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Disinfection and Cleaning Strategies for Reopening Commercial Buildings
Cleaning and Disinfection have never been more important than amid the COVID-19 pandemic. And, with quarantine restrictions beginning to loosen, many businesses that were shuttered during lockdown will start resuming operations. As this happens, the biggest challenge for commercial building owners is being able and ready to return buildings to use swiftly and safely. Reducing the risk of exposure by cleaning and disinfecting is an integral part of reopening commercial buildings as the safety of occupants remains a key priority. With this rising demand for clean environments, commercial buildings will have to come up with safe and effective cleaning strategies that will assure occupants of their safety even as the threat of the virus continues to linger in our minds. With so much uncertainty surrounding the spread of the coronavirus and how people can protect against it, it's not worth it to take any risks. You can find professional cleaning, sanitizing, and disinfecting services at www.excelpestservices.com. Cleaning and disinfecting commercial buildings for reopening will involve developing a plan, implementing the plan, as well as maintaining and revising the plan. Develop Your Disinfection Plan: There's no one-size-fits-all cleaning and disinfection plan as commercial buildings are structured differently and for different purposes. You will need to evaluate your building to determine the surfaces and materials that make up that area. This will guide you in choosing the appropriate cleaning and disinfection method suitable for each. Implement Your Plan: Once you have the right cleaning and disinfection plan for your building, it's time to put it into action. We have mapped out a few key strategies that will help you navigate this issue and ensure optimal cleaning and disinfection service. Without further ado, let's get started: Wear appropriate PPE (personal protective equipment): Whether you are contracting a cleaning service or using in-house janitorial staff, the cleaning crew must wear appropriate PPEs like gloves, masks, goggles, and so on. That's because they are at a higher risk of being exposed to COVID-19 (given that it can stay on surfaces for days) and the toxicity of cleaning/disinfecting products. Not wearing PPEs also means asymptomatic carriers could spread pathogens to clean areas. It's also important for the cleaning crew to receive training on the proper use of PPEs, cleaning equipment, and cleaning products to ensure efficiency. Apply normal routine cleaning on visibly dirty surfaces: It's important to clean surfaces and objects with soap and water before disinfecting. And, be sure to clean soft and porous materials according to the manufacturer's instructions. Determine what you need to disinfect: While some surfaces and materials are cleaned with just soap and water, others must be disinfected. Scientists have proven that coronavirus can also live on various surfaces for up to a couple of days. People can contract it by touching contaminated surfaces and then touching their eyes, mouth, or nose. Start by disinfecting high-touch surfaces as they are the main source of spreading pathogens. This includes doorknobs/handles, elevator buttons, restroom facilities, trash can lids, faucet handles, floor surfaces, light switches, tables/countertops/desks, handrails, and so on. Additionally, areas unique to your building may also require disinfecting. For instance, retail occupancy will require disinfecting shopping cart handles and payment touchpads while offices will need to disinfect computer monitors, keyboards, conference tables, etc. Soft and porous materials in high-traffic areas like carpets, upholstery, and curtains can be germ reservoirs and will need to be disinfected as well. Use EPA-Approved cleaning/disinfectant products: Not all cleaning products are suitable for removing pathogens, particularly traces of COVID-19, from building surfaces. It's important to look at EPA's suggested products as they are both effective and non-toxic. If EPA-approved disinfectants are not available, you can use a diluted solution of household bleach or 70% Isopropyl Alcohol (IPA). Use products effectively: It's important to follow the directions on the label with regards to the application method (concentration and dilution), contact time, as well as any other precautions to take when applying like good ventilation and appropriate PPE to wear. This will ensure the effective and safe use of cleaning and disinfecting products. Avoid mixing cleaning and disinfection products as this can result in very dangerous fumes that could cause serious injury or even death. Avoid over-disinfection: It is possible to over-disinfect surfaces while trying to ensure no pathogens are left behind. And although these products are great at removing pathogens, their overuse can have serious side effects in humans. Disinfectants can pose an immediate risk to some people, including those who are asthmatic or suffer from migraines, allergies, suppressed immune systems, or immune disorders. They may experience symptoms like headaches, nausea, and vomiting, irritability, difficulty breathing, mood swings, memory loss, seizures, etc. Outdoor areas require normal routine cleaning: Many outdoor surfaces will not be touched; as such, disinfecting them is a waste of supplies. However, some areas like bars and restaurants will require disinfecting. Pools and other water play areas must also be well-maintained, for example disinfecting with chlorine or bromine. What about an unoccupied building? Properties that have not been occupied for over 7 days will do with normal routine cleaning, meaning there's no need for disinfecting. That's because the coronavirus cannot survive on surfaces for longer than this time. But once you reopen, you will have to develop and implement a disinfection plan to keep everyone safe. Work in zones: It's important to separate areas in the building by how likely they are to contain pathogens. Then start with low-risk zones moving into high-risk areas to help avoid cross-contamination. Maintain and Revise the Plan: Once you reopen, it's important to maintain the above disinfection strategies to minimize the risk of contracting COVID-19 and other pathogens. This should be done in conjunction with other safe practices like social distancing, wearing masks, frequent hand washing, and more. Be sure to revise and update your cleaning and disinfection plan based on the current circumstances (level of COVID-19 exposure in your building) and updated guidance by the local and federal governments. Read also: 10 Tactics To Maintain Clear Windows 5 Hotel Housekeeping Tricks You Need To Clean Your Bathroom How Cleaning Helps Us Feel Better and Why We Don’t Do It
