Article by https://www.cleanandscentsible.com

Keeping up with the daily housekeeping can be a drag, but it doesn’t have to take up all your time.  I feel that keeping a clean home is less about the time involved, and more about creating some good habits that you {eventually!} start to just follow instinctively.  Yes, there are still times that things get crazy and I’m not able to always follow through with the daily cleaning, but, for the most part, I do try to follow these 11 habits to keep a house clean and tidy.  I promise – the more you do them, the easier it gets! If the list seems overwhelming to start with, just pick one or two to get started and then add in more as you are able.

I know some people think that making the bed is a waste of time, but it really makes a big difference in how tidy the room looks and only takes a couple of minutes.  Plus, I think it starts off the day well and I love climbing into a made bed at the end of the day.  To make things easier, simplify your bedding as much as possible.  We ended up cutting out our top sheets {as they always just ended up in a big puddle at the end of the bed anyways} and just use a duvet and washable cover.  If you love your top sheets though, you can look at minimizing the number of pillows on your bed or using a large enough comforter or duvet that you don’t need to tuck in your sheets.

Do One Load of Laundry Per Day.
Now, depending on how many loads you typically do per week, you may not need to do this every day, but, for us, we definitely go through at least 7 loads of laundry per week.  Try to get in the habit of putting in one load of laundry first thing in the morning.  If you work outside of the home and won’t have a chance to dry it before you leave, put your machine on delay {if you have this as a feature} so it will be ready to put in the dryer when you get home. Alternatively, put the load in the machine in the morning and just turn it on when you get home.  Make sure you save some time somewhere in your day to complete the load – including putting it away.

As a perfectionist, this is probably the hardest one for me.  You want your house to be relatively clean and tidy but that doesn’t mean that every little thing has to be perfect.  I always {try!} to follow the 80/20 rule – meaning that I am happy with 80% of the cleaning being done.  Getting caught up in all of the little details that make up the last 20% {like making sure every little speck is cleaned up off the floor or getting to all of those little out of the way and hard to reach places to dust} are huge time suckers and are probably details that no one would really notice.  I’m not saying that they never need to be cleaned, but make them part of a deep cleaning routine rather than your regular weekly cleaning schedule.

Prioritize.
Not all cleaning is created equal.  Make a list of what you would like to get done and then prioritize what needs to be done and what can wait until the next day or two.   Given the time that you have available, write down your top 2 or 3 {realistic!} cleaning goals and stick with these before attempting to do other things.  I always used to hate writing out lists but I find that it really helps me to stay focused.

Get the Whole Family Involved.
This is one that I have really tried to work on lately.  Yes, it is often actually easier to just do the job yourself, but spending the time to teach your children to do age appropriate jobs will be better in the long run for both of you.  Start by just working on having your kids pick up after themselves – putting their coat and shoes away when they come in the house, putting dishes in the dishwasher, cleaning their room, etc. – and add in other chores as able.  It’s amazing how much of a difference it can make in the overall tidiness of the house if just these simple things are done.  For the first few weeks that you do this, you will likely need to be on your kids a lot, but over time this will start to be a habit for them as well and it should eventually be able to be done with minimal reminders.

Do a 15 Minute Nightly Clean-up.
Make it a routine to do a family 15-minute nightly clean-up.  For some reason, it doesn’t seem quite so bad to clean up when everyone else is doing the same thing.  Put on the timer and just stick with the top cleaning priorities.  Kids can clean their rooms or do other small household chores while you finish up the kitchen cleaning or fold and put away laundry.  Start with the things that are making the biggest mess or creating a lot of clutter or any “must dos” that need to be done before bed.  I always run my bObi robotic vacuum during this time – usually in our high traffic areas.

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5715 Edith Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107
505-881-8233

Article by https://www.cleanandscentsible.com

The post Keep A House Clean appeared first on Albuquerque House Cleaning: MINI MAID of Albuquerque.

Homes can go through a lot of wear and tear — especially after a busy winter. Keeping up with laundry, dishes, and vacuuming from one week to the next can go a long way to maintaining a tidy house, but once a year, it’s a good idea to dive in and scrub those spaces that might be neglected during routine cleaning. Give your living space a little extra love by following this room-by-room checklist on how to deep clean your home this spring or throughout the year.

