Deep Cleaning Your House: An Exhaustive List
It’s hard to believe that it’s almost springtime, which means your home is due for another deep clean. Doing a deep clean can seem both overwhelming and daunting. That’s why we created this step-by-step guide of deep cleaning your house to help you get on your way. Read below for the only deep cleaning checklist you’ll ever need.Why Should I Deep Clean My House?
Is deep cleaning your house at least once a year necessary? Experts say: yes! Deep cleaning your house can help you preserve it, saving you money in the long run. It can also help you feel more comfortable in your home and improve your standard of living. Periodically cleaning your house can help keep allergens at bay, reduce dust, grime, and foul odors, and prevent mold. Plus, who doesn’t love the look of a clean home? So now that we know why deep cleaning your house is important, let’s get to it by following this helpful checklist.Assemble Cleaning Supplies
Assemble the following cleaning supplies before you begin your deep clean:- Two buckets (one for soapy water, one for clean)
- Disposable rags or scrub pads
- Cleaning spray
- Rubber gloves
- Scrub pad
- Paper towels
Dust Goes First
The first step in your deep clean is dusting and vacuuming. Don’t overlook hard-to-reach ledges, tops of doors, tops of mirrors, and above the cabinets. This is a good time to give your ceiling fans a good wipe down. The same goes for air vents – remove them and wash them with warm water and soap. Other items that may need a thorough wipe down or vacuuming are:- Windows
- Faucets
- Blinds
- Garbage Cans
- Carpets
- Couches
- Cabinets
- Drawers
Deep Clean the Kitchen
The kitchen is one of those areas in our homes that sees a lot of action. It’s often a place that needs the most attention. Here is a breakdown of all the items you should clean in your kitchen:- Sink: Use warm soapy water to clean your sink and eliminate those lingering bacteria or grease.
- Dishwasher: To remove soap residue and clean your dishwasher, run your dishwasher empty with a bowl filled with one cup vinegar and ½ cup baking soda.
- Refrigerator/Freezer: Take a look at our blog explicitly dedicated to refrigerator and freezer deep cleaning.
- Toaster: Remove and empty the tray underneath your toaster.
- Oven: If you have a self-cleaning oven, start by removing any loose food particles, then run the self-clean cycle. If your oven doesn’t have a self-clean function or is especially dirty, it might be best to call a professional maid service like Immaculate Clean to do a professional clean.
- Microwave: Microwave a bowl of water, vinegar, and lemon to loosen up any food particles. Then use a glass cleaner for the door and keypad.
- Stovetop: Remove the grates and wash them in warm soapy water. Scrub the stove top’s surfaces and knobs with warm soapy water.
Deep Cleaning the Bathroom
Follow these easy steps for a clean and sanitized bathroom:- Grout: Use a grout cleaner and a toothbrush to cleanse your bathroom’s grout thoroughly. You’ll be surprised how much this step can freshen up the look of your bathroom.
- Toilet: Clean the base and the back of the toilet with sanitizing spray and paper towels. Clean the inside of the toilet with toilet bowl cleaner.
- Toothbrush Holder: Soak it in hot soapy water for 10 minutes, scrub with a small brush, then sterilize by running it through the dishwasher.
- Shower: Use a cleaning spray containing white vinegar or bleach to clean the inside of your shower and bathtub.
- Shower Curtain: Wash linen shower curtains in the washing machine. Replace plastic shower curtains with new ones.
Immaculate Clean for Your Deep Cleaning Needs
Sometimes hiring a professional is just the thing you need for sprucing up your home. Immaculate Clean can provide you with a professional maid service that will expertly handle your home’s deep cleaning. With years of experience and many happy customers, we are delighted to help you keep your home clean, so you and your family can be healthy and happy. Contact us today to learn about our cleaning and sanitizing services or schedule an appointment.
How to Declutter Your House Before Selling
You’ve decided to put your house up for sale, and there are lots of things to do! In this competitive housing market, it’s beneficial for you to do everything in your power to maximize your house’s selling potential. And one of these things is decluttering your home before you start any showings. Take a look at a few tips for decluttering your house and learn how it can help with the sale!What is Decluttering
One of the easiest ways to declutter your home is by following the Marie Kondo Method. Marie Kondo is a well-known tidying expert who helps people around the world transform their homes into clean and serene spaces. Marie Kondo’s method is based on a Japanese philosophy that every item should bring you joy. It’s become wildly popular in the last decade, because it truly works. Tidying up your house may seem daunting, but not if your own intuition about each item guides you. Does this item give you joy? There is no room for it in your house if it doesn’t!Why Should I Declutter My House?
