Category: Cleaning

Upholstery Care Guide

Vacuum & Brush Frequently

Use a soft, dry upholstery brush to loosen and remove surface dirt, then vacuum to remove dust. Always use the brush attachment to prevent fabric damage. Use an upholstery brush in the direction of the pile to restore the loft and uniformity of high-pile fabric.

Cushion Care

Cushions require occasional fluffing to restore their shape and natural loft. Fluff and smooth the inserts, and flip and rotate the cushions periodically to increase longevity. We do not recommend removing cushion casings for laundering. This can damage the fabric, and it also can be tricky to fit them back onto the cushions.

Keep It Safe

Protect from heat, sunlight, and liquids. To keep your upholstery in optimal condition, avoid placing it in direct sunlight. If spills occur, blot immediately with a clean, dry cloth.

As a general rule, spot cleaning is not recommended as it can cause fading. It’s best to professionally clean the entire piece to ensure the color remains uniform.

Codes

Your professional upholstery cleaning company will need the fabric’s cleaning code. Please reference our fabric guide for your furniture’s upholstery cleaning code.

S (Solvent Only)

Instruct a professional cleaning service to use pure, water-free solvents. Petroleum distillate-based products may be also used.

SW (Solvent & Water)

Instruct a professional cleaning service to use water-based cleaning agents, foam, or pure solvents.

Briar Floral Velvet

We recommend consulting a professional upholstery cleaner on how to best maintain this fabric.

Margot Floral Velvet

We recommend consulting a professional upholstery cleaner on how to best maintain this fabric.

FABRIC & UPHOLSTERY

GENERAL UPHOLSTERY CARE

Because dust and dirt cause fabric to wear faster, we recommend vacuuming regularly with an upholstery attachment.

Flip, rotate and fluff removable cushions regularly to ensure even wear and increase longevity.

Feather and down cushions have excellent recovery, but much like down comforters or pillows, need to be fluffed frequently to restore their loft. Some feather loss is normal. Vacuuming with an upholstery attachment between the fabric casings and cushions will help prevent feathers from poking through the fabric.

Tight (attached) cushions will stretch and wrinkle with use. You can easily restore their appearance by smoothing the surface and tucking excess upholstery into the sides of the seat or back.

To minimize fading, avoid placing your upholstered furniture in direct sunlight. Dark fabrics and natural fibers like cotton are most susceptible to fading.

An annual professional cleaning will keep your upholstered furniture looking its best

HOW TO SPOT CLEAN UPHOLSTERY FABRIC

Do not dry clean or machine wash cushion casings as it may damage the fabric, backing or stitching. For large or persistent stains, contact an in-home professional upholstery cleaning company.

For spot cleaning small stains, we recommend Folex Instant Carpet Spot Remover or Crypton Purple or Gold Upholstery Stain Remover, which are safe to use on all of our fabrics.

Treat stains immediately for the best results. Blot up as much of the spill as possible with a clean, dry, white cloth. Don’t rub.

Apply a small amount of cleaner to the stain and gently agitate it with your fingertips. Avoid oversaturation which can damage the fabric backing or cushions.

Blot the stain with a clean, dry, white cloth, working from the outer edge to the center of the stain.

Continue to apply cleaner sparingly and blot until the stain no longer transfers onto the cloth. This may take several attempts. When you’ve removed as much of the stain as possible, blot any remaining cleaner from the fabric.

If your spot cleaner recommends a water rinse, apply a small amount of distilled water to the stained area and blot to remove. Tap water may stain or discolor the fabric due to its mineral content.

Use a hair dryer on the lowest heat setting to evenly dry the fabric and prevent moisture rings.

Replacement cushion casings are available

FABRIC CLEANING CODES FOR PROFESSIONAL CLEANING

In-home professional upholstery cleaning companies will request your fabric’s cleaning code, available at roomandboard.com/fabrics or on the back fabric swatches. Please contact us with any cleaning code or care questions.

S = Solvent. Use only water-free, pure cleaning solvents.

W = Water. Use only water-based upholstery cleaning products.

SW = Solvent or Water. Use pure cleaning solvents or water-based cleaning products.

HOW TO SPOT CLEAN DILUTED-BLEACH CLEANABLE FABRICS

DO NOT use this cleaning method if you are unsure if your fabric is diluted-bleach cleanable.

Remove any loose debris. Blot up liquids on the fabric’s surface with a clean, dry, white cloth. Don’t rub.

In a spray bottle, prepare a solution of one ounce bleach and 30 ounces water.

On the spray bottle’s “fan” nozzle setting, spray the stain with the bleach and water solution and let it soak in.

Using a soft bristle brush or sponge, very gently work the solution into the stain. Work from the outside in so as not to spread the stain. Rinse your brush or sponge frequently. (Rough brushing or sponging can damage the fabric and reduce its ability to repel stains.)

Use a spray bottle to spray the fabric with clean water to rinse off the bleach solution.

Thoroughly blot the stain with a clean, damp cloth. Rinse the cloth between blots, and continue until the stain is gone.

Allow fabric to air dry.

If the stain remains, repeat these steps using a stronger bleach solution of two ounces of bleach and 30 ounces of water.

FURNITURE CARE GUIDE: TIPS FOR CLEANING FABRIC SOFAS

Your furniture is an investment. It’s also at the center of your family’s universe, which means it’s highly likely to be the victim of accidental spills, stains, and general everyday wear and tear. The good news is that tough stains and messy spills don’t have to be part of your furniture forever as long as you follow proper care and cleaning tips. And we can’t stress this enough—address any spill or stain immediately! The longer it sits in the fabric, the harder it will be to remove.

Things To Know Before You Buy

Consider your lifestyle. The fabric content of your sofa can give you great insight into the level of care it will require to stay looking fresh and new. Kids, pets, or frequent dinner guests? You may want to look for durable performance fabric options. Not a concern? Feel free to explore more delicate fabric blends that contain linen or wool, for example.

Consider the cushions. Sofas constructed with loose and/or reversible cushions are typically more forgiving. Conversely, sofas with a tight seat or back style will generally keep their shape longer, but won’t have the convenience of being able to flip over or rotate a cushion.

Consider fabric protection. Our furniture protection warranty program provides peace of mind and protects your furniture investment, giving you the freedom to enjoy your beautiful furniture worry-free from accidents.

How to Clean Fabric Stains

Read the label. Take the time to familiarize yourself with your sofa manufacturer’s recommended cleaning and care instructions. These are often found underneath your cushions on a tag and indicate the best way to clean your sofa when spills do occur. It is important not to ignore these instructions, as your furniture manufacturer knows their product better than anyone else. Failing to follow these instructions could not only void your warranty, but could leave you with permanent marks if the wrong cleaning method or solution is used.

Know the cleaning codes. Your sofa will most likely have one or two letters on the tag beneath the cushion indicating the manufacturer’s recommended cleaning method(s).

W stands for: Water-based cleaner. As the name indicates, this type of solution uses water as the primary cleaning component, and is therefore the only recommended cleaning solution.

S stands for: Solvent-based cleaner. This type of solution uses a cleaning chemical as the primary component, and is therefore the only recommended cleaning solution.

WS or SW stands for: Solvents and water-based cleaners. You can safely use either one to clean your sofa.

X stands for: Not cleanable with water- or solvent-based solutions. Rather than using a solution to clean the fabric, it is only recommended that you clean with vacuuming or light brushing.

Tackle stains quickly. As soon as a spill or stain occurs, clean it immediately for the best results. Even allowing a few minutes to pass can cause the stain to set in, making it harder to remove.

Lightly vacuum (if necessary). If there are food crumbs or loose particles on your sofa, be sure to use a hand-held vacuum or vacuum attachment to gently remove them prior to tackling the stain.