READ MOREDetailsHow To Save Money On Your Air Conditioning Costs This Summer
For most people, summer is the most joyful of all seasons. There’s something precious about those warm evenings, whole days spent swimming, and enjoying the great outdoors. Unfortunately, summer’s not all sunshine and flowers. As a lot of homeowners know, during the summertime our bill tends to spike as our air conditioning costs keep piling up. But what if you could cut those costs by as much as half. In a lot of cases, high AC costs are the result of improper maintenance and malfunctioning AC systems. The experts at Howell’s were kind enough to share a few useful tips that can help you save this cooling season. Look For Leaks In The Ducts If your cooling bills unexpectedly start to spike, there could be a technical issue behind it. Central AC systems use ductwork to deliver any cooled air throughout your home. However, as they age ducts become more susceptible to tears and fissures. This not only makes the AC less efficient but demands more power to keep the required temperature levels in your home. This is usually the main reason behind increased energy bills. If you haven’t inspected your ductwork in a while and are paying more than usual, have a professional determine whether leaks in the ductwork are to blame. Replace Your Air Filter One of the things homeowners are most likely to forget about is the air filters in their AC systems. When is the last time you replaced or at least cleaned your filter? If your answer is “I don’t remember” now is the right time to do so. A clogged filter may make your air conditioner less effective as it struggles to push the cooled air through the filter. This will likely result in an increased energy bill, but poor air quality as well. If you want to keep your energy bill low, make a habit of replacing your air filter at least once every two months. If you are not sure how to do this, you can always hire a professional. Have A Professional Tune-Up Another often neglected part of owning an AC system is having regular inspections and tune-ups. With a professional tune-up at least twice a year you can be sure your AC will be up to standards and working properly. This way you won’t spend a cent more than you need to in order to enjoy the comfort in your home. A tune-up entails a professional testing every component of the system to make sure everything is working in harmony. If any part of the AC system is malfunctioning, professionals can detect this early and prevent expensive repairs down the line. Finally, they will clean the entire system, replace the filters, and offer valuable advice on proper AC maintenance. Having your AC system running at optimal conditions is perhaps the best way to ensure that you don’t end up spending more money on it than necessary. As the old adage goes, sometimes you gotta spend money to make money; well, in this case, save money. Read Also: Things to Consider Before Relocating the Outdoor AC Unit AC Repair Austin: Tips on How to Choose an AC Unit 13 Ways to Maintain the Coolness of Your Air Condition Unit
READ MOREDetailsThings to Take Care of to Keep Bugs Out of Your House
Are you tired of bugs, insects, or pests in your house? Rather than critically thinking about how to get rid of them once, a bug has entered your home, go on offense to avoid them from entering. Mentioned below are different ways to prevent the bugs from entering the house. However, if the pest problem persists, contact Pointe Pest Control. Here are things to take care of to keep bugs out of your house: 1. Trim any shrubs or trees that touch your home. This is one way to make sure that bugs don’t enter. Mulch in garden beds can be used as a safe house for bugs. So as opposed to using mulch in regions that touch your foundation, place less appealing ground spread, for example, rocks. 2. Anything that interfaces your home to the outside should be looked at carefully: Windows, vents, funnels, stacks, and rooftop shingles are only a portion of the spots bugs will enter through. Fix whatever makes a potential passage point like torn window screens or damaged doors. On the off chance that you discover open spaces close to channels or vents, use caulk to fill little splits or steel wool for bigger holes. 3. Some portion of what gives bugs a bum rap is that they incline toward messes. Keeping your home clean is the most ideal approach to ward bugs off, particularly the kitchen where scraps and other leftovers lurk. Regular cleaning should be done. What's more, on days you don't want to throw the garbage, make sure your dustbins are enclosed and food covered. Cockroaches love the smell of paper and detest light, so get rid of messy things where bugs can assemble, particularly things like piles of magazines, boxes or packs. 4. To lessen flying pests around entryways and windows, supplant mercury vapor lights with high-pressure sodium vapor or halogen lamps. Bulbs that have pink, yellow, or orange colors will be least alluring to the bugs. You should change the area of your light if plausible. While it is entirely expected to put lights on outside walls close to entryways, it is smarter to situate the light farther away from your home on a post. This will keep the vast majority of pests by the shaft. Simply ensure the light reaches the entryway to keep it well-lit for safety purposes. 5. A few bugs, for example, rodents, have a magnificent sense of smell. Furthermore, if there's an open food compartment someplace in your home, chances are they will focus on it. Store nourishments, for example, oat and saltines, in reusable holders or resealable sacks if the packaging is not sealed. Make sure that you clear out your pantry all the time to dispose of ruined food or different things you don't want to eat. This will assist with limiting the attraction for any pantry bugs. These are some of the ways you can use to avoid bugs from even entering your house. You must use these methods before the pests attack instead of finding ways to kill them after they ruin your peace. Read Also: Ways to control and get rid of pests What you should expect from a pest control visit
