get your home cleaned right and timely.

The post Your Complete Guide To Living Room Fall Cleaning appeared first on ProCare Cleaning .

8 Cleaning Chores We All Forget That Make a Big Difference

Mon, 03 Sep 2018 19:27:00 GMT

Cleaning the house is a must before guests arrive. Yet while we’ll bet your countertops sparkle and your floors gleam, there are a few cleaning tasks that probably fell off your to-do list … and trust us, they make a huge difference!

So before you hang up your mop and duster, check this list twice to see if you’ve overlooked some of these chores. Give them some elbow grease, and they can ensure that your home looks, smells, and otherwise comes across as fantastic to all who set foot inside.

1. Range hood

Consider the purpose of the hood fan in the first place—to collect grease. Oh, right. Gross. That’s why the hood above your stove needs to be cleaned at least twice a year, says Meg Roberts , president of the housecleaning service Molly Maid.

Clean it fast: Pull the wire-mesh grate filter out from beneath the hood; soak it in warm, soapy water; rinse and re-insert, Roberts recommends. Then use a gentle cleaner on the outside of the hood to clean any splatters.

2. Tea kettle

Who’s looking at your kettle? Why, only everyone who enters your kitchen. Take a gander at your gleaming stove and counters, and you’re bound to notice how unsightly your dingy kettle looks, caked in grease after years of neglect.

Clean it fast: Shine the outside with a paste of baking soda and just enough white vinegar to create a thick consistency. Using a sponge, scrub until the stains disappear.

While you’re at it, consider cleaning up the inside of the kettle, too, suggests Derek Hales of the house-cleaning site Modern Castle. “If you have hard water, you may be shocked at what’s inside your kettle,” he says, describing a probable build-up of sediment that’s eventually going to float around in your water. Remove it by boiling one part water with one part white vinegar and giving your closed kettle a good swish. Rinse with cool water, and let air-dry for a kettle that sparkles inside and out.

3. Sliding door and window tracks

You’ve squeegeed those windows and doors and maybe even washed the screens. But a sparkling clean window or door looks out of place if the track is full of grease and grime, notes Roberts.

Clean it fast: First, vacuum loose dust and debris with the brush attachment, and then sprinkle baking soda on the track, she advises. Pour vinegar over the track to cause foaming and bubbling (you remember the volcano science experiment?). Let it sit for 10 minutes, then scrub loosened gunk with an old toothbrush. If any debris remains, wrap a damp rag around a butter knife to guide it into the small areas.

4. Light fixtures

Is your lighting better for setting a mood than actually illuminating anything? You’ll be surprised at how bright your lights will shine once you’ve cleaned them, says Elizabeth Dodson , co-founder of HomeZada.

“Think of cleaning your lights like cleaning your windows,” she explains. “When your windows are super clean, all the sunlight streams in; just like there will be more light in your home from the bulbs when the fixtures are clean.”

Clean it fast: Even gently wiping the dust off your light bulbs will create more light, but a thorough cleaning is best. If your light casings are hard to remove, wiping them with a glass cleaner should be enough to allow your light bulbs to shine through, she says. But if you can remove your fixtures, it’s even better to wash them in your sink with soap and water. The dishwasher is an option, but proceed with caution if you have silver- or gold-plated fixtures, since the dishwasher can mar the finish. If you do choose to put plain fixtures in the dishwasher, run them through solo on the gentle cycle.

5. Ceiling fans

If you haven’t cleaned your ceiling fans lately, then dust is probably flying around your house with each revolution.

Clean it fast: Slide a pillow case around each blade, and then wipe; the dust will be trapped inside the case. Repeat for each blade, then empty the pillow case outside and wash, suggests Roberts. Here’s more on how to clean ceiling fans.

6. Floor-tile grout

The grout on your tiled kitchen counter or shower is likely to be scrubbed pretty regularly, but what about your poor floors? You probably haven’t given them much attention, other than a surface sweep and mop. To check if your grout has gotten a little gross, take a look at a section of the floor that gets minimal foot traffic. If it’s a different shade, you have some work to do, says Hales.

