8 Tips for Keeping Your Home Neat
Everybody wants a neat home. You want it to look like you take pride in your home, which you do. However, sometimes, you feel you don’t have enough time to keep it looking neat. These 8 tips for keeping your home neat won’t take a long time to do, but they are worth it.
- Make the bed. As soon as you get up, make the bed. Making the bed is a simple way to keep a room looking tidy. It’s also warm and inviting to get back into at the end of the day. It shouldn’t take you more than three minutes to make your bed and you’ll feel like you really accomplished something.
- Have a place for everything. If you have a place for everything, then put everything back in its place. This is a necessity of home organization. Baskets, toy containers, hooks, drawers, organizers and closet systems are all handy items where you can place things. Don’t just do it willy-nilly. Take the time to figure out a system for where things belong. Then, follow that system and, when you buy something new, figure out a place for that too.
- Put everything in its place. This goes hand-in-hand with tip #2. Once you figure out where to put stuff, make sure that the stuff gets put there regularly. If you’re in one room and you see something that belongs to another room, take it out of the room and put it back where it belongs. It takes very little time to do this and you’ll feel much happier as a result.
- One mess at a time. If you have kids, you know how they like to make a mess. Well, teach them to clean up one mess before they move on to the next. If you instill this habit in them, then it’ll be much easier in the long run and much nicer to live in your home. You can’t do everything yourself. Even young children can help put items away. Make it into a game. Then, they’ll be more likely to do it without a reminder.
- Wipe down the bathroom. After you take a shower and get dressed for the day, clean the counter off and put away all personal products. Wipe around the sink to remove water rings, makeup or loose hair. You can also wipe the floor with an old bath towel if you have time. Some suggest spraying down the shower quickly, but if you don’t have time for that, just make sure you do some shower care the next time you clean your bathroom fully. (And don’t make that too far off either!)
- Do laundry daily. You can make time to do one load a day. Wash, fold and put away the load. If you wait for laundry to pile up, it will take a lot longer to do. If you don’t put it away, those piles of clean clothes will start to look messy too.
- Do the dishes. Most of us have dishwashers. So, as soon as the day’s meals are over, run the dishwasher. It will run while you’re watching TV or relaxing. Before you go to bed, put the dishes away. You can ask your spouse or your children for help with this. It’s easier to unload the night before than during the breakfast rush the following morning.
- Clean your kitchen counters. If you put your dishes into the dishwasher and then right away when done, you shouldn’t have a bunch of clutter on your counter tops. You can wipe them down any time there is a spill or mess. Pick up after yourself as you cook so you don’t have to do a big-time clean every time you make a meal.
Remember, if you spend a little time keeping your home neat and tidy each day, it won’t be that bad when you have time to do a more thorough cleaning or when you hire us at Garcia Green Cleaners to come in. We can get to the deep cleaning portion of your clean as long as you do the main tidying tasks and be more effective for you. Want to hire us? Great! Give us a call at 512-705-2812 in Austin.
How to Clean a Kitchen Sink
Just because water and soap are continuously running through your kitchen sink, it doesn’t mean that your kitchen sink is always clean. In fact, it can get rather scummy-looking with debris, grease and other leftovers. Some recommend that you scrub your kitchen sink every night. We know that most people don’t have the time or the wherewithal to do that and that’s okay. In this article we’ll teach you how to clean a kitchen sink on your terms.
- When you’re ready to clean the sink, remove all dirty dishes and leftover food from your sink. You should have an empty sink as you begin to clean.
- Wash the entire surface of your sink with a gentle soap, a soft cloth and warm water. A good way to get a clean sink is to use dish-washing liquid in warm water. This can be used to clean faucets, drains and the outer rim. If you can, do this every time you use the sink. If not, thoroughly clean it weekly.
- Run the hot water into your drain. This step helps eliminate bad odors and can soften any gooey material that’s been left behind in your drain. Wet down the entire sink through this process. If you can, aim to do this several times a week.
- Pour 1 teaspoon or baking soda and one-quarter cup of lemon juice over the surface of your sink including down the drain. You should let this mixture stand for about ten minutes. Then you use hot water to rinse away the leftover residue.
- Sanitize the drain with one-half cup of baking soda and one-fourth cup of lemon juice mixed together. Once you put the mixture in the drain, you should pour one-half a cup of white vinegar down that drain. The combination of these ingredients will break up stubborn clogs.
- Rinse your kitchen sink thoroughly with hot water after you perform any of these cleaning routines.
Some extra tips:
- Install a perforated plastic mat in the bottom of your sink. It will protect the sink’s surface from scratches and other imperfections. It will also protect your dishes.
