Cleaning and Care For Sinks

Our kitchen sinks and bathroom sinks get a lot of wear and tear throughout the day, over time they begin to show the wear. With a little elbow grease you can get your sink looking like new in no time flat.

Fiberglass sinks
Use a non-abrasive cleaners like dish washing soap or household all-purpose cleaners. If you want to take the green route use some baking soda moistened with water to make a paste then wet the surface and rub with the paste on a soft cloth. Rub gently and make sure you rinse thoroughly to remove all of the cleaner.
Never use any abrasive cleaners like common scouring powders, nor any abrasive scouring pads, or steel wool.

Porcelain Enamel Sinks
To clean porcelain, wash with warm or hot soapy water, using detergent or baking soda might help remove soap scum and soil. Always rinse with plain water.
If you choose to use scouring powder it should be the very finest one possible. Most scouring powders contain abrasives that can cause scratches. Once the porcelain surface has been scratched, it attracts dirt, grease and soap residue, which then becomes hard to clean.
Important Tips To Keep In Mind

* Try to rinse your sink after every use. This will make the sink smell fresh.

* Avoid pouring left over coffee, tea and juices into your sink, because such liquids can cause staining. Instead, put the liquids directly to the drain holes

* If you have a dual basin kitchen sink, then swap the sides that you use for washing and pre-washing, every now and then. This will allow the even use of drains.

* Make sure that the cleaning product is suitable for the finish of your kitchen sink, because not all the cleaners are recommended for every type of sink. For instance, in the case of a stainless steel sink, you may use abrasive cleaners. On the other hand, porcelain needs something more delicate, to prevent the surface from scratching.

* Make sure that you clean the faucet and the back of the sink as well to avoid mold and bacteria growth. You may use a solution made with one part vinegar and one part water for cleaning the faucet and handles.

Sources: http://www.pioneerthinking.com

Making Cleaning Easier

Everyone has to do it and most of us don’t want to. We all come home after a long day and we need to pick up around the house and clean up after dinner. Lets face it, you don’t get the time to enjoy your family. So don’t do it, don’t clean. Let Grime Solvers clean for you. Here are some reasons you should hire Grime Solvers to clean for you:

House cleaning can give you a more organized household that will make day to day task run more smoothly and reduce the stress for you and your family.

You’ll have no more worries about a dirty bathroom or a dirty kitchen. Regular cleaning from Grime Solvers will make sure you don’t send a bad impression to your guests.

You’ll family will be healthier – it’s proven that regular cleaning can reduce allergens, dust mites, mold and other potential health problems around the house.

You’ll only need to do a daily spiff up and organize the house. Grime Solvers will do the heavy cleaning and you’ll have more time for hobbies and your family.

We believe that client satisfaction is our only measure of success. Try us and you will see the Grime Solvers difference.

Cleaning Blinds

Caring for and cleaning your window blinds doesn't have to leave you seeing red. In fact, with a little preventive care and maintenance, keeping your blinds clean is easy.

The most important thing to remember is to not wait until you can see the dust and dirt buildup to decide it’s time for a cleaning. Prevention is best. With weekly light dusting using a soft cloth or feather duster (an old sock in which you can stick your hand also works extremely well) you can keep your work to a minimum and your blinds looking their best.

But if you're like many, chances are your blinds get neglected in your weekly cleaning routine. So what do you do when a light dusting is just not enough to get off the weeks or maybe even month’s worth of grit and grime that has accumulated? We have your answer. Depending on the type of blind, there are easy and relatively quick ways to bring your blinds back to their original state.
Vinyl or Aluminum Blinds

• Start by using a round brush attachment on your vacuum to remove all surface dust and dirt.
• Next, remove your blinds from the window and place them in your bathtub, filled with a low
level of hot soapy water. Be sure you layer your tub with a towel or tub mat to avoid scratching
the bottom of your tub. If you're a smoker, you may want to add a small amount of ammonia
to the water, which will help remove the yellow staining caused by cigarette smoke? Be sure
your room is properly ventilated if you do so.
• With a sponge or rag, clean each slat, being careful to not bend or scratch the blind.
• Never use an abrasive sponge or pad, which can cause scratching and may dull the surface.