Clean it fast : Start by applying a paste made of three parts baking soda and one part water, then spray a solution of one part water and one part white vinegar onto the baking soda. Let it sit for a few minutes and then use a brush to scrub the grout lines clean. (Note: If you have natural stone, consult the manufacturer, as vinegar can damage it.)

7. Garbage cans

You don’t even want to think about the germs that might be festering on your kitchen and bathroom garbage cans. It’s smart to use a general surface cleaner and disinfectant from time to time while cleaning the house, but you’ll want to occasionally do a more thorough job, suggests Caitlin Hoff , health and safety investigator for ConsumerSafety.org.

Clean it fast: If it isn’t too cold out, take the cans outside, squirt in some cleaner, and give them a good spray with your garden hose. “That gets both the inside and outside germ-free without soaking your kitchen or bathroom in the process,” says Hoff, who often cleans hers while washing the car. But if it is too cold out, stick to your bathtub.

8. Cleaning tools

When was the last time you washed your broom? Many people neglect to clean their cleaning supplies and end up spreading more dirt and germs with each use, says Hoff.

Clean it fast: To clean your broom, first gently hit the bristles of the broom against a tree, driveway, or porch railing to dislodge loose debris, then soak the broom head in a bucket of water with a bit of dish soap for about an hour before rinsing and letting it air dry, Hoff recommends. For your mop, see if there are cleaning instructions; some can be laundered in the washing machine. Otherwise, soak your mop head in a bucket of warm water with either a cup of bleach or vinegar, and then rinse and dry thoroughly before use.

The post 8 Cleaning Chores We All Forget That Make a Big Difference appeared first on ProCare Cleaning .

How to Wash Pillows: A Chore You Should Do Multiple Times a Year

Thu, 02 Aug 2018 19:32:00 GMT

Need a compelling reason to read up on how to wash pillows? This should do the trick: After two years, dead skin cells, bugs, dust mites, and their droppings make up one-third of your pillow’s weight.

“Washing your pillows is essential,” agrees Chris Brantner , founder of SleepZoo.com , a site that emphasizes the importance of sleep health. “You should be washing them every quarter, or three months.”

Granted, the pillow washing process can be mystifying. Should you stuff your high-end memory foam pillow into a washing machine? Do down pillows need to be dried on the highest setting? Can all pillows be cleaned together? (The answers are no, no, and definitely not.)

While you should always consult the care instructions from your pillow’s manufacturer, these vital cleaning tips from pillow experts will help you rest a little easier.

How to wash down alternative or polyester pillows

These synthetic pillows tend to be the least expensive, which explains why they also have the least amount of staying power. The life span of a cheap pillow is around 12 to 18 months. A pillow protector can help you get to the far end of that estimate, but two to four times a year, you should still clean it somehow.

To check if your pillow can endure the washer, “fold it in half,” advises Dean Davies , a professional mattress and upholstery cleaner at Fantastic Services. “If it doesn’t come back to its original shape immediately, it’s very likely that the pillow won’t survive the cycle.”

If it does snap back, roll it up, using the longer side as a base, then place rubber bands on both ends and the middle. Doing so will minimize the synthetic fibers from clumping in the washer, Davies says.

Wash with mild detergent and warm or cool water, then tumble dry on the lowest heat cycle.

How to wash down or feather pillows

To preserve the life span of your soft, squishy pillow, “cover it with a pillow protector that you wash frequently—at least biweekly,” says Michelle Fishberg , co-founder and CEO of Slumbr, a sleep wellness company that matches pillows to sleep styles. She recommends washing down or feather pillows only twice a year.

Never dry-clean down and feather pillows, Fishberg says. Instead, run them through your washer on a delicate cycle. (Wash two at a time so you don’t unbalance your machine.) Use a mild detergent, but skip fabric softener and bleach. Afterward, dry on a medium heat setting.

“You’ll have to keep drying your pillow past the point where it seemingly feels dry, as the down and feathers can clump up inside,” Fishberg says. Avoid scorching by removing the pillow from your dryer every half-hour. Fluff and allow to cool slightly, then pop it back in.

To maximize fluffiness and prevent the down from sticking together, “add a few wool laundry balls or clean tennis balls to your dryer,” suggests Fishberg. (You can place the balls in a clean sock and tie it up to keep the noise to a minimum.)

