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How To Clean Out An Apartment Before Move In

How To Clean Out An Apartment Before Move In

by | Apr 6, 2022 | How To, Move In

A new apartment brings endless possibilities. Imagine you are finally moving into your new apartment with your new and exciting ideas of décor. The feeling is indescribable such that you cannot wait to unpack! But before you get started on the fun part, you have to focus on performing an extensive cleaning ritual.

This ritual is known as a move in cleaning. Only a few individuals realize its importance, but it is nonetheless vital for the health and well being of anyone moving into a new apartment. A move-in clean makes your place truly yours, which means it is just as important as a move-out clean. 

A house may look clean when you move in, but in reality, it is likely to contain loads of hidden dirt, dust, grime, and filth which might be lurking with disease-spreading germs. An apartment  move in cleaning helps you become more familiar with your space and have complete peace of mind as you sanitize along. 

A move-in clean is also the easiest to carry out when the apartment lies empty. While some apartment owners prefer to do it themselves, deep cleaning before a move-in is always best done by a professional cleaning company like My Cleaning Angel. Our specialist apartment move in cleaning services will give your new apartment a thorough cleanse, ready for you to move in!

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The Supplies You Will Need

Your cleaning process starts with your supermarket trip. Before you officially begin cleaning, make a checklist of these items we have compiled for you and stock up on them.

  • Cleaning tools (brooms, vacuum cleaners, mops, dusting mats, sponges) 
  • Disinfectants / Sanitizing liquids
  • Glass cleaners / Surface cleaners
  • DIY Items ( baking soda, bleach, and vinegar)
  • A small step stool
  • Protective gear (gloves, masks)

Some Natural Cleaning Methods

It is better to stick to natural cleaning methods to stay safe from harsh chemicals. Off-the-shelf cleaning products often contain harsh chemicals which may pose serious health hazards in case of spillage or accidents. Therefore, natural products serve as much safer and inexpensive move in cleaning alternatives.

Baking soda and vinegar can do most cleaning jobs effectively. Baking soda helps in removing unpleasant odors while vinegar is a multi-cleaning homemade solution that removes buildup and gunk. 

For an effective disinfecting spray, all you need is a mixture of rubbing alcohol and vinegar, with a few drops of your favorite essential oil. Your antibacterial disinfectant will help to clean and ensure that all surfaces in your home are properly sanitized.

Another effective homemade product is a blend of hydrogen peroxide and distilled water, with a few drops of scented essential oil. This makes an excellent DIY all-purpose cleaner ready to clean your new apartment. Similarly, one part of bleach with three parts of water comes in handy to dissolve and remove black grime and mold from tiles and other surfaces. 

Moving forward, this is what your order of cleaning should be! 

1. Bedroom

Naturally, after an exhausting day of packing, you would want to rest in your new apartment. But lying down in a space containing allergens is not the best idea. These allergens include dust mites which can seriously trigger adverse health reactions.

Cleaning will surely get rid of dust particles and allergens that may otherwise be in the air. This will ultimately improve your quality of rest and sleep.

Bedrooms require cleaning from the ceiling down to the floor. The job is easily accomplished if you opt for professional move-in and move-out cleaning near you, but may get tiresome when you do it yourself.

Nevertheless, if you do it yourself, you would want to avoid constantly switching between supplies. For this purpose, start with similar tasks in each bedroom, like sweeping and dusting, and then progress to more complex ones, like washing and sanitizing.

  • Dust Ceiling Fans, Lights, Blinds, Frames, and Corners

Use a long-handled soft duster to remove dust and cobwebs from the ceiling and the corners.

Tip: Fan blades are often tricky to clean as the dust tends to blow around. To avoid this, you can slip an old pillowcase over each blade and wipe it away from the center of the fan, using the inside of the pillowcase’s top layer.

  • Vacuum and mop floors
  • Clean window frames and dressers
  • Deep clean the closets and add polish if necessary
  • Shine all mirrors and glass surfaces using a glass cleaner and a microfiber cloth
  • Disinfect all surfaces
  • Add your bed and bedding!

Tip: Do not forget to wipe the doorknobs and switchboards afterward. It is necessary to follow the instructions on the label of the disinfectant bottle.

apartment move in cleaning

2. Kitchen

A clean and safe kitchen is essential to a healthy home. The kitchen area tends to have the highest risk of toxins that can harm us if ingested. A kitchen also happens to be the most labor-intensive space in the house when it comes to cleaning. 

Even if you hire an apartment move in cleaning service provider near you, kitchens still require plenty of time for a deep clean. Nevertheless, this is a dirty business you simply cannot avoid, especially if you are just moving into your new apartment.

For a sparkling kitchen, begin with the dusting of all light fixtures, blinds, and frames. Next, clean and sanitize the sink, backsplash, and taps. Give your sink a thorough rinse and lightly coat with baking soda paste (following the above recipe). Let it sit for 10 minutes and scrub with dish soap and a sponge.

Subsequently, scrub all cabinets from the interior and exterior, then do the appliances. Clean and disinfect the oven, stove, microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher rack, etc. To remove black grime and grease, use the white vinegar mentioned above.

Wipe the countertops and deep clean every glass surface, including the windows. Finally, vacuum and wipe your floors, disinfect every surface, and organize dishes, jars, utensils, cooking ware, etc.

