We didn’t manage to convey all the information that would prove useful to “spring cleaners” of the county, so we decided to creat a series of posts about “speed cleaning” techniques that will help not only with your annual spring clean, but every week cleans as well!

Wood flooring, especially hardwood can last up to 100 years. Its longevity will depend on the quality of the wood and more importantly on the way in which it was cared for. Caring for wood flooring is divided between preventative maintenance tips and suitable cleaning tips. If you are using a professional cleaning service, their methods are designed to preserve the wood which is often guaranteed in their quality control statement. If you are cleaning your own wood flooring, the following tips will help ensure a long usable service life.

Preventative Maintenance Tips:

1. Use furniture pads – These are essential aids which can help reduce scratches from furniture. They are cheap, effective and concealed from the eye.

2. Use area rugs – Area rugs are often used for interior design purposes, however they help protect the floor. Damage from high heels is very common and area rugs are the only feasible solution.

3. Avoid dragging objects – Even small amounts of dust can turn into bigger grains of dirt which with the right friction may scratch the floor. Dragging heavy objects on the floor, rather than lifting them produces enough friction to scratch the floor.

4. Quickly absorb liquids – Liquids can damage wood which is why you won’t see wood used in wet areas such as showers and bathrooms. When any liquid spills onto the floor, you should quickly absorb it with s soft cloth.

5. Follow recommended manufacturer’s guidelines – There are many brands of wood flooring and various quality. Wood flooring may need sanding / staining from time to time to keep the wood in great condition, so familiarise yourself with the manufacturer’s guidelines.

Tips For Wood Flooring Care and Cleaning – Cleaning Tips:

6. Start by removing dust – Over time dust which has been allowed to harden will turn into dirt. This can cause damage to the wood, it will be harder to remove and not hygienic. To remove dust, you should start by sweeping the floor using a soft fine bristle broom every day.

7. Vacuum the floor – At least twice a week you should consider vacuuming the floor. Make sure to use a soft attachment which will not damage the wood and is useful to collect sand as well as dirt. Take extra care to vacuum area rugs if you placed any on the floor.

8. Mop the floor accordingly – By now you know that wood and water do not mix. When mopping wood floors never use a wet mop but a damp mop. If you are using a dedicated wood flooring cleaner, use cleaners that won’t leave a film or residue.

9. Buffing and waxing – These are useful solutions to extend the lifespan of the floor, but not all wood flooring will react well to this process. Follow steps 6 to 8 to reduce the need for flooring polish.

10. Have the floors professionally cleaned – To protect your investment, consider hiring a professional cleaning service once every three months. Such services are able to offer deeper cleaning using professional techniques and industry grade cleaners.

Article contributed by flooring company wood and beyond.

Its been sometime since we found something worthy of adding to our tool kit of cleaning products and equipment. So we looked at what we can do from a slightly different perspective, such as improving the sanitisation element of cleaning.  That led us to trial some anti-bac products, measured against our existing sprays.

We already use micro-fibre cloths throughout, which whilst they improve the speed and efficiency with which we clean, they are also naturally anti-bacterial [see the post on micro fibre cloths], when compared with standard “cloth” types. We wanted to improve this even more, especially for kitchen areas, often the hub of any home.

It is alleged that having a sanitised environment can actually reduce immune systems, indeed if you were to live in a completely sterile home (impossible?) then indeed your immune system could be reduced. However, we only use this in kitchens, somewhere I am sure you’ll agree, its good to reduce the risk of infections as much as possible.

You maybe shocked to learn that your kitchen is far “dirtier” than your bathroom! Well at least from a bacteria perspective that is. A recent TV Programme (Invisible Worlds) found that a kitchen counter has TWICE as many bacteria than a toilet seat! Even more astonishing is that the kitchen floor has THREE times as many bacteria than the aforementioned toilet seat. Its worth noting that this was reported as an “average” kitchen, not a particularly dirty one, which I personally find quite scary.

Kitchens are where we prepare all our food (assuming you’re not a take-away addict), from breakfast through to supper for all the family. Poor hygiene here can result in an explosion of breeding bacteria and any infection or bacteria here will quickly spread through the family through food prepared there.  This is one area we feel could benefit from a regular ”anti-bac” treatment.