Between washings, freshen up your pillow by placing it in the dryer on medium heat for 15 minutes. “Doing so will help kill dust mites and keep it fluffy,” Fishberg says.

How to wash latex and memory foam pillows

Most foam pillows come with a cover, which you should wash and dry two to three times a month, Fishberg says. As for the pillow underneath? It’s made to be hypoallergenic and mold-resistant, so washing it once or twice a year should be adequate.

When the time to clean rolls around, “avoid the washing machine,” says Brantner. The mechanical motion could destroy the shape of your pillow. Instead, submerge your pillow in lukewarm water with a small amount of gentle (preferably unscented) detergent. Gently squeeze out the water, then rinse several times until the water runs clear.

The same kid-glove treatment applies for drying your latex or foam pillow. Let it air-dry, a process that could take up to 24 hours, Brantner says. Set it in front of a fan to speed up the process.

Other cleaning methods

If your pillow isn’t a likely candidate for the washer, fill a spray bottle with a solution that’s one part vodka (any cheap brand will do) and three parts water, suggests Jim Ireland , owner and founder of White Glove Elite, a New York City cleaning agency. Spray your pillow liberally, then allow it to air-dry, ideally in the sun. (You may need to mix up a stronger solution to get out tough odors.)

It may sound strange, but it’s effective. “Alcohol is a powerful sterilizer and antimicrobial,” Ireland explains.

Still, when the day comes—and it will—that you notice your pillow’s taken on a yellow tinge or grown unmistakably lumpy, “it’s definitely past its prime,” Fishberg says.

No washing—or vodka— in the world will restore it. You’ll sleep easier by splurging for a new (clean) pillow altogether.

The post How to Wash Pillows: A Chore You Should Do Multiple Times a Year appeared first on ProCare Cleaning .

7 Things in Your House That Are Dirtier Than Your Toilet

Mon, 02 Jul 2018 19:35:00 GMT

You wouldn’t dare drink out of your toilet, but surprisingly, it’s not the grossest spot in your house. After all, it gets regularly disinfected (we certainly hope).

Yep, that’s right—there are potentially bigger, more disgusting threats to your health scattered throughout your home. And we’ve got more bad news for you: You’ve probably already touched a few today.

1. Your carpet

Your carpet—as well as any soft furnishing, like an area rug—acts like an air filter, trapping dust, dirt, and other allergens.

That’s great, except “carpets are so effective that they can hold approximately 200,000 bacteria per square inch,” notes Jotham Hatch , national training director of carpet and upholstery cleaning service Chem-Dry.

And if you wear shoes in your home, it gets worse: You could be tracking in the likes of E. coli bacteria , which can cause some nasty stomach problems.

How to clean: Vacuum three times a week using a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter, especially during the peak cold and flu season, Hatch suggests. But to truly gut the bacteria hiding in your carpet fibers, you’ll need to have your floor coverings cleaned by a professional—ideally, every six months. And please, take off your shoes.

2. Your kitchen sink

Your sink’s like the Grand Central Station of germs. Think of all the bacteria traveling from your dirty plates (and your dirty hands). But the biggest reason the sink makes this list could be your kitchen sponge. A single cubic centimeter on one may be packed with as much bacteria as there are people on Earth … multiplied seven times. Gulp.

How to clean: Keep your sink free of debris by putting leftovers directly into the garbage or (better!) a compost bin, suggests Debra Johnson , a home cleaning expert for Merry Maids. Rinse the sink with warm water and dishwashing liquid after each meal. Don’t forget to wash the faucet and handles. Sanitize your sink afterward with bleach. And replace your sponge every week. (Putting it in the microwave or dishwasher may just encourage more bacteria.)

3. Your doorknobs

A study by Michigan State University researchers found that only 5% of people who use the bathroom wash their hands thoroughly and long enough to kill germs that can cause illness. And those little bugs aren’t messing around, either. Another study out of the University of Arizona found that the bacteria from just one infected doorknob could travel to as many as 60% of the people in an office in under four hours. This is especially comforting during flu season, right?