Spot clean with the recommended solution. Before you begin cleaning, be sure to spot test your solution in an inconspicuous area first to ensure it’s the right product for your fabric content. Once you’re in the clear, begin cleaning your sofa with the recommended solution. As with the instructions on your sofa’s tags, it’s also imperative that you follow the instructions on the cleaning solution’s packaging.

Blot and dry. Assuming your cleaning solution’s packaging says it’s safe to do so, blot the cleaned, wet spot with a dry microfiber cloth to soak up any residual moisture.

Let it “sit.” Avoid sitting in the cleaned area until it is fully dry. This often requires a good air dry overnight, resulting in a fresh, clean sofa in the morning.

ULTIMATE FURNITURE CLEANING GUIDE

It’s January! Otherwise known as the time of year where we refresh everything we can get our hands and mental energy on. We at Article have lots of resolutions, but chief amongst them is to become masterful cleaners. Not pedestrian, clean-the-bathroom, scrub-the-sink cleaners, but the kind of diagnostic expert that understands how to clean a range of fibres, materials, and fabrics. To that end, we’ve built this handy ultimate furniture cleaning guide to help you come along on our journey toward expertise. Roll up your sleeves and put on an apron: we’re going deep.

GENERAL CARE TIPS

The sunny spot — best left to your animals. Shafts of sunlight are great mood lifters, but if you can, try to position your furniture so it’s not sitting in direct light. UV rays will fade and damage leather, wood, and fabric items.

Be careful with chemicals. Household chemical cleaners and detergents work great in your bathroom and on some kitchen appliances. Nothing is more satisfying than dissolving shower mold. However, when it comes to furniture, we generally recommend against them. Chemical cleaners can have strange reactions with natural fibers and materials. To avoid weird spots, we go without, or leave it to the pros.

Flip it and reverse it. If you have furniture with removable cushions, get into the habit of turning them frequently. Flipping a cushion doesn’t make a stain go away (we’ve tested this extensively), but it does help to evenly distribute wear. Everyone has their favorite seat. It just doesn’t need to look that way.

HOW TO CLEAN LEATHER FURNITURE

There is nothing quite like the creamy, soft texture of leather. Leather furniture is a carefully considered investment purchase. At Article, we use full and semi aniline leather across all of our products. Quick refresher: “aniline” refers to the dying process a hide goes through once it’s been tanned. Full aniline retains its natural markings (think bug bites, scratches, etc); semi-aniline has a thin layer of wax applied before dying to help color be absorbed more evenly. Semi-aniline leather has a more uniform appearance. Ultimate furniture cleaning guide tip number one: know thy fabric.

We love full aniline leather because it’s especially forgiving. General wear shows up on the couch, but quickly gets in step with the overall look and blends right in. Cleaning both full aniline and semi aniline leather furniture is the same, and it’s simple. Once a week grab a clean, damp cloth and use it to wipe or buff away noticeable stains. Use a brush vacuum-attachment to clear up debris and crumbs from tufts, seams, and corners. Doing this regularly keeps debris from caking into hard-to-reach areas.

To keep your leather looking its best, commit to giving it a regular wipe-down with a leather conditioner for hydration and shine. We like the leather salve and leather oil from Otterwax. Apply once you’ve received and set up your sofa, and then again every six months to keep it in tip-top shape.

A Sofa-Cleaning Guide for Pet Owners

When you have pets, accidents happen. Unfortunately, sometimes that means those accidents happen on your furniture. But all is not lost. With a few tips and tricks, you can keep your sofa looking good and feeling comfy as a favorite spot for both you and your pet. Renew the look of your sofa with our guide on removing stains, getting rid of pet hair, and hiding wear and tear.

Removing Stains and Odors

So, you’ve just noticed your beloved four-legged friend has left behind a less-than-pleasant calling card on your upholstered sofa, chaise or club chair. Ugh! Getting these stains out may seem impossible, but with a few handy tricks up your sleeve, you can restore your couch to its former glory.

1. Soak it up. For liquid accidents, first soak up as much of the liquid as you can. Start by blotting the mess (not rubbing, as this could damage the fabric fibers), then lay down a towel to absorb what remains. This will help to reduce any odors and will make the stain removal process that much easier later on.

2. Air out the cushions. After you’ve soaked up the liquid, air out any of the removable pieces of your sofa, including cushion inserts. You can also vacuum upholstery with a HEPA vacuum to help alleviate any lingering odors.

3. Spot clean or wash. Before you apply any cleaning solutions to your sofa, check the manufacturer’s instructions. If the instructions indicate that detergents are okay to use, apply a detergent or a cleanser designed specifically for upholstery. Then gently dab at the spot, rinsing with water as necessary. Baking soda and pet-specific enzymatic cleaners can also be effective at removing the stain. Avoid steam cleaning, as the heat can cause any stains to set in. If your sofa has machine-washable slipcovers, pre-treat any spots or stains with an upholstery detergent before laundering (again, check manufacturer’s instructions).

4. Neutralize the odors. Baking soda can be helpful in removing stains and odors. Leave this on for a few hours or overnight, depending on the severity of the smell, and then vacuum it up. You could also apply an enzymatic spray, which is formulated for pet messes and designed to naturally eliminate odors. Vinegar, if safe for your specific fabric, can also help neutralize strong smells.

If you find a stain that’s already dry and set into the fabric, it may be best to call a professional upholstery cleaner. Stains that have already set in are much more difficult to remove. Sometimes trying to clean them can damage the fabric fibers and ultimately make the mess look worse. Professional cleaners can work to get messes out without pushing them into the fabric and cushions.

Removing Pet Hair

It’s a matter of life for many animal owners: Pets shed. While shedding comes with the territory of owning certain breeds of dogs and cats, removing pet hair is relatively simple for upholstery. An easy trick? Dampen a pair of rubber gloves or a sponge and simply glide your hands across your sofa. The hair will clump together, making it come up with minimal effort. Classic lint rollers and hair magnet brushes can also be great at helping to pick up your furry friend’s hair from your sofa.

Move Out Cleaning: What to Clean Before Moving Out

Here’s how to move out and what you need to clean before you do

You’ve snagged a deal on a new place and you’ll never have to look at your old apartment again; you’re moving out! Well, once you’ve completed your move out cleaning, of course.

Most renters don’t pay close attention to the details of moving out of their space when they move into their apartment, but most leases stipulate that, before handing over your keys on move-out day, you need to clean your apartment or risk losing a portion of your security deposit. So before you say goodbye to your old place, here’s what your move out cleaning needs to involved.

Refer to Your Lease

The best way to get started is to find your lease and locate the portions that involve any move out cleaning information. There might already be language in your lease that stipulates what exactly you have to pay for or clean before moving out.

For example, it’s not uncommon for a landlord of a large multi-unit complex to automatically charge tenants for carpet cleaning, blinds cleaning, and in some cases, even carpet replacement when moving out. Some leases have the exact amount specified in the lease, while others will depend on which company the landlord uses for this service.

Speak to Your Landlord

If you have any questions at all that your lease doesn’t cover, you should speak to your landlord and clarify how thorough your move out cleaning needs to be. Getting an idea of their cleaning expectations will help you prioritize your cleaning.

In most cases, you will be on the hook for the move out cleaning. Do a great job and leave everything as it was when you moved in and you’ll have a better chance of getting your security deposit back. If you do a sub-par job, the landlord may be legally allowed to hire a cleaning crew and charge you for the cost.

Talk to your landlord about how thorough of a job you’ll need to do, and know ahead of time if you’re responsible for the move out cleaning or if they’ll be hiring cleaners regardless. If they will be hiring a cleaning service, get an estimate in writing of how much it will cost you.

