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Top Uses of Storage Bins

Mon, 18 May 2015 09:01:35 GMT

There are many industries that are doing an awesome job of manufacturing safe-keeping bins. These bins are a great part of daily life as they are available in a wide range of sizes and shapes for organization and house cleaning. These storage bins are used not only in homes, but in schools and warehouses as well. You can easily get the bins according to your need from any shop near your property.

Here are the top 10 uses for household storage bins:

1. A detailed storage system:

A number of people use storage platforms with storage bins in an integrated system of shelves, cabinets, lockers, and racks. It depends upon the individual to select bins according to the particular storage need. These storage bins can be purchased in all different sizes and shapes, making it easy to choose the right size and condition.

2. Security of numerous materials and parts:

Many bins are manufactured to handle heavy-duty storage as these bins ought to guarantee the security of different materials and belongings.

3. Protection of electronic digital components:

Many containers are manufactured for the purpose of protecting sensitive items. These are the components that are supposed to be kept secure, and plastic storage bins do really a great job for this reason.

4. Different portions to arrange:

Many items that don’t require special care are needed in a home or shop, but these are typically the parts that need to be stored in an organized manner. Many storage bins have completely different portions that do a great job organizing these items.

5. Easy access:

Many storage boxes are accessible in handy form and the user can decide how to make bins accessible in kitchen or other places. Finding a bin that meets your need will help.

6. Handling of food:

Storage bins come with the ability to look at different items of food in them. Air tight boxes or even bins help food to remain protected. These bins are located in many different sizes meant for storing food without waste.

7. Storage for children’s items:

A number of shoppers buy storage bins in which they may keep their children’s belongings. These bins play a great role for protection with children's toys, books, and craft things. These bins are located in many bright colors which attract kids for enjoying these boxes as properly.

8. Organization of house:

Storage bins are manufactured to help with your organization of tools with the garage like screws, products, nails, pipes etc.

There are many other advantages of having these bins inside your homes but these had been just few important and additionally integral uses of storage devices bins.

Storage bins are one way to help keep a house organized and clean, and maid services like those from The Maids can take it one step further.

Various Options That You Can Use To Fix Up Holes in Your Drywall

Fri, 26 Dec 2014 14:26:57 GMT

Every homeowner knows that drywall damage can affect the aesthetics of their home. The common damage to drywalls is holes of various sizes, which are either caused by children and other stresses, which sheetrock cannot withstand. If you want to fix up and repair these holes, you can take advantage of the following options provided by The Maids of South Coast in New Bedford, MA along with a large variety of other maid services .

Repair Options

Option 1: Fixing Using Backer Boards

Just draw a rectangle around the break with a square or a straightedge. Break and check for any wires and plumbing pipes before cutting out the section with a knife. Then, add a backer board instead of cutting the drywall over the studs. Use pine or any other hardwood backer board, which is 4 inch longer than the hole in your drywall for this purpose. Fasten the backer boards while holding them firm at the backside of the drywall.

Option 2: Make Use of Scrap from a Damaged Board

First, measure the thickness of your drywall and find a large scrap from a damaged piece. Cut it into the required sized and screw it into place and ensure that screws are spaced every 6 inches. Then, using a drywall compound and roll of paper tape, tape the edges of the patch to make the repair invisible . If you are making many repairs, you may need to buy a sack of 20-minute setting drywall compound. This compound hardens faster and does not shrink, so it is good for filling gaps and cracks before applying the joint tape.

Applying a Finish

Apply a coat of compound and tape to every joint. You can mix the compound with little amounts of water to make it soft so that the tape can be embedded easily. Using a 6-inch knife, smoothen the tape by pulling out from the center towards each end. Then apply a thin coating to the topside of the tape and extending it onto the drywall. The 2nd and 3rd coats blends and smoothes the taped joints so that they will remain invisible even during a paint job. When the coat has dried, set a straightedge against the wall too look out for bumps and dips and knock them off using your taping knife if at all they are there. Lastly, sand, prime it, and finally paint the surface.

How You Can Discourage Yellow Jackets From Colonizing Your Home

Fri, 19 Dec 2014 14:40:24 GMT

Commonly known as wasps, yellow jackets can be very irritating if you like enjoying the great doors. They can cause a lot of problems for you and your guests, if you want to have an outdoor event. There are various eco-friendly ways to help you get rid of yellow jackets effectively in your home

Store Food and Other Protein Sources Indoors

Yellow jackets are attracted to food rich in protein, so things such as pet foods and other such items should be stored indoors. During summer months, ensure that pet food is kept inside the house to discourage these wasps from coming into your home.

Use Mechanical, non-toxic Traps to Snare the Queen

These traps should be placed in strategic places at the beginning of summer months. This allows the traps to be in place just before the yellow jacket’s queens begin searching for favorable nesting grounds. A colony of yellow jackets has one queen, and killing this queen is likely to destroy the entire colony. These traps will help you to keep yellow jackets at bay

Store You Sugary Items Properly

Other than protein they are also drawn to swee things. Sugar gives them energy to grow and build stronger colonies. Remember to carry your snacks and drinks back in the house, after enjoying the outdoors. Don’t leave your sweet foods on the patio, remember to take them indoors

Always Seal Garbage Containers

Leaving garbage can open or sealed incorrectly will not only attract wildlife, but wasps in search of protein and sugar. Keeping all your garbage containers tightly sealed will keep them at bay.

Wasps are irritating and they can sting more than once unlike a honeybee. For more tips for keeping a clean and safe household, visit The Maids of South Coast in New Bedford, MA .

Causes of Mold on Baby Furniture and Toys

Fri, 12 Dec 2014 14:58:07 GMT

Moisture is perfect environment for mold to grow, and children tend to spend a lot of times in these areas. If you notice mold on any of your children’s furniture make sure you clean it all off because it is very dangerous for a child’s health, however cleaning mold can be easy if you know what you are doing. Thanks to The Maids of Scottsdale in Phoenix, AZ, you can hire a highly experienced professional to assist you. We offer a wide variety of cleaning services to our clients.

Lack of proper cleaning of the baby toys

If you do not clean the toys correctly, and let them dry completely they will keep developing mold. The problem can be even worse in case you fail to clean the toys with the right detergents after you discover that they have been affected with molds. Bleach and vinegar are great options for destroying the mold.

Storing baby toys while they are still wet

Mold will always grow in places with a lot of moisture. If you fail to dry the toys well after washing them, they will end up developing moisture. Children put everything in their mouths, so they tend to have a lot of moisture, make sure to destroy the bacteria and dry correctly to keep your child safe. You should try and ensure the tools and other playing equipment are dry before storing them.

Are You Worried About Robbers and Burglars? Learn How To Keep Them at Bay

Fri, 05 Dec 2014 15:14:06 GMT

Thieves do not always target the one with the largest house on the block, but rather the easiest target. Do you know whether you are an easy target? How can you protect yourself?

Forgetting to lock doors, lack of a proper security system in their homes among other factors. Theft and burglaries can be very detrimental, especially if thieves find a way to your most valuable items. You may incur other costs such as repairing damages caused by the thieves. It is important to protect yourself, and there are some simple things you can do to protect yourself from burglars. The Maids of South Coast in New Bedford, MA, have put together a list of some great ways to keep your home and family safe.

Consider Guard Dogs

Guard dogs not only scare away thieves, but they also alert you when strangers are lurking around your property. Guard dogs such as the Mastiffs and Terriers will delay their action and cause alarm scaring the thieves away. Robbers are less likely to rob a home with a guard dog on the premises. These dogs are expensive, but your valuables are obviously worth more.

Discourage Thieves

Thieves know what it is they want before they break into your home, so preparation is key. They will watch you before hand to make sure that they have your schedule down correctly. There are several things you can do to discourage them and these things include:

Always lock all your doors and windows.
Leave your energy efficient lights on even when you are away.
Store garden tools such as lawn mower away from sight.
Always close your window blinds to discourage prying eyes.
Don’t share your vacation plans in public areas.
Install strong exterior doors.

Install Alarm Systems and Maintain Your Locks

Alarm systems are ideal in alarming you and the neighbors when intruders are attempting to make their way into your home. Ensure also that all the locks are in good condition and consider replacing them occasionally just as a precaution.

Even joining a community security program may suffice. They key thing in preventing thieves from entering your home is to discourage them and slowing them down.

Distinguishing Between Curtain Fabrics and Materials

Fri, 05 Dec 2014 09:44:57 GMT

Fabric can be defined in many ways. For curtains, fabric is defined as the results of spun and weaved material or materials. This becomes a fabric that is used to make the curtains. To put it another way, cotton which has been woven together to make a pair of pants is a fabric. Cotton woven together with polyester to make a shirt has also become a fabric. There is no limit on how many materials are used to make it. Fabrics can have any fiber or material within them. With this in mind; curtains can be described with various materials or fabrics too.

When looking at curtains, understanding fabrics and materials is essential due to every material having its own advantages or disadvantages. Each material has an impact on the quality of the curtain fabric. With a better understanding of material benefits and drawbacks, you will have more power to accept or deny a product because of the material advantages and disadvantages. Are the advantages worth the disadvantages because it fits your needs?

Aside from fabric confusion, fibers or materials determine the overall properties of the fabric, including dependability, look, quality, etc. Silk material adds design and visual appeal while wool adds strength and insulation advantages. In addition, nylon carries high strength and abrasion resistant properties and polyester adds strength and shrink resistant advantages.

In summary, fabrics cannot exist without materials. A room’s visual appeal may look good with your housekeeping efforts or room remodels, but cannot truly exist without the right curtains. In addition, you cannot save money if you don't have dependable products. Curtains have a huger impact on a room, so it is wise to pick the right materials or fabrics that will increase appeal and also suit your preferences.

The Secret to Managing Indoor Allergies

Fri, 28 Nov 2014 15:35:50 GMT

Indoor allergens are things like: pet dander, mold, dust mites, and cockroach droppings. They can trigger asthma and allergy symptoms for allergy sufferers. Allergens are common on floors, furniture, and on many other surfaces in your home. Although no home can claim to be totally free of these allergens, regular cleaning can help control them. Below are some simple tips to reduce the allergens in your home:

Switch to Green Cleaning Products

Most chemicals used to make common household cleaners tend to aggravate or even trigger symptoms in allergy and asthma sufferers. If you happen to be sensitive to allergens, you may want to start by using green cleaning products. These environmentally friendly cleaning solutions are made from plant-based ingredients. You may also make own cleaning products using ingredients like vinegar, lemon and baking soda.

Vacuum to Curb Allergens

For areas that accumulate a lot of dust,like furniture and carpeting, vacuuming it at least once or twice a week can help control the allergens in the home. However, the downside of vacuuming is that it can send particles of dust into the air, which can also cause problems. The trick is to use a vacuum that has HEPA filter. This traps small dust particle and prevents them from getting back into the air.

Reduce Pet Dander

If you have pets, it is very important that you clean up after them regularly, as pet dander can be a significant allergy trigger. To reduce dander, vacuum frequently, wash your pet and its bedding once a week.

These tips should help you reduce allergen issues in your home. And if you would like assistance with your housekeeping tasks, then do not hesitate to contact The Maids of Southeastern Massachusetts, in New Bedford.

How to Clean Your Iron

Fri, 14 Nov 2014 09:00:13 GMT

Your iron is a necessary tool that helps to keep clothing nice and wrinkle-free. It’s very easy to think of an iron as an effective cleaning tool, and forget that it also needs to be cleaned regularly. The following are some easy steps that will help you with the cleaning process:

Step 1: Unplug the Iron

The first thing you should do is to unplug the iron and make sure it is completely cool before cleaning.

Step 2: Mix a Solution for Cleaning the Appliance

Mix up some dishwashing soap in a bowl of water to use to clean the iron.

Step 3: Rub the Soleplate

The soleplate is the metal part located at the bottom of the iron. Rub it with the towel soaked in cleaning solution to remove any residue. Once you’re through, make sure you wipe it clean with a new damp towel. For more stubborn stains, purchase a hot-iron cleaner. This product is readily available at most local hardware stores. Just make sure you follow the instructions.

Step 4: Clean the Steam Holes

You can use a pipe cleaner or cotton swab dipped into a cleaning solution to remove trapped residue in the steam holes.

Step 5: Run the Iron

Plug in your iron and set it to steam clean. Once you have done this, let it run for one or two minutes. If you iron isn't equipped with a steam clean feature, turn up the steam and heat setting.

Step 7: Allow the Steam to Run

As you let the steam run, make sure you stand clear of the iron and allow the steam to pass though it for several minutes or until the water is completely gone.

Step 8: Unplug the Iron

Once you’re through with the cleaning process, make sure you turn off the iron. Unplug it from the wall socket and allow it to cool.

And if you would like assistance with your housekeeping needs, The Maids of Southeastern Massachusetts, in New Bedford, would be happy to handle them for you!

Five Crafty Ways to Re-Purpose Old Sweaters

Fri, 07 Nov 2014 09:11:56 GMT

We all have old sweaters that we can't seem to let go. Instead of allowing them to take up much needed space in the closet, why not re-purpose these sweaters into other items so you can avoid throwing them? Here are five crafty and creative ways to do just that:

Craft a New Cardigan from an Old Sweater

If you have a sweater that no longer fits, turn it into a flattering cardigan with a pair of scissors, thread and buttons. Cut the sweater down the middle, sewing the seams for a more finished look. Next, sew in the buttons to give it a real cardigan feel. You can even sew in eyelets so you can close it up when it gets extra cold.

Remake into Colorful Pillows

Sweaters, especially thick and fluffy ones, make great pillow covers. Cut an old sweater so that you get one large piece, measure it according to the size of your pillow and start sewing the sides. You can also sew in a zipper along one side to make thecover easy to remove.

Create a Comfy Throw

Grab a few old sweaters, cut them up into squares, and sew them together to make a big throw. These fluffy throws are great for cuddling in the winter, and for making your sofa extra comfortable.

Snug and Comfy Dog Sweater

Sweaters are often stretchy and perfect for creating snug doggie wraps for the winter. Cut the arm of an old sweater, cut holes for the legs and arms and you get the perfect winter outfit for your little pooch. Make sure to sew the edges to make sure that your dog doesn't unravel the yarn

Turn an Old Sweater into Cool Mittens

This is an easy project that you can do with your kids. Use tracing paper to determine the size of your hands and trace this onto the sweater in two layers. Cut and sew the two layers together to create your mittens! Decorate with buttons, ribbons and even paint if you like.

And while you are busy having fun with all these amazing craft ideas, let The Maids of Southeastern Massachusetts handle all your house cleaning tasks for you!

How to Outsmart Supermarkets and Save Money on Your Groceries

Fri, 10 Oct 2014 08:25:20 GMT

Supermarkets and grocery stores use all manner of tricks to get you to spend more. Learning these tricks will help you outsmart them in their own game and save money. Below are insider secrets for shopping smarter.

1. You don’t have to fill the shopping cart

Research shows that the reason shopping carts get larger these days is because they make you to buy more. Therefore, make an effort not to fill a big cart. Alternatively, take a shopping basket and not a cart.

