Clean Machine - A House Cleaning Blog

Get your home ready for summer!

Let's be honest: San Diego always has great summertime weather, and it lasts for most of the year. It's hard to say we're switching to "summer mode," because we're nearly always in it!

I know we've been talking about spring cleaning for a while, but it seems like summer is nearly upon us. Aren't you ready to hit the beach, have your summer BBQs, and play in the sun? We most definitely are! Here are a few tips to help get your home prepared for those long summer days.

1. Clean out your cabinets- and restock. Do you have old tubes of sunblock caked with sand in your bathroom cupboards? Is that calamine lotion in your medicine cabinet expired? It's time to get rid of any old products that are either down to the last drop, or no longer good. Stock up with some new sunblock, aloe, insect repellent, etc. and be fully prepared for the summer!

2. Fix up your home. You want your windows and screen doors working well this summer, as they will be open to let that summer breeze waft through your home. Clean the tracks for your windows and sliding patio doors and spray them with WD-40 to get them working smoothly again. Check your screens for any holes and patch or replace them as needed.

3. Prepare your outdoor areas. Summertime means outdoor parties, and whether impromptu or planned, you'll want to have your outdoor areas ready. Make sure to hose and scrub down your patio and driveway. You can also wipe down your patio furniture to get rid of residue that has built up over the winter. Plan ahead and buy enough propane or charcoal for the grill. It's always a good day for a BBQ in San Diego, and you'll want to be prepared!

4. Prepare for bugs. Take a walk around your home and outdoor areas. Keep your eye out for any stagnant water, beehives, or wasp nests. The sooner you notice a problem, the faster you can get it taken care of.

With all that preparation, you're sure to have a great summer. Now grab some iced tea, a good book, and get ready to soak up some quality sunshine.

\"My dear, you shouldn\'t have!\"

Need the perfect gift for Mother's Day? Give her the gift of relaxation and a clean home.

If your mom was anything like ours, she probably spent countless hours maintaining a clean and happy home for you and your family. Now it's time to return the favor by giving her a thoughtful gift she's sure to love: a professionally cleaned home!

Here's the thing: Not only will you be giving your mother a sparkling clean home, but also the opportunity to relax and spend some quality personal time. It's doubly awesome. After your professional housekeeper has worked their magic on her home, your mom will walk into a world of fresh and gleaming wonder.

Our gift certificates come in any denomination and don't have an expiration date, so she can schedule a house cleaning whenever it's most convenient. Sound good to you? Just check out our gift certificates page, and you can order yours online. Got any questions? Give us a call at 858-705-4115.

Spring Cleaning For Your Kitchen

Think your home could use a spring cleaning, but don't know where to start? Our top five cleaning tips for the kitchen can jumpstart your spring cleaning efforts.

1. Wipe down and spot clean surfaces. Cabinet and cupboard surfaces in particular often get neglected in the day-to-day cleaning, so wiping them down will bring a whole new shine to your kitchen. Other oft-forgotten surface areas are above the refrigerator, stove, appliances (such as the front of the dishwasher or microwave), and high shelves.

2. Next stop, the fridge. Seeing as this is where you keep your food, it's pretty important to keep it fresh and bacteria free. Take this opportunity to clear out any old food, and wipe down the walls, shelves and inside any drawers with your favorite disinfectant. When you're finished, place an open box of baking soda on the top shelf of your fridge. This will help reduce any future unpleasant odors.

3. The oft-neglected garbage can is our next target. Without regular cleaning, your trash can will stink up the entire kitchen. Just use a little Simple Green, and clean your trash can inside and out. This should help get rid of any residual odors, and will go a long way to keep your kitchen smelling fresh.

4. Dish racks are notorious for collecting water and grime, and it's important that you clean them regularly. Go ahead and give your dish rack a little TLC.

5. Do something special for your floors with a sweep, mop, and polish. A good oil soap can be an inexpensive option to help improve the overall appearance of your wood floors. Oil soap won't work on faux wood however, so test it first on an inconspicuous area to make sure it doesn't leave your floor sticky.

Follow the above steps, and you will find your kitchen thoroughly transformed. Happy spring cleaning!

Tips for Spring Cleaning

The time for spring cleaning has come at last, and if you're anything like us, your home could probably benefit from a thorough top-to-bottom cleaning. That may sound like a daunting task, but with the following tricks and tips you should be able to give your home the attention it deserves, without losing your mind in the process.

1. Come up with a game plan.

When you hear the words "spring cleaning" most people envision long, grueling days of dust and woe. Perhaps it's the memories of that weekend-long fridge cleaning project, or the seemingly endless hours spent scrubbing away hard water deposits in the shower. But really, spring cleaning doesn't have to be one mammoth project. The spring seasons lasts for months, and there's no reason why you should have to cram your entire spring cleaning regimen into a single weekend.

