7 Tips for Winter Cleaning

Cold winter weather means that we are all spending more time inside. So why not capitalize on your time at home and take care of some essential winter cleaning? These seven cleaning tips can help you and your professional home cleaners tackle necessary cleaning projects that will help your household function smoothly throughout the winter and can even save you money in the long run!

Wash Your Blankets and Throws

Winter is the perfect time to cozy up with your favorite blankets and throws. Maximize your comfy time by ensuring your blankets, throws, and even pillows are clean and ready for use. You can simply put blankets, throws, and pillows in your washing machine on the hot water cycle. When using the dryer, try putting in a few tennis balls to help fluff up the feathers in pillows and duvets. Just remember to wash your pillows separately from everything else.

Take Care of Your HVAC

Make sure to change your air filters and deep clean yourself or use a service to clean your air ducts and vents professionally in the winter. The EPA recommends changing your filters every three months. This is especially important during months when you use your HVAC system more often – like winter and summer. Changing your filters and getting your vents and ducts cleaned by a cleaning company can give you peace of mind that the air you are breathing is safe and clean. It can also help ensure proper airflow, which will aid in properly heating your home and even saving on energy use.

Clean Out Your Fridge

Leftover food from the holidays and take-out containers can accumulate and make your fridge look like a disaster. The winter season can be the perfect time to reorganize and clean out your fridge. Start by taking everything out of your refrigerator and placing it into cooler bags. Then use a damp cloth or cleaning wipes to wipe down all surfaces and get rid of crumbs and spills. When you place your food items back in the fridge, you can check expiration dates to make sure everything in your fridge is in good condition. Voila! You have an organized and clean fridge.

Clean Your Oven and Microwave

You are more likely to use your oven in the winter, so it’s the best time to make sure it’s clean and ready for use. Making sure you have a clean oven can also help prevent fires and reduce strong baking odors. And don’t forget your microwave! Microwaves tend to get grimy and dirty over time, and cleaning one can be as easy as microwaving a cup of water with lemon in it. If your oven or microwave are long overdue for a deep clean, don’t waste your time on a lengthy cleaning project and hire professionals like Immaculate Clean instead!

Clean Your Windows

You are probably keeping your windows closed more in the winter to help keep out the cold air. Since you’ll be starting through closed windows, shouldn’t your windows be clear and clean? A professional window cleaning can help freshen up your home and allow for those mild winter sun rays to reach into your house or apartment!

Deep Clean Your Carpets

The winter season will likely bring with it mud, snow, and slush. But don’t let stains settle into your carpets. Instead, make sure to deep clean your carpets at least once in the winter months to prevent an unsightly looking carpet come summer. If you have especially soiled or stained areas in the high-traffic portions of your home – hiring a professional is always a good idea. Let us worry about keeping your house clean, so you can concentrate on what’s truly important!

Hire Professionals

Deep cleaning your house can give you a clean house and help you live a healthier and happy life. But what if you are running short on time, or would just like to spend your time enjoying your loved ones? That’s where professional home cleaners like Immaculate Clean come in. So, give us a call to get a free quote today! We offer Top To Bottom Deluxe cleans to remove the dust, bathroom mildew, and kitchen grime. Just about every busy household has build-up from time to time.

Immaculate Clean Services in Eldersburg, MD

Immaculate Clean offers friendly and efficient cleaning services in Eldersburg, MD, any time of the year! We strive to leave your house spotless and mess-free. We will keep your home clean so that you can focus on the important things like your family. Contact us today to schedule a service!

What Determines the Cost of a Maid Service?

Sundays are known for a few things, church, football, laundry, and house cleaning. What if you could permanently erase one of those items from your list each week? House cleaning is the last thing people want to do at the end of a long week, so why not hire a maid? While some consider it a luxury, maids are quite affordable. According to Home Advisor, the average cost of a maid is between $116 and $435. You may be wondering how such a range exists for the cost of a maid. It depends on several factors.