2. Don't be afraid to ditch items at the last minute

According to research, more than 60% of shoppers tend to change their minds regarding an item while on the line. Thus, supermarkets have started to make checkout lanes narrower to discourage you from going back and returning the item where you found it. Do not allow the narrow bounds of the checkout lanes to force you to buy something you do not need. You can even give it to a shop attendant.

3. Wear headphones and enjoy upbeat music while shopping

Did you know that wearing a headphone and listening to upbeat music while shopping could make you spend less? It is no coincidence that most stores play music with slower beats. They do this to encourage customers to move slower through the aisle - which leads to 29% more buys. Instead, listen to your preferred workout mix and you are likely to move at a much brisker pace as you shop.

4. Find out if there are complimentary add-ons

The baker slices a loaf of bread for you and the butcher will tenderize the meat for you. Even a florist usually gives free greenery for every loose flower purchased. Therefore, do not afraid to ask what complimentary add-ons you will get when you purchase something.

5. Do a little calculating before you buy in bulk

Sometimes, it may be cheaper if you buy items found in the produce section per pound as opposed to buying multipacks. It also gives you the opportunity of being able to inspect each vegetable or fruit for defects, something that also saves money. Check the prices and do some calculations to determine if you will make significant savings by buying in multipacks.

For other helpful ideas and tips, The Maids of South Coast in New Bedford, MA has many blogs to enjoy. If you need house cleaning services in New Bedford or surrounding areas, The Maids has got you covered, down to the hidden gaps, cracks, and undersides.

How to Put Things Back In Order in Your Bedroom

Fri, 03 Oct 2014 08:34:22 GMT

After a long day of work, you are longing for a place where you can relax and sleep. There is no better place to do this than in your bedroom. However, if your bedroom is not an organized place, it will not give you the environment you need to relax. If you have busy schedule with little time to maintain it, The Maids South Coast in New Bedford, MA can detail clean and organize it for you and even handle your entire home on an affordable plan.

How did you get to this point? Obviously, your bedroom did not get disorganized overnight. It got to a bad state because of a series of small things that you have done in many days. Your bedroom should be one of the most comfortable places in the home. Here are a few things that you should try to bring back order to your bedroom.

Take Everything Out Of Its Current Location

You should start by removing everything from its current location when you want to organize your bedroom. It sounds funny, but works effectively and properly. Once everything is out on the floor, clean all drawers, dressers, and closets. Wipe out all dust from the surfaces. It will not be possible to clean all these places thoroughly if you don’t remove everything from them.

Get Rid of the Things That You Do Not Need

If you have not bothered to organize your bedroom for a long period of time, you may have many things that you no longer need in there. Get rid of those empty bottles that are still your bedroom and the papers sitting around that you no longer need. This will not only help to organize the bedroom but will also help to create more storage space.

Put All Things Back To Where They Are Supposed To Be and Clean the Floor

Organize all your valuable items in your drawers, closets, and other places. Put everything else in its proper place. The things that are related to each other should be put in the same place. Finish by cleaning up the floor.

What are Allergens and Strategy to Counter

Fri, 05 Sep 2014 13:24:34 GMT

Is your home contributing to your breathing challenges? Are you even suffering from Asthma or allergies? Have you ever tried to clean the air in your home? It is a common scientific fact that living inside the home can't help the patient from the allergens. Have you ever noticed little dust particles floating around in the air visible through sun shine? They are always present in the air whether you see them or not. If they are in the atmosphere, they are also present in your lungs. You can't stop them unless you wear a breathing mask. Not very comforting of course. You don't want to be looked like a First World War solider, wearing a gas mask.

These particles are commonly known as allergens because they are responsible for many allergenic reactions. These allergens can be divided into two categories - Dust particles and organisms. Some of them are so small that can't be seen without a microscope. Some of the most common allergens are cigarette smoke, mold, pollen, automobile exhaust, pet hair and asbestos. On a lighter note, Asbestos, though sounds like a chemical weapon, is a fiber that is released into the air from our sofas and chairs.

There are many ways through which you can remove allergens from indoor air. The most common method is to cover the cooking pot while preparing food. It will stop the spread of cooking particles in the atmosphere. Drink a lot of water. Mind you, soda and beer is not water. Six to ten glasses a day can effectively hydrate your lungs and don't count too much on allopathic medicines. The most important is to vacuum your mattresses regularly and don't forget to wear a dust mask while doing it.

Allergens in home are quite a serious problem these days. Something that has not yet been addressed by the Pentagon and CIA. However, you can easily use common methods to minimize the danger and create healthy atmosphere in home.

How to Get Rid of Stubborn Stains

Fri, 22 Aug 2014 08:45:00 GMT

Almost every person is troubled by some tough stains on their clothes. These stains can be quite difficult to remove, and often ruin clothing.

Common Stain and Their Solutions

Just because there are stains on your clothes doesn’t mean you have to throw them away. There are some simple things you can do to remove stains:

Grass Stains

For grass stains you should use vinegar and water. Pigment in grass can adhere to the fabric, but vinegar can easily remove it. You should mix vinegar and water, and apply it to the stain, then scrub and rinse.

Blood Stains

These can be the most stubborn stains. Always rinse in cold water first, and then let the garment soak. Adding salt and hydrogen peroxide will remove the remaining part of the stain. Vinegar and club soda can also work well.

Grease Stains

These can be the most difficult to remove. You should first use basic dishwashing detergent to treat the stain. In most cases, it will be sufficient to get rid of the stain.

These tips can definitely help you save your clothes from having to be discarded. It may take about one or two cycles before you are able to get rid of the stain. If you’re unsuccessful, you should call a professional cleaning service. The Maids would be happy to assist you with your stubborn stains as well as all your cleaning needs.

The American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk!

Sat, 16 Aug 2014 10:42:28 GMT

The 5-mile Walk will take place at Boston’s DCR Hatch Shell along the beautiful Charles River Esplanade on Sunday, October 5th!

We are also excited to announce a special contest connected to the Making Strides of Boston walk. Walk Participants who register online at www.makingstrideswalk.org/bostonma and raise $300 by October 1st will automatically be entered into a drawing to win a Grand Prize of free house cleaning for a year! *

To start a walk team, please visit:

www.makingstrideswalk.org/bostonma.

To make a donation to The Maids walk team please visit:

http://main.acsevents.org/goto/themaidsnewengland

Thank you!

*For contest rules please email
bostonmastrides@cancer.org

How to Get More Comfort from Your Bed

Fri, 08 Aug 2014 09:05:24 GMT

The most popular place people enjoy relieving themselves from work, school, or housekeeping exhaustion is the bedroom, but it can be a problem when your bed is not comfortable at all. You may spend a better part of your sleeping time turning from one side to the other if the bed is not made to be cozy and warm. Even if you have a high quality bed and mattress, there are always other things that you can do to make it comfy and cozy:

Layering

Your bed will never be as comfy as it could be if you just use one foam pad above the mattress. To make your bed luxurious, why not add several extra layers to create an auspicious bedding experience?

Using Bed Warmers

The ideal way of warming your bed is using bed warmers to up your comfort level and directly get you sleeping within no time, no matter the situation.

Replace Mattress

There comes a time when the only solution to make your bed truly enjoyable is to replace it. Old mattresses are no longer as comfortable when compared to those that embrace new technologies. If yours does not have additional cushioning but just single foam, it is high time you should do away with it.

Happy Memory

Today, you can get memory foam pads for your mattress. The best size thickness for extra pleasure is 1-1/2- to 2-inch thickness. It gives enough room for near endless padding and cushioning.

Going Down

When you are not allergic to products made from feather, down padding is the best option for you. Luxurious comforters, pillows, and mattress toppers will be the best additions to down filled bed experience.

Use High Quality Sheets

The best sheets are those that gently touch on your skin offering quick comfort and the right amount of warmth, and you can only get that from cotton as the main fabric.

Your bed will never be the same again if you employ some of the preferred suggestions above. You should always choose whatever goes hand in hand with your needs.

There’s nothing better, too, then climbing into a freshly made bed in a clean bedroom. If your schedule is too busy to keep everything clean, a call to The Maids could put you in real comfort!

Gain More Free Time through Better Organization

Fri, 01 Aug 2014 09:12:54 GMT

Getting organized at home is a great idea. In your daily life there are some house cleaning chores which you will be required to carry out on a daily basis. When cleaning the house, you will need to arrange different items in the places that make the most sense for functionality in your life. The best way for you to arrange the items in your home is putting them in places where you can easily locate them whenever you would like to make use of them. This will reduce the time that you would waste in trying to locate certain items in your home. The following are ideas that you can employ for you to get organized easily:

Personal Electronic Accessories

There are several home accessories available in a home. For instance, you will often have the following electronics in your home: phone chargers, game console controllers, TV cables, USB portable storage units, power adapters, headphones, video cables, Wi-Fi dongles, remotes, Ethernet cables, watches, watch batteries, standard batteries, electronic parts, tiny screws and other gadgets with their accessories. To have an easier time when cleaning your house, you can design a drawer where you can place all the electronic gadgets so that when you need them it will be easy for you to retrieve them.

Dirty Clothes

To arrange dirty clothes so you can easily gather them when you are ready to wash them, buy laundry hampers and place one in each bedroom in your home so that your family members can put their dirty clothes in them every day. This will make it easier on laundry day because when you’re ready to start cleaning your clothes you will go straight to the hamper rather than wasting time looking for the clothes all over the house.

For a little extra help in keeping the house clean and organized, a maid service like The Maids can do the job.

Eliminating Pet Hair on Your Couch

Fri, 25 Jul 2014 09:21:08 GMT

In a home, pets help family members enjoy life, especially those who love their pets very much. They also tend to add more work to your home when you’re trying to maintain high level of cleanliness. This is especially noticeable when you have to try and remove pet hairs during house cleaning that settle on places in your home such as on your couch or other furniture.

The pet hair can settle on the couches if your pets sleep on your furniture, but they can also float on the air where they will finally land on random areas in your home. It’s bothersome to remove the hair from the couch each day, so it’s necessary to try and look for ways through which you can make the work of removing hairs from the couch very easy. There are various vacuum pumps available that can easily help you in getting rid of the hairs.

Using Attachments for Vacuums

The vacuum pump sometimes have attachments which you can use to get rid of the pet hairs. Pumps with brushes or wide floor attachments tend to make the work of removing the pet hairs a bit harder because they are not designed for the work.

Vacuums Designed for Pet Hair

There are vacuum pumps that are designed with a particular attachment that makes the work of removing pet hair very easy. You can order an attachment that will enable you to remove the pet hairs from your couch, but buying the one that has the attachments already is preferable.

The Types and Styles of Attachments

The attachments available on vacuum pumps differ according to the manufacturers. There are those that provide the attachments with rubber on the edges which form grips that help in removing the hairs before the pump sucks them. Other features on the vacuum pumps include rubber bristles which help in brushing up the pet hairs from your couch with great ease

Of course, to keep a house really clean takes consistency, and if your time is stretched thin, The Maidscan help.

Organizing Your Food Pantry

Mon, 21 Jul 2014 07:30:40 GMT

Having an organized food pantry can offer many benefits, such as: utilizing available space better, making sure oldest items get used first, and avoiding spending money needlessly because of not knowing what you actually already have. Below are some tips for organizing your pantry.

Planning Ahead

A well-planned pantry is beneficial. It can assure you of a reserve against hard times or unexpected events if you stock it well. May it be a natural disaster or job loss, your food pantry can guarantee you that the family will continue to be fed and comfortable.

Keeping Things from Going to Waste

Having an organized pantry in your kitchen can help you make sure to use foods before their expiration dates. If you have multiples of the same products, line them up by date, with the one expiring the soonest in the front to be used first. When all the goods are stored properly, it can save you more time and money in the long run.

How to Organize Your Food Pantry

Clean the shelves and paint them.

In order to protect the shelves and keep them clean, it is best to use adhesive shelving liners. Make sure to store dry ingredients such as sugar and flour in glass jars so that you can see them easily in case you need them. For other goods, use baskets or painted wooden boxes.

Plan your pantry to fit your needs.

Everything in your pantry needs a designated area. You can organize by meal type, alphabetically, or however suits your personal preferences. The same goes for kitchen cabinets if some of your food is stored there.

Store heavier items on the bottom shelves or floor of your pantry.

The bottom shelves or floor in your pantry should be used to store heavy items, such as big juice containers, cases of soda pop, and heavier canned goods.

With the above tips you can avoid buying things you already have simply because you didn’t realize you had them, or forgetting to use foods before they expire. And while you are busy organizing your pantry, let The Maids of Southeastern Massachusetts, in New Bedford, take care of your housekeeping needs.

Best Garage Organization Ideas That Work

Fri, 18 Jul 2014 09:32:14 GMT

Are you forced to leave your car out on the street because your garage doesn’t have enough room for it? If so then its time you started thinking of how to get your garage organized. Listed below are a few tips to help you make that happen. Read on!

1. Sort

It is best to group similar items together to make them easy to find. Shelving units, a few coats of paint and some cute decals for the garage door will transform the space without spending a lot of money. Put frequently used items, such as paper towel, cleaning materials, toilet paper and drinks, on the shelf units.

2. Keep dangerous chemical in their original containers

Most people often keep paints, pesticides and auto fluids in old food containers making them very dangerous as these containers may leak and cause respiratory problems, fumes, burns and even fire hazards. Besides being stored in their original containers, they should also be kept out of reach of children or pets. This can be inside locked cabinets or on high shelves.

3. Lean the ladders horizontally

Ladders when left leaning against the wall can be a hazard. This style often seems to be the correct storage position, but what if it tips over? It can injure a loved one or damage your car. So the best position is to lean it horizontally along the wall. You can also store it on hooks, which is the better option.

4. Assign each area of the garage a specific purpose

Take your time and think carefully about what you want the garage to be used for. Also, think about the best possible way it can be divided up. Divide the space into zones to help you create a setup that does not only make sense, but also leaves the room neat and well-organized.

Ig you need help with cleaning and organizing your garage or anything else, The Maids cover it all, from one –room cleaning to whole house cleaning, as well as emergency cleanups.

Gain Maximum Space from Your Refrigerator Today

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 08:53:34 GMT

Your refrigerator is one of the most important appliances in your home. It helps to keep drinks and foods like your favorite snacks and vegetables fresh. When carrying out housekeeping chores, it is a good idea to include your refrigerator on the to-do list. By simply arranging it, you will enjoy fast access to various items when you need them. This will, in turn, save you time for other income-generating activities.

Also, you will be able keep track of food stocks and save money that would have been spent buying things that you already have. No more second guessing: preparing meals will be much easier and enjoyable as you will be able to make informed decisions by looking at the foodstuffs available.

Here are some proven tips on how to expand your fridge space:

Make Maximum Use of the Fridge Bins

Refrigerator bins have varying sizes that largely depend on their intended purpose. Can dispensers can comfortably be used to house sodas in a one- or two-row style as the cans be placed on top of one another to form stacks to economize on available space. There are other bins that are designed for storing big bottled beverages such as 2.5 liter drinks. Some designs allow one to stack the bottles on top of each other in one row or two depending on the size of the refrigerator.

