Dachshund puppy sitting inside a cardboard box in an empty room, symbolizing moving day.
By Joseph Passalacqua General Information • New York City • NYC • Tips and Tricks 6 Comments

The Ultimate Guide To Moving To NYC

Moving to New York City can be equal parts exciting and nerve-wracking. Exciting because NYC is the beating heart of the U.S., and nerve-wracking because there’s so much to do to get ready for the big move. In order to make your move to The Big Apple just a little easier, we have put together a moving checklist, a breakdown that allows you to take care of one moving-related task at a time. You may also, consider staying in an Airbnb before you move into your new place to get it up and ready.

Two To Three Months Before The Move

__ Edit your belongings. As much as you may dread the task, there is something about sorting through your belongings that is deeply satisfying. Go through each room of your home and decide what you can’t live without, what you want to denote, and what needs to be tossed. Keep in mind that living space in NYC is at a premium and you’re unlikely to have the space to keep everything. Besides, wouldn’t you rather move only with the belongings you truly need or enjoy?

__ Call a Realtor or leasing agent. If you haven’t already established a place to live, now is the time to get a Realtor or leasing agent on the job. They’ll need to know what you’re looking for, where you’d like to live, and how much you plan on spending. It is vital to work with an agent who will dedicate himself to finding you what you’re looking for in plenty of time for you to visit and sign a lease.

__ Compile a moving binder. Keeping everything in one place may just save your sanity. It’s the perfect place to keep your moving estimates, home listings, an inventory of everything you plan to move, utility turn-off and turn-on schedule, and receipts you’ll need for next year’s taxes.

__ Research moving companies. Whether you plan to hire a moving company or rent a truck and move yourself, now is the time to gather quotes. Do not rely on a phone or online quote if you’re hiring a moving company. Request an on-site visit and a written estimate (with a “not to exceed” price). Make sure the company you’re working with has a U.S. Department of Transportation number. It’s also a good idea to check with your state’s Better Business Bureau to get a sense of the company’s reputation.

__ Research auto transport companies. If you plan on having your personal vehicles transported, now is the time to get estimates and schedule a pick-up. Ask how long the trip will take and get an iron-clad delivery date.

Six To Eight Weeks Before The Move

__ Choose a mover (or truck rental company). Now is the time to confirm your reservation and make sure you have everything you need – including the moving date and costs – in writing.

__ Visit NYC. Hopefully, your agent has a few homes for you to view. Ideally, you will find something you love and sign a sales contract or lease.

__ Take measurements. Once you’ve signed a sales contract or lease, measure the dimensions of your new home. Remember to measure the doorways in order to ensure your furniture will fit through. Because so many buildings in NYC are walk-ups and not doorman buildings, you’ll also need to measure how much room you will have navigate furniture up the stairs.

__ Eat up. Create a menu plan that allows you to use the perishable foods in your freezer.

__ Find a cleaning company. Ask anyone who has ever made a big move what their least favorite task was and they are likely to tell you that it was cleaning their old home before move-out and cleaning their new home before move-in. Hire a cleaning company to come in behind you as you’re moving out. The last thing you’re going to want to do is clean a home you’re no longer going to live in when you’re already tired from the move. At the same time, schedule a cleaning company to clean your new home before you move in. As much as you might hope that your new place will be spic-and-span on move-in day, that is often not the case. Besides, living in a new space is so much more pleasurable when every surface is clean.

__ Order moving supplies. Unless a moving company will be packing for you, you’ll need to gather bubble wrap, tape, boxes, and permanent markets. Don’t forget specialty boxes for items such as televisions, dishes, and your wardrobe.

Four Weeks Before The Move

__ Send change-of-address cards. It may seem a bit early to send your new address out to friends and family, but you’re likely to be too busy over the next month to find the time. While you’re at it, pick up a change-of-address package at the post office and have your mail forwarded. If you’d rather, you can change your address online through the US Postal Service website.

__ Begin packing. Place at least one box in each room of your home. As you pass an item you rarely use, wrap it in bubble wrap and slip it into the box. You may be surprised by how few items you actually use on a daily basis.

__ Make a list. Items like an expensive television, computer, or musical instrument may require extra insurance. Make a note of those items as you come across them.

__ Label everything clearly. The more clearly you label a box and its contents, the easier it’s going to be to find what you need in your new home.

__ Arrange for a transfer of records. If you have children, have their school records transferred to their new school district. Request that medical records be transferred for each member of your family. Finally, ask your veterinarian to provide you with a copy of your pet’s health records. Be sure to keep those veterinarian records with you as you travel with your pet(s).

Two Weeks Before The Move

__ Get tuned up. If you plan on driving to NYC, ask your mechanic which services are needed. At the very least, have your car(s) tuned up.

__ Contact moving companies. Call your mover, truck rental company and/or auto transportation company to confirm arrangements.

One Week Before The Move

__ Put together a safe box. Empty the contents of your safe deposit box and place them in the safe box. Add important items such as jewelry, passports, social security cards, and other vital information. You’ll personally transport the safe box on moving day.

__ Pack last minute items. Now is the time to pack the toaster, coffee maker, and other items used on a daily basis.

__ Have prescriptions refilled. Make sure you have enough of the medications you’ll need until you have a chance to meet your new doctor in NYC.