Start by mapping out your priorities, then tackle them one at a time. If you've got both a severely neglected fridge and a garage full of clutter, split those jobs across multiple sessions. Break things down into bite-sized chunks, and the job will quickly appear much more manageable. That brings us to our next point.

2. Clean little-by-little.

You can choose to map out many smaller jobs to be completed over a period of time, or plan one long and titanic onslaught of cleaning. Both approaches will get the job done, however, the first approach probably means far less stress and effort overall. Cleaning little-by-little simply means organizing your to-do list into small, doable chores that you can complete easily in one go. Don't have time to clean out all your kitchen cupboards at once? Just start with three or four, and tackle them in an evening. You can finish the rest the following night. Breaking down huge jobs into easily manageable segments will allow you to make steady progress, and provides a regular reward and sense of accomplishment. This bring us to our final tip.

3. Reward yourself.

Let's be honest, most people don't love cleaning. We all like the end result, but the road there is usually filled with elbow grease and more than a little sweat and effort. We like to punctuate things by rewarding ourselves whenever we complete a major task. Just take time to take a step back and bask in the beauty of your work. Take a few minutes to enjoy the fruits of your labor, and you will feel rejuvenated and ready to jump into the next task.

We hope the above tips help take some of the pain out of your spring cleaning. Of course, if you ever need any help, you can always give us a call.

Happy cleaning!

Green Cleaning Solutions - Rubbing Alcohol

You might not think of rubbing alcohol when it comes to cleaning, but we're here to change that. Rubbing alcohol is inexpensive, effective, and doesn't have all the toxins that come standard with most traditional cleaning products. Best of all, rubbing alcohol is a jack-of-all-trades in the world of clean. Read below to find out what rubbing alcohol can do for you.

Disinfectant: Rubbing alcohol acts as a great sterilizer. Wipe down your phone during flu season, or use a spritz on your door handles and light switches. This will go a long way in killing bacteria and will help keep you and your family healthy. You can also use it to disinfect larger areas such as floors and countertops. Just dilute with water and make sure you have enough ventilation until it dries.

Stain remover: Ever accidentally use permanent marker on the whiteboard? Hit it with some rubbing alcohol. The alcohol liquefies the marker for an easy wipe off. It also works great for scuff marks on walls or baseboards.

Grime buster: Rubbing alcohol removes sticky substances from your surfaces easy as can be. Use it to get rid of glue, makeup, or other sticky substances. Rubbing alcohol also cleans glass beautifully, just mix with water and wipe down with a microfiber cloth.

Shine booster: Use rubbing alcohol to help make your home fixtures shine. A simple wipe-down of your sink or shower faucet will do the trick. Also, because the alcohol dries quickly, you don't have to rinse anything or worry about water spots. Get spotless and germ-free surfaces with just a wipe.

Rubbing alcohol is a great, green alternative to traditional disinfectants. Try it in your home, and we think you'll be delighted with the results! Happy Cleaning!

Tips for Carpet Stain Removal

If you have carpets in your home, there's a pretty good chance that you have to deal with the occasional stain. There are special products for every scenario, but most spills and stains can actually be treated with stuff you have in your fridge. In this article, we'll go over some pro-tips for carpet stain removal, to help get your carpet looking pristine in no time.

Act fast: The longer the offending substance stays in the carpet -- be it red wine, a muddy shoe print, or coffee -- the more likely it is to stain permanently. Clean up stains as soon as they happen, and you will make your job much easier.

Most importantly, don't scrub at the stain. The more gentle you are on the stain, the less likely it is to soak deeper into the carpet fibers. Rather than scrub, simply dab at the stain with a clean cloth to help soak up any remaining liquid.

Most stains can come out easier than you'd think. Many would-be stains like fruit juice, mud, dairy products, and some paints are water-soluble. A solution of water and a little white vinegar is all you need. Tougher stains such as mustard, tea, wine, and chocolate can be treated with a solution of water and a little ammonia. Be sure to test on a small area of your carpet first, to make sure your particular mixture won't cause any discoloration.

For oily stains, sprinkle baking soda on the stain and let it sit overnight. Just vacuum up the soiled powder, and you should be able to finish the job with a clean cloth. Got gum or candle wax in your carpet? Use an ice cube to help freeze it solid, and then simply scrape it off.

With the above tips and a little elbow grease, you can help keep your rugs and carpets spotless and in pristine condition. Happy Cleaning!

How To Speed Clean Your Home

If you're like us, you are probably faced with the combination of too much mess and too little time. Speed cleaning is the perfect solution to this common situation, and will help you get your home looking at least somewhat dwell-worthy, without taking hours out of your day.