Consider Rearranging the Shelves

Most of the modern refrigerators allow users to adjust and rearrange the shelves to suit their needs. Take advantage of this feature by reviewing all items that you normally store in your fridge and organizing them in shelves based on their sizes. That is, smaller items can occupy small shelves while large, bulkier items can be placed on a separate shelf. For example, pickle jars, loaves of bread, butter tubs, and 2- liter drinks can be stored at one of the high shelves. On the other hand, salsa, cheese slices, meat slices, and other similar foods can be placed on shelf with the lower height.

Apply these organization ideas to keep your refrigerator tidy and looking great. If you need an exceptional kitchen cleaning, The Maidsare standing by to help organize, clean, and sanitize!

Using Additional Shelves for More Storage Space

Fri, 11 Jul 2014 09:42:24 GMT

A home is a home, filled with your things—and the clutter that comes with them. However much you try, it is rather difficult keeping your home in tip-top condition all the time. You will find your cabinets filling up, drawers getting loaded, and closets carrying too many things.

The best way to overcome all this clutter is to think of innovative ideas for your shelves. Use your creativity to make more space so that all your housekeeping efforts keep your home looking great. The first thing to do is reorganize all your shelves so that they give you more space to store your belongings.

Purpos

The purpose of the shelf is very important in helping you decide what you want, and how much you want to expand your shelving units. Decide if you need shelves for storing your music and movies, for your kids’ activity coloring books and games, or other types of items.

Once you determine how much you need to store on shelves, you can decide if you need to expand with more shelving units. If you find you don’t have sufficient room for games, movies, and music on one shelf, it’s the best time to add another shelf for all of these things.

Organization

You can start organizing your things once you decide what you want in a shelving unit. You need not buy additional shelves all the time; if required, shelf systems can be compacted and restricted to fit more of your belongings.

This is because many shelf systems today have peg holes to use for self-adjustment purposes. You can thus place items on the shelves based on size, so that you have a shelf that snugly fits to the next one.

With the extra room you have, you can start adding shelves. Just go to the local hardware store to find out what they offer for shelf boards, and then cut them to the required size. If your existing shelf system is painted, just paint the new boards with a matching color.

On adding new shelves to the unit, and having pegs holding them up, you can now install a new shelf on the remaining space you have once all the new shelves are added to your existing shelf system.

Keep clutter at bay regardless of your schedule with a hand from The Maids, who will not only straighten the clutter, but also make sure your home is truly clean.

Reasons Why You Should Consider Homemade Cleansers

Fri, 04 Jul 2014 09:53:47 GMT

For several years, many people have been using commercially made products for house cleaning different surfaces at home including the carpet, windows, furniture, and dishes, among several other things. Recently, there is an increasing trend where many families are turning to homemade cleansers, many of which have been used for decades. These products are eco-friendly compared to the ready-made ones on the market.

Environmentally Friendly

Most people assume that the commercially made cleaning products labeled “eco-friendly” or “natural” have no impact on the environment, but the small print on the labels often tells a different story. The safe, plant-based ingredients do not guarantee the non-existence of toxic chemicals added in these cleaning liquids. If you are making your own products, you know what you are using, and you can choose natural ingredients and avoid artificial substances that cause harm to the environment. Making your homemade products is also easy with no equipment required. in most cases, one or two ingredients is what you need.

They Are Just As Effective

Homemade products are as effective—if not more effective—than the cleaning products you buy in the stores. These cleansers are easy to modify, so you can easily add a few other ingredients or add the used amounts if you feel the already-made agent is not as effective as you would expect. You also have the option of experimenting several formulas to come up with one that works best for your purpose.

They Are Less Expensive

One of the main considerations for people considering homemade products for cleaning is the amount of money put on them and how much they can save. Unlike commercial cleaning agents, using household substances to make effective cleansers can really help you save a lot of money, which you can use on other important needs. These household substances are inexpensive and can help keep your budget in check without compromising the cleanliness level

Some cleaning services, like The Maids, focus on using environmentally-friendly cleaning products to make sure your home is both safe and clean.

Removal of Stickers and Their Residue from Various Surfaces

Fri, 27 Jun 2014 10:02:37 GMT

As long as the price stickers are where they belong – on the labeled products in your convenience store or other shopping malls, then they remain functional and useful. However, most stickers don’t stick there for long; they get to come off once they have been paid for after their brief shelf life. And heaven only knows where these stickers end up; they can easily become a nuisance on every surface in and around the home.The following are some of the ways to clean those stickers from various surfaces at home:

Glass Surfaces

Avoid scratching the glass to remove the sticker as this may damage the glass. Instead, apply vegetable or baby oil, allowing it to remain on the surface overnight; by morning it should peel off. Using nail polish and allowing it to soak for about 30 minutes should also do the trick.

Wooden Surfaces

Lay a cloth or paper towel that has been soaked in white vinegar over the sticker and allow it to soak into the sticker and residue for about five minutes. Peel off the sticker and once the wooden surface is clean, use wood polish to wipe the surface.

Plastic Surfaces

Heat up the portion around the sticker using a hair dryer, then peel off one side. Aim the hair dryer below the sticker as you hold up the loose side; this will allow the area to warm up and slowly release the sticker from the plastic surface. Ensure the surface doesn’t get hot enough to melt the plastic. Finish by washing the surface using a solution of dish soap then dry it.

Metallic Surfaces

Scrape off the adhesive as much of it as you can from the metallic surface then apply water-displacing spray on a cloth, but make sure not to use something abrasive that will scratch the metal . Continue rubbing the sticker with this spray, and then wash the surface using warm water mixed with dish soap. Rinse the area and dry it.

You can maintain all your surfaces and their nice appearance even after the stickers have been removed. There is always a suitable solution to deal with the unsightly blemishes on your surfaces. No need to be miserable about those annoying stickers anymore! And for all your other messes, The Maids can do your housekeeping for you.

Cleaning with at Home Made Products

Fri, 20 Jun 2014 10:24:18 GMT

Allergies and other respiratory issues make it hard for some people to use chemical cleaning products. At the same time, there are plenty cleaning items sold these days claim to be eco-friendly and free of harsh chemicals, when that isn’t always the case. The following are some cleaning solutions which you can make right in your kitchen using other common household products:

Wax for Floors

2 Tbsp. of olive oil
warm water
white vinegar

This wax will serve as an effective alternative for those who are bothered by the strong chemical smell of many common floor cleaners.

Furniture Polishing

1/4 cup of olive oil
20 drops of lemon oil
1/4 cup of white vinegar

The wood will absorb the oils and the lemon will cut away all the excess greases

Homemade Bleach

1/2 cup of baking soda
1/2 tsp of peroxide
1 tsp of dish soap

This solution can effectively scrub tiles and bathrooms with ease.

Microwave Cleaner

A few lemons cut into wedges
Bowl with small amount of water

Place lemon wedges inside of the bowl with a tad bit of water and microwave on high for 1 minute. Remove the bowl and wipe your microwave out using a damp cloth.

Glass Cleaner

1 1/2 cup of water
lemon juice
1 cup of white vinegar.

This will work best on mirrors, and the lemon will give them a streak-free shine.

The main goal of good housekeeping should be to make your home fresh and clean, which will help keep your family healthy and happy.If you would like to hire someone to do your house cleaning, The Maids should be the ones you call!

Keeping Valued Papers Safe

Fri, 06 Jun 2014 09:22:37 GMT

Preserving confidential papers is something that every household needs to know to do because nobody wants any of these papers wet, lost, burnt, or damaged:

birth certificates
registration papers
credit reports
membership cards
collectible concert tickets
home business papers
photos
and other valuable papers

Organization is key to keep your papers from getting lost, and an important part of housekeeping. The following are other ways to protect your valuable papers.

Lamination

You can laminate papers of different sizes using special products that come in different models to heat-seal lamination material over the paper for protection and preservation. Currently, you are not allowed to laminate Social Security cards, but you can do so for older cards without that restriction, including insurance cards and award certificates, to keep them protected from bends, tears, water, etc.

Fire Protection

A fire outbreak can cause damage to important documents and papers that might be difficult to replace. So, the best thing to do is to use a fire safe, a filing cabinet, or shelved cabinet to protect these items. Moreover, a filing cabinet will also help you to stay organized and avoid unnecessarily misplacement of your important items. For a small price of around $40, you can find a rectangular box that can offer you the benefits of safety with a small investment. Depending on what you are willing to part with for a decent fire safe, these products vary on how long and how much heat they can handle. A majority have numbered, keyed, or padlocked protection for confidentiality.

Sealed Bags

Large sealed bags such as Ziploc brand bags and sandwich bags can protect many valued papers from condensation, spills, decomposition, or debris.

Digital Protection

Digital storage is the best way to protect or preserve important papers. Scan your papers or visit a local photo lab such as CVS or Wal-Mart to make copies of your papers in digital form, and then store them on a memory stick, email, or in a cloud system. Use some of these techniques to protect your important papers and photos and you won’t have to regret: better safe than sorry.

Keeping your papers organized is an important part of the process of protecting them, and keeping clutter down in general will help. Of course, cleaning is practically a full-time job, so if you need some help, don’t hesitate to call The Maids.

Revive Your Outdoor Patio Furniture

Fri, 30 May 2014 10:49:41 GMT

While focusing on indoor house cleaning duties, the outdoor areas tend to get forgotten about or neglected, especially if there is a lot to do inside. Regardless, the outdoor areas need attention too! The furniture says a lot about your home so you want it looking clean and alive! Here are some helpful hints to get your patio looking great gain.

The Effects of Weather

The furniture on your porch still gets exposure to the weather. A hard rain with good wind speed can angle the rain onto the furniture. The hot summer temperatures can melt or soften materials to reshape them if left unattended. The cold winter temperatures can freeze furniture and cause it to crack or become brittle. The cold can also pile up snow on the furniture and possibly damage the surfaces. The fall brings leaves that can land on the furniture and create algae or ugly stains. Wood materials can suffer from any of these issues. There is so much that outdoor products endure.

Cleaning the Surfaces

There are hundreds of household chemicals and outdoor furniture cleaners on the market that can clean patio products. Some are multi-purpose for anything, while others work on metal, plastic, vinyl, stainless steel, brass, bronze, or a combination of these materials. Wood materials have special cleaners and protectants. The most common products sitting on porches and patios include plastic or vinyl furniture. This is mainly due to their affordable, yet disposable prices. There are several plastic and/or vinyl surface cleaners that work, but you will also find items labeled as plastic and vinyl patio furniture cleaner.

If the vinyl patio furniture cleaner does not do the trick, you can try other cleaners such as bleach, magic erasers, stain guard solutions, etc. You can also try different tools to clean it such as soft wire brushes, toothbrushes, scrubbing sponges, etc.

If none of the above methods work, you can simply repaint it! Paint is available for vinyl and plastic surfaces at your local paint supplier store. Some are specifically designed for items like patio furniture, but most are labeled as a material paint in general to sell more. Regardless of the description, a plastic or vinyl surface paint will work great as long as you follow the directions on the container. However, look at the adhesion properties to see how good it will stick! Choose your gloss and prep the furniture. Then you can begin painting your way to a new furniture set.

Upon completing the task, you will discover your brand new looking patio set that was completed with such a small amount of money. Enjoy a job well done and impress your friends and family. Above all, enjoy spending time on your porch again!

How to Color Coordinate Your Bathroom

Fri, 23 May 2014 10:29:56 GMT

The bathroom is a very important part of your home and you need to make sure that the bathroom is just right. Color coordination is a very important factor of renovating and remodeling a bathroom. It is where you relax in the shower or tub, and where you spend each morning getting ready for the day. Therefore, the environment needs to be calm and relaxing, and if the decor is wrong you may not enjoy your bathroom space. Below are some tips for renewing your bathroom:

Bathroom Cabinets Options

The cabinets in the bathroom can provide you with limitless choices to choose from.Cabinets can provide elegance, bold texture, or even calm simplicity to your bathroom. You have the option of mirrored designs, glass designs or solid designs.You can even paint the cabinets any color to fitwith just about any décor idea.

Bathroom Sink Options

An amazing and unique bathroom sinks can provide you with an interesting centerpiece for your bathroom design. Sinks come in various designs and shapes, as well as a variety of colors and materials, so you should have no problem finding one that suits you. Choose a style that expresses your preference and taste and choose a color that will coordinate with the surroundings.

Bathroom Walls Options

Bathrooms wall also have endless options. You can choose from paint to wallpaper, or even tile, depending on your desired look. The bathroom walls will create the backdrop for your new bathroom design. Make sure to coordinate the walls with other parts of the surrounding bathroom decor.Before deciding which color to choose you should always remember that you are the one who is going to use the bathroom, and you have to look at your choice every day.

Expert Opinion

If you can’t seem to decide on the best design ideas for your bathroom remodel, you can seek the advice of a professional. A professional can help you choose the best colors for your bathroom, but you must remember that you always have the last say. You should not be pushed into any design ideas that you would not truly love.

And when all the decorating is done, The Maids of Southeastern Massachusetts in New Bedford would be happy to assist you in your housekeeping needs.

Homemade Cleaning Agents Recipes

Fri, 23 May 2014 09:41:06 GMT

Instead of using toxic chemical products in your home, you can make your own cleaning agents using some safe household ingredients. However, never mix bleach and ammonia, as they can create a deadly gas. It is important to ensure that the ingredients you are planning to use are appropriate for the surface you want to clean. White distilled vinegar and many other basic cleansers are safe for cleaning most surfaces, and can be mixed to make great cleaning products. Below are a couple of recipes for basic cleaners and their uses:

Window Cleaner

How to Make

You will need a cup of white vinegar and a cup of water for this mixture. Fill a refillable 16 ounce trigger spray bottle with the vinegar and water. Shake the mixture and label.

How to use

Spray the mixture on the glass and wipe using a clean and soft lint free cloth, or use a balled up sheet of newspaper. This is a great recipe that does a fantastic job and is very economical.

Carpet Cleanser

How to Make

You will need six drips of oil soap, a cup of club soda. Mix the drops of oil soap with the club soda in a bowl to make a foamy cleaner.

Using the mixture

Rub mixture into the stained areas on the carpet and scrub using a brush. Rinse with water and blot immediately. Ensure that the stains on the carpet are cleanedas they happen, as the can be difficult to clean once they are dry. This agent is an effective cleanser and is strong on even the toughest stains.

While these cleaners are very effective, you simply may desire to have help. If this is the case, you can hire The Maids to assist in your cleaning needs.

Daily Fast Easy Cleaning

Fri, 16 May 2014 10:57:15 GMT

Most of us these days live very hectic lives. The single mom or dad, the two working parents, the stay at home mom or dad, the very busy single person, has anyone been left out? Will everyone has these hectic schedules, no one really has time to clean. Even if you hire a weekly service buy the time Wednesday comes around the house is a mess. Some of our homes are trashed by Monday evening that is if you clean or get your home cleaned on the traditional clean up Saturdays.

You can easily remedy this mid-week disaster by doing some fast, easy daily cleaning. These are just some easy tips to help anyone keep their home clean during the week.

There is a place for everything.

