cleaning service

Cleaning Your Bathroom In 5 Easy Steps

by Jennifer | 1 Comment Friday, February 3, 2012

Cleaning and maintaining your bathroom is not as hard as you might think. When you think of doing it, do hours of sweaty and nasty hard labor pop into your head? Well, the good news is it doesn’t have to be that way. Follow these steps in this order (to keep things sanitary and easy) and you will find that it’s really a piece of cake! All you need is a few clean rags, microfiber cloths (to help with lint and streaks,) a broom, mop, magic erasers, and cleaner. And don’t forget to go green! If you need help deciding what products to use, check out Our Blog On Creating Your Own House Cleaning Kit!

1. Mirrors

You always want to start with the mirrors with a fresh, clean rag for the best result, and spray the product directly on the mirror, followed by a dry microfiber cloth to ensure a clean finish. If you use a rag that has already been used elsewhere, you will likely have problems with streaking and smudging.

2. Counters

Using a fresh rag with the cleaning product of your choice, clean your countertops and sinks. Make sure you get underneath all items on the counters, as well as wiping off the items. Also, spot check the cabinets and clean as needed.

3. Tub and or Shower

Whether it’s a standing shower or combination tub/shower, you want to begin with the walls and work your way down. Spray down the walls and use a magic eraser if necessary to remove any soap scum, then wipe down again with a rag to smooth out. Then clean out the tub with the eraser and rags, and making sure the fixtures are clean as well.

4. Toilet

If you are using a homemade vinegar solution, you can pour or spray some in the bowl first and let sit to disinfect. Start with the tank, the sides, outside of the bowl, and the area between the tank and toilet seat. Then lift the lid and clean the seat and rim. Finish by scrubbing the toilet bowl with a brush and flush.

5. Clean The Floor

If you have carpet, simply vacuum, and use the hose attachment to go around the areas the vacuum can’t reach and over the baseboards. If you need to sweep and mop, sweep first, going over the baseboards as well. If your mop does not reach behind the toilet, use a rag to clean that area, then mop the rest of the floor. Let dry for 10 minutes and voila! Your bathroom is clean and sparkling!

Top 10 Things A Maid Service Guarantees That Independant Cleaners Can’t

by Jennifer | No Comments Friday, January 27, 2012

Having someone clean your home is a wonderful thing to do for yourself and your family. But the hard part is, who do you hire? Your neighbor’s housekeeper that she found through another friend, or a service with great online reviews? Fact of the matter is, and individual can almost always offer a greatly reduced price, but the important question is how are they able to offer this reduced price?  To help you make an informed decision, here are just a few of many reasons why it is worth it to hire a service.

10) Legitimacy

When you hire a reputable service, you are going with a business that pays into all required, county, state and federal tax agencies. This means that you don’t have to worry about providing 1099 forms for your individual housekeeper and the IRS won’t come knocking on your door to collect for things you didn’t know you were supposed to pay.

9) Quality Assurance

Nobody is perfect. It is important to know that everyone makes mistakes from time to time. But when you use a service, you know that you have full support with your cleaning needs, and any issues will be addressed and fixed to your satisfaction.

8) Consistency

The great thing about using a service, is that they have a staff that is familiar with your home and with your needs, so if your usual cleaner is sick or can’t come in for some reason, there will be someone to help out. This way, you always know that someone will be there to clean your home on the date you request, so that say for instance you have a cleaning scheduled the day of a party at your home, you won’t be left with a whole house to clean on top of everything else you need to do.

7) Communication

However, life does happen sometimes and things do need to change. Maybe your cleaner needs to come in the afternoon instead of morning? Or maybe they are at your home and have a question about where the dog treats are for your furry friend. Someone will promptly contact you with anything that needs to be communicated between you and your cleaner, so you have the peace of mind of knowing that you have all possible information.

6) Extensive And Constantly Updated Training

Each person hired into a service undergo thorough training to ensure they are providing the same quality service as everyone else. And as information in the industry is updated, training is refreshed as needed. This means that your cleaner knows exactly how to handle every surface in your home, and since everyone is trained the same, you know that if someone different comes to your home you will receive the same service.

5) Professionalism

With a service comes the great feeling of being a star! Your business is important, and you will be treated with the respect you deserve. It’s like having a VIP pass, the service is there to meet your needs, and will maintain a level of professionalism that will make you feel great about having them in your home.

4) Access To Information About The Business

Any reputable service will have a website with extensive information about their service and anything you need to know about them. And with that website and location comes access to reviews from other people about the business, which can be very helpful in making your decision. And if you’re not sure about something, simply call and ask! Someone should be available to answer any questions you have.

3) Bonded and Insured

Before you let anyone into your home to clean, you want to make sure they are bonded. This means that if anything gets broken or stolen from your home, that you are covered. We have had many clients switch to our service because their previous cleaner stole a great deal from them and disappeared, leaving them short of whatever was taken. A service does not anticipate theft, however it is taken very seriously and every precaution is taken to ensure that you, the client, are not responsible for anything that happens.

2) Background Checks

This is also an important thing to make sure of before letting anyone in to clean your home. You want to have the peace of mind of knowing that you can trust whomever you let into your home, whether you are there or not. If you talk to anyone about cleaning your home and they do not run background checks, hang up the phone and move on.

1) The Bragging Rights!

If anything, you will have the right to say “my service…” and see how your friends’ eyes light up! In reality, you chose a maid service because of the safety and security for you and your family, along with the peace of mind of knowing that your home is in good quality hands. But they don’t have to know that!

 

 

Simplifying Your Life: Starting At Home

by Jennifer | No Comments Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Life can be just plain hard sometimes. With so many things going on at once, it can be hard to remember to do the little things, which quickly turn to big things that you can’t find the time for. Here are a few tips for keeping your life simpler so you can focus on what’s really important.