- Don’t use scouring powders to clean your sink. It’s better to use warm water and a dish detergent formula.
- Clean your sink gently so that your arms don’t get too tired.
If you want to have a sparkling clean kitchen sink, contact us at Garcia Green Cleaners. We’re happy to clean your kitchen sink on a regular basis so you don’t have to. We can be reached in Austin at 512-705-2812.
6 More Spring Cleaning Tips
Last week, we gave you 5 spring cleaning tips. This week, we’ve got 6 more for you. Spring cleaning is definitely not an all at once kind of job. You have to break it up into chunks unless, of course, you hire us to do the spring cleaning for you.
- Clean ceiling fixtures. You should dust and clean your ceiling lights and fans. If you have the fans running for winter usage, turn them back to the summertime setting (counterclockwise) so that the cool air can settle in the room. Be careful to turn off the fixtures before cleaning them so you don’t get overheated or blow dust all over the room. You can also take this time to remove dust from air conditioners. A cloth and a vacuum with a soft nozzle attachment will get the job done.
- Update your bed linens. Spring is a great time to replace your bed linens. You can bring out the pretty, flowery comforter and sheets for a spring time rejuvenation of your sleeping space. Make sure to wash your used bed linens and put them away safely and securely for next winter. You may want to wash the new bed linens first for that crisp, clean feel.
- Protect your wooden floors. You can easily guard against scratches on wooden floors. Make sure that there are surface protectors on the underside of furniture legs. Replace any protectors that are worn or dirty with new ones. You can get them at home improvement stores. You’ll want to use the thick, padded self-adhesive disks. Remember, a build-up of grit can scratch your wooden floor.
- Clean your refrigerator. You may find this task a little daunting so we suggest you break it down into pieces. First things first – wipe up spills so surfaces don’t become stained. Throw out old food once a week, preferably on trash day. Every few months, you should wash the fridge’s interior. Wash removable shelves and drawers. You can loosen hardened spills by wetting the area with a cleaning solution and allow the residue to soften. A toothbrush can be used to scrub nooks and crannies. Twice a year, vacuum or brush dust from the condenser coils. This will keep your system from overheating.
- Reorganize your book shelves. You should consider sorting your books by size and subject. It’s easier and neater than just alphabetically by author or title. You’ll want to remove and discard any ripped dust jackets. For a quirky twist, line some of the books vertically and some horizontally. This will break up the monotony of the rows.
- Restock home cleaning supplies. Make sure you have all the cleaning supplies you need. You’ll want to have a glass cleaner and an all-purpose cleaner. You’ll also want specific products for problem spots like tile and grout. You may want natural cleansers like vinegar and baking soda. You’ll also want to stock up on sponges, rags, scrub brushes and rubber gloves.
With these six tips, we finish our basic spring cleaning tips for you. If you need help with any of this, feel free to call Garcia Green Cleaners. We’re experts at spring cleaning and we can be reached in Austin at 512-705-2812.
5 Spring Cleaning Tips
It’s spring time. That means it’s time for spring cleaning. We’ve got 5 great spring cleaning tips for you in this article. We hope they help you make your house beautiful for spring.
- Organize your closets. Some say that organizing your closet is the first step to organizing your home. You should go through all your clothes and accessories and get rid of what you are no longer using or what doesn’t fit for whatever reason. A good suggestion is to organize what you currently wear by how you get dressed in the morning and by color. Not only will your closet look appealing but your everyday routine will be easier.
- Make your welcome mat truly welcoming. Shake it, wash it and swat it with a broom. Give the mat a thorough cleaning, the toughest it can take. Remember, the welcome mat is your home’s front line of defense against tracked-in dirt. You should always keep the mat clean enough to operate at peak efficiency.
- Clean your windows. Dirty panes of glass present no problem when you use rubber-edged squeegees. They are quicker and more effective than cloth or newspaper. They come in a variety of sizes and a screw-on extension will allow you to reach high spots without a problem. To begin, dip a sponge into a bucket of warm water and a few drops of dish soap. Wet window and rub dirt away. Dampen the squeegee, starting at an upper corner, then take it down the pane from top to bottom. Repeat and overlap strokes while wiping the rubber edge with a sponge after each stroke. Dry the windowsills with a cloth.
- Wash walls, cabinets, baseboards and woodwork. Use a sponge and a dish-washing detergent on these areas. Be careful not to mess with the paint. Wash the surface in sections. A sponge mop will make it easy to reach high spots. You should use two buckets to accomplish this task – one with the dish-washing solution and the other for wringing out you sponge. Dry the walls and other woodwork with a clean cloth.