READ MOREDetailsTips To Unpack, Stay Organized After A Move
So you have finally moved into the house of your dreams. What next? Once your belongings are unloaded, you must figure out how to get organized after a move. This includes unpacking and organizing all of that stuff! Of course, this whole process can be a little too overwhelming. But Austin maid service has some organizing tips that might come in handy. Tips for Organizing a Move Before moving in, make sure the new home is completely spruced up to welcome its new members. This includes wiping down shelves, countertops, cabinets, and floors. The bathroom and kitchen should be completely clean and smell good. Once you have stepped into your new home, it’s time to unbox the essentials first. Forget everything else and unpack the essentials box that carries important stuff that you cannot do without. Little steps first Of course, you want to organize your new home right away. After all, it is your dream house and you wish to start enjoying your stay quickly. But it can be quite messy initially. If you try to start by organizing all rooms together, you may end up making no significant progress at the end of the day. So what next? Well, you must start with one room first and unpack your stuff accordingly. For a family of small kids, you may start with unpacking the nursery. Try to maintain a sense of normalcy so kids do not find moving overwhelming. Setup their rooms first and you can easily create a safe haven for them, where they can play and rest while you organize the rest of the space. After the kid’s room, you can start with the kitchen and your bedroom. Other rooms can still wait. Give rooms a purpose In order to stay organized after a move, the next step is to plan how to store your belongings. In this regard, you can assign different purposes for each room, including the pantry, basement, garage, hallway, and bathroom. Now start unpacking things and assign everything a new home. Start with larger items Bulky stuff takes up a lot of space. So start with arranging larger items. You do not want to hit a bed or dressing table every now and trip and fall. Move dining tables, beds, dressers, and solid pieces of furniture to their respective rooms. This should clear up space and make you feel a little relaxed. It’s absolutely fine to delay organizing the smaller stuff. Take some rest and then unpack smaller items, including books, clothes, utensils, and accessories. Install all larger kitchen appliances first. This includes the fridge, dishwasher, stove, food processor, washer, and dryer. Tackle the kitchen When looking for tips to organize home after a move, your priority should be to unpack the kitchen stuff. What is the most essential cookware? What else is most commonly used in the kitchen? You want to organize the essentials first. Organize those in easily accessible drawers. This includes pots and pans, coffee mugs, cereal bowls, and plates. Keep all dishwashing soaps and sponges handy. Do not forget the kitchen cleaning supplies as well. Unpack remaining rooms Once your most important rooms are in order, it’s time to organize the remaining space. Tackle one room at a time and then move to the next. It is a good idea to keep the task of organizing storage areas for last. Since home organizing after the move is a huge task that may take days, this will ensure you have a clean uncluttered space for dining and resting. The storage space can still wait. Don’t forget the entryway Organize this space once you are done with the cleaning aspect of all major rooms. If you continue to ignore this area, it might turn into a complete mess with a pile of stuff that you have been delaying organizing. So when you wish to get organized after a move, place a small basket by the door. This should collect all of the mail that reaches your new home. Bring some hooks to organize items that can be easily lost. This includes keys and dog leashes. When installing hooks at the entryway, keep a few points for coats, jackets, and umbrellas. You don’t want this type of stuff to crowd your chairs and sofas. Place a shoe rack at the entryway. You do not want any viruses to enter your new abode with shoes, right? In these coronavirus times, it becomes even more important to drop your shoes at the door. Place a rug or mat at the entryway to avoid bringing dirt, snow, and slush into your abode. These tips for organizing after a move can make life a little easier for you and your family. You can always rely on dependable professional services for the job if the task seems a little overwhelming. Read Also: 10 Steps to Move in Your New House Moving home checklist: What you need to know Factors To Consider While Preparing For A Move
READ MOREDetailsCleaning Your Home with Pets – The Most Common Problems