Tip: Remember to clean out the disposer crud that often gets overlooked. To do this, lift the flaps with an electric toothbrush and a concentrated de-greasing solution. Add citrus peels and ice which will make your disposer smell better.

3. Bathrooms

Professional cleaning services scrub and disinfect every inch of a bathroom. A bathroom cleaning is mainly about eliminating germs and making surfaces as clean and germ-free as possible. This detailed checklist will ensure you don’t miss a thing:

  • Clean the toilet
  • Bathroom walls must be cleaned
  • Clean the ceiling, vents, and exhaust fan
  • Wipe down the doors, towel racks, and light fixtures with a damp sponge and all-purpose cleaner. 
  • Clean bathroom tiles and grout; spray all tiled surfaces in the bathroom with the bleach solution and allow it to sit for 15 minutes, then rinse.

You can clean the bathroom floor with vacuuming and scrubbing with hot water. Mold which may be present on the tiles can be removed by applying the baking soda paste and the vinegar solution. After a short while, rinse it off.

To clean the shower and the tub, soak the showerhead in the vinegar solution. Clean the rod and faucets with baking soda solution and rinse. For cleaning the tub, dampen with hot water and add baking soda. Rub the baking soda with a sponge to form a thin layer of paste on the tub surface, let it sit for 30 minutes, and rinse.

Clean the toilet is perhaps the single most important element of cleaning your bathroom. Coat the inside of the bowl with a strong disinfectant cleaner and let it sit for around 15 minutes. Meanwhile, clean the outside of the toilet with disinfectant wipes. Then scrub the entire bowl (including under the rim) with a stiff-bristled toilet brush, then flush. Replace the toilet seat, cover, and toilet brush.

Scrub the walls next and rinse well with hot water. Use shaving cream to remove soap accumulation and water spots from shower screens. In contrast, cleaning the sink and faucets can effectively be done with baking soda and vinegar solution. You must also clean the bathroom countertops, cabinets, and mirrors as a final touch.

4. The Rest of the House

For the rest of the cleaning process, go room by room. For each room, start with the ceiling and don’t forget the easily overlooked surfaces, such as the tops of doors, windows and window treatments, light switches, and closet interiors. A strong vacuum attachment will help you suck up all that dirt and dust.

Tip: Wait until evening to start cleaning windows, or instead start with windows lying in the shade, since you cannot see the streaks on windows during sunny hours.

Bonus tip: Permanent marker stains can easily get erased by using nail polish removers or vegetable oil. 

Once done, place all cleaning equipment back. In some cases, you may also need to get rid of a few things if you are moving into a previously occupied apartment. These include old mattresses, pillows, toilet seats, shower curtains, cutlery, and utensils. These items left behind by previous tenants may have been accumulating years of bacteria, and are thus, unsafe to use.

Finally, you are ready to unpack!

apartment move in cleaning

The Bottom Line

While a thorough cleanup of your house to your preference is vital, not everyone can do such a detailed job on their own. The process can be extremely hectic and tiresome, not to mention time-consuming, which you may not have on your hands if you are working a full-time job or taking care of an elderly relative.

Instead of spending hours on a chore that you may not be good at, allow professionals to do it for you. At My Cleaning Angel, we know everything from A to Z when it comes to cleaning. From skilled cleaners to thorough checklists to using safe cleaning products, we take care of everything, so that moving into a new home or apartment becomes a happy time for you and your family.

Book cleaning services online with My Cleaning Angel for your apartment move out cleaning and have one less thing to take care of.

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(813) 576-2009
 
How to Maintain Cleanliness in Florida Humidity

How to Maintain Cleanliness in Florida Humidity

by | Mar 30, 2022 | How To

According to the Forbes report published in 2018, the average humidity in Florida is 74.5%. South Florida has the highest levels of humidity throughout the year. The presence of humid conditions in an area throughout the year leads to the growth of multiple forms of bacteria in living spaces. And compromise the health of the residents. 

It is not uncommon to find a dehumidifier in most houses in Florida. While the dehumidifier reduces risks of compromised health conditions, it is imperative to adopt other methods of cleaning in humidity. It’ll keep your living space and office space healthy and safe.

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Risks of Florida Humidity

Whether you live alone in your house or with someone, your priority should be to always keep it clean. Similarly, if you own an office, your employees’ health should matter to you above everything else. Exposing your employees to any risks of humidity may result in costly lawsuits and loss of reputation for the business. 

Increased Microbial growth

People mostly turn towards professional cleaning services to prevent or eradicate microbial growth in their homes or offices. Microbial growth may be in the form of molds on the crevices on your walls, or any wooden furniture, causing property damage. These molds release toxins in the air, which may even cause weak immune responses and serious health conditions.

My Cleaning Angel specializes in removing and/or reducing the risk of microbial growth in your homes or offices. Ensuring a safe and healthy environment for you to live and work in.

Risk of Developing Allergies

A hot and humid house or office space is very likely to increase one’s risk of developing allergies. For those who already have asthma or any other sort of allergies, humid conditions may exacerbate them. 

To achieve a spotless Florida home or office, we suggest you avail of deep cleaning services in Florida according to your requirements. Get rid of allergens and other microbes from your indoors.