Great article from Care.com deep cleaning house

Before you Begin

1) Clear Away the Clutter. Before you embark on a deep clean, you’ll need to do a light one. Pick-up any items that have accumulated on the floor, on top of counters and tabletops, or draped across furniture, so that you can get to the places you need to.

2) Make a Game Plan. Plot out which rooms you’ll tackle and when keeping in mind how much time you think it will take to do a thorough job. Don’t be afraid to break the work up into multiple days or even weeks. If you’ve got limited time or a bigger house, online sites like Care.com can help you hire quality house cleaning help near you. Remember: Deep cleaning is a marathon, not a sprint!

3) Take Stock. Set yourself up for success by making sure you have everything you’ll need before you dig in. After getting started, the last thing you’ll want to do is mess up your rhythm by running out of something you need. Suggested supplies include:

• Baking soda
• Broom
• Brush with stiff bristles
• Cleaning caddy (optional, but helpful)
• Dish soap
• Dusting cloths (microfiber works best)
• Garden hose (for yard work)
• Gloves to protect your hands
• Lint roller
• Mineral oil
• Mop
• Multi-purpose cleaner
• Sponges
• Telescoping pole for high and hard-to-reach spaces
• A vacuum cleaner with extension accessories
• White vinegar
• Window and glass cleaner
• Wood cleaner and/or polish

Bathrooms

Scrub All Showers, Bathtubs, Sinks, and Toilets. Before getting started in the bathroom, spray down your tub with multi-purpose cleaner so that it can soak for a while and break up any soap and oil that have accumulated. Do the same with the toilet bowls and sinks. That will make scrubbing that much easier when you circle back to it later on.

• TIP: Don’t forget to wipe down the base of the toilet near the floor, where dust and dribbles can sometimes land.

Wipe Down Light Fixtures, Mirrors, and Window Treatments. Take the extra time to carefully clean out the gunk that has made its way into corners and around edges. Remove any grime or dust that has built up by wiping items down with a little vinegar on a damp rag.

Wash Glass Shower Doors. To clear off that soap scum or water spots, apply some warm distilled white vinegar and let it sit for a half an hour or so, reapplying if needed. Then sprinkle some baking soda on top, and gently scrub the spots away.

• TIP: A slightly damp dryer sheet will also remove buildup.

Toss Any Cloth Shower Curtains and Bath Mats in the Laundry Machine. Just be sure to check care tags to verify what cycle items should be washed on. To keep anything from wrinkling in the dryer, set the heat setting on low and take items out when they’re still a little damp. Then, hang them back up in the shower to finish drying completely. If you also have a plastic shower curtain liner, wash it in the laundry on cold, and rehang it to dry, or replace it with a new one.

Clean Out Under the Sinks and Inside Drawers. Over time, these spaces tend to get cluttered. Take everything out so that you can wipe the bottom of the cabinets and drawers and clear out any cobwebs that might have formed. As you’re putting items back, toss what you no longer need, and organize the rest — taking care to put items you’ll use most frequently near the front for easier access.

Don’t Forget the Grout. You can make a homemade grout cleaner using vinegar, baking soda, and water. First, spray down the grout with a half-vinegar/half-water solution until the area is good and saturated. Let it sit for a few minutes, scrub with a bristled brush (an old toothbrush will do!), and then rinse. Then, mix some baking soda with water until it forms a paste, apply it to the grout using your brush, and spray it with the water and vinegar. The bubbles that form will start to clean away some of the grit and grime, and your brush will do the rest. When you’re done, rinse the grout with warm water.

• TIP: In a pinch, carpet cleaner also works great on grout.

Disinfect Handles and Door Knobs. These neglected pieces of hardware are some of the germiest places in the house. If you haven’t wiped them down in a while, it’s a good idea to give them a thorough cleaning with a multi-purpose cleaner or disinfectant wipes.