Cutting Down on Laundry.

Instead of doing a little bit of laundry every day, consider cutting it down to only when you have large loads. It will save water and it won’t be a daily chore. Also, if it doesn’t smell or look dirty, don’t be afraid to wear it again! Nobody will know but you. This should go without saying, but certain articles of, ahem, personal items do not apply.

Get Rid Of Furniture You Don’t Need.

Do you keep bumping your shin on that second coffee table in the living room that really only collects clutter? Do you really need it? There are charity organizations, such as The Salvation Army that will come pick up unwanted items from your house if you just give them a call.

Clean Out Home Decor.

If a decorative item sits out long enough, eventually it will just fade into the background of your home and you can forget it’s there. A cluttered home can make you feel stressed even if you have no reason to be, so get rid of items and art that don’t mean enough to you to keep out on display.

Alton Brown Had The Best Rule For The Kitchen:

Avoid buying anything for the kitchen that only has one use. Those oh-so-brilliant infomercial items take up a lot of space, and can completely derail the look of your kitchen, so be practical with the things you keep in the kitchen and get rid of anything you don’t use regularly.

Hire A House Cleaner!

Just think of how wonderful it would feel to come home from a hard day at work and not have to worry about the state of your home. Sounds pretty nice, right?

What You Should Expect From Your House Cleaner Every Time

by Jennifer | No Comments Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Hiring a house cleaner can take a lot of stress out of your life and save you precious time. Most people don’t check every little thing the cleaner does every time, as it is already expected it will be done. However, there are a few things you should check from time to time to make sure you are always getting what you are paying for. Some things are to keep the overall look of your home sparkling clean, while some can be hazardous to your health and safety if not done regularly. Also, if you have not hired a service yet, make sure they know that these things are necessary, to avoid any miscommunication in the future.

You want to make sure your baseboards are being properly taken care of.

Typically, the first time a service comes to your home, they will hand-wash all of them, and every time after, touch them up and dust as needed to keep them in good condition. It is amazing how something so simple as having clean baseboards can change the look of every room.

Keeping your ceiling and room corners free of cobwebs.

This needs to be checked for and taken care of regularly. They can build up over time and create a negative feel to your home. Make sure your house cleaner is equipped with some sort of extendable duster, for the higher up areas.

Do you see any streaks, lint, or residue on any surfaces?

These are issues typically associated with an inexperienced cleaner, but it can be seen with anyone who is not being very thorough, and is a good indication of the quality of work throughout your home. All surfaces and mirrors should be free of any particulates or streaks, otherwise they will not look very clean, even though you know they have been. But keep in mind that if your home accumulates a lot of dust, some minor resettling may occur.

If you have an electric stove, the drip pans should be wiped out.

While there’s not much that can be done about burned in food, your drip pans should be free of all loose crumbs, which can easily catch fire when you are cooking. At the very least, it creates that unpleasant burning smell that can set off your fire alarms.

Your microwave should be kept in the best condition possible.

Most people don’t think much about this, but it can be a serious hazard to let the microwave build up food splatters over time. The food can catch fire, rendering the microwave useless, or even cause major damage to your kitchen or entire home.

Keeping the light switches and doorknobs clean.

Not only does it look bad to have switches and knobs grimy and filthy, but letting them go makes them major players in spreading sickness and harmful bacteria, since they are constantly being touched. Make sure your service provider’s all purpose cleaner has disinfecting properties, and that they are looking well taken care of.

Every home is different, and you may notice that there are other things you want from your cleanings. Make a list, and make sure those things are being done. And don’t be afraid to speak up if you notice things being overlooked or not done at all. Often, the issue can be handled quickly and peacefully. Click here to view our list of services, and see what you should expect with every cleaning!

At Bit a Bliss we are dedicated to providing extraordinary maid service in Plano, Frisco, Dallas and the surrounding area.  Everyone deserves a Bit a Bliss!  www.bitabliss.com

 

Quiz: How Often Should You Get Your House Cleaned?

by Jennifer | No Comments Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Hiring a maid service is one of life’s most appreciated pleasures. Between work, having a life, and for some: kids, and/or pets, it can be very taxing to keep your home as clean as you would like. But often the biggest question of hiring a cleaning service, is how often should they come? Some prefer every week (or more,) and some only need monthly, and there are options in between. So how do you decide what is best for you? Take this quick and easy quiz to find out!

1. How many pets do you have?
A. None
B. One
C. Two or more

2. How many people live in your house?
A. One
B. Two or three
C. Four or more

3. How much do you enjoy cleaning on your own?
A. Very much!
B. The basics in maintenance are fine
C. None! I want no part of it!

4. How picky are you about the cleanliness of your home?
A. Extremely picky
B. Somewhat picky, but not obsessive
C. I don’t really notice until it gets bad

5. How organized is your home?
A. I don’t keep any clutter, and everything has a specific place
B. Pretty well, I’m not messy but things can be a little out of place here and there
C. Organized? What’s that?

If you answered mostly A’s, your best option is monthly. You enjoy cleaning from time to time, you just don’t want to have to spend a much needed weekend off here and there cleaning, when you could be out enjoying yourself.

If you answered mostly B’s, your best option is bi-weekly. Although a little maintenance cleaning is fine, you are far too busy to worry about the state your home is in all the time.

If you answered mostly C’s, your best option is weekly. You are constantly on the go, and if you had to worry about cleaning on your own, you would never get any rest!

At Bit a Bliss we are dedicated to providing extraordinary maid service in Plano, Frisco, Dallas and the surrounding area.  Everyone deserves a Bit a Bliss!  www.bitabliss.com