One rule that should always be followed, and that is everything should have its own place. That means that when you clean up you shouldn't just throw things in a drawer or a closet. Clothes shouldn't be thrown in a closet. Everyone at some point does this and promises themselves that they will clean this up later. But what happens is that when you start looking for something that you need, things get tossed and thrown everywhere.

The solution is to make sure everything is in the proper place. For example in your bedroom, make sure all clothes are properly organized in its designated spot, that way when you look for something to where in the morning you will know exactly where everything is and you can just get it together and not have clothes thrown everywhere.

Clean as you go

When you get home, and as you come through the door you should pick up and put things in their proper places. The mail should be put where the mail goes. Shoes should be put in the owner’s rooms, and any outer wear that is left in the main living areas should also be put in the owner’s rooms.

Hopefully you get the picture. If you give your home a proper deep clean, where you make sure things are where they should be, then it will be very easy to maintain a clean home during the hard work week.

Indoor Air Quality and Your Health

Fri, 16 May 2014 10:16:32 GMT

Did you know that the quality of the air in your home is of vital importance, as impure air can lead to a host of health issues? The EPA actually lists indoor air pollution as a rampant problem today, and simply opening your windows may not be enough to alleviate the problem. In addition, during times of the year when the temperatures are either too hot or too cold to leave your windows open, your home is often shut up for months at a time. While your heating or cooling system brings in air from the outside, by the time it reaches your vents it is often contaminated with dust, mold spores, pet dander, bacteria and even viruses. Clearly, you need a solution to this common problem, as poor air quality can cause fatigue, allergies, breathing problems and even illness like respiratory infections (due to virus or bacteria). Fortunately, air purification offers a convenient answer.

Types of Air Purifiers Are Available

HEPA purifiers

HEPA purifiers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. HEPA purifiers only need to trap particles of a specific size and allow a certain amount of air to flow through to be classified as a true HEPA unit.

HEPA purifiers with activated charcoal

HEPA purifiers that include activated charcoal are designed to trap odors as well, and activated charcoal that includes potassium iodide can absorb harmful Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that may wreak havoc in your home.

Ionizing purifiers

Ionizing purifiers work on a different principle, by charging particles in the air and then trapping these with metal plates that hold an opposite charge. They work well for allergens but are inadequate to reduce toxic VOCs within your home.

Ozone purifiers

Ozone purifiers produce a low level of ozone that has been deemed safe, as ozone is actually a free radical. It is three molecules of oxygen bonded together, and it readily gives up the third molecule. How does this purify air? This free radical oxygen molecule easily binds to contaminants within the air – rendering them inert. However, there has been some concern that this free radical production could cause harm to people over a long period of time as well.

UV Light purifiers

UV light purifiers work well to eradicate any bacteria, mold and viruses that are floating in your home's air. In fact, many units are designed to be installed directly upon the air intake of your HVAC system, and they harm the DNA of bacteria and viruses – making it impossible for them to reproduce. Keep in mind, that the strength of the UV purifiers is critical, as a low level light will deliver ineffective results.

With all of these different types of air purifiers available on the market, there is an option that is right for your specific needs. You must simply decide on the air purifier that will best fit your individual situation. However, even though purifiers are a great idea, your home still needs to be clean as well. And if you are in the New Bedford, Massachusetts area, you can hire The Maids of Southeastern Massachusetts for all of your housekeeping needs.

Five Easy Tips That Can Help You Get Rid Of Stubborn Stickers

Fri, 09 May 2014 10:23:52 GMT

Do you have a sticker on your window? Or did your kids just decided to decorate your door with a sticker that they got gesture from a supermarket? Stickers and other forms of adhesive product can leave a sticky residue on your walls. You may find it very difficult to remove a sticker especially if they have been fixed on a particular surface for a long time or if they have been exposed for a long period to a lot of sunlight .But do you know that it is possible to remove a sticker? In this article, we have provided easy tips that can help you get rid of stubborn stickers fast.

Use Alcohol

Many people keep rubbing alcohol around the house for cleaning cuts and scrapes, but might not think that it can serve as more than a disinfectant. In fact, alcohol can help to get rid of sticker in your home. All you need to do is to scrub the sticker with a towel that has been moistened with rubbing alcohol.

Try Vinegar

This is an item that many people already have in their homes, generally used for cooking. However, vinegar can be used for so many things besides cooking, and getting rid of stubborn sticker is one of those uses. Therefore, if you have plain vinegar in your kitchen put some on a towel and rub the sticker away.

Try Cooking Oil

Another effective method of getting rid of stickers is by using cooking oil either in spray or in liquid form. What you need to do is simply rub the oil on the stubborn sticker using a towel, then use a window cleaner or dish detergent to clean up the oil.

Try Goo Gone

Goo Gone is an effective adhesive remover, and it also has other uses as well. Simply head to your nearest improvement store and pick some up. It is affordable and it works on nearly all surfaces.

In conclusion, getting rid of sticker is fairly easy with the right products for the job. Some of the methods discussed above may need more than one try so don’t get upset when the first try doesn’t give you the desired results. And if you live in the New Bedford area and would like assistance in cleaning your home, you can hire The Maids of Southern Massachusetts for all your housekeeping needs.

Tips on How to Prevent Dust Mites in Your Home

Fri, 02 May 2014 13:17:33 GMT

Dust mites are microscopic creatures that belong to the same class with the spider and mostly take residence in mattresses & bedding, upholstered furniture, curtains and carpets. Often thriving in warm, humid environments, the tiny organisms feed on the flakes of skin that we and our pets shed daily. Their feces contain the substance DerP1 which is a rather potent allergen. It you’re allergic to mites, you may have eczema, asthma-like symptoms or even chronic sinus problems.

Normally, completely eliminating these harmful creatures is difficult, time consuming and may also be costly.

However, there are strategies you can use to prevent infestation in your home including the following:

Regularly washing bedding

Dust mites multiply very quickly in humid environments and can live in sheets or blankets in just a few days. Be sure to wash your bedding (don’t forget the comforters & duvet covers) at least once a week with hot water. Use a hot dryer. Freeze the non-washable bedding overnight to kill the mites.

Vacuum

You can use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter or double-layered micro filter bag to trap any allergens that will pass through the vacuum's exhaust. When vacuuming, always wear a mask to avoid inhaling allergens. Additionally, stay out of vacuumed area for 20 minutes or so to allow the dust &allergens to settle.

Cover your bedding

You should also consider encasing your pillows and mattress in dust-proof/ allergen impermeable covers. These can be obtained from a specialty order company or some local department stores.

Other preventative strategies

Use an air conditioner or humidifier to maintain a relative humidity of about 50%.
Always use a damp rag to remove dust. Using a dry a cloth will only stir up the mite allergens.
Consider substituting the wall-to-wall carpets especially in bedrooms for bare floors (such as wood, linoleum or tile) and also remove upholstered furniture.

Excuses We Use to Keep Our Clutter

Fri, 18 Apr 2014 13:09:01 GMT

Everyone has clutter in their home, but why do we choose to keep it? Why do we consistently make excuses about our clutter, and what are some of the excuses that we make?

The first excuse that tends to be make about the clutter that is messing up our perfect homes: "I'm going to use that one day."

Are you really? Are you really going to use that outdated map one day? Are you really going to wear the jacket that went out of style a couple of decades ago? Do you really need to save that milk jug in case you find a use for it? Is that stack of newspapers really going to be put to use?

More often than not, the excuse that we are going to use our clutter one day is nothing more than that... an excuse.

The second excuse that we use to lay claim to our clutter: "It has sentimental value."

Yes, some items are worth saving because they mean something to us - an art project made by your child in kindergarten, for instance. But not everything needs to be saved. You don't have to save the shirt that your great aunt bought you at a garage sale because it was too cheap to pass up. You don't have to save the pin that was made for grandma but accidentally got left behind at your house. There are items that are truly sentimental, and then there are items that you hold onto just because you don't want to part with your clutter.

Oh, the excuses that we use. It's time to lay those excuses aside. Clutter is clutter, and it's not something that we should continue to hold onto. Get rid of the excuses. Be honest. And then go and clean your house.

Easy Tips to Clean Stainless Steel

Fri, 11 Apr 2014 13:00:36 GMT

Stainless steel is a wonderful material with a distinctive shine. Not only does it provide a high end look in terms of kitchen appliances, cutlery and cookware but it is low maintenance. The only challenge of stainless steel is maintaining that lustrous shine and preventing corrosion. Luckily doing so is very simple. Here are easy tips to clean stainless steel.

Warm Water

Before moving on to other cleaning methods try warm water. Most of the time stainless steel can be cleaned with warm water and a gentle cloth. To boost effectiveness use a combination of warm water and a gentle detergent to clean. After cleaning be sure to dry to prevent water spots.

Vinegar

Spraying stainless steel with vinegar helps to clean oil and grease in addition to removing stains from hard water and heat. Simply pour vinegar into a spray bottle, spritz area and wipe with a cloth. When using vinegar, be sure to clean thoroughly after use to prevent film from developing.

Mildly Abrasive Cleaners

For tough to clean dirt, grime or food stains on stainless steel a mildly abrasive cleaner will do the trick. This type of cleaner adds a bit more friction, without scratching to effectively remove any accumulated mess. Powders can provide a good cleaning as well as specialty cleaners.

Rubbing Alcohol

If you notice a sticky film over your stainless steel stove or range head use rubbing alcohol to remove it. This film is a result of grease buildup. Rubbing alcohol cuts the grease and makes stainless steel look like new. Just be sure to rinse off the alcohol with water and dry.

Overall, cleaning stainless steel is easy. Anything from warm water to rubbing alcohol can be used to remove stains and grease to keep stainless steel shiny and new. These easy cleaning techniques can be done in a matter of minutes and require a few simple cleaning items commonly found in the home.

Tips to Speed Cleaning

Fri, 04 Apr 2014 12:42:22 GMT

The time spent cleaning the house always depends on several aspects. They include,

The size of the house
How well the items are arranged
The speed of the cleaner and the duration between cleaning periods.

However; speed cleaning may be achieved by following a simple daily routine. The following are 5 tips to speed clean.

Quick access to your cleaning tools

The first thing to ensure speed cleaning is by ensuring that the tools are together. After every cleaning process, gather your cleaning tools and keep them safely at one point where you can easily and quickly access them.

Room arrangement

The speed at which you clean is also determined by how easy it is to maneuver through the room. A well-arranged room is easy to clean. Ensure this by collecting all the items that fall such as children dolls, papers and mails. Collect and place them back to where they belong.

Always start with the most difficult areas of your room.

You may start with the bedroom to ensure that the beds are made.

This ensures that you do not forget about them. You can also start with the master bathroom and the toilet. After this you can clean the living and dining room and later the kitchen.

Practice regular sweep.

This is to ensure that dust and debris that settle on items regularly is removed. This may also help you in arranging misplaced items to bring back order in the room.

Clean systematically as you go.

Clean perfectly to ensure that you do not go back to the same sport after you are through. You can make this easier by wiping all the spills immediately they spill before drying and making a stain. It is easier to wipe it clean as it happens than it is to clean later. After cleaning make a clean check around the house to ensure nothing is left dirty or displaced.

Ways to Make Washing Dishes Fun

Fri, 28 Mar 2014 13:27:37 GMT

Generally, there are several ways to make washing dishes fun. For instance, you may listen to music by selecting songs depending on your mood. Basically, upbeat songs are the best to motivate you while washing in case you do not want a quiet atmosphere. In addition to that, dish washing can be fun by considering making an assembly line whereby there are different people performing the task of scrapping, washing, drying and putting away. This is an excellent idea of rounding up everyone and have the dishes washed within the shortest time possible other than assigning one person to wash the dishes on different nights.

You also can make washing dishes fun by considering having a conversation with someone. In case you are a couple, it is an excellent idea to avoid completely the use of automatic dish washing machine. Instead, you should make the after dinner dishes a time to have a conversation and reflect on your days. Doing this is very beneficial in the sense that you hands keep working in rhythm while your mouth or mind does a more interesting thing.

Also give yourself a reward after you have finished washing the dishes. This could be an extra fifteen minutes of sleep, a cup of coffee or more time to read a story book. To add on that, using your imagination also helps in making dish washing fun. Just pretend that you are a very popular chef washing the dishes after you just completed cooking one of your best meals ever. other ways to make washing dishes fun include making a game by giving yourself points for each dish you wash and grade yourself on how best you did it. And let some light and fresh air into the room to enable you feel good as you clean the dishes.

Use Essential Oils for Aromatherapy at Home

Fri, 14 Mar 2014 13:23:44 GMT

Aromatherapy is a special practice which has been around for ages. The practice continues to be popular because people derive a wide range of its benefits. It basically involves use of essential oils extracted from barks, flowers, leaves, seeds, herbs, roots and fruits to mention but a few. Different essential oils from different sources have different uses at home depending on their properties.

Aromatherapy for Cleaning

For almost any type of cleaning needed at home; there are essential oils that can be used together with soaps and detergents. The main purpose is to leave behind calming and uplifting fragrances. Rosemary oil can be added to household soaps and sprays because of its good scent. When cleaning fabrics, you can add some lavender drops to vinegar for a great fabric softener. Rose geranium oil is essential in eradicating pet odor on carpets and furniture. To make a homemade disinfectant, mix lavender and tea tree oils in vinegar and water solution. The mixture kills germs on kitchen and bathroom surfaces while leaving pleasant fragrance.

Aromatherapy for Treatments

Most essential oils have healing effects when it comes to common ailments. With the natural solutions to infections, insect bites and muscle pain, need for over the counter medicines will be reduced. Eucalyptus tops the list in healing congestion, colds and flu as well as inflammation and shingles. Menstrual cramps, sore muscles and even insomnia can be treated with sweet marjoram.

Aromatherapy for Skincare

Some essential; oils can be mixed with your skin cream for different effects. For instance, two drops of rosemary in your skin cream will rewind the aging clock by slowing down effects of wrinkles. You can make body oil by adding 5 drops of your favorite essential oil to 1 teaspoonful of carrier oil such as sesame, jojoba, sweet almond, wheat germ or sunflower oil. These hydrate your skin and give you a relaxing scent. A few drops of basil, cedar wood or lavender sooths an itchy scalp while rosemary adds hair volume. Whichever essential oil you use, ensure it is consumed within a year from the time of opening the bottle for safety purposes.

Vinegar, What Else Can You Use it for?

Fri, 07 Mar 2014 13:11:05 GMT

Vinegar, or acetic acid, it's a transparent liquid found in any home across the Globe. Being mainly used for cooking or making pickles it can also have other uses in the home, most of you probably never thought about it! For example, vinegar can be used around the house in many ways, some of which in the following lines.