When you’ve lived somewhere for a long time, it’s easy to overlook that pile of magazines in the corner and that junk drawer full to the brim of random items. But when it comes to selling a house, a decluttered house fairs much better on the market. According to Consumer Reports clean, decluttered houses have a 3-5% increase in selling value. So. let’s take a look at how to get your house decluttered and ready for sale.Start Small
Carve out a time when you can start your decluttering process. Pick a room that may need the most attention, like the living room. Start by making sure all the misplaced items are placed in the rooms where they belong. Then grab a couple of trash bags and get ready for the next step.Does it Bring Me Joy?
Take every item out from the place where it is stored. Go through everything one by one, asking yourself if the particular item brings you joy, and if you legitimately need it. Everything that doesn’t pass the test goes into the trash bag or a donation pile.Organize, Organize, Organize
Now that you’ve gotten rid of everything you no longer need, it’s time to tidy up your remaining items. Hang all clothes neatly in the closet and organize drawers by category. You can also rearrange items on any bookshelves, arranging them in an order that’s both aesthetically pleasing and efficient.Time to Clean
Now that your home is clutter-free, you can focus on other details like general cleaning. Believe it or not, buyers look at the cleanliness of your house amongst other things. So, it’s important to do a deep clean, especially because some spaces occupied by things are now visible. Having an immaculately clean house has become so necessary that real estate agents call the phenomenon “glass bubble.” When buyers come to see your house, they expect the same level of cleanliness as a 5-star hotel. You have to be sure to remove all dirt, caked in odors, grime, and the normal wear and tear that any house goes through in the process of housing a family.Leave it to the Pros
Selling your house could be a stressful time. You have a lot of things on your plate and getting on your hands and knees to scrub your house is probably the last thing you want to do. Fortunately, you can employ the help of professional home cleaners to help you deep clean your house.Immaculate Clean Services in Eldersburg MD is Here to Help
If you are getting ready to sell your house, let our maid service do the deep cleaning for you. Immaculate Clean offers friendly and efficient cleaning services that will leave your home spotless and mess-free. If you’d like to learn more about our services or to schedule a cleaning, please Contact us today!
7 New Year’s Resolutions for a Happier, Healthier Home in 2022
We are entering the time of the year when most people begin giving up on their New Year’s resolutions. Perhaps work schedules and daily life are getting in the way of your fitness plans for the year, or maybe your family obligations are distracting you from all those books you planned to read. Personal resolutions are at times hard to keep but setting up some feasible New Year’s resolutions for your home can help you streamline your life and have a happier and healthier household in 2022! Check out these seven ideas to get you started.Declutter and Donate
Right now, is the perfect time to look through everything you own and do some downsizing. Start with your most-used spaces first and go through every item, setting anything you don’t think you need aside. You will be left with fewer items and more space. And all the items you will not be using can be taken to a donation center.Prepare for Emergencies
Make sure this year is safe for you and your family by doing some due diligence at the start of the year. For example, make sure your carbon dioxide and smoke alarms have new batteries and are working properly. Also, ensure you have at least one fire extinguisher in your home. And make sure you own an emergency kit containing all the essentials like water, food, and flashlights.Organize, Organize, Organize
After you’ve rid your home of all items that you haven’t been using, it’s time to organize. Coming up with an organization system and sticking to it throughout the year can help your household stay cleaner and your daily life be more efficient. Go through all cabinets and drawers, especially ones in the kitchen and bathroom, and come up with a system for sorting items, so they’re readily available for you to find when you need them. It’s also a good idea to have a dedicated space in the house where things like Wi-Fi passwords and other important information are written down.Rearrange Furniture
Rearranging your bedroom furniture can elevate your mood and improve space, but it can also allow you to perform a deep cleaning of the area. Capitalize on this opportunity and hire a professional cleaning crew to thoroughly clean places previously covered by furniture. This will help enhance any room’s appearance and provide a cleaner and healthier home for you and your loved ones.Clean Neglected Areas
At the beginning of the year, taking the time to check on neglected areas like the tops of shelving units and backs of appliances can help you ensure your home is dirt and mold-free. Doing a deep clean like this at the start of each year can reduce griminess and bacteria overgrowth and get rid of any stale smells. Getting a maid service like Immaculate Clean to perform a deep clean and sanitize your house is best because then you’ll know the clean-up has been done by experts in the field.Don’t Forget Your Appliances
Having a happy and healthy home involves paying attention to places that are not visible. For example, it’s important to clean out your dryer’s duct and the filter in your dishwasher. Doing a pre-emptive clean-up can help you ensure all appliance parts are functioning properly. It can also help you avoid dangerous situations like fires started by lint in the dryer’s duct.Stick to a Schedule
One of the best things you can do for your household moving forward is coming up with a regular cleaning schedule and sticking to it. For example, should the garage be swept once a month or the couch vacuumed weekly? Discussing these cleaning habits with your family can help ensure your home stays clean and healthy throughout the year. Short on time? Not to worry! Professional cleaning companies like Immaculate Clean can expertly perform regular home cleanings for you.Immaculate Clean Services in Eldersburg, MD
Immaculate Clean offers friendly and efficient cleaning services in Eldersburg, MD, that will 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!