Days Leading Up To The Move

__ Pack your suitcases. You will need enough clothes to get you through until boxes are emptied. Now is a good time to get suitcases packed for every member of the family. While they may not have a suitcase, make sure each of your pets has the supplies they need packed and ready to go.

__ Clean the refrigerator and (if needed) defrost the freezer. Whether you’re taking it with you or not, make sure it’s empty and clean. If you’d like, this is one of the jobs a professional cleaning crew can take care of for you. Most of them specialize in move out cleanings that you do not have to worry about.

__ Get payments in order. Think of all the people you’re going to need to pay over the course of your move. In addition to the moving or truck rental company, you may have to pay for a hotel stay, and meals along the road. Go by the bank for any money orders, cashier’s checks, or cash you will need.

__ Enlist a babysitter. If you have young children or pets, make sure someone is looking out for them when the movers are there. Small children and pets are both tripping hazards for the movers and frankly, none of it is much fun for kids or pets.

__ Get generous. There are items — such as alcohol and plants — that a moving company cannot legally transport. Your current neighbors would probably love to be the recipients of both.

Day Of The Move

__ Verify moving company. If you have hired a moving company, make sure the USDOT number painted on the side of the truck matches the number on the written estimate. Verify that your not-to-exceed estimate is going to be honored.

__ Count boxes. Moving-related losses do happen. It’s not uncommon for moving companies to misplace a box or two. Carefully examine the packing slip before signing off on it. Do the same (with even more care) when your belongings are delivered. Once you’ve signed, you’re telling the company that they have delivered everything as promised. If you later realize that something was lost in transit you have no evidence to support your claim.

Like any journey, making the move to NYC begins one step at a time. The only task you need to focus on is the one right before you. Follow along with this checklist and you are sure to get everything done precisely when it should be.

Bottle of Dawn Ultra dish liquid used for heavy-duty grease removal during professional kitchen cleaning services
By Guest Contributor Cleaning Tips • Tips and Tricks 0 Comments

6 Household Chores That Should Only Be Done Once a Year

While you probably have a mile long list of household chores on your to-do list, they may not be on your want-to-do list. But the good thing about that some of these household chores could actually be on your not-have-to-do list. Doing some of these tasks more often than not is probably just making more work for yourself.

If you take the time to prioritize your household chores efficiently you’ll not only feel better about doing them, but you’ll be able to sort out what needs to be done versus what doesn’t need to be done. Ask yourself this “Do I really need to wash my curtains once a month? Or is this really making extra work for me?” It’s making extra work for you. Which is why it’s time to give yourself some more free time by doing chores by priority.

Here are 6 household chores that you only need to do once a year:

Clean The Gutters

Cleaning the gutters is everyone’s least favorite tasks. But this is one of the most important household tasks to be done once a year so we decided to put it first on the list. Clogged gutters can cause moisture damage to a roof and interior ceilings. It’s best to clean your clogged gutters in late fall after the leaves have fallen.

Clean Outdoor Furniture

Your outdoor furniture can easily be cleaned once per year under the assumption that you have been spot cleaning them year around when needed. If you have let dirt and stains set into them for months this task is going to be a little tougher for you. It might be achievable but it’s going to be tough nonetheless.

The best time to clean your outdoor furniture is in the spring. Outdoor furniture that is made out of plastic of some sort can easily be wiped down with a bucket of warm water and dish soap. While other outdoor furniture that made with fabric and cushions can be vacuumed, pre-treated for stain removal, and thrown in the washer. You want to make sure to check and make sure the label says washer safe prior to washing it. 

Dust The Linen Closet

Is cleaning or dusting the linen closet even on your to-do list? Probably not, but it should be. Once a year you should empty out your linen closet and vacuum all of the dust mites and spiders away.

Taking the extra time to empty and clean your linen closet gives you a chance to get organized for the months to come. After you’ve completely emptied it, dusted, and wipes the shelves down you can start to organize things. Keep your sheets, pillows, and blankets on one shelf and keep your towels and washrags on another. Or you could also organize by season, person, and accommodation. 

Re-organize Kitchen Cabinets 

It’s best to clean and re-organize your cabinets after the holidays during spring cleaning. Working in sections empty the cabinets completely. While emptying out the cabinets take a look at each item looking for expired items. This way you can get rid of the expired food and put things back using the FIFO method which means first in first out according to the expiration date.

Then you can wipe down the shelves and corners for dust if needed. Add some shelf paper if you don’t already have some. If you do you can just re-line the cabinet after you’ve wiped it out. It’s important to carefully examine cabinets when you’re cleaning them. Especially if there’s been food in them. You want to be on the lookout for things like mold and insect infestation. 

Sort Through Old Documents

As far as we have come into this paperless society we live in believe it or not documentation is still something we need to do. Taking the time to sort through our both physical and electronic documents is just another part of being an adult. Whether you are a self-employed business person or are working a 9-5 you need to take care of your files at least once a year.

This chore is usually done during tax season. But in order to ensure you are organized all year round you should be keeping all of your receipts, files, and documents in the same place. Consider getting an expandable file with labels to keep things in. This way you just throw the documents in there and worry about them when the time comes. 