The use of anti-bacterial products either by a cleaning company or an individual at home, should not be seen as a reason to avoid good food handling practices though.  You should still observe good practices, cleaning surfaces and spills immediately. I recommend the daily replacement of any dish cloth or sponge; a future article will reveal the millions of reasons why……

You should always observe good hand cleanliness, washing with soap and water before preparing food. Fresh fruit & veg should always be washed to remove unwanted pesticides and herbicides. It should go without saying that the use of chopping boards and such like requires good practice, e.g. 1 for raw meat. However food hygiene is a whole different subject!

The use of an anti bacterial surface cleaner in the kitchen area would seem prudent in light of the vast wealth of research which tells us that its a breeding ground of bacteria. We only use a food safe product (unperfumed) so as not to taint any food prepared shortly after our clean.

A survey of over a thousand pest control firms by the University of Kentucky and the United States’ National Pest Management Association, appears to indicate that the increase is global. This is further supported by evidence closer to home as London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, last year found the number of complaints about bedbugs in the capital grew annually, by an average of 28.5% between 2000-2006. And there’s no sign of the problem abating with Rentokil reporting the number of bedbug call outs has gone up by 24% in the first half of the year.

Experts have known about the bugs for years in fact since the banning of DDT based pest control products in 1972, it is thought the bugs have steadily been increasing. Whilst here in the UK it hasn’t made big news yet, across the pond they have been introduced laws to that require landlords to declare any infestations in the last 12 months. They also passed laws requiring schools to notify parents of any known outbreaks.

However it should be noted that although the bugs do suck your blood and can cause irritating bites they don’t pass on disease like rats or mosquito’s. Its possibly this lack of “lethality” that has led to the bugs being dismissed as harmless. The increase in allergy sufferers generally [covered in other posts on this blog] is something for maybe 25% of the population to be concerned about. They can trigger any number of other problems if you already suffer with allergies or skin conditions such as eczema.

If you spot any blood spot or are waking with “bites” and itchy marks, you should seek medical advice. Bed bugs can be treated and dealt with, but as with anything, the longer you leave things untreated the worse any infestation will become.

You can leave your comments below, have you experienced any problems whilst travelling or in your home?

Like any other business sector, there are a number of individuals, agencies and companies who are not doing all they can to protect the homes and families of their clients.

Many are unaware of the risks involved, did you know that individual cleaners have no legal requirement to provide liability insurance? Are you worried that the majority of cleaning companies do NOT check their staff via the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB)?

If you dont have the inside knowledge its hard for you to figure out, the good from the bad. So we produced a guide to the industry which can help you make an informed decision about who you choose to clean your home.

Dont be fooled by cheap rates, know which questions to ask and how to get the best value service is all inside our report.

Extracts from this quide have been published in Live Ribble Valley Magazine, but you can get the full “inside track” in just a few clicks….

Dont take risks with your family or your home!

Get Your Free How to Avoid Rogue Cleaners Guide

Cleaning Ceramic Hobs – Made Easy

I have personally restored many unloved and abused oven tops to a gleaming shine and I’ll share my methods with you.  I have tried many products, including steam cleaners (rubbish for this) that are both expensive and ineffective. However, a product called “Hob Brite” (@ £2 UK) a bottle is both fantastic value and very effective.

I shudder when I read of “metal scrapers and razor blades” being recommended or used as they can easily damage the finish and you! A razer blade in a protective “sheath” such as those sold in DIY stores for scraping paint off windows etc., is the safest way to use a blade. but be CAREFUL!

Effective Ceramic Hob Cleaning

The method I prefer is to use Hob Brite with a pan scrub, you know, the yellow and green type? Sponge on one side, scrub on the other? Dont use Brillo pads or wire wool types, they’ll damage the finish.
Draw a small ring of hob brite cream around each of the “pan ” areas and work in circular motions with the green side of the scrub pad.
You may need to scrub the burnt on areas quite hard or even repeat the process a couple of times – but it will come off!

