Removing Salt Stains
For those of us who live in the norther climates every 5-6 months we get a ton of the big white stuff called snow. With snow we get ice and with ice most city authorities use salt to melt the ice and give better traction. During those winter months your boots, gloves and sleeves get miserable salt stains in the form of white powdering spots. Now salts stains don't clean off easily because most the detergents or soaps we use to try, also have sodium (salt) in them. It's like trying to clean salt with salt. Now, we all know you folks aren't chemists so let's keep this nice and layman like. Salt will raise water's PH level (hell yes, just like the swimming pool) to a higher level than 7. 7 is neutral, the mid point between acid (anything lower than 7) and alkaline, (anything higher than 7). Salts stains are alkaline. Now we all have heard that opposites attract. Well so do acids and alkalines. If we have a mild salt stain we can use a mild acid to get rid of it. Hmmmmm, now where can I find a mild acid?...aha...Vinegar, yep, it's not just great on french fries (how did you know I was Canadian...eh???) Get out that ole' vinegar and some cotton. Take the vinegar induced cloth and wipe it clean. Now if the salt is thick, you'll need more vinegar. Your boots are goin' to smell lovely...lol. Anyhow, give it a try, it works like a peach. Your feedback or suggestions are welcome. Cleaning in Toronto
Caring for Marble & Granite
One: Marble and granite floors consist of natural materials that are porous and sensitive even though they might seem solid and virtually indestructible. When cleaning marble or granite, use a neutral cleaning solution (pH-value as close to 7 as possible). Damaged areas of the floor can be restored using a special marble restoring products. Powdered cleaning products can cause severe damage to marble and granite floors by scratching the polished surface. The same thing is true for metal scrapers, steel wool, scrub pads and similar.
Two: Toilet bowl rings are a nightmare so start combating them right away. If you clean the toilet bowl frequently, a toilet brush, a standard acidic cleaner and plenty of water is normally enough. If a toilet ring has already appeared, you may need to use a green scrub sponge (of the nylon backed variety) to scrub away the ring. The sponge must always be really wet, because a dry sponge can damage the toilet surface. Only vitreous china toilet bowls should be cleans with a pumice stone. Never use pumice stones on colored china bowls, nor on enamel or plastic bowls. Simple Sudz used by Maret's Quality Home Cleaning is great for this type of cleaning.
There are many situations where a house cleaning service will come in handy. The demands of family life and work can for instance be hard to juggle while in the process of changing homes. If you hare changing house abroad, a local cleaning service will make sure that you follow the local regulations for final cleaning. Instead of having to worry about whether you should have cleaned out the kitchen fan filter, contact a local cleaning company that knows all the applicable rules. Failure to adhere to local cleaning regulations when leaving a home can cost you a lot. Local cleaning crews can be found in the yellow pages or by searching online.
Four: Cigarette smoke can leave an unsightly smoke film behind in your home. You can make your own ideal cleaning product by adding water-soluble deodorizer to a heavy-duty cleaner with degrease capacity. If the film is on a window, blend one part isopropyl alcohol to five parts window cleaner. Porous surfaces, such as a coach or porous ceiling tile, is more difficult to clean.A light film can normally be removed from acoustic ceiling tile using a special ceiling cleanser. In some situations where smoking has been going on for several years without a proper cleaning, the house will need to be repainted.
Five: Don't forget to reward yourself as you cross off your do-to list. Five: Give yourself small rewards throughout the day, e.g. cup of your favorite type of coffee.
Make your windows Sparkle
Especially during summer when the weather is clear and sunny, having windows that sparkle are a joy! However, getting them this way might be a chore you aren't looking forward to doing. After all, windows do need to be cleaned on both sides (inside and outside) to achieve these results. Since it might not be in your budget to hire a professional window cleaning service, you might want to following these indispensible tips and techniques.
Tip #1 A vacuum cleaner can come in handy for cleaning the edges of your windows. They can be used to remove dust, dirt, and cobwebs that tend to accumulate around the corners. By keeping the edges free of debris, you are less likely to get unwanted residue that could smudge on the glass during wash. You should also vacuum the sills if needed. If you have blinds, you will find a feather duster useful for removing dust before you start cleaning the window pane.
Tip # 2 You can also use a vacuum to clean mesh screens. However, if possible, try to remove the screens and clean them over a sink or in the bathroom. This reduces the chance of making more of a mess than needed.
Tip # 3 Clean the actual panes from the top of the window to the bottom. By working your way down, you can prevent streaks or drips from contaminating the parts you have already cleaned.
Tip # 4 Use a soft cotton cloth when drying. Make sure the cloth doesn't leave any threads when you wipe. You can purchase many reliable window cleaning solutions from your local supermarket. Even simpler, use warm water and soap with your soft, lint-free cloth!
When cleaning windows, make sure you take your time and you won't likely make a mistake. You also won't miss a spot or ruin your effort with streaks. More importantly, patiently set aside enough time for your windows to dry.