Kitchen

Wipe Down Cabinets. With a damp rag, gently clean off any dust or dirt on the inside and outside of the cabinet doors, as well as all sides of the cabinets themselves — including the top. For grease-splatter, dip your cloth in undiluted vinegar to rub off the grease, then rinse the rag in warm water to wipe off the vinegar. Some cabinets will swell if they encounter too much moisture, so be sure to always ring out your rag well before wiping down the wood, and dry the surface quickly with a paper towel after cleaning.

• TIP: After wiping down the top of the cabinets, cut a newspaper to size to fit the space. As the months go by, the paper will collect the dust — not your cabinets — and you’ll only need to swap out the paper for next year’s spring cleaning.

Vacuum Out the Refrigerator Coils and Vent. Use the vacuum’s hose or brush extension to remove all the dirt and dust from the fridge coil and vent, or rent an air compressor to blow it out.

Clean Out the Fridge and Defrost the Freezer. Take everything out, so that you can remove food debris from the shelves and inside walls — starting from the top and working your way down. When you put food back, be sure to check the expiration date and toss anything that’s past its prime. Don’t forget to wipe down the fronts of the fridge and freezer, paying close attention to disinfecting the door handles.

Throw Out Old Sponges. These kitchen tools are germ magnets. Even zapping them in the microwave won’t kill all the bacteria that find their way inside. Disinfect sponges every few days by letting them soak in a bleach-water solution (¾ cup bleach to 1 gallon of water) for five minutes. After a couple of weeks, however, they should be thrown out completely and replaced, or swapped for reusable silicone scrubbers that can be more easily disinfected.

Scrub Down the Stove Top and Vent. For range hoods and stovetops covered in greasy dust, use mineral oil to wipe away the film, then remove the oil with some warm water and dish soap.

• TIP: Coat gas stove top surfaces (not the grates) with car wax, then wipe it off. This will make it easier to clean up future spills.

Clean the Oven. If your oven doesn’t have a self-cleaning function, you can make a DIY cleaner by mixing 5 tablespoons of baking soda, 5 drops of dish soap, and 4 tablespoons of vinegar into a paste and slathering it on the worst spots. Let it sit for a few minutes, and then scrub at it with a sponge or non-abrasive brush. For extra stubborn grease stains, place a few drops of dish soap on half a lemon, and rub it on the problematic areas. Then, scrub or wipe it clean.

Organize the Pantry. After you’ve removed everything from the shelves and wiped them off, replace and organize the pantry items by purpose. For example, instead of having baking items stacked on a shelf or spread throughout the pantry, place all ingredients used exclusively for baking inside a clear bin or tub. That way, when you’re ready to make cookies, you already have everything you need and can easily carry the items to the counter and back. Similarly, use racks and clear containers to separate breakfast items from snacks or dinner ingredients, and so on.

• TIP: Mount a dry-erase board inside your pantry to keep notes of what you have or what you need.

Clean Out the Microwave. While a spaghetti-splattered microwave can seem daunting, this might be the easiest task in the whole kitchen. Mix a tablespoon of vinegar with a cup of water, and microwave it on high for 5 minutes. The vapor from the boiling solution will coat every inch of food debris, and make it easier to wipe away.

Disinfect the Sink. If you cook with raw meat in your home, chances are the kitchen sink is the germiest spot in the whole house. Give the basin a good scrub with a disinfectant or bleach solution to kill any bacteria lurking inside.

Wipe Down the Countertops. Remove any items on the counters, including appliances and knife blocks, and then use a disinfectant spray or cleaning wipes to get corners and spaces in the back that might not get as much attention throughout the year. While you’re there, wipe down the walls or backsplashes, too.

Common Areas

Take Off All of the Cushions From Couches and Chairs, and Vacuum the Spaces Underneath. Pay special attention to the nooks and crannies where crumbs or dust might have made a home.

• TIP: Use isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) to remove stains from microfiber fabrics by dabbing it on with a white sponge — to avoid any dye transfers — and scrub with a white bristle brush.

Shampoo Your Rugs and Carpets. Or, if you’d rather not spend the time, money, or effort to shampoo the whole house, spot clean stains using a pet stain remover or a steam cleaner.

• TIP: In a pinch, the “steam” function on your clothing iron works great as a steam cleaner.