Destroying weeds in your garden! You can do this by carefully applying vinegar on weeds to burn them (be careful not putting any on the plants you wish to preserve).
You can clean your glass lenses! Vinegar is a great grease remover, just put a drop on each lens and clean it with clean wipes.
Roll-On deodorant stains. Being one of the problems in using these solid deodorants, vinegar, along with some water and detergent can be a very effective stain remover.
Car cleaner! I know how it sounds but bear with me, vinegar is excellent when it comes to removing dust or solid dirt stuck on your car. Just get a nice clean cloth and soak it with vinegar than rub the car with it. It will look shinier and cleaner than ever before!
Freshen up your vegetables! If you have older vegetables with withered parts and you don't want to waste too much then just make a solution out of water and vinegar and then wash the vegetables with it.
Sweat stains? No more! If your favorite clothes are stained with sweat just make 3 parts water to one part vinegar and clean your clothes with it. It your make those stains disappear!
Ant remover? Yes! Ants don't like vinegar at all and that's why you can make a very good barrier around your house if you put drops of vinegar on the doorsteps and windows of your house.
Vinegar enriches the soil for plant growth. Because some plants prefer acid soil, you just have to put a few drops in the flower pot but, be careful. Not all plants like acid soil, so study carefully in what kind of soil it grows better.
Are you a smoker? Yes? Then you must have smoking stains on your nails. Vinegar can remove these easily. Apply one or two drops of vinegar on each nail and rub with some cotton. These stains should go away after a few good rubs.
Do you have jars that smell weird? I know I do. Vinegar can remove these smells if you clean them thoroughly with vinegar than wash with soap and rinse with a lot of water. This will make your favorite jar not have any smell from now on without using expensive smell removers.

Where to Bedbugs Come From?

Fri, 28 Feb 2014 13:08:17 GMT

Bedbugs are tiny little critters that feed on human blood, not too different from mosquitoes but without wings. Their official name is 'Cimex lectularius', and they are called 'bedbugs' because they tend to hide in or near to beds where humans sleep. If you have bedbugs in your home, then do not despair! First of all, these unwanted house guests are very easy to pick up, so don't make yourself feel too about it: even a clean and conscientious home might get bedbugs once in a while. That said, reducing the risk of bedbugs entering your home is very easy once you know where bedbugs come from. Then, you can follow a few simple procedures to ensure that those uninvited guests don't turn up in your bedroom.

So, where do bedbugs come from? Well, the most common way for bedbugs to appear in your home is through contact with another person or house which has been infested by bedbugs. Visiting a friend and spending the night on their sofa or on their spare bed, for instance, can cause your clothing to become infested with bedbugs or bedbug eggs. Then, the next time you lie down in your own bed, you will likely spread the infestation to your own home. Washing and drying your clothing on a very high heat after you have visited friends will help to prevent these types of infestation.

Another tip is to purchase some cheap, eco-friendly disposable sheets which you can bring with you when you stay overnight in somewhere other your home, spread over the bed or couch to protect you from bedbugs, and then discard in the morning.

Bedbugs also regularly enter homes through infested second hand furniture. Bedbug eggs can remain in furniture for a long time, so if you have picked up a new chair or mattress from the thrift store it is good to give it a thorough cleaning before using it. Heat treating your secondhand furniture will kill bedbugs and their eggs, as will some careful vacuuming.

The third main way in which bedbugs enter your home is on the backs of wild animals. Wild animals include creatures like bats or birds, who can fly into your bedroom and leave bedbugs on the linen or carpet. Most common domestic pets, however, like cats and dogs, do not make good hosts for bedbugs. Bedbugs just don't like the taste of their blood, so usually won't be found in their fur. So don't get mad at your cat or loyal pooch if you find bedbugs in your home!

Shoes and the Inside of a House

Fri, 21 Feb 2014 12:53:49 GMT

Should I have my guest take their shoes off when entering my house? If you were Asian, the answer to this question would be a no-brainer. Most Asians would not allow a guest to come into their home without removing their shoes first. If you are a westerner, it probably hinges on the circumstances.

In Thailand, a guest needs to take off their shoes because Thais believe that you will bring in evil spirits. A Westerner would probably be more worried about the guest tracking in dirt than evil spirits. If a Westerner sees that you have dirty shoes or sneakers, they would probably make you take them off before coming in especially if they had just cleaned or waxed the floors.

A Westerner or an American would let you wear shoes if it was a formal situation. When a person leaves their shoes on in a house, they probably don't feel as comfortable as they would be with their shoes off. They have come to the house to do business and may not have to stay long. The host may have other things to do and want the business guest to leave as soon as possible. The host is not so bothered about the feelings of the business guest because the guest is a stranger to them. The more informal the situation, the less likely that you have to wear shoes.

If it is a friend or a relative, the American host would let them come in without their shoes. They do care about their feelings. They want their friends and relatives to feel comfortable and welcome. They would want their guest to feel that they can stay at the house for a long time and that they can hang out with the guest. The less informal the situation, the less likely chance that you have to wear shoes.

Should I have my guest take their shoes off when entering my house? The American answer could be that it depends on the situation. You need to take your shoes off if they are dirty. If you are a business guest, you can leave your shoes. A friend or relative can take their shoes off. Asians would wonder why this is such a burning question.

Tackling the Bathroom Cleaning

Mon, 23 Dec 2013 12:47:17 GMT

Is your bathroom looking a bit grimy? Maybe it's time for a good thorough cleaning, whether by you or a housekeeping services team. It's a good idea to deep clean your bathroom every couple of months to rid it of nasty germs, bacteria, and mildew. These tips will help you get that deep cleaning ball rolling.

Tackle that toilet

Start with a cup of baking soda. Pour the baking soda into the bowl and let it sit a few minutes, and then scrub with a brush. For the tough mineral and lime stains, use a damp pumice stone. The pumice stone won't damage the bowl but is perfect for eliminating those nasty stains.

Keep your toilet brush clean to eliminate the buildup of bacteria. Run bleach over the bristles and let it sit a few minutes, next run clean water over it. Then clean the brush canister with warm soapy water.

Give the shower a deep cleaning

You can give the shower head a real good cleaning by soaking it overnight in vinegar. Get a zip lock bag and pour in enough vinegar to submerge the nozzle and tie it on. In the morning, run the water to rinse it. For plastic shower curtains, give them a super cleaning by running them through your washer with a couple old towels. The towels act as scrubbers and are a sure way to get rid of soap scum and mildew. To clean showers doors, make a mix of baking soda and a few drops of distilled vinegar. It will be thick and will stick. Let it set on the doors for an hour and then wipe off and rinse.

Cleaning the sink and faucet

Pouring white vinegar or baking soda down the drain then rinsing well with hot water will really get that sink clean. When wiping the faucet, try using disposable disinfecting wipes instead of rags that just move the bacteria around. Get that hard to clean areas around the narrow spaces of the faucet base and where the taps meet sink by using floss. Yes, floss. It is perfect for these tight areas that are often missed.

If you need a quick and thorough job in a pinch, consider the help of a housekeeping services team. Sometimes with such busy schedules, we all need a little outside help and housekeeping services are a perfect solution.

Hiring a Cleaning Service Is a Great Idea to Free Up Some Time

Wed, 30 Oct 2013 09:58:52 GMT

You spend a lot of time keeping up with your house cleaning because you know the importance of it, but how does it get done? You make a lot of sacrifices to squeeze it in. You have enough activities in a day to keep you busy. But you spend time in between as much as you can to clean so your home looks great. You may hold a job, have children to take care of, cook meals, provide rides, mow the yard, fix the toilet, fix the cabinet hinges, attend club meetings, and tons of other activities.

Cleaning services provide you the time you need to handle your activities while finding time to relax and get your head straight. With all the running around you do and the endless activities you handle, you can get overwhelmed and exhausted. You don’t want to clean, but it needs done.

Your cleaning attempts are usually a sporadic event. Many interruptions and distractions come about while you try to clean. Spills, someone knocking at the door, phone calls, kids arguing, and many other distractions pop up at any time. This breaks your focus. Maids are able to stay focused and don’t have those distractions to deal with, simply because the cleaning is their actual job, unlike your situation.

Cleaning services can make a big difference in your life, without a doubt. Gas and electric are optional choices, yet provide many advantages. Maid services are no different. In fact, they are very affordable and you no longer have to spend a lot of money on cleaning supplies because the maids provide themselves with everything they need. The supplies that you do keep on hand will last a lot longer too, simply because they will not get used as much.

Does Your Interior Trim Hamper Visual Appeal?

Mon, 21 Oct 2013 08:54:12 GMT

Trim, also known as moulding or molding, can often get damaged, broken, dented, dinged, chipped, warped, or cracked. For some types, they can even fade. You dedicate time to cleaning or hire a maid service , but the efforts can get hampered by the unsightly views of aged moulding. You can try to make them look good as new, but it just doesn’t seem to work. In this case, it may be time to consider replacing your trim with new moulding.

Trim comes in oak, poplar, pine, composite, polyurethane, and many other materials. Oak add strength but also add to the price tag. Pine is more affordable and still has a nice look. Composite and polyurethane are easier to clean and also provide durability.

Aside from materials, there are numerous finish options, including finished trim, primed trim, and unfinished trim. Finished trim is already painted of stained. You just have to install. Primed trim allows you to choose a paint and gloss. Unfinished trim provides the benefit of being able to stain or paint.

Lastly, size can vary for each type like base moulding, door and window casings, corner moulding, etc. Design can vary too. You will find circular patterns, square patterns, wavy patterns, etc. The patterns can be engraved, etched, routed, or imprinted.

Understanding these key elements gives you the power to know what to find and allows for more preference options. In addition, whatever you choose will add flare to your house cleaning efforts and make them more worth it!

Lower Health Issues and Allergy Symptoms in Your House by Reduction of Environment Pollution

Thu, 26 Sep 2013 08:50:00 GMT

You have a fabulously looking house, especially since you work hard at the house cleaning to keep it healthy. But the quality of air is something that you don't exactly get to clean. Nevertheless, you can help reduce allergens and air pollutants with various filtration techniques and make your home that much healthier.

As you grace upon the beautiful ray of sunlight entering your home, you notice a stream of dust dancing across the room. That does not look healthy or pleasant, but whether you like it or not, it will always be there. At times when there is no ventilation like having closed windows, the air pollutants have nowhere to go.

Using air purifiers is a big way to help cut back on those air pollutants and irritants. Choose from floor models and table models with many features like fan speed, oscillation, etc. The more expensive the model, the more filtration and cleaner air you usually get.

When the weather is comfortable on the outside; it is a great time to use your windows. Fans will help exhaust that annoying, contaminated air in your home. Be sure to set the fan to exhaust out the window and have other windows open. Pollutants will be forced out the windows and the outside air will come in to replace it, assuming you have open windows elsewhere.

Having your carpets look clean is a daily task and you use your vacuum cleaner a lot. However, your vacuum most likely disburses contaminants into the air, even with picking up the dirt and debris. HEPA vacuums can help more, but cheaper models let a lot of those contaminants escape before hitting the filter.

Air contaminants will always exist in every single household, but the good news is that you can control it with these creative techniques and strategies.

Energy Efficiency and Lighting Fixtures

Wed, 25 Sep 2013 08:46:49 GMT

You try really hard to finish housekeeping tasks , but some areas are more difficult due to lack of or reduced lighting. That does not make things easier at all. Sometimes, it is due to the effort to save money on energy costs. After all, using 60 watt bulbs can really add up on your energy usage.

You should consider replacing those incandescent lamps with those fluorescent or L.E.D. types of lighting. Fluorescent lights consume a lot less energy than those old fashioned incandescent bulbs.

L.E.D. lamps save even more yet than fluorescent lights, but are limited on options today.

Are you pondering the decision to replace the incandescent bulbs? If so, it is a good decision. A fluorescent light bulb will cost more than a few incandescent bulbs, but you will save money every single month. Not only do they last for several years, but they also use about 2/3 less energy. Color output options are also available with fluorescent bulbs so if you had a daylight bulb, you can use a fluorescent daylight bulb. Choose from other color tones like bright white and cool white too. The descriptions can vary from one manufacturer to the next, but many are the same or very similar.

Popularity and attention to L.E.D, lights continue to increase because of the excellent energy savings and more options continue to become available. Nevertheless, many do not like the type of light output L.E.D. lamps emit because their color tone is different and the overall coverage of light is not as immense as fluorescent lamps. Homeowners that use these lamps often use them as minor lighting in areas not commonly illuminated or they use them where high light output is not required.

How to Lose Those Hand Towel Odors

Fri, 30 Aug 2013 08:40:52 GMT

A washing machine usually does an amazing job with cleaning, but why can't it get rid of that smell in your towels? You begin to think that your dryer will eliminate the odor, once the towels are dry. But suddenly, you discover that it didn't do the trick. Certainly, that didn't work too well so you decide to throw them in the trash, right? After all, you have too many other housekeeping tasks to squeeze into your time.

As time goes by, laundry detergent residue and fabric softener residue accumulate in the fabric itself. When washing your towels , those residues prevent water from penetrating effectively, leading to areas that do not get cleaned properly. Those areas develop an odor as time goes by, like the rust on a car that continues to grow.

There is certainly better way than throwing them out at the sign of sour-like smells. Why waste all that money when you don’t have to?

The first step calls for washing in hot water. However, include some vinegar (about 1 cup) to the machine for the first round. Exclusively use vinegar, considering that laundry room detergent or fabric softeners can restrict the performance results.

When completed, wash a second time with hot water. As previously included in the very first step, use no laundry soap or fabric softener in your second round. This time, add a half cup of baking soda into the load.

As soon as the washer stops, throw the restroom towels into your dryer. Upon completion of the drying cycle, you will get clean smelling rest room towels again!

Take note that if problems still persist, the washing machine is most likely at fault. To renew the washer, utilize clothes washer fresheners. Typically, washer fresheners are in tablet form and widely available at washing machine retailers. Make sure to follow the directions completely because this is not a normal load. Follow your manufacturer's guidelines to ensure no damage occurs to the machine. You can also usually find instructions for your washer on the manufacturer's website.

Invigorate Your Patio with Less Cash

Wed, 28 Aug 2013 08:34:50 GMT

Your property may perhaps look and feel superb with all the house cleaning you decide to do, but sending some of the excitement to your out-of-doors living area is definitely an improvement anybody will love. With some clever thinking and some nifty tricks, you can make your outside living more exciting. There are plenty of budget-friendly upgrades and enhancements you can do , without spending an arm and a leg.

Outdoor living zones with grass often get quite a bit of traffic. For that high traffic, grassy area, walkway bricks could actually help safeguard the yard. Areas like that can develop mud pits, brown grass, and even flattened grass.

Liven up your sides, your wall regions, and your paths by incorporating colorful, potted plants. Your outdoor living space needs color and plants can add that colorful touch. Flowers provide a color-changing opportunity to add new excitement from time to time and the pots can be moved around with ease to switch the space up a little. You'll be encouraged by the chance to easily modify the atmosphere! In this case, change is definitely good!

Self-standing pots are a good way to produce a good looking display of visual appeal and hanging containers can add another touch to a zone in your yard. Flowers can also be great on tables, as well as be used to create spectacular borders. Your opportunities never ever stop.

Your patio furniture has an important role in your inventive yard. It is also possible that you love and like what you currently have. If that is correct, give consideration to painting to make them terrific once again. There is a multitude of paint options available and one that is great for you. Consider getting new seat covers too. Look into seat coverings with dazzling and vibrant colors or designs to increase your overall setting.

