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Bathroom Cleaning
Best Ways To Clean Bath Toys & Keep Them Mold-Free
Just as you clean the shower walls, it’s quite essential to clean bath toys. As germs gather while the toys are floating inside the bathtub, the toys are likely to affect your child’s health. So, in order to clean toys, here are some tips you should go through as you carry out the rest of the tasks.
How to curb mold growth
After your child has a bath, you should squeeze the toys to drain out water. Keep them next the bath tub or at some other location where they can dry at a fast rate. You should also switch on the exhaust fan for 15 to 20 minutes for driving away humidity.
Usually, mold tends to grow inside the bath toys. On the other hand, water can make the rubber toys moist and eventually lead to old growth. This implies that when the kid is playing with the toys, the water may get polluted with mold. If you are seeking a solution, then there’s no option other than sealing the holes with glue.
Steps for cleaning toys with vinegar
You might be under the impression that bath toys can be cleaned with soapy water. But, while as you think about managing the home cleaning tasks after a week, you should remove and clean toys thoroughly.
For getting rid of the stains, you should use vinegar and dissolve it in liquid soap. As you fill the bucket with vinegar with warm water, you can add a few drops of lemon or tea tree oil. Once you have tossed the toys, you should let keep them inside water for a couple of hours. Later, you should clean toys by rinsing and allowing them to dry naturally.
Steps for sterilizing bath toys with heat
Whenever you concerned about sterilizing toys, you have to expose them to heat. This would actually help in killing germs that can be a root cause of many diseases. After a few minutes, you need to clean the toys with a help of a dishwasher. Ensure that you keep the temperature low because whenever you clean toys the material might get damaged or deformed. For small toys, it’s advisable to keep them in a lingerie bag before keeping them in the dishwasher.
If you don’t own a dishwasher, then you can use the sink to sterilize the bath toys. As soon as you fill the basin with hot water diluted with dish soap, you should let the toys soak for some time and then wipe them clean with a sponge or cloth. Make sure you wear gloves while washing. These would surely protect your hands from heat and the chemicals present in the soapy water. Once you clean toys thoroughly, you should rinse them under water and let them dry.
Steps for sterilizing bath toys with bleach
If you wish to clean things in a better way, then consider using bleach to kill viruses and bacteria. To carry out the task, you should first prepare a solution by mixing 1 tablespoon of bleach with one gallon of water. Soon after you have soaked the toys for a time span of 10 minutes, you should rinse the toys under cold water and let them dry.
Do go through blogs if you looking for some more tips to clean toys. If you are busy with a hectic schedule, then you should opt for professional cleaning services.
Since 1995, European maids have been offering cleaning services across Florida. As the trained staff is happy to help you, the job is done regardless of the size and the condition of your home. Apart from residences, the company also deals in hotel, rental property, and office cleaning.
Image credit: MonikaP
Posted in Bathroom Cleaning, Cleaning Products, Cleaning Service, Cleaning Tips, Maid Service, Tips
Tagged Clean Bath Toys, cleaning tips, mold, sterilizing, vinegar
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Effective Ways For Preventing Flu Spread
Without any doubts, the season has always been the cause of falling ill. But, you shouldn’t worry because here are some cleaning tips that would keep your house away from germs. The tips for home cleaning have been gathered after having a conversation with a pediatrician and the president of a well known organization.
Ask the sick person to stay away
Flu can spread whenever a sick person sneezes, coughs or is constantly talking. Moreover, you are bound to get infected by flu germs when you touch a surface. It is because of these reasons you should request the person to rest inside a room and use one bathroom. This would certainly prevent the spread of germs and keep you safe whenever you are moving around the house. Once the person settles down, you can keep yourself busy with the home cleaning tasks.
Clean surfaces with a disinfectant
Since the flu virus is observed on surfaces, it’s always essential to clean the surfaces which the person has been touching repeatedly. As you pay attention to the bedroom and the bathroom, you can wipe away dust on countertops, computer keyboard, door knobs, sink, switchboards, toilet, and the tub. When you carry out the task inside the toilet, may sure you clean the seat as well as the toilet handle.
In order to disinfect the surface, you should wipe the surface with a wet cloth and allow it to dry for a few minutes. Alternatively, you can use half a cup of bleach mixed in one gallon of water. You should rinse the surface thoroughly once the solution stays on the surface for five minutes.
When you consider mopping the floor in the home-cleaning regime, ensure that you soak the cloth in a solution of bleach and water. Once you have used the cloth, you shouldn’t use it again but toss it inside the washing machine.