For most of us, pets are a part of the family, we love them, talk to them and generally pamper them. However, they don’t always return the favor by behaving as we would want them to – after all, they are animals and different species, so some of their habits and instincts may clash with our ideas. Professional maids and cleaners from That’s Clean Maids share some of the most common issues that pet owners come across and how to deal with them in terms of cleaning your home. Hairs, Hairs Everywhere Probably one of the biggest concerns for people who live with pets are hairs; no matter how long your pets’ hair is, they will shed, and you will need to clean it out of your carpets and furniture. This can become even more problematic if a member of the family develops an allergy to animal hair. One way to ensure a reduced amount of hair needs to be cleaned out of your furniture is to groom your pet regularly. The frequency of grooming can depend on the species and breed of your pet, as well as the season and other factors. One thing is certain, though – with proper grooming, your pet will shed less on your carpet and furniture, making cleaning so much easier. Air Quality Concerns Another related issue is the air quality in your home. There are numerous things that can affect the quality of air in your home, and pet hair and pet dander are a part of it. Animals, just like humans shed skin cells and hair, and it is not much you can do about it. What you can do, however, is change your cleaning routines and habits to counteract the problem of pet dander and hair. Once again, this issue is not a big problem for most people, but particularly cleanliness-oriented people, as well as those with allergies, may be interested in this one. Keeping your pets away from areas where you sleep is a good start, but you should also make sure to vacuum the house regularly, as well as keep the air conditioning unit in good condition. That means cleaning the vents and changing the air filter as often as the manufacturer recommends. Ensure Your Pets Don’t Bring In Dirt If you have a dog, you need to walk them regularly, and that means going out. Cats can be strictly indoor animals, or they can have access to the great outdoors. With both dogs and outdoor cats, there’s one thing you should be wary of – dirt they can bring in on their paws. Dirt is seldom just dirt, it can also be full of pathogens that you would rather not have in your home. When it comes to dogs, the issue can be quite simple – wipe their paws with a wet wipe (one suitable for pets, of course), and you are good unless they rolled around in the mud or something. On the other hand, cats are much more independent and come and go as they please. Still, you can put a little disinfecting tray in front of the cat flap (once again, make sure that the solution is not harmful to your pet). Scratches on the Floor and Furniture Cats need to scratch things as a part of their instinct. If you don’t provide a scratching post, chances are that your furniture will suffer for it. Similarly, dogs whose claws are not trimmed can do quite a lot of damage to your hardwood floors. In order to mitigate those problems, keep your pets’ claws trimmed, and give your cat plenty of things to scratch. Read Also: Top Home Cleaning Tips Home Maintenance Plans And Cleaning Tips During Covid-19 How Cleaning Helps Us Feel Better and Why We Don’t Do It
READ MOREDetailsFix Your Home up This Summer With These Core Hacks
Using this summer as the perfect time to fix up your home is one of the best things you can do, and this is something that you need to make sure you get right as much as possible. There are a lot of things that play a part in this, and you are going to need to make changes that will help you when it comes to making the home better moving forward. There are so many reasons why you might like to improve and fix up your home right now, and this is certainly something you are going to need to consider. Try to do as much as you can to fix up your home moving forward, and there are a lot of things that play a role in this process. Use these ideas to help you fix up the home this summer, and get it looking as great as possible. Modernize Your Driveway You have to do as much as you can to modernize your home because this is an excellent way of being able to make a good impression and develop the home as a strong and impressive asset. Now, one of the best ways of being able to achieve this is going to be to work on modernizing the driveway, and this is something you need to think about right now as much as you can. There are loads of epic ways you can achieve this, and one of the key ones is to make sure you focus on improving your driveway with different styles, materials, and design ideas. Repair the Roof Try to come up with things that are going to help you make your home much safer and more secure in the process. There are a lot of factors that play a part in achieving this, and it is so important that you do as much as you can to repair the roof and fix any damages that have been caused. A leaking roof is something that plays a massive role in damaging your home, and you need to take steps to deal with this right now, either yourself or by bringing in professional roofers to take charge of this for you. Fix up the Interior Fixing up the interior of the home is also something you need to make sure you get right, and there is a lot to consider when you are looking to achieve this as much as possible. So, you need to consider things like the doors and windows, the locks on the home, as well as crawl space repair work that might need doing. Fixing up your interior in the best possible way is one of the best things you can do. There are plenty of things that you can do to help you make the most of your home and get it looking as great as possible right now. Thinking about what you can do to improve the home and fix it up in the most effective way is so important, and that’s what you need to make sure you use these ideas for right now. Read Also: Your own space: decor ideas for your private place to relax 6 Techniques to Improve Your Work-from-Home Career 10 Tips to Pick the Best Table Saw for Home Improvement Projects
READ MOREDetailsHow to Use Iron Clothes With Steam