How to clean: “Frequently use antibacterial wipes to wipe down doorknobs,” says Anthony Truong , owner of Two Maids & A Mop, a residential cleaning company in Orlando, FL. And while you’re at it, do the light switches.

4. Your coffee maker

You might have heard that coffee has some antibacterial properties. But don’t get too comfortable.

“It’s not enough to eliminate all germs that build up within your coffee maker,” warns Morgan Statt , a health and safety investigator at ConsumerSafety.org.

Good for you if you regularly clean your carafe, but don’t stop there.

“The water reservoir and piping system are prime spots for bacteria to grow since they’re often damp and dark,” Statt explains.

How to clean: On a regular basis, clean the removable parts of your coffee maker with soap and hot water and then let air-dry. Then once a month, mix one part vinegar with one part water and run it through your machine.

“The vinegar will be able to fully disinfect and remove any buildup,” Statt says.

5. Your bath towels

Bacteria thrive in wet, moist areas—and for that reason, they especially love the towels in your bathroom. According to research from the University of Arizona, nearly 90% of the towels that you use to dry your hands or body after a shower could be contaminated with coliform bacteria, which is found in, yes, fecal matter.

How to clean: In a perfect world, you should change your towels every two days and wash them in hot water to kill off all the gunk. It sounds exhausting, but hey, it’s better than living with the knowledge that you’re wiping fecal matter all over yourself!

“If you don’t want to frequently change them out, use paper hand towels instead,” Truong suggests.

6. Your shower curtain

Shower liners are primo spots for germs, especially if your shower is right next to the toilet. (Each time you flush, a plume of bacteria is released, and it’s gotta go somewhere.) Other bacteria swoop in through your water or plumbing system. That “soap scum” you see is really a booming community of microorganisms.

Oh, and that black lining along the curtain? “It means you have millions of mold spores near you every time you bathe,” Statt says. Calgon, take us away…

How to clean: Use a bleach-based spray to clean the curtain, rod, and rings. If yours is too far gone, buy a new one. Then, to delay the buildup of grossness, always keep the curtain closed, even when you’re not showering, Statt says. Doing so will prevent water from getting trapped in the folds and causing more bacteria to grow.

7. Your remote control

Grimy hands. Cheetos dust. Baby drool. We probably don’t have to tell you what you already know: Your remote control is all kinds of nasty. In fact, a TV remote’s been shown to be the dirtiest item in a hospital room.

How to clean: Dab some rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball and do a deep clean, including between the buttons, Truong advises. Then, use a disinfectant wipe to clean your remote once a week. And maybe stop with the Cheetos.

The post 7 Things in Your House That Are Dirtier Than Your Toilet appeared first on ProCare Cleaning .

How To Get Rid Of Mold In Your Home

Sun, 10 Jun 2018 18:14:00 GMT

Mold grows from spores; spores exist everywhere. While fungi have lead to some beneficial elements, most mold at home will lead to breathing issues and signal damage to the home itself.

Mold or Mildew?

Mildew is the most likely type of mold to show up in your home. It loves warm, moist surfaces like those found in bathrooms, fabrics and books stored in basements. “Young” mildew looks like gray or white powder that progresses to black or brown “dirt.” If you want to verify what you’re looking at, swab a section and dip it into some bleach. If there’s no change in coloration after a few minutes, you’ve just found dirt; if it lightens or dissolves, mildew is afoot. If you catch a whiff of something rank, you’ve probably got a strong saturation of mold somewhere nearby. Check your hamper, crawlspaces and even your carpets for mold.

To review, all mildew is mold; some mold is mildew. Unchecked mildew discolors the surfaces its rest upon before eventually transitioning into outright damage. While mildew sounds bad, there are worse molds that can mess up your home. If you notice black or green patches of fuzzy, slimy gunk or that your drywall, or its underlying wood, is structurally compromised, you’ve stumbled upon rotten materials that need to be removed with extreme haste. Once you get rid of the rot, don’t forget to do something about the mold that caused the problem!

So who do I call?

If you find the problem early, you can probably solve it yourself. Professionals should only be contacted if you have extensive or long-neglected molding; anything bigger than nine square feet. Some molds are extremely toxic and even lesser-strength molds are problems for anyone with the allergies or troubled breathing. Destroying massive mold colonies involves heavy-duty chemicals and knowing how to properly dispose the compromised materials. If you’re unsure about your situation, ask the local public health department, they might refer you to an expert.