Could Dusty Heat Vents Be Causing Poor Air Quality in Your Home?
When it’s chilly or rainy outside, we all want to spend time indoors in the warmth and comfort of our home. As we enjoy our time indoors, it’s important to make sure that the air quality in your home is up to par. You might be surprised to find out that dusty air vents can negatively affect the air quality of your home and even cause some health problems. We all know it’s important to do general cleaning of your home regularly. Find out why it’s also important to check your air vents’ cleanliness and how to best clean them.How Important is Air Quality for Your Health?
Having a clean house is not only aesthetically pleasing, but it is also essential for your home’s air quality. When the air in your home contains too much dust, it can cause health problems. Every time you get up and move around, the dust particles get stirred up in the air, aggravating your lungs and potentially causing irritation, allergies, coughing, sore throat, sneezing, and even asthma. Clean air in your home is essential for your family’s proper breathing and health. Read below to learn how to determine poor air quality in your house.How to Tell if You Have Poor Air Quality in Your Home
Some tell-tale clues can help you discover if you have poor air quality in your home. For example, if you start noticing strings of dust collecting on your walls, ceiling, and corners of your rooms – it may mean you have an air quality problem. Additionally, if you see that surfaces like shelves, tables, and carpeting get dusty frequently, it could also mean it’s time to look into your home’s air. The next place to look for dust is in the vent covers – if you see dust there, it is time to clean.Dusty Vents
In addition to being a sign of poor air quality, dusty vents can also cause poor air circulation in your home. Dust and particle build-up in the vents can lead to an uneven distribution of heated and cooled air. That means having areas of your home that aren’t cold enough in the summer or warm enough in the winter. In addition, your heat and air conditioning could be working overtime to adequately push the air through your home, costing you more money in the long run. The easy solution to this problem is to clean your air vents. Find out how below.How to Clean Your Air Vents
Cleaning your air vents is easier than you might think. Start by following a few safety steps to make sure everything goes smoothly:- Turn your thermostat to off before you begin cleaning
- Have someone spot you if you plan on using a step stool or a ladder
- Wear a shield or goggles if you anticipate debris might fall into your eyes
- Gather all your cleaning supplies nearby and start by removing the vents.
- If the vents are particularly dusty, use a vacuum to clean them before removing them.
- Wash the vents in warm soapy water. If your vents are metal, you can even run them through a dishwasher cycle.
Immaculate Clean Services in Eldersburg, MD
Immaculate Clean offers friendly and efficient recurring cleaning services in Eldersburg, MD! We can help you achieve a clean and healthy home. Give us a call to find out how we can help ensure your dust level in your home stays under control. We will keep your home clean so you can focus on the important things like your family. Contact us today to schedule a service!Help, the leaves are falling!
I just moved into my house a few months ago. It’s an oldie, but a goodie. And, it needs a lot of work.
Yesterday, a couple of designer friends came over to help me pick out exterior paint colors. It’s amazing how many things you notice when you stand there and stare at your house.
First of all, the leaves are falling…all over the place. The big, old trees are beautiful. But, wreaking havoc with my gutters. Not to mention the fact that one of the gutters is bent with a hole in it. And then there’s the roof. No idea how old that is. Or, if it’s about to spring any leaks.
It’s also a lot chillier this week than it has been. Almost time to turn on the heat. My 11-year old wanted me to do that last night. I told her it wasn’t cold enough. Truth be told, I was afraid it might blow up or something. It’s an oil tank. I’ve never had one before and I have no idea how it works. Or, if it works.
I woke up this morning in a panic. There’s going to be snow on the ground before I know it and I’m not ready. My house isn’t ready. I have no idea how drafty it might be. How cold the floors get. Or, how the oldfangled water heater holds up in the icy temps.
The first thing I did was call the heating and air conditioning people I normally use. I needed someone to come out and explain my heating system to me. And, more importantly, make sure it’s working ok. I also wanted to know if I could get an idea of how well insulated my house is. They said they could look into that too.