Wash The Curtains

Remember at the beginning where I talked about not having to wash your curtains each month? It’s only necessary that you take down your curtains and wash them once, maybe twice a year. A good time to do this would be during spring cleaning and then later right before winter comes.

Doing this chore isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. You might think all that you have to do is take them down and throw them in the washer right? Not. Be sure to check the care instructions on the label before deciding to throw them into the washing machine. A lot of curtains or drapes need to be dry cleaned to remove heavy odors and stains. Washing them only runs the risk of damaging them.

If your curtains can be washed avoid high-heat in the dryer. In fact, you should remove them when they are slightly damp. And then you can iron them and rehang them. 
Bright living room with sofa, coffee table, indoor plants, and laptop on rug.
By Guest Contributor Tips and Tricks 12 Comments

Simple And Easy Home Cleaning Tips That You Need To Know

For people who do not have time off from their busy schedule and time to clean their home, then cleaning of the home and working on other tasks at home can be overwhelming. Most of the people coming home from a stressful day at work make them spend their time lazing around without any craving to do some cleaning work at home. After your busy weekdays when you come home makes you feel terrible to find a messy house. To make the task easy, you can schedule or divide chores over several days. So it is time to do home cleaning.

Here are some simple and easy cleaning tips and tricks that you need to know.

Schedule Your Work

Schedule the days you want to clean your house. The weekend is also the best time to do some cleaning as you are free from office work. Divide your work as per your convenience so that you will complete your chores making the home look clean and tidy without getting tired. Also, make sure that you have all the required janitorial supplies available at home. You can stock up janitorial supplies in wholesale quantity at your home so that it is always accessible whenever you need it. Remember that the more you allow chores to pile up then it will make your weekend worst as you have an enormous task at hand.

Try Mini-Cleaning

Try mini- cleaning techniques at your home, it can reduce the accumulated dirt and dust. Remove unnecessary items from your table, kitchen, sofa, room. This can be easily done while you are listening to music or having a relaxed time. Do instant cleaning when you see some dirt pilling up at the corners. Some essential, simple and quick method of wiping and dusting can help you to eliminate dust and make your room look clean and better.  

Bedroom Cleaning

The dirty sheets in your bedroom can give you a musty smell. Dust also gets accumulated in your sheets. This can cause irritation and allergies to you. So clean your bed sheets once in a week with some liquid laundry detergent. This will eliminate dust and odors, making your bedroom smell fresher. Also buying liquid laundry detergent in wholesale will help you to manage your cleaning budget.

Clean The Home Ceiling Fan

Cleaning a ceiling fan is really a messy task and it becomes difficult not to inhale dust particles whenever doing the task. So a great and simple way to clean the ceiling fan is by taking an old pillowcase and just slide it over the blade, then draw the fabric. This will help the dust to remain inside the pillowcase and to keep away from the nostrils. The dust will no longer spread everywhere in your room. If you can’t do it yourself, get a professional cleaning service.

Use Microfiber Cloths

Microfiber cloths trap the dust and help you to discard the dust particles all at once. On the other hand, normal clothes do not trap the dust, they just move the dust from one place to another and also make the dust to fly on the air.  You can also use a microfiber cloth for stainless steel appliances to give them a clean and good shine. But remember, if you’re going to clean stainless steel cookwear, use soap and warm water. If you don’t have soap on hand, you can clean your stainless steel pans with baking soda.

Rubber Gloves

You find a lot of hairs on your furniture, bed, carpets, sofa and also around your pets. Using a vacuum cleaner to remove the hairs may not completely work, so use a rubber glove and run it over the surface to trap the hairs completely.

Keep the Place Clean After Each Meal

Dirty worktops make your kitchen look disgusting. After having your meal or snack immediately wash the plates and cups used and load the dishes in its place, then wipe down the worktops in the kitchen with the help of a cloth and all-purpose cleaner.

Wipe Your Sinks and Taps

Soaps and toothpaste splatters, hairs, food residue etc in the bathroom looks awful. So use some disinfecting wipes and spend some time to clean the sinks and taps. You can just wipe off the things on the sinks and faucets every day and also teach your kids to this thing daily.   

Use Floor Mats

You can place floor mats in the entry of each room in your house as well as in the interior and exterior door. This helps in keeping most of the dust outside the house. And also train yourself and your kids to avoid wearing shoes in the house. Every few days you can shake or vacuum the floor mats outside your home to remove dust trap in it.  

Clean Air Vents

The air vents at the home are probably very dusty and dirty. First, remove the dust accumulated with a soft brush tool. Then take some soft cloth that you no longer use and soak them with a cleaning agent and wrap it around a small stick and clean the air vents.

Clean Your Pans

To clean your pans, simply put the pan in your sink with a soap solution, warm water, fabric softener and leave the combo for an hour, and when you pour water on it, then the mess on the pans will get easily wiped away.

Clean Your Computer

You can use a combination of water and rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle to clean your computer or use a screen cleaning spray. Spray the solution on the microfiber cloth and gently wipe it to remove the dust. Clean the keyboard and other things attached to the computer once a week. Use a paper shredder to arrange the paper works and other things properly which makes the room look clean and tidy, having some handy and small tools makes it easier to manage the tools.  

Frequently Asked Questions

How Can I Maintain a Clean Home Between Professional Cleanings in New York City?

