Cleaning Tips

Pots and Pans
To clean burnt and scorched pans, sprinkle liberally with baking soda, adding just enough water to moisten. Let stand for several hours. You can generally wipe the burnt portions right out of the pan.

Microwave.
Fill a coffee cup ¾ full of water and add a tablespoon of lemon juice. Microwave on high for 3 minutes. This will steam your microwave. Take the mug out and spray with Lysol Kitchen cleaner and close the door. Let sit for 10 minutes. Wipe clean with a paper towel or cleaning sponge.

Bathroom Cleaning. Always have these cleaning supplies under each bathroom sink for quick and easy cleaning:
     Toilet bowl cleaner and toilet brush
     Paper towels (for cleaning the toilet)
     Gloves for cleaning the toilet
     Glass cleaner
     Comet spray bathroom cleaner
     Clean sponge and 3 clean rags

Removing Rings around the toilet:
Wearing gloves, use a pumice stone and rub stone on stain several times to get the stain off. A pumice stone can be purchased at most hardware stores or at your local janitorial supply center.

Trash Cans / Diaper Cans
Every time you remove your trash bag, disinfect your trash can with Lysol Disinfectant Spray. This keeps your trash cans smelling fresh and prevents strong odors from bacteria growing in your trash can.

Fold 3 paper towels and put in the bottom of your trash can. Any food that leaks will be absorbed on the paper towels. Discard the paper towels when you replace your trash bag and remember to put clean paper towels down.

Put a fabric softener sheet in between your trash can and the bag to keep your trash can smelling fresh. Replace the fabric softener sheet every 3 weeks.

If your trash can really smells stinky, fill your can with 1 gallon of hot water and 1 cup of liquid bleach. Let sit for 30 minutes. Put on gloves and scrub entire interior and exterior of trash can with a paper towel. Discard solution and wipe clean.

Freshen up your garbage disposal
Grind orange rinds and ½ a lemon wedge in the disposal to remove unpleasant odors.

Oven
An inexpensive oven cleaner:
Set oven on warm for about 15 minutes, then turn oven off. Place a small dish of full strength ammonia on the top shelf. Put a large pan of boiling water on the bottom shelf and let it sit over night. In the morning, open the door and let it air out for a while. Remove the racks and wash the walls with dish soap and warm water and a sponge or paper towel. Even the hard baked on grease will wash off easily.

Refrigerator
Pull out the refrigerator/freezer out 2-3 times a year to clean underneath. Use your vacuum hose and a crevice tool to vacuum the coils and motor to remove the dust and dirt buildup. Keeping the coils clean will make your refrigerator last longer and work better. Don’t forget to unplug the refrigerator prior to cleaning. Clean the rubber door gaskets with baking soda and hot water. Harsh detergents or bleach will deteriorate the rubber gaskets.

Laundry
Rid perspiration odor from clothes with vinegar. Soak clothes in vinegar and let sit for 10 minutes, and then wash on normal cycle with laundry detergent.

Do you have a busy family? Don’t know if your laundry is dirty or clean?
Make labels – on one side write “clean” and on the other side write “dirty” and laminate the labels. Put labels on top on hamper to let your husband and children know that the laundry is either clean or dirty.

Spring Cleaning Tips That Should Be Done Once A Year or More

     • Remove all curtains and wash or dry clean
     • Wash your mini blinds in a tub with warm water and soap
     • Pull out refrigerator and vacuum coils to remove dust buildup
     • Clean entire refrigerator on the top, the sides and underneath. Remove food and disinfect interior with cleaner
     • Wipe kitchen cabinets fronts and interiors with neutral cleaner
     • Wet wipe ceiling fans
     • Wash your windows inside and out and the interior window sill
     • All woodwork should be wiped down; doors and baseboards
     • Remove accessible furniture and vacuum underneath and edge carpet with hose of vacuum
     • All kitchen chairs and dining room chairs should be wiped clean with damp rag
     • To prolong the life of your carpets, get a professional to steam clean all your carpets
     • Remove everything from underneath your bed and vacuum. Stash your stuff in long flat plastic containers bins and put back under your bed. Container bins can be found at Wal-Mart, the Container Store and Home Depot.
     • Do you notice your house is dusty a day after you just dusted? You might need a professional to clean out your heater/ac ducts. It is recommended that you clean your ducts every 3 years. If you have pets you might want to get them cleaned once a year.
     • Take down all your intake and outtake wall and floor vent registers and wash them with liquid soap and warm water. Let dry before putting them back
     • Remove all your clothes from your dresser and closet and donate your old and unused clothes.
     • Clean the exhaust hose to your dryer with a long dryer brush. You can purchase a long dryer brush at your local hardware store. Make sure that you have an updated vent hose that is aluminum. The white plastic hoses are discontinued and could be a fire hazard.
     • Take everything out from your kitchen sink and vanity. Clean cabinets with disinfectant cleaner and return only the items that you used in the past 6 months.

Call House Cleaning Professionals at 610-913-1120 to get a quote for spring cleaning.

A clean home makes a healthy home.