Uncomfortable Living/Office Conditions

With constant humid conditions such as those found in Florida, you are likely to have trouble keeping your toilets and kitchens clean at all times. A dehumidifier installation coupled with our professional cleaning services will drastically decrease the adverse effects and risks associated with a humid environment in your residential or commercial property.

florida humidity

How to Control Humidity in Florida Homes

Humidity is the one topic that you will find every Floridian talk about. You see humidity affecting all aspects of their daily routine. The mostly tropical climate in the months of spring and summer are the common breeding periods for dust mites, mold, and mildew in homes. 

Humidity does not just cause property damage. Such as the bubbling of wallpaper and rotting of wooden doors, handles, etc. But is also the root cause of the spread of bacterial and fungal activity. Hence, it is imperative to keep the moisture levels low inside homes and offices. 

To mitigate risks and establish a more comfortable living and working space, hire our tailored house cleaning services in Florida. Including one-time cleaning, recurring cleaning, commercial cleaning, and vacation rental cleaning solutions. Look out for the following signs when living in humid conditions.

  • Allergies

For those suffering from allergies or asthma, a humid indoor environment can cause drastic adverse effects on their health. To reduce the entrapment of allergens in your home and avoid aggravating someone’s allergies, resort to DIY cleaning methods or hire a cleaning service for a spotless home in Florida.

  • Condensation

Dew or condensation droplets on your glass doors or windows are a sign your internal environment is too humid and needs immediate attention. 

  • Groundwater Runoff

If you live in a flood-prone area or a place where your water pipelines are rusty and cause leakage often, it is essential to get them fixed. Constant dampness or wetness in a certain place is a breeding ground for mold and mildew.

  • Mold Spots

These are likely to be found in the corners of walls that have some water leakage, in bathrooms around the toilet or shower area, and/or in the kitchen sink area. Ensure well-ventilated home or office interiors to reduce risks of microbial growth.

  • Musty Odors

Musty smells are one of the most common signals for the presence of mold. They are also an indication of toxic indoor air that you may be breathing in. Have the mold removed via a cleaning agency or adopt some efficient routine cleaning practices.

  • Water Damage or Stains

Peeling paint, water stains in your wallpaper, or damp wooden items in a humid environment is a perfect breeding ground for bacteria and fungi.

One of the best ways to ensure cleanliness in Floridian humidity is to keep a dehumidifier in your home and office at all times. The dehumidifier removes water from the air and when coupled with an air conditioning system, adjusts the indoor temperature to make it cooler than the outside. 

Although the cost of buying and installing a dehumidifier lies somewhere between USD 1500-2500, it is a worthy investment. Make sure you only switch on your humidifier if the moisture levels inside your home or office are greater than 40% for optimal results.

Maintaining Cleanliness in Florida Homes

Molds and other fungi thrive in bathrooms, kitchens, laundry rooms, or any other place with moisture. These contribute to serious health hazards and are the reason why professional cleaning in humid areas is a necessity. 

At My Cleaning Angel, our trained cleaners first get rid of any dampness or wetness on the walls or inside crevices, which could later induce microbial growth in your home. It is important for you to immediately contact a cleaning service (that is, not more than 48 hours after you notice the dampness on your walls) to ensure a spotless and safe living space. To get rid of moldy growth on the walls or other damp places, My Cleaning Angel uses top-quality detergents. 

Maintaining Cleanliness in Florida Offices

Relative to residential cleaning, office cleaning in Florida is required more often. Considering we are more likely to look after our houses than our office spaces, My Cleaning Angel offers bespoke commercial cleaning services for spotless office space and work environment. Most offices are carpeted and hold a higher risk of mold infestations in areas where moisture collects in the rugs. 

Since offices are more likely to be exposed to severe mold growth and infestations, we suggest using only the best office cleaners. To establish a safe and healthy working environment for your employees. 

More challenging mold growth requires stronger solutions to eradicate them. For such infestations, we use bleach on its own and a stiff-bristle brush to completely get rid of the microbes. While working with bleach, we ensure air ventilation in and out of the space to avoid the building up of toxic fumes in that particular space. 

My Cleaning Angel’s professional team of office cleaners takes all preventative measures and puts their heart into making your office space safe to use.

To prevent any serious infestations to occur between your recent office cleaning and the next one in the future, we suggest cleaning spills and carpet stains immediately. Since cleaning requires further dampening, blot dry the spot on the carpet after it has been cleaned successfully. Removing excess dampness would prevent the rampant growth of mold and mildew.

Deep Cleaning in Humid Areas

Our service package for deep cleaning in humid areas is very much similar to those offered in any other area. It involves:

  • Vacuuming and mopping all floor surfaces
  • Thoroughly cleaning bathrooms (tubs, toilet, sinks)
  • Disinfecting bathrooms (cleaning out damp places likely to house microbial growth)
  • Drying bathrooms after cleaning
  • Thoroughly cleaning the kitchen (cabinets, counters, sink area, backsplash)
  • Disinfecting the kitchen, especially places where the growth of microbes is possible
  • Drying all areas of the kitchen to prevent microbial or mildew growth
  • In and out cleaning of small appliances (coffee machine, microwave, etc.)
  • Cleaning of larger appliances only from the outside (oven, fridge, refrigerator, etc.)
  • Ceiling fans and blinds
  • Cleaning doors and crevices in walls 
  • Drying out damp walls
  • Removing damp wallpaper

Limiting Exposure while Cleaning

Most homes in Florida are made of wood, with ceiling tiles and fabric curtains. These are the main sites of infestations when damp. At My Cleaning Angel, we understand that ingesting/inhaling mold is very common during the cleaning process or simply living in a moldy space.

