By Sam Simon Cleaning Company • Cleaning Tips • Do It Yourself 2 Comments

4 Cardinal Maid Service Etiquette Homeowners Need to Observe

The home is one of a person’s greatest sources of comfort. However, its aura of comfort lessens every time its owners leave it cluttered, dusty, and disorganized. Although homeowners are responsible for keeping their houses clean, not everybody has the time to take up a broom and a feather duster and start tidying things up. This is where housecleaning services enter.

If you are planning to hire a house cleaning crew and this is your first time in doing so, it will not hurt you to observe the common maid service etiquette in dealing with the cleaning person you plan to hire. The following are few of the basic manners to apply.

Etiquette #1: Be professional when dealing with maid service personnel

Treat your cleaning crew the way you treat any professional. Applying that specific maid service etiquette will prove your maturity in handling issues. Avoid being rude and instead, be polite when giving them specific instructions on how you want your house to be cleaned. If you have an issue with their cleaning methods, tell them directly, but do not include abusive manner such as shouting or hitting. If they are still not taking your specific instructions seriously, it is a maid service etiquette to contact their agency directly. Their agency will be the one to give them a penalty. You do not have to exert effort in shouting at or scolding the house cleaning personnel.

Etiquette #2: Acknowledge the maid service staff for a job well done

This is probably the maid service etiquette that is mostly ignored by homeowners. After a hard day’s work, a simple thank you is enough to make your house cleaner feel acknowledged. What they do is hard labor, but most of them do not really mind the work. It is their own observance of maid service etiquette that prevents them to complain. However, letting them know that you are thankful for their presence.

Etiquette #3: Show respect

Next to trust, showing respect to cleaning persons is one of the best maid service etiquette you can show to them. Furthermore, showing respect not only to your superiors but to those who work for you as well reflects the kind of person you are. In the end, it is not about maid service etiquette anymore. You are respecting the status of the people you meet, and that is saying something about your character. This etiquette is especially important when hiring a nude maid service.

Etiquette #4: Develop and nurture mutual trust

When you have repeatedly hired the same house cleaning person for months, it is time to develop a trust. It is normal to be cautious at first because that cleaning person is still a stranger to you. However, as time passes and he or she has proven that he or she does the job well and is trustworthy, then you can loosen up your tension. This is another form of maid service etiquette. You can trust that your house cleaner can do and will do the job with satisfying results. Of course, your house cleaner most likely trusts you from the start, given that you deliver payments on time. By the way, that is also an important maid service etiquette that you have to observe—on-time payment for their rendered services.

By Guest Contributor Cleaning Tips • Do It Yourself 18 Comments

3 Tips for Cleaning Grout

What is Grout?

Grout is the mixture of cement, water, and sand that is used to keep the tiles in place.That’s all it is. But you may notice that the tiles in your bathroom shower, and dining room and kitchen floors, can get pretty dirty. Sometimes cleaning grout in tiles with a mop just isn’t enough. If the grout is in your shower, well then it’s nearly impossible to mop your shower wall. Unless you’re trying to pull your back out. In that case, it might work for you.

Cleaning your tiles regularly will prevent heavy buildup and make deep cleaning grout much easier. Below are the deep cleaning methods I want to share with you. So just keep in mind, that you should still be cleaning regularly, whether that means mopping the floor or wiping down your shower walls.

Cleaning Methods

For centuries, homeowners were searching for an easy technique to help them clean their tiles properly. So they began to create their own. And low and behold, they work! People started to use cheap yet effective materials to avoid putting a dent in their budget, and in their back. Aside from the ingredients listed below, one of the main things you should have when attempting these methods is a toothbrush. I promise you, it’s a lifesaver.

  • Vinegar and Ammonia

To make this solution, you’ll need white vinegar (1/4 cup), baking soda (1/2), ammonia (1/3 cup) and warm water (7 cups). Mix them together slowly until the baking soda has dissolved. Take an empty spray bottle and fill it up with the solution. Cover the tiles in small areas, about 1-2 square feet each. Spray on the grout and allow the solution to sleep in for roughly 5 minutes. When the grout is damp enough, use your toothbrush (see why I said it’s a lifesaver?) to scrub the area. You may have to put in a little elbow grease until the dirt comes off.

Create a paste in a small bowl, using baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. Make sure that the thickness is consistent. You don’t want it too watery so try to balance the ingredients with a 1:1 ratio. Have your toothbrush ready and begin to spread the mixture over the area. Cover small areas until you have covered the grout. Let the paste set for 10 minutes so it can better coat the grout. After the allotted time, scrub the grout firmly with the toothbrush. When you have covered every tile, do a regular cleanup again with vinegar and water.

  • Oxygen Bleach

In a small bowl, prepare a mixture of oxygen bleach. Bear in mind that the oxygen bleach is not a toxic material. It is considered a safe bleaching compound which can whiten grout while dissolving grime and bacteria. Pour warm water into the bowl and pour a considerable amount of oxygen bleach. Mix it until the powder has dissolved. Transfer the liquid into aspray bottle covering the area you will be working on. Let the solution sit on the grout for 20 minutes, and scrub with your toothbrush.

Important Note: Do not your solutions remain the grout. After each deep clean and scrub, get a damp cloth with vinegar and wipe the tiles clean.