Believe it or not, the amount of people that don’t know how to iron clothes is amazing. There’s no shame on it since most of us were thrown into society without really practicing skills that would definitely help us fight back as we become independent. These skills include things like cooking a proper meal before going to work, knowing what groceries to buy without spending all our money on unnecessary things, being able to pay bills accordingly without becoming a mess, cleaning the house every now and then, and of course, knowing how to use steam irons and what to do to properly iron our clothes to not look like folded toilet paper. Don’t worry though! In this guide, I’m going to teach you the essentials of how to iron, and how to deal with different types of fabric. To be honest, ironing is not something as complicated as many think. It’s all about knowing what to do, which is what most people lack. The process may require a little preparation and patience, though, so be prepared to practice with different pieces of clothing to get the main idea. One thing is sure, though. You have to be careful when using an iron because they can be harmful if dealt with without precautions! How to Prepare for It The first thing you’ll need is a flat surface where you can prepare your clothes to be ironed. Try to have everything neatly organized to avoid possible accidents, and if you can, try to do it on an ironing board. Some clothing is too delicate for the heat produced by the heated metal of the device, so have a piece of fabric to protect these. Read more: A Complete Guide on Using IRON on Transfer Paper Connect the Iron Irons can take some time before they are ready to be used. They usually show a sign that they are ready, so be sure to be attentive about them while you take care of the next step. Never try to do it before its ready, since it’ll lead to a slower and far less efficient process. Know the Differences Between Materials, and Sort Them Beforehand Depending on the type of fabric you are dealing with, you might want to change your approach while ironing. You can’t deal with a silk piece the same way you would deal with a cotton one, for example. Some pieces of clothing will require you to use the lowest setting of heat possible, while others may require even more heat. Separate silk, wool, rayon, and acetate to be dealt with the lowest settings. Wool clothes may require the protection of another piece of fabric that was previously dampened, so take that in mind! For polyester, go with the medium heat setting, and for cotton, you can go either medium and high heat setting. Both of them should be dampened to be protected from the heat. Before the iron is ready to go, you should have them sorted out. How to Iron Clothes When you deal with shirts with a collar, you should start with it. You can start with a pattern that follows the inside part of the collar, starting from the center of it, until you reach the edges. Then, fall back to the center, and keep moving between both sides. Once you’ve finished with it, you can work the outside. Lay down the shirt in a way that you can flatten it with the iron with simple movements. After that, you have to work your way down, slowly moving the shirt. Then, work the sleeves then the cuffs. Pants are much easier than shirts with a collar. You just have yo lay them down in a way that you can work both legs at the same time. Start with the waist, gently work with the pockets, and go your way down. Repeat the process until you are satisfied with the results, but make sure to be gentle and careful with the heat and the ironing. Considering that there are way too many types of clothing to teach all of the proper methods and techniques to iron them accordingly, you should check this guide on how to do it without fail. Safety Recommendations Ironing can be a pretty dangerous process if you are not attentive while you do it. If you don’t take safety measures, you might harm yourself or others, so make sure to pay attention to this part of the guide. The very first thing you should always make sure is that the iron is unreachable for children. Children can be curious and do things without knowing, so you will be the one to blame if you allow them to get closer while they are heated up. This is important even after you’ve finished ironing. These devices tend to remain heated up even after disconnecting them, so you should still be attentive to any possible situation. I recommend you to wait at least 10 minutes before taking your guard off. Remember to check just in case. While it rests, don’t leave it face down. You might burn something or damage the iron if you do. If an accident happens and you burn yourself or someone else gets burned, treat the burn with cool water for as much time as you can. 20 minutes should be more than enough. Don’t use things like butter or oil, since it might infect the injury. if the burn is too big, you should check yourself with a doctor. Read Also: How To Choose A Washing Machine? How to Pack Clothing Properly for Shipping Choose The Latest Collection Of Women Clothing For a Stylish Look 6 Benefits Of Buying Clothes Online – Why People trust online shopping
READ MOREDetailsTransform Your Garage into a Home Office
Working from home is becoming more and more popular and widely spread, and in the times of the global pandemic, for some, it is even becoming a necessity. If you live with your family – parents, partner, kids, pets – this can be a really challenging task, especially if you do not have a separate work and study room. However, you can turn to alternative ways and make your own working space. Experts say it is important to have different spaces in which you sleep, eat and work, so even if you could have the privacy of your bedroom during the day, it is better for your mental health and efficiency to have a separate room which would serve as a home office. Transforming your garage could be a perfect solution for you, and here is how to do it, as suggested to us by experts at Dlouhy Garage Doors of San Diego. Start from the Basics In its original condition, your garage is probably not suitable for living or working, and in general spending a lot of time there, especially not during all seasons. That is why it’s important to adjust is well to the new purpose. Start from the floor, which is in most cases bare concrete. Replace it with the wood floor or carpet tiles and make it warmer and more comfortable. Insulation might be one of the major issues, so make sure you focus on that. Walls and windows will