Cleaning Upholstery

Cleaning spills on furniture cushions can seem tricky, but there are some basic tips to getting them clean that anyone can put to use quickly. One of the most important points is knowing what caused the stain, and what type of fabric the stain is on.

Cold water should be used on all types of stains other than enzyme based stains such as blood. Using hot water on other types of stains can actually cause more harm than good.

Quick Tips

Clean off the food or other debris from the affected area. If the mess is already dried you can vacuum the area to remove any excess food, etc.
Clean the area with either a commercial upholstery cleaner or natural cleaners.
Let the area dry.

Green Upholstery Cleaners

One of the best is white vinegar. Mixed with water, the vinegar not only picks up the stain, but also disinfects. It works great on wine stains.
Another effective cleaning agent is salt. Pour it over the stain and let dry. Scrape it off and wash with cold water. Finish by vacuuming and you should have a like-new cushion.

Cornstarch is another excellent way of removing oil and grease stains. Pour it over the affected area and let it dry. Vacuum it off and you should have a nice clean surface.

Add 1/4 c. laundry detergent or liquid dish detergent to 1 c. warm water. Blend with an electric mixer; whip the mixture until the suds look like whipped cream (it will be dry and form peaks). Take a damp cloth and rub the mixture into the stained area. Rinse out the cloth and gently wipe off the surface.

Source: www.wisegeek.com

Keeping your Countertops Clean—How to Care for Granite

Granite counter tops in the kitchen are a great choice for the stylish and savvy homeowner. Not only does granite come in wide range of colors and patterns, each slab of stone is uniquely distinct from another—making it the ideal choice for someone looking to set their kitchen apart. But it is also extremely durable and able to resist heat and metal abrasion, making it equally as practical for your tough kitchen wear and tear. Because granite needs to be sealed, it is also stain resistant—perfect for the clean-conscious!

With all of these advantages, granite is known as a high-end counter top solution, and therefore adds value to your home. But proper care and maintenance is important to not only keep your kitchen looking its best, it’s also necessary in order to retain that added value. Here are few Do's and Don'ts when it comes to caring for and cleaning your granite counter tops.

Do's & Don'ts
The best way to keep your stone looking great is to avoid bad habits that may cause damage.

Do:
• Clean up spills immediately. Though granite is strong enough that it will not etch like marble, some liquids—particularly highly acidic substances like wine, coffee, fruit juices, tomato sauce and sodas--could potentially stain the surface, especially if the slab is due for another sealing.
• Don't over clean. Using a small amount of specially formulated stone cleaner is a best practice because it will protect your sealer; however, hot water and a very, very small amount of dish soap will do in a pitch. Be sure you only use a very small amount of soap, as excessive and repeated use could cause build-up and dull your counter top's shine.
• Use coasters under all glasses, bottles and cans. Though this is not an absolute necessity because of the strength of granite, using coasters is a good habit to protect all surfaces.
• Use trivets and hot pads under pots, pans and dinnerware. Though the granite will not be necessarily damaged by the heat, once you remove the hot pan from the surface, it will be very hot and may burn you. So use caution!
• Use cutting boards. Avoid the very small possibility of scratching the surface, but also protect your knives, which can be dulled and damaged very quickly by cutting on stone.
• Re-seal your counter tops every 3-5 years.

Don't:
• Use common household or abrasive cleaners such as glass cleaners, degreasers or bleach. These products can contain chemicals that wear the granite sealer, leaving you stone more vulnerable to damage.
• Use vinegar, ammonia, lemon or orange as cleaners. Though natural cleaners and usually effective as a kitchen cleaning aid, these products are highly acidic, which again, can cause your sealant to wear more quickly than usually.
• Use bathroom, tub & tile or grout cleaners. These powders and creams cleansers are abrasive and will dull the surface, and could cause scratches with prolonged use.
• Sit or stand on your counter tops. Though this material is extremely hard, is it NOT flexible, unlink many other counter top materials. Too much weight in one spot could cause a crack.

