Cleaning Tips

As Canada's number one professional home cleaning company, MOLLY MAID has been providing professional home cleaning services and cleaning tips to Canadians for over 30 years. 

Cleaning Tips

Organization Floors Vacuuming Bathrooms Cobwebs

Dusting Tips Kitchens Picture Frames Electronics Windows

Pet Hair Spills Chrome Cleaning Supplies Clean by a Schedule

Organization

• Recruit your children to help with a basic house cleaning routine. Regularly following a routine will develop good organizational habits in your children and will reduce the stress caused by reminding your children to tidy their room.
• A toy chest kept at the end of your child's bed is an ideal place to store toys and games. Plastic bins or baskets that can be stored in a closet or underneath the bed are a perfect way to eliminate clutter.
• Always tidy first. Take any dirty dishes to the kitchen. Pick up loose toys. Collect newspapers and place in the recycle bin.
• Make a house cleaning kit that has all the essential supplies and materials needed to clean each room. Store in a brightly coloured plastic bucket or basket that can be carried from room to room.
• Make up a separate bathroom cleaning kit that will keep all the cleaners and equipment together in one place. Store in a plastic bucket or basket. Be sure to keep it out of reach of small children.
• Instead of many small perfume and personal care items sitting individually on the vanity counter, place them in a decorative basket or on a tray.
• If you find it difficult to clean because of the large amount of time spent picking up and putting things away, establish a house rule that if you take something out then you put it away.
• Stuff that has not been used in a long time may be just taking up space and can be donated to a charitable organization, sold at a yard sale or set outside at the curb with a "free" sign attached.
• Apply the MOLLY MAID System of cleaning from Top to Bottom and Left to Right in whatever room you are cleaning. This is the quickest and most efficient way to clean.
• Magazines, newspapers, or other subscriptions piling up? Re-evaluate your subscriptions and cancel those you no longer read. This is an easy way to save money and time by de-cluttering your home on a long-term basis.

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Dusting Tips

• Dust first and vacuum second. Any bits of dust and dirt will fall to the floor where they will be collected in the vacuum cleaner.
• The best dust cloth is a damp, clean, microfibre cloth. To dampen, hold the cloth by a corner and lightly mist with clean water from a spray bottle. The cloth should be just damp enough to pick up dust without leaving moisture streaks on the furniture. Microfibre cloths are not only extremely effective but also great for green cleaning.
• When dusting wall units follow this procedure: first lift and dust each object; then dust the shelf both underneath and behind. Start from the top of the unit and dust down to the bottom.
• Remove dust from the front of stereo speakers with the vacuum hose and flat attachment.
• Always check the owner's manual for instructions regarding the care and cleaning of your electronic equipment.
• Never clean a warm or hot light bulb with a damp cloth, as the bulb will shatter.
• Dampen a clean, soft paintbrush to remove dust from louvered doors, telephone keys, carved furniture, etc.
• Clean mini blinds can be maintained with a minimum of effort using a lamb's wool duster or the soft brush attachment on the vacuum cleaner. Close the slats; dust across the slats starting at the top; close the slats the opposite way and dust across again.
• Wipe wood surfaces with the grain to avoid streaks.
• To clean a picture, wipe the top of the frame first, down the sides and across the bottom. Always spray glass cleaner on your cloth and never directly on the glass to prevent seepage under the glass that could damage the picture.
• A clean, lightly dampened cloth tied around the working end of your dust mop or broom will take care of cobwebs.
• A clean, damp cloth or rubber glove will remove pet hair from furniture upholstery.

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Pet Hair

• A damp cloth or rubber glove will remove pet hair from the upholstery of the furniture.

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Floor Cleaning Tips

• Sweep or vacuum kitchen floors first to collect crumbs and dirt before damp mopping. Start washing the floor in the farthest corner of the room and work your way towards the door.
• Use a cloth on the end of a mop handle to reach the narrow space between appliances.
• Vacuum or sweep the bathroom floor to collect any loose hair, dust and dirt prior to washing the floor. Remove mats, wastebaskets and any other items sitting on the floor that may get in the way.
• Never place a mat on a wet floor as the rubber backing will discolour the floor surface.
• A plastic hair brush or hair pick will straighten the fringe on area carpets. Comb the carpet fringe in a direction away from the center of the carpet.
• To reduce the risk of slip and fall accidents, place anti-slip backing under throw rugs.
• Place a mat inside and outside each entrance to your home to reduce the dirt that is brought in on shoes and boots.
• Protect your floors and furniture by preventing surface damage. Never set wet cloths, bottles, buckets or damp mops on furniture, hardwood floors, carpet or marble.