Tools of the Trade

While you can use any of these items to deal with your mold issues. it is important that you avoiding rinsing immediately after killing the mold; leaving a bit behind helps prevent resurgence.

How do I remove mold from…

Mold is an unpleasant-looking health hazard that can grow out of hand if unchecked. Fortunately, a regular routine of checks, followed by early treatment, can make a world of difference in how it affects you. By following the tips and advice we’ve given you, you should have no problem with most mold problems you come across, no matter where they manage to grow.

The post How To Get Rid Of Mold In Your Home appeared first on ProCare Cleaning .

How to Clean Ceiling Fans No Matter How Dusty They Get

Fri, 04 May 2018 19:40:00 GMT

How to clean ceiling fans may not be a question high on your priority list. The fans are so high up on the ceiling, and when the blades are spinning, no one can tell anyway, right? The truth, however, is that the blades are probably coated in a bunch of dust, grease, and other gunk you really don’t want hanging over your head—literally or figuratively.

As onerous as the task may seem, it’s really not that difficult to clean your ceiling fans if you know what you’re doing. Here are some tips and tricks that will have your ceiling fans so clean, you may feel compelled to turn them off when company comes over, just so they’ll be noticed.

Bonus: Some of these techniques don’t even require a ladder. (You’re welcome.)

How to clean ceiling fans with a pillowcase

If you can reach your ceiling fan blades safely with a ladder or step stool, then this is an amazingly simple way to get the job done. All you need is an old pillowcase.

Just put the open end of the case over a blade (as if the blade were a pillow) and wipe both the bottom and the top of the blade as you pull the case toward you. All the dust and grime are captured right in the pillowcase. Simple but brilliant, right?

You can also spray the pillowcase with a cleaning solution for extra cleansing power. It’s a neat and clean way to scrub without sending dust and grime flying. However, you still may want to wear a mask or handkerchief over your mouth and nose to avoid ingesting any dust.

Tip: Don’t forget to empty the dust from the pillowcase before putting it in your washing machine, or you could wind up with a different kind of mess.

How to clean ceiling fans you can’t reach

If you can’t safely reach your ceiling fans, you’ll need a tool to help you get the job done. A one-armed duster ($10.99, amazon.com ) that extends several feet high will allow you to reach those grimy blades without having to stand on an unsteady ladder. Want to make your job even easier? Look for a duster with a hole in the middle that lets you slide it right over the blades so both the top and bottom get cleaned at once. This will send some dust dropping below, so make sure you cover any furniture before doing so and wear protective gear over your nose and mouth.

For more tips on cleaning your ceiling fans with these techniques, watch this video:

How to clean ceiling fans caked in grease

If you have a fan in your kitchen, chances are it may be coated with grease in addition to dust and dirt. This makes the job a bit more challenging, but not impossible. The most thorough way to clean the fan is to remove the blades and wash them individually. All fans are different, but the blades can usually be removed by just taking out a few screws that hold them in place.

Once you have removed all of the blades, wash them in your sink with dish soap, dry them with a microfiber cloth, and screw them back into place. If your fan has a light, you can remove the dirty glass covering and wash it the same way.

Use a long-arm duster sprayed with a cleaning solution to wipe down blades that are too high to reach.

The post How to Clean Ceiling Fans No Matter How Dusty They Get appeared first on ProCare Cleaning .

15 House Cleaning Secrets from the Professionals

Tue, 10 Apr 2018 21:07:00 GMT

Ever wonder how professional house cleaners make a house look picture-perfect and smell like a dream in just a few hours?

15 of the most useful cleaning secrets from the pros

Some of these tips are surprising, and all of them will help you streamline your cleaning routine and enjoy your home more.

1. Ignore the clutter.
This secret might surprise you, but think of it from a professional cleaner’s point of view. Their job isn’t to sort your mail or organize your kids’ toys. When it’s time to clean, tackle your house the way a pro would. Quickly tidy your paperwork into piles, toss shoes into closets, and put small objects into baskets for later organization. That way, you can clean your surfaces and floors properly. Then, pick a different day for cutting your clutter.

