Monday, October 13, 2008

BRIGHTER THAN BRIGHT IDEAS FOR THE LAUNDRY

You either like it or you don't. Yes it 's true, some people actually like to do laundry. Isn't that amazing? I have to admit that I don't dislike doing laundry, but I don't find it very exciting, nor do I always understand it.
When I first had to do my own laundry I simply threw everything in together and settled with lots of pink and purple clothing. Now I know to at least separate things into a few piles: whites, darks, mediums, and reds. We always have a separate red wash because my husband seems to have a thing for red socks.
Laundry is one thing that has to be done regularly. If you don't have a washer and dryer, you probably spend time at a Laundromat or hire someone to wash your clothes. But someday you'll have to do it yourself.

Check out this GREEN Laundry video :

SPRING CLEANING SERVICE NYC

Sunday, October 05, 2008

Super solutions for sinks and tubs.

- Rust stains can be a problem. Commercial rust removers do work. Wear rubber gloves with these though.

- Discolored porcelain can also be cleaned with this solution: Mix cream of tartar with hydrogen peroxide to make a paste. Or mix lemon juice and borax. Scrub paste into stain rinse well.

- Is the tub yellowed? Rub it with a small amount of salt and turpentine, mixed to the paste. Rinse well.

- Grout between tiles can get really disgusting. Use a toothbrush or nailbrush to clean difficult areas. Dip the brush in bleach to get at difficult spot of mildew.

- A cleaner for grout: Mix 3 cups of baking soda with 1 cup of warm water to a paste. Scrub on grout and rinse off well.

Spring cleaning Service NYC

Monday, September 22, 2008

More Rooms,More Dirt!

Unfortunately, every room-no matter how little it is used- has to be cleaned eventually.
Some are easier than others. Areas that no one uses and those areas where there simply isn't much to clean are easiest. My long entryway just has to be swept. And there's the hall upstairs that just needs to be vacuumed and checked for cobwebs: there is nothing in it to clean. This is one reason why minimalist decorating become so popular.
Sometimes a room becomes a problem area when it is used for too many purposes, however. Disaster strikes when the television room is used for eating, playing, and reading, and remains of everything are strewn from end to end.

Spring Cleaning Services NYC

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

ATTICS

Attics are killers.I can't get into my attic very easily, so I never use it. In a way this is lucky because it keeps down the amount of junk we save and it's one less space to clean. Of course, if you have an attic it is probably filled with junk. Keep those treasures in neatly labeled boxes and the space will look neater. You may have to dust the place or sweep it once in a while if it gets out of control. Attics don't really have to be clean all the time. Only tackle them when you are in the mood to throw things out. Don't go upstairs when you are feeling sentimental-nothing will get done.

Spring Cleaning Service NYC

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Just a tip...

If you have a shower door,scrub that too. If the door has a runner, clean it with a toothbrush and a cleaning formula like Fantastic. If this doesn't work, use a paint scrapper-move it back and forth inside the runner. This may be rather disgusting the first time you do it, but it gets easier each time. Don't rinse anything until you have finished the entire job.

Have a great weekend!

Spring Cleaning Service NYC

Friday, August 29, 2008

Hi Guys!

I am back from summer laziness, so here we go again on:
THE BIG CLEAN part 2.

Cleaning the toilet has got to be up there on everyone's list of "jobs I wish I didn't have to do." My motto is "Do it fast."
I have found that those cleaners you hang in your toilet do little more than color the water and are no substitute for scrubbing, unfortunately.
Toilets are usually made of vitreous china, which is easy to clean. Be careful when using toilet-cleaning products: read the directions and don't mix products willy-nilly, as they can produce dangerous fumes when mixed together.

Here is a very helpful video:



Thanks for your attention,
Spring Cleaning Service NYC

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

THE BIG CLEAN part:1

When you feel your bathroom needs a big clean, start with the bathtub.
First clean the shower walls around the tub. Use a tile cleaner and a tile brush. Tile cleaner needs to sit a while before it works, as it's mainly a chemical action that gets things clean. After it has sat for the proper amount of time, start scrubbing the area where you first applied it. The brush works well because it gets into the grout between the tiles. There will be lots of bubbles on the wall, making it difficult to determine when you have removed all of the grime.

to be continued...