If You’re Responsible, Make Sure You Really Clean

Most landlords define “clean” as sparkling, brand-new, and barely able to tell the unit was recently inhabited. This means that if you’re cleaning it yourself, you’ll need to be thorough in your cleaning – very thorough.

Here are some Suggestions:

First: Do Small Repairs or hire a Handyman.

Making repairs before moving out is a balancing act. Odds are that your landlord will charge you more to fix something than it would cost to do it yourself, but don’t overdo it. Only make repairs you can do quickly and cheaply. For example, don’t fix anything that came broken and don’t improve another person’s property for the sake of your security deposit.

Make small and easy repairs, including:

Patch Holes. Use putty and some paint to patch up any holes you made hanging pictures or curtains.

Paint. If you painted any room in the rental, paint it back to its original color.

Replace Light Bulbs and Batteries. Add light bulbs to any burned out fixtures and check the batteries in the smoke detector.

Make the Stove Look New. If you burned anything on the pans below the burners, replace them rather than clean them. These only cost a few dollars at a hardware store.

Make the Bathroom Shine. Use a bleach pen or white paint to touch up any stains or marks you caused in the sink or bathtub.

Also Take Your Stuff

If you leave anything behind, especially something big, the landlord will have to hire someone to remove it, which will come out of your security deposit. Double and triple check storage areas, closets, drawers, and cabinets before you leave for the last time.

Return Your Keys

Many tenants forget this step and it costs them. When you’re finally out of your rental, contact your landlord and set up a time to drop off the keys. Make sure you give him everything you have, including gate and mailbox keys. Otherwise, the landlord will charge you a replacement fee for every key you take with you.

Be Careful with the Walls. A lot of renters use expandable brackets to brace large pictures and furniture to the walls. But these brackets often leave large holes when you remove them later. If at all possible, find a less damaging way to display your decor.

Keep the Rental in Good Shape. Treat the space like it’s your own property and not “just a rental.” Keep it clean and in good condition while you’re living there. For example, clean up spills on the counters and floors immediately and be particularly careful with light-colored carpets and counters that can stain easily. Treat appliances with respect so they remain in good working order when it’s time to move out.

Pay Your Rent on Time. Make sure you have your rent check to your landlord by the due date each month. This is the single easiest way to get and stay in good graces with your landlord. He may also be more forgiving of small wear and tear you cause if you maintain a good relationship.

Move-Out Inspection. Ask your landlord to complete a move-out inspection with you after you’ve moved your belongings and cleaned the apartment. Have the landlord explain any damages. If pre-existing damages are noticed, show your landlord the list you agreed on in your move-in inspection as well as the photos you took. You can offer to fix new damages yourself or try to negotiate down the cost of the deduction from your security deposit. Get any agreements in writing so your landlord won’t be tempted to renege on them.

What to clean in your apartment bedroom when moving

As the bedroom will not be visited often during the last days of the moving, begin your cleaning there:

• Hoover and wipe all dust from all areas including those hard to reach spots such as behind and under the bed, wardrobe, nightstand, desk and other furniture;
• Dust and clean the windows, blinders, curtains, curtain rails, door frames, light fittings, picture frames etc. Careful with washing dry clean curtains only.
• Remove any fingerprints or other stains on the mirrors, doors, window sills, handles and other shiny or reflective surfaces and decoration;
• Look for cobwebs and remove them, every inch of your apartment should be spotless;

Pro tip: Liberate Windows from Smudges and Dust

Grab a bucket with soapy water, since you can expect lots of hidden dirt to reveal its true, messy colours. You should also wipe the window sills and their underside area to ensure that your windows pass the “finger swipe” test.

CLEANING YOUR HOME BEFORE A MOVE

When it’s time to move, it’s also time to clean. Not only should you clean the place you’re leaving, but you should also clean your new home. Moving into a new and clean home is a great feeling. Here are some of the things you should consider when it comes to cleaning the home you’re leaving and your new home.

WHAT TO CLEAN BEFORE YOU MOVE OUT

If you’re moving out of a rental, you want to clean the necessary areas to ensure you get your deposit back, or at least most of it. Those moving from a home they have sold should also clean as a courtesy to the new owners. A few cleaning tasks you should consider include:

• Remove all screws and nails from the walls and putty the hole.
• Dust everything including ledges and ceiling fixtures
• Clean the windows
• Clean all doors and door knobs
• Clean the outlets and light switches
• Vacuum (if the carpet has stains have it professionally cleaned)
• Thoroughly clean the bathrooms
• Clean everything in the kitchen including the refrigerator
• Dust, sweep, mop and vacuum any empty rooms

If you do have an outside as a part of your rental or house, cut the grass and sweep out the garage.

Hiring a Cleaner

If you don’t have the time or energy to conduct a thorough deep cleaning, it’s a good idea to hire a professional cleaning company. They can do it for you. Professional cleaning costs will vary depending on the size of your home and your needs.

The average cost of professional house cleaning services is $25 – $50 per hour of cleaning. Additional cleaning tasks including windows, carpet cleaning, cleaning storage areas, and other duties may cost more.

Helpful Tips

Fire Protection and General Safety:

Don’t store flammable materials in the furnace room or next to your furnace and hot water tank.

Ensure that adequate ventilation is provided to rooms containing gas/oil fired furnaces/boilers and gas/oil fired hot water tanks.

Any door leading from an attached garage into the dwelling must be exterior/fire rated door, equipped with a self-closing device.

Always having a fire extinguisher readily available.

Plan two evacuation routes. Keep fire evacuation routes clear of clutter.

Keep your cooking area well organized and free of clutter.

Handrails must be installed alongside all staircases containing more than three steps.

Eliminate any trip hazards or flooring defects. Keep your hallways and corridors clear.

Refraining from overloading electrical circuits.

Avoid permanent use of electrical extension cord.

Clear access must be maintained in front of the electrical panel, the furnace/boiler access and the main water shut–off valve.

Install at least one Smoke Alarm and CO Detector on each floor level.

Test and maintain Smoke and CO Detectors on monthly basis.

Emergency and family contact telephone numbers can be displayed permanently at or near the kitchen telephone.

MOLD REMEDIATION

Here is your direct link to everything you want to know about finding and treating mold in your home, and other related information that you’ll find really useful and interesting. Our topics will span mold inspection, mold remediation, and mold testing, as well as offer you helpful tips direct from our mold remediation specialists.

People know more about what to do with moldy food (throw it away!) than they do about how to treat mold in their home. As our experts go to mold remediation jobs, they often meet people who don’t know a lot about indoor mold or believe things that are simply not true. Because many don’t understand the mold problem correctly, they may have delayed treating the mold, or tried cleaning it up themselves without understanding how mold acts and grows.

MOLD WILL ONLY GROW IN THE BASEMENT.

Mold appears and reproduces in areas where there is moisture. Increased levels of indoor moisture, water leaks, or water damage (flooding) can all help the mold to grow and spread. While it is true that basements are more prone to mold growth, it’s not the only place in your home where mold can grow! Any area in your home can be an ideal place for mold to grow given the right conditions, whether it is the basement or not.

THERE ARE CERTAIN DANGEROUS MOLD STRAINS, AND THESE ARE THE ONLY TYPES OF MOLD YOU SHOULD WORRY ABOUT.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that you eliminate any apparent mold, no matter what type of mold it is. Any mold can be a severe health problem to sensitive members in your family, such as children and infants.

IF YOU CAN SEE THE MOLD, YOU CAN TAKE CARE OF IT YOURSELF.

