Category: Cleaning Tips

The Best Way to Polish Wood Floors

April 5, 2019

Hardwood floors have topped homebuyers’ most wanted lists for some time now and remain a major selling point for prospective buyers. While they’re known for being more durable and easier to maintain than carpet, hardwood floors still need upkeep and TLC to stay looking new. Here’s the best technique for polishing your hardwood floors so they look their best for years to come. How Often to Polish Hardwood FloorsThere IS such a thing as polishing hardwood floors too often. Over-polishing will only lead to a sticky buildup and create the perfect trap for dust, dirt and grime. The idea behind polishing floors is to fill in any scratches, protect the finish from future damage and of course, achieve that shiny, sparkling clean look. The best schedule for polishing hardwood floors is once every two to four months. 1. Remove rugs and furniture.First, remove the rugs from the room whose floors you’re ready to polish. Then, the more furniture you can completely remove from the room, the better. Grab a friend, and remove all furniture if possible, or push it as close to the edges of the room as you can. 2. Vacuum floors thoroughly.Before you start polishing, you’ll want to

5 Spring Cleaning Tips You Shouldn’t Follow

March 13, 2019

The first day of spring is right around the corner, and you know what that means—it’s time to come out of hibernation and get your place spic and span. There’s no shortage of spring cleaning tips scattered across the internet, but which ones should you really follow? We’ll show which ones you need to avoid and what to do instead to save you time and money. 1. Dousing Carpet StainsWhen you spill wine on the carpet, your first impulse might be to dilute, dilute, dilute to keep the stain from ruining the fibers. This is actually one of the worst things you can do. Instead of saturating the stain with water or carpet cleaner, which can break down carpet fibers and push staining material down into the pad and underlayment, focus on blotting the stain. You’ll draw liquid out of the carpet fibers this way, and you can repeat by lightly misting the area with water or cleaner until the stain is gone. 2. Lemons in the Garbage DisposalThis is one of those myths that’s hard to shake—after all, who doesn’t like the idea of refreshing their disposal with lemon? The problem is this: the same acid that cuts through

Mildew-Proof Your Bathroom in 6 Easy Steps

March 1, 2019

Whether your bathroom is old or new, big or small, mildew can set in and make it a less pleasant place to be. Here’s what you can do to mildew-proof your bathroom so the stuff doesn’t have a chance to take over. First, here’s a quick rundown of the top causes for mildew: Leaks. Moisture can seep into a bathroom from sources we can’t see, like pipes behind drywall or cracks in grout. Since mildew loves darkness and dampness, it’ll continue to thrive in these places, making it even more difficult to get rid of once you discover it. A shower that doesn’t get cleaned regularly. It’s a pain to scrub your shower, but it’s worth keeping up with the chore if you want to extend the life of your entire bathroom. Tiles can collect soap and body oil after every use, and over time, these residues can combine with humidity to lead to mold and mildew. Clogged drains. Soap, hair and other debris naturally lead to a clogged drain from time to time. If you notice your shower draining more slowly than usual, it’s important to grab the Drano right away. Clogs that aren’t attended to quickly will lead

The 9 Best Household Uses for Bleach

February 22, 2019

Bleach is a classic solution for taking care of myriad cleaning projects around the house. It’s so ubiquitous, in fact, that we’re betting there are some uses that you don’t even know about yet. Check out these nine ways to use bleach for your toughest household tasks. 1. Clean your cutting boards.Butcher block countertops and cutting boards can start harboring lots of bacteria over time. Combine one teaspoon bleach with two quarts of water, dip in a brush and use small circles to scrub boards and counters. Wipe with a damp paper towel and then dry immediately. 2. Get rid of mold and mildewBleach is notorious for its ability to eradicate mold and mildew, but it’s all about doing it right. Follow the following ratios to get rid of mold and mildew in these tough places: Painted surfaces and siding: Mix one quarter bleach with two cups water and apply with a brush to any areas showing mold or mildew. Allow to set for 15 minutes and then rinse. You may need to repeat. Shower curtains: Wash in warm water with half a cup of bleach and a quarter cup of detergent. Let the washer run for a few minutes

What Can You Get Rid of Right Now? 25 Quick Ideas for Decluttering

January 17, 2019

Got a spare hour or so? It’s time to start tossing. Grab a trash bag, a recycling bin and a few donation boxes and get down to business. Working room by room, here are the things you can get rid of right this second. Kitchen 1. Expired food in your fridge and pantry. (Don’t forget to check all those condiments—they don’t last as long as you think). 2. Recipe books, cards and print-outs you don’t use. 3. Old or one-time use cleaning supplies under the sink. 4. Bottles of alcohol collecting dust. 5. Old, stained and tattered sponges, dishrags and hand towels. Living Room 6. Magazines you’ve already read. 7. DVDs no one watches. 8. Knickknacks that no longer speak to you. 9. Extra throw pillows and blankets. 10. Toys and electronics that aren’t played with or used. Bathroom 11. Expired medications. 12. Old makeup, nail polishes and skin care products. 13. Any half-empty bottles or soap remnants in the shower. 14. Sample packets and hotel soaps, shampoos and lotions. 15. Any hair accessories, curlers or hot tools that don’t get used. Bedrooms 16. Extra sets of sheets—you only need two! 17. Clothes that don’t fit or you no longer