need additional insulation so you can use your home office for the whole year. Make It Cozy and Practical Once you’ve got your floor and walls settled, you can actually start thinking about the furniture and all the things you are going to need. Start with the desk and chair, as well as the shelves and other storage space you will need for your office. Except for being practical, your new office should also be cozy and you should be comfortable working there. So, you might want to pay attention to the overall style of the place, as well as the colors you choose. It does not necessarily have to be all sleek and modern, you can also add some vintage style and add a touch of warmth to your new workplace. Go for the neutral colors and try not to clutter the office too much with decorations, but rather give it a neater and simpler look, as it will be easier for you to focus. Another important point in this transformation process is the garage door. Chances are that your garage door is not suited to the new purpose, so you might want to call in garage door installers to replace it. Even if you stop using it as an office at some point, it can still be used as a space for hanging out, so why not make it livable for the long term. Think of the Light and Safety Replacing the garage door may have more than one dimension and purpose. It will certainly have an impact on insulation, as well as safety, and lighting, too. You can replace the old garage door with a set of glass panels and a regular door and thus ensure natural lighting for your workplace. It is really great to have it in the office and it’s much better for your eyesight as well as for your mood. Of course, do not forget the artificial lights as well and make sure the place is overall well lit. You can also consider installing a glass slide door, and thus improve the overall ventilation in the room which is also very important. However, if you prefer privacy, consider putting a regular door and sandblasted glass which will prevent anyone from seeing inside, and also prevent you from being distracted by the activities going on in front of your new office. Read Also: Top tips for inspecting and maintaining your garage 10 Pro Tips To Minimize Commercial Door Repair & Maintenance Cost
READ MOREDetailsHow to Handle the Move-Out Cleaning
Changing home is a stressful and demanding endeavor itself, you have to think about so many things – packing, organizing transport, and of course, cleaning. You need to clean your new place unless someone was kind enough to do it for you, but still, a second-round might come useful. And of course, you need to clean your old home and leave it in decent condition for the new tenants. Otherwise, you may not get your deposit back. In case you are selling your own place, it is also an important criterion which will make your former home much more attractive to the potential buyers. Unless you hire professional help, cleaning your old place is definitely not going to be easy, but there are a few things that can make the experience a bit less stressful and burdensome as recommended by move out cleaning professionals. Start from the Top A common mistake many of us make while cleaning is to start from the floors, as they usually do represent the biggest item on the list. However, if you start from the floors, and then move up to walls, corners, and surfaces, guess what – you will have to clean the floors all over again. So, be wiser than that and start this excruciating business from the top. This will save you a lot of time and energy. Also, when talking about directions, always start the cleaning from the back, that is from a wall towards the door, so you don’t end up stuck in one small uncleaned place, like on an island, having to cross all the wiped space to go back, and potentially soil it all over. It sounds funny, but this has certainly already happened to some of you, and you will definitely want to avoid it this time. Change the Approach When cleaning, everyone mostly likes to do the job room by room. However, this usually takes way more time than actually cleaning segment by segment, which is task by task. For instance, if you are wiping floors, it is better to do it in the whole house while you are at it, instead of moving to a different segment in the same room. This approach is much more efficient so take it into consideration once you start you moving out clean up. Have Everything at Hand In situations where time is really precious and you don’t have the liberty to take too long because a lot of other things are waiting, good organization is everything. You will definitely need different cleaning chemicals such as glass cleaners, disinfectants, baking soda, vinegar, and others, as well as cleaning equipment like cloths, vacuum cleaners, brooms, dustpans, brushes, and others. The first important step is not to pack any of these along with the rest of your stuff. The second is to actually know where they are and to organize them as much as possible so you don’t have to lose too much time searching for them. As professional home cleaners at Maid Easy say that good organizational skills can shorten the time it takes to clean the whole house significantly. “Dry” Cleaning First Make sure you first do the “dry” cleaning such as swiping, dusting, and vacuuming to remove all the dust and other dirt in that way. If you apply wet cloth or a brush, you will just make bog, rather than clean something. The best option is to dust all the corners and surfaces first, swipe any bigger mess, and then finally vacuum to give it the final touch. After this, you may proceed with “wet” cleaning activities. Once you are done with the old place, you can apply all these tips to your new home. Even if the previous tenants or owners have cleaned it, you will probably want to make sure it is spotless. Of course, if repeating the same process all over again is just too much for you, you can always ask the professionals for help, at least for one of these cleaning actions. Read Also: How Cleaning Helps Us Feel Better and Why We Don’t Do It 7 Advantages of Hiring a Residential Cleaner What You Need to Look for When Hiring House Cleaning Service