Wood Blinds

• Wood blinds require a bit of extra care, since you cannot use soap and water.
• Again, start by using the round brush attachment on your vacuum to remove surface dust and
dirt.
• Remove the blinds from the window and lay them flat on the floor, with an old sheet or towel
underneath to keep the floor clean.
• On some wood blinds, you can use a very lightly damp cloth to wipe each individual blind, but
be sure you check the manufacturers label first, to avid warping and damage.
• With any standard wood furniture cleaner or polish and a soft cloth, wipe each blind in long
horizontal strokes for horizontal blinds and long vertical strokes for vertical blinds.
• Depending on how dirty your blinds are, you may need to repeat this step several times.
Fabric Blinds

• Fabric tends to attract more dust, but these blinds are usually treated to repel deep dirt.
• Using the round brush attachment on your vacuum to remove surface dust and dirt is
generally all you need to do to keep these clean; however, a damp cloth or rag can be used spot
treat if necessary.
• For really deep dirt removal or to remove stains, remove the blinds from the window and soak
them in hot water, again the tub works well. Do not use soap. Use caution and be sure to read
the manufacturer’s instructions, as this step could cause dulling or discoloration of some
fabrics.
• For heavy cleaning of fabric blinds, you may want to consider taking them to the dry cleaners
to avoid potential damage.

Wiping each blind, regardless of their type, with a dryer sheet will help repel future dust, as will thoroughly cleaning your windows and sills, and should be done before you rehang you newly clean blinds.


Sources:www.topwindowblinds.com
www.creativehomemaking.com

Caring for Fine China

If you're like many busy, modern families today, mealtime doesn't get the care and attention it once did. If you're not eating your dinner out of disposable containers or take-out wrappers, you're more than likely eating off of paper plates, or on plates or bowls from a mismatched, hodgepodge collection you have handy for everyday use. Needless to say, you're grandmother's passed-down fine china, or that pricey Lenox collection you received as wedding gift, is probably not coming out of the china cabinet—or their boxes—more than once, maybe twice, a year.

But when you do finally break them out, whether for a holiday or a special dinner, you want them looking their best.

A cherished family keepsake or simply you're special occasion splurge, fine china is an investment. In order to help your set retain value, beauty and luster for years to come, it’s important that you take good, careful care of each piece, both during and after its use. Read on for some helpful tips on how to best care for your fine china.

Cleaning:

• Never scrape your china with metal silverware to remove the remnants of your meal; instead, use a rubber spatula, which will prevent scratches.

• Avoid stacking your china on top of each other in the sink and wash one piece at a time.

• Be sure to at least rinse fine dinnerware shortly after you’ve finished eating to prevent food from sticking.

• When washing, be sure to use only mild detergents and soft sponges.

• Wash with warm water—not with hot water, especially if the china is adorned with metal.

• Hand dry.

• If you dinnerware is stained, put a small amount of baking soda, salt, cream of tartar or toothpaste on the area and rub with a soft cloth.

• Prevent stains by cleaning with a solution made of one part hydrogen peroxide, three parts water and a drop of ammonia. Rinse thoroughly with warm water.

General Care and Storage:

• Avoid exposing fine china from extreme temperature to prevent cracks and breaks.

• If you plan to serve hot food, run the china under warm water first to bring its temperature up.

• Repair tiny surface cracks by placing the piece in milk for 30 minutes.

• Store your fine china in a closed cupboard or china cabinet, placing foam or cloth between plates, bowls and saucers to prevent scratching. Hang cups on small cup hooks or stack those two deep, one inside the other. Turn the lids of coffee, teapots and serving pieces upside down inside the piece itself, to protect the lid handles.

• Do not store fine china sets in an attic or basement.

Sources: http://weddings.weddingchannel.com

http://tips.lenox.com

Cleaning the Refrigerator—Tips to Get it Done Right, and Get Done Fast

There not too many worse smells than that of a refrigerator that hasn’t been cleaned out and sanitized in a while. Sure the Chinese food you ordered two weeks ago was really great at the time, and all those fresh veggies you meant to cook already were on sale when you bought them; but now, something has started to grow on them, and despite how much you would love it to be a set of legs so they can walk out of your fridge and into the trash on their own, chances are its just mold and bacteria, and the main cause of that pungent odor that has started to permeate your kitchen. It’s time to clean out the fridge.