Color Your Bathrooms with Style

Fri, 23 Aug 2013 08:26:31 GMT

When you get the need to increase life to your already clean restroom and also have it remodeled; color selection integrating is a crucial choice to take into account. The initial simple steps should include studying color options. This makes a significant difference in your finished effects. All things considered, you'd like the results to be fantastic and comforting. After all, you want it to fit right into the comforts of your home that you work so hard to keep clean, no matter whether you use a maid service or not. You still want a wonderful bathroom that enhances your home's style.

Coloration(s) have a large impact on the completed layout results in any bathroom. You can create a great looking bathroom that satisfies your desires with every fixture, every accessory, and even every wall. Color blending is a must-do beginning step to consider when planning for renovating your restroom. Everything can work together to create that mood brightening room and add value to your home, including the cabinets, the light fixtures, the toilet, the sink(s), the towel racks, the shower, and many other items. Taking your time is important so that you end up with satisfying results in the end.

Walls are the biggest thing to stand out in the room. Consider mixing some colors to create your masterpiece and add spice to your bathroom. The choices can be endless and you can even explore more than just three colors. See what your creative imagination can make. Maybe you will discover something that brings about your shining personality and also blends in with your perfect bathing room.

Washroom sinks can be found in a large number of color styles, materials, or perhaps patterns. Look for a color and style that suits your bathroom's personality while also bringing life to the location. Pedestal sinks, wall-mount sinks, and cabinet sinks are widely available at your local hardware stores. The design you choose can vary, from classic styles to unique styles. For areas with less room, think about using a pedestal sink or a wall-mount sink, which will allow for more real estate in the room or make it look larger.

When replacing your tub or shower is a must have, be sure to look for one that will blend well with the overall color scheme of your future bathroom. Aside from that, bathroom cabinets will also stand out so choose a good style; one with colors to enhance your bathroom design. Bathroom cabinets present additional advantages when renovating a bathroom because they have the option to be painted. You can also choose stained or pre-painted cabinets to save time if you find what you desire.

A Fun DIY Snack for Any Season

Mon, 08 Jul 2013 08:23:31 GMT

If you’re staying inside out of the hot sun anyway (and you're not quite bored enough for housekeeping!), a do-it-yourself craft or recipe might be a great way to treat yourself or spend time with your kids! The easier and more kid-friendly the project, the better, and that’s why this recipe is a great choice.

You have likely seen chocolate-covered pretzel rods before; they’ve become popular as party snack sand you can buy them from stores or online—but why buy them when they are easy to make? If you want to give it a try for yourself, try out this method from My Crafting Attic :

Making Chocolate-Covered Pretzel Rods

Before you get started, you’re going to want to get all of your ingredients together. You’ll need:

Pretzel rods (longer ones are easier to use!).
Milk & white chocolate almond bark.
Crushed toppings. To try: nuts, coconut, cookies, sprinkles, candy bars, and peppermint.

Step #1: Melt the chocolate. The best way to melt chocolate is over a double boiler. If you don’t have one, a glass bowl over a boiling pot of water (just make sure it’s not actually touching the water!) will work. You will want to melt the chocolate separately, so do one at a time.

Step #2: Dip the pretzel rods into the chocolate. Dip each pretzel into chocolate and lay it on a piece of wax paper. The chocolate will need to start to harden just a little bit to hold the toppings, so do 5-10 pretzel rods before adding the crushed toppings.

Step #3: Sprinkle the toppings onto the chocolate. Be liberal, experiment, try different toppings and different combinations. You can even use the white chocolate drizzled over the milk chocolate or combine it with a topping.

Step #4: Let cool. It’s important that the bars be left alone long enough for the chocolate to completely cool and harden, adhering the toppings. When they’re cool, share them—or just enjoy them yourself!

Cleaning Silver Jewelry with What You Have

Sun, 30 Jun 2013 08:14:40 GMT

Silver is well known for the way it tarnishes, turning a dingy, brown color over time. Thankfully, this tarnish can be removed . If you can get a silver polish, that will be your best bet, but in a pinch, there’s something else you can use, and you already have it in your house.

This secret house cleaning ingredient? Toothpaste.

It’s amazing what a little bit of toothpaste can do to tarnished jewelry. If you want to clean your jewelry and test it for yourself, try this:

Apply the toothpaste. You will want to use soft cloths with your silver, so use lint free cloths to rub the toothpaste into the silver.

Let sit. Like any other cleanser, the toothpaste needs to sit on the silver for a little while in order to counteract the oxidation.

Wipe clean. Take some time on this step, you will be removing the tarnish as you’re wiping the toothpaste clean. Scrub a little bit if needed, and switch to clean cloths whenever the cloth you’re using starts to get dirty.

Make sure you get all of the toothpaste off, or your jewelry will feel sticky.

When it’s completely cleaned and all the toothpaste is gone, you should have nice, shining silver, ready to wear.

While this works better on small pieces of silver with a little bit of tarnish, some people have been successful at cleaning flatware and even bigger items. When you don’t have silver polish and really need something silver cleaned, take the toothpaste to it first—you might be surprised!

Quick, Easy Cleaning Tips You Might Not Have Thought Of

Thu, 27 Jun 2013 08:08:17 GMT

The truth is that cleaning is not a lot of fun, so anything you can do to make it go more quickly is great. These tips will help you keep your house cleaner and tidier all the time —you might even impress your maid service !

What tips do you use to make cleaning go faster?

Tip #1: Handling Bad Carpet Odors: If your carpet is well overdue for a thorough cleaning, this will help you get your carpet clean and smelling much, much better.

If you have a carpet cleaner on hand, use a combination of vinegar and water to “shampoo” the carpet.
After you finish cleaning or between deep cleanings, sprinkle baking soda over the carpet.
Let it sit until completely dry.
Vacuum the floor as you usually would.

The vinegar and water cleans the carpet fibers and even disinfects. The baking soda absorbs odors which you then carry away in the vacuum, leaving your carpet cleaner.

If you want to, you can mix essential oils into the baking soda before you use it, and it will leave a scent behind when you finish vacuuming!

Tip #2: Preventing Messy Plants: You want your houseplants to drain well, but it can be annoying to water your plants and see dirt washing out with the water.

The next time you pot a plant, put a coffee filter in the bottom of the pot. It will allow the water to filter through while containing the dirt. Who knew such a simple solution was sitting right in your kitchen already?

Tip #3: No More Fish Smell: Love cooking fish but hate the fishy smell that fills your kitchen for a day afterward? That won’t be a problem anymore with this trick: fill a bowl with vinegar and keep it on the counter while you cook and eat the fish.

The vinegar neutralizes the fish smell in the air, and when you’re finished, you can just dump it down the drain!

Moroccan Style Decorating in Your Home

Mon, 24 Jun 2013 08:00:05 GMT

Trends are fluid—like fashion trends, decorating trends come and go, and it can be downright exhausting trying to keep up. Instead of trying to update your home’s style every time there’s a new trend, find a particular style or time period you like and let that become your focus.

For instance, these tips from Lifestyle will help you create a Moroccan feel in your home that you’re sure to love from day one!

Colors & Patterns

Moroccan style is usually a foundation of earthy tones with layers of colors and patterns ranging from crimson red and deep orange to golden yellow and sky blue turquoise. Patterns, especially woven or painted, can be found in the Moroccan style as well, and you can find fabrics that go with the theme.

Texture is important, as well; so pay attention to the fabrics you bring into the space. See how they feel to touch and to sit on.

Tiles & Rugs

Tiles are popular in a Moroccan-style design, especially floor tiles. This is mostly because tiles are cool on your feet, but this can be a big step if you’re used to hardwood or carpet. However, because everyone else is also used to hardwood and carpet, tiles guarantee a more unique finish to your space.

Rugs are popular, too; but not just as floor coverings! They are also used as wall hangings or blankets, inspired by rugs made with significant cultural patterns and designs.

Furniture

Focus on comfort for your furniture. Match it to the anchored earth tones or the accent colors, and feel the fabric. If you’re satisfied, then start adding cushions to your space. Big cushions, small cushions, even floor cushions are great choices, and they can make for a comfortable, relaxing time spent together.

With comfort in mind, ottomans are another great choice, for sitting, foot rests, and even in place of end tables. Versatile, comfortable, and available in a variety of types, colors, and textures to go with your theme, you will quickly find yourself in love with your ottomans.

Great DIY Storage Idea

Fri, 31 May 2013 07:52:26 GMT

There’s always a need for a little bit of extra storage, and this is one of the easiest ideas to get some of your smaller things off the floor and onto the walls without needing to build shelves:

It’s hanging baskets, and there’s a lot you can do with them!

Shoe Storage

This idea comes from 2 Moms and a Blog and is a brilliant way to store kids shoes, especially during summer when slip-ons and flip-flops abound!

Find a basket that has mostly even sides all the way up (you don’t want it to flare out at the top).

Let your kids pick out scrapbook paper or fabric that they like.
Help them glue it to the bottom of the basket.
Once it’s dry, nail the bottom of the basket to the wall.

This will create a basket cubbie in which the kids can store their shoes!

Hanging Basket

These are great anywhere you have little odds and ends you’d like to put out of the way while still keeping them handy.

All you need are a couple of deeper baskets and some nails! Nail the backs of the baskets to the wall (you’ll want a nail on either side, not just one in the middle, for added stability).

Now, throw whatever you need into them! This would be a great way to store an extra roll of toilet paper or shampoo and conditioner high on the wall where you can reach them. In the kitchen it’s a great idea for holding large cooking spoons or potholders. There are so many ways to use them, you’ve probably already thought of one!

Combining Two Great Ideas for a Clean Laundry Room

Thu, 30 May 2013 07:44:53 GMT

How does your laundry room floor look right now? Are there clothes in piles around it, stacked up on the washer or dryer or shelf if they’re clean, scattered across the floor if they aren’t?

Laundry’s just another part of housekeeping , but somehow, it always ends up being one of the most unorganized. This idea will help you claim back your laundry room—if you’re comfortable enough with a hammer (or know someone who is!).

The Laundry Dresser

No, you aren’t going to go hammering down your laundry room just yet, but you are going to build a system that makes so much sense, it’s a wonder every laundry room doesn’t have one.

Ana at Ana White built a dresser to hold her laundry baskets . She can slip the baskets in and out as needed, but when they’re in the dresser space, they are a perfect spot for her to sort, organize, and put clothes to be folded.

Choose Your Basket. Ana details exactly which basket and which dimensions to use to copy her style, but if you’re crafty enough to make your own, you’ll want to start with the basket because you need to build the shelves around it. Make sure the baskets are all the same size and shape.
Build the Shelf. Measuring the width of your baskets as a guide (and remember to leave room for the runners), build a simple shelf case, minus the shelves!
Add runners. In a dresser, there are often two metal strips on which the dresser drawers roll or slide. This is exactly what you’ll need to make your laundry dresser, and they’re available at any hardware store.

Once you’ve done that, you can slide your baskets in and start using it!

Decorating on a Budget: A Gallery Wall

Thu, 30 May 2013 07:25:17 GMT

You've probably seen picture walls before: a clean, arranged design of frames with either photographs or paintings as a larger wall element. Of course, when you don't exactly have the budget for art, a gallery wall can seem a little out of the realm of imagination.

Apartment Therapy writer Lindsey Tella faced exactly that dilemma . Here are some tips on how she got started despite her budget being lower than what she needed for what she wanted:

Sketch It Out. Lindsey sketched out her living room and added sticky notes to represent the frames she wanted to use. This allowed her to experiment with arrangements, clusters, sizes, and shapes to get the look she wanted without wasting any money on buying the wrong frame or something not working the way she pictured.

Planning ahead on any project will almost always save you money, so this is a great idea, not just for a gallery wall, but for any pricier home projects you're considering!

Fit Your Budget. While you don't want to sacrifice what you like, you do want to stick to a budget—that's the secret. Don't buy the first set of frames that you can afford; instead, look around for options that both meet your tastes and fit your budget. It might take a little bit longer, but you'll be much more satisfied with the results.

Hang the Frames. Following your sketch and the pattern on which you ultimately decide, hang your frames. Being able to go off of the sketch will make this much, much easier than eyeballing it!

Collect Your Art. The problem with buying art or getting your photos printed in larger sizes is that it also costs money—so much for your budget! Counteract that buy slowly accumulating art over time. A print of a great painting here, a photograph of your favorite beach there, until your frames are all full.

Note: Don't want empty frames on the wall? Use what you have to fill them until you can afford the art you want. You can use:

Kids' artwork.
A poster cropped to fit the frame.
Colored paper.
Wallpaper scraps.
Gift wrap.
Fabric.

For some of these, you might be so satisfied with the result that it actually becomes your artwork!

Getting Your Desk Clean—And Keeping it That Way

Mon, 27 May 2013 07:40:06 GMT

If your desk is overwhelming and in need of space and housekeeping , you probably know how hard it is to find things you need. Additionally, clutter and mess can actually cause a person to be less focused and more stressed—not a good combination when you’re trying to work!

You may have cleaned your desk before, but has it stayed clean? There are a few things you can do to keep your desk neat and working well for you:

#1: Systemize. The best thing you can do for yourself to get your desk clean and to keep it clean is to create systems, especially for papers. A Life Clever contributor created a full system , but if you want to start small, try this:

Create an inbox on your desk for anything not sorted.
Create a folder for things that need attention soon.
Create folders for each ongoing project.
Throw away anything you don’t need.

To keep it looking nice, once a week clean out your inbox completely. This way, you'll also have a clean start once a week!

#2: File Immediately. As you clean your desk, don’t throw everything in your inbox. Now is the time to clean! File as you go and make sure you’re getting rid of any papers you no longer need. Otherwise they’ll take over your desk space in no time!

#3: Get Rid of Things. When you look at your desk, how many things do you see that you don’t ever actually use? If you’ve got a box of paperclips that have been unopened for a year, it’s probably safe to get them off your desk.

In the same way, before you set something on your desk , think about whether or not it’s something you’re going to actually use. If not, find it a new home!

Repair Scratches in Wood at Home

Fri, 24 May 2013 07:35:16 GMT

Have you ever been house cleaning and discovered a scratch in a piece of wood furniture while you were dusting? While you can take it to a professional or buy commercial repair kits, you can also repair the scratch with things you already have at home.

The Queen of Clean at DIY Network suggests these nifty tricks:

For Any Wood Type

Check out your child’s box of crayons and see if you can find one that closely matches the wood. Color in the scratch with the crayon until it’s covered. Grab a blow dryer and blow it on the scratch while you buff it with a cloth.

The wax will melt into the scratch, filling it and making it disappear!

For Dark Woods

Look in your medicine cabinet for some iodine, an antiseptic that is usually dark brown in color. Paint it on the scratch, then dab off the excess. Apply as man times as needed to disguise the scratch.

This also works on discolored patches because the iodine settles into the exposed wood.

For Lighter Woods

For a scratch in a lighter wood, crack a pecan or a walnut, and use the meat (the part of the nut you eat) to color in the scratch. When the scratch is filled in, buff the area with a cloth.

The pulp and nut oil get into the crevice and fill it. You’ll also get a pretty nice shine on the area!

Have you ever tried to fix a scratched piece of wood on your own? Will you try one of these tips if you discover a scratch?