How to clean Stains from Windows
Cleaning windows can be a difficult task especially if you don't clean them on a regular basis. Windows will appear cloudy, streaked or stained and sunlight will not be able to penetrate the glass. This will add up to your electric bill since it will be dark indoors and you need to open several lights. Not cleaning your windows will also give rise to stains that might be difficult to remove if they have accumulated on the glass panes and other parts of the window. There are different types of glass stains and these include water (caused by rain, sprinkler or condensation), paint, grease/oil, chemicals, or building materials (cement, limestone, brick, etc.). Before you can remove any stain from your glass windows, do the preliminaries on cleaning windows. First prepare all the cleaning materials you will need: several pieces of cotton cloths such as old shirts or cloth diapers, a step ladder, liquid glass cleaner or a homemade solution of vinegar, 70% alcohol solution, dishwashing detergent and lukewarm water, a sponge and squeegee combination, toothbrush or cotton buds, several newspaper sheets and cleaning products that you need to remove stains. Remove curtains, rods and window screens. Wash non-glass parts of the window such as the sills and cross pieces first using cloths, liquid detergent and water. Wipe dry using a lint-free cloth.
Remove stains using the following steps: * Hard water (rain, sprinkler, condensation) - wash the glass using equal parts of water and vinegar and dry with a soft cloth; if stain is difficult to remove, use undiluted vinegar in washing the glass. * Paint - use a razor scraper to peel off paint from the glass or use the finest stainless steel wool and scrub paint lightly off the glass. * Grease or oil - use a solution of 1/2 ammonia or vinegar, 2 cups rubbing alcohol and 1 gallon of water * Chemicals or building materials - you need to use specific products to remove these kinds of stains or ask a professional to help you; if it will be very expensive to use products or professionals to remove these stains, it will be better to just replace the glass of the windows.
Proceed to washing the glass window panes with your glass cleaner or homemade preparation using up and down strokes on one side of the window and side to side to the other part. This will help you see if there are streaks on the windows. Use a rubber squeegee to wipe off solution and then wipe dry using cotton cloths. Wipe again with crumpled newspapers to make the windows sparkle.
Cleaning your area rugs
Area rugs are becoming common again now that alot of homes have hardwood or laminates installed. As with anything resting on top of that nice hardwood floors, sliding a dirty area rug can scratch a floor just as easy as a chair.
Cleaning rugs could be a chore unless you know the things you need to do before cleaning them. First is to make sure if the rug is dirty. Why? You might think the rug is dirty when you shake it and some dust will fly out of it. However, this is normal. So how would you know if the rug is dirty enough to need cleaning? Ask yourself the following questions:
1. Does a screen of dirt fly out of your rug when you hit or kick it sharply?
2. Do your hands become dirty after rubbing the pile of the rug vigorously?
3. Do you see dirt at the base of the pile?
If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, then YES your rug needs cleaning.
After making sure that your rug needs to be cleaned, the next step is to know the best way to clean your rug. Make it a point to ask the weaver or a retailer of your rugs on how to clean them properly. Some rugs need special cleaning procedures. However, do the following first to make sure that you will not damage the rug while cleaning it:
Step 1: Check if the rug will bleed upon contact with any liquid substance. You can test this on a small spot on the rug. If it does not bleed upon getting wet, check if the detergent or shampoo you will use will cause discoloration on the rug. Again do this on one tiny area of the rug. If everything goes well with your tests, then go to the next step.
Step 2: If the materials you will be using for cleaning will not damage your rug, then the next step is to check whether your rug has any stain or spot that needs special attention. These may include ink, acid, alcohol, gum, mud and oil among many others. Do the necessary procedures to remove the stains or before cleaning the whole rug. This might cause even more problems if the stain will spread throughout the rug.
If you have checked the given steps and nothing seems wrong, then you are ready to clean your rug.
Dos & Don'ts of Cleaning Oriental Rugs
Oriental rugs are painstakingly crafted by hand. They can be very striking interior accents on your floors or even function as works of art when hung on your walls. Unfortunately, they can also quickly get soiled, stained, or damaged. While professional cleaning will certainly keep your oriental rugs in spotless condition, you can also clean and maintain them yourself. Keeping your oriental rugs immaculate is a breeze when you know the "Do's" and "Don'ts" of cleaning oriental rugs.
The "Dos"
Whether it is a weekly or monthly undertaking, you can do the following to clean and maintain your oriental rugs.
* Vacuum your rugs thoroughly on both sides, not just one.
* Check if your rug's color will bleed when wet by testing one small (preferably unnoticeable) area with water first.
* Use a mild, neutral detergent or rug shampoo and rinse thoroughly with cold water
* Make sure to remove all excess water and dry both sides of the rug.
* Brush or vacuum the rug after drying.
* Use a cloth or towel to blot out stains before they seep into the fibers of the rug and make a permanent mark.
* Use a water and vinegar solution to even out a spot.
* Use rug detergents to eliminate hard to remove spots.
* Prevent bleeding by combing the rug's pile, which is the rug material, before it dries up.
* If all else fails, bring it to a professional to clean.
The "Don'ts"
* Don't vacuum your rug's fringes since the material on the edges will likely loosen up and might cause the rug to tear.
* Using concentrated detergents or chemically treated water on your rug might cause bleeding.
* Don't leave your rug wet for too long a period of time.
* Don't clean your rug with chemicals or steam.
* Never machine wash your rugs!
* Don't wring out or squeeze your rug after wash.
* Don't dry out your rug after washing by leaving it under direct sunlight.
* Don't rub or scrub stains on your rug since this might cause further damage.
* Avoid stiff brushes when cleaning your rug since it might pull the fibers from it.
Since oriental rugs can last for several decades and even centuries, it pays to know how to care for them. They can be treasured heirlooms and may become even more attractive and valuable with age. Of course, this is as long as you show it the proper care. Proper care will preserve your rug to be lovingly passed onto the next generation in your family.