So while maybe not the most pleasant of chores, cleaning and sanitizing your refrigerator doesn’t have to be the most daunting on your cleaning checklist. With a little patience, a little elbow grease, and of course, a little baking soda, you can once again have a clean and sanitized fridge that you and your family no longer dread to open. Just follow these easy steps.



• Empty it out—and this means everything, including the drawers themselves.

• Check all expatriation dates and throw away anything outdated.

• Sprinkle the empty fridge with baking soda, and with a wet sponge or cloth, clean all of the shelves, the walls, the doors and the drawers, using a circular motion.

• For really tough smells and stains, sanitize with bleach and water solution.

• While you’re doing this, it’s a good idea to have a bowl filled with boiled water and sliced lemons on the top shelf to add freshness.

• With a clean sponge or cloth and a bucket of warm water, thoroughly wipe down the inside of the fridge, to remove the baking soda residue. If using bleach, be sure to rinse the refrigerator very thoroughly with clean water.

• Wipe down all items that are still in-date with a damp cloth and put them back neatly in their place.

• After the fruit and vegetable bins have dried, sprinkle each with a small amount of baking soda and line with a paper towel.

• On the top shelf, toward the back, place an open box of baking soda to absorb odors. Change this box once every three months.

• Be sure to wipe the top and all four sides, and remove the dust from underneath and by the fan.

This routine, performed twice a month, plus weekly maintenance to assure you’re getting rid of spoiled and expired items before they start to leave their mark, will help you to keep your refrigerator clean and sanitary!





Sources:www.housekeepingmatters.com

www.homelife.com.

Keeping Dust at Bay

Keeping your home free of unsightly and harmful dust is no easy task, especially when you learn all of the ways dust particles and mites can enter—and then live very comfortably—in your home.

Caused by carpets, furniture, heating ducts, ventilation systems and even your pets, the fact is…dust is a fact of life! Even for the tidiest of housekeepers, dust is a real problem. But getting your dust problem under control is important.

Along with sand, dirt, pollen grains, lead, and arsenic, household dust also contains dust mites, fibers from your fabrics and upholstery, parts from dead insects, human and animal hair, mold spores, bacteria and human an animal dead skin cells. Gross, right? Sure it’s a hassle to have to remove the dust from your household surfaces multiple times a week, but think about the havoc that concoction can wreak in your lungs, especially if you or a member of your family is an allergy or asthma sufferer. And if this applies to you, you have to be particularly careful when cleaning the home, as you can easily stir up the particles and worsen the reaction.



Though there is no practical way to completely remove all dust from your home, there are many steps you can take to get it under control. Here are few to keep in mind.

* Because dust can get trapped deep down inside carpet as its walked on, be sure to vacuum carpets, area rugs and floors at least once a week. For allergy and asthma sufferers in particular, its best to use a vacuum with a HEPA filter.
* Never sweep a carpet for a quick cleaning job—this will just stir up the dust particles.
* Vacuum and clean cloth and fabric upholstered furniture at least once a month.
* Steam clean draperies or dry clean window treatments each season. Keep blinds dusted and dirt-free.
* Polish wood furniture and hard surfaces weekly, with a clean, disposable cloth. Be sure to polish all surfaces, included decorative hanging, pictures, books, candle holders, etc.
* Your browser may not support display of this image. Wash bed linens, including dust ruffle, pillow shams and sheets, at least once a month. If they can’t be washed, at least fluff them in the dryer to remove dust.
* Toss old pillows – including old throw pillows– unless the items can be washed.
* Repair cracks in the walls and seal openings in baseboards.
* Regularly wash stuffed animals and other fabric toys for children.
* Don’t forget to dust ceiling fans and heating and cooling registers, as they are great receptacles for spread dust.
* Regularly clean pet bedding.
* Keep major appliances free from dust—including the top and bottom of the refrigerator, behind the stove, and around the washer and dryer.
* Keep air filters in your heating and air system clean, and replace them yearly at least. Consider investing in HEPA filters.



Sources:

homemanagement.suite101.com

www.healthybuilding.com

biology.about.com