Cleaning

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!

More Love From Our Clients!

by Scarlette | No Comments Thursday, February 2, 2012

Hi Scarlette,
I wanted to add my kudos to you & your team for all your help.

Bit of Bliss is my weekly miracle.  After trying numerous maid services, I was beginning to give up on finding a service that provided the results my husband and I were looking for, but Bit of Bliss came to our rescue in the knick of time.  They’re always dependable, efficient, and thorough and on more than several occasions went above and beyond.  Thank you Scarlette and your wonderful team for helping me keep my home just the way I want it.

Leigh Fullrich
Plano, TX

Keeping Chemicals Out Of Your Drains

by Jennifer | No Comments Monday, January 16, 2012

When you flush something down the toilet, pour something down the sink, or take a shower, the waste goes from your home to a water treatment plant. While the plants are very effective at giving us safe drinking water, they may not be able to erradicate all chemicals, potentially making the water hazardous to others and the environment. Everyone should know by now that is is dangerous to flush medication, but it can be easy to forget another culprit: cleaning supplies. Products such as toilet and drain cleaners may be cheap and convenient, but there are equally inexpensive (and often cheaper)environmentally sound alternatives to consider.

Toilet Cleaner

To clean and sanitize your toilet bowl, As Explained Here, simply pour 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar into the toilet and let sit for 15 minutes. Then scrub with a toilet brush and flush. And since you should know by now that vinegar is our favorite all purpose, use Our Formula to clean and sanitize the outside of the toilet and the seat as well.

Unclogging A Drain

We all have to deal with this from time to time, whether it be hair in the shower drain or food backing up the sink. But with just baking soda, vinegar, and water, this problem can be easily fixed. Go Here For The Details.

Doing Your Dishes

Making your own dish detergent is easier than you think, and a whole lot cheaper than store bought cleaners. The only downside is you need to make sure everyone rinses their dishes before loading them. For the Recipe, Check Out This Link. Also, about once a month or so you will want to run your diswasher empty on a short cycle with 1 cup of vinegar to keep the system fresh and void of foul odors.

Laundry Detergent

In the amazing recipe Given Here, this green option is just as effective as regular detergent, and much cheaper. It is also so easy that it won’t take much time out of your life. What have you got to lose?

Yard Care

Going organic on your yard care is not only great for your lawn, but it keeps pesticides and other chemicals from ending up in the sewer. For more information and resources, try Organic Lawn Care 101.

Your Shower

It’s easy to think you’re not really getting clean until you’re covered in foamy lather, but the truth is you don’t need it. Those bubbles are typically a chemical called sodium laurel sulfate, and are only added because they make a the lather and a cheap detergent. They can actually be harmful to you over time, leaving a residue on your vital organs. Go to Environmental Enthusiasts’s Blog for more information, as well as easy to find product alternatives that will get you just as clean and fresh. Or if you have the time, Click Here  if you want to really go 100% natural (which will save you a great deal of money as well!)

Check out our other blog on making you own Ultimate Green House Cleaning Kit as well to keep your home sparkling without any chemicals!

Best Maid Service in Dallas, Plano and Frisco

by Scarlette | No Comments Friday, January 13, 2012

Lately I have been getting these wonderful emails from our clients and I just had to share.  The staff at Bit a Bliss really cares about the clients we serve and it shows through their hard work and great relationships with our clients.

*Clients names have been removed

Hello Scarlette,

First, Happy New Year!! We hope your holidays were good. Ours were. Next, my wife and I just wanted to give you some feedback. Plainly and simply, we are delighted with Sheri’s work! This past week our house was especially dirty from the holidays, and she did a super job! We were both impressed and delighted to find the house spic and span. The floors shined, which was quite a feat as they were especially dirty. Sheri consistently does excellent work. We want to thank her and make you aware of her excellent work.

Thanks again,

P.s. I also was home one day when she came in, and I really appreciated how kind and sweet she was to our little dog. Of course, we love him, but I was delighted to learn (without her knowing I was there) that she treats him so well.
_______________________________________________________________

Scarlette,

Just wanted to let you know what an awesome job Alberta does on our home.  She did the house all by herself today and it is sparkling.  Please let her know how fantastic she is and keep her coming to our house.

If you have had a great experience with Bit a Bliss in Dallas, Plano, Frisco or the surrounding area, send me an email and let me know.  It is a joy to know that our service is exceeding expectations!  [email protected]

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

Keeping Your Car Interior Clean

by Jennifer | No Comments Thursday, January 5, 2012

If you’re anything like me, you practically live out of your car. If you’re not careful, there can be a mass pileup of trash and grime all over the place so fast you’ll wonder how it even happened. The obvious answer, of course, is not leaving anything in there at the end of the day, which is the best advice, but sometimes you just want to go straight to the couch when you get home from a long day. If you don’t have it in you to maintain your car daily, or can’t justify paying for someone else to clean it for you every week, try these helpful tips on keeping your car from becoming a hazard and an eyesore.

Keep A Trash Bag Where You Can Easily Reach It From The Drivers’ Seat.

That way, you don’t have to worry about food wrappers and miscellaneous trash ending up on the car floor. Keep extra bags under the seat, so that when you take the trash out, you can instantly replace the bag. If you have kids (NOT small children,) anchor a bag somewhere in the backseat for them to dispose of any trash they have as well.

Shake Out The Floor Mats and Vacuum The Seats Once A Week Or As Needed.

If your car regularly accomodates more than just yourself, you will want to do this once a week, to keep out any unwanted snacks, leaves, dirt, etc. from building up in your car. If you have the car to yourself most of the time, you could probably get away with doing it just as needed, but no less than once a month.

Keep Cleaning Supplies In Your Dashboard.

You always want to have baby wipes, disinfecting wipes, and window cleaner in your dashboard. Baby wipes work well for minor messes, such as removing liquid from the cupholder that spills out of the cup. Disinfecting wipes are a must, such as if you sneeze on your steering wheel. It is a good idea to use a wipe on the wheel and door handles regularly as well, to prevent spreading bacteria and viruses. Window cleaners are also a great tool. Being able to see clearly out of your winshield and windows is vital to your safety and of those riding with you. If you have leather seats, keep leather conditioner with you and give them a good wipe down once in a while, to keep them from drying out and cracking.

Go Ahead And Splurge On The Professional Cleaning Once In A While.

By keeping up with the basic maintenance of your car, it won’t be necessary to pay for a professional cleaning regularly, but it is still a good idea to do it at least a couple times a year. They will do things that you may not want to make time for, such as shampooing the rugs and upholstry, and detailing and dusting.

Keeping your car in good condition is beneficial to your health and safety, and can also have a great impact on the resale value of your car. For more great information on keeping your car interior clean, check out Ehow.com’s Article On Detailing Your Car Interior!