Spring Cleaning Service NYC

Monday, July 21, 2008

Cleaning the kitchen floor:

First you need to vacuum the floor to get up all the crud. Then it depends on the type of floor you have.
1. If your floor is no-wax vinyl, hardwood covered with polyurethane, or tile: Fill a bucket or sink with a little ammonia and lots of water. Mop the floor with this, rinsing often. If the water gets really dirty, you may have to refill the bucket.

2. If your floor is waxed or no-wax vinyl or linoleum: Use a specially formulated cleaner such as Mop and Glo. Rinse your mop, apply a thin line of cleaner to the floor about three feet long, and spread it over the floor with the mop, picking up as much dirt as you can. Sometimes you have to get at stubborn spots on your hands and knees, using a scraper.



Spring Cleaning Service NYC

Friday, July 18, 2008

Kitchen Tips

* To rid the cutting board of garlic or onion smell, cut a lime or lemon in half and rub the surface with the cut side of the fruit. Or, make a paste with baking soda and water and apply plenty of it. Rinse off.
* If you break an egg on the floor, sprinkle it heavily with salt; after five minutes sweep dried egg up into the dustpan.
* Hot vinegar will remove paint spots from glass.
* To remove streaks on stainless steel, rub with baby oil.
* Wash your sponge in the dishwasher.
* Sprinkle the broiler pan, while hot, with dry laundry detergent. Cover with a dampened paper towel and let the burned food set for a while. Food will come off easily.
* Loosen grime on the can opener by brushing with an old toothbrush.

So try these tips and check out these video from Youtube.
Spring Cleaning Service NYC

Thursday, July 03, 2008

Cleaning large appliances part:2

Stove. There are two basic types of stove tops: gas and electric. Gas stoves are easier to clean than electric. Remove the grills from the burners and spray and wipe the surface underneath. Sometimes you may have to use an abrasive cleanser and a pad to take off gunk that sticks.
Electric stoves usually have a ring of chrome or aluminum around the burners that needs work. Sometimes a toothbrush can get around these, other times you will have to take the ring off to really get under the grime. The drip pans also need to be kept clean. These are very hard to keep looking good, though. Instead, buy new ones when they become dirty-it's so much easier.
Once the top is clean, work on the front. First, remove all control knobs and clean them in soapy water-then you can clean the surface.
Open the door and get the inside of the door window clean.

Good luck
Spring Cleaning Service NYC

Wednesday, July 02, 2008

Cleaning large appliances.

Refrigerators. Wipe the top off first , if you can. May be you just have to dust it, or maybe yours is like mine, with a cabinet over it so you can ignore it.
Wipe those fingerprints off the outside. Clean around the hinges and nameplate with a toothbrush. open the door and clean off the rubber gasket.
Wipe the yucky air went while the door is open or use your duster or vacuum cleaner. Clean the spot where the gasket meets the surface on the inside of the refrigerator. All this should be done weekly.
Every once in a while, you have to give the refrigerator a big cleaning. Choose a time to clean when there's little food in the fridge and freezer. Turn it off earlier to defrost before you clean it. Once ice is loose in the freezer, it's not too hard to clean. Put loose ice and ice tray in the sink. Remove the items Inside and spray a cleaner in the freezer. Remove the shelves and clean them in a mild, soapy solution. Dry thoroughly.
Inside the refrigerator, start by cleaning the shelves. If they are very bad, take them out and clean them in the sink, if not, they can be wiped where they are. Throw out anything old or gross as you clean-it really helps.
Remove drawers and bins and clean both inside and out. clean under the bottom drawers, as that area is usually a mess. Be sure to check the drain pan if there is one and clean this out, too.

Spring Cleaning Service NYC

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Cleaning different surface materials.

Acrylic. Use a mild abrasive liquid or a powdered cleanser applied directly on a wet surface. Rinse well and dry.

Ceramic tile. Clean grout with a toothbrush and a spray tile cleaner.

Plastic laminate. Use one of those two-sided sponges with fiber on one side and sponge on the other. The fiber is gentle but abrasive and will get out many stains. Use the sponge side to wipe the surface off. Baking soda works wonders on counters.