By Guest Contributor Cleaning Tips • Do It Yourself 4 Comments

Why You Should Have A Daily Cleaning Schedule

Keeping up a clean house with kids around can be a challenge for any parent. There are some days where the messes are so overwhelming that you just want to wave the white flag. The key is to create a cleaning schedule that will allow you to tidy up on a daily basis. When you regularly tackle those daily tasks, it makes doing a deep cleaning much easier, and you’ll feel less stressed in your home. If you have a home office, make sure you follow this schedule for your office cleaning as well.

Daily Quick Fixes by Room

Kitchen

With cooking, eating, and snack and meal prep, the kitchen is bound to get messy several times a day.

  • Hand wash dishes after each meal/snack, or rinse and load in the dishwasher
  • Wipe down counters
  • Sweep up floors
  • Clean the stovetop with spray and paper towels or a cleaning cloth
  • Disinfect the sink by spraying/wiping it down

Bedrooms

Depending on how old the children are, they may be making messes in their bedrooms throughout the day. Save the major cleanup for the evenings, preferably before bath time and the bedtime routine.

  • Make Beds
  • Pick up dirty laundry and get it into the hamper
  • Put away clutter in the master bedroom and tidy up

Bathrooms

You want your bathroom to be neat and clean on a daily basis because it just looks and feels fresh that way. Do a standard cleaning at least once a week.

  • Pick up any dirty clothes and towels and put in the hamper
  • Wipe down countertops and sink
  • Empty trash bins
  • Tidy up the tub by putting bath toys back in their storage area

Entryway/Hallway

High traffic areas like the entryway and hallways should always be picked up and neat, not only so that they look good, but also for safety.

  • Get shoes put away neatly
  • Hang up book bags and coats
  • Pick up any clutter from the floor

Living Room/Family Room

The family room or living room is an area that usually gets a lot of use during the day if you have young children at home.

  • Pick up clutter and tidy up
  • Run the vacuum, or sweep if you have tile or hardwood floors
  • Straighten up tabletops, put away toys

Get The Kids Involved

No matter how old your kids are, they should be helping out with the daily cleaning of the home. You may opt to assign them specific chores, or you may just make it clear that you have certain expectations for what will be done on a daily basis. For example, with older children, it is absolutely reasonable to have them make their beds and tidy up their rooms, clean up their dishes in the kitchen, and make sure that their dirty laundry makes it into the hamper.

You children often love to help their parents clean and straighten up, especially if it is made into a game. Turn tidying up into an activity to get the little ones into the habit of picking up their toys and putting them away. This is a great thing to do either before or after dinner time since that’s before the bedtime routine.

Deep Cleaning Schedule For The Week

Since you’ll be keeping up with the basic daily tasks, a weekly deep cleaning should not be as stressful or time-consuming. Each day can have certain deep cleaning tasks assigned, so that this way, you will not have to dedicate an entire afternoon to do the dirty work.

Monday

  • Dust bedrooms and main living area
  • Vacuum bedrooms
  • Go through mail and paperwork that has been building up
  • Empty trash bins

Tuesday

  • Do a deep cleaning in the kitchen- scrub appliances, the sink, clean up the outside and inside of the trash can, wipe down cabinets
  • Clean out the refrigerator and toss any old or expired foods
  • Wipe down the inside of the refrigerator
  • Sweep and mop kitchen floor
  • Dust the dining room and kitchen

Wednesday

  • Dust the living room
  • Tackle laundry by washing and putting away clean clothes

Thursday

  • Empty trash bins
  • Vacuum the living room and bedrooms

Friday

  • Start preparing for the upcoming week by taking care of any small jobs that may have been overlooked
  • Gather papers for the recycle bin
  • Go through mail and clutter that’s been tossed aside throughout the week
  • Create a meal plan for the upcoming week

Saturday

  • Tackle any big cleanup projects, such as cleaning and organizing the garage, basement, or attic
  • Do any organizing projects, such as going through cabinets, changing out seasonal clothing, and cleaning out closets

Sunday

  • Change bed linens and make all beds with clean sheets
  • Deep clean the bathroom- Scrub down toilets, bathtubs/showers, and floors
  • Empty bathroom trash and wipe down the wastebasket
  • Clean up any clutter in the bathroom
  • Dust shelves and fixtures in bathroom

Extra: Helpful Tips to Get Kids Helping Around the House

Obviously, age is a factor when it comes to getting the kids in on the daily and weekly cleaning schedule. For school-age kids, they should be helping out by keeping their bedrooms neat. If the children have their own bathroom and are old enough to use cleaning supplies, show them how to properly clean the tub, toilet, and sink. There are plenty of safe and natural cleaning products that you can use today, and they will do a great job of cleaning and disinfecting.

Children are able to help keep some areas of the home tidy. Make sure that they put away their footwear, backpacks, and coats when they come home from school. For younger children, set a timer for 5 or 10 minutes and do a quick cleanup race with them.

Once you get into the habit of tackling your daily tasks, you won’t have to stress about cleaning or give it much thought. By doing daily cleanup chores, your home will stay fresh and be inviting throughout the week. Save yourself from the stress of a messy home and the overwhelming prospect of spending a whole day doing a deep cleaning. With this helpful and handy guide, the whole family can help keep your living space pleasant.