Flip your pad over to use the sponge side and lightly wipe the top down – dont try to take all the cream off yet, we’re just checking if any more work is required. If it is, you will still see those stubborn crusty burnt on areas; add a little more Hob Brite and repeat the scrubbing!
Once you have cleared the burnt on bits, rub off as much as you can with the sponge, then wipe down with an old tea towel. You might even need a splash of soapy water as the Hob Brite cream is “greasy”.

Low Cost Ceramic Hob Cleaning

The magic finishing touch is to polish off with a micro fibre cloth, possibly with a glass cleaning product for that ultimate shine – voila – a perfectly shiny ceramic hob for less than £3 and a little “elbow grease”.

One of our clients suggested we become a “Safe Trader” – which initially confused me, I have to confess. HomeMaid have always been “safe”, professionally insured and only use CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) cleared staff.

I went away to do some more research and it transpires that Trading Standards operate an approval scheme for local traders, funded by Lancashire County Council. The purpose of the scheme is to promote to Lancashire consumers reliable local traders with which to do business. This means you can support your local business community without worrying about cowboy or rogue traders.

Safe Trader Code of Practice

All traders who complete the approval process, must operate within the schemes “Code of Practice”, designed to minimise the risk to potential customers when purchasing goods and services.

You can read more on the Safe Trader website but a couple of things are worth highlighting quickly here.

Enhanced Listing

Its a common problem especially in a heavily used shower or shower/bath that over time the soap build up begins to restrict the water flow. You may also notice a rather unpleasant odour coming from your sink or shower drain too.

You can use this method even if the drain still runs freely as those who you use baking soda regularly know, its a great deodoriser.

If your bath or sink drain is severely clogged or blocked with something other than accumulated soap scum, then this method might not be strong enough or may need repeating until the blockage is cleared. If you are in doubt, better to get a plumber to take a look first.

You’ll need 3 tablespoons of baking soda and upto 3/4 cup of white vinegar. To flush you will also need a freshly boiled kettle of water. Take common sense precautions when handling boiling water.

Baking Soda & White Vinegar

You’ll need to fish out as much of any hair or detritus that may have collected there before starting the unclogging process. Use some tweezers and/or rub a sponge or cloth across the drain plug which should lift out any hair etc. It will smell pretty bad, so best flush it down the toilet as quickly as possible!

Once you have removed any hair, then sprinkle in 2-3 tablespoons of baking soda – carefully push any that collects around the plughole into the drain. Now slowly pour in 1/2 – 3/4 cup of white vinegar, you will immediately see a chemical reaction taking place as the vinegar mixes with the baking soda which gently fizzes and bubbles. Keep pouring in the vinegar till the fizzing subsides.

Odour Free Unblocked  Drain

Once the fizzing subsides, pour a 2-3 litres of freshly boiled water from your kettle – but please take precautions when handling boiling water.

Once flushed you should have a free flowing, odour free drain plug. Fantastic!

Clean Smells Promote Kindness

Is it because teenage boys live in smelly bedrooms, with the windows, doors and curtains closed that makes them grumpy and communicate in words of one syllable or less?! Well there could be some truth in that, Brigham Young University professor, Katie Liljentquist, led a study that found that clean scents lead to more ethical behaviour. Liljenquist said with a smile. “Could be that getting our kids to clean up their rooms might help them clean up their acts, too.”, although she gave no advice as to how we might get them to clean up anything.

In the trials, a citrus scent was used to create a fresh smell, whilst another room was left “normal”. The results were quite remarkable; both groups were given a quantity of money from a “mystery partner” They had to decide how much of it to either keep or return to their partners who had trusted them to divide it fairly. Subjects in clean-scented rooms were less likely to exploit the trust of their partners, returning a significantly higher share of the money.

Clean Smells Make You Charitable

A second test was set up where subjects were asked if they were willing to donate to a fictitious charity and those questioned in the citrus scented room were three times more likely to volunteer or donate!

Cleanliness & Morality

The report concluded that were are subconsciously  influenced and that morality and cleanliness can go hand-in-hand, the spaces we live and work in, influence how we behave. Clean and fresh smelling rooms make us more generous and honest.

Further studies are being conducted into how cleanliness influences how react to people and organisations. Time for that spring clean!

Read the full Science Daily Article here

If you can find the answer, let us know, we probably know someone who can help or we’ll do some extra research on your behalf if we can.