To clean toys, plastic bottles, and dishes, you should first wash them and then soak them in a solution of bleach and water. If you are using one gallon of water, then you should mix two teaspoons of bleach. As you soak the items for two minutes, make sure you rinse them in lukewarm water and allow them to dry naturally.
Tips for the bathroom
When it’s time to clean the bathroom, you should never share the towel with the sick person. It’s always a good idea to use paper towels instead of towels made from cloth. Apart from isolating the toothbrush, you should keep soap away from the sick person. Soon after you are done with the home cleaning tasks, make sure that the toothbrushes are not kept inside a case.
Take care of the bedroom
Once the sick person occupies the bedroom, it’s better to place a wastebasket near the bed. This would help him to throw used tissues whenever he has a meal. To minimize the spread of germs, it’s necessary to cover the edges with a plastic or a polythene bag.
At some instances, the wastebasket might get spoilt if the sick person vomits. So, in order to clean it properly, you should first rinse it, and wipe all the surfaces with a solution of half a cup of bleach mixed in three fourth gallon of water. After two minutes, you should remember to rinse the basket with water and allow it to dry.
For freshening up the room, we recommend you to dust the furniture and open the windows for some time. As you consider this as one of the home cleaning tasks, it would help you let in fresh air as stale air moves out.
Finally, ensure that you toss the person’s clothes once the washing machine is sanitized properly. Before you press the ‘start’ button, make sure that the washing machine tub is in contact with the solution for ten minutes. In case you get flu, then medications can always help you recover quickly.
In case you are busy all throughout the week, then you should contact the cleaning service company, European maids. As the entire team is engaged in hotel and home cleaning since 1995, we take everything into consideration based on the location.
Image credit: Clker-Free-Vector-Images
How to Disinfect Your Home Naturally
Essential oils are successfully used in everyday life: sanitation of air, cleaning of premises, aromatization of clothes and its protection from insects.
During the epidemic of influenza and other viral infections with the aim of preventing them, antiseptic and antimicrobial aromas are recommended.
Lemon, carnation, tea tree, pine, lavender, cedar, mint. They reduce the air content of many viruses, bacteria, fungi, carried along with dust, things, sputum and saliva. For disinfection mix 4-5 drops of orange, pine, lavender, mint in a ratio of 3: 2: 1: 1 or pine, bergamot, lemon in a ratio of 1: 2: 2.
Tea tree essential oil – acts like a wide-spectrum antibiotic, is an effective antiviral and antifungal agent. In addition, the inhalation of tea tree oil enhances immunity. Effectively cleans the air, it is also called “oil of purity.”
Essential oil Lemon – disinfects the air and neutralizes unpleasant odors, also increases immunity, promotes the appearance of appetite, improves mood.
Lavender essential oil is also great for deodorizing, disinfecting indoor air and flavoring laundry. It has antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral action. Also recommended in emotional disorders, insomnia, stress.
In order for the oils to evaporate, the mixture is applied to a strip of filter paper (blotter, napkins) and put in a room, or use an aroma lamp. When washing the floors and rubbing the furniture on 0.5 liters of water, add 3 drops of cloves, lavender and lemon.
Aromatization will help neutralize unpleasant smells and freshen the air in the kitchen. Here, a mixture of essential oils of lemon, mint, pine (3: 1: 1) or geranium, lavender and lemon (5: 2: 1) is useful. When wet kitchen cleaning in 500 ml of water add 2 drops of lavender, lemon, eucalyptus and thyme.
High humidity and heat in the bathroom create favorable conditions for the reproduction of various microbes, primarily fungi. In order to prevent this process, with wet cleaning in 1 liter of water, you need to mix 5 drops of lavender, lemon and tea tree, or as much eucalyptus, carnation, rosemary.
If the house has a persistent smell of animals, you should flavor the room with a solution of the oils of geranium, lavender and rosemary (2 drops each). The cat’s toilet is washed with water with 2 tablespoons of food vinegar, 3 drops of lavender and 2 drops of rosemary.
For flavoring linen and clothes in the closet, you can put a napkin with lavender and lemon (4 drops each). When washing the laundry before the final rinse, add the same mixture to the water.
From moths and other harmful insects, the clothes will be well protected with cotton swabs moistened with cedar and lavender (2 drops each). Tampons are put in linen boxes, every two weeks, re-moistening with these essential oils.