Three Common Cleaning Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 14:35:41 GMT

House cleaning seems fairly straightforward, but there are a few mistakes people make when cleaning that make them end up working harder or not getting the results they want. Whether it's a stain on the carpet or the sticky residue on the counter, it's a lesson most often learned by experience.

Hopefully, some of these tips will keep you from making these three common mistakes!

Scrubbing a Stain

Ack! Someone's spilled wine at your party or your kids dropped a chunk of popsicle on the floor. Sometimes the first reaction is to grab a rag and start scrubbing the stain. Unfortunately, that makes it worse, and not just for the reasons you may have heard before.

Yes, it has a good chance of spreading out the stain, making the end result either more difficult to clean, or just a much bigger faded stain. However, it also damages carpet fibers, and that could leave that spot on your carpet looking out of place for the life of it, stain or no stain!

Avoid this by using this tried-and-true stain-lifting technique:

With a damp cloth, blot the stain from the outside in.
Continue to do this, switching to a clean portion of the cloth, until the cloth comes up clean.
If the stain is still there, use your favorite spot remover.
If it isn't, dry the carpet in the same way you cleaned it.

This will get rid of the stain while protecting your carpet from damage.

Cleaning Windows When It's Sunny

You're more likely to think of cleaning your windows on a sunny day: the sun is streaming in...and lighting up the fingerprints and greasy smears on the window. Write yourself a note and wait until evening or a cloudy day to clean it—avoid the temptation to clean it as soon as you notice it.

When you wash the windows on a sunny day, your window cleaner starts to dry before you can finish cleaning the window, and that will leave streaks, smears, and spots all over your window. It's worth it to wait!

Using Too Much Cleaner

More is better, right? Not exactly. Cleaners have their limits. There's a certain point where more cleaner is going to be ineffective. In fact, manufacturers want you to use the most possible cleaner: use it faster, you'll buy more, so you can bet that their instructions push the limit of the amount of cleaner to its cap.

Stick to the directions for cleaners and you'll be fine. If you're using at home cleaners, make sure you keep the coating light and easy to wipe up. Too much of any cleaner—manufactured or homemade—can leave behind a sticky residue that will make your surfaces feel less clean.

Three Useful Kitchen Cleaning Tips

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 14:22:54 GMT

The kitchen is one of the rooms you want cleaner than most of the others, but it can be a chore. There's always food around and plenty of tools and things you use—even if you use maid services , you're going to have to clean the kitchen sometimes, and it's great to have a few tricks to make it easier!

Martha Stewart has plenty of tips and tricks for keeping the kitchen clean , and here are our three favorites!

Cleaning Your Grinder. A coffee or spice grinder is an extremely handy tool to have for home cooks, but if you use strong herbs, the smell will often stick to the grinder, and even if you wash it clean, the smell might remain.

The best way to remove the smell and possible flavor transfer of the herbs is to grind a piece of fresh, white bread. It absorbs the odors and flavors and leaves the grinder fresh and ready for whatever you have next!

Cleaning Cast Iron. Cast iron needs a little bit of special care to preserve its seasoning—and it can be a pain to clean. Use this trick next time you have to clean cast iron: sprinkle the bottom of the pan generously with a coarse salt, then rub with a sponge.

The salt soaks up oil and loosens dirt. When you're done cleaning, just rinse and dry the pan.

Hanging Baskets for Organization. Need more counter or shelf space? This clever idea will help you out! Anytime you can get things off of a surface and onto the wall, it's going to give you more room, but that's obviously easier said than done. That's where baskets made for hanging come in.

The baskets used to hold fishing tackle and baskets designed to go on a bicycle come with holes for hanging in the back, but you could turn any sturdy basket into a wall hanging basket with a drill and a bit of effort.

Fill the baskets with kitchen tools or even fruits and vegetables!

Turn Your Porch or Yard Into an Outside Dining Room

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 14:16:24 GMT

Everyone—especially kids—love to picnic. Eating outside when the weather is nice is a great way to get fresh air and spend time together with family and friends.

If you want to skip sitting on the ground but love the idea of eating outside together, creating a dining area in your yard is the perfect solution! With all of the choices available, not only can you find something completely functional, but also stylish and comfortable. Bonus? It doesn't take much house cleanin g to keep this dining room clean!

Ideas for Outside Dining

Love the idea but aren't sure how to get started? Here are some ideas to get you going:

Outdoor Furniture. Gone are the plastic chairs and faded wickers, outdoor furniture comes in so many styles and colors now, you can find nearly anything. When you're shopping for outdoor furniture, remember to sit in it to make sure it's going to be comfortable if you end up sitting there for an hour or two!
Colors! Outside is the perfect place for the boldest of colors and patterns. From waterproof cushions to brightly colored tablecloths, there are lots of ways to bring vibrant colors into your set up.
Style. When you're planning your outdoor dining area, don't be afraid of looking for stylish options! Try not to think of it as outside—what style would you use if this was a dining nook inside your house?

Once you get your dining area set up, it's the perfect time to invite friends and family over for dinner! Enjoy spring and summer weather as it begins to warm up in your new stylish outdoor dining room.

Five Quick Spring Cleaning Tasks You Can Do Right Now

Sat, 30 Mar 2013 15:08:40 GMT

When it comes to spring cleaning, it's most often seen as a way to clean things that normally get overlooked. Spring cleaning is a great motivator for getting to those tasks you've been putting off!

The biggest mistake people make when spring cleaning is trying to do it all at once. While an all-day or all-weekend cleaning spree can be effective, sometimes you just don't have time for that.

When your schedule is overloaded, hire a maid service to do the majority of the cleaning for you, then take on these fast maintenance or organization tasks whenever you have 10-30 minutes to spare:

Load the dishwasher and clean the sink. The fastest way to make your kitchen look cleaner is to get rid of the dirty dishes. Loading the dishwasher only takes a few minutes, then you can take another few minutes to make the sink itself cleaner and healthier.

Vinegar and water spritz around the sink, allowed to sit for five minutes, then wiped clean will get your sink looking cleaner and kill a lot of the germs that like to linger there.

Throw out anything expired. Start in the kitchen cabinets, and start looking for anything that has expired. Do this in the refrigerator as well, then move onto the medicine cabinet (remember to dispose of your medicine appropriately).

Once something is no longer good or effective, all it's doing is taking up room!

Inspect 15 minutes before bed. Waking up to a clean house is a wonderful feeling, and you can do it pretty consistently if you get into this habit: 15 minutes before you go to bed, walk around the house. Pick up any trash you see and put things back where they belong.

Maintenance is the key to staying clean. Let The Maids do your spring cleaning, then do what you can when you can—you'll be surprised how effective it is.

Time to Tackle the Closet

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 15:00:53 GMT

Ah, the closet! As the warmer months move in, it'll be time to put away the winter clothes and pull out your summer wardrobe. It's tempting to just throw all of the winter clothes into a box, but if you take a little bit of extra time to really sort through your clothes, both your summer and winter wardrobes will be all the better for it!

Fashion expert Clinton Kelly recently spoke to Lucky Magazine , giving his advice for making a big difference in your closet. Here are a few of his ideas:

Take Everything Out—Everything. Find a central location like your bed, kitchen table, or living room couch and dump all the clothes on it. It's going to be a lot, but do this one time, and every season after it will be a little easier!

Try It All On. This is going to take the longest amount of time, but it will be worth it to nail down exactly what you can wear and what you can't. Kelly's advice? Donate anything that's too small or more than one size too big. Dress the person you are right now, not who you've been or who you want to be! If something is only one size too big, you can consider taking it to a tailor to bring it in until it fits perfectly.

If You Haven't Worn It... It has to go. If you haven't worn that dress or those pants in a year, there's likely a reason. Don't keep things because someone gave them to you or because you might wear it one day—let it go so you have room for the clothes you love

Organize What's Left. Kelly might not be too concerned about the organization part, but putting everything back in your closet in a way that makes sense will make it so much easier for you to find anything you need at any time.

With only the clothes you love and can wear in your closet, you'll feel like you have a brand new wardrobe.

Making Lists to Help With Cleaning

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 14:49:09 GMT

Do you like lists? For a lot of people, lists mean organization, and it's a comfort to know that there is a list in place. Even if you aren't a huge fan of lists, having one for cleaning is a good idea when you want a clean house without stress.

There are a few ways to make a list that improve your chances of getting more accomplished. If you want to try making a list, keep reading for some tips. If your time is short and you just want your house as clean and healthy as possible, call maid services!

Four List-Making Tips

Give your list a home. You can write a list down anywhere, but if you're going to use it, you want it to be something close at hand that gets your attention and isn't likely to be lost. This could be anything from a notebook to a sticky note to one of many mobile app options . Whichever way you choose, make sure it fits your personality so you're more likely to stay on top of it!
Be specific. It would be easy to general “do the laundry,” but that's actually a pretty big process of things. Break that down into three tasks: “wash clothes,” “dry clothes,” “fold & put away.” More specific focus means you're less likely to be overwhelmed.
Limit your list to 10 things. Now that you've broken your tasks down into steps, don't write down more than you can reasonably achieve. Ten small tasks is a reasonable amount.
Prioritize. Sometimes, some things just aren't going to get done, and that's okay. If you prioritize your list by putting the most important/time urgent things first, whatever is left at the end probably doesn't have to be done today
Flexibility & Forgiveness. Your list might change. Halfway through the cleaning up process, something else might overtake the priorities (for instance, that half-gallon of chocolate milk your child spilled? That's going to take some time!). Be flexible and don't chide yourself for the things that don't get one—move them to the next day and keep going!

Freshen Up Any Room With an Indoor Garden

Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:42:50 GMT

Fresh plants are a great addition to a house. Not only do they liven up a room, add something fresh, and bring the feeling of spring a little early, they also freshen the air! If you pick the right kind of plants, it doesn't take much work to care for them, either. Herbs and cacti are both extremely easy to grow: some water, sunlight, and occasional house cleaning (just spray the leaves off in the sink to remove dust!) will keep your plants healthy and looking great. Apartment therapy has a few suggestions for potting , and here are some great tips for your indoor garden:

Standard Pots Won't Do

Traditional terra cotta pots have their moments of greatness, but try something different for a more stylish set-up.

There are lots of great ideas on the market, from oblong and boat-shaped pots to hanging pots and window planters.

If you're feeling exceptionally crafty, you can even find ways to make your own stylish, new planters!

Try Hanging

If you have kids or pets that won't stay out of plants, or if you just don't want to take up a surface, look into plant hangers. There are many different types—some hang from the wall, some hang from the roof, but if you get the right one, it will look like art in your house!

Group Up

Just like an outdoor garden is generally in one plot of land, make your indoor garden mirror that. Cluster the pots together on a surface to display. Try plants of different textures, heights, colors, and widths to get a dynamic garden really growing.

If you're looking for a pick-me-up in these last few weeks before spring, try adding an indoor garden to your home!

Three Decorative and Easy Do-It-Yourself Projects

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 14:32:55 GMT

It's fun to get creative with decorating and designing, but sometimes it's time consuming, expensive, and not nearly as easy as you think it's going to be! Isn't it nice when there's a project so simple and straightforward and beautiful that you can really enjoy doing it?

That's why we've found three of our favorite DIY projects anyone can do with just a little bit of time and effort.

Turn a Frame Into a Tray

It's hard to believe that this ornate, beautiful tray was once a frame. It couldn't be easier to make, either. If you have a decorative frame you aren't using, this is a great way to repurpose it. If you don't have one on hand, you can use an affordable frame from a local department store—it works surprisingly well.

Use the glass as a template for a piece of cardboard (or, if you're really crafty, wood), and cut it to the shape of the glass. Add fabric to the cardboard or wood with a hot glue gun, then while you still have the glue gun, attach the new backing to the frame. In no time, you have a great new feature for your bedroom dresser or living room coffee table.

Old Wine Corks Become a Statement

This project looks complicated but is, in reality, a great DIY even for non-crafters. Just create a template from paper or posterboard, lay out the corks (which you can sometimes buy at craft stores if you're not a wine drinker yourself), and glue them together. The designer suggests using a ribbon to trim the base of the cork letter and as a decorative tie. Perfect!

Designer Vases with Masking Tape

No—really! This is one of those things you can leave as-is or repeatedly re-design. A set of white vases becomes a canvas with a little bit of designer masking tape and a touch of ingenuity. Buy a few different rolls of decorative masking tape in different colors and patterns, then put strips on wax paper. (The wax paper allows you to cut the tape to the shape you want while keeping the tape itself sticky). Use scissors to cut it into the shapes you want, peel from the wax paper, and stick to the vase.

How to Clean Your Counters: Quick Guide by Type

Sun, 24 Feb 2013 14:12:24 GMT

Kitchen counters come in such a huge assortment now, you might find that what works to clean one type doesn't work as well on others. Experienced maid services know how to tackle every type of counter, and now you can have a better idea of how to keep your counters clean, too!

The key is to clean based on the type of counter you have. Here, then, is a type-by-type description of how to clean your counters:

Laminate: Laminate's an extremely common counter type. It's affordable, available in a huge variety of colors and patterns, and pretty easy to keep clean. When it comes to cleaning laminate, your best bet is either dish soap and water or vinegar and water. Don't use bleach or abrasive chemicals or sponges—laminate has a coating that keeps it smooth, and abrasives can scratch that seal.

Acrylic: Another popular choice because of its ability to look like stone countertops, acrylics do best with gentle cleansers. Dish soap, warm water, and a sponge or microfiber cloth are going to be your go-to cleaning items for your acrylic counters.

Ceramic Tile: Ceramic is a piece of cake to clean as long as you keep it clean. Let it sit for too long and you'll get dirt, mold, and germs in the grout of your tile. Vinegar and water will keep the ceramic clean, and if you've already got some grime in your grout, use the same mixture and scrub with a toothbrush.

Granite: Granite's tricky, depending on the type and the seal. Your absolute best bet is to choose from the soaps created specifically for stone counters. If you have your doubts about what to use and how to clean, check with the manufacturer.

Wood: Wood is so simple and classic, there's really not much to keeping it clean. Dish soap and water work just fine—one note, though: drying is extremely important. Don't let excess water sit on your wood countertops.

A Fun, Easy Trick to Update Nearly Anything

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:07:30 GMT

There are some things in your home that are just hard to use for decorating. They're not colorful, they clash with your décor, they're a weird shape, they don't look natural—some of those items should be packed up and donated or sold, but some of them you have to have for your home office, kitchen, or house cleaning.

Jen at I Heart Organizing ran into exactly this conundrum: a plain gray file cabinet she needed in her office but definitely didn't look interesting compared to the rest of the room. Her trick is one you can use for a lot of different items, and the result is fantastic!

Stencil It

Even if you last saw a stencil in grade school, you can do this project. It's easy and straightforward. A simple project with great results? Sounds like a winner!

Here's a quick guide to updating your furniture with stenciling:

Tape the stencil down with painter's tape. The object is to keep it from sliding, which would make your stencil overlap in odd ways and ruin the paint job.
Paint over the stencil. The fastest way is a roller, but you could certainly sponge or brush, as well. Don't overload your tool with paint, though—paint globs are not a good look!
Remove the stencil slowly. Too fast and any wet paint will get messed up, possibly beyond repair.