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Kitchen Cleaning Tips

• To soften splatters inside the microwave, fill a cup with water and microwave on high for one minute. The steam will loosen any baked on food so it can be wiped clean. Be careful that the water does not boil over the cup and burn your hand.
• Make it a habit to wipe up all spills immediately when they are much easier to clean. Once the spill has dried and hardened, it will be more difficult to remove.
• Allow burner rings and drip pans from the stove to soak in a sink full of hot, soapy water. This will loosen the dirt and make them easier to clean.
• Clear the ports of a gas burner with a fine wire or a straight pin. Do not use a toothpick as it can break off and block the port.
• Allow ceramic cook tops to cool before cleaning. Never use a wet cloth on a hot surface. Do not set dirty pots and pans on the surface as they can mark it permanently.
• Spillovers from foods high in sugar such as milk and tomato based foods may etch or discolour the surface. Wipe these spills immediately with a dry cloth.
• To remove finger prints from stainless steel appliances, add a small amount of baby oil to a clean, soft cloth and wipe the surface in the direction of the grain.
• Never use oven cleaner in a self-cleaning oven, as the product will clog the pores in the coating and may damage the surface.
• Spray oven racks in a plastic garbage bag for easier cleaning.
• Never use metal scouring pads, steel wool, abrasives and powdered cleaning products on kitchen surfaces such as stainless steel, ceramic, porcelain enamel, marble, limestone, etc. as these products will scratch and permanently damage the surface.
• Do not use vinegar, lemon juice or other cleaners containing acids on marble or limestone surfaces.
• Check the owner's manual for the manufacturer's recommendations and directions for cleaning all kitchen appliances.
• Clean chrome surfaces can be polished to an eye catching shine with a dry microfibre cloth.
• Dish cloths and sponges can be incubators for germs. Launder dish cloths regularly, and microwave damp sponges in the microwave on high for a few minutes to kill bacteria.

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Spills

• Make it a habit to wipe up all spills immediately when they are much easier to clean. Once the spill has dried and hardened, it will be more difficult to remove.

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Vacuuming Tips

• Change the vacuum bag as recommended by the manufacturer to maintain maximum suction.
• If the vacuum has poor suction it might be the result of a blocked hose. To check for a blockage, disconnect the hose and then drop a penny down the hose. If the penny falls out, your hose is likely not the problem.
• A small hand vacuum with a beater bar is useful for vacuuming upholstery and carpeted stair steps.
• Only use a power head to vacuum carpeted areas. Never use a beater bar on hard surfaces. The beater bar can leave small marks on a hardwood floor.
• Look underneath the furniture before vacuuming so the vacuum does not pick up small items such as toys, jewelry, coins, etc.

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Picture Frames

• To clean a picture, wipe the top of the frame first, down the sides and across the bottom. Always spray glass cleaner on your cloth and never directly on the glass to prevent seepage under the glass that could damage the picture.

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Chrome Cleaning Tips

• A dry clean microfibre cloth will polish chrome to an eye-catching gleam.

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Bathroom Cleaning Tips

• Use a toothbrush for hard to reach areas around the soap holder, taps and drain.
• Add a fabric softener sheet to the wastebasket to avoid odours.
• Foggy mirrors can be easily remedied by rubbing a small amount of glycerin onto the surface.
• A small window squeegee used on the tile walls after each shower will slow the formation of water spots on the surface.
• To unclog shower heads, remove and soak the head in boiling water and vinegar.

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Electronics

• Remove dust from the front of stereo speakers with the vacuum hose and flat attachment.
• Always check the owner's manual for instructions regarding the care and cleaning of your electronic equipment.

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Cleaning Supplies

• Limit your cleaning products to a quality window/glass cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, tile/grout cleaner and a toilet bowl cleaner.
• When purchasing supplies, look for green cleaning products.
• For your personal safety, never mix two cleaning products together. Don't mix bleach and ammonia; this combination creates a toxic and lethal gas.

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Cobwebs

• A clean lightly dampened cloth tied around the working end of your dust mop or broom will take care of cobwebs.

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Window Cleaning Tips

• Streaks on windows are unsightly and tricky to eliminate. When cleaning windows, wipe one side of the glass horizontally and the other side vertically. This way, when polishing out streaks, it will be easy to determine which side they are on.

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Clean by a Schedule

• It will be easier and less time consuming to clean the bathroom if it is done on a regular basis. Then you will be maintaining the room instead of allowing mildew and soap scum to build up over time.
• Create a long-term cleaning schedule that lists tasks often left out of regular cleans, such as ovens, light fixtures and fridge interiors. By knowing what you plan on cleaning, and how often, you can develop a strategy that ensures nothing is overlooked.
• While spring cleaning is important, also remember to perform a thorough clean in the fall. This way, the dust, pollen, and dirt brought in during the summer months can be eliminated before the house is closed up for the winter.

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