Wood. Once in a while, rub oil into the wood to protect it. Use a salad oil or a boiled linseed oil. Baking soda cleans and deodorizes wood surfaces. Mix 1/2 cup with 1 quart of warm water. Rub into a paste on the wood, rinse well with clear water, and pat dry.

Happy cleaning;
Spring Cleaning Service NYC

Sunday, June 29, 2008

Counters and cupboards

Start cleaning the cupboards first because they are higher up than most anything else. Usually you just have to watch for the fingerprints on the handles. Counters always have to be cleaned. Work from back to front, being sure to move canisters, toasters, etc, to clean underneath them. Use a toothbrush to clean around drawer or cabinet handles. Spray and wipe as you go.
Continue around the kitchen. Look for spiderwebs as you go. Dust these with the feather duster, or a long-handled brush for high spots.
Open shelves can be dusted with a duster, too. To clean a shelf, move all the items to one side and clean the empty side, then move everything over to the side you've cleaned and repeat. If the shelf is too full, move just enough of the stuff to the counter so there is space to move what is left.

Have a great weekend
Spring Cleaning Service

Friday, June 27, 2008

The kitchen

Kitchen are more than just kitchen nowadays. They are bright family rooms where everyone seems to gather after a day in the real world. More than cooking goes on here. Sometimes we put a desk, a computer, a television-maybe even a couch or an easy chair-in the kitchen, in addition to all the usual kitchen paraphernalia.
but even in the modern family-room type of kitchen, cooking still goes on, so this is going to get extra messy. eggs will break. Milk will spill. Dinners will be burned on top of the stove. The only way to control all of these disasters is to establish daily cleanup rules.
If everybody in the house works together at keeping the kitchen clean, the big jobs won't seem as awesome. And the big jobs will tell you, when they have to be done. When your sneakers stick to the floor, it's time to wash the floor. When the refrigerator starts to smell, it's time to clean it out. And when all the smoke alarms in the house go off every time you turn on the oven, it's time to clean that oven.
You get the idea.

Spring Cleaning Service

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Kitchens and Bathrooms: The gruesome twosome.

Most rooms that we live in are pretty much the same: they have a floor, walls, a window or two, and a closet or storage space. All of these things need vacuuming, dusting, organizing-the whole bit. But there are two rooms that require special attention: The kitchen and a bathroom. These are the rooms that somehow always need to be cleaned. Always. You can't really get away with not cleaning them unless you live alone and really don't care about what kind of place you live in. But most of us do have people in once in a while, and usually these people have to use the bathroom or want a cup of tea, so these two rooms demand a bit of extra attention.
In the next couple of days we will be talking a bit about how to clean our KITCHEN.
So get ready!

Spring Cleaning Service NYC

Monday, June 23, 2008

Cleaning of painted walls and wallpaper.

Walls that have been painted with latex-based paint are easy to wash after the paint has been on for a while.
Oil based paint can be cleaned, too. Use a commercial all-purpose cleaner, or try one of the solutions below.

1. Mix 1 cup of ammonia, 1/2 cup of vinegar, and 1/4 cup of baking soda with 1 gallon of water. This is strong stuff-use your rubber gloves. Rinse well.

2. Lighter fluid will take off crayon marks on walls. Put a little on a cloth and rub carefully.

3. Alcohol works on those funny black spots on the wall. Test an area first, though.

4. Be careful with wallpaper. Try to save the instructions that came with it. Some can be washed but many cannot.

5. Erasers are handy for removing spots.

6. Clean grease by blotting first with paper towels and sprinkling cornstarch on the stain. Rub off cornstarch when it has soaked up grease and vacuum.

7. Chunks of soft, stale bread rubbed over wallpaper can erase soiled areas. I like rye.

8. More grease? Put baby powder on a clean powder puff. Rub the puff over the spot until grease disappears.

9. Use nylon stockings bunched up into a ball to clean rough plaster walls.

Take a look at these commercial operation of wall washing:



Thanks for your attention
Spring Cleaning Service NYC

Sunday, June 22, 2008

How about cleaning WALLS?