Sources: www.countertopspecialty.com
www.thekitchn.com

Getting Rid of Tough Soap Scum for Good

In the battle to keep your bathroom spotless, soap scum can be a hefty opponent. If getting rid of the grime that so easily accumulates on the shower and tub in a busy household leaves you with a sore arms from the scrubbing and scouring, a headache from the fumes of the abrasive chemicals needed to help, and for all of your hard work, the promise that by next weekend you'll have to do it all over again? Read on—there is hope.

Unfortunately, the only way to remove stubborn soap scum that has built up over time is with good old fashioned elbow grease. But here are two quick and easy scum-busting solutions (you probably already have in your house somewhere) to help get the job done.

Ammonia

The most basic of all cleaning solutions, ammonia is a great scum remover because it dissolves the grease that makes up the majority of soap scum. Because of its concentration and strength, be sure you wear gloves, be careful not to get the solution in or near your eyes. Also, be sure to properly ventilate the room whenever cleaning with an ammonia-based solvent.

• In a spray bottle, mix one part of ammonia to two parts of water.

• Thoroughly mist the scummy areas of your tub and shower. You will begin to see the hard, concrete like scum slowly soften and break apart.

• Once you see it breaking apart, wipe the scum off with a rag or towel, and rinse thoroughly.

Vinegar

Vinegar is a great alternative to ammonia, with similar scum removal capabilities, but much less abrasive and it is usually found in most kitchen cupboards.

• Measure out two cups of vinegar and then microwave it until it is warm.

• Pour your warm vinegar in a spray bottle and spray the areas built up with soap scum.

• Let the solution stand for two minutes, to start breaking down the soap scum.

You can begin wiping the scum off a few minutes later using a dry towel or rag.

**Tip: Try substituting your regular dry towel or rag with a dryer sheet, which has its own scum removing properties.

*As always with cleaning, prevention is the best defense. With a little regular maintenance, you can help make this chore a little less daunting. Try to keep soap scum from building up in the first place by following these simple tips and techniques.

• Once your soap scum is gone and your tub and shower are clean, apply a thin layer of car wax or lemon based furniture polish to repel water and scum and protect your tiles from settling soap scum. This will also help gives your tiles a nice shine and a fresh scent. Do this about once every six month.

• After every shower, take the time to wipe the soap residue off your tub and shower walls. You should also consider using any of the after-shower cleaning agents on the market today, which are gentle enough to be left on your tub and shower surfaces between showers without requiring rinsing or causing damage.

• Trade in your standard bar soaps for liquid or gel body washes. These synthetic soaps don't create soap scum like true soaps do.

Sources
www.ehow.com
www.howtogetridofstuff.com

Commercial Cleaning

Did you know that Grime Solvers also does commercial cleaning? Grime Solvers has been commercial cleaning for over 25 years. Many businesses don’t know what to look for when hiring a commercial cleaning firm. The cleaning firm you hire reflects on your place of business. If a client enters you business and it’s not clean, that could result in lost or damaged business relationships. This can be avoided by simply hiring a professional office cleaning company to clean your office one, to two times a week. But, when hiring a professional office cleaning company, there are a number of important factors that you must keep in mind.

Does the company have a good reputation? Where you referred to this company by a friend or colleague, or did you simply pick them out of a phone book? Although this doesn’t mean they won’t do a good job, it is also important to hire a company that you can rely on, and that has an established reputation. When evaluating a cleaning company make sure they can provide solid references that you can check out prior to entering into a contract.

Once you find a reputable office cleaning services make sure they are fully licensed and insured. This protects your business' equipment and property from theft or damage.

Make sure you are clear about what you would like the cleaning company to do, how often you want items cleaned and what you expect. Communication is important.

Everyone has different cleaning needs and finding the right company to work with you to get desired results is important for your business.