If the mold is only on hard, non-porous surfaces, or if the mold is in a small area, you have a good chance of success trying to remove it yourself. Otherwise, the mold that you can visually see is not the whole story, not by a long shot. Even if you try to remove it by yourself, you might not find all the places where the mold is growing, especially in porous materials like drywall and insulation. In fact, cleaning mold yourself can send more spores into the air, making the problem bigger, not smaller. To prevent the mold from spreading to other areas, you need a mold specialist to help you eliminate the mold from your home safely and properly.

Useful Tips for Prevention and Removal

In the restoration industry, one of the biggest threats to health and safety for home owners and businesses alike is mold.

Without proper clean up and containment, mold can lead to compromised health conditions and respiratory illnesses.

But there are effective ways to get rid of mold and leave your property uncontaminated and clean

This past week, Hurricane Florence barreled its way through the Carolinas, bringing with it substantial amounts of rain, high winds, and subsequent flooding. Though the actual hurricane was downgraded to a tropical storm over the weekend, the impact and damage have continued.

Most significantly, the entire coastal area has been hit with widespread and catastrophic flooding from a combination of record rainfalls and massive storm surges.

Tips on How to Remedy Symptoms of Mold

Does your home or office have the symptoms of mold?

Have a musty odor during hot and humid weather?

Make breathing uncomfortable?

Watery eyes and scratchy throat?

On most days in Texas the weather here is hot, humid and hazy. So, what does this mean for you and your family’s health?

An increase of mold related allergies.

Asthma related symptoms become uncomfortable

Indoor pet and dust mites only ad on to summer health risks

Weather related mold damage has caused many health related symptoms and making it unbearable to breathe in some cases. However, those homes who have not been completely destroyed, your home or business is still under a mold threat.

There are 3 C’s to remember when it comes to controlling mold in your home or office.

Cleanliness

( Try to keep your home in order. Especially the bathroom and any areas of your home or office that may be affected.)

Circulation

( Mold loves stagnant air flow! Try to keep a consistent air flow throughout your home or office for best results.)

Control

( Mold needs water to grow. Humidity in your home or office is also helps mold to grow.)

Mold Inspection & Removal

Mold is more than a smelly nuisance. For home and business owners, it can discolor and damage their property and cause serious health concerns. Indoor mold contamination has been identified as a major contributor to allergies and respiratory problems, property destruction, and poor indoor air quality. Mold can grow in as little as 24-48 hours any time excessive moisture is present indoors, whether the moisture is the result of a flood, a slow leak, broken pipe, or just high humidity. When your home or business experiences mold growth and mold damage, you can trust the highly skilled technicians at ServiceMaster By Mason to identify and remove mold, thoroughly clean and sanitize the property, and prevent it from spreading to unaffected areas.

We ensure all types of mold and mildew is thoroughly removed with the use of commercial grade anti-microbial agents and the most effective tools and technology for all types of mold removal, including black mold cleanup. ServiceMaster By Mason Owner, Ryan Mason, holds certifications from the Professional Mold Inspection Institute to perform air quality testing for microbial growth (mold) concerns in homes & businesses. We can assist property owners, real estate professionals, healthcare offices, assisted living facilities & more with sampling for air quality. Our testing will help identify the presence of mold spores and mold growth, types of mold, total air count/spores count to determine if normal or abnormal and more. We will carefully collect air, swab, tape or bulk item samples and send overnight express to a Certified Laboratory, getting you quick and accurate results. If you’re concerned about air quality and mold in your property, call us for detailed inspection and air quality testing, and professional mold cleanup and removal.

We know how to identify and eliminate the source of what caused mold, and implement the proper process in order to eliminate harmful mold. We can provide any needed property demolition, clean and remove the mold contamination, while restoring your property and peace of mind.

Special expertise is necessary for effective mold, mildew, and black mold cleanup and removal. Bleach or other retail cleaning products will simply stir up and spread the mold spores, contaminating other areas of your home or business. And visible mold growth in your home, office or housing complex is a likely indication of a greater problem lurking nearby. Mold in attics and mold in basements can use your hot air/cooling system to quickly spread to other areas in your property.

Water damage, a leaky pipe, or broken sprinkler head can often cause moisture to gather within the walls or ceilings of your property. In these circumstances, a full-scale mold infestation can quickly develop, and an immediate response is needed to limit the damage and health concerns, clean and eliminate mold or mildew.

How to Choose the Ideal Housekeeper

In our day and age, time is precious.  We live much longer but it seems the older we get, the quicker time speeds up.  Work, family, travel, everything we do tends to end up in a bit of a rush.  So to get control of time, its important to think carefully about lifestyle and choices that are made.  Wise decisions can result in giving you time back to do the things you love to do.  Spending time with your family, travelling the world or just putting your feet up!  You’ve decided to hire a housekeeper – but how do you pick an ideal housekeeper?  You want to match exactly what your family or property needs.

Read our guide on how to choose the ideal housekeeper.

Families hire housekeepers for any number of reasons.  Some hire part time and some hire full time.  Some housekeepers are live in and some live out. It can be a common misconception that the role of the housekeeper is a ‘lesser’ job in some way, but it most certainly is not!

Decide the hours

There are two types of principals, ones who have never had to do any housework in their lives and ones who have had to, but now choose not to. Try to be realistic about the demands of the job and what you need your ideal housekeeper to do.

If you live in a 5 story townhouse, with only stairs (most of our clients have elevators in their homes!) and you have 3 children, 2 dogs and 7 bedrooms, chances are that your house will need a full time housekeeper.  We would expect them to work from 8:30/9am to 5:30/6pm each day, with possible Saturday work.  Don’t expect miracles.

Live in vs Live out

Space is precious (perhaps second to time!) but most of our clients tend to have space for staff.  If you have the space, then seriously consider live in.

What to Know Before You Hire a Housekeeper

Finally hiring a housekeeper can bring such a sense of relief, but only if you’ve done your homework. It’s important to find someone who is trustworthy, particularly if they will be cleaning your home while you’re at work or running errands, and will take their time to do the job properly. Ask around for referrals and consider the ins and outs of using a sole proprietor or hiring a larger cleaning company before you commit to a housekeeper.

Independent Workers vs. Cleaning Companies

A number of housekeepers work as sole proprietors of their own business, but you might be more comfortable with a larger cleaning company that hires their own employees. There are pros and cons to both: A benefit to hiring a cleaning company is that they are responsible for screening the employees to ensure that a background check comes up clean. On the other hand, if you want the same person cleaning your house every week, you should choose a sole proprietor—turnover tends to be higher with cleaning companies, and they might send someone different each time.

Find a Referral

The best place to start looking for a great housekeeper is to ask your family and friends if they have a company or person that they use and love. One of the great things about using a cleaning service is that they have multiple people who might work out well for your needs. A lot of services will allow you to try out different housekeepers until you find one that is perfect for your needs.

Interview Candidates

Take some time to come up with real questions, and make sure that you’re thorough with the interview. Ask questions about what they enjoy about their work. Why did they choose housekeeping as a line of work? Check references, work history, and criminal history. A lot of services will do these things in advance, but be thorough and check out the results.

Decide on a flat fee or an hourly fee

When considering hiring a housekeeper, one of the things that you might have to decide is if you’re going to pay by the hour or pay a flat fee, though the housekeeper or company might have their own non-negotiable policies.

Awesome Tips Will Help You Choose The Best Maids Service

Cleaning your home is never an easy task, especially when you have a busy schedule to work with. When it comes to the best housekeeping Houston solutions available, there’s bound to be many choices. However you don’t want to just hire anyone for the job. Finding the best Houston maids in your area to come and clean your house is vital. But just how can you find the Houston maids that are best suited for your home? This guide can help, with a handful of tips that can point you in the right direction.