Yes, walls get dirty too, even though they are vertical. Amazing, isn't it? Dirt is all around us even when we don't notice it.
Of course, walls get dirty when kids put their hands on them or when they decide to color them-or worse. I've learned that if you don't deal with the dirt that builds up on the walls regularly, you'll be in real trouble when you go to deal with a spot. When trying to take off a spot, you often wind up with a lot of gook on the wall, usually in the form of a round, gray spot. Not fun.
So here is the thing: you can vacuum your walls. Isn't that wild? When it gets bad you can use an all-purpose cleaner on the washable walls.

1. Wash walls from top to bottom. This can be a pain. Sometimes I prefer to just repaint the walls.

2. Use warm iron to remove tape from a wall. Through a protective cloth, press the tape with the iron to loosen its backing.

3. Rub finger smudges right away. (This is much easier said than done. I usually leave smudges for a few years as a sentimental reminders of my kids' cute, chubby fingers.)

4. Brick walls can be cleaned with water and cleaner, and if the mortar is dirty, try some bleach. Smoke stains around a fireplace can be removed with an abrasive cleaner. Rinse well.

Spring Cleaning Service NYC

Friday, June 20, 2008

Windows, part two:

Here are some SUPER SOLUTIONS for window cleaning you may find to be interesting.

1. Mix 1/3 cup of ammonia in 1 gallon warm water. Apply with a sponge or pour into a spray bottle.

2. On cold days add 1/2 cup rubbing alcohol to each quart of water used and you wont have any ice.

3. Another solution: Add 1/2 cup ammonia, 1 cup white vinegar, and 2 tablespoons of cornstarch to a bucket of warm water.

4. Spotted sills: Pour diluted rubbing alcohol on a cloth and rub the entire sill. They'll look newly painted.

5. Grease spots: Use leftover cola drink.

6. The tracks of a sliding glass door: almost impossible.One friend wraps a cloth around an eraser and rubs away.

7. Screen windows: Rub a brush-type roller over the screen and it will pick up dust.

8. Use cream silver polish on aluminum window frames.

9. Wear rubber gloves when you use any strong window cleaner.

More tips on wall washing next week.
Have a great weekend.
Spring Cleaning Service NYC

Thursday, June 19, 2008

WINDOWS

Some people do clean all their windows regularly, and they say that washing them twice a year is a good plan. One friend gets everyone in the family involved and they make it into a game, with kids and adults running all over trying to clean all the windows in a certain amount of time. Another good thing to do is to hire someone to do it.

Here are some tips for washing windows:

1. One key thing about washing windows that even I know: Use vertical strokes when washing outside and horizontal strokes when washing inside. This way you will know which side the streaks are on.

2. Wash windows from the top to the bottom so you won't have drips messing up what you have already done.

3. Use a long-handled squeegee on big windows. These are fun to use and don't leave many streaks.

4. If you want real shine, rub a clean blackboard eraser over a just-washed window and stand back!

5. Don't let window cleaner get on woodwork, as it can damage it. And never use steel wool on glass.

6. Try not to wash windows on the sunniest day of the week, as the glass may streak and it's better for your health to enjoy the sun.

7. What to use? Some say use newspaper. Others say use anything but newspaper. One friend says that newspaper crumbled up and dipped into a bowl filled with vinegar works wonders. She dips the paper, puts it on the window, and wipes the glass until it's almost dry with the same paper. Then she shines it with a cloth or more newspaper, dry this time.

As usual here is your Youtube video on the subject:




Have a great day
Spring Cleaning Service NYC

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Now imagine this:


The phone rings. It's your long-lost roommate from college who just happens to be in the area. She'll be over in ten minutes, even though you told her to go the long way around town. The house is a mess.
Try this:

1. Gather that is lying where it doesn't belong in the entryway and living area and throw it into an empty basket or bag.
Hide filled basket.

2. Wipe out any ashtrays. Stack magazines and newspapers in an orderly pile. Plump up pillows on sofas.

3. Give the bathroom sink and toilet a quick rub. Straighten up the bathroom that she'll visit. Throw odds and ends in cabinets. If you have the time, put some Lysol on a rag and swish it around the sink a few times. This way the room will smell clean even if it really isn't.

4. Rinse any dishes and stack them neatly in the sink or in the dishwasher. Wipe counters.

5. Close doors to any room you don't want to display.


Good luck
Spring Cleaning Service

Monday, June 16, 2008

Today's wisdom is: "Entertain once a month. That way your house will always be clean!"

