Are dust, dirt, and smudges making your TV screen appear lackluster? While not that of a big deal, tackling the task of cleaning modern screens demands a gentle touch to dodge any potential damage. No need to fret, though; with the tips below, you’ll be on your way to a crystal-clear screen without any unwelcome surprises!
How Often Should You Vacuum Your House?
Crafting a solid cleaning routine for your living space involves putting vacuuming front and center. Yet, there’s no universal schedule that fits every homeowner or house, as various factors play into shaping your vacuuming plan.
The cool part is you don’t need to stress yourself about when and where to run your vacuum. Here, we share easy-to-follow points on how frequently you should vac away the dust to keep your place looking clean!
How often should you run the vacuum over your floors?
Different floor types demand different levels of vacuuming care, depending on how much dust they collect or bustling foot traffic. Check this out and stick to the script:
- Hard flooring. Due to their sleek surface, these floors don’t hoard much dust. Hit them up once a week, using a strong-suction setting for optimal results. Grout can make it a little trickier, so express sweep before vacuuming to loose dirt.
- Hardwood. Smooth, finished floors don’t let dust get into crevices, so a weekly vacuuming session is a sweet spot. Got unfinished wood? Double down and vacuum at least twice weekly, going with the grain to get all the dust.
- Carpeted. Carpets are dust magnets, demanding a vacuum rendezvous thrice a week—high-pile ones might need an extra session. In low-traffic foot zones (or for low-pile carpets), twice a week will keep things in check.
What about mattresses and upholstery?
Yes, mattresses and upholstery need some vacuuming every so often, even if they have covers.
For example, mattresses could be harboring a dust haven made up of dead skin, attracting nasty dust mites. Show your mattress some love with a biannual vacuum date—spring cleaning and the end of dust mite season in October are the best times to do it!
Upholstered furniture has its dust-catching moments, too. Less-used pieces like headboards will only need a monthly vacuum hug, while your everyday couch and its cushions crave a weekly dust-off.
What if you have pets?
Pets add a twist to your vacuuming plans, as their hair tends to wind up in the oddest nooks. For the gold standard, a daily quick vacuuming spree is your ticket to keeping your home as fur-free as possible.
If time is tight, a thorough vacuuming mission twice or thrice a week will suffice, depending on how much hair your pet sheds.
Don’t ignore the ceilings and walls!
Ceilings and walls might not even figure in your vacuuming list, but a bit of attention is due every now and then.
Forget about vacuuming them stem to stern like your floors. Instead, target those dusty corners, lurking cobwebs, and the space behind frames and wall decor. Give them the vacuum treatment monthly or quarterly, depending on your home’s dust intake.
Shine Bright Cleaning Services helps you keep the dust at bay!
If you can’t figure out the best vacuuming schedule for you or time doesn’t let you keep up with it, let it in our hands! We can dust, sweep, vacuum, and clean your home in a weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly basis, depending on your needs. Get a free estimate today!
6 Habits That Allow People To Keep A Clean House
Tackling the entire house to keep it looking spotless might feel like a total drag. However, there are a bunch of great practices you can sneak into your daily routine. After you give this infographic a peek, you might just join the ranks of the effortlessly tidy!
How To Get Rid Of Stickiness After Mopping
Mopping all your floors only to step back and realize there’s a new, unwanted stickiness to contend with can upset anyone. Don’t let that tricky tackiness get the best of you! Check out our savvy guide on how to bid farewell to those sticky floors and enjoy a gleaming home.
What causes your floors to stick like glue post-mop?
Although a bummer, a sticky floor is not something to break your head over. After you know why it happens, you’ll be better prepared to fix the issue and prevent it in the future. Check the main culprits:
- Grimy water and mop. Dirt builds up on your mop and in the water. When you don’t replace the water, the dirt spreads through the floor with every sweep.
- Too much cleaning solution. Overdoing it with the cleaner beyond what the label suggests means it won’t mix well with water. This oversaturation transforms into a sticky mess once your floor dries.
- No rinse. While it’s not always a must-do, neglecting to rinse your floor means any leftover grime from the mop session stays put, making your floor sticky.
How to deal with stickiness in ceramic, vinyl, or stone floors
Whether you’re dealing with vinyl, natural stone, or ceramic floors, the remedy for stickiness is almost as simple as the culprits themselves. Just follow the guidelines below to avoid returning to a grimy floor.
Disclaimer: If you’ve got hardwood floors, skip to the next section for specific advice.
Step #1. Make sure your tools are clean
To get rid of the dirt, your tools need to be dirt-free, too. So, give your mop a good rinse under the tap. As your mop bucket can also collect grime, give it a quick refresh with clean water until it’s dirt-free.
Step #2. Fill the bucket with warm water (or a cleaning solution)
As stickiness after mopping is usually caused by dry, dirty residue, it can easily be removed using warm water.