2. Start at the top.
In each room, start at the highest point, such as dusting ceiling fans or wiping high shelves. Work your way down, sweeping any crumbs or dust onto the floor. Go ahead and knock dust and debris loose from curtains, lampshades, throw pillows, and other soft surfaces. As you work your way down, all the dust, pet hair, and debris will land on the floor to be vacuumed up at the end. Many professional cleaners also recommend you follow a cleaning path : top to bottom, back to front, and in slices from left to right. By following the path systematically, you reduce the time you spend looking around and deciding what to clean next. Instead, you just keep moving ahead on the path and you never have to go back to an area.

3. Work fast.
Professional cleaners work on a schedule, cleaning quickly and efficiently to get the entire house done. With practice and focus, you, too, can streamline your tasks. Some cleaners even claim you can do an entire house in an hour! While that might only be true for the tiniest of homes, there’s no doubt that it’s easy to accidentally waste time and burn out before the job is done. If you’d like to speed up your system, follow this plan for how to clean your house fast with smart, timesaving tips.

4. Simplify your cleaning products.
You don’t really need a cabinet bursting with a different product for each cleaning task. Many basic cleaning products can be used in a wide range of situations. For example, vinegar is an inexpensive, natural solution that can be used to cut grease, disinfect surfaces, shine glass, clear drains, clean toilets, remove stains, and even polish furniture. You will probably need more than just vinegar, but some professionals rely on as few as three basic cleaning products to tackle the entire house. Want to try it? Reduce your cleaning arsenal to one cleaning/degreasing solution, a spray bottle of white vinegar, and a wood cleaner such as lemon oil.

5. Use this miracle cleaning solution.
Even if you reduced your cleaning products down to just a few versatile cleansers, you may still encounter some tough cleaning jobs as you work in your home. That’s where a simple, natural solution made from vinegar and baking soda comes in handy. Even the pros will admit it’s kind of fun to watch these two household ingredients foam up when they’re combined, but the real miracle takes place when you put the solution to work. Use the vinegar and baking soda combo to tackle some of the toughest cleaning jobs in the house. It works beautifully on everything from scorched pans to shower drains.

6. Use the right tools for dusting.
If you’ve ever tried to dust your entire house with a couple of rags, you know they’re not quite up to the job. One swipe and you’ve got a dirty cloth and a lot of dust flying around. Instead, invest in the proper tools for dusting, and you’ll save time and effort while vanquishing the dust in your home. Get started with a long-handled bendable duster that helps you reach ceiling fans, light fixtures, tops shelves, and other spots up high. A soft-bristled paintbrush makes a perfect duster for delicate antiques and trinkets. Don’t forget that the brush attachment on your vacuum is handy for dusting, too, especially hard-to-reach spots like air vents.

7. Don’t ignore the dreaded window and shower tracks.
It’s amazing how quickly window and shower tracks fill up with dust and gunk. The good news is that you don’t need an expensive cleaning product or a lot of time to clean this tough area. Make window and shower tracks part of your regular cleaning routine by applying a solution of baking soda and vinegar. Then, an old toothbrush, rag, and butter knife are all the tools you’ll need to clean window and shower tracks like a pro.

8. Steam clean your microwave.
No matter how many times you remind your family to cover dishes before microwaving, someone always forgets. Next thing you know, you’ve got a microwave splattered with dried-on food that’s disgusting to look at and hard to clean. Never fear, because professional cleaners know the quick tricks for cleaning your microwave that save time and elbow grease. First of all, steam it! Fill a bowl with water and add a little vinegar and wedges of lemon or other citrus fruit. Put the bowl in the microwave and heat until the solution boils and fills the microwave with steam. Don’t open the door, but let the microwave rest for a few minutes. Finally, simply wipe the inside with a microfiber cloth or paper towel, and watch the food particles come right off. Your microwave will look and smell fresh and clean.