Cost of a Maid

When it comes to hiring a maid, there are several ways that a professional house cleaning service may decide to charge. Do you know that maid service cost in Maryland is the cheapest one which starts from $80 which is a very nominal cost but It also depends on the type of services. If you’re looking for a live-in housekeeper, that cost will be quite different than the cost a maid once a week. In general, though, there are two ways that house cleaning services charge for maid services:

• Some services charge by the hour
• Some services charge by the square foot

It’s quite easy to see that the size of your home can affect prices for the cost of a maid. Let’s take a look at these two service fees.

Cost of a Maid by the Hour

According to housekeeper.com, most housekeepers charge between $45 and $60 per hour. On the low end of the pay scale, some housekeepers charge $14.62 per hour, while on the high end, some housekeepers make $86.14 an hour. This is dependent on the size of the home, location, the type of cleaning being done, and the experience of the cleaning crew. These are all factors that can drastically change the price per hour. A few of the cities with the highest rate of pay for maid services are:

1. Los Angeles, California – maids make an average of $37.60 per hour
2. Pheonix, Arizona – maids make on average $33.74 per hour
3. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – maids charge an average of $30 per hour

It’s important to note that two of these cities also have a high standard of living, so it would make sense that there is a higher average charge. In the context of Pheonix, Arizona, there a lot of big homes in the area, so that may be factoring in the cost.

Cost of a Maid by Square Foot

If we talk about how much does maid cost for an apartment or how much does a house cleaning cost so some professional maid services charge a flat rate by the square foot. According to Home Guide, depending on the type of cleaning you’re asking for can change the flat rate fee per square foot:

• Standard house cleaning – 10 cents to 17 cents per square foot
• Deep cleaning – 11 cents to 22 cents per square foot
• Move-out cleaning – 22 cents to 33 cents per square foot

To put that into context, hiring a professional cleaning service to come in and do a deep clean on a 3,000 square foot house can range from $330 to $660 on the high end. However, most professional service may cap at a certain rate, say $500.

Take Back Your Sundays

As you can see the cost of a maid service varies on location, the size of your home, and the type of cleaning you need. So what do you say, are you ready to take back your Sundays? If so, we offer a host of cleaning services in Carroll County, Howard County, and Central Maryland. Reach out today at 410-549-0727 and see what Immaculate Clean can do for you.

5 Stove Top Cleaning Hacks for a Brighter Stove

Keeping your kitchen clean can be tough work. From cleaning the fridge to organizing the pantry, it can feel like the work is never done in the kitchen. Stove cleaning can be an especially tough, gross job, especially if grease and food splatters have been building up for a while. Stove top cleaning hacks can make it easier to cut through that cooking grime to make your stove shine again. Following are the 5 stove cleaning tips:

1. Remove Grates and Burners

Glass-top stoves are easier to clean since they have one smooth, consistent surface with no grates. If you have a gas stove or an electric stove with coil burners and drip pans, it’s easiest to remove them and clean them separately. For really dirty grates or drip pans, pop them in a plastic bag with just a small amount of ammonia, close the bag, and let them sit overnight. Open the bag carefully since the ammonia fumes can be overwhelming and dangerous, causing burns to skin and irritation and coughing if inhaled. Scrub and rinse them well.

2. Clean With Gentle, Effective Products

Mild dish soap, baking soda, and vinegar are three safe, effective options to degrease your stove top without scratching it. Start with warm, soapy water to get rid of as much gunk as possible. Use a soft sponge to wash away the debris. Sprinkle baking soda over the stove top for a gentle scrubbing effect. Spritz hot water on the baking soda. Let the baking soda soak for about 30 minutes before you scrub the surface with a sponge. An alternative is to soak paper towels or cleaning clothes in white vinegar and place them over the stove top. Give the vinegar a few hours to loosen the gunk on the stove. Wipe it clean after it sits.

3. Avoid Abrasive Cleaners and Tools

Do not use any cleaners and tools for cleaning stove top. Always try to skip any scouring powders and other abrasive cleaners, especially on cleaning glass stove top. You also want to choose soft, gentle cleaning tools instead of scouring scrubbers or wire-bristle brushes. These harsh cleaners and tools will scratch the surface and leave it looking dull.

4. Use a Razor Scraper

If you have burnt-on food or other stubborn deposits on a glass-top stove, grab a razor scraper to remove it. Hold the razor blade edge at an angle and push it along the surface. Never use the corner of the razor blade as it can gouge the glass.