If you need to get rid of ants, then the ways of their movement and the anthill itself are periodically sprinkled with the following mixture: 20 drops of mint and 10 drops of lavender are dissolved in 25 ml of alcohol, and then in 250 ml of water. Before use, the solution is shaken.
To repel mosquitoes and flies in the aroma lamp (aromatic incense), place 5 drops of cloves, mint and lavender.
Image credit: Couleur
Cleaning the house after repair
After experiencing repair, look forward to life in the updated interior? We will tell you how to get rid of dust and stains and bring the room into a residential condition in a short time.
Tip:
Even if you decide to do without the help of cleaning professionals, we recommend that you buy or rent specialized equipment. A professional vacuum cleaner will help to cope with building dust on the floor, walls and ceiling faster and more efficiently. Of course, you can use it only on the surfaces provided for this, having pre-tested it on a small and subtle area.
Key points:
- Hiring professionals to clean the premises, discuss in advance the details of the work and ask for an estimate
- Cleaners will help clean and disinfect your floor
- Use an aqueous solution of baking soda to wash dusty windows
Tip:
Even if you decide to do without the help of cleaning professionals, we recommend that you buy or rent specialized equipment. A professional vacuum cleaner will help to cope with building dust on the floor, walls and ceiling faster and more efficiently. Of course, you can use it only on the surfaces provided for this, having pre-tested it on a small and subtle area.
Hooray! You survived the repair! The worst is already behind and there was, it would seem, a trifle – to wash your new wonderful interior from a layer of construction dust and stains of various origins, that is, a spring cleaning. Looking around the debris of construction debris and wincing at the dust, you are horrified to imagine that it will take a very long time to put everything in order. We will not hide, the work is difficult, but we will help to ease your work!
Сleaning company
The easiest way to deal with dirt after construction and repair is to hire professionals from a cleaning company to clean houses and cottages. However, the company should be chosen very carefully:
- Do not trust cleaning companies-one-day – letting strangers into the house is dangerous. A professional company with a good reputation will be able to guarantee not only a quality work done, but also the safety of your things.
- Listen to the recommendations of friends and user reviews.
- Do not pursue cheapness! Initially, the attractive price promised to you can increase several times after the work is done unclean by the hand specialists. Describe in detail the specialist the front of the work and ask him to make an estimate.
If you are determined to cope with the task yourself, listen to our advice.
How can I cope with cleaning the room after repair?
Experts recommend keeping the room as clean as possible during the repair. Afterwards it will save you a lot of time. “It’s easier said than done”, you’ll notice, so roll up your sleeves and proceed directly to the cleaning:
- First you need to take out all that is superfluous. Fold the large garbage into bags and take it out into the street. If it turns out to be too much, you will have to take it to the nearest landfill. Then collect less garbage and sweep the floor.
- Vacuum the surfaces. If you have the opportunity, use a construction vacuum cleaner – it is much more powerful and faster to cope with the task. Corrosive construction dust could settle even on the ceiling and walls, so start vacuuming from above, moving down the walls, and finishing cleaning the floor. Do not forget to vacuum the corners and the skirtings.
- With the help of cleaning and detergents, make a damp cleaning of the room, starting with the walls, cornices and windows and ending with the floor.
- Even if the soft furniture has been carefully concealed, it should be carefully cleaned using a vacuum cleaner, a cleaning agent or a soap solution.
- Thoroughly ventilate the room.
With a successful scenario, cleaning the apartment will be completed. But, unfortunately, except for dust and debris, after repairs there will probably remain stains from paint, plaster and the like.
How to get rid of stains left after repair?
Before you start cleaning, test the cleaning agents and recipes you have selected on a small and subtle area of the surface to avoid damage. When working with cleaning agents and solutions, do not forget to wear rubber gloves.
- Traces of construction foam can be removed with a knife or special solvent.
Dust and dirt from the windows can be removed with water with the addition of washing soda, and then wipe dry with newspapers. - Oil stains will disappear without a trace if rubbed with turpentine or powder with enzymes.
- Traces of scotch can be removed with sunflower oil or a liquid containing acetone.
That’s all! Now you can arrange furniture, distribute things to places and enjoy your improved home!
Image credit: pascalhelmer
How to get rid of dust and unpleasant odors: Some useful tips
Knowing the secrets of cleaning and having the right tools will greatly facilitate the cleaning process! Learn how to quickly and easily get rid of dust and unpleasant odors!
Tip
Get rid of unnecessary things! The more items in your home, the more dirt and dust they save. Perform an annual general cleaning. Throw out all unnecessary and reduce the number of dust collectors for the coming year.