Polish Your Wooden Furniture. Remove any items from bookcases or coffee tables to clean every surface with a dust rag, followed by wood cleaner or polish. Fix scratches by rubbing a walnut along with the scratch or by using a stain pen.

• TIP: Remove water stains on your wooden furniture by blasting it with a hairdryer at close range and treating the wood with a furniture polish or mineral oil.

Wipe Down Baseboards, Window Treatments, Light Fixtures, and Ceiling Fans. Use a telescoping pole or the vacuum cleaner extension attachment to reach high ceilings and corners. Remove and launder the drapes, and clean the windows with glass cleaner. Don’t forget to disinfect door handles!

• TIP: Use a lint roller on lamp shades to remove any dust or pet hair that has accumulated there.

Dust Your Decor. Gently wipe or brush away dust from all of your knick knacks, picture frames, and clocks. Depending on how many decorative items you keep in your home, this may be the most time-consuming activity you do during your spring cleaning.

Clean Your Electronics. Another germy place in your house? The TV remote. Just think of all the (sometimes sticky) hands that touch it. Give your electronics a good wipe down, including the top of your TV and DVD player. Dust the front of any screens with a microfiber rag or a feather duster, making sure to get the corners.

Bedrooms

Wash the Bedding, Including Bed Skirts, Shams, and Duvet Covers. If some of the items are too big to fit in your laundry machines, take them to a laundry mat or dry cleaners. Don’t forget the pillows!

Flip Your Mattress. Or if you have a pillow top, rotate it to prevent grooves from forming due to sleeping in the same spot for too long. Freshen the mattress by spreading on some baking soda, letting it sit for 45 minutes to an hour, and vacuuming it back up.

• TIP: Use foam shaving cream to remove mattress stains by letting it sit for 15 minutes before wiping it off with a slightly damp rag dipped in a half-water/half-vinegar solution.

Dust Neglected Surfaces, Like Window Treatments, Headboards, and Ceiling Fans. If you have drapes, vacuum or launder them, too.

• TIP: Be careful wiping off ceiling fans, as dust clumps can fall on you while dusting. To prevent this, slide each fan blade into a pillowcase to get the bulk of the dust off before taking a rag to it.

Vacuum or Mop Under Furniture, Including Behind Dressers and Under Beds. Pay extra attention to corners and baseboards.

• TIP: If your furniture is too heavy to move, use the vacuum cleaner attachments or a telescoping pole to swivel a mop head or rag to get to hard-to-reach places.

Closets

Sort Through Items and Get Rid of Anything You No Longer Need or Use. If you’re really wanting to keep something, ask yourself: 1. Does it fit? 2. Is it flattering on me? 3. Have I used it in the past year? If you answer “no” to any of the above, strongly consider donating or selling it.

• TIP: Turn around all of the hangers so that they are hanging backward, and throughout the year, only turn each one back the right way if you’ve worn the item. If something is still hanging backward during next year’s spring cleaning, you’ll know which items to get rid of first.

Rotate Seasonal Items. If you’re doing spring cleaning in the spring, pack up those bulky sweaters and heavy coats and store them on a shelf or in the back of your closet until next winter. The same can be done in the fall for summer clothing and accessories.

Vacuum Carpet and Ceilings. Remove any items from the floor, and vacuum up any dust that might have built up under your shoe rack or nostalgia box. Don’t forget to get into the corners of the ceiling to capture any cobwebs or dust bunnies.

Wipe Down Shelves and Inside Drawers. Remove all items, and wipe down space with a damp rag. As you replace the items, think about how they can be organized so that you’re more likely to keep the space tidy.

• TIP: Use drawer dividers or fabric bins to organize small items like hand towels or underwear.

Laundry Room

Wipe Laundry Machines and Countertops. Use a damp rag to remove the light dusting of lint that tends to settle on every surface in the laundry room.

Toss Any Rogue Dryer Sheets and Empty Detergent Bottles. Look between the machines, behind doors, and under cabinets to catch any pesky dryer sheets or lint clumps. Dispose of any outdated cleaning supplies, taking special care to follow your city’s instructions, as not all cleaning supplies can go in the regular municipal trash pick up.

