House Cleaners and Waxes

House Cleaners and Waxes

When you're a working professional, you sometimes need a fairy Godmother to help you with your housework, especially if a holiday like Christmas or Easter is fast approaching. Setting everything in order, making sure the brass is polished, the wood is clean, the furniture fabric is dust-free, and keeping the floor and the walls spic 'n span is no walk in the park kind of job. It requires a little toil and getting your hands dirty, however, with the following home cleaning advice, you will be able to optimize your work and get the desired results with you not exerting yourself too much.

Create a Checklist
First things first, you need to go about it with a plan in mind. Sit down and give this a thought - how much time can you dedicate to cleaning? With this in mind you can structure your chores, which means that the cleaning will be performed in an orderly fashion, which is important, because haphazard plans can increase frustration if a particular part of the house is missed. You can refer to this cleaning schedule to get an example of how you should go about formulating a plan.

1. Avoid Distractions: Try to start cleaning at such a time when there are no distractions whatsoever, and that includes keeping the television off too. This is because cleaning is hard-work hence, any sort of distraction is going to be welcomed by you which is going to either interrupt what you're doing, or completely stop it.

2. Throw Away Unnecessary Stuff: A very big hindrance to keeping a place clean and tidy is clutter. The more useless stuff you harbor in your house, the more demotivated you're going to get from cleaning your house. Hence just chuck everything that you don't need and start afresh.

Areas to Clean
1. Bathroom Cleaning: Disinfectants can be used for any object in the bathroom, except the mirror. Immediately after having a bath or a shower, clean the bathroom, as it is already heated by the steam. The walls, tiles, and the grit stone will clean more easily, as steam softens soil and gunk. In order to remove light colored stains, rub the wash basin with a fresh sliced lemon. Dark stains such as rust stains can be removed by using a solution made of borax and lemon. Clean the toilet by first pouring half a cup of bleach into it and then letting it take action. After giving it a few minutes, flush the commode and the area where you applied the bleach.

2. Window Cleaning: Clean the windows on a cloudy day, but not a rainy one. At the same time, if you clean your windows in the direct light of the sun, traces will appear on the window, as the cleaning solution will dry even before you start to wipe it off. Most professional window cleaners use cold and clean water. If the windows are very dirty, add 2-3 spoons of vinegar to every liter of water. In order to dry the windows, newspaper is as efficient as paper towels which are actually quite expensive. Protect your hands by wearing rubber gloves.

3. Floor Cleaning: Wooden Floors: If done right, hardwood floors are the easiest to clean and maintain. To get it done right get a special wood cleaning solution and a lightweight mop, something like a micro-fiber dust mop.

4. Vinyl Floors: Such floors need to be cleaned in such a way that they don't lose their shine. Hence you have to use a cleaner with a PH value that is neutral.

5. Stone Floors: Being the hardiest type of floor, once installed, it never needs to be replaced. That's also the reason why you have to maintain it properly. Basically any kind of cleaner will do for this type.

6. Kitchen Cleaning: The two most important things that need to be washed on a daily basis are the utensils and the counter-top. Here's one important cleaning tip for your kitchen - never ever leave your utensils pending for a wash, because (i) it's unhygienic hence unhealthy and (ii) dry gunk takes a longer time and requires more effort to be scrubbed off. In the weekends remember to empty the refrigerator of all the spoiled food and just run a wet cloth inside. The sink too will require your attention because the constant moisture will encourage growth of fungus.

7. Cleaning Stains on Carpets: Clean the stains immediately, before they dry. You'll have more of a chance to remove them if you attend to the stain as soon as it was made. Use a dish detergent for stains on the carpet. It does not contain chlorine, will dissolve the dirt very well, and it does not whiten the carpet. Only use a white duster to remove stains.

8. Furniture: As with all products bought, when you purchase your furniture there are always guidelines mentioned about how to maintain it. Following those guidelines is the best advice that you could get as regards cleaning your furniture. Even so, make sure that the wood is polished and the leather is thoroughly vacuumed.

The following is a list of ingredients that you can use to clean up different kinds of stains.
• Baby Oil - baking soda and cornstarch, let stay for 10 mins, vacuum.
• Toothpaste - hand-wash and water, blot and then sponge.
• Red Wine - first blot with soda, sprinkle a little salt.
• Gum - freeze area, then break or scrape off
• Ink Stain - apply liquid laundry detergent, let sit, warm water to wash.
• Blood Stain - wash normally with cold water or use club soda.
• Wax - cover and iron.
• Stains on Leather - always wash the whole fabric to avoid water stains.
• Urine Stains - any mild detergent is enough.

