There's a
basic strategy in the "cleaning field" that can make any
home look and feel "spring" clean. According to Dr. William
Bond, a ServiceMaster cleaning expert with over 20 years of experience,
you can play hard ball in your home by rounding the following bases:
| First
Base: The Kitchen |
Counter
Tops
U se a mild dishwashing liquid or an all-purpose product to
clean plastic laminated tops. Never use a highly abrasive cleaner
because it will scar the laminate. Always remember to rinse
well after cleaning so no residue is left to get on food and
dishes.
Vinyl Floors
Mop with a mild detergent or all-purpose household cleaner.
Wait a few minutes before scrubbing to allow the cleaning solution
to penetrate ground-in dirt. The chemical action can significantly
reduce the physical action required for cleaning.
Walls
Wipe all walls and baseboards with an all-purpose cleaner since
cooking oils tend to accumulate dust and dirt even faster in
the kitchen area. |
| Second
Base: The Bathroom |
Bathtub/Shower
Be careful not to mix cleaning products. Ammonia and bleach
release a very toxic gas when mixed and are common ingredients
in cleaning products. Use specially formulated cleaners or daily
shower cleaners to remove and prevent hard water deposits and
soap scum.
Porcelain/Ceramic Tiles
Use a mild bleach solution (two tablespoons bleach to one quart
water) to remove mildew in the grout between tiles. Scrub with
a nylon-net ball or pad to avoid scratching. Prevent staining
by sealing with grout sealer once a year. |
| Third
Base: The Bedrooms |
Windows
Use a store-bought glass cleaner instead of homemade - hard
water tends to cause streaking. If possible, remove the window
sash and thoroughly clean both sides of the glass. Wipe one
side of the glass in a vertical motion and the other side with
horizontal swipes so you know which side to re-wash it' your
windows are streaked. Use a newspaper or lint-free cloth for
best results.
Draperies
Vacuum draperies to remove loose dirt Of- Dust or wipe them
with a soft cloth that contains Just it little cleaning solvent
(unless otherwise directed). Draperies should be professionally
cleaned periodically to thoroughly remove hidden dirt and keep
them looking new. |
| "Home"
Plate: The Living Room |
Furniture
upholstery
Deep clean fabrics that have absorbed dirt and body oil from
winter "couch potatoes." "Water-cleanable"
fabric can be treated with carpet or upholstery shampoo; "solvent-cleanable"
fabric must be professionally cleaned. Note: Refer to the label
on your furniture for fabric type and cleaning instructions.
Carpet
Deep-clean carpet that endured Increased traffic during the
holidays. Have your carpet professionally cleaned twice annually.
Never use soap and water to clean your carpet - when it dries,
it leaves a sticky residue that will cause rapid re-soiling.
Wood Floors
Salt residue is especially difficult to remove. Avoid using
water to clean wood floors. Instead, use solvents such as nontoxic
dry cleaning fluids or liquid/ paste waxes to rid wood floors
of harsh effects of winter snow mud, and salt. Always be sure
to follow product instructions. |
Call
your local ServiceMaster Clean specialist for a free no obligation
estimate or visit. |