Organize Supplies. If things have gotten a little cluttered, neatly line up cleaning supplies, so you can more easily see and access the items you need. If small children are in the home, ensure dangerous cleaning supplies are out of reach or kept in a secured cabinet.

Sanitize Your Washing Machine. After every load of laundry, it’s a good idea to leave the washing machine door open to let it air out and prevent mold from growing inside. Once a year, however, it’s a good idea to sanitize the machine to remove any mold and get out detergent that has started to build up. Use a multi-purpose disinfectant or a vinegar solution to clean the rubber seal around the door of the machine, as well as inside the dispensers. If your washer doesn’t have a self-cleaning cycle, run the empty machine using hot water and a little bleach.

Clean Out Your Lint Trap Filter and Dryer Vent. Clogged dryer vents can pose a fire hazard for your home, and poor airflow can allow condensation to accumulate behind your walls, so it’s especially important to keep these passageways clean. After every load of laundry, remove lint from your lint trap, and at least once a year, vacuum out any lingering debris on the trap itself, as well as space where it’s housed inside the dryer. Then, unplug the dryer, and disconnect the dryer duct — a 4-inch pipe, typically located in the wall directly behind the machine. Gently pull the dryer away from the wall just enough to access the duct. If you have a gas dryer, be extra cautious not to mess with the gas line. You can use a vacuum or special duct cleaning kit to remove debris inside the line, as well as wherever the dryer’s vent is housed outside your home. When you’re done, reconnect everything, and place the machine back into its position.

• TIP: If your vent line is much longer than your vacuum hose can reach, or the outside vent outlet is inaccessible, consider hiring a professional duct cleaning service every few years to ensure the entire line is clear.

Mop or Vacuum the Floor. When you’ve cleaned everything else in the room, vacuum or mop the floor, taking care to reach the corners and behind the machines, using periscope handles or vacuum extensions.

Mud Room

Remove Items and Wipe Down Hooks and Shelves. Use a damp rag or multi-purpose cleaner to clean dirt off of any shelving and hooks, especially where shoes are kept.

Toss or Store Unused Items. Get rid of any items you no longer use or items family members have outgrown, including seasonal jackets or shoes. Wash and store items you want to keep and donate or sell the rest.

Organize Items by Purpose and Practicality. It doesn’t take much for the mudroom to fall into disarray. Give yourself and your family the best chance at keeping the space clean by thinking through where items are normally placed, and organize from there. If shoes are often thrown on the ground, for example, bins to store them should be on or near the floor. Baskets can be used to catch small items (like keys or earphones), and multiple hooks are great for storing winter gear and backpacks.

Garage

Declutter. Now’s the time to take a good, long look at everything in your garage and ask yourself, “Do I need this?” Dispose of old cleaners, broken equipment, and abandoned projects, and anything else that no longer has a use.

Sweep the Floors. If you can, remove everything at ground level in the garage, and use a broom to sweep out the dust, leaves, and mystery gunk that has settled there.

Maximize Your (Vertical) Space. Many garages have empty space above the garage door or near the ceiling that can be used for storage. Investing in sturdy shelves near the ceiling is a great way to store those rarely used items like Christmas trees or beach umbrellas. Similarly, bikes and seasonal garden equipment can be hung from the ceiling or high up on a wall to best utilize the space available.

Outdoor Spaces

Get Out the Hose. Spray down patios, decks, porches, lawn furniture, playground equipment — and any other large item or space you have outside your home. For the siding, you may want to rent or invest in a power-washer to remove buildup on the outside of the house.

Tidy the Yard. Pull any weeds sprouting up in your lawn or garden. Lay down mulch or compost (if needed), and plant any flowers or edible greens you’d like.
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Albuquerque home cleaning

Mini Maid of Albuquerque
5715 Edith Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107
505-881-8233

Article by care.com

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You may think that wiping the kitchen every day after cooking is more than enough to keep it clean and hygienic. While wiping the kitchen does help, it needs a periodic detailed kitchen clean to get rid of all the unseen and accumulated dirt, grease and on the floors, walls, ceilings, cooking equipment, and even kitchen ducts.

