Spring is a wonderful time of the year. It signals the blossoming of flowers and the other wondrous works of nature. However, along with it comes the much-needed deep cleaning after months of winter.
Window Cleaning
We clean the windows as well, both inside and outside, regardless of the type. We wipe and make the pane as clear as we can. We also dust the window sills and frames. We treat your windows like any part of your home or office. Cleanliness is our best policy.
Christmas House Cleaning To-Do List
Do you want your Holidays to be perfect and beautiful? Do you want to give your home that wonderful, sparkling Holiday feel but you’re just caught up in all the hustle and bustle of Christmas time? Don’t fret. Help is here.
Plan and Prepare Ahead for the Holiday
Make your home ready for your family and guests this Holiday season. By planning and preparing ahead for the holidays, you can enjoy more with your friends and family and be less stressed out. A great deal of preparation is cleaning. Yes, before you start decorating and preparing for Christmas, you must first clean your house.
Christmas House Cleaning To-Do List
We understand that you may be busy on other things; especially that December is here. So in addition to our regular house cleaning tips, we are giving out some additional helpful tips so that you can achieve that Christmas spirit in a less stressful and more organized fashion.
Tidy Up
Make a list of what to do first and so on. Start with something simple like clearing your tables, tops, floors and other surfaces with unnecessary clutter. Pick up all the stuff you don’t need and throw away the trash. Put the usable ones in a box and organized them so that you can easily get them back when needed. Grab a laundry basket and throw in all the clothes scattered in your bedroom or other parts of the house. By doing these simple things first, you can make way for the actual cleanup. That way, cleaning will be much easier and less stressful. Aside from this, tidying up also gives an impression of a clean home even if you don’t really clean your home that well.
Start with the Kitchen
The stars of the home during Christmas are the kitchen and the dining area. A lot of pre-Christmas action happens in the kitchen. Imagine all the baking and cooking that you need to do in the kitchen. So it’s just right to say that you must start cleaning with the kitchen. Do the following when you work in the kitchen:
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- Wipe the kitchen cabinets, small and large appliances, and others.
- Clean the stove top, grates, range and other surfaces.
- Clean and brush the kitchen sink.
- Clear out and clean the refrigerator. Make room for the upcoming foods that you will soon prepare and the possible leftovers.
- Create more space in the kitchen. You can store the items you don’t need elsewhere and put them back after the celebration. This will give you space for the punch bowl, serving dishes, silverware and other items and utensils.
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Clean and Prepare the Bathroom for the Guests
It is important that you make the entire guest bathroom clean. Think of all the food, wine, beer and other stuff you eat and drink during Christmas. There is a high chance that your visitors and friends will use the bathroom. You’d want your guests to remember and talk about that rather than your dirty bathroom, right? So to help you prepare your bathroom, here are some basic things to keep in mind:
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- Clean the toilet, tiles, floors and other surfaces. Use the necessary cleaning tools to achieve a sparkling effect.
- Put a basket in the bathroom. Fill this basket with amenities for your guests like hairspray, shampoos, soaps, razors, cotton swabs, toothpaste and others. You must also stock hand towels, bath towels and washcloths. Neatly fold them or arrange them in an attractive fashion.
- You can also fill your tub with bath salts, sponges, scented soap, bath brushes and other spa amenities. This would be a nice treat to your guests.
- After cleaning and arranging, finish off by giving your bathroom that holiday feel. You can place scented soaps, fresh flowers and Holiday decors.
Enlist Help if Needed
Some people like doing it all on their own. However, if you are the kind who works better with other people or if you are too busy to do all the cleaning and Holiday preparation yourself, then you must seek help. This could be a great bonding experience for the entire family. So why not get everyone involved? Just keep it light and fun. It is less stressful that way. After all, it’s a season for love and happiness.
But if you need that extra muscle from professional cleaners, bear in mind that you can count on Two Ladies & A Bucket. Contact us and we will come right in to make your home ready for the Holidays.
What to Prepare Before Starting House Cleaning
Preparation is the key to a faster and more efficient house cleaning experience. Pre-cleaning is as important as the actual cleaning. It does not only help you be faster during house cleaning, but also allow you to achieve better results. In this article, we will be giving a cleaning guide how and what to prepare before starting house cleaning. You can follow these tips whether you are doing the cleaning yourself or you are preparing for the arrival of cleaning professionals.