Key points:
The best dusting advice: clean from top to bottom.
After cleaning the dust: vacuum the carpets to clean everything up to the last dust.
Prevent the appearance of dust and unpleasant odors: open the window at least 10 minutes a day to freshen the air in the apartment.
Wiping the dust in the whole house can seem like an immense work. But do not worry – you can still win the battle with dust. Dust consists of particles of dead skin, wool of pets, dust mites and pollen, among other things. So it’s not surprising that, in the absence of wet cleaning, the house will look untidy, and the rooms will have a musty smell. Effective struggle with dust and prevention of its appearance can solve any problems and save you from unpleasant odors, turning your house into a healthy and hypoallergenic home. All that you need to get rid of the house of dust and unpleasant odors are the correct devices and a few useful tips.
How to get rid of dust and unpleasant odors?
- Ideally, these measures need to be taken 1-2 times a week to maintain a healthy, hypoallergenic and to the same fragrant habitat! Always start a wet cleaning from the upper levels – high cabinets and furniture – moving down.
- For shelves and hard surfaces, a damp rag for dust is best. On a wet rag dust clings much better than on a dry one. You can also use a brush of ostrich feathers to remove dust, as the electric charge of feathers clings dust, not spreading it around the room.
- To clean the wallpaper and painted walls, use a rubber sponge. Wiping cloth and gentle cleaning agents.
- Decorative carpets and carpets are best simply vacuumed. It is best to use apparatus with air filters of fine cleaning, which retain even the finest dust. Also vacuum cleaner after wiping the dust to collect the remaining dirt after cleaning.
- Curtains and furniture upholstery can be vacuumed on low traction by putting a special nozzle on the vacuum cleaner.
- Floor coverings without lint should be washed with a mop, and not swept with a dry broom. So you quickly get rid of dust and mustiness and prevent it from coming back soon.
- For hard-to-reach areas or special technical equipment such as a keyboard, use a compressed air cartridge or a blow-off gun to get rid of dust in cracks and furrows.
- Use a scented cleaner to clean the room with a pleasant smell, or add a few drops of your favorite essential oil, such as lemon or tea tree, onto a damp cloth that you wipe the dust off.
How to prevent the accumulation of dust and odors?
Frequent wet cleaning can easily cope with the problem areas of the apartment, but there are many ways that will help avoid the early return of dust and unpleasant odors.
- Ventilate as often as possible. Clean air is important not only to prevent the appearance of dust, but also to eliminate bad smells. In cold weather, open the window for 10 minutes to run into the apartment a portion of fresh air.
- Think about the use of an air purifying system. For their effectiveness to be noticeable, such systems must be installed in each room.
- Change the filters in your ventilation, air conditioning or heating system, as they can accumulate dust, which they then distribute to your apartment.
- When cooking or using the bathroom, use the extractor to remove steam and odors from the room.
- For deep cleaning, regularly wash carpets with shampoo or seek the help of specialists to clean their steam professionally and avoid the accumulation of unpleasant odors.
- Once a week, spray curtains and upholstered furniture with a cloth freshener. To get rid of dust, wash removable covers in the washing machine or ask for dry cleaning at least once a year.
- Upholstery and carpets are the most active dust collectors, so give preference to leather furniture, as well as hard flooring instead of carpets and blinds instead of curtains.
- If possible, change bed linen once a week. To reduce the risk of dust mites, use a hypoallergenic mattress cover.
Regularly take out the garbage, without waiting until the trash can is filled to the top.
Image credit: qimono
Cleaning The Home The Green DIY Way
If you’re a person who is not only environmentally conscientious, but also one who likes to Do It Yourself or DIY, there are ways to keep your home clean using your own products made from regular things around the house.
First of all you’ll be tackling the two tough rooms. The kitchen and the bathroom. If you have kids and there’s a room designated for play, that can be a major challenge too. Pets add additional wear and tear so you’ll need a cleaner that can really get in there and pull up that grime and disinfect.
Believe it or not, good old fashioned vinegar and water can get you a long way. Add some eco friendly soap and you’ll be in business. Even baking soda comes in handy and in the right combinations will do the job as good as if ot better than the higher priced store bought items.
Vinegar, water, and eco friendly liquid soap is great for the kitchen. With a spray bottle, bucket and mop, you’ll do dirt so much damage that your head will spin. You can clean tile, wood, metal, plastic, and other kitchen surfaces and cause no harm. A clean cloth or microfiber cloth and you’ll be good to go.
