Time for Spring Cleaning!

By hellenwyeth on 4/14/09 11:38am
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Spring is officially here and for most, so is the big job of spring cleaning around the house. With the sun shining in and the windows open you may be starting to notice the dust in the corners and the clutter that has accumulated over the winter months. There's nothing like nice weather to point out all the cleaning that has been neglected over the last few months!
 
Growing up I remember dreading when my mother would mention spring cleaning. The list of chores seemed so overwhelming and could sometimes take a couple days of non stop cleaning to complete them all. From washing the walls with buckets of hot, soapy water to pulling everything out of the cupboards to clean the farthest corners of shelves, spring cleaning may as well have been a prison sentence as a kid. As an adult I still do not look forward to spring cleaning but the thought of not doing any of it is even worse. I do go about it quite differently than my mother did and still does, but it all gets done.


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Tips for Removing Wall Stains

By hellenwyeth on 4/14/09 11:29am
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We love our kids and we love our pets. None of us would trade them for the world. Though when it comes to the messes they leave behind, bad thoughts may sneak their way in. Hands and paws alike can find themselves on our walls leaving unsightly messes and even worse, stains. Fresh messes are easy to clean with something as simple as a damp rag but when it come to stains you have to be more careful so you don't damage your wall or paint. Most common cleaners will take away your stain troubles but will also remove the paint under it as well.
 
Crayons, markers and finger paints...oh my! If you're not one who is so fortunate to have had kid friendly, stain resistant paint throughout your home, planning ahead for your future Van Gogh, don't panic. For every new wall design courtesy of your little one's creativity, there is a big tough bald guy in a small package to rescue your walls and your child's future use of craft products. Mr. Clean and Scotch Bright have come up with a great product called the Magic Eraser. Some spots take more elbow grease on your end, but this magical little sponge will do the trick every time.


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Best Discounts on Cleaning Supplies

By hellenwyeth on 2/26/09 11:00am
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Good cleaning supplies can get spendy. There are several options that you can utilize to bring the cost down and keep more money in your pocket book. Valid coupons in combination with where and when you shop will get you the best possible deals out there. If you don't mind taking an extra minute to find what is available to you as well as where, you're on you way to saving on the products you use the most. 
 
Always start your coupon search at the products official web sites. These sites will give you valid coupons that nearly every store will accept on common household cleaning products that you use on a regular basis as well as new products they are now advertising for. Clorox, Swiffer, and Scrubbing Bubbles  are just a few that you can take a look at. All you have to do is Google the product to find the official site for any product that you use or want to find savings on.


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The 5 Minute Bathroom

By hellenwyeth on 2/26/09 9:43am
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How does cleaning your bathroom in 5 minutes sound?  I know it sounds too good to be true and were my same thoughts when trained to do so. However, this process has saved me so much time and back ache I couldn't imagine doing it any other way. In the past I have been put to battle with some of the worst bathrooms your imagination could even come up with. Through trial and error, I have gotten the 5 minute bathroom cleaning technique down and want to share the wealth with all of you out there.
 
Begin with a quick evaluation of how bad off your bathroom really is. If you don't normally clean your bathroom, the first time will not be a 5 minute clean up. This works for bathrooms that get a cleaning at least once a week. When you have all that extra build up, you are going to have absolutely no choice but to do some thorough deep cleaning to get all the grime that has begun a new life of its own in your tub and toilet.


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11 Things Dirtier Than Your Toilet

By hellenwyeth on 2/20/09 9:28am
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No matter how clean you think your house is there are germs breeding in your home and on everyday items that you use everyday. When cleaning we often think about the more common items like the bathtub and refrigerator. We make sure that are floors are vacuumed and the shelves are dusted. The counter tops all get wiped down with disinfectant and we feel good about our efforts to a clean and sanitary home. According to a British research group, several everyday things get looked over creating bacteria worse than found on the average toilet.
 
First on the list is your computer keyboard. Researchers chose 33 random keyboards to sample and came up with 4 that were actually bad enough to be considered a health hazard! Another harbored 100 times more bacteria than a normal toilet seat. Spending all day at the computer you're bound to have snacks and drinks near by.