Seasonal cleaning is a leftover from another generation when everyone did "spring" and "fall" cleaning faithfully. This was big-time cleaning, when you did all the heavy work that you didn't get to the rest of the year. Windows, draperies, closets, garages, and attics were all part of this semiannual blitz.
It is still a good idea, of course, if you have the time. But really, if I did a spring cleaning I'd have to take a vacation to do it, and who wants to waste vacation time on cleaning the house? Not me. So most of us fit the big stuff in and around our regular cleaning schedules.
One of the few seasonal tasks that people still do at least twice a year is to sort clothes. Lots of folks take the winter clothes to dry cleaner in the early spring for storage throughout the warmer months. This works well well but can be expensive. If you have children you'll be moving clothes around and cleaning closets and drawers when you change seasonal clothes. Be smart when you do this: If you have clothes you know your youngest child won't wear, give them to someone else with the same-sized youngster.It's silly to keep clothes that won't be worn.

Na watch this really funny movie about spring cleaning!
Enjoy



See you Guys tomorrow!
Spring Cleaning Service NYC

Friday, June 13, 2008

Thank God it's Friday afternoon, (what a week this was)!!!!
Today we gonna talk about MOPS

I like a sponge mop. It's important to buy a good one so you can really lean into it without having it falling apart. Make sure you get one with a replaceable sponge. Chances are that at one time or another you have either bought a sponge mop only to find that the sponge has been permanently glued to the handle, or you have bought a replacement sponge later that won't fit your mop. This is a drag. When buying a sponge mop, I check to be sure the sponge isn't permanent and buy two replacements at the same time. This saves incredible headaches and guarantees that the whole unit will last much longer. Some people swear by the wet mops with the cotton heads. These are ok, but I never have figured out how to use them, and when they get dirty they look really awful.
If you use them dry, though, they,re handy for dusting floors.

Here is a very interesting floor moping video on Youtube:



Hope that you all have a great Weekend, I will see you next week!!!
Spring Cleaning Service NYC

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

HOW TO CLEAN A ROOM QUICKLY

First,don't try to clean when you are dressed to kill.Avoid wearing decent clothes. Get into something baggy and comfortable.You can still wear makeup,though.People always seem to drop by for a visit just when you decide to really clean.
If you only have time to do one room-say you have thirty-five minutes to kill before you run your son to his baseball game-it's simple.First,carry all your appropriate cleaning supplies with you in your handy carryall.
Once in the room, take everything out of the room that doesn't belong there.Things that need to be cleaned separately, say a bowl or a vase, should go in one place to be cleaned in the kitchen.Do not put anything back until you have entirely cleaned the room.
Pull furniture out from the walls, unless it's too big and heavy, of course.Turn back the rugs at their edges and pick up small rugs to make vacuuming easier.Work your way around the room.Work from top down.Dust away, vacuum furniture, wipe smudges off doorknobs, light switches, and walls.
Clean hard-surface floors next. Vacuum all hard floors with a brush attachment to avoid scratches.Straighten out rugs.Vacuum rugs more slowly.
Replace the furniture, dust the little stuff and replace it, and voila,there's a fairly clean room.Don't worry about polishing or washing windows or scrubbing the floors-that's for another time.

Have a great day!!!!!
Spring Cleaning Service

Check out this guy on Youtube!

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Hi everyone!!

Buying the best cleaning equipment is wise, as it lasts longer and usually works better, too.
Enter:VACUUM CLEANERS.
This is a must. If you are getting married,put one of these at the top of your wish list.A good cannister-type vacuum can cost a lot of money,so it makes a good wedding gift.Get one with the power drive in the beater head(this may be another attachment).The power drive has its own motor so you can get two motors working on one machine to get things really clean.The hose separates so it can be used for other tasks.
Since vacuum cleaners are expensive, be sure to buy from a dealer you trust. It's fine to buy from someone who comes to the door.Electrolux and Kirby,both excellent machines, are sold this way.If you have a two-story house you may want a heavy-duty vacuum cleaner for downstairs and a lighter one for upstairs, where there isn't so much heavy dirt accumulation.
Take care of your vacuum.Read the manual carefully and follow its instructions.Don't run the vacuum cleaner over the cord, as a damaged cord can lead to shocks or fire.Avoid using extension cords and do try to use standard wall outlet.Disconnect your vacuum cleaner from the outlet before changing bags, filters, brushes, or belts.Store the vacuum in a cool,dry area.
Watch this great video on how the MIELE vacuum cleaner is the best choise!