Have a busy schedule and just can’t find the time to clean your home? Companies in your area are ready to help. Because you don’t want to trust you house to just anyone, these tips can help you find the best maids available

Reputation – In this day and age, there’s no reason to risk leaving your home to just anyone. Research the maids you are looking to retain and make sure that they’ve got a good mix of positive reviews. With a good clientele and lots of good reviews, you can be sure that their service is top notch. The last thing you want to do is come home to a bigger mess, or find that you picked the wrong house cleaning service

Variety of Service – Maybe you’ve got guests coming over for an important social event, or there’s such a big mess you just can’t handle it. Perhaps you are heading out of town and need someone to come in and clean up. Or you are throwing a huge get together, and time is of the essence.

Trustworthiness – Let’s face it, you need a cleaner that you can rely on and trust. Not only to show up when you need them, but to keep the house clean and without any accidents. Meeting and discussing your home cleaning service needs is often the best way to find the right fit for. You want to be able to leave your home in the right hands, and not have to worry about things missing or broken when you return.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST HOUSE CLEANING OR MAID COMPANY

Before we started this house cleaning business, we were occasional clients of various maids services.  Our experience was frequently inconvenient, cumbersome, and hit-or-miss.  It took forever to figure out what the price would be, the cleaners were late, and the results were uninspiring.

Now, after having serviced hundreds of clients in Las Vegas, we have a much better idea as to what ingredients go into a great house cleaning experience.  The first time is always a bit traumatic for the client: inviting strangers into your home, trusting them with your possessions, paying them a lot of money, with very specific and frequently unexpressed expectations.  So, how does one choose the best  house cleaning or maid company?

Basics first.  Does the house cleaning company have all proper licenses and insurance? there are licensing requirements by both city and state.  We were surprised that some companies don’t have one, another, or both! Why is proper licensing important? The house cleaning businesses – as all others – are regulated. The licensing fees are costly.  But if the maid company is serious about obeying the laws and playing by the rules, it will pay those fees.  Whether someone has paid those fees or not is easy to check online: just google business registration for the city and for the state.

Insurance is even more critical for the house cleaning business.  Your house cleaning company should have both general liability (think you slipped on the mopped floor and broke your hip, or maid accidentally dropped antique heirloom or dinged your expensive floors) and worker’s compensation (think maid fell in your home while working).  Depending on your state’s law, the maid maybe considered your employee, especially if her true employer didn’t have the worker’s compensation coverage.  Even if neither of you intended it that way, you pay cash, and she used her own equipment. I would highly recommend asking your house cleaning company to provide a copy of the policies before any work.

Is the work guaranteed. Their products are high quality but if something goes wrong and I’m not happy, I know I can get my money back.  One time I’ve returned a tray of sushi which tasted suspicious. Accepted it without batting an eyelid.  And it gets thousands of dollars each year from me, my family, and our business shopping there.  Your house cleaning company should offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee.  It’s a tough promise to carry out.  Maids work hard, but every client’s expectation is subjective and sometimes the results fall short.  It’s an honorable (albeit expensive) thing to do – return your client’s money.  Some cleaning companies – especially the ones that charge extremely low prices – are not in the position to stand by their work. In that respect, you can decide: whether to pay $100 for the service you’re unhappy about or $200 for your guaranteed happiness? 

How to Pick a Unique & Catchy Cleaning Business Name

One of the first things you need to do when starting a cleaning business is picking your business name. When it comes to picking your cleaning company name, you want it to be unique, catchy, and memorable. It’s also important to pick a name that can be branded well and gives the appearance of a professional cleaning service.

I have compiled a list of example cleaning business names below that may or may not be available for website domain name registration. Please note that some of these names may already be registered as domains and/or businesses in your local city/town. Please do your due diligence before registering a business name.

You want to pick a name that is 2-4 words long and includes maids, maid, clean, cleaning or some other name that describes your business and does not have your personal name in it.

The reason you don’t want your personal name in your business name is that more than likely someone else has already registered a business and website with your name in it. Plus, it could come across as unprofessional and not unique.

How to Pick a Cleaning Company Name Exercise

To pick a name for your business I would recommend using the cleaning terms clean, cleaning, maid, or maids in the name. This helps with brand recognition and search engine optimization.

Tips For Offering Move-In, Move Out Cleaning Service

Move-Out Cleaning

If you’re moving out, it’s always a good idea to clean up your house or apartment, either to make it spotless for the new occupants or to ensure you get your security deposit back. It’s also important to clean the house if you are putting the home on the market and need it spotless for pictures and open houses. No matter the reason, your former home should be just as clean as when you moved in, if not more.

The cleaning experts can visit your current house before you move out to give it a General or Top-to-Bottom Deep Cleaning. We will make sure every nook and cranny gets cleaned so that the entire home looks flawless. You’re ready to start the next chapter in your life, and cleaning up your current home is the perfect way to ensure a new beginning.

Why Should I Offer Move-Out Cleaning Services?

Move-out cleaning services are going to help your company grow. Yes, they’re more work than a residential clean. But they’ll bring in new clients, new referrals, and more experience for you. 

Word-of-mouth is important when you own a cleaning company. If you do a great job cleaning someone’s house when they move out, they’re going to refer you to a friend. They’ll also use you again when they move out. If you can work with a realtor, you may be able to offer your move-out services on a regular basis for home-showings. 

These kinds of cleaning services are also a useful source of income. You will get paid more for these services because they’re more detailed and they take more of your time. If you advertise for move-out cleaning services, you’ll be targeting a useful market. 

3 Reasons to Utilize Move-In and Move-Out Cleaning Service

One of the biggest peeves for most people moving from a home or apartment Is the clean-up process. Not only does one have to worry about packing their things nicely, but they also want to leave a home in the best condition possible. That is where residential movers that offer move-out cleaning service options come into the picture. Here are our 3 biggest reasons why you should hire residential movers that believe in cleaning out while you’re moving in.

You Can Ensure Cleanliness of Both Properties

Apartment movers and residential movers that offer move-out cleaning services often offer move-in cleaning services as well. Most property managers require that tenants clean a property once they move out. Everyone has a different definition of the word ‘clean’ so one person’s move-out conditions may differ from another’s. By hiring residential movers to provide their cleaning services as well as moving, you are able to make sure that your move-out location is thoroughly cleaned to every standard that a property manager would look for. Likewise, most of these moving companies also focus on the cleanliness of the move-in location. This would definitely take some pressure off of a move because now the customer would know that the property they are moving to is ready to be lived in.

It Prevents Allergies

By hiring a move-in cleaning service you are essentially hiring to prevent allergy attacks in your new home. A move-in cleaning service is going to be very thorough and will use cleaning products and equipment that are HEPA approved. A cleaning service will be able to clear the majority of dust and allergens from your new home or apartment. A move-in cleaning service also help s you know what types of materials are being used to clean your new home. This helps you know for sure that they are using safe cleaning products that will not leave remnants of chemical contamination in your new home.

You Have More Time For What Matters with Move-Out Cleaning Service

Cleaning your old home and new home can be a task that is as daunting as climbing Mount Everest. By hiring residential and apartment movers that offer cleaning services you are essentially killing two birds with one stone and freeing up your time to enjoy the excitement of starting a new chapter in your life.

Simple tips and techniques for move-in/move-out cleaning services.