5. Handle the Finishing Touches

Once you remove the grease and food remnants, go over the stove top again with a clean, damp cloth to remove all cleaner. You can also use some rubbing alcohol to clean the surface without streaks. Don’t forget to clean the knobs and other components of the stove so everything gleams.

Follow Our Stove Top Cleaning Hacks

Using these stove top cleaning hacks, you can get your greasy stove under control. Start with the least harsh options and work up to more powerful cleaning solutions if needed. Stove cleanings can be fun, but if you are very busy, it might be worth hiring a cleaning service. If you need a hand with your house cleaning Maryland, we would like to recommend Immaculate Clean. They provide really good deep cleaning services in Maryland.

How to Clean a Freezer and Refrigerator in 7 Easy Steps

Did you know that refrigerators and freezers can host a plethora of harmful bacteria? Listeria, salmonella, e. coli, and even mold lurk in fridges, risking the health of you and your family. If you don’t know how to clean a freezer the right way, now’s the time to learn. Read on to find out how to keep your refrigerator and freezer clean and have a happier, healthier you.

1. How to Clean a Freezer and Fridge: Prepare for a Deep Clean

Fill your sink with hot soapy water and grab antibacterial soap, disinfectant, sponges, and microfiber towels. Grab some coolers or cooler bags and load all of your food items into them. Pour ice from the freezer ice trays into the coolers and allow the ice tray to soak in the sink – now you’re ready to deep clean!

2. Remove Debris Build-Ip

Prepare a bucket of hot water and antibacterial soap to wipe down your fridge. Start from the top and move your way to the bottom to collect crumbs, then remove the shelves and bins from the fridge and freezer for additional cleaning.

3. Soak Shelves and Bins

Even with proper refrigeration, vegetables and meats have a tendency to leak, causing sticky stains and bacterial growth in your fridge. Spray every bin and shelf down with disinfectant, then soak and scrub them until all debris and stains are removed. Rinse them off and set them aside to dry.

4. Wipe Down Surfaces

While your trays and bins are drying, go back through your fridge and freezer and remove any additional debris, such as crumbs stuck on the racks and stickier substances. Be sure to check the outside of your fridge to make sure you’ve cleaned any exterior splashes or debris.

5. Sanitize and Dry

Make sure all bins and shelves are sanitized and soap-free before placing them back into the fridge. To reduce bacteria and mold growth, ensure everything (including the walls) are completely dry before putting food items back. You can speed up the process by using a dry microfiber towel to dry any damp areas.

6. Assess and Organize

Plug your refrigeration system back and allow it to cool down slightly. While it’s cooling, go through the food you removed from the fridge. Check the expiration date of items and throw out anything that’s questionable – a good rule of thumb is when in doubt, throw it out. Remove any sticky substances from containers and jars by rinsing them off with hot soapy water, or by wiping them down with a hot washcloth. When replacing these items back into the fridge and freezer, make sure your food items are placed strategically to prevent food contamination. If you’re looking for ways to make your fridge more sightly, check out this guide to organizing your fridge.

7. Set Cleaner Practices

Take a few extra steps to make sure your fridge is clean from now until the next cleaning session. Start with your ice tray. Ice can also host harmful substances, so it’s best to start your clean refrigeration system off with a new batch. You’ll also want to check your fridge and freezer temperatures. The FDA recommends that refrigerator temperatures stay at 40 degrees (F) and freezers at 0 degrees (F). Want to add additional zing to your fridge? To keep odors at bay, add a box of fresh baking soda to your fridge. You can also add a few drops of essential oil to a cotton ball and place that in your fridge, or wipe the interior walls with a dash of essential oil for a fresher fridge scent.

Set a Date

Now that you know how to clean a freezer and refrigerator, you’re well-equipped to clean your fridge and freezer. We recommend that you clean your fridge once a month to keep bacteria at bay, so mark your calendar for your next refrigeration system cleaning session. For getting rid of smell and mold make cleaning a fridge your habit! If you’d rather not go through the ordeal of cleaning your fridge each month, we understand! As professional cleaners, we can deep clean your fridge (and home) quickly at a time that’s convenient for you. Contact us today to get a free quote or schedule services.