Hence, we make use of protective gear to prevent health hazards to our cleaning staff. This protective gear includes heavy-duty gloves made up of materials such as natural rubber, polyurethane, etc. Goggles and N-95 face masks are also worn while dealing with mold infestations.

In addition to the above-mentioned preventive practices, our cleaning materials are made free of toxins such as ammonia. Although the use of bleach-containing ammonia is a helpful cleaning agent for severe infestations. But we avoid using it due to the harmful fumes it gives off when mixed with other detergents during cleaning.

florida humidity

Get a Free Quote! 

Due to the excessive humid conditions found in Florida, it can be very difficult to keep your homes clean on your own. With My Cleaning Angel’s safe and green cleaning approach, you can hire house cleaning or maid services according to your budget in just 60 seconds! Book cleaning services online now so you don’t have to worry about cleaning your home anymore.

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How To Choose the Best All-Purpose Cleaner

How To Choose the Best All-Purpose Cleaner

by | Dec 29, 2021 | How To

When going through your cleaning routine, you don’t want to be dragging a ton of different cleaners and disinfectants wherever you go. Not only is it a tedious task, but it will exponentially increase your cleaning time, leaving little space for other tasks. That’s why we recommend all-purpose cleaner. One bottle is all you need to clean away all kinds of dirt, grime, and stains. Specially when your home is in need of a deep cleaning.

There are a variety of all-purpose cleaners available in the market. Some may make false claims, while others will be anything but all-purpose. So, which ones are actually effective in cleaning every kind of surface? There are certain things to keep in mind while you’re on the hunt for the best all-purpose cleaner. To aid you in this process, we’ve listed down the features and characteristics you should definitely consider!

Ingredients

As its name suggests, an all-purpose cleaner should contain ingredients that can perform a wide array of cleaning tasks. It needs the necessary cleaning power to remove dirt, stains, grease, and oil and kill all kinds of germs.

If your cleaner contains chemical ingredients, it’s necessary to take safety precautions such as wearing gloves and using them in well-ventilated areas. Examples of toxic cleaning ingredients include acids, chlorine bleach, soluble phosphates, and alkalis. Make sure you read the label on the bottle before buying.

Others may rely on organic ingredients for their cleaning prowess, such as vinegar, lemon juice, citrus oils, and baking soda. These are safer to use, but it depends on your personal preference whether chemical or organic cleaners will do the job for you at the end of the day.

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Ease of Use

Since all-purpose cleaners remove the unnecessary need to carry multiple cleaners around the house, they should be easy to use and deliver the best results with minimum effort. While some concentrated cleaners may require dilution with water, sprays and wipes provide the best use with next to no effort. 

Disposable wipes have always been famous for quick cleaning around the house, kitchen, bathroom, or car. And ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, we cannot reinstate their importance enough. Wipes provide simple cleaning with strong antimicrobial activity, rendering them essential during this pandemic more than ever before.

Sprays are also a great and easy-to-use option. Simply spray on dirty surfaces and wipe with a paper towel or cloth.

Application

All-purpose cleaners provide multiple applications, which make them stand tall among the crowd. They clean every location in the house to the t and work best on non-porous surfaces such as glass, tiles, and laminate. 

To disinfect surfaces, spray the dirty area with a diluted cleaner or use wipes. Cleaners with bleach work best against mold and come in handy in areas with high moisture, such as the showers, bathrooms, and sinks.

For the more stubborn stains, a more concentrated cleaner will get the job done. Due to their toxic ingredients, you must follow the manufacturer’s guidelines for safe application. First, dilute with water. Next, dip a sponge or brush in the solution and scrub thoroughly. Clean away the excess solution with a rinse. 

To avoid accidents or damage to surfaces, try the cleaner on a small patch first. If it works fine, then proceed with the rest of the surface.

Forms

Cleaners come in all forms, shapes, and sizes. The 2 most popular forms available on store shelves everywhere are pre-diluted cleaners in sprays and concentrated ones that you must dilute before use. You can also find wipes, gels, aerosols, and powders for this purpose. 

Before going for either option, assess what kind of cleaning your house needs. Sprays work best for daily maintenance tasks such as cleaning or disinfecting small surfaces. All you need to do is spray and wipe the area. Disposable antibacterial wipes are also a convenient alternative. 

If you’re looking to clean areas with stubborn stains and more grime, you will most probably require a concentrated cleaner. For this purpose, you’ll need to dilute, scrub, and rinse for the best results. An example is kitchen stoves. Oil and grime tend to stick here, so a simple spray will not get the job done. You’ll need to get a reliable cleaner to get rid of all that grease properly.

all purpose cleaner

Safety of Usage

Some cleaners come in attractive and beautiful bottles, so much so that young children can easily mistake them for a tasty, colorful drink! Cleaners are anything but delicious – their toxic chemicals and acids can have devastating consequences if ingested. Hence, try to go for a cleaner that might not look too enticing to children and make sure it is out of their reach at all times. 