• Begin cleaning by removing all large trash pieces. Pick up all trash that is too large to vacuum. Vacuuming will be quicker and more efficient not having to stop, pick up or move large waste materials.
• Proper vacuuming is an important step in move in/out cleaning. Using a backpack vacuum with the proper attachments can speed up the tasks at hand.
• Remember to vacuum from high to low, including light fixtures, window tracks, blinds, ceiling vents, heat registers, and along the baseboards.
• Use a microfiber flat mop for cleaning ceilings, walls, baseboards, and doors.
• After picking up trash and vacuuming, start cleaning the stuck-on grime and dirt. Chemicals to have on hand include: bowl cleaner, fume-free oven cleaner, window cleaner, all-purpose cleaner, degreaser, neutral pH floor cleaner, stainless steel polish, and furniture polish. Save money by using concentrated chemicals rather than RTU (ready-to-use) chemicals.
• Windows and glass entrance doors should be washed with an applicator and squeegee. Use scrapers or #0000 steel wool to remove stickers and bugs. Be sure the window is wet when using these tools or you could scratch the glass. Window frames and tracks should be vacuumed and then wiped down.
• Provide appropriate dwell time so the chemicals have time to work. Make sure that your employees have the correct personal protective equipment (gloves, goggles, etc.) and safety training when working with chemicals.
• If you need to loosen build-up, use the correct cleaning tools – scrubber pads, brushes and scrapers. Use caution when using these tools – you don’t want to damage surfaces.

Schedule Apartment Move-Out Cleaning for Success

Move-out cleaning can be sporadic. You may hear nothing from a client for a week, then suddenly get a call when several apartments all need to be cleaned within a couple of days.

Of course, apartment managers are often under pressure to get units move-in ready quickly, since unoccupied apartments represent lost income. Be mindful of this, but also realistic with scheduling. The last thing you want is for your cleaning quality to suffer because your staff is overworked or cutting corners to get jobs done hurriedly within the allotted time.

Rushing your work can harm your reputation with your clients as well as employee morale in the long run. You may have to stand your ground—firmly yet politely—but you’ll gain the respect of all involved if you strive to create reasonable expectations while still getting the job done.

Benefits of Choosing a Professional House Cleaning Service

People around the world undertake many painstaking efforts to get their homes sparkling clean and free of mess. Naturally, we all love and strive for cleaner spaces to live in. However, cleaning your home can be a tiring and time-consuming affair. Working folks and people with a lot of family responsibilities often feel that hiring professional cleaners for their homes is a better option, because it not just helps you save time but also gives you peace of mind. It is quite evident that experts who have adequate training and experience can do any job better than non-experts. Cleaning homes call for patience and a lot of hard work to things done. Since professional house cleaners have modern tools and equipment to get your house cleaned efficiently, you can trust them as helpful companions.

Everybody with children will understand that sometimes they don’t like to wait for something no matter what the situation, whether that be reading a book, going for a walk or going to the cinema. Having something to put your mind at rest such as a house maid can bring much more happiness to the whole family rather than just the person who feels weighted down by day to day chores.

There is no one who can do better than the professionals for e.g. everyone can bake cakes but no one can compete with Baker because he has the right tools to use and have mastery in baking cakes. Similarly, in the commercial cleaning industry, Professional cleaning services have extensively trained cleaners who know exactly what they are doing. The cleaning staff is armed with high-ended devices to complete the task. They carry special cleaning solutions with high powered vacuums. They never cut-out corners, they focus on the location which you could miss on.

Letting just anyone in your home to clean your belongings is a scary thought for many homeowners. Rest assured, cleaning service employees are educated on how to clean a home to professional standards and work quickly. For example Good Cleaners hires quality employees with a passion for professionalism and getting the job done right the first time. Always ensure you’re working with a bonded and insured company that requires employees to undergo background checks. Enjoy your time away from cleaning knowing that your home and belongings are in trustworthy hands.

The most important benefit is also the most obvious—a clean home! Professional cleaning services are experienced in making your home shine from top to bottom. Imagine coming home to a house where the mantle is dusted, the shoes aren’t lying in the middle of the floor, and the beds are made, all without any pestering. You can truly relax once you get home and focus on putting your time towards the people and things you love.

Tips for Finding the Right Professional Cleaning Services

Ensuring that your home is always clean is one of the ways of making it a conducive place to be. However, there are those instances when doing the cleaning task on your own becomes almost impossible because maybe you are too tired to complete the task. Or it could because you do not have the right equipment to do the task. If you are in the same situation, then hiring a professional cleaner is the best way out.

Research and References

Before choosing a cleaning company, it is important to make sure that you have the necessary information with you. This might include talking to people who might have hired the particular company that you intend to hire and get to know what they have in mind. You can also use the internet to collect all the necessary information. It is hard for you to make the wrong choice if you have the right information.

You also need to consider the reputation of the cleaning services. The reputation is mainly meant to give you a hint on the quality of services to expect if you hire the particular cleaning services that you have in mind. If for instance, the cleaning company that you are looking at has a good reputation, then it means that is known for offering quality services. Working with such a company guarantees you the assurance that you will get quality services

Cleaning Experience

Cleaning services is a job that needs to be handled by professional people. People who understand what it takes to offer quality cleaning services. One of the qualities that a good cleaning company need to have is the experience.

It is the experience that tells you that the cleaning company has handled different cleaning situations in the past and you can, therefore, trust them to offer you the quality services that you seek. It is always good to ask the cleaning company to tell you the number of years that they have been in the business. From there, it will be easy for you to draw conclusions.

Tips to Choose and Hire a Good Housecleaning Service

If you recently moved to a new area or if you think the time is right to hire a professional house cleaning service, you certainly have many available choices. Here are five tips and tricks you can use to help you find a great company that you can trust to do the job right.

Choose a Service Someone Referred

First, choosing a professional house cleaning company to come into your home is a big one. After all, you need to be able to trust your cleaning company to treat your belongings as their own. Ask neighbors, friends, and family for recommendations. Never simply choose a company just because they offer the lowest prices or because they can arrive sooner than another, as this is often a recipe for disaster. Take your time and hire someone that you can truly trust. You will be glad you did in the end.

Individual Housecleaners vs. Companies

There are benefits to both choices. An individual can give you more personalized attention to detail. He or she will get to know you, your family, and your preferences quickly enough. However, they may cancel unexpectedly due to personal or family issues of their own, leaving you in a bind. A company can also get to know your family and your preferences over time, but the odds of someone canceling on you are minimal. Companies may also offer you a discounted rate depending on how often you schedule someone to come.

Schedule a Phone or Face-to-Face Interview

Even if a company comes highly recommended, make sure that you take the time to interview the representatives who will actually come to your home. This way, not only can you get a feel for that individual, but you can also make sure that you get along, or that you see things eye to eye. Ask them questions about the types of products they use, whether they change cleaning supplies between homes, and even whether they have insurance in the event something should happen. These things are important.

Do a Walk-Through

If you really prefer a company, invite the person who will usually come to your home over for a walk-through. This gives you an opportunity to discuss your preferences. Avoid the need to clean your home first, though; you want to give the housekeeper a sense of your home’s usual state. This way, you can get a proper time estimate and not just a rough estimate based solely on square footage.

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right House Cleaner

Choosing the right house cleaner for your home can be a frustrating and time consuming process. Why? Because you’re bombarded with borderline misleading advertising, confusing claims and insufficient information. From super-low prices and high-pressure sales to unqualified techniques and unreliable services. How do you find a qualified, competent and professional house cleaning service?

Herein we layout everything you need to know to equip yourself to find the right house cleaner. Some of this knowledge may overlap with what you know already and there’s no need to read this guide in chronological order, so feel free to skip to any section that addresses your concerns. We’ve laid out a clear table of contents to help you navigate. Topics covered include, but are not limited to, how to avoid house cleaning rip-offs, questions you should ask when shortlisting cleaners, mistakes to avoid when choosing a home cleaning service and much more.