Source:http://maintenance-one.com

Cleaning Stainless Steel

Stainless steel appliances are a beautiful addition to any kitchen. They can also help increase your home’s value but it’s important to maintain them. Stainless steel is generally easy to care for. However, there are certain precautions that should be taken when cleaning these appliances particularly to make sure that you don’t scratch the surface.

Here are a few simple steps to keep your stainless steel looking clean and new

1. Cleaning with plain water

For everyday cleaning needs use warm water and a cloth. This is the least risky option for cleaning stainless steel. Dry it with a towel or cloth to prevent water spots and don’t forget to wipe in the direction of the polish lines.

2. Adding a mild detergent, (dish washing liquid)

You can add a mild detergent to water for slightly tougher cleaning jobs. Always rinse it thoroughly with warm water to prevent staining and spotting and then dry surfaces with a towel to prevent water spots.

3. Using glass cleaner to remove fingerprints

Fingerprints can be removed with glass cleaner or household ammonia. Some newer types of finishes resist fingerprints. Rinse thoroughly and towel dry.

4. Using stainless steel cleaner

If your appliances suffer from some mild staining or scratching, or they just lack sparkle and shine, a stainless steel cleaner may be a good option. Cleaners made for stainless steel are perfect for minimize scratching and removing stains. They also can polish stainless steel surfaces back to their original shine. Each cleaner has its own directions but it’s important to rinse thoroughly to remove the remnants of the polish.

5. Green Options

If you don’t want to use chemicals try some of the items listed below for those pesky fingerprints and smudges. Apply any of the items below to a lint-free cloth and wipe down your surface. Follow up with a clean dry cloth to bring appliances to a mark-free shine.

Olive Oil (just a dab)
Mineral Oil (Baby Oil)–Just a dab
Club Soda (especially good for removing streaks and heat stains)
Rubbing Alcohol
Vinegar

Take just a few minutes each day to keep your stainless steel appliances looking like new.

Sources: http://housekeeping.about.com/
http://www.howtocleanstuff.net
http://tipnut.com

Taking Care of Carpet

One of the biggest determinants of whether your house looks clean is your carpet. Even if a house is kept sparkling clean; a dull, dingy carpet will make it feel dirty. Keeping your home looking great involves keeping your carpet looking great too. Proper care of your floor prevents damage, extends its life and keeps it looking new for years.

A good way to keep carpets cleaner is to keep outside dirt from getting in. Encourage everyone to leave their shoes at the door. Why remove your shoes? Take a closer look at the bottoms of those shoes and you'll find oil, dirt and who knows what else.

Vacuuming regularly also helps to extend the life and look of your carpet. Vacuuming on a regular basis helps keep the everyday dirt from building up in your carpet and since carpet wear is more from everyday use not from stains this can make a big difference. It can also help with allergies and asthma by picking up dust mites and other allergens that live in your carpet.

You can also rent a hot water “steam” cleaner to refresh your carpet by deep cleaning the ground in dirt out. If you’re worried about chemicals in your carpets, just run them with clean water; they’ll still get out most of the dirt.

If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on cleaners, or if you want to take the green friendly route, there are several household products that work great to get out stains. If you have a greasy stain, try putting baking soda on the stain and letting it sit for several hours. This should soak up the stain and you can just vacuum away the excess particles. If a stain requires more scrubbing, you can mix 1 part vinegar with 2 parts water and scrub. Just remember to clean it out well so you’re not left with the smell.

Stains can also reappear if you don’t get the pad of the carpet clean enough. To get out the deep down dirt, use lots of water when cleaning. Then, put a large amount of paper towels and a heavy object of the stain and let it set overnight. This will suck up any leftover dirty water that may have stayed in the carpet.

Before you try cleaning a carper on your own, please follow the proper cleaning instructions provided by the carpet manufacturer. Carpets made of natural fibers, such as wool or that are made with the need for special care from a professional. If you’re not sure if you should clean your carper on your own, contact a professional carpet cleaner.