As discussed earlier in this article, it is vital to follow the appropriate safety measures highlighted by manufacturers while using chemical cleaners. Gloves should also be an integral part of your cleaning regimen. Make sure you’re not inhaling the chemicals while cleaning. Open the bottle away from your face and make certain such cleaners are only applied in well-ventilated areas where there is plenty of airflow. Such measures will help disperse any toxic fumes that may enter the air.

Versatility 

Your cleaner should not specialize in only one kind of surface. It should have the ability to clean all types of materials such as walls, glass, stainless steel, ceramic, and plastic. But most cleaners on the market are either only for cleaning glass or for walls. So, you’ll have to do your research among all the potential candidates on the supermarket shelves to find the one which will clean all surfaces in a jiffy!

Given the popularity of ceramic floor and porcelain tiles, many people opt for these flooring options in their homes. Hence, your all-purpose cleaner must also be able to clean these materials as well! Other than that, there is a ubiquity of electronics and gadgets around us, such as television screens and other items. Since they make a significant part of our homes, it’s essential to keep them clean as well. Hence, the best cleaner will take care of them as well.

Fresh Smelling

If your cleaner is getting rid of smelly and dirty stains, it should let everyone in the room know that too! The best cleaners leave a fresh and rejuvenating aroma wherever applied. Such scents help revitalize everyone’s senses, and the fragrance can have therapeutic effects. Just as many people derive satisfaction transforming a dirty surface to squeaky-clean, the same way fragrant cleaners can be super satisfying to use as well!

Hypoallergenic

People suffer from multiple allergies in this day and age, with certain substances triggering severe allergic reactions. Hence, it’s natural to bring only hypoallergenic materials into your house that will protect your family and loved ones from any kind of harm.

Cleaners should promote healthy living rather than cause severe reactions. For this purpose, it’ll be a good practice to read the ingredient label carefully before buying any cleaning product. This ensures your family isn’t exposed to any harmful chemicals to which they may be allergic.

For your peace of mind, get all your family members tested for different allergies so that you don’t have to think twice before buying any new product.

all purpose cleaner

The Final Word

There are multiple factors to consider before deciding which all-purpose cleaner is the best, but to summarize the main points: it should work against all kinds of stains and on a wide variety of surfaces, should be easy to apply, safe to use, and not contain any harmful chemicals that might trigger allergic reactions. If you don’t have time or don’t want to clean, don’t waste more time and book cleaning services online, it’s easy and fast.

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How to Have Fresh Footwear Forever

How to Have Fresh Footwear Forever

by | Dec 22, 2021 | How To

Shoes are known to be a man’s best friend. They protect you from the rough concrete pavements and the prickly stones on the street. They take the brunt of walking, running and standing, while your feet remain protected. 

The first lesson that I remember learning at a very young age was that a person is known by the appearance of their shoes. That one lesson stuck with me and made me make the effort to polish my shoes every day before leaving for school. The practice of which has also followed me into my adult life. People often forget the power a good pair of shoes can add to your wardrobe. Good shoes are often essential for a stylish wardrobe and people spend a lot of money on them.

When you spend that kind of money on your shoes, you ought to make them last a very long time. They are seen as an important investment and you must maintain these investments by regularly taking care of them. With all the running, walking, jogging, standing, and playing sports, our feet get sweaty which can become a cause for the foul odor. Even your most expensive pair of shoes walk the same dirt roads and chewing-gum-stuck pavements. This is why it’s important for you to take into consideration the well-being of your shoes. There are a lot of ways you can take care of your shoes and keep your footwear fresh, stick around to find some of them in this article.

And don’t forget, you should maintain your house clean just like your shoes. Once in a while, hire a company to do deep cleaning in your home.

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Tips To Keep Your Footwear Smelling Fresh

Have you ever taken your shoes off in someone else’s home and felt embarrassed by the odor coming off from your feet? Have you ever washed, scrubbed, and moisturized your feet yet still had them smelling bad? Not anymore! My Cleaning Angel understands all of your problems and has listed down a detailed overview on How to keep your footwear fresh, and smelling good. 

1. Dry Your Shoes Out In the Sun

The number one cause of bad-smelling shoes is moisture. When you wear your shoes for a long period, your feet start sweating. This accumulates a certain amount of moisture in your shoes which becomes the perfect cold/moist breezing place for bacteria or fungus. These bacteria or fungus are responsible for the bad odor coming off your shoes.

The easiest way to take care of this issue is to put your shoes out in the open air and sun and let them dry. The heat from the sun kills the bacteria and the natural wind airs them out. 

2. Use Some Dryer Sheets for a Fresh Smell

For fresh footwear, you might want to try balling up some dryer sheets and putting them in your shoes overnight. These sheets take up the moisture and leave your shoes smelling clean and fresh out of a wash.

3. Dry Them Out With Newspaper

There are many ways to eradicate the moisture for fresh footwear. One of them is to put balled-up newspaper in your shoes and leave it overnight. If you don’t have any newspaper, ball up a paper bag or some tissue paper. For some extra nice smell, add a few drops of your favorite essential oil and let it sit overnight. You will wake up to fresh-smelling shoes. 