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Best Laundry Supplies

By hellenwyeth on 2/20/09 7:41am
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Keeping all your clothes the best they can be is simply a matter of what you are using to wash them with. Taking a stroll down the laundry aisle at the store there are so many options all claiming to be the best; having everything that you need that the others can't compete with. While some are better than others, I have found the products that I feel work the best and have yet to let me down. These products keep my clothes looking bright and new, keeps my whites white, removes even tough stains and my laundry is always left smelling clean and fresh.
 
Laundry room supplies always starts with the right detergent. Liquid Tide with color safe bleach is what I always keep on hand. The detergent itself smells great and doesn't over power you favorite fabric softeners. It deep cleans clothes, works to get stains out, and keeps them in great condition wash after wash. Tide does come in powder form but I recommend using liquid formula no matter what detergent you prefer to use.


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Removing Pet Stains and Odors

By hellenwyeth on 2/16/09 2:44pm
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Pets make great companions but can leave your home smelling pretty foul and very unsanitary. It is very important that pet messes are cleaned up appropriately not just for the smell factor but also for you and your family's health. Leaving behind remnants of pet urine and feces can cause you to get very sick and severe stomach upset that can plant you in the hospital with a diagnosis of ecoli.
 
Simply spot cleaning a mess is not enough. It will get rid of any stain, but if you don't do the deep down cleaning of it with the right cleaning products not only does dangerous bacteria get left behind, but your pet will also view that spot as a place to use as a constant place to do their business since they can smell it. The best place to find the proper products is at any store that specializes in animal care like Pet Smart and Feeders Supply. Their employers know a great deal about the proper cleaning techniques and the best products that they carry.


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Resolve Your Carpet Stains

By hellenwyeth on 2/16/09 1:47pm
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As a renter over the years, keeping your carpets clean and stain free is a must. If you don't it can lead to a pretty hefty cleaning tab after your move out. Add some pets and kids into the mix and it may seem like your carpet and pocket book are doomed to take a hit when it's time to move out. Lucky for you, Resolve has your stain troubles taken care of.
 
Like with most messes, the sooner you take care of the problem the better. Resolve works great as a spot cleaner, stain remover and carpet cleaner when used with a shampooer. However, you need to use the product correctly. It isn't a magical cleaner that will solve all your problems but can make your carpet look like new when used right. In other words, if you see a potential stain issue, Resolve it right away.
 
It doesn't matter if it's a juice stain, mud or a stinky mess left behind by your new puppy that is still working on being house trained. Pre-spray with some Resolve and let it sit undisturbed for a good chunk of time. Be sure to clean up any excess dirt or mess before spraying.


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Stainless Steel Appliances

By hellenwyeth on 2/16/09 12:56pm
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Have kids? Then you've got fingerprints...and probably some other uncatagorized things stuck to your nice appliances like the refrigerator. Earlier I discussed how to clean your run of the mill refrigerator. The cleaning techniques in that article will work just fine on the inside of your fridge, but for the outside, things are a little more delicate. Usually stainless steel appliances can be quite spendy so knowing how to care for them appropriately is key to making them look beautiful for years to come.
 
If you have toddlers running around it's going to be nearly impossible to keep those precious fingers off of things in the kitchen unless it's set up in a way where you can use baby gates to block off the kitchen entirely. Unless you are completely anal retentive, just doing up keep on the appearance will keep it in good condition.
 
All the products that I use for stainless steel I use in moderation and with care. Because of this and depending on how bad it is, the job can take you a little bit of time to do right. You are going to need your Soft Scrub with Bleach and some Pledge Orange Oil.


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Battling the Refrigerator

By hellenwyeth on 2/16/09 6:18am
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It's time to go through and get rid of those dinner creations that have taken on a whole new life of their own in the back of your refrigerator. This is the time when I'm glad that I use containers that are disposable and can be tossed. There's nothing worse than finding your left over clam chowder from a few weeks ago buried in the back and then having to open that container to save your Tupperware.
 
There are couple cleaning product options when it comes to cleaning the inside of your refrigerator and freezer. Again, you can go with either your Scrubbing Bubbles or Power Paste. The essentials you can't budge on is your bottle of Soft Scrub with Bleach, a screwdriver and some old rags. Scrubbing Bubbles will work the best if you turn up the temp of your fridge and freezer so the cleaner doesn't freeze making it harder to wipe away. Use the Power Paste if you find that you have more spots that are stained on the walls of the appliance. Your Soft Scrub will also take off what the other cleaners do not. 
 
Working top to bottom, begin with the inside of your freezer.


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