Popular Natural Cleaning Agents
1. Citric Acid: There is nothing to surpass the fresh and pleasant fragrance of citric acid. Often, the smell of citric acid is associated with cleanliness and purification. It is commonly used in combination with chemical agents as well. Some common fragrances are that of lemon and orange. Lemons are known for their antiseptic properties and can be used to clean floors, washable upholstery and utensils. They are effective in sparkling aluminum, brass and copper. However, readers should avoid using lemon directly over marble and granite surfaces.

2. Vinegar: A simple solution of water and vinegar drops is useful in removing dust and grime. It can also be used for cleaning wax, stains and for killing bacteria. You may opt for concentrated vinegar to clean some tough stains at home. A light solution of vinegar and water may be used for cleaning and sparkling your mirrors and windows. My warning is that vinegar smell may irritate some of you. However, vinegar is prone to evaporate quickly and so does its odor. So relax!

Recipe
Mix 5 table spoons of vinegar in half a liter of water. Mix well and pour it into a spraying bottle. Use the spray within a span of 2 days lest the vinegar evaporates. Store in a cool place.

3. Baking Soda: Baking soda is not only an essential bakery ingredient, but it can also act as effective cleaning and deodorizing agent. Make tiny sacks out of old handkerchiefs. Now fill these sacks with baking soda powder. Tie these bags carefully and place them in your wardrobes, cabinets and refrigerators. Baking soda has some unique odor absorbing properties which help to remove any unpleasant smell from your home. You can also use baking soda with vinegar to clean your floors, toilets and kitchen counters. Baking soda can also be used as a water softener.

4.Orris Roots: Orris roots make excellent fabric cleaning agents and can be used to clean all your home linen. It also gives a fresh clean fragrance to these fabrics.

Recipe
Take half cup of orris root, half cup natural liquid soap and 20 drops of clove oil. Mix the ingredients with 250 ml of water. Store in a plastic jar. Mix this solution in small quantities in warm water. Dip all your bed linen in this solution for a minimum of 6 hours. I can guarantee that you will make use of this solution again and again.

5. Tea Tree or Lavender Oil Solution: Tea tree oil or lavender oil when mixed with water can be used as antiseptic floor cleaning solution.

6. Soapberries: If you are lucky enough to get hold of soapberries or sapindus from a neighborhood supermarket, then you can use them to make some really effective and organic cleaning solution. All you need to do is take 10 to 12 berries and boil them in plain water. Drain the remnants and pour the solution in a clean vessel. Use this solution as a gentle cleaner for anything ranging from glassware to gold jewelry. You may be surprised to know that this solution lathers just like a chemical soap. This solution works best when it is warm.

7. Toothpaste: If you thought that toothpaste could only clean your teeth, then think again. They can also be used to sparkle your silverware. Just take a small helping of toothpaste, approximately the same quantity as required for one tooth brushing session, on your hand. Moisten the silverware and gently rub the toothpaste all over its surface. You will find your silverware sparkling in no time.

Aids to Cleaning Process
1. Grass Brooms: Yes, vacuuming is always easier but you can always use a traditional grass broom to clean your gardens, windows, balconies and porches. This might sound a little primitive to you, but the upside is that it is thoroughly Eco-friendly.

2. Old Rags: Stop using all the rubber and synthetic sponge floor dusters. Instead make use of old garments as rags for floor cleaning and furniture dusting.

3. Recycled Paper: Avoid using fresh paper for any cleaning purposes as paper is manufactured only by deforestation. Instead, use recycled old paper for any kind of cleaning purposes.

4. Indoor Plants: Keep some indoor plants at home as they are known to absorb harmful gases from the air and generate fresh oxygen. You can place them in common seating areas like your living rooms. Avoid placing them in your bedrooms as plants emit carbon dioxide during nighttime which can cause severe health problems while you are asleep.

Just keeping a few things in mind is enough to get you by, while expending little effort and time. Maintain a proper hygiene routine both inside and outside the house. Make sure the garbage bins are emptied every morning and place dirty clothes hampers in every family member's room. Try to keep the doors and windows closed on dry days because more dust enters on those days. Increase your house cleaning frequency because dedicating 10-15 minutes each day to any particular area is more productive than spending a whole weekend doing what you didn't do the whole month. With time you'll be able to formulate your own house cleaning routine, so keep at it and you'll be proud of the results that it will bring.

Myotcstore Related Categories:

All Purpose Disinfectants and Cleaners

Bathroom Cleaners

Carpet And Floor Cleaners

Cloths, Towels and Tissues

Dusters, Vacuums and Filters

Furniture Wax and Polishes

Glass Cleaners and Wipes