Maid 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!

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

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!

 

 

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

Preparing For Winter Weather

by Jennifer | No Comments Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Texas weather is famous for being unpredictable year-round. It can be 75 degrees in the morning, and 40 degrees by afternoon. If you live here, you have probably said the phrase “if you don’t like the weather in Texas, wait 5 minutes” dozens of times. But of all the wacky seasons, winter is the most dangerous. It doesn’t always snow, but you can almost always count on it to get icy here and there, and while we don’t get nearly as much as a lot of places, it can be incredibly dangerous since our cars are not typically equipped to handle such conditions and we are not in any way accustomed to that kind of driving. Although winter weather doesn’t take up any significant time period of the year (anywhere from a day or two, to a couple weeks) it is still a good idea to know how to handle those kind of conditions, on and off the road. Here are a few guidelines to help you if/when those days come.

Avoid Driving If At All Possible.

Easier said than done, right? Life doesn’t want to stop just because the weather said so. But ask yourself, is the need to get out worth the potential loss, be it a costly accident or a life, really worth it? Our rule is: if the school systems close, we do too. They won’t risk children’s lives for a day of school, why should you risk yours to go to work or run errands? Stock up your kitchen and other essentials before bad weather, so you are not forced to go out.

If You Must Drive, Follow The Rules.

Wear Your Seatbelt!

Enough said.

Check The Air Pressure In Your Tires.

If your tires are low on air, you are at a significantly higher risk of losing control in ice and rain.

Pre-heat Your Car Interior.

Turn the car on at least 10 minutes before you leave, so it will have time to warm the inside. Not only is it uncomfortable to drive when it’s just as cold in the car as it is outside, but if you are too cold you will be more frigid in stance, and more likely to press too hard on the gas and brakes and jerk the steering wheel. And being comfortable will help you focus better on the situation at hand.

Make Sure All Windows Are Defrosted And Clear Before You Leave.

You need all the visibility you can get, even if you are just going around the corner.

Check The Weather and Traffic Report Before You Leave.

Make sure you know exactly what conditions you are getting into, so you don’t find yourself stuck behind a wreck or battling a storm when it looked clear before.

Turn Into A Skid.

The same applies for hydroplaning, if you find yourself out of control of the car, slowly turn the wheel in the direction you are going, this will help you regain control.

Don’t Go Normal Speed And Don’t Slam Your Brakes For Any Reason.

Go as slow as you can without disrupting the flow of traffic, which can make things worse. Under no circumstance should you press hard on your brakes, you will lose control  of the car. If you think you are going to go into the back of a car or object, stay calm and slowly apply the brakes. It is better to hit something at a slower speed than skid trying to avoid it and potentially make it a more serious accident.

For more information on safe driving in icy conditions, check out IceRoadSafety.com Tips To Remember.