Deep kitchen cleaning is well worth the expense
While you may think that you will be able to perform a deep clean on your own, you are partly right. There is a lot involved in a deep clean. You have to de-clutter your kitchen and get rid of things you no longer use.

You then have to wash so many things, like plates and glasses you don’t use often. Then there’s the task of washing off the grease and grime on the countertops, kitchen cabinets, lampshades, fans, kitchen equipment and so much more.

All this takes time, which you could utilize for something else. Besides, if you do not do much cleaning every day, you may end up with aching muscles after the stress involved in kitchen deep cleaning.

This is why it is better to leave it to the professionals. Though you may have to pay for their services, it’s money spent wisely and for benefit!

There are professional cleaners who carry out a complete kitchen clean to remove grease and dirt from kitchens using the help of chemicals and manual cleaning. They also use chemicals, and steam to remove any burned food deposits there may be on kitchen surfaces and cooking equipment.

Benefits and reasons for a detailed kitchen clean
There are quite a few benefits associated with deep cleaning. They include:

1. Increased hygiene
This is most important because it prevents possible cross-contamination and spreading of bacteria in the kitchen, which keeps your family healthier. Increased hygiene also helps reduce the possibility of food contamination.

2. Improved working conditions
Everyone prefers working in a spic and span kitchen. It’s more hygienic and actually makes you look forward to cooking.

3. Leads to a reduction in foodborne diseases
A detailed clean can also help reduce the number of foodborne illnesses. This is because one of the triggers for this disease is using improperly cleaned kitchen tools and surfaces while cooking.

4. Help get rid of pests
It is not enough to call pest control services over every few months to get rid of pests like rats, mice, and cockroaches. You should also have the kitchen deep cleaned at least every six weeks to prevent any rodents and pests from entering your kitchen.
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Maid Service Albuquerque

Mini Maid of Albuquerque
5715 Edith Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107
505-881-8233

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Spring is a season known to ignite the urge to clean. Perhaps you’ve noticed the Albuquerque house cleaning frenzy that is hitting neighborhoods around the city! As with any project, it is best to make a thorough plan before starting the job. That avoids extra work or skipping important steps. The following tips make cleaning easier and less stressful any time of year, particularly when the weather turns nice and the outdoors beckons.

Quick Cleaning Tips

Move from top to bottom in each room. Stay away from the broom, mop, and vacuum until the other cleaning is done. Dusting furniture and ceiling fans put debris on the floor. Start by brushing across the ceiling to remove dust and cobwebs. Next, wipe down the walls and furniture, moving from higher to lower items. Since floors are the last item cleaned, there’s no need to worry if debris is tracked from one room to another.

Sometimes it is tempting to lock bedrooms so no one sees inside. It doesn’t work If you’ve got company coming to admire your new home. Welcome guests by using pleasant-smelling furniture polish and window cleaner. Make the beds and toss a stuffed animal or throw pillow for décor. More odds and ends such as basketballs and art projects to a basket in the closet. You can sort through it later.

Bathrooms are the next Albuquerque house cleaning step. Clear off counters. Prep the counters, tub and shower with cleanser. It’ll work on stains while you clean the toilet. Use a lava stick on any tough stains inside the bowl. Clean and wipe down the mirrors before rinsing the tub and wiping the bath area with a soft cloth. Hang a guest washcloth and hand-towel from the towel bar or a counter corner.

Place dirty dishes in the dishwasher. Wipe down appliances, walls, cabinets, and cupboards. Clean and organize the kitchen counters. Sweep, then mop the bathroom, kitchen, and any other uncarpeted floors.

Put jumbles from the front and dining rooms into a chest or laundry basket. Keep it in the laundry room or linen closet until it’s convenient to bring back out. Dust blinds before cleaning the windows. Vacuum furniture first and then the carpet to keep dust under control.

It's a challenge to do all this in a day and still feel up to having company. If you have advance notice that guests are planning to drop by, consider calling a professional Albuquerque house cleaning service to do the work. The spectacular results are surprisingly affordable, and you’ll be rested and ready for a pleasant visit with friends and relatives.
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Albuquerque maid service 

Mini Maid of Albuquerque
5715 Edith Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107
505-881-8233

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