Keeping your apartment fresh between professional visits doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Based on our years of experience providing home cleaning New York services, we’ve seen that the most successful approach involves focusing on high-traffic areas daily while letting the deep work happen during scheduled cleanings.

Start by spending just 10 minutes each evening doing a quick reset. Our cleaning crews notice that homes with simple daily habits—like wiping kitchen counters after dinner, hanging up clothes instead of piling them on chairs, and doing a quick bathroom sink wipe-down—stay fresher much longer. This means when we arrive for your deep cleaning NYC appointment, we can focus on the detailed work rather than basic maintenance.

One practical tip we share with clients is the “one-touch rule” for mail and packages. Deal with them immediately instead of letting paper piles grow on your kitchen table. For busy New Yorkers, we also recommend keeping disinfecting wipes in your bathroom for a 30-second daily wipe of the sink and toilet handle.

Maid Sailors customers tell us that simple habits combined with our regular professional service create the perfect balance. As one recent client shared, “Regular service gives us more time to enjoy NYC instead of cleaning! The peace of mind from recurring cleanings is priceless. Between visits, focus on the visible surfaces and let us handle the bathroom cleaning NYC tasks that require deep scrubbing, like tile grout and shower doors. This partnership approach means your home stays consistently clean without you feeling exhausted every weekend.”

Open-plan modern kitchen and dining area with island seating and waterfront view.
By Guest Contributor Tips and Tricks 2 Comments

Tips And Tricks To Choose House Cleaning Services

It becomes a big decision in choosing services for house cleaning. As this is what you are doing so you need to treat the process like an interview. To enter your most private and intimate space and to work with your most valuable possessions is for what you are hiring an individual or house cleaning services.

You need to evaluate the overall experience that your house cleaning or rubbish removal services provider can offer you and you also need to look at more than the cost per visit. Make a choice that meets your individual needs and also make sure that you take the time to evaluate your house cleaning provider.

Making sure that your house cleaning service provider is bonded and insured

This is a question which is most vital to ask. In most cases only up to $10,000 while your property insurance does extend some protection to you against an individual being hurt on your property. Insurance should be carried by a professional home cleaner who would help you to mitigate your risks as in most cases that might not be enough.

At the minimum they should have:

  • A general liability policy

  • Workman’s compensation

  • Full coverage auto

Workman’s compensation is the one that you really need to think about and this is the one that could be the most expensive. You could be on the hook to not only pay for injuries if someone gets hurt but also the lost wages as long as they are unable to work. A good service provider will provide copies of coverage upon request as hiring a house cleaner should be hassle-free.

Against the acts of dishonesty by the service provider and those in their employ, bonding is a guarantee. A good provider will have this coverage and would meet the steps required to keep this coverage in force while these types of bonds are not typically worth the paper they are written on. They also have a theft and loss prevention policy in place and they are more likely to screen their employees thoroughly.

Will they offer a guarantee?

But a good company will. It should be at the very least being accessible from their website once you ask for a copy of their guarantee. If you contact the provider within a specified time frame which is usually 24 hours, a strong guarantee will provide you with a thorough clean of items found to be deficient in your scheduled cleaning.

Reasons behind a scheduled cleaning:

When hiring a house cleaning service there are many advantages of a scheduled cleaning:

  • For a busy schedule, this is perfect. When you have a busy schedule, hiring a house cleaner is the best solution. You will not have to worry about it as such a service will clean your home.
  • You can focus on other things. On the other important aspects of your life booking a scheduled cleaning will allow you to focus instead of worrying about the cleaning itself.
  • You enter a home in a much cleaner way. Your house is made much more relaxing and aesthetically pleasing and this also makes your life a more enjoyable one.
  • Regular cleaning ensured by the contractor. You get a regular home cleaning usually at a specific rate when you hire a house cleaning service and sign a contract.
  • They are easy to find. As there are many cleaning contractors in the area, finding a home cleaner is much easier.
  • Trusting their experience. A great deal of experience in the cleaning industry is what a pro house cleaner can offer and these results to amazing services.
  • Trusting their expertise. Because of the extensive training on how to use cleaning equipment and solutions properly, most cleaning pros are experts at what they do.

The types of cleaning solutions they offer

You need to ensure that your cleaning company provides all of the best cleaning solutions, supplies, vacuum, and everything. If you run out of something you are not running around looking for supplies this way. You want a transparent experience that is hassle-free as the point here is. Also, know about the cross contamination policies. The color coding and policies are all in place that avoids contaminating the clean surfaces and this is what a good cleaning service will have.

With the cleaning solutions that are used also ask if your service provider will “go green”. There are much better options than traditional bleach, ammonia, and various petrochemicals are used. So, demand the one which is better.

How would they screen people who are cleaning your home?

For hiring new people, a good company will have a process. With an application, a phone interview, and a finally in-person interview is what included in the process. It is mandatory for a reference check and prior employment verification. It should also be conducted for the federal and local background.

How much will they charge?

For your initial cleaning and for the ongoing service, ask for a quote. You both are on the same page with this. You will also be provided with a place to verify what is included in your cleaning service by a service provider.