- Wipe your blinds if you have them. Wipe wooden blinds with a few drops of gentle wood cleaner and an almost dry sponge. Aluminum blinds can be washed outside. Place them on a sheet on a slanted surface. Scrub with water and non-corrosive cleaner. You can use a hose to rinse well and then you should dry the blinds with a towel to prevent rust.
Of course, these are just a few spring cleaning tips that we can provide you with. We will have more in our blog next week. Until then, happy spring cleaning. Remember, you can call Garcia Green Cleaners to do your spring cleaning for you. Give us a call in Austin at 512-705-2812.
How do I Clean a Porcelain Bathtub?
A bathtub is a great place for a long, leisurely soak. However, a bathtub can also get dirty really quickly and need a good cleaning regularly. In this article, we’ll tell you how to clean a bathtub so that you know what you need to do when we aren’t there to do it for you.
A bathtub is like a magnet for soap scum, mildew and grime as well as stubborn stains. A dirty bathtub can make your whole bathroom look grungy. Since most bathtubs are made of porcelain, we’ll discuss cleaning a porcelain based tub. If you have fiberglass or acrylic, we’ll deal with that in a future article.
One way to clean the bathtub is with a nonabrasive liquid powder or liquid cleanser. Sprinkle the powder or cleanser on a damp sponge and apply it to the surface of the tub. Use a synthetic scouring pad on stubborn stains. Rinse well.
Truth be told, diligence is key in keeping your tub clean. After you bathe or shower, you should rinse the tub with warm, clean water and wipe off excess moisture with a soft sponge. For a deeper clean, you can always spray the tub with white vinegar. Fill a spray bottle with half and half warm water and vinegar. You should spray the tub surface, let it stand for about 15 minutes and then wipe with a microfiber cloth or sponge. Rinse the bathtub with clean water and wipe again.
For heavier dirt or even mild stains, you could sprinkle the tub with baking soda and spray on vinegar and water. Let the mixture bubble for several minutes. Then, you should scrub with a soft cloth or sponge until a paste forms. Let the paste sit for 15 minutes. Wipe and rinse. If you have hard water stains, then you should dip paper towels into full-strength vinegar and put those soaked towels on the stains. Let them stay like that for a few hours and then scrub with the vinegar and baking soda paste before you rinse it clean.
Remember, when you clean the bathtub, you should also remove hair from the traps in the drains to prevent clogging. This will keep your bathtub running smoothly and draining well.
These are just the basics of cleaning porcelain tub. As you can see, it’s not very difficult. If you need us to clean for you, we are happy to do so. You can reach Garcia Green Cleaners in Austin at 512-705-2812. We look forward to cleaning your tub for you.
How to Keep your House Clean Between Maid Services
Just because you have a maid service, that doesn’t mean that you don’t have to clean at all. Well, unless you have someone coming in once or twice a week, we guess you can skip the cleaning. For the rest of us, however, there’s a gap in between maid service and we need to do some spot cleaning to make sure our homes remain clean and neat. In this article, we’ll talk about how to keep your house clean between maid services.
De-Clutter
Sort through unused items and get rid of them. This way, you’ll keep your home free from clutter. However, if you have children, it’s hard to avoid clutter entirely. You should instruct your children about cleanliness from the time they’re toddlers and teach them how to throw things away in the trash can. You should also pick up after they’ve played and have them help you too. Tidy up toys, books, magazines in a big plastic container. Not only will this save space, it will also keep your house clean. If you continuously get rid of unused items, there will be no point to store them. Clearing clutter daily will make it easier on you in the long run.
Keep things in their place
You should have a place for everything and everything should be in its place at the end of the day. This way, your rooms will always look neat and your house clean. Having a set place for items will help your family know where to put the items too.
Clean spills and stains quickly
Take appropriate steps to remove stains as soon as they are spotted. You should check your furniture, your countertops and your cabinets. Stains make things look ugly and dirty. They’re usually easy to clean with wipes or a simple cleaning agent and a paper towel. The best time to remove a spot or stain is when it’s still wet.
Delegate tasks
Don’t forget to delegate tasks to other family members. Your spouse and your children should be able to help you keep the house clean. It shouldn’t all be your responsibility.
If you follow these steps, then you will keep your home reasonably clean between maid services and you will be able to maximize the use of your maids. Need a maid service? Great! Contact us at Garcia Green Cleaners today.
What to Look for in a Maid Service
Garcia Green Cleaners is very confident in its maid service. We are a good company with good cleaners. If you choose us, you won’t have to worry about receiving a good cleaning for a good value. However, what should you look for in a maid service? Here we give you some things to contemplate.