Make Your Refrigerator More Efficient with These 8 Hacks

October 18, 2018

When we think of ways to save energy, we don’t often turn to the fridge. It just does its thing, right? Well, not quite. Here are eight ways to make your refrigerator more efficient. First, it’s important to note that if your refrigerator is 15 or more years old, you may not be able to get the most out of it energy-wise, even if you do everything right. Older models are simply never going to be quite as efficient as newer models, and more sophisticated units are coming out all the time. When you decide to replace your older fridge, opt for an Energy-Star-certified model. Now, on to the hacks! 1. Get rid of frost if you have it. This is much more common in older units. If your refrigerator is accumulating frost, the first thing you’ll need to do is defrost it. Otherwise, you’re automatically setting yourself up for a far less efficient fridge. That’s because frost buildup can cause fridge coils to work overtime and make it more difficult for the unit to keep at a consistently cool temperature. It’s a bit of a process, but defrosting is totally worth it—plus, who couldn’t use extra room in the

How to Organize Your Garage in One Weekend

September 12, 2018

The garage is one of those spaces that often serves as a “dump” zone. Not only does it house bikes, tools and lawnmowers, anything that can’t be stored inside tends to get shuffled off there. And before you know it, you can’t see the floor! While we realize everyone’s storage space and belongings are different, we have a few tips to help you organize your garage in a stress-free way that makes sense. It’s Not Just You Before you go feeling ashamed at the state of your garage, know that up to 57 percent of people with a two-car can’t even park one vehicle inside due to the sheer volume of clutter. Whether you want to blame it on consumerism, the homeowner DIY movement, or something else entirely, Americans have a lot of stuff. And with our busy schedules, we don’t make a lot of time to think about how we store it. Because we’re betting on there being several years’ worth of clutter to sort through, we recommend setting aside one full weekend to conquer your garage with your undivided attention. It might not be the most fun you’ve ever had, but it’ll be worth it. Make it a

8 Cleaning Tasks You Might Be Overlooking

August 8, 2018

Keeping a neat and tidy house is no easy task, and you’ll inevitably overlook a few much-needed cleaning duties from time to time. Here are eight oft forgotten jobs that are worth the extra effort for a healthier, happier home. Pet Supplies When’s the last time you cleaned your furry friend’s bowls? Their favorite blanket? Their toys? Odds are, these items don’t make your regular to-do list, but the good news is that they’re easy to take care of. Bowls and Hard Toys: Many pet bowls are dishwasher-safe, and you can place them in the top rack with your regular load of dishes. If you’re not sure, it’s best to wash them by hand with hot water and a drop of gentle dish soap. Hard dog toys can also be placed in the dishwasher or washed gently by hand. Blankets and Soft Toys: Blankets can be cleaned in the washer and dryer, and believe it or not, so can squeaker toys. For a load of pet items, you can use natural, or “free” laundry detergent, but our favorite is several capfuls of white vinegar. This should be added during the rinse cycle for the best results. Blankets and toys can

Opening Your Pool for the Summer: A Definitive Checklist

May 16, 2018

Opening the pool for summer can certainly seem like a daunting task. After all, you just never know what you might find under that cover, and it’s easy to let your imagination run wild. But we promise it’s not so bad! We’re here to give you a quick refresher course and break down the process into manageable chunks. All you’ll need is a friend to help you, start-up chemicals and a list of items you should have on hand from your pool’s previous season: Get your start-up chemicals ready. Most pools will need their chemical makeup adjusted after being dormant all winter, so a trip to your local pool supply store is probably in order. You can buy a start-up kit for about $30 that contains everything you need, including algaecide, water clarifier, chlorine, pH increaser, pH decreaser, metal sequestrant, alkalinity increaser and calcium hardness increaser. Depending on your pool’s size and unique chemical composition, you may need to go back for an extra dose of one or more of the above. Clean off your pool cover. Chances are, your pool cover is holding standing water, leaves and other debris. This is where your pool cover pump and soft broom

8 Ways to Allergy-Proof Your Home This Spring

May 2, 2018

Some of us are in the throes of it and some of us are just starting to experience the first twinges. For many, spring means allergy season and dealing with irritating symptoms for weeks on end. Today, we’ll let you in on our best tips for creating an allergy-proof home during pollen season and well beyond. 1. Find out what you’re allergic to. Don’t take a stab in the dark when it comes to allergies! For red, itchy eyes, sneezing, shortness of breath and other symptoms, you’ll need to consult with your physician about testing and treatment options. Not only can finding out exactly what you’re allergic to help you save significantly on medication and health care costs, it’ll let you know precisely where to start when it comes to making a more allergy-proof space for your family. 2. Allergy-proof your mattress. Dust and dust mites are a leading allergen for many individuals all year long. Dust and its mites are more likely to gather and multiply in and around your mattress, bedding and bed itself than almost anywhere else in your home. That’s because a dust mite’s favorite food happens to be skin flakes. As humans, we’re constantly shedding