Maid Sailors professional using a vacuum hose to reach under a piece of furniture to remove dust bunnies
By Guest Contributor Cleaning Tips • Tips and Tricks 0 Comments

Easy Ways To Clean The Places You Can Never Reach

The cleaning method out of sight, out of mind doesn’t quite work for families with allergies. Sure ignoring those places you can never reach is easier but it’s not cleaner. You know it’s in everyone’s benefit including yours if you take the time to clean them. Not only will you reduce the household dust you will kill allergy causing bacteria while you’re at it.

How to clean the places you can never reach:

Behind The Toilet

Simply taking a mop to the back of the toilet just doesn’t work. In fact, cleaning behind the toilet is often a very difficult household task. But it needs to be done. So grab some knee pads and rubber gloves and get to work.

Take a dry stiff brush to remove loose dust, hair, and any other loose soil from the back of the toilet and the baseboard. Use the crevice tool that came with your vacuum to suck away the debris. Then take a soft brush, a microfiber cloth, or a sponge dipped in warm water and a disinfectant cleaner to wipe down the area including the back of the toilet base.

Blinds

Start by closing your blinds to one side and begin dusting them with an extendable static duster. Then reverse and direction of the blinds and dust the other side. To clean hard stuck dust from your blinds first dust with your static duster. Next, spray some dusting spray on them and let it sit for 30 seconds. While you wait proceed to clean off your static duster. And then continue to take your clean duster to your blinds wiping off the rest of the dust.

Door Tracks

Start by vacuuming the tracks with you crevice tool. Remove as much debris and grime as you can with the vacuum. Then mix a solution of two cups warm water, one teaspoon dishwashing liquid along with one teaspoon of household ammonia. Taking a flexible stiff bristled brush begin scrubbing out the tracks and then rinse with plain water.

If you are working on shower door tracks it may be helpful to add some vinegar in order to remove the soap scum. Of course, this depends on the type of material your shower door is made with. If you are unsure you can always test a small area of the track to ensure no damage will be done. The more you do this tasks, the easier it will be to clean in the future.

Heat Ducts

Here’s another thing you can use that crevice tool for. Isn’t the vacuum just a wonderful thing? By taking your crevice tool you can easily suck out all of the dust from your vents without any problems. No matter if the vents are high, low, or hidden behind furniture you can easily slide the hose up to the vent for an immediate cleaning. 

The Garbage Disposal

Nobody ever thinks about cleaning the garbage disposal until it starts to smell. And even then you might not know how to really clean it. Start by turning on the disposal allowing it to get out any extra debris that may be sitting in there. Let some warm water run down it for 20 to 30 seconds after turning off the disposal to help flush the rest of the grime away.

When cleaning your garbage disposal you never want to stick anything down there. No scrubbers, no brushes, and most importantly no hands. If you smell a bad odor coming from the garbage disposal add a couple of lemon slices (small) and a cup of baking soda. Allow that to sit for a little while and then you can flush it out by turning it on and running cold water down the drain.

Tall Appliances, Cabinets, & Furniture

An extendable static duster is your best friend for this task. Make sure you get one with a pivoting head so that you can adjust the angle to reach to the tops really tall pieces of furniture. If you still cannot reach it with an extendable duster, just grab a step stool to help you out.

When coming in contact with an area that contains a mass amount of stuck on dust you can do one of two things. One you can try the method we discussed for using your blinds. Or option two is that using your step stool you take a bucket of warm water, surface cleaner, and warm water and microfiber rag to the surface. When using the second method be sure to dry the surface with a nice dry cloth to prevent more dust from setting to the wet surface.

When it comes to cleaning places that you can never reach it’s crucial that you give them a good cleaning when you can reach them. Doing this a couple of times a year will not only make it easier for you, it will prevent buildup in those areas. A clean home is a happy home!
Vintage glass bottles labeled “Pure Glycerine, U.S.P.” on a countertop
By Guest Contributor General Information • Tips and Tricks 0 Comments

6 Common Household Chemicals that Don’t Play well Together

Often times people think that just because two products work that they will work even better if you combine them. I’m here to tell you today that that couldn’t be further from the truth. There are certain household products and chemicals that when mixed together create nothing but toxic chemical reactions. And even if it doesn’t produce a chemical reaction, you never know what type of effect it will have on the surface you plan to use it on. For your safety, and the safety of those around you, make sure you always read the product label and never mix the following products:

Acetaminophen & Alcohol

Two words, liver failure. Drinking alcohol activates enzymes. These enzymes can transform acetaminophen into chemicals that can cause liver failure. But just so we’re clear, you shouldn’t be mixing alcohol with anything. 

Ammonia & Bleach

When mixed together bleach and ammonia can create an extremely toxic gas called chloramine. Similar to mixing bleach and vinegar which we discuss below, this mixture can cause an array of health complications. You may experience shortness of breath and chest pains if exposed to the combination of ammonia and bleach.

Pro Tip : Never mix bleach with anything besides cold water.

Batteries 

There’s a reason batteries are sold in packs. Different brands of batteries contain different chemical compounds. If one of the batteries inside your device were to die and you switched it out for another one (different brand), the original battery could continue dispatching electricity into the device cause the batteries to leak. Boy was that a mouthful. If you have two different batteries inside a device that are leaking into it, you’re exposing that electronic device to potential damage.

Bleach & Vinegar 

Bleach and vinegar are probably the two strongest chemicals in your house. That may be the case when you use them separately. But mixing these two products can produce a toxic chlorine gas known to cause respiratory issues, burning, and watery eyes.

