It’s that time of year again; birds outside are chirping, flowers are blooming, the sunshine coming through the windows is highlighting the dirt and dust throughout your home. Although Service Master TBS provides year-round commercial cleaning services, we also know what it takes for a great deep clean every spring.
Whole House
- Windows: Wash your windows on a cloudy day so the sun won’t dry the cleanser too quickly. Also, try using a newspaper to dry windows for a streak free shine.
- Pillows: Many homes have multiple throw pillows along with bed pillows. If there is no care label, we recommend washing these two at a time on the delicate cycle in warm water and adding an extra rinse and spin with cold water. To dry, use a low tumble setting and stop to fluff them a few times during the cycle.
- Walls and baseboards: To keep your paint looking fresh, it is important to wipe down your walls and base boards with a sponge dipped in a warm water and soap mix. Make sure to use two buckets for this process: one with the mixture and another with water to be used for rinsing.
- Fans: Ceiling blades can hold a lot of dust so it is important to wipe them off regularly. Using furniture polish and a rag is a simple way to remove dust. This is especially effective when accompanied with a vacuum attachment.
- Drawers: Use a vacuum attachment to remove any dust and debris from the bottom of your drawers. While you’re doing this, you have the perfect excuse to throw out old, damaged, or unused items.
- Vents: Vents can be easy to overlook but they can cause dust and other allergens to spread throughout your home. Use a sponge along with a soft brush to clean these.
- Vacuum: It is important that you are using clean equipment to clean your home. In order to clean your vacuum, you should replace the bag, empty the dust cup, and wash the filters.
Kitchen / Bathroom
- Refrigerator: Wash the inside shelves with salt and soda water. Remove dust and lint from the mechanical parts with a brush and vacuum. Then, pull the fridge out a few feet and sweep and mop the floor behind and underneath it.
- Oven: Mix ½ cup of baking soda with water until you get a paste (around 3 tbsp.) and spread it over your entire oven. Let this sit overnight and use a damp cloth to wipe it out. To get off caked-on paste, spray with vinegar and wipe that down with a damp cloth.
- Cabinets: Kitchen cabinets can often get greasy and dusty. It is important to wipe these down and we suggest using furniture cream or cabinet cream to clean and keep your wood moisturized.
- Dishwasher: To clean your dishwasher and ensure that your dishes are truly being washed, simply place a cup of white vinegar in the top rack of your dishwasher and a cup of baking soda across the bottom and let it run through a hot-water cycle. The dishwasher can also be used as a powerful cleaning tool for items such as: lighting globes, toothbrush holders, scrub brushes, hair brushes, and more.
- Tile: Mix ½ cup of baking soda with 2 gallons of water for a tile cleaner and use the same cleaner with a toothbrush to clean grout.
- Faucets: Soak paper towels with vinegar and lay them at the base of your faucet. After an hour, remove the paper towels and lime buildup should rub right off.
Miscellaneous
- Washing Machine: To clean your washing machine, let it fill with water and add baking soda and white vinegar. Once it has sat for 45 minutes, let it drain and wipe down the inside with a cloth.
- Mattress: According to the National Sleep Foundation, your mattress should last 9 to 10 years. To keep it as clean as possible, you can use a vacuum crevice attachment along with a spray disinfectant.
