Maid In America

 I started off this week planning to write an article all about the benefits of switching to liquid soap and ditching the bars. As a house cleaner, I've found that most of the time bar soap causes mushy, yucky problems that I have to clean up every two weeks. Personally I can't see myself trying to use a bar of soap that's been left out all wet in the shower, getting smaller and mushier by the day. Over the course of my research, I learned a couple of things that surprised me: first, there are ways to keep that soap from becoming a mushy mess on a shelf in your shower. And second, today's bar soaps are actually preferable to body washes and liquid soaps in a number of ways. Imagine my surprise, learning that what I'd believed about liquid soap being superior all these years being wrong! To be completely fair, in the 1990s when I moved out on my own and switched to liquid soaps, they really were the better product choice. How the times change. Bear in mind that when ...

 Looking to start using natural cleaning products but you aren't sure where to begin? Here are a few tips to get you going: There are a few must-have essentials to get you started. Throughout the coming year I'll share with you some of my favorite homemade cleaner recipes and scents, but this list here is where I started, and where you can start too. Baking Soda works best on proteins, greases, & animal messes; and because it's only slightly abrasive, it can scour surfaces without fear of scratching. It's also a natural deodorizer and less expensive than commercial scrubbing powders. I used to use a cleaner specifically marketed for glass cooktops when I started my business, because that's what we used before I bought my share of the business. The product is great and does the job, but it comes in a small container and is kind of pricy. So I decided to switch to an Arm & Hammer Baking Soda Kitchen Cleaner and see what happened, and I was thrilled with the re...

Wow, it feels like I haven't done anything useful online in forever! Because I haven't. One of the perks of owning my own business is being able to adjust my schedule for my own needs, and over the past several months I've needed to make a lot of time to help out with my grandchildren while their father was on deployment.  As a result, the part of my business easiest to put on the shelf until later is the online portion, since it doesn't really provide a financial contribution for me yet.  My goal this year is to double my business from last year at a minimum, and that means refocusing on my online presence and maintaining it for the foreseeable future.  And just to get my creative self going again, I'm dropping a little rant about something I've found online that absolutely drives me crazy: these viral cleaning videos. Let me start by saying there are loads of great videos out there and if you find someone who provides great content, I encourage you to follow t...

It's that time of year when we start closing the windows and cranking up the heat - and suffering the side effects that come along with dry air, leading to breaking out the humidifiers to help our sinuses and dry skin. But did you know... Without regular cleaning, humidifiers will become prime breeding grounds for growing mold and other microbes, which will then stream into the air along with the water vapors. These air pollutants can be especially troublesome for people with asthma, allergies, or other breathing and lung issues. As always, it's important to refer to your manufacturer's instructions for specifics regarding your particular humidifier model. However, these deep cleaning steps will work for most machines, including both cool and warm mist humidifiers. You will need: white distilled vinegar; a soft bristled brush or toothbrush; liquid chlorine bleach; and water. STEP ONE: DISASSEMBLE THE HUMIDIFIER You'll need to take apart the humidifier to make sure each ...

 I recently had a customer ask me what process could be done to deep clean a garbage disposal. I don't personally have a disposal in my home (where I've lived for almost 16 years), and I don't deep clean disposals as part of a regular cleaning. I do add vinegar to everyone's disposal when I clean, and I know that does help cut down on odors, but I decided it was time to take a closer look at what steps could be taken to deep clean a garbage disposal that really needs it. So, Janet, this one's for you! Most disposals I've seen look like the one here on the left. No wonder we're left with stinky kitchens even after a good deep cleaning! Your disposal needs a deep clean every 1-2 months as well, or you'll end up with a breeding ground for bacteria and mold. Small pieces of food can get stuck in the splash guard or grinding chamber and eventually decay. Grease and stringy vegetables can leave behind a slimy substance that the disposal can't pulverize, an...

 Learning to properly clean and care for your hardwood floors is one of the best ways to protect your investment. When cared for properly, your hardwood floors will last a lifetime. As a housekeeper, I can tell you that it is obvious immediately to someone coming into your home to clean it or to buy it whether your hardwood floors have been shown love or neglected. STEP ONE: SWEEP OR VACUUM HARDWOOD FLOORS Note: Don't forget to check with your manufacturer for any instructions specific to your flooring. The best way to clean hardwood floors is to adopt a regular routine. The first step is to remove dust and debris that can scratch or dull your floor's surface. Sweeping and vacuuming work well no matter what kind of wood floor you have. Use a broom or hardwood floor mop for daily cleaning. A microfiber dust mop pre-treated with a dusting agent will pick up dust and dirt, preventing scratches. Vacuum your hardwood floor once a week. Your first option is to use your vacuum's ...