READ MOREDetailsHome Maintenance Plans And Cleaning Tips During Covid-19
The COVID-19 pandemic outbreak rages on as many fall victim to the deadly virus. Everyone started with the assumption that it is something benign that will soon be over, but no one speculated that the virus could evolve into something so catastrophic. Entire countries beat down by the virus are now practicing strict precautionary measures and complying with the imposition of a house quarantine. The damage can't be reverted, but everyone is playing their part to minimize it and save as many lives as possible. As unfortunate as the condition is, it is onto us to play an active role and do the needful to ensure our safety. Local authorities and governments have published and requested people to observe a set of rules to minimize spreading the virus when out of the house. Exercising these measures have helped people take a step towards securing themself from a host of the COVID-19. However, it isn't sufficient as we can do a lot more to raise the bar and tighten the grip to avoid catching this virus. Staying indoor at all times doesn't mean that we are not susceptible to this virus as it can survive on surfaces, especially metals, from where others can get it. What we should be doing to guarantee our safety is to go to extensive lengths and adopt extraordinary hygiene practices. Not just of ourselves, but the surroundings where we are living should also be in exemplary states. If you feel that you have ever been half-hearted in cleaning up your house, now might be a good time to make up for it and show some diligence. Practicing personal hygiene includes all the necessary steps like bathing regularly, washing hands after short intervals, and maintaining distances. People can do this even if they don't have a quarantine handbook to follow, but exterminating the traces of this virus from your house can be a challenge. There are many ways that you can do this, but there are certain subtleties that you need to practice while at it to do it right. It may sound easy, but it heightens the risk of contracting the virus. That is why you need to be extra careful and make sure that you are prioritizing your health and safety while doing this. With that noted, here are some maintenance and cleaning tips that you should follow to build your defenses against this virus. Here are home maintenance plans and cleaning tips during COVID-19 1. Secure The Entrance In a normal situation, this would mean placing a security guard on your front door to keep anyone from intruding. However, under these circumstances, the objective remains the same, but you need to use inanimate objects to secure the parameter. Like many other counties, people in Australia have started covering up windows with solid window shutters to avoid anything floating in from there. You can find some high-quality window shutters in Sydney to help you do this. The next step would be to cover the basement, since it is an area likely to have an opening from outside, like a water inlet. If you find anything like that, keep it sealed unless you have no other option but to use it. Besides this, look for openings and cracks in your flooring or ceilings, and try to patch them up, even if it is temporary. Follow these to ensure that whatever is outside, stay outside. 2. Cleaning Layers Don't panic and start applying the disinfectant everywhere. It is neither the best effective nor the right way to go about the situation. If you see dirt on a surface, use some water and soap to clean it first, and then use the disinfectant. Don't forget to target the areas that are most frequently touched by everyone. These include doorknobs, staircase railings, switches, remote controls, desks, toys, electronic devices, and similar other stuff. Be thorough. One thing that the quarantine has granted us is time, so don't rush with your cleaning. 3. Cleaning The Cleaners What's dirtier than the surface that you are cleaning are the tools that you are using to do it. Wash sponges and wiping clothes after using them to clean a surface so that you don't pass on the germs of one place to another. Don't miss out on the internal surface of your vacuum cleaner. After removing the dirtbag, apply a disinfectant and wait for it to dry off before placing the dirtbag back in. Don't use your bare hands to pull out the dirtbag. Try putting on some gloves to avoid catching anything from it. And between all this, don't forget to clean your gloves when moving on to another task. Take them off, wash them, and don't forget to wash your hands at the end of it all. That should suffice. 4. Get It Off From Your Clothes If the virus can survive on surfaces, then it can survive on your clothes as well. Wash things that are used regularly, like undergarments, towels, and linens between 40 and 60 degrees Celsius. Try and use a bleach-based detergent or a bioproduct to ensure that the clothes get rid of anything that can spread. Handle the dirty laundry with care and maintain minimal contact with it. Don't touch them unless you have to. Once done, let your washing machine run empty for a while to get everything out of the system. And in case if you don't have a washing machine, then don't think of doing your laundry inside the house. You will risk spreading the virus. It's better to take it outside and bring it back in once done. Summary These were some primary maintenance and cleaning tips that you should follow to disinfect your house. Try to start early and do it daily to minimize the risks. In case you feel unwell, don't act tough, and distance yourself from all these tasks. Try to stay isolated until whatever you were experiencing subsides. If your condition doesn't improve, reach out to the relevant health care services immediately to get yourself checked. Practice strict personal hygiene and don't neglect minor symptoms if they aren't going away. The best way to survive this is by exercising caution, so don't slack off on it. Read Also: The Need for End of Tenancy Cleaning 5 Tips on effectively picking a tile floor cleaning machine Vancouver House Cleaning Services with Local Home Cleaners Near You