The house will be getting painted soon so I’m sure they will notice any repairs needed to my siding. But, what else am I forgetting? What else do I need to do?
Thank goodness for Google. (What did we do before it existed? How did we find immediate answers to all of our urgent questions?) I started searching “fall house projects” and found lots of information. Tons, in fact. A bit overwhelming, but given my cluelessness about my house, I figured I better start reading.
So, here’s a compiled list:
16 Suggestions for Fall House Projects
1. Caulk/seal the windows 2. Inspect the roof 3. Ready the fireplace 4. Repair and/or seal the driveway and walks 5. Reverse the ceiling fan 6. Cover air conditioners 7. Clean yard equipment 8. Prepare your deck 9. Touch up exterior paint 10. Tune up the furnace 11. Power wash your homes exterior 12. Clean carpets (read more here) 13. Clean out and/or repair gutters 14. Winterize faucets and sprinklers 15. Check carbon monoxide and smoke detectors 16. Yard maintenance: rake, trim bushes, aerate, etc. Sources: Autumn Maintenance Tips, Fall Home Projects, 10 Fall Home Maintenance Musts Central Maryland Recommendations: If you’re in need of roofing help, contact S&K Roofing. Try Ned Stevens for Gutter Cleaning, Repair and Installation. And, for all that yard work, contact Liqua-Grow Turf Inc.. As I said, it’s a bit overwhelming. And, I can assure you, I will not do all of these things. Reality is, I never have in the past. I think it’s best to prioritize. Take care of the things I know might be a problem like the roof, gutters, and furnace. I should probably check my carbon monoxide and smoke detectors, too. That seems like one of those ‘better safe than sorry’ must-dos. I won’t use the fireplace, and I don’t have any ceiling fans. (By the way, the reason you reverse your fans is to draw the warm air up rather than push the cool air down. It’s one of those little things that most of us don’t know about. At least, I didn’t until a few years ago.) Fortunately, I also don’t have any wall-to-wall carpets, and I have a yard service to take are of all that lawn maintenance stuff. The rest, well, we’ll have to see. Good luck to the rest of you. May your homes be cozy, warm, and free from all cold weather hazards this winter.TO CLEAN OR DISINFECT, THAT IS THE QUESTION
What’s the Difference?
Do you know whether you are cleaning or disinfecting? No? Yeah, well, I didn’t either. In fact, I wasn’t really sure there was a difference. But there is.
As the average mother of growing children, I never really paid much attention. I just wanted my house to feel clean, which it rarely does. But maybe that’s because I wasn’t doing it the right way. Or should I say…the cleaning people weren’t doing it the right way.
The reality is, there’s a huge difference between cleaning and disinfecting. Knowing the difference can make all the difference between a house that feels clean, and a house that is also free of germs that transfer from one person to another.
As Mary Anne Dunkin writes in Cleaning or Disinfecting: What’s the Difference?,
“Cleaning involves getting rid of dirt and gunk where germs can grow. The friction of cleaning — often with soap and water — removes most surface germs, which is adequate for most household surfaces. In other cases, however, it’s a good idea to disinfect, which destroys or inactivates most of the germs.”
Surfaces that are touched by multiple persons like doorknobs, refrigerator handles, microwaves, faucets and toilet flushers need to be disinfected because lots of dirty, germ-laden hands touch them. It’s really the only way to ensure that germs are not transferred. Honestly, it’s bad enough to think about my kids’ unwashed hands on all of these different surfaces. When I also think of all of their friends’ hands and the lack of disinfecting going on in my house, it’s enough to make me…well…sick.
Making Sure
In Cleaners vs Disinfectants: What you need to know, Melissa Maker says, “A cleaner does not disinfect and a disinfectant does not clean.” She goes on to explain that cleaners lift dirt on a surface while disinfectants kill bacteria, germs, etc. because of certain ingredients they contain. The latter do not necessarily make things shiny or smell good. (Personally, I like the strong, disinfectant smell. It makes me know things are really clean.)
The other thing Maker points out is that to truly have a fresh, germ-free house, you need to do both. Clean AND Disinfect. You should clean first, then disinfect. And, you have to follow the directions on different products to know exactly how to use them.
P&G Professional Cleaning Products
There are a lot of products out there that do one, the other, or, sometimes, both. Knowing the difference is important. Or…knowing that your cleaning company knows the difference is important. Immaculate Clean knows how to do it right.
What’s the Difference?
Do you know whether you are cleaning or disinfecting? No? Yeah, well, I didn’t either. In fact, I wasn’t really sure there was a difference. But there is.