For the tough jobs there’s the addition of baking soda. A bathroom can get a great cleaning adding baking soda to water, soap, and borax.
Baking soda and liquid soap should be mixed to a nice paste then add some water but not too much and you’re good.
For sprays you can use either water and vinegar which works great on glass and polished metal.
Home cleaning can mean green cleaning if you just stick to the basics and approach your regular cleaning the same way.
There are also tutorials on how to make more products for the home using products readily available in your cabinets or at the store. You can look for comingations that might work on other products eve outside like swimming pools, kids swing sets, bar-b-ques, even washing the walls of the house. All eco friendly with means you’ll be home cleaning and green cleaning in one stroke.
Tools can also be cleaned with these products and you might be surprised at how well it does. The home garage is a place that is a spotlight for home cleaning. A DIY solution can get that dust and grime out in no time.
It’s not a big thing to use these kinds of products and just a bit of study will get you started.
Now, in addition to the basics mentioned above, you can add essential oils to your mixtures and really see them pack a wallop. Tea tree oil is one of nature’s finest products. A little bit of tea tree oil with some warm water and liquid soap is a disinfectant that you just can’t beat. Smells good too.
Another great essential oil is peppermint. Not only does it smell good but it will both disinfectant. Lavender is another essential oil goodie. Head to a store that has these oils and ask around to see what can be applicable. They’re just as good a disinfectant as the stuff you buy in the stores.
Image credit: frannyanne
Home Cleaning in Clearwater and St. Petersburg FL
Home Cleaning service by European Maids Cleaning company of St. Petersburg FL.
Home cleaning services have been provided by cleaning professionals in Clearwater, Palm Harbor and St. Petersburg Florida.
Our cleaning crew has done a great job cleaning one bedroom one bath condominium in Clearwater FL.
The Battle Of Cleaning The Bathroom
There are two rooms in the house that are the most challenging to clean, the kitchen and the bathroom. That being said, any tips that can make the job go easier are welcome as they’ll save a lot of time, energy, money, and headache.
The basics to cleaning the bathroom are materials that are cheap and usually already a part of the household repertoire of products. Things like vinegar, baking soda, bleach, dish soap, are all regular weapons in the battle for bathroom cleanliness.
With such materials at hand, the first step is to know how to apply them and to which surfaces. Since you’ll be dealing with tile mostly, that’s not a problem. With some elbow grease and time, you’ll do wonders with the simplest of materials.
You’ll need clean sponges, brushes, paper towels. Again, baking soda, vinegar, bleach, warm water. If you feel you need more, then add a glass cleaner and an all purpose cleaner. A microfiber cloth or two or three, vacuum, mop, broom, extendable duster, and of course rubber gloves to protect your hands. Believe it or not, some folks use safety glasses which isn’t a bad idea.
You’re going to tackle areas like the shower, shower heads, grout, sink, doors and door handles, mirrors, the toilet, mats, rugs, garbage receptacle, curtains, vents, light fixtures, outside light switches, door hinges. Any decorative items like sculptured reliefs or statues, picture frames, and artificial plants. The decorative items might not seem like they’ll need a cleaning, but they will. They collect moisture residue and dust as does everything else in the room.
Take care of the small areas first like hinges, molding, door frames. A dusting and then a pass with the cleaner of your choice. The walls, are the big areas so judge your energy level for them. One pass with a cleaner of vinegar and warm water should do the trick. Windows call for special care where those nooks and crannies are as they can collect moisture and promote mold. Look over the room for those areas, those cracks where things are fixed to the walls, doors, like screw mounts etc.. You want to make sure the itty bitty places that are most overlooked but if neglected can cause damage in the long run and be a hiding place for germs and bacteria.
The shower and the toilet are the heavy duty areas of combat. It’ll take powerful cleaning solutions and effort to get in there especially where grout is concerned. Vinegar and warm water, baking soda can do wonders here. These areas take two to three passes. Consuming most of your cleaning time but well worth it. A real good, deep cleaning means not having to expend so much effort later. Floors, usually tile call for getting deep and making sure the grout areas are thoroughly clean. Cabinets, closets need a pass and the outside hinges too. Just a wee bit of vinegar, diluted will do the trick so as not to cause damage to the hinge.
Home cleaning, especially bathroom cleaning is of utmost importance, but need not be a major chore. Just careful tender loving care and you should be in good form from beginning to end.
Image credit: Alexander Raths