4. Wash Your Shoes Frequently

Washing shoes can be a bit of a headache and the shoes can lose their freshness. But it is an essential process to undergo to keep your shoes from smelling bad. Gentle washing by hand is recommended to avoid any creasing. You may also want to gently scrub your shoes with baking soda and salt to get rid of any stubborn stains. 

5. Use an Antifungal Powder or Spray

Moist shoes cause bacterial and fungal growths. These growths are not limited to your shoes alone, but can also cause several uncomfortable foot diseases. Athlete’s foot and Ringworm are two of the most common foot diseases caused by the fungus growing in your shoes. Spraying your shoes with an antifungal spray is important to avoid any smell and diseases. These products are easily available at any grocery or drug store.

6. Clean Them with Rubbing Alcohol

Dip a cotton ball or pad in rubbing alcohol and wipe the soles of your shoes with the cotton. Rubbing alcohol is a disinfectant and helps to removes any traces of bacteria or fungus from your shoes. It gets rid of the odor and protects it from pathogens.

fresh footwear

Tips to Keep Your Footwear Looking Fresh

Shoes are the one thing in our wardrobe that we wear mercilessly. No matter how important and expensive your shoes are, they are presented with the most extreme environment. Therefore, it is important that you know how to take care of your shoes and keep them looking fresh for a longer period of time.

1. Invest In Shoe Trees

Shoe trees are an important asset in keeping your shoes creaseless and maintain their shape well. They also help with moisture elimination and if made of cedar wood, will keep your footwear smelling fresh and nice.

2. Do a Shoe Rotation

It’s okay for you to have a favorite pair of shoes that you like wearing frequently, but it’s not okay to wear them every day. Even if your footwear is expensive and high quality, it comes with an expiration date. Wearing the same shoes every day can damage its material and affect the stitching of your shoes. It will also have resulted in the extreme wear and tear of everyday life. What’s recommended for you is that you do a shoe rotation. This means that you will have to alternate between different pairs of shoes so that each pair has enough time to recover. Shoe upkeep is important if you wish to extend the life of your footwear and keep them looking fresh. 

3. Protect the Leather Shoes from Water and Salt

Water and salt are extremely bad for your shoes but also unavoidable if you like in cold, snowy areas. Salt stains are easy to catch and hard to get rid of. You need to remove the stains as soon as they appear. Use a mixture of two parts water and one part vinegar and spray it on the stain. Rub the spot with a rag and let it dry naturally.

Water on the other hand damages leather beyond repair. If you have expensive leather shoes, avoid wearing them out in the rain. If not, apply a heavy layer of boot protection polish to keep your shoes fresh and new.

4. Store Them Well

Just because your shoes are kept in a box, doesn’t mean they are kept well. The right way to store your shoes is to keep them in an airy, dry place with newspaper or dryer sheets stuffed in them. For more expensive shoes like leather, it is important to use shoe trees for retaining their shape and avoiding creases. For tall knee-high boots, you can stuff pool noodles or large rolled-up magazines to avoid creases and maintain their shape even when they’re stored in the closet. Avoid placing your shoes near fire and avoid using heat drying tools to make them dry. This will destroy your shoes and crack your leather.

With these tips handy, we are sure that keeping your footwear fresh will no longer be a chore! If you want tips to keep your house clean for longer, just as your shoes, we have the right article for you.

fresh footwear

Strong First Impression!

Studies show that when you walk into a room, the first thing people notice about you is your shoes. Therefore, keeping fresh footwear, bright and shining like new would make for a great first impression. A Clean Footwear exudes confidence, as not everyone can keep up with regular maintenance. Keep your home clean as well as your shoes. Book cleaning service online with My Cleaning Angel and fell your house as new.

 

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How To Clean An Area Rug

How To Clean An Area Rug

by | Dec 8, 2021 | How To

An area rug is essentially a carpet that is much smaller than your average, wall-to-wall carpet. The colors, patterns, and shapes can vary greatly. A good area rug can make or break the beauty of a space. Wwhether you are placing it in a bedroom, or under a table in the kitchen. They are an excellent piece of decor and can give bring warmth, color, and comfort to any space.

But with all its advantages come a few challenges as well. Because they are placed in spaces that are frequently used and see a lot of foot traffic, area rugs tend to get pretty dirty pretty quickly. Cleaning an area rug is not always at the top, or even near the top, of anyone’s priority list.

However, it’s important to give your area rug a good, deep cleaning once in a while. Keep them from getting worn out earlier than their time, and being thrown away. Oftentimes, area rugs are an investment, so you want to maintain them for as long as possible. An essential part of maintenance is regularly cleaning them.

Keep in mind that because there are so many different types of area rugs available, the way you clean them, plus the kind of supplies you use, depends on the stitching and fabric of your area rug. In need on how to clean a living room? We always can help.

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Do You Need a Clean Area Rug?

If your area rug is starting to get smelly, sticky, and filled with stains, then consider giving it a good, thorough deep cleaning. You can decide whether you want to give it to your local dry cleaner or do it yourself. 