As always, if you have any questions contact us at www.Springcleaning.us

Friday, June 06, 2008

Happy Friday everyone!!!!!
As promised let,s talk about KEEPING EQUIPMENT AT HAND.

Since you never sure when the urge to clean something will attack, it's good to be ready.Pregnant woman have a big problem with this:They want to have things ready for the baby-to-be and are known to wake up in the middle of the night because they realize the windowsills may be dirty.If this should happen to you, whether you are pregnant or not, it is much better to be ready for it.These divided containers are wonderful to have at the ready,no matter what your hormonal situation may be.
What should go in it?
I have a plastic divided container and a more attractive basket-type one.The basket-type container is under the bathroom sink.(Just imagine your guests going to the bathroom and opening the door under the sink to check it out.Confess-don't you do that too?)In your carryall you may put:

*all-purpose cleanser, like Ajax or Comet
*liquid window cleaner like Windex
*a bottle of Fantastik or Formola 409 (spray is best)
*one white scrub pad/sponge combination
*one plain sponge
*a floor cleaner (like Mop and Glo)
*a bottle of ammonia
*cleaning cloths
*rubber gloves
*a toothbrush
*a paint scraper and razor-blade holder with a sharp blade

Just think what you could clean with all of that stuff.If you have just such a well-equipped cleaning basket and can lug around your vacuum and your sponge mop, you are set.I sometimes like to leave it out on the kitchen counter because it looks so efficient.That way if someone comes over to visit they can see how you were just getting ready to clean the place.

That is it for today and have a great weekend.
Spring Cleaning Service NYC

Watch this video on clutter!Good stuff.





Thursday, June 05, 2008

Storage

Where to keep all the cleaning supplies?
You really need a closet to store all the brooms and mops,or if you like to see everything- maybe as a reminder that the job never gets done- hang them artistically on the wall of the laundry room in a kind of modern art collage.But if you are like me, you would sooner throw the buckets and sponge mops behind a door and forget they exist when you're not using them.Those divided containers you can buy in the housewares section of the department store are great for bottles of cleaners and cloths and sponges and all.If you are organized you get one (or better yet,two )of these and put all your cleaning supplies in it.Keep one under the kitchen sink and maybe another in the upstairs bathroom.Grab it when you feel the urge to clean and you'll be able to whip around the house with everything at your fingertip.

I found this great video on Youtube!



Next time I will talk about keeping cleaning equipment at hand.
Till then greetings
Springcleaning Service NYC

Tuesday, June 03, 2008

The trick is: Making it a habit!!!!!!

Nobady has enough time these days, what with jobs and children and activities, so who has time for extras like cleaning the house?
It seems that finding the time to clean and establishing efficient routines are all-important to the art of cleaning.If you can time everything just so, you have got it made.
Cleaning doesn't have to be one of those things that has a life of its own, however.
We can control the workload if we establish routines to keep us on top of things.Some tasks need to be done every day, some only once a week,some twice a month, and some once a year or only once every three years.If you can figure out whay needs to be done when,you're more than halfway there.

Or worst come to worst you can always call a pro cleaning service like us at Springcleaning.

Happy cleaning

Monday, June 02, 2008

A few words of wisdom from Sprint Cleaning Service.

My favorite cleaning tool is a manual, hand push carpet cleaner.You don't see them around much anymore but they are quick, convenient, effective, and quiet. For small, frequent jobs or when you want to clean when the baby is sleeping, they are great!!!

As always please check out our web site at www.springcleaning.us for all your cleaning needs!

Thanks

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

How to keep skunks out...
Believe it or not, skunks hate strong odors. You can keep them out of your outbuildings just by hanging a strong smelling soap bar or room deodorizer in the space.

One way to squirrel proof your bird feeder...
Is to string it on a long wire that runs between two trees, but make sure it's away from any low-hanging branches.

Here is one for your cat...
To keep a cat from scratching the wooden legs of your chairs, rub the wood with chili sauce, then buff.

So, give it a try and let me know the results!
Kristie at springcleaning.us