As the average mother of growing children, I never really paid much attention. I just wanted my house to feel clean, which it rarely does. But maybe that’s because I wasn’t doing it the right way. Or should I say…the cleaning people weren’t doing it the right way.
The reality is, there’s a huge difference between cleaning and disinfecting. Knowing the difference can make all the difference between a house that feels clean, and a house that is also free of germs that transfer from one person to another.
As Mary Anne Dunkin writes in Cleaning or Disinfecting: What’s the Difference?,
“Cleaning involves getting rid of dirt and gunk where germs can grow. The friction of cleaning — often with soap and water — removes most surface germs, which is adequate for most household surfaces. In other cases, however, it’s a good idea to disinfect, which destroys or inactivates most of the germs.”
Surfaces that are touched by multiple persons like doorknobs, refrigerator handles, microwaves, faucets and toilet flushers need to be disinfected because lots of dirty, germ-laden hands touch them. It’s really the only way to ensure that germs are not transferred. Honestly, it’s bad enough to think about my kids’ unwashed hands on all of these different surfaces. When I also think of all of their friends’ hands and the lack of disinfecting going on in my house, it’s enough to make me…well…sick.
Making Sure
In Cleaners vs Disinfectants: What you need to know, Melissa Maker says, “A cleaner does not disinfect and a disinfectant does not clean.” She goes on to explain that cleaners lift dirt on a surface while disinfectants kill bacteria, germs, etc. because of certain ingredients they contain. The latter do not necessarily make things shiny or smell good. (Personally, I like the strong, disinfectant smell. It makes me know things are really clean.)
The other thing Maker points out is that to truly have a fresh, germ-free house, you need to do both. Clean AND Disinfect. You should clean first, then disinfect. And, you have to follow the directions on different products to know exactly how to use them.
P&G Professional Cleaning Products
There are a lot of products out there that do one, the other, or, sometimes, both. Knowing the difference is important. Or…knowing that your cleaning company knows the difference is important. Immaculate Clean knows how to do it right.
The Three Hardest to Remove Stains and How to Beat Them
There is a long list of hard to remove stains, but as cleaning experts, we know the top three! Don’t fret because we have the best possible solutions to these three scary stains and with some help from us and a little elbow grease, we’ll be stain-free in no time flat.
GREASE
Speaking of elbow grease, we absolutely hate grease and oil stains. They seem to be permanent once they have set, so keep in mind that time is of the essence. When you get hit with a grease stain, place the item stain side down on a stack of dry paper towels and absorb as much of the grease or oil as possible. Apply an absorbent powder like baking soda or cornstarch to the stain, allow to sit for 30 minutes and brush off. Once the oil is completely absorbed, pre-treat with a degreaser comparable to Dawn dish soap overnight and then wash on a warm to hot setting in your washing machine. While it seems time consuming, following these steps are your best defense against grease stains.GRASS
Got grass stains on the knees of your children’s pants? These pesky green stains can be really frustrating and persistent. We recommend when you have a grass stain to use your regular laundry soap and an old tooth brush to work liquid into the stain before washing with warm water. If the stain remains, use white vinegar diluted with 4 parts water. This will help to break the stain down even more.BLOOD
Occasionally a scrape or cut can cause a blood stain on an article of clothing. This can be one of the hardest to remove in our experience. The best course of action is to first soak with cold water and gently rub the spot. You will find that it turns lighter as the blood pulls from the clothing. Always use cold water on this type of stain, and if soaking and pre-treating doesn’t seem to work, you can move to hydrogen peroxide on stubborn spots. While our services don’t include laundry, we are stain and cleaning experts, and love a challenge. Contact us today to discuss our recurring or one time cleanings!What Motivates You?
Apply For a job that motivates you to be happy and successful, Contact us to learn more!
Immaculate Clean Gives Back to Ellicott City Maryland
This week Business owners and home owners were allowed back onto Main Street in Ellicott City for the first time since the damage of the August flood 18 days ago, to recover what they could (the big stuff). As small business owners ourselves our hearts go out to Main Street and the surrounding areas of Ellicott City and hope so much that they can get back on their feet quickly.
Today, August 22nd, is the last day for the recovery effort and there is no telling when they will be able to move back in and start repairs. Immaculate clean has made a donation of cleaning products to help in repair efforts, along with it come our thoughts and prayers.
Our donation included:
- 1 Squeegee
- 3 Boxes of Rags
- 8 Cleaners
- Gloves
- Kneepads
- 3 handheld vacuum cleaners
- 1 upright vacuum cleaner