If you are trying to gauge whether the time for a clean area rug has finally come, here’s a simple test: pick up one corner and let it fall to the floor. If you see some dust clouds rising out of the fall, then I’m afraid it’s time.

How to Get a Clean Area Rug

Set up Your Station

On a day when the sun is shining, and you know it’s not going to suddenly start to rain, set up your rug cleaning station outside. You need to find a place to hang the area rug that’s strong and sturdy. A clothesline is a bad idea since a wet rug will be heavy. So opt for something like a thick rope tied between two ends, or even the ledge of a wall.

Identify Materials

The first step of having a clean area rug is to identify the materials your area rug is made from. This will go a long way in ensuring that you start off on the right foot. Now you can pick the correct cleaning method and material for your particular rug.

Vacuum

The second step is to vacuum your area rug. Now, you should be vacuuming it on a regular basis anyway. But the difference with vacuuming it for deep cleaning is to vacuum both sides. Once you’re done with the front, turn your area rug over and vacuum the backside as well. This ensures that all the dirt, grit, and grime that gets collected and sits under your area rug is picked up.

clean area rug

Lint Roll or Brush

Once you are done vacuuming both sides, go over it with a lint roller or a stiff brush. Get rid of any small fibers or hairs that the vacuum may not have picked up. This is especially important if you have pets or small children.

Rug to Station

When you’re satisfied with the vacuum and brush cleaning, take your rug outside. Stand it up on a railing or against a tree, whatever is easily available, and start hitting the rug with a broom. This will allow any dirt that’s still left inside the rug to come out. Keep hitting the rug until the dust clouds stop.

Shampoo Time

You can either invest in a good carpet shampoo for this part. Or DIY your own with some warm water and some mild, liquid dishwashing soap. If you have set up your station outdoors, now is the time to get out the tarp. 

Remember to keep your station close to a water supply, since you’ll be needing water to wash and rinse the rug. First, spray water on the whole rug to make sure it’s fully wet. Then dip a thick, sturdy brush (preferably the one you brushed it with earlier) into your soap water and start working it into the rug. 

Rub the soap water into the sticky, dirty spots that you can see with a bit more elbow grease than the rest. Let it sit in the soap water for about 5 to 10 minutes, and then thoroughly rinse with water.

Time to Dry

Soak up excess water with a towel as much as possible, then let it air-dry outside on whatever drying rack you DIY’d. Don’t rush this part, since the area rug can take over 24 hours to dry, depending on the fabric.

One Last Vacuum

Once your rug is clean and dry, bring it inside and vacuum it one more time to get rid of any loose debris that might have fallen on it while it dried.

And voila! You are officially the owner of a clean area rug.

clean area rug

Different Area Rugs and How to Clean Them

Woven or Braided Rugs

If the rug is small enough, place it in a mesh laundry bag and put it in your washing machine with cool water, preferably on a gentle cycle. If it’s a large rug, then place it on a tarp or concrete surface with something like a throw or blanket underneath it. Start sponging carpet-cleaning foam and then rinse and vacuum.

Hand-Knotted, Antique, or Oriental Rugs

Tie a piece of nylon mesh (use laundry mesh if urgent) over your vacuum attachment and vacuum your rug. Ask for specific care tips from the seller as well, since many of them are unique.

Coir, Sisal, Rush, and Grass Rugs

These rugs are made from natural fibers, which means that more often than not, there’s an open weave in them that allows dirt to collect and settle through to the floor. You can vacuum them as normal rugs, but make sure to pick them up and vacuum the floor underneath as well.
Flip over every time you vacuum for even maintenance. If your rug has a stain, then put a piece of cloth or plastic under it, and clean the stained area with soapy water and a brush. Rinse and blot with a towel to dry.

Fur, Sheepskin, Hair-on Hides

The simplest and easiest to clean, despite how intimidating it may seem, use an unscented talcum powder and shake it evenly across the rug. Leave for a few hours before you begin to brush the powder through the hair, taking out as much as you can. Repeat this as often as you can, and then shake the rug out to remove excess powder.
Cleaning the back is as easy as any other rug. Dip a cloth in warm, soapy water and wipe it across the rug. Do the same process if there are any spills.

clean area rug

Is the Process Difficult and Time Taking? 

The process to clean an area rugh is relatively easy if the dirt is not much. But if you haven’t had them cleaned in a while, it might get tricky. 

On average, routine cleaning and deep cleaning, both shouldn’t take more than a day. But if you don’t have time to do these chores, we do have a solution for you! 

Let us handle all your cleaning duties at the most reasonable prices ever. From cleaning your living rooms to your bathrooms and bedrooms, leave it all on us. We have a team of extremely professional cleaners just a call away from you. Book cleaning service online with us now and free yourself from all the household cleaning duties!

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How To Remove Sticker Residue

How To Remove Sticker Residue

by | Dec 1, 2021 | How To

Stickers have been around a long time and continue to go in and out of fashion. Nobody knows the exact time for when it happened, but they seem to be everywhere. From books and tools to utensils and packaging, there seems to be a sticker label on everything. More often than not, they are also seen on clothes. They are an essential part of marketing but can be a headache to remove completely. 