Be aware of these three house cleaning rip-offs

A ridiculously low price

To some degree, all of us are lured by a low price because we want to work within a budget. But some house cleaners use price as the bait for their false and misleading advertising. They offer an initial cheap price usually between $19 and $25 per hour (Australian dollar terms) and then, once they’re in your home, they elongate the hours spent and what would normally take 2 hours extends to 3.5 hours. Or they pressure you into buying “add-ons”. It’s as if you were buying a car and found that the dealer was charging you extra for the tires and steering wheel. House cleaning is not as cheap as some unethical cleaners would like you to believe.

Eco-friendly bait and switch

This one is heinous and downright unethical. Perhaps one day eco-friendly products and solutions will cost the same or even cheaper as chemical cleaners but for now we understand there’s a premium to using most eco-friendly products. For the benefit of your living and/or family, you order an extra to use eco-friendly products or choose your cleaner because they state they are eco-friendly, only to discover or worse find out through reactions that while you’re away, the cleaners have used cheaper harsh chemicals.

Unsupported claims: “Best House Cleaner in Sydney”

You’ll read this in almost every ad. You’ll hear this from virtually every house cleaner. Heck we’re guilty of it too but we stand by our quality. First of all, there are multiple and subjective ways to measure this. Remember this: The cleaner that’s best for you is the one you trust, has a strong track record, can communicate and understand your requirements and provides a thorough cleaning. So, before you choose a home cleaner, identify your objectives. Then select the cleaner that provides the best fit for what you want.

How do I choose a professional house cleaning service company?

Services being offered – The cleaning company needs to be able to deliver to all the requirements like Janitorial & cleaning services & specialized cleaning services. The cleaning agency needs to be able to customize the service as per your requirement. The agency should be able to cater to changes at home or come in at different timings to suit your requirements.

Staff with the Right Skills – Availability of the workforce with adequate skill set is essential. The agency needs to have a proper support mechanism to recruit staff, conduct regular training & upskilling. It’s important to understand what instructions are being imparted to the team, how often is training being done and who trains them.

Market Presence – The agency needs to have a presence in the locations where you have a home. If you have multiple homes, It will be essential to learn how they operate from these locations & how do they ensure standardization across locations.

Feedback from clients – The best judge of a service is to take input from clients. It will help to understand the strengths & weaknesses of the cleaning agency. It will also help you plan the way you intend to structure the contract & service.

Adherence to quality standards & compliance – A check on the vendor’s compliance with regulations & cleaning standards is vital. The vendor also needs to use the appropriate chemicals that are approved and are less harmful. Using the right chemicals, in the right way & ensuring the proper process gets followed can be decisive to avoid accidents.

How to Find and Hire a Maid Service: Questions to Ask, Tips and More

Looking for a House Cleaner?

Keeping a home clean can be a never-ending chore that consumes much of our free time. If life seems to revolve around mopping, vacuuming, dusting and changing bed linens, hiring a professional housekeeping service in your area may be the solution.

This guide covers everything to expect from a housekeeping or maid service including package options, what questions to ask and what they charge. This guide is for a service, not a live-in housekeeper who typically has more responsibilities such as laundry

Depending on your location or the company you use, these services are referred to by several names: housekeeper, cleaning service or maid. “Maid” historically referred to a salaried, live-in employee of wealthy homes who ran the household much like a butler.

Steps to Choosing the Right Cleaning Service

Choosing the right service is a straightforward process of research and asking the right questions.

Professional Cleaner vs. Personal Organizer

Before you choose a housekeeper, ask yourself if you really need it. If what you’re trying to avoid is a cluttered mess, you may want to opt for a personal organizer. They organize your space, design better storage solutions and help you get – and stay – clutter free.

How to Choose a Home Cleaning Service

If the mess of your home stresses you out but you just don’t have the time or patience to keep it in order—you may want to consider hiring a home cleaning service to help lighten the load. Before you do, use these tips to hire the best home cleaning service for you and your home. A home warranty is another great investment to keep your home in top shape.

How to choose a home cleaning service

The first thing to decide when choosing a home cleaning service is whether to hire an individual or a professional cleaning service.

Individual

An individual can provide a more personal touch—it may be easier to get to know them, give them specific directions about how you’d like your house cleaned, and you may feel more at ease when they’re in your home around valuables or breakable items.

Cleaning companies

A housekeeping company is a good choice if you’d like the work done quickly, as they usually send out several employees at once to clean your home. A company can often accommodate your specific schedule. There will always be back up employees, so it’s less likely a cleaning service will cancel or run late.

Choosing who to hire

Recommendations from friends and family can be the most helpful way to find a reputable cleaning service or individual.

Simple Tips on How to Choose the Best House Cleaning Service

Before you book a house cleaning service…

When looking for the best house cleaning service, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with information overload.

What do you really need help with?

First of all, it’s important to take stock of the things you really want cleaned because not all cleaning services perform the same services. For example, some do your laundry, make the beds, wash the dishes, etc. – so it’s important to know what you need before you book and make sure that the company you hire does those tasks.

Frequency matters

Need a monthly cleaning, bi-weekly, or weekly cleaning? Or maybe just a one time clean for moving out? Take a really close look at how often you need house cleaning appointments. Maybe you can get away with bi-weekly cleanings instead of weekly?

Look Up Reviews Or Ask Friends For Recommendations

Asking friends, family and coworkers who have had hired a house cleaning service before for their recommendation can save you a lot of headaches because you can be relatively sure that if they had a good experience, you will too. That’s one of the main ways Scrubbi grew the way we did.

Flat rate is better

You know that jaw-dropping cleaning quote that’s $100 less than the others? Yes it sounds great and all but you’ll definitely want to double check to see if it’s a flat rate.

TIPS FOR CHOOSING A PROFESSIONAL HOUSE CLEANING COMPANY

Nowadays, there are several house cleaning companies. As far as hiring the best is concerned, the process can be a bit tricky. When choosing a reputable cleaning firm, your choice should not be dictated by the cost quoted. According to cleaning service, you do not want to hire a service provider that will damage your property and disappear. This is something that has happened to many homeowners. To make the right decision, there are many factors to consider. The following are some of the factors.

Status of the Firm

You should ask yourself whether the cleaning company you want to hire is established or not. This is because you do not want to hire a company that you cannot track if something goes wrong. How can you determine that the company you choose is experienced and established? You can determine this from the way they communicate, the quality guarantees, and the cost they offer. If you find a company is not well-established, you should move to the next one.

Services Offered

An established cleaning company will offer a wide range of cleaning services. They can offer services from residential to commercial cleaning to sanitation services. If you find a company that shies away from hard and time-consuming tasks, there is a serious problem. In that case, you should be cautious when hiring them.

Trained Staff

You do not want to hire someone who is not trained. This is because the staff will handle your most important assets. You do not want them to damage your items because of lack of knowledge. Also, you need maids that understand the various good cleaning practices. Therefore, before you choose a cleaning company, you should ask whether their maids are cleaning. If they are not hired, you should move on onto another company.

Certifications

You need a reputable company that has certifications and adheres to the right cleaning standards. Usually, an established company will follow certain principles and standards to ensure it provides high-quality services. In addition, you should visit their offices to check the different certificates they have. A reputable firm will display such certificates in their offices.

Reasons Why Your Home Needs A Professional Home Deep Cleaning Service

With an increasingly hectic lifestyle, more and more people are realising that they do not have the luxury of time that the earlier generations had. Life is always on the run, and mundane everyday matters are being relegated to the background for lack of time and energy. Tasks such as home deep cleaning every day is now becoming cleaning the house every weekend. This is leading to build-up of dust, insects and germs in various spaces in the home. Though most people try to make an effort to clean the house thoroughly every weekend, the tremendous effort that this needs usually leaves them tired and drained at the end of the day. Moreover, they are hardly able to enjoy life in the weekend as they should.