Removing Stains From Grout

Removing stains from grout can be one of the most difficult cleaning chores in your home. Here are a few tips from Grime Solvers on cleaning tough grout stains.

First, you’re going to need the necessary materials. Here are some items you may need to tackle this tough job. Rubber gloves and a mask are necessary items, particularly if you’re using bleaches and harsh chemical cleaners. If you’re using harsh cleaners make sure you open windows for proper ventilation.

A brush with strong bristles can also help the job go quicker. Some recommend a grout cleaning brush, a toothbrush or a denture cleaning brush. Whatever you choose your going to need to put some elbow grease into the job to get out stubborn mold and mildew.

Steam cleaners are gaining in popularity as a great tool for cleaning tile and grout. The combination of high temperatures applied with pinpoint accuracy allows homeowners the ability to steam stubborn grout stains away.

Bleach pens allow you to target the cleaning power of bleach right to the stained area. The bleach pen applicator is the perfect size to get into the grout lines to apply bleach right where you need it.

After shower spray cleaners if you have heard the saying a best defense is a good offense, then you should try these preventative shower sprays. You apply the spray right after your shower to areas that are prone to mold and mildew. The sprays prevent soap scum and mold from growing so you don’t need to scrub as much.

Grime Solvers offers residential and commercial cleaning services in Northern Virginia. Hiring Grime Solvers is allows us to keep up with your cleaning chores so you don’t need to spend hours scrubbing the mold and mildew. Call us today for a quote.

Cleaning Silver

You’ll undoubtedly be breaking out the silverware this Thanksgiving and your probably need to clean and polish your silver before you serve your guests. There are many ways to remove tarnish from your silver service. In this blog we are going to cover some common methods of removing tarnish.

Before you try any of these methods, particularly polishes creams and chemical removers test a small spot to make sure it doesn’t damage your silver. If you are concerned check with a professional before you clean your silver on your own.

Chemical Polishers and Creams

Whether you’re using a spray or cream the directions usually involve first thoroughly washing your silver with hot water. Then before the silver cools applying the spray or cream. Spread a thin layer of cream or polish over the utensil and wait for approximately 30 seconds. Lastly, with a clean cotton cloth, remove the polish and the tarnish.

Home Remedies

If you don’t have polish or you simply don’t want to use chemicals I found several ways to clean silver using common ingredients that can be found around the house. One such method involves covering the bottom of a large pan or your sink with tinfoil. Add one tablespoon of baking soda and add boiling water. Then mix with a large mixing spoon. Place your silverware into this mixture and let them sit for one to two ours. The tarnish should come off on its own. Instead of baking soda I have also heard of using salt in the same process above.

Lastly, another method that I have not personally used is toothpaste. Using toothpaste and a paper towel rub the toothpaste on your silverware. With a clean paper towel clean off the toothpaste. It should turn dark as the tarnish comes off. You must use white toothpaste, not gel and wash your silver when you’re done. Otherwise your dinner will taste minty fresh.

Of course, if you want the professionals to clean your silver, call Grime Solvers. We are experts in residential and commercial cleaning in the Northern Virginia area.

Kitchen Cleaning

You are hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year and your kitchen looks like a tornado has touched down. Instead of stressing out about it, we have a few easy steps to get you ready for Thanksgiving Day.

One of the most important ways to easily clean up your kitchen’s appearance is to de-clutter. Put away everything that you will not be using while preparing and cooking your Thanksgiving dinner. You will need all the counter space you can get, so put away things like the toaster oven and coffee maker that won't be needed during meal prep. De-clutter your kitchen surfaces, then spray your favorite cleaner on the surfaces and wipe clean with paper towel. Don't forget to clean the vertical surfaces like the fronts of the refrigerator, stove, microwave, etc.