Jen recommends letting the stenciled furniture dry and cure for a while before you add anything to it to encourage the paint to last longer. The result is beautiful and a big improvement!

Watch Your Feet! Keeping Your Carpets & Rugs Cleanliness

Sat, 09 Feb 2013 14:00:43 GMT

If you've got carpeting, it probably takes up most of the floor in your house. You walk on it everyday, your kids play on it, your dog sprawls all over it—it's a big part of your daily life, and one you might not think about too often.

Unfortunately, carpets love to hold onto dirt, and over time it can wear the fibers down, making the carpet look worn and promoting bacteria and smells. Yikes! There's good news, though: keeping the carpet clean doesn't have to be a horrible house cleaning chore if you know how to do it right.

Keep the Dirt Out

If you can minimize the dirt coming into the house, you can minimize the damage it does. It might sound too simple to be true, but taking off your shoes when you come in the house is the best way to keep dirt from transferring to your carpet and larger rugs .

If going shoeless isn't the best option for you, your family, or your guests, the second best thing you can do is put two nice, thick doormats in: one exterior one and a thinner interior one. Trap that dirt before it ever makes it to your carpet!

Clean Regularly

Cleaning regularly does a couple of things for you: first, it keeps the carpet clean, but second, it keeps the cleaning easier. The more frequently you vacuum, the easier it becomes. Dirt has less time to accumulate and subsequent vacuumings will be easier. If it's too much for you to do alone thanks to a hectic schedule, a maid service can help.

If you have access to a steam cleaner or carpet shampooer, you probably want to do one of those things 1-2 times per year.

As you clean regularly, you can also improve the way you vacuum to make it even more effective. Here are a few tips for vacuuming:

Vacuum your carpets and rugs once a week.
Don't forget to occasionally turn your rugs over and vacuum the underside.
Vacuum in an overlaying pattern.
Pass over the floor a few times to ensure a good clean.
Vacuum high-traffic areas two times a week

Quick, Easy, Inexpensive Ways to Decorate Your Home

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 13:43:30 GMT

If you’re not the type to spend hours in the furniture store or you’re just watching a tight budget, there are a few things you can do right now to make your house more organized and designed that will cost you very little money and only a little bit of time!

Multi-task Where You Can

There are some amazing pieces of furniture that serve double-duty. That ottoman with the lift off cover? Great storage place for shoes, magazines, or DVDS. Turn a chest or trunk sitting in your closet into a bench or coffee table that also holds all of your extra blankets or out-of-season sweaters.

In the picture to the left from HGTV , the designers turned two twin mattresses into couches that also serve as a comfortable place for guests to sleep (just remember to change the sheets!).

Make Use of What You Already Have

From storage containers like baskets and bins to accessories like vases and tablecloths, use what you have! That white tablecloth you usually only pull out for holidays plus a vase from your wedding and a few flowers from the yard can make a beautiful dining room table with minimal work.

Baskets and bins are especially helpful as you get organized in your house. If you have the time and desire, you can even line baskets with fabric or bins with decorative paper.

Don’t Ignore the Walls or Ceiling

From framing photographs to hang onto the wall to painting the ceiling, these surfaces exist throughout your house just waiting to be decorated. Fill the blank spaces with things you find beautiful and well-suited to the space.

If you’re an extremely crafty person, one extra tip is to make or sew your own design elements. There are ideas out there for creating everything from curtains and tablecloths to children’s tables and toys.

The Art of Dusting Well

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 13:36:27 GMT

Dusting seems like a straightforward task: take cloth, wipe, remove dust. Unfortunately, like most things, it’s not as simple as you think to do it well. After all, the last thing you want is to spread more dust around the house while you clean.

There’s an easy step-by-step way to clean up the dust in your house for good and turn you into a housekeeping ace.

Dusting Tips

Step 1: Turn off fans. As you dust, it’s going to fall down. Keep it from blowing all over the house by turning off fans and the air conditioning.

Step 2: Work from the top down. Start at the highest point you plan to dust, and hit the whole room at that height—shelves, entertainment center, top of the TV—dust everything at that level before moving down. Do this for each level of surfaces.

Step 3: Don’t miss multi-levels! If you’re dusting a bookshelf, for instance; make sure you dust each level, not just the top one.

Step 4: Clean the floor. The dust has to go somewhere, and hopefully most of it has ended up either on your cloth or on the floor. Grab a dry mop for hard floors or a vacuum for furniture and carpet and clear the floors and furniture of dust.

When you’re done, you should have a nearly dust-free house, which is better for everyone in your home. Don’t forget to use door mats at the front and back doors to minimize dirt and dust coming into the house.

If this level of dusting is too time consuming but you still want the results, find a maid service with this kind of dedication to cleanliness in your home.

The Purpose of Your Closet: Organization Tips

Mon, 21 Jan 2013 13:25:22 GMT

You probably have a lot of closets in your house, and chances are at least one of them frequently misses the house cleaning circuit. There’s no need to hide that closet anymore—jump right in and get it done by defining its purpose!

Just like maid service teams come with specific tasks to keep them focused, giving your closet a “task” or purpose will help keep you focused and keep it organized for a long time.

Step-by-Step

1. Take everything out. It’s going to mean getting into corners, onto shelves, and into battles with unwieldy items, but stick with it. Get everything pulled out until the closet is completely empty.

2. Decide the purpose of the particular closet. Is it a closet bathroom you will use to hold linens and extra soaps? Is it a bedroom closet for your clothes? Shared with a spouse? Is it a kids’ closet for toys or a hall closet for coats? Whatever you may want to use it for, give it a particular purpose so it doesn’t become a catch-all.

3. Sort through the items. Throw things away that are looking worn or unusable. Things that are still in good shape but you don’t need anymore, throw into a box or bag for donation. Once that’s done, make two piles: one for the items that fit the closet’s purpose, and one for items that don’t.

4. Put things back into the closet, but only those things that fit according to the decided purpose. Take a few minutes to hang up any clothes or coats and find containers for toys or small items.

5. Don’t forget the other pile! When you’re done, make sure you find new homes for your displaced things. When it’s all done, take a minute to check out your freshly cleaned closet!

Effectively Clean Your Baseboards—And Keep Them That Way

Wed, 16 Jan 2013 13:31:31 GMT

Cleaning the baseboards isn’t a housekeeping task you probably address often, but over time they start to collect dust and looking dingy. Sometimes they just need a good cleaning, and it might not be as hard as you think.

Whether you clean your baseboards or cleaning services do, there’s a great trick for keeping them looking fantastic between cleanings!

Dust or Vacuum

Dust collects on the top line of your baseboards easily, and not only does it create a dirty looking wall, it can also worsen allergies for those who are sensitive to dust and pollen. Before you can clean, the dust needs to be chased away. Do this with an old fashioned dusting or a small vacuum hose.

Wipe Down

Get your favorite cloth (microfiber is best if you have it, but not necessary) and dip it in a cleaning solution. If you don’t have a favorite cleaner, try just a touch of dish detergent in a large bucket. Too many suds will actually attract dirt, so try to keep it extremely diluted.

Ring out the cloth as much as possible, and don’t spray or pour water directly onto the baseboards to avoid saturation. Using the cloth, wipe down the baseboards, front and top.

The Trick to Prevention

Dryer sheets are known to prevent dust build up, and for the grooves in your baseboards, this is especially true. Rub over the baseboards with a dryer sheet to repel dust for weeks—and sometimes months—to come!

When your baseboards are clean, you can feel confident that your house is clean from top to bottom!

Laundry Tips for People Who Don’t Like Laundry

Mon, 31 Dec 2012 13:20:11 GMT

While there are those who actually look forward to washing clothes, most people fall in the neutral category, while almost as many fall in the can’t-stand-laundry group. How can you make laundry an easier part of your house cleaning and less of a hassle if you just don’t like laundry?

The problem with laundry is that it takes quite a bit of time to complete, from the time you sort the clothes until the moment you put them away in a drawer or closet, you do a lot of work! Streamlining that process will make it easier to get your laundry done with no problem.

Laundry Day

Set aside a day of the week just for laundry. Pick a day when you’re likely to be home for most of the day, or do your laundry on an evening when your favorite TV shows are on. Folding clothes is much more enjoyable when you something to watch or listen to as a distraction.

Giving yourself a day to do laundry will help keep you focused on the task at hand and leave the rest of the week blissfully laundry-free. Just make sure you stick to your laundry day every week!

Sort No More

This is one of those simple solutions that will make you wonder why you didn’t think of it sooner: have two dirty laundry baskets. Make one of them just for your whites and the other for your colors. When it’s time to wash clothes, you won’t have to sort—it’s already done!

Don’t Fold Socks and Underwear

If your mom’s voice is in your head right now telling you this is wrong, tell her to shush for just a minute. Socks and underwear inevitably unfold themselves in your drawer anyway, and matching socks it one of the most time-consuming parts of folding clothes. I won’t tell anyone you didn’t fold them!

The guys over at Lifehacker even suggest declaring “sock bankruptcy,” getting rid of all of your socks and buying new ones in bulk, ones that will match with each other no matter what. They might not know it yet, but this is the most brilliant idea for children’s socks ever mentioned on the internet.

Laundry is just one of those chores that’s hard to love, but with a few tips, you can push through! Keeping those linens clean will be especially helpful when your cleaning services hangs them up nice and fresh for you.

Sleep More Comfortably Tonight: How to Clean Your Mattress

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 13:05:55 GMT

Maybe you make your bed every day as part of your normal housekeeping, change your linens every week, and flip your mattress a couple of times a year—but how often do you clean the mattress itself? Mattresses are made of cloth and as such, absorb moisture. They also attract dust and the accompanying dust mites, something you definitely don’t want to be sleeping with!

Running a vacuum over your mattress every now and then might make you feel better about the state of your mattress, but a real cleaning will give you a level of freshness above and beyond the vacuum, and it’s thankfully an easy process.

Method #1: Baking Soda

Baking soda is already a powerful tool for removing odors and stains, but it can also clean your mattress far better than a vacuum cleaner alone. You can even add essential oils to the baking soda for a relaxing scent right in your mattress, just drop a few drops of the oil into the baking soda and shake.

Here’s how you clean your mattress once your baking soda is ready:

1. Sprinkle the baking soda evenly across your mattress. Don’t be shy, you’ll need a good bit of baking soda to thoroughly cover the bed. Using a sieve or other shaker-style container will prevent clumps of powder on your mattress and spread it more evenly.

2. Wait. It’s tempting to go right for it, but the baking soda needs time to do it’s magic absorption work. Give it at least an hour (longer is better) before you touch it. As it sits in your mattress, it will absorb any moisture in the mattress, leaving behind cleaner and much better smelling fabric.

3. Vacuum. After it’s had time to sit, take the vacuum to the mattress, vacuuming up the baking soda and every inch of your bed. As the vacuum cleaner pulls up the baking soda, it will bring with it trapped moisture, odors, dust, and dust mites.

Method #2: Steam Cleaning

Another great way to clean your mattress is with the cleaning and disinfecting power of steam by using a handheld steam cleaner. This method will take some time for drying, so plan on at least 5 hours from start to finish.

1. Vacuum the mattress to get up the loose dirt and dust particles before you start.

2. Steam clean in sections. Grab your steam cleaner and start to work in small quadrants until you’ve made it to every corner of the mattress. Take your time to make sure you get the best possible cleaning.

3. Let dry. At this point, the bed will feel wet to the touch, and it’s going to need plenty of time to dry all the way through. Let it sit for 3-5 hours before putting your linens back on.

Whichever method you choose, having a clean mattress is going to make you much more comfortable when you sleep, and your maid services will be impressed with the freshness, too!

The Decoration You Didn’t Know You Needed

Thu, 20 Dec 2012 12:56:53 GMT

Whether you are house cleaning on an ordinary day or setting up a holiday party, there is a decorating staple you might not have or may not have thought much about. It is a clean canvas, ready for bursts of bright colors, soft murmurs of pastels, or deep, elegant tones.

It will pull a room together in moments, and with a little help, will take a room from bland to beautiful in less than an hour, sometimes as little as 15 minutes. It’s fresh, clean, crisp, and yet works with the richest, most vibrant décor. What item could possibly do all of that? Read on to find out!

Building on a Classic

The decorating staple above is nothing more than a simple white tablecloth. There’s a reason that all party planners have these in their arsenal: they are classic and incredibly versatile, going from one look to another effortlessly.

The key to working a white tablecloth is starting with a clean room (don't be too shy to call a maid service !) using accessories. Table runners, candles, placemats, cloths, flowers, centerpieces, place settings—these can all be used to dazzling effect.

Remember to keep your other colors related so they blend together well, using the white as a base and building on it. Any color will burst against the white, but stick with one idea. For a simple, elegant look, go more monochromatic, sticking with colors very close to each other. For a more vibrant appeal, try complementary colors that go well together. If you’ve never used a color wheel , it’s a great time to take a look at one!

If you need some ideas, check out these bloggers and their chic, pulled together tables that all use a white tablecloth as a base:

Short Notice Guests: The Emergency Clean

Wed, 19 Dec 2012 12:48:38 GMT

Imagine you’re comfortably reading or baking cookies or house cleaning when you get an unexpected phone call from a friend saying they’re on their way to your house. You turn slowly and look around the room, and what you notice are all the things you wish you would have picked up earlier.

Before panic creeps in, take a deep breath and remember a few things: first of all, your house is probably not as messy as you perceive it to be, especially if you clean often or have maid services coming frequently. Secondly, if you know how to narrow it down to the important things, you probably have enough time to get the front of your house looking more than acceptable.

The Emergency Clean Priority List

The first thing to address is which room to start in, and it’s mostly common sense: start with the room attached to the front door. If your friend is only coming for a quick visit, they might not even leave that room.

Start in that room and work your way down the priority list below. When that room is clear, move onto the next closest and keep going until the front of your house is shipshape or your company arrives.

Priority #1: Trash

Garbage is an indicator of mess, you can’t possibly get around it. This has to be the first thing you deal with. Whether it’s the coupons you were cutting, the crafting odds and ends you left sitting on the table last night, or candy wrappers from the most recent sweet tooth attack, get to the trash first. Bag it up, get it out of the room, and keep going!

Priority #2: Clothes

Clothes have a tendency to lay around and not help at all with the house cleaning. If you’ve left your coats hanging over the back of a chair or your sweater laying on the table, go ahead and hang them up and get the clothes out of the way.

Priority #3: Toys

If you have children, you have seen the devastation wrought by a room full of toys. Thankfully, though they make a room look messy, they are fairly easy to clean. If you have a small toy bin or bucket, walk around the room putting all the toys in before taking them to your children’s rooms.

Priority #4: Things That Don’t Belong

Get a bin or bag and walk around the room looking for anything that has migrated from another room. When you don’t see anything else out of place, take the bin around and put the items in their rightful places.

Priority #5: Vacuum or Sweep

If there’s nothing that draws someone’s attention in a room, they’re highly likely to look at the floor, so a quick vacuum or sweep can make a huge difference in how clean the room looks.

Remember this, too: “If you want to see the house, call ahead. If you want to see me, come on over!” Your friend should realize they’ve given you short notice and not hold any cleaning oversights against you—they’re there to see you, not your house!