Are the maids bonded and insured?
You want to make sure that the maids have had a background check and, if something goes awry, you will be compensated. You want them to be insured in case they break something or get hurt in your home. That way you won’t have to use your homeowner’s insurance.
What types of services do you provide?
Some maid services don’t do windows or laundry. You should know that up front. Garcia Green Cleaners does indoor windows and laundry for an added fee. We put that on our web site at www.garciagreencleaners.com. Please contact us for services offered and to get a quick quote.
What are my payment options?
You should know if you are allowed to pay with cash or check or if you must use a credit card. Garcia Green Cleaners prefers credit card payments. We don’t charge you until the service is complete. Checks are accepted but for services that are under $100. Cash is accepted and it goes directly to the maid. Tips are also appreciated by our maids, but they are not mandatory.
Do the maids have their own supplies or will they be using mine?
Our maids have top of the line supplies like Method hardwood cleaner and Meyers glass cleaner. We use Dyson vacuum cleaners, and also soft head mops. You can also request for the maid to use your products by providing them yourself. We are happy to work with your products if that’s your preference. We do charge a $5 materials fee per maid so, if you’re using your own supplies, call the office at 512-705-2812 to see if you can get that waived. It shouldn’t be a problem.
Are your maids punctual and professional?
Yes, our maids are punctual and professional. They are on time and ready to work. They will leave your house very clean. Remember, the first one to two appointments should be longer than subsequent appointments because they’ll be more thoroughly cleaning your home. If you are not satisfied, remember that we offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
We hope that these questions have helped you decide to choose Garcia Green Cleaners as your maid service. We’d love to help you keep your home clean.
How do I Clean a Toilet?
In this article, we’ll teach you how to clean the toilet. No one likes to clean toilets, but it’s necessary. A clean toilet doesn’t smell bad and it prevents bacteria from spreading. To correctly clean the toilet you’ll need both a toilet cleaner and a disinfectant. In fact, we recommend the following materials:
- Gloves,
- Toilet brush,
- Toilet bowl cleaner,
- And disinfectant spray.
First, you should take everything on the toilet off. If you have pictures or books or tissue boxes on the top, take them off so you can clean the toilet. You can clean these items later before you put them back on. Keep them somewhere safe where they won’t get sprayed with the toilet cleaner and disinfectant or water while you’re cleaning the toilet.
Take the clean gloves and put them on. We suggest that you use a dedicated pair of gloves for the job. You don’t want the bacteria from the toilet being spread to other household cleaning tasks. If you must, buy your toilet-cleaning gloves in a different color than your other rubber gloves so they don’t get confused.
Next, you should wipe down the toilet with a damp sponge. Give it a once-over with hot water. You should wet with water and wipe around the tank, lid, seat, base and exterior of the bowl. This might be enough to remove the dirt without specialty cleaning products. If not, you can clean with a disinfectant or toilet bowl cleaner later on.
Now you can apply with a toilet cleaner to the inside of the bowl. Toilet cleaners help eliminate stains, rings and mineral deposits in your toilet. Squirt the cleaner on the inside rim of the toilet bowl, allowing it to drip down the sides of the bowl and in the water. Read the instructions on the cleaner because some cleaners require time to sit for maximum cleaning effect. If so, take a short break and then continue.
It’s time to scrub the bowl with a toilet brush. You should use a brush with firm bristles. Scrub the bowl thoroughly and pay attention to any mineral stains that have accumulated at water level or the back of the bowl. The more thoroughly and firmly you scrub the bowl, the cleaner it will get. To get the most out of your toilet bowl cleaner, dip the brush in the toilet water and grab some suds to clean the bowl. It will give you extra cleaning power.
Once the bowl is scrubbed and clean, you should flush. This rinses the bowl. You should continue to scrub as water drains from the toilet because the motion of the water alone might not be enough to rinse the dirt away. If you have persistent stains, repeat the process of applying toilet cleaner through rinsing the bowl. Do it as many times as you need to to clean the toilet bowl.
Now that the bowl is clean, you can clean the rest of the apparatus with disinfectant. Clean the bottom, the top and all around the toilet. Don’t forget the handle because it has bacteria on it too. Once it’s sparkling, wipe up the residue with a dry cloth and then you’re done.
All you need to do is clean the items that were on the toilet before you started cleaning and then put them back where they belong.
If you need help cleaning your toilet or don’t feel like doing it yourself, Garcia Green Cleaners can help. Give us a call in Austin at 512-705-2812. We’re happy to take care of this for you!