Ibuprofen & Alcohol 

Taking ibuprofen while consuming alcohol can cause stomach ulcers and tears in the stomach lining. Alcohol only
increases the risks. The only time you should be taking ibuprofen is on a full stomach with a glass of water.

Rubbing Alcohol & Bleach

Anyone who watches 20/20 probably knows what this mixture produces a little to well. Rubbing alcohol and bleached combined together creates chloroform. Although it takes a lot of each chemical to produce a deadly chloroform, the combination can still be toxic to the body causing respiratory problems and severe inflammation.
Colorful multi-purpose spray bottles, the variety of professional tools Maid Sailors uses for residential cleaning
By Guest Contributor Cleaning Tips • Tips and Tricks 2 Comments

Clean Out Your Apartment, Not Your Wallet – Your Guide to Buying Cleaning Supplies

Money may not buy happiness, but one thing is clear: careful budgeting is one of the secrets to a happy family. Lots of the items available in stores today have a high cost; if you don’t plan carefully and truly assess your needs, you may be overpaying for fancy, shiny things you don’t need. You won’t be cleaning every day (if you plan on it, please contact Maid Sailors for employment opportunities), so your strategy should be as follows: invest in high-quality products that will serve as “necessities” which will ultimately preserve the hygiene of your living space.

We’re here to upgrade your cleaning kit on a tight budget; consider the following factors: What do you need? What can you do without? How big is your living space? Keep these in mind as you read through the following three thrifty tips (do you like what we did there?).

1. Plan at home to buy the things you actually need

While this sounds obvious, once you walk into Home Depot / Duane Reade / Walgreens / Wherever, you will be bombarded by colorful logos and advanced engineering. The cleaning products space is very competitive and many products exist – to make matters worse, many of these products are advertised as “necessary.” To ensure you don’t blow your rent, make a list of the things you need while you’re still at home. Brushes and brooms? Window cleaners? Sponges and rags? While you’re in the shop, religiously stick to buying these items only. Also, remember to google quickly for discounts and special offers – these products are generally occupying space at various hardware and department stores and owners will often provide valuable discounts in order to clear shelf space. Here are some further tips for common household cleaning items:

  • Sponges and wipes: buy reusable only; non-reusable products will require you to do lots of shopping every week (which will make your salary disappear)
  • Buckets: Buy 1 or 2 max
  • Brushes: Buy 1 or 2 max

2. Buy in bulk

Cleaning isn’t like online dating – it requires dedication and it’s a task you’re married to for life (as depressing as that may sound). Thus, keep in mind that it’s always cheaper to buy in bulk now than it will be to make the same smaller purchase multiple times down the road. Ultimately, if you buy in bulk, you’ll save money. Determine which common items you’ll be “running out of” over the next few weeks/months (e.g. detergent, wipes, soap, paper towels). Instead of buying smaller bottles, look for larger ones and see if they’re less expensive per unit of volume. Not only will you save money on a per unit basis, you’ll eventually reduce waste – a win/win situation for both your wallet and Planet Earth.

Lastly, always keep in mind the lessons of tip 1. If there is something you don’t need, don’t buy it just because they offer bigger quantities of that product at your local store. It’s also a good idea to compare prices in different shops for larger quantities (e.g. if you know you’re going to be making big purchases, may be worth it to make the trip to Costco after all).

3. Remain eco-friendly

It’s been known for years that commercial products are fraught with all sorts of chemicals that put our health at risk and pollute the environment. Even though many companies try to hide the dangerous substances they use to make their products, it’s obvious you need to be wary of the cleaning solutions you purchase: harmful ingredients in these products can trigger many health problems such as lung diseases, skin problems, eye problems and even cancer.

Alternatively, “green cleaning” is safer, more affordable and ultimately a long-term money-saver (especially when long-term health risks are in the picture); from our perspective, eco-friendly products are a necessity if you have children, multiple roommates, and/or pets.

Some examples of cheap, effective and natural products are as follows: salt, lemon juice, white vinegar and baking soda. While that list may surprise you, remember that these natural products are just as effective as every-day chemical cleaners – for heavy duty cleaning, make sure to call a professional (like Maid Sailors). Further, if you want to get creative (on a budget), feel free to google for cleaning recipes that will help you prepare the right cleaning solution using the aforementioned natural ingredients. A small investment of time = large savings of cash.

Stacked cardboard moving boxes on wooden floor for home relocation.
By Joseph Passalacqua General Information • Tips and Tricks 6 Comments

A Complete Guide To Tipping Your Movers

It’s no secret that moving can be costly. This is especially true if you’re moving a long distance or if you have a lot of belongings to transport from point A to point B. For many people who are planning a move, however, hiring a team of professional movers can be some of the best money spent. When you hire movers, you can enjoy the convenience and peace of mind that comes with having experienced professionals handling your furniture, boxes, and other heavy items. Meanwhile, you don’t need to lift a finger on moving day!

Of course, hiring movers and home cleaning services can also be expensive. With many moving companies charging by the hour, it’s not uncommon to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on professional moving services. This, combined with all the other costs that come along with moving, may have you wondering whether you need to tip your movers—and if so, how large of a tip you should leave them.

Should You Tip Your Movers?