Washing the dirty dishes is the next step. Wash, dry and put away any dirty dishes in your kitchen sink or dishwasher. You may need those dishes or utensils for Thanksgiving Day and you definitely will need your sink and dishwasher. Take a clean paper towel and wipe down the faucet so it’s spot free.

Don’t worry about cleaning your oven, because your Thanksgiving dinner will create spills and messes and you can tackle this the day after Thanksgiving. With your stove, the same rule applies, just make sure you clean off any food spills from the stove top.

The next step to a clean kitchen is to clean out the inside of your refrigerator. Your guests will be opening your refrigerator, and you will need the storage room. Toss out all those bottles of leftover sauces, marinades and the unidentified items that have been hanging out in your refrigerator for way too long.. Spray cleaner on the refrigerator shelves and wipe clean.

The last step is to a clean the kitchen floor. Don't obsess about achieving a spotless shine on your kitchen floor because there it’s going to be a high-traffic, high-spill area on Thanksgiving. Do a quick sweep and mop, making sure to clean up any stubborn or visible spots.Now you can sit back and enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner because you’ve cleaned what you needed to without exhausting yourself. And remember, if you don’t have the time or simply don’t feel like cleaning for the holidays call the professionals at Grime Solvers.

Grime Solvers Cleaning Tips

It’s one thing to say that you’re an expert but it’s another thing to show that you’re an expert. The focus of the Grime Solvers blog is going to be to provide cleaning tips for common household cleaning needs. Our hope is that by helping you with the small cleaning jobs, you’ll call us when you have big cleaning need. We’ll be posting two tips a week so check back and see what our cleaning experts have to say on topics like how to clean ovens, floors, garages, basements. We’ll even go into organization tips for your children’s bedrooms, because after you clean it’s best to keep it clean. Here is a sample of a tip that you can expect to find on our blog!

Tips for cleaning your garage?

Cleaning the garage can be a long, tiresome process and if the job is too big you should call in the professionals at Grime Solvers. But if you’re going to tackle it yourself here are some tips:

1) Organize the mess: establish two piles. One pile will be for things you’re going to keep and the other will be for what’s going to go.

2) Plan to clean your garage around a yard sale. A yard sale is a great way to get rid of items you don’t want to keep. Your junk is someone else’s gold.

3) Take on one side at a time. You may not be able to finish your garage in one day. Plan two weekends and clean one side at a time. This way you won’t over do it.

4) Gets hooked on hooks. Your rafters represent wasted space that could be used for organization. Use hooks to hang bikes, baby strollers, rakes and other garden equipment. This is going to help you maximize your clean up.

5) Use the right equipment. If you don’t have a powerful wet/dry vacuum buy one or borrow one.

6) Bins are your best friend. Use plastic bins to store and organize everything from sports equipment (shoes, skates, balls) to auto parts (nuts, bolts, drills). Bins are a great way to get organized and stay organized.

Don’t take on more than you can handle. Call Grime Solvers when the project requires a professional.

Grime Solvers – more than just a catchy name

Who are we?
Since 1983, Grime Solvers has been Northern Virginia’s most reliable commercial and residential cleaning service. We tailor our maid service to your needs. Just call us and we will come out to your home our business to discuss how our services can be adapted to your schedule and lifestyle.


House cleaning


Windows Cleaning in/out


Carpet Cleaning


Other household cleaning jobs: silver/brass polishing, oven / refrigerator cleaning, garage / porch clean-out, kitchen cabinets (inside) cleaning, Laundry


Or any other jobs you hate to do...
Weekly, bi-weekly or monthly service


One-time / move-in / move-out services


We provide our own transportation in Grime Solvers marked cars, bring all the required cleaning materials, and our own commercial vacuum cleaners.




Our Promise


“Pursuing total quality and delivering on our promises are the most critical aspects of Grime Solvers’ mission to be the best Cleaning Service provider in the Northern Virginia area since 1983.”

-The Grime Solvers Staff