Speed cleaning is doing only the most needed tasks to get a room looking neat and tidy. It's efficient, effective, and easy to learn. If you have unexpected guests, or just find yourself with a few free minutes on your hands, a quick speed-clean will keep your house in apple-pie order. We've put together a basic speed cleaning plan to help you get started.

The most important aspect of a speed clean is planning. Without a game plan, you will find yourself hitting areas haphazardly, and you may miss the things that really make a difference. Proper planning involves budgeting time to focus on the most important tasks. An example of this for a living room would be:

Wipe down or dust coffee tables and surfaces � 1 minute
Straighten couch cushions and arrange pillows � 45 seconds
Arrange or put away books, DVDs, etc. � 2 minutes
Spray air freshener � 30 seconds
Vacuum floor � 6-7 minutes

And just like that, your living room is presentable in as little as under 10 minutes. In this example, your required cleaning materials are a cloth or duster, air freshener, and a vacuum. You might want to put together a "Speed Cleaning Kit", in which all the items you need to clean a certain area are right within reach. This can save you a lot of time when there's a knock on the door and your kitchen looks like a war zone.

Try this out and see for yourself! We think you'll like the results.

Clean Your Allergies Away

If you or a loved one is suffering from asthma or allergies, there are some simple changes you can make that may greatly alleviate any symptoms. A hypoallergenic home is a happy home, and a few changes in your cleaning routine can turn your home into a blissful, wheeze-free haven. We've put together a few tips that we think will greatly improve both the air quality of your home, and the happiness of its occupants.

1. Dust is the enemy. Dust, pollen, and other airy particles are a major cause of allergies and asthma. Common areas where dust collects are: ceiling fan blades, window screens, vents, storage areas, and high shelves. Use a damp microfiber cloth when cleaning these areas. You will be amazed at how well it grabs and holds any dust it encounters.

2. Work from top to bottom. Dust is not immune to the laws of gravity, and nothing is more frustrating than watching the dust you've wiped off your top shelves settle on your newly shined floor. Working from top to bottom also ensures that residual dust won't be airborne when you're finished, which could cause wheezing and other symptoms.

3. Vacuum, vacuum, and vacuum some more. A good vacuuming will pick up dust and pollen that could be aggravating your allergies. Ideally, your vacuum should have a good air filter and be powerful enough to pick up the small stuff. Carpets, sofas, cushions, pet beds, upholstered furniture, and even screens can be vacuumed, either with a sturdy floor vacuum or a detail-oriented hose vacuum.

These first steps can jumpstart you into making your home allergy-free. Once your home is free of dust, regular maintenance will be much easier. Also, regularly washing sheets and bedding, investing in protective covers for mattresses, and regular grooming of pets are some easy ways to keep allergy symptoms at bay.

Want to take things a step further? Check out our green house cleaning services, and learn more about the impact they can have on the overall air quality of your home. Here's to a sneeze-free and wheeze-free 2012!

Green Cleaning Solutions - Cola

While cola may not be what comes to mind when you think of green cleaning, Coke, Pepsi and other cola products can actually be used in some surprising and eco-friendly ways. When there's a mess on your hands and your cleaning supplies are low, you can raid the fridge for this handy cleaning agent. Below are some of our favorite uses:

Deodorizer: While cola shouldn't be used on fabric due to the high sugar content, this soda is an excellent deodorize, and will easily remove pet smells and other odors. Just soak the affected area, then rinse away.

Get rid of rust: Cola products break down rust and grime, saving you the elbow grease of trying to scour it away. Rust spots can be wiped away with a rag soaked in cola. For objects with heavy rusting, an overnight cola soak and a quick scrub in the morning will give you rust-free bliss. Just be sure to rinse thoroughly to clear away any sugar residue, as it can be quite sticky.

Clean your blackened pots: Still have that pot or pan that's burnt and blackened on the inside? Pour some cola into the pan and let it simmer over low heat. Then simply rinse well, scrub, and make your pot as good as new.

Remove stains: Cola is particularly affective for removing stains on ceramics. You can pour a can or two into the toilet bowl for a soak to remove any discoloration. Let it sit for a few minutes, then just flush away the stains.

While it may sound unusual, cola can be a handy substitute for many cleaning products, and may surprise you with its effectiveness. It's multipurpose, toxin-free, readily available, and can be much more than just a bubbly beverage.

Happy Cleaning!

After Christmas Cleaning

Well, Christmas has come and gone, and you may have had the good fortune of playing host to both family and friends. But between all that great food and company, your home can tend to take quite a beating.

Give us a call if you're faced with the daunting task of cleaning up all the post-holiday mess, and we'll be happy to send over some professional mess-busters to work their magic on your home. Just kick back with a leftover turkey sandwich and some eggnog, and let us take care of everything.

You'll undoubtedly feel better once your home is back to pristine condition, and you'll be ready to ring in the new year with style!