In general, you should plan to tip your movers. However, there are some (less common) circumstances where this may not be the case. When you receive an estimate from your moving company, check to see if a gratuity has already been included with your quote. Some moving companies will default to include a 20% tip. If this is the case, then you will not be expected to offer any additional gratuity to your moving team on the day of your move.

Some moving companies may include a tip with your quote but may not be as obvious about it. Specifically, look for a “service charge” on your estimate. If you see one, contact the moving company directly to find out what this charge covers. In many cases, it will cover gratuity and you will not be expected to tip anything additional.

Finally, if you’re hiring a small moving company to handle your relocation, you may not need to tip if the people coming out to handle your move are also the owners of the company. In these cases, it is generally expected that the owner would quote you a price that would include a gratuity.

Unless any of these uncommon circumstances apply to your move, however, you should expect to tip your movers. Even though most moving companies pay their workers an hourly wage, these professionals still rely pretty heavily on tips. And when you think about all the back-breaking work they’re saving you from doing, it’s only fair to throw a few extra dollars their way for a job well done.

Of course, if you receive especially poor service on your moving day or if your movers are careless enough to damage any of your items during the move, you may want to reconsider whether you wish to leave a gratuity. So long as you take the time to research moving companies and choose a reputable one with good reviews, however, this shouldn’t be an issue.

How Much Should You Tip Your Movers?

Now that it’s established that you’ll almost always want to tip your movers, the next question is, “how much should you tip them?” This can be difficult to decide and will really depend on the specific circumstances of your move. In general, however, you should expect to tip at least 10% of your total bill. This means if you’re spending $500 on your moving service, you should expect to leave about a $50 tip.

Of course, the complexity of your move and the quality of the service received should also be taken into consideration when deciding how much to tip your movers. If you had a relatively simple move across town from a small apartment into another relatively small apartment, then you probably don’t need to tip much more than the industry standard unless you received some really outstanding service.

On the other hand, if your moving team expertly handled a long-distance move or successfully moved you out of your four-bedroom house into another large home, you may want to throw some extra gratuity their way. The same applies if they handled any especially large, awkward, or difficult items without damaging them.

And since many moving companies charge by the hour, be sure to consider how efficiently your movers were when determining how much to tip them. If they seemed to be working hard non-stop for the entire time you hired them, they probably saved you a bit of money with their efficiency and may thus deserve a little extra gratuity.

When Should You Tip Your Movers?

While some moving companies include a gratuity with your quote, it is generally best to wait until after your move is complete to distribute any tips. After all, you should be tipping based on the quality of the service received. If your movers already know they’re going to receive a decent tip before they even get to work, one of two things could happen. They could be happy with the tip they’re anticipating and provide excellent service as a token of gratitude, or they could slack a little in their service with the knowledge that they’re going to be tipped the same amount no matter what.

With this in mind, it’s generally best to wait until after the move to tip your moving crew. If you’ve hired a moving company that has included a tip with your quote, don’t hesitate to ask them to remove the gratuity; let them know that you’ll tip your moving team at the end of the day based on the quality of service provided. Any reputable moving company should be happy to accommodate this request.

How Should Tips Be Distributed?

Another potentially confusing aspect of tipping professional movers is how to distribute the tips themselves. If you have a team of several movers, for example, you may be unsure as to whether you should tip them individually or provide a large tip to the supervisor to distribute at the end of the day.

The answer to this question can vary, but always be sure to use your best judgment. The best way to ensure that everybody on the moving team receives the tip amount you intended is to personally tip each individual mover. This can also be recommended if you noticed that one mover seemed to be going above and beyond; in this case, you might want to tip him or her directly and slip a few extra dollars to him or her.

Another idea to keep in mind is to tip your movers a little at the start of the day and offer an additional tip when the move is complete. This can provide them with some incentive to work hard and provide you with the best service possible.

Other Tipping Considerations

Each move is unique, so there is really no universal answer to the question of how much you should tip your moving team. As you reflect on the service you received from your moving team, there are some considerations to keep in mind that may help you decide on an appropriate tip amount. Check our Postmates tipping and maid service tipping guides to get a better idea about tipping considerations.

For starters, did the workers arrive to your agreed-upon located on time? Were they professional and friendly? You’ll also want to take note of how much care they exercise when handling and loading up your items. For example, if they took the time to lay down flooring protectors or wrapped your furniture to protect it from scratches, this might be considered going above and beyond and thus may warrant an additional tip.

If you’re paying by-the-hour for your move, did your moving team seem respectful of your time? For example, did they have you sign off on their lunch break to ensure that you weren’t charged for time when they weren’t working? Did they seem to be working diligently or did they seem to be taking their time?

Other Moving-Day Etiquette

In addition to providing a fair tip to your moving team, there are some other etiquette tips to keep in mind as your moving day approaches.

Start by making sure that you’re prepared for your move so you’re not wasting your moving team’s time (and your hard-earned money). This means you shouldn’t still be packing boxes when your moving team arrives. You should also make sure your movers have a clear and safe pathway to and from the door where they’ll be loading your belongings.

If your team has worked especially hard, you can also show them your appreciation by offering some light refreshments and/or snacks. This shouldn’t be done in lieu of a tip, but in addition to any gratuity. Even a few bottles of water will be very much appreciated by your movers on a hot day.