Home deep cleaning services are the answer to all this. They help people who are short of time and energy due to job or other responsibilities to get their homes cleaned without any worries or problems.

It Saves You Time And Energy

We will not write much on this point, as it is an obvious benefit. Instead of you slogging away scrubbing the bathroom floor or cleaning the oily kitchen exhaust pipe every few months, these experts can do the work for you. You save the time and can spend it on more important matters like taking your kid out for a walk, finishing a task you like to do but have not had the time for it due to work.

It Saves You Money

Most people do not realise that hiring home deep cleaning professionals helps them save money. Let us forget for a moment the saying that ‘time is money’ and simply look at how these experts actually save money for you.

It Is Stress-free, Quick Service

When the question comes to home deep cleaning vs regular cleaning, this is perhaps the most important USP of professional services. The experts come to your house at a time that is convenient for you and help you by cleaning the areas that you cannot clean yourself. You only pay for the service you choose.

steps to choosing the right cleaner

Recent studies say that having a clean office space increases work productivity. It is imperative to have a clean and adequately maintained office premises to have a positive impact on your customers and motivate your employees. Most business owners find it essential to hire professional cleaning services for the cleanliness and hygiene of their workplaces

Check online reviews

This should be the first step for searching for suitable commercial cleaners as it will provide you with quick and easy results for you to check credibility, authenticity and reliability as well. Online reviews are also a great way to compare cleaning companies and the quality of their services. Facebook, the commercial cleaning companies websites and also Linkedin are a good start

Compare quotes

Once you are done with your research, shortlist a few companies, get in touch with them and arrange an onsite assessment. The companies will give you all the details of the services they provide along with the charges and some may even visit your office to get the details. This is a great chance to ask any additional questions you may have.

Reputation

Ask for references!!! Call the commercial cleaning company’s current customers if you want to know more about the business. Some of its clients and customers would be able to tell you whether the organisation is honest and reliable. They will tell you about the quality of their services. A good reputation will be proof of its credibility and excellent services.

Experience

Considering the experience of the cleaning company is an essential factor. Experience will be a proof that they have developed a proper system and can easily handle any cleaning issues involved.

How To Choose A Good Commercial Cleaning Company

If you run a business, then you know that cleaning can take up a lot of your time. Cleaning is vital to keep the environment safe and hygienic for both customers and employees, but it can eat into your time considerably. 

Select A Cleaning Company With Experience

Not all cleaning companies are created equal: some are better than others. The reason for this had to do with the structure of the industry. Cleaning companies can be set up by anyone: you don’t need any license or training. An untrained person can set up a cleaning business and start offering janitorial services in Houston without jumping through any hoops.

Select A Company With A Customer Focus

Many commercial cleaning companies in the Houston area don’t spend the time they should getting to know their clients and understanding their needs. An excellent commercial cleaning company doesn’t see its list of clients as generic. It takes an interest in each company and then looks for ways to serve them as well as possible. Every business has varying cleaning needs. A restaurant, for instance, is very different from a factory. Both, however, need professionals who can clean in a way that is consistent with a company’s goals.

Select A Company With Great Customer Service

Not all cleaning companies offer great customer service, and that’s a problem. Excellent customer service means that you can get in contact with your cleaning company when you need them. Being able to speak to a customer representative is vital if, say, you want to change your cleaning schedule or ask for a different method of cleaning that really targets the dirt.

Select A Flexible Company

As a business owner, you know how important it is to have a flexible cleaning service. With a flexible service, you can arrange cleaning on short notice, change your cleaning timetable, and get specialist cleaning services, as and when you need them.

How To Choose The Right Commercial Cleaning Service

Cleaning an office or any type of business premise on a regular basis can be quite a difficult and time-consuming task, especially if the area is larger. However, keeping these spaces clean is extremely important for the well-being and safety of both your employees and clients.  You have observed that your office is getting dirtier day-by-day, but you don’t have the time to physically visit each and every cleaning company in London to check if they’re worth hiring or not.

Naturally, we all want the best quality service at the most competitive prices when it comes to hiring a cleaning service. Here are some of the factors that must be considered when hiring commercial cleaning services.

Check online reviews of the various cleaning services offered in your area in order to get a sense of the professionalism of the company

One of the things that make hiring a commercial cleaning service provider a worthy idea is the fact they have professional equipment. Check the condition and age of their equipment. A company that has relatively new and clean equipment is the best option for your business.

Never hire an uninsured cleaning company. Any legitimate and professional cleaning company will have insurance and those are the ones you should hire to clean your office premise.

Tips for Choosing the Right Commercial Cleaning Company

Look for an Established, Experienced Commercial Cleaning Company

Focus on companies that are:

Well established, having been in the cleaning business for a number of years and possessing the skills and experience to ensure a thorough clean.

Qualified to clean the type of buildings you’re responsible for – whether commercial, office, industrial, institutional, or more.

Inquire about Training Requirements for the Company’s Staff

Your cleaning company should provide comprehensive training for new staff, continually educate its teams on the latest cleaning techniques and health and safety protocols, and prepare its employees to use the newest materials and equipment.

Examine the Company’s Certifications and Standards

It’s important to make sure your cleaning company maintains rigid standards of excellence (like Sunshine’s Quality Assurance Program) and holds the highest certifications. Commercial cleaning companies should also be fully bonded and insured.

Determine if the Company Is Committed to Green Cleaning

Green cleaning means taking a holistic approach, caring for buildings, their inhabitants, and the larger environment by using health- and eco-conscious materials and practices:

Products and packaging that meet established health and safety criteria

Microfiber technology (where applicable) to extend the life of scrubbing pads

Equipment that reduces noise pollution

Choosing the Right Commercial Cleaning Company

Nobody enjoys working in an unclean or disorganised office environment. Employees may not feel valued if they are expected to work in a dirty environment all day.Imagine being expected to store your lunch in an unclean fridge or to work at a desk that had not be cleaned in weeks, it is reasonable to assume that you would end up dreading going to work.  As well as being unpleasant, unclean workplaces can be distracting for your employees and can actually have a direct negative impact on their mood. In fact, studies have shown that an unclean office restricts the ability of the brain to process information and can have a drastic toll on mental and physical health. Therefore, the importance of keeping your workplace clean and organised cannot be overstated. This is why it is always advisable to hire a professional and experienced commercial cleaning company.

This can be an intimidating task as there are so many of these companies, however there are a few simple guidelines you can follow to make this task simple and trouble-free. Your staff will be pleased to learn that you are hiring a commercial cleaning company and that the burden of cleaning the office no longer falls on them.  The following 5 guidelines will make finding a suitable agency a breeze.

A google search will reveal reputable agencies in your area, it is a good idea to check recent reviews of the company online, dated reviews are often unhelpful and may no longer be relevant. Testimonials on their own website are also often a good indication of the reputation of the company. If they have an active online presence it is a good sign. It means that they are keeping up to date with the goings-on in the cleaning industry

They should offer a wide range of services as well as the daily clean they should offer services such as window cleaning, floor polishing and high dusting. They should also be willing to offer a suggested cleaning rota and suggest the frequency needed of their services.

They will be working in your private premises and will have access to your offices, therefore, it essential that the company are able to demonstrate their hiring practices. They should be able to guarantee that all of their employees have the right to work, the correct ID and a security check. This ensures that they are a reputable company and gives you the peace of mind you deserve.

Be understanding of your specific needs. A professional company will always listen and put the customers’ needs first. They should be flexible and willing to adapt to your needs. This means that if there is an emergency situation such as flood, they will be responsive and will be there to clean.

They will tailor a commercial clean to suit your budget. If your budget is limited they should be able suggest a schedule suitable for your budget that still delivers high quality cleaning and standards.