If you feel the stickiness is too much, you can boost the cleaning power. However, don’t opt for your usual cleaner; instead, toss in ½ tablespoon of dish soap in the bucket of water.
Step #3. Spot clean
Sometimes, you’ll find areas where the stickiness concentrates. Focus on those zones first to prevent the excess dirt from spreading to the rest of the floor. Use a cloth dampened with water (or the soapy solution) to remove them.
Step #4. Mop and rinse
Now, get to mopping as usual, but don’t forget to give your mop a little rinse every now and then. The magic here is in maintaining cleanliness, so swap out the water the moment it starts looking like a dirt pool. Finally, let your floors air dry.
What about hardwood floors?
Although you can pretty much follow the same routine to clean your hardwood floors as the rest of the floors, there are a few crucial things you need to do to avoid damaging them. Take a look:
- Hot water is a no-no: High temperatures are harmful to wood. So stick to cold water in your mop bucket to sidestep any unwanted damage.
- Amp up the cleaning power: Since cold water plays second fiddle to warm water, throw in a tablespoon of mild dish soap to compensate.
- Wring your mop right: Make sure to wring out your mop until it’s just a tad damp. Too much water can turn your wood floor into a swollen, misshapen nightmare.
Shine Bright Cleaning Services will leave your floors sparkling!
At Shine Bright Cleaning Services, we can take over all your cleaning chores so you can relax! Your floors will be spotless, and your whole house will shine. Let our cleaning experts do the dirty work for you so you can have more free time. Get your cleaning estimate now!
6 Tips To Speed Clean Your House
Attempting to tidy up your living space with a tight schedule demands a new perspective. So, forget about doing each task the way you typically would, as you won’t reach the cleanliness level you desire. Let’s explore six handy tips to maximize efficiency in short bursts and achieve a cleaner home!
5 Natural Ways To Make Your Home Smell Great
Have you noticed unpleasant smells in your home even after cleaning it? You may have considered getting some air fresheners from the store. However, many of these products only work to mask the smells instead of removing them completely.
Luckily, there are natural alternatives that will effectively eliminate bad odors from the air—the best thing is that you may already have them at home. Here, we’ll share with you five natural options to keep your house smelling fresh!
Option #1. Baking Soda
Baking soda works as a cooking aid and also a powerful cleaner against grease, but did you know it is also an effective deodorizer?
Using baking soda to remove bad odors is super easy! Just pour some on a shallow plate and place it inside appliances that can constantly foster weird smells (like a fridge). Odors will be gone in the span of one to three days, while the deodorizing action can last up to three months.
You can also spread baking soda at the bottom of your trash can to keep bad smells at bay or combine it with essential oils for a DIY air freshener that doubles as a deodorizer.
Option #2. White Vinegar
Just as baking soda, vinegar’s capabilities extend beyond the kitchen and cleaning, as it can neutralize bad odors, too!
Remove bad smells from your appliances by placing inside them a bowl filled with vinegar—simple as that! If you want to lessen the impact of vinegar in your nostrils, mix equal parts of it and water in the bowl to dilute it.
Vinegar’s deodorizing effect works faster than baking soda (you can notice it after a few hours), but the overall reaction only lasts for one to three days as it evaporates. So be sure to change it when needed.
Option #3. Simmer pot
Also called stovetop potpourri, simmer pots are recipes that give your rooms a fresh and pleasant smell thanks to the combination of various smells.
For this recipe, you’ll need one sliced orange, two cinnamon sticks, half a cup of fresh cranberries, and one tablespoon of whole cloves. Add all these ingredients to a small pot, which you’ll need to fill with water until it’s just one inch shy of the rim.
Place the pot on your stove until it boils, and then reduce it to low heat. The steam will distribute the smell through the house for as long as you let the mix simmer on the stove. You can also pour some of the water into a bowl if you want to carry the smell to a specific room.
Option #4. Houseplants
One of the easiest ways to make your home smell great (while also giving your home a look that can boost your mood) is by decorating it with some indoor plants.
Plants like mint, lavender, jasmine, and begonia will imbue the air in your home with nice fragrances, making your place feel fresher and cozier. Also, you can include plants that are known for their air-purifying properties, like spider plants, peace lilies, and English ivy.
Option #5. Teabags
As surprising as it seems, teabags are one of your best natural allies to combat odors in enclosed spaces. The musty odor that can form in your drawers, closets, and even shoes is caused by humidity, which teabags can help you deal with.
Depending on the size of the space you want to deodorize, place a container or bowl inside it with five to ten teabags. Teabags will not only absorb moisture but also fill the air with the herbs’ scent. Change the bags every week so they can keep absorbing moisture.
Make sure your home always smells great!
All in all, not even the best odor absorbers will help you if your home is not constantly clean. Shine Bright Cleaning Services offers you various packages that guarantee your home will look spotless and smell fresh every time we visit you. Ask for your free quote now!