Make Your Next Move a Breeze

In addition to hiring professional movers, you can also streamline your upcoming New York City move by turning to Maid Sailors for your move-in/move-out cleaning services. Contact us today to request a quote or book your service online in as little as 60 seconds!

Woman wearing a baby carrier while washing dishes in a kitchen.
By Guest Contributor Cleaning Tips • Tips and Tricks 0 Comments

Cleaning with a Newborn in the House (Tips for Stay at Home Moms)

How to make your life easier cleaning with a newborn in the house

It’s easy to blame the lack of tidiness in your home on the fact that you have a newborn to take care of. Newborns need a lot of time and attention. So much that they might actually be the reason the house is a mess (of course, we won’t’ tell them that!)

 

As a mom to a newborn, you have to learn to prioritize your daily schedule. That includes cleaning the house. It’s important that you try and commit to a cleaning routine as early as you can. This way you won’t get stuck in the habit of taking care of the baby and nothing else.

 

Here are some tips and tricks to help you tackle the mess:

Use Plastic Serveware

The first few weeks with a newborn are quite the adjustment. You’re learning how to care for someone else and yourself all over again. No one expects you to have everything all figured out right now. Take some of the pressure off of yourself. Consider using plastic products to help cut dishwashing time in half. 

Take Advantage of Nap Time

You might be tempted to nap with your newborn but you’d be surprised at how much you can accomplish in just a short amount of time. While the baby is napping, instead of joining them, try completing a few of those chores that have been piling up. Throw a load of laundry in the wash, wipe down the bathroom, and do some light dusting.

One Thing at a Time

As a mom, it’s easy to pile everything on your plate at once. But don’t feel compelled to finish everything at once. Take each day as it comes, tackling one thing at a time. The more you do this, the easier it becomes. If you’re a new mom, one thing you’ll learn is that you know have to work around someone else’s schedule. And that’s ok. Just take a deep breath and understand that you will accomplish what you need to accomplish when the time is right.

Use Cleaning Caddies

Cleaning caddies or cleaning baskets are the best things to have in the house if you have a newborn. They make it easy for you to find the cleaning product you need and wipe down any surface quickly. If you don’t have a cleaning basket, you can easily make one, fill it with all of your favorite green cleaning products and stick it under the sink.

Utilize the Baby Sling

In the event that you’re newborn is not napping and they want to be held, a baby sling makes anything easy. It’s a great way to get some cuddle time in while completing all your household chores at the same time. Just strap the baby to your chest and go on with your business. 

Consider Using a Diffuser

There are many benefits to diffusing essential oils in your home. But one of the main benefits of it is that it provides clean, mold-free air to your home. Certain essential oils like lemon and sweet orange, kill and prevent mold growth while providing you with wonderful mood-boosting smells. (Essential oils are also great for new moms with postpartum depression.)
Bowls of baking soda and grated soap bar on a wooden surface used by Maid Sailors
By Guest Contributor Do It Yourself • Tips and Tricks 1 Comment

Do it Yourself Laundry Detergent

Since conventional laundry detergent is loaded with phenols, allergenic fragrances, and more people everywhere are turning to homemade cleaning products to risk harsh chemicals and toxins being exposed to their families. Do it yourself products are the first step in transitioning into natural living. Are you ready to make the transition?

Making your own laundry detergent is cheap, easy, and fun. You can make either liquid or powder detergent. And you can even make your own scent. The possibilities are endless when it comes to making your own laundry detergent. That’s the fun of do it yourself projects. 

Base Ingredients: 

  • Arm & Hammer washing soda
  • Borax
  • Fels-Naptha

Do it Yourself Powder Laundry Soap

  • Step 1: Grate one Fels-Naptha bar with a cheese grater or food processor until finely ground.  
  • Step 2: In a separate bowl, mix 1 cup of washing soda with 1 cup Borax. Add in 1 part of your grated soap. Then you can add in scent boosters or essential oils to enhance your detergent.
  • Step 3: Store in a closed container like half gallon mason jars. 

Note: Use 1/2 to 1 cup per load.

Do it Yourself Liquid Laundry Soap

  • Step 1: Grate one bar of Fels-Naptha with a cheese grater or food processor until finely ground.
  • Step 2: Place grated soap in a pan with 2 quarts water. Gradually heat and stir constantly until soap is completely dissolved.
  • Step 3: Take 4. 5 gallons of hot water and place it in a 5-gallon bucket. Then stir in 2 cups of borax and 2 cups of Washing Soda. Stir until completely dissolved.
  • Step 4: Add soap mixture from pan into 5-gallon bucket stirring well.
  • Step 5: Cover and let sit overnight.
  • Step 6: The next morning you can stir your mixture until it’s smooth and then pour it into a gallon jug or another container of your choosing.

Note: Use 1/2 to 1 cup per load.

Pro Tip: When you stir your mixture in the morning try adding your favorite essential oils for a greatly scented detergent. You don’t want to add the oils until after you’ve boiled the mixture so the scent doesn’t dissolve away.
Have you done this before? Do you have another great recipe for making your own laundry detergent? That’s great! Let us know and you could be featured in our next blog post! We are always looking for new and innovative ideas for the home to write about that include DIY , green cleaning , fun how-to’s , and home organization.