Bathroom
The essential cleaning materials for bathroom and toilet are as follows: small scrubber, long-reach scrubber, grout brush, toilet bowl cleaner, disinfectant, and bathroom cleaning solution. You can prepare these if you are doing the cleaning yourself. But if you are prepping for the cleaning professionals, these won’t be necessary.
Before cleaning the bathroom, remove all the trash like used tissue and soap scum. Clear off the tank, toilet tub, sink and vanity. Put all your bathroom essentials in one container like a basket so you can easily arrange them back after your cleaning session. Taking off these products will make it easier for you to clean all the surfaces and corners of the bathroom. One more thing, switch off your lights hours before cleaning as they might explode on contact when you clean the bulbs and the nearby areas. This simple bathroom pre-cleaning guide will definitely make the cleaning more efficient.
Kitchen
See to it first that you have the basic essentials for cleaning kitchen. Some of the basic things you should prepare are all-purpose surface cleaner, dishwashing liquid, stainless steel cleaner, rags, paper towels, microfiber cloths, scrub brush, bottle brushes, cleaning bucket and dish gloves. Again, if you are just preparing the kitchen for the cleaning professionals, you can do away with these materials especially if the professionals will bring their own materials.
The most important kitchen pre-cleaning guide that you must remember is to clear the surface with any clutter or mess. Remove the papers, pens, keys, sunglasses and other things lying around in the countertop, sink, floor, table and other parts of the kitchen. Put the unusable things straight into the trash and place the usable ones in a separate container so you can easily put them back where you got them. It also makes the cleaning work faster and more efficient if you remove the appliances such as stove, toasters and oven. That way, you can move more freely when scrubbing the counter or sink, or cleaning other kitchen surfaces.
Bedroom
To efficiently clean your bedroom, you must first clear off the floor and other surface. If you have dirty clothes lying around, make sure that you put them in the hamper. You must also pick up the trash. Remove the books, magazines, playthings and other stuff in your bedside table, floor and bed and place them in a temporary container. You can arrange them back after your cleaning session. This allows the cleaners or yourself to vacuum and clean the baseboards, windows, floors and other parts of your bedroom more freely and efficiently.
Find out more cleaning guide at Two Ladies and a Bucket. Make an appointment with us if you need professional house cleaning.
What to Expect (and check) From a House Cleaning
Competition among house cleaning professionals is tight. Because of this, it may be confusing for homeowners which cleaning company to choose. You are faced with countless options and you end up choosing just about anyone.
While a clever advertisement seems tempting, you must not immediately fall for it. Think of what’s best for your home when choosing professionals. Look for exceptional service levels and key benefits. That way, your house will surely in good hands.
What to check when looking for a house cleaning service:
- Check if the company brings its own cleaning equipment and products. This guarantees that the cleaners can use the products correctly since they are used to it. However, if you wish to use your own products, you can ask the company too if they allow such thing.
- Verify if the company is insured and bonded. This is important because skip and fall or theft that occurs during the housecleaning session may not be covered by your insurance policy. If the cleaning is insured and bonded, then all these are covered.
- Check if the employee’s’ references are confirmed and check. This gives an assurance that the cleaners have been thoroughly screened before they were hired by the cleaning company. You can also check the satisfaction rate of the company based on reviews and feedbacks.
- See to it that the cleaning company has a standard service agreement. This gives you an idea on what is included in a particular service or package. This way, you will know if the company already provides a list of cleaning activities, or if you still have to specify which areas you need them to clean.
We have also created a list of what to expect from a general house cleaning service:
Cleaning services offered
The things to expect depend from the kind of cleaning service you need. The following are considered part of standard general cleaning:
- Mopping of floors.
- Thorough cleaning of bathrooms and kitchens.
- Vacuuming of the different surfaces in the house.
- Dusting all surfaces, include fixtures and baseboards
- Making beds.
Basically, the cleaners will work on the common house cleaning problems and solutions. However, detailed cleaning is not included in general or regular cleaning. It is usually available as an additional service.
Frequency
Your expectations may also depend on the frequency you specified. You can arrange cleaners to come weekly, bi-weekly or monthly. You can even ask only for a one-time cleaning. This usually depends on your budget and individual needs. However, the most common choice is every other week. Check out this “Ultimate Cleaning Schedule Guide” for a more in depth cleaning tips.
If you are not ready to get a recurring cleaning from a cleaning company, the safe thing to do is to get a trial. Hire professionals to do a one-time clean; and if you’re satisfied, then you can set up a long-term contract.
Cost
Another important thing to expect is the cost. The cost varies from company to company, or depending on the type of cleaning you need. However, on average, the cost of deep cleaning ranges depending on the size of your house, the location of your home, and other factors.
Subsequent routine cleanings are generally lower in cost. They typically range from $100 to $150. Again, this would depend on the scope of work needed. Be sure that you ask the company for an estimate and what type of cleaning is included in a particular price range.
Do you want to get a free estimate? Check out Two Ladies & a Bucket today.
How To Clean The 5 Dirtiest Places In Your Home
Many people think that the toilet is the dirtiest part of the home. But it’s not. In fact, many people think that the spots in their home they consider clean are in fact among the dirtiest. Bacteria, germs and dirt thrive in various places in the home. And if you don’t get rid of them, they might put the health of your family at risk. In this article, we will reveal the 5 dirtiest places in your home and provide you with a cleaning guide on how to go about them.
- Kitchen Sink
- Bathtub
- Knobs, Handles and Switches
- Toothbrush Holder and Rinsing Cups
- Carpets
Studies show that the kitchen sink is actually way dirtier than the toilet. Many people focus on disinfecting the toilet thinking that it’s the dirtiest. They tend to take the kitchen sink for granted. The food stuck to the plates and other dirt in the sink are full of harmful bacteria. They are the favorite breeding ground of E-Coli and salmonella. These germs and bacteria thrive most in kitchen sponge and rags.
In order to combat the growth of bacteria and to keep your kitchen sink clean, regularly replace the kitchen rags, brushes and sponges. Do not leave unwashed plates lying around in the sink. Wash them right after you use them. Also, see to it that you clean and rinse the sink daily using bleach or any other effective cleanser. Clearing the sink and kitchen surface is also a helpful kitchen pre-cleaning guide.
Again, the toilet is not the dirtiest part of the bathroom. It is the bathtub. Germs and bacteria love to thrive in warm water. If you stock water in your tub or if you don’t dry and clean it well after use, bacteria and mold will likely grow and spread. To prevent this from happening, it is important that you clean your bathtub regularly. You can use a bleach-based cleaner or a disinfectant to clean it. Don’t forget to always rinse it and wipe it dry after cleaning to prevent bacteria from staying in any damp spots. You can follow our bathroom pre-cleaning guide in order for your cleaning session to be more efficient.
We touch the handles, knobs and switches often. This is the reason why there is a high chance that dirt and germs get transmitted on these parts and vice versa. Since they are small and seemingly clean, most people tend to overlook them when cleaning. If they remain not cleaned for some time, bacteria and germs grow and spread. And you don’t want that to happen, do you? It does not take much of your time to clean these small items in your home. All you have to do is to get wipe down the knobs, handles and switches with a disinfecting wipe.
The toothbrush holder and rinsing cup are among the favorite breeding ground of bacteria. In fact, studies show that toothbrush holders test positive for coliform bacteria. This could pose a danger to your health. So it is important to regularly clean the said holder and cup. You can soak them in bleached water for about 30 minutes. Afterwards, soak them again for 30 more minutes but now in clean water. You can rinse them after. Just make sure that you wipe them dry to make sure that no bleach residue is left.
Various kinds of bacteria live in carpets. These includes E-Coli, MRSA and salmonella. The alarming thing is that, according to experts, there are about 200,000 bacteria per square inch of carpet. The reason for this is that carpets trap various germs, pollens, particles, dusts and skin cells. They are most exposed to germs and dirt because people walk on them daily. You don’t have to really steam clean the carpet. You can leave that to the professionals. What you can do is vacuum the carpet with a beater brush at least once a week. This will remove the dirt lodged in the carpet fibers. You can also use an anti-bacterial spray. However, it is advised that you have your carpet steam cleaned professionally at least once or twice a year.
Remember who to call for you cleaning needs
Remember, cleanliness is not all the time seen by the eye. So make sure that you keep your home clean for the safety of your family. If you need professional cleaning help, give Two Ladies and a Bucket a call.
5 Organization Tips for Your Bedroom
Your bedroom must be the most organized and relaxing part of your home. Is that what your friends and family tell you? Because this is your private space. This is where you relax and fall asleep. It’s the last thing you see before falling asleep and the first thing you see when you wake up. So your bedroom deserves better treatment and organizing your bedroom is a great start to keeping your environment comfortable.
So remove the clutter and organize your stuff. Here are some of the organization and cleaning tips you can easily follow to make your bedroom as relaxing, comforting and appealing as possible.
5 Bedroom Organization Tips
- Make the Bed
This is the most basic, but it is often the one most taken for granted. Making your bed does its magic and makes your room a whole lot cleaner and organized. It only takes a few minutes of your time. Just make it a habit upon waking up in the morning. It’s just a matter of pulling up the sheets, straightening and placing the pillows in place, folding the blankets and smoothing out the comforters. It is as easy as that. Once your bed is made, it gives a better impression on your room. - Purge and De-clutter
A lot of the mess in your home is things you no longer need. So before you organize your things, you must first get rid of the things that you don’t need or are no longer usable. It’s time purge and de-clutter. Gather all the papers and other stuff and put them in the trash. If you still think that you will use the thing such as a shoe, exercise ball, cloth and whatnot, then you can simply put them in the attic or basement or in storage somewhere, just not in your room. Once you have gotten rid of these things, then it becomes easier for you to organize your things. - Make Use of the Space Under Your Bed
If you want to make it appear that your room is well-organized and clean, then you must place many of your things under your bed. Make use of that holy space. It is a perfect storage for your shoes, sporting equipment, linens, clothing and other important stuff. You can organize your things by putting them in storage boxes. Make use that the boxes fit into the space. Just arrange them neatly so they give a better impression of your room. - Sort Our the Closet
Organize your things by sorting out your closets. The first thing you should do is to get rid of the clothes or shoes you no longer wear. You must have a shoe rack, shelf racks and hanging organizers. These are essential in sorting out your things. Make sure that you place all your shoes together in the rack and place your clothes, sweaters, purses and accessories in their place. You can arrange the clothing by type, color or “season,” depending on your preference. The important thing is that you sort them out. - Place a Bedside Table
A bedside table is not only an ornament. It can also provide room for your small things like books, paper, pen, creams and others. It’s best to choose a small table with drawers so you can have more room for storage.
The above mentioned organizational tips are just the basics. Of course, you can modify them and add more like jewelry storage perhaps or putting a trunk in a corner of your room. The important thing is that you make use of your space and sort your things. Organizing, coupled with regular cleaning, can really turn your bedroom into a peaceful, relaxing and appealing place.
Once you have your bedroom organized, and you need professional help with cleaning your room or home, contact Two Ladies and a Bucket!
Weekend Projects
Keeping your home clean is a very challenging task. One of the reasons why people have messy homes is that busyness. People claim that they don’t have time to clean up their homes and keep it that way. While there is truth to this, there is actually a way to unload the heavy cleaning tasks. Allotting some of your weekends for cleaning might be the solution to your problem. You can set up weekend projects to do a little cleaning. It doesn’t have to be deep cleaning. Light and small cleaning is still better than not cleaning at all.
Weekend Project Ideas
It’s all a matter of planning. In this article, we will help you start your weekend project. You would have to clear your weekend schedule in order to achieve this. It doesn’t need to be every weekend. The important thing is that you clean once in a while, and what better time to do that than during the weekend.
For instance, for this weekend, you can schedule a window-only cleaning session. You can start in your room and work from there. You can clean the glass and screen, as well as the latches, ledges and other parts of the window. Here are some easy tips you can follow when cleaning your windows.
- When cleaning the screens, start by opening the windows and jiggling out the screens. Make sure that you remember, perhaps by making a mark, where to put each screen back on. Once this has been ascertained, you can start cleaning or washing the screen. The easiest and fastest way of removing the dust and other dirt off the screen is to spray it with water from a hose. This will flush all the dirt out. Or you can just rinse them in a bathtub or a huge container where they fit. You can set them out to dry or wipe them with clean, dry cloth.
- This can be a bit messy. Window tracks are the hardest and scariest to clean. And that is because the tracks can be the dirtiest part of the window. For this, you can start by loosening up the grime and possibly black dirt by washing the tracks with a good amount of water. After, get a rag and start wiping the tracks. You can use a butter knife wrapped in cloth in reaching out the crevices. You can use a baking soda-vinegar solution for best results.
- In cleaning the class, use a lint-free rag. This is the best material to use when wiping the window glass. But if such rag is not available, newspaper will do. Just remember to remove any residue off the glass. Another tip: to avoid streaks, avoid cleaning the glass when it is hit directly by the sunlight.
Weekend Projects for Guys
Cleaning is not only for women. Guys need to clean their homes or apartments too. The abovementioned weekend project works for guys as well, as does every cleaning job. If you want tougher cleaning projects, you can focus on walls and floors. Cleaning bathrooms can be challenging too. Just remember to allot each weekend for a specific cleaning project. Don’t do all in a day. Just make use of your time.
Enhance Your Weekend Project Progress
Those mentioned above are not exclusive. You can make your own list of things to clean during the weekend. Try to be resourceful and creative. You do not have to clean the whole house. This is not a deep cleaning. Just make use of your available time and energy to do the cleaning. To enhance your weekend project progress, plot things out. Make a list of what part of the home to clean for each week. For example, make a list like this: Week 1- Windows; Week 2- Rooms; Week 3 – Kitchen; and so on. Try your best to follow your list and keep track of your progress until it becomes a habit.
Remember that the weekend projects are just ways to unload the burden of cleaning. But if you really don’t have time and want regular cleaning, you can always seek help from the professionals. Contact Two Ladies & a Bucket for your cleaning needs.
The Ultimate House Cleaning Schedule & Checklist
Life gets so busy at times that we tend to neglect to take care of our home. There is family, work, and other things that make us busy and lazy. But cleaning your house is still actually doable despite of all these. It’s just a matter of time-management, scheduling and yes, motivation. The cleaning doesn’t have to be deep and thorough. Leave that to the professionals. All you have to do is to clean and make use of your time.
With this, we here at Two Ladies and A Bucket made the ultimate house cleaning schedule which you can adapt or customize. We hope that you do make use of this cleaning schedule as your guide:
Daily House Cleaning Schedule
There are basic ways of cleaning you can do daily. These are the things you do to keep your home tidy and to prevent untidiness from accumulating. These chores don’t really eat up much of your time, so they are perfectly doable:
- Make your bed when you get up in the morning.
- Wipe the bathroom counters after taking a shower.
- Empty the dishwasher before going to work.
- Wipe kitchen counters and tables after using.
- Take out trash when you can.
- At night, pick up any lying toys and things before going to sleep.
Weekly House Cleaning Schedule
There are also things you can do weekly. These are the things that need more time than your daily chores. So you need to clear up your Saturday or Sunday for this. If you can’t do it weekly, doing it bi-weekly would do.
- Vacuum and mop floors.
- Dust the hard surfaces of your house.
- Wipe the appliances and furniture.
- Disinfect the countertops and wipe the mirrors.
- Scrub and disinfect sinks, showers, tubs and toilets.
- Put any expired food in the trash.
- Change sheets.
Monthly House Cleaning Schedule
If you can spare a day per month to solely dedicate on cleaning, then you can follow the things listedunder this. These need more attention and time than the daily and weekly chores. But if you do them, you will definitely be able to maintain a healthy, clean home for yourself and your family.
- Vacuum the upholstery.
- Dust the vents and the fans.
- Wipe the doors, windows, knobs, kitchen cabinets and wastebaskets.
- Dust the crown and floor moldings.
- Scrub the stovetops.
Cleaning your home gives you a great feeling and sense of fulfilment afterwards. So if you can, try hard to follow the ultimate house cleaning schedule listed above. You can change the list of course, add more or scratch out a task or two. Just make the cleaning fit your schedule and lifestyle.
But if you really can’t do any cleaning, don’t totally neglect your home. You can always count on cleaning professionals like us. We will take care of your home like it’s ours. If you need weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, regular, deep or seasonal cleaning, we are the professionals to call.
Contact Two Ladies and a Bucket today and we will make your home a clean, tidy and healthy place to live in.
Ultimate Laundry Room Makeover
Just because it’s a laundry room doesn’t mean it should be dreary. Use a few cleaning tips, a few dollars and some good old fashioned elbow grease to make the laundry room one of your favorite rooms in the house.
Laundry Room Makeover Ideas
One of the most important parts of a laundry room is functionality. Most people need to make the most of a small space so that everyone in the family can have clean clothes every week. Here are some strategies to get the most out of your laundry room.
Storage bins and baskets can be your best friends. You can organize all your laundry supplies and knick knacks with some well-chosen decorative baskets. Affordable baskets can be found at retailers such as Target and Walmart and come with all different styles and designs. Many also have a place on the front of the basket for a label. Use these to organize things such as miscellaneous buttons and single socks and for a touch of color in a typically dreary space.
When baskets just aren’t enough, see if you can create more space by installing cabinets. Often there is wall space above appliances that is not being used. Take advantage of every square inch of your laundry room and have some cabinets installed. You can always use the extra storage.
Hooks can also come in handy. If you have items that need to be hung, hooks along the wall or on the back of the door can be organizational and stylish. If you have many things that you need to organize you could also use a peg board to keep your items in place and orderly.
If your laundry room is like most, it is strictly utilitarian. Breathe some new life into by updating the flooring. Make sure that the material you choose is durable and decorative. Any new flooring should be able to withstand the occasional scratching, as sometimes washing machines might bounce around while in the midst of a spin cycle. But it also needs to bring some personality to the room. In this day and age of laminates, stone, tile and wood, you have lots of options to choose from.
Add counter space if needed. You need some room to fold and stash clothing while you work. If you don’t already have it, strategically place your cabinets or shelving so that it creates counter top space that can also be utilized.
Create an accent wall. Accent walls are a common decorating tool with good reason. They are fairly easy to do, relatively inexpensive and can make a big difference. If you need refresh your laundry room play with paint colors and design to find the perfect accent for your space.
Laundry Room Makeovers on a Budget
If brand new appliances or cabinetry isn’t in your budget, have no fear, you can still reclaim and refresh your laundry room on a budget.
A little bit of paint goes a long way. Lighter colors reflect light while darker absorb it, so consider a lighter color scheme if you need help to make a small space feel bigger.
If cabinets are not in your budget try installing less expensive shelving. A few well cut pieces of wood can be easily installed and used for decorative storage. Shelving gives you a convenient place for all your laundry items and can still be pretty.
If you have existing cabinets that need some sprucing, a little bit of paint and lining can go a long way. Painting your cabinets is a great way to bring them new life and lining the inside of the cabinets is a small but distinctive touch. You can easily and inexpensively use peel and stick decorative paper to update your cabinets and give them an extra touch of flair.
Get creative with your storage. Add a touch of décor and functionality by putting items such as laundry soap cubes and dryer sheets in labeled glass jars. If you want to really kick it up a notch, apply small chalkboard labels to the jars and ribbon to the rims.
When deciding how to make your laundry room your refuge instead of your torture chamber, don’t forget to hang pictures. Whether it be pictures of your family, homemade art from your kids or just some fun prints you found at a thrift store, pictures can make any space more enjoyable. All it takes is a few minutes and a couple nails to make this room feel homey.
If you don’t love the aesthetics of your appliances, add a curtain to hide your washer and dryer. You can use a wooden shelf or adjustable tension rod to support a decorative curtain that can discreetly hide your appliances and brighten up your space.
When a Makeover Isn’t Enough
Sometimes what feels like a makeover issue is really a cleaning issue. If you have decorated and organized your heart out and you still can’t stand the thought of spending time in your laundry room, call Two Ladies and a Bucket. We can keep your laundry room and the rest of your home sparkling clean so that every time you walk into a room, you can’t help but smile.