9. Go ahead, clean it in the dishwasher.
Don’t waste a lot of time soaking and scrubbing small household items like soap dishes, toothbrush organizers, sink drains, and stove burner liners. Instead, put them on the top shelf of the dishwasher and let it do the work for you. Just about anything made of hard plastic, glass, metal, or ceramic can be run safely through the dishwasher. Wondering what else you can clean in there? Pros say hairbrushes, pet dishes, gardening tools, plastic baby toys, refrigerator shelves, and lots of other items can be cleaned in the dishwasher . We don’t know about you, but we’re now looking all over the house for more stuff to load up and clean fast.

10. Clean the bathtub smarter, not harder.
When it comes to cleaning the tub or shower stall , a little patience is a big virtue. Start by applying a thin, even layer of your bathroom cleaning product all over the tub or shower stall. You don’t even need a specialty bathroom product for this; a basic degreasing cleanser will work great if you give it time to soak. While you clean other areas, the cleanser will work its magic dissolving soap scum and body oils. After waiting several minutes, simply scrub and rinse. To leave the tub and shower stall sparkling like a pro would, finish the job by applying a fine mist of vinegar and wiping dry with a microfiber cloth.

11. Vanquish unsightly toilet stains.
The first tip a professional cleaner will share is to clean your toilets regularly before stains build up. If you’re too late for that advice, you might think you need bleach or other strong cleansers, along with a stiff toilet brush. However, you can save time and effort—and get a really clean toilet—if you follow these steps to clean toilet stains like a pro. Want a sneak peak? Vinegar-soaked paper towels and patience are the key ingredients.

12. Vacuum everywhere.
If you thought the vacuum was only good for carpets, think again. Professional cleaners know that a timesaving secret is to vacuum every floor in the house, including bathrooms and the kitchen. It’s the fastest and most efficient way to pick up dust, hair, and all the little bits of debris that like to hide in corners. After vacuuming, go ahead and mop all the hardwood and tile floors, starting with the furthest corner and working your way back to the door.

13. Use microfiber cloths for everything.
To clean like a pro, it’s worth laying in a large supply of microfiber cloths. These multitasking miracle workers can be used on nearly every surface in the house. Better yet, they reduce the amount of cleaning products you’ll need to use, and they leave surfaces dry and clean with a minimum of wiping. Some professionals believe so strongly in the power of microfiber cloths that they only use water or vinegar to clean many surfaces. There’s simply no other cleaning tool so versatile and effective.

14. Leave every surface sparkling.
When you invest your time and hard work into cleaning your home, you deserve the reward of a living space that looks, feels, and smells wonderful. Professional house cleaners know how important it is that a house literally gleams, which is why they always end cleaning jobs with this bright trick. Simply spray a little vinegar onto a microfiber cloth, and give every surface one final wipe as you finish each room. Don’t forget appliances, doorknobs, mirrors, windowsills, and baseboards.

15. Clean regularly.
When you ask professional house cleaners for their top tip, this is the piece of advice most of them would share. Clean often. In fact, the pros recommend you set a regular cleaning day—once a week is most common—and set aside enough time to clean the entire house in one go. There are two benefits to cleaning regularly. First, you get to enjoy the fruit of your labor—there’s nothing like relaxing in a fresh, clean house. Second, you’ll save work in the end. It’s a lot easier to clean a mostly clean house than it is to wait until you are faced with a dirty disaster. Cleaning regularly means there isn’t time for soap residue to build up, dust to collect in difficult-to-reach spots, and other problems to accumulate.

Craving a clean home? Do it yourself or call in the professionals.
Cleaning your house doesn’t have to be a dreaded chore. By following professional tips and staying on top of the tasks, you can tackle the job confidently. Living in a clean and organized home really does make life better. With a clean home, you’ll invite people over more often, enjoy your downtime, and take pride in your surroundings.

Of course, it can be tough to find the time and energy to keep your home as clean as you would like. When you need help, don’t hesitate to call in the professionals to get your house fresh and sparkling. Although there can be satisfaction in cleaning your own home, it’s also a magical feeling to come home to beautifully, professionally cleaned rooms.

Ever been curious how much it costs to have your home professionally cleaned? Call your local cleaning professionals, ProCare Cleaning, for a quote. They would love to tell you all about their services. You won’t need any more secrets when you have the pros cleaning your home for you!

The post 15 House Cleaning Secrets from the Professionals appeared first on ProCare Cleaning .