How do I Clean a Wooden Floor?
Cleaning a wooden floor is not that difficult. Well, it doesn’t have to be…especially if you follow some basic preventative tips like these:
- Liquid spills should be soaked up immediately. Why? Excessive water on the floors can lead to permanent stains.
- Don’t use wax, vinegar and any ‘all-purpose’ cleaners. They dull the floor’s finish.
- In order to trap sand and grit, place rugs or mats near doorways and in high traffic areas.
- Don’t move furniture or heavy items across your wooden floor. Carry them or use gliding furniture pads instead.
- Always use protective pads or caps on furniture.
- Make sure your pet’s claws are trimmed so they don’t scratch the floor.
- Don’t wear high heels on your wooden floors. They can dent it.
When you finally clean your floor, you can first dust the floor with a mop that has been treated with a dusting agent. This will pick up dust, dirt, and hair that might scratch the surface. If you clean weekly or biweekly, use a vacuum with a floor-brush attachment. Do not use a vacuum with a beater bar attachment as that can scratch your floor. For a quick dusting, you can use disposable electrostatic cloths. We recommend you use both sides of the cloths to save money.
If you’re going to do a deeper cleaning on your wooden floor, we recommend that you do it during the spring or the winter holidays. It doesn’t have to be done very often. However, it does need to get done. Why? Dirt, grime and other nasty tidbits build up over time and you’ll want to get rid of them. Use a wood-cleaning product like Bona, which is what we use. Dilute it according to the package instructions. Saturate a sponge or a rag mop in the water, and then wring it almost dry. It should feel only slightly damp to the touch. Damp-mop the wooden floor and be careful not to create any water pockets on the floor as these can cause staining. Rinse with a clean mop dampened in clear water if the cleaning product requires it. Wipe up excess fluid.
If you have any more questions about cleaning a wooden floor, give us a call at Garcia Green Cleaners. We can be reached in Austin at 512-705-2812. We’re happy to do the cleaning for you.
How do I Clean an Oven?
Most people neglect to clean their oven. At Garcia Green Cleaners, we can clean ovens for you. However, we feel that we should pass the process along to you so you know what to do in case you wish to do it yourself. There are three things you should know before you clean an oven.
- Does the oven have a self-cleaning feature?
- Is the oven an electric range or gas range?
- Which of the oven parts are removable?
Clean the stove top first.
Use a proper cleaning agent to clean the burners and stove top. Scrub everything down. If you have removable burner trays, put them in the sink for a little bit with some soapy water. After about twenty minutes, rinse them off and scrub them with a sponge to get all the little bits of food and other debris off of them. Place them back on your cleaned stove top and get ready for the next step.
Remove oven racks on the inside and clean them.
You will remove the oven racks and put them in a sink full of warm, soapy water. Let it sit in the soapy water for twenty minutes or longer if you can manage it. This will loosen up the grease and caked on dirt. After the twenty minutes is up, take a sponge or dish washing apparatus and scrub any remaining residue. Rinse them off with warm water and dry them with a paper towels.
Clean the inside of the oven.
Cleaning the inside of the oven is not hard. You can probably finish the bulk of it while your oven racks are soaking.
If the oven is self-cleaning, lock the oven door and select the option for “clean”. Let the oven go through the cleaning cycle. It will set itself to a very high temperature to ‘bake’ all the food and debris. When done, all you need to do is pick up the ash that’s left and wipe down with a damp cloth. Be careful not to streak the oven’s insides.
If your oven is not self-cleaning, then you’ve got yourself and a can of oven cleaner. Remove any loose crumbs using a cloth or paper towel. Wipe the crumbs into a garbage can or dust pan to save yourself extra cleaning later. Spray the oven with oven cleaner and follow the directions on the can.
If you don’t use an oven cleaner, you can use ammonia. Pour two cups in a bowl and place a rag or sponge in the bowl. Apply the ammonia to any rough spots on the side or the bottom. Let it sit for about 30 minutes. Then, wipe out the rest of the oven with water. Make sure the ammonia is rinsed out thoroughly; otherwise, your oven will smell like ammonia the next time you use it.
Clean the outside of the oven.
Use an all-purpose kitchen cleaner and a rag or paper towel to clean the outside of the oven. It’s a good idea to clean the window or any glass parts with a glass cleaner. This will avoid streaks.
That’s it. You’re done. Your oven is cleaned. If you’d prefer that we do it for you, certainly ask for the service when you set up your appointment. It costs extra, but it is well worth your time. We can be reached in Austin at 512-705-2812.