The Gen Z generation has also taken a liking to stickers and you will see them scattered across their personal belongings. Whether it be decorating your laptops or phones, stickers are the new trend nowadays. But to remove these stickers manually you would have to use some elbow grease. That said if you want some tips and tricks to remove sticker residue from surfaces, keep reading this article to find out safe and effective ways to do it. 

Tips and Tricks To Remove Sticker Residue 

There is yet to find a good sticker-removing device – an idea for you to explore – in the market. But there are things we can make do with it. Multiple approaches can be taken for sticker removal and the first of them is the mechanical approach.

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1. Mechanical Approach

The mechanical approach is the removal of sticker residue using a scrapper. It is a basic and straightforward approach that works and requires a bit of elbow grease. Though this option is not suitable for surfaces like laptops, phones, and wood, that are liable to scratches. But on harder, resilient surfaces, scrapers are ideal. There are three types of scrapers you can use to remove the sticker residue, depending upon the sticker:

  1. Plastic pan scraper
  2. Paint scraper
  3. Razor Scraper

All of the above have their pros and cons and are available in the market easily. You have to choose one that suits your requirement and scrape away! If you are interested in other house cleaning tips, here are some tricks you can steal from your house cleaner.

2. Chemical and Thermal Approach

To proceed with the sticker removal, you can scrape off the bits that can easily come off and leave the stubborn parts to the chemicals. There are a multitude of tips that people have tried over time and have proven to be successful for them. It is important to keep in mind that different chemicals have certain reactions with different elements. Therefore, it is important to patch test them on one area to see if it leaves a stain or a mark. Here are some ways to remove sticker residue from your surfaces using common ingredients:

  • Use a Mixture of Hot Water and Detergent

Hot water does the trick. Fill up a bowl with hot water and a little bit of detergent and soak the part that has the sticker residue and leave it in for a couple of hours. Wash the soap off the surface with water and scrape the residue off with a scraper or your fingers. It is the easiest and safest way to remove sticker residue from a surface like a pan or a utensil that is used to prepare food. 

  • Use a Hairdryer or a Heat Gun

Another easy way to remove sticker residue is to use a hairdryer or a heat gun. Aim your hairdryer at the surface that has the sticker and let it run for a couple of minutes. The heat from the hairdryer or heat gun with melt the adhesive from the back of the sticker, and the sticker will come right off. Be careful of the surface you are using your hairdryer on. Most surfaces like glass and laptops cannot withstand heat and you may end up damaging the surface permanently.

remove sticker residue

  • Dab on Some Isopropyl Alcohol

Isopropyl alcohol, also known as rubbing alcohol, has proven to be effective in removing sticker residue from surfaces. It is one of the safest methods to remove stickers from surfaces like plastic, wood or glass, without damaging them or causing a bad reaction. This can also be used to remove stickers off of your gadgets, keeping the quantity and handling of the rubbing alcohol in mind.

Wet a paper towel, cotton ball, or rag with rubbing alcohol and rub it on the surface of the sticker to remove it. It may require some time and effort, but it will come right off without leaving a sticky residue behind. For more stubborn stickers, drench a cotton pad in rubbing alcohol and lay it over the sticker for a few minutes. It ought to loosen up the adhesive and you can scrape the rest, off. If you do not have rubbing alcohol lying around, vodka serves as a great alternative to it. 

  • Put Some Vinegar on It

Out of all the household items important for DIYs, vinegar tops the list. It is versatile and multipurpose and has no damaging factors. To use it for sticker removal, you need to soak a paper towel/rag in vinegar and lay it on top of the sticker. Let it sit for a few minutes and allow it to soften. Use the rag/paper towel to rub and remove the sticker or scrape it off. 

  • Lather on Some Peanut Butter

Peanut butter is as useful as it is delicious. The oil content in peanut butter is relatively high which makes it the ideal component to use for sticker removal. The key here is to use ingredients that can negate the adhesive. Lather some peanut butter on the sticker and let it sit overnight. The oils in the peanut butter, soften the sticker and make it easy to slide it off. Use a rag to wipe off the gunk and scrape the leftover softened sticker with a rag or sponge. 

Other substances that have high oil content like mayonnaise or cooking oil can also work in removing the sticker residue. Just put a generous amount on the sticker, leave it overnight and scrub it off in the morning. All the surfaces you apply this trick to must be cleaned with a wipe or washed, if possible. 

  • Use Store-Bought Cleaners

There are multiple surface cleaners available in the market that can also be used in cleaning the sticker residue off your surfaces. The only drawback to that is they can be damaging to the surface and can vary from material to material. But in terms of effectiveness, they work great. Some of them are WD-40 or Goo Gone that have multiple uses and work well with sticker removal. Just drench a cotton pad with the solution and let it sit. After a while, rub the sticker off with a rag or a scraper.

remove sticker residue

Conclusion

If none of these tips have worked for you, or you are scared of damaging expensive and valuable items, allow My Cleaning Angel to take care of all your cleaning needs. With a wide variety of expert cleaning technicians, we provide you with surface cleaning, deep cleaning, bathroom cleaning, plus each and every cleaning service that you might need. Your belongings are cared for well while we remove the dirt, dust, grime, or any kind of sticker residue from them. Call or email us for cleaning services or other inquires about our brand! Also, you can book cleaning services online, it’s super easy.

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