READ MOREDetailsTop Home Cleaning Tips
With the spread of the coronavirus recently, cleaning your house has become a social as well as a moral responsibility. If you are someone who finds joy in dusting your mantelpieces and scrubbing the oven, then you understand the vitality of having a clean home. However, it will often happen that you do not have enough time or simply feel too tired to clean your place. If you want to have a home that is entirely spotless from top to bottom, then some quick home cleaning tips here can help you out. If you are not sure where to start, you can pick some mainstream methods to add shine to your bedrooms and living areas. But you must clean your home step by step so that you cover all your tracks. You can tackle one room at a time, understand how much it needs to be scrubbed, dusted and vacuumed and then move onto the next one when you are satisfied. Ensuring that each room in the home is free of grime and dirt is not the easiest of tasks, but it can be accomplished with a bit of help. How To Clean Your House Quickly And Efficiently: The kitchen, washrooms, bedrooms, and TV lounge in the home need to be cleaned and considered wholly. Because these are the rooms in the house that you utilize the most, and thus, they require the most attention. The following are some useful tips you can implement into the cleaning process to make your house shine: Here are some home cleaning tips: 1. Removing the Garbage You will no doubt have several garbage bags and dustbins around the house. Most of the accumulation of trash will be in the kitchen area, and the bin you use on a daily basis. Nevertheless, for effective rubbish removal, you must place a protective layer of cardboard or plastic at the bottom of the bin. It will make sure that when you want to clean out the trash, the extra layering at the bottom keeps it clean from any liquids or leaking. Thus, you can simply rinse out the bin and leave it to dry. 2. Decluttering the Vanity We are all at fault for bombarding our vanity with multiple items and then never really finding a place for them. Your vanity is usually covered with cosmetics, skincare items, and other accessories. The continuation of throwing everything on it at the end of the day will never make it clean or organized. So, you have to be responsible here and declutter immediately. Get rid of those items you never use and have been laying there for well over a year. Keep those items in storage that you seldom use, like in drawers or boxes. And for daily-use products, you can organize them in front of the mirror so you can use them first thing in the morning and when you come back at night. 3. Cleaning Window Tracks A dirty window track will make the ambiance of your home look off-putting. When the weather is nice, so you want to keep the windows open. Therefore, you should go out of your way to clean and scrub the window track beforehand. Vacuum the area first and then use an old toothbrush to push out the dirt. Follow this up with a spray cleaner and wiping with some paper towels for the cleanest look. 4. Disinfecting Surfaces Wiping down the hard surfaces in your house is the main way to ensure detailed cleaning. The countertops, cabinets, doorknobs, bookshelves, and appliances all need to be addressed as these are the surfaces we touch the most throughout the day. You need to disinfect them to avoid delivering germs to one another and then wipe them down with a wet cloth. The disinfectant can be made at home with apple cider vinegar and some water for maximum efficiency. 5. Descaling the Coffee Maker The coffeemaker that you use every day should also be cleaned as a part of your home. You will find the accumulation of caked on minerals within the machine, and these can be removed easily with a few simple steps. Use a mixture made from vinegar and water and let the solution brew. Let it sit inside the pot for thirty minutes and then repeat the cycle. You can rinse with clean water once you are done, and find that your coffeemaker is as good as new. 6. Restoring the Dishwasher Excess food and dirt particles tend to build up inside most dishwashers. For a proper clean, you need to habitually clean out the appliance and make sure that bits of food are not present in the interior. The bottom rack usually has the most leftover food that you need to clean out before you put in new dishes. Simply remove with a paper towel to ensure that there is no food or odor left and then start the cycle. 7. Dusting with the Dryer All the blankets, pillows, curtains and drapes you have in your home hold a lot of dust as time passes. Cleaning this dust is simple if the fabric is machine washable, and you can simply put them in the washing machine. You can launder these twice a year, or if you do not have washable fabric, you can take the help of your dryer. If you put your dryer on no heat mode, the pillows and curtains will go through the airflow and clean out easily without having to be washed. 8. Move and Vacuum Vacuuming the entire house does not mean you will get to reach all nooks and crannies. The idea is to cover as much space as possible, so keep moving whenever you are vacuuming. Shift through the house, take into consideration the carpeted rooms and living areas and make sure that no evidential dust is left behind. Use your own judgment for how much you need to vacuum each week and then allocate the timings for each room in the house. In Conclusion Every home gets dirty once in a while. Whether you live in a small apartment or a big bungalow, efficient cleaning of your home can be done if you follow the given advice. From scrubbing countertops to vacuuming the carpet, you can make your living space an ideal one for yourself and your family. By being thorough and detailed with your methodology, your home can be spick and span in no time. Read Also: 5 Tips For Designing a Tiny House 5 Hotel Housekeeping Tricks You Need To Clean Your Bathroom Vancouver House Cleaning Services with Local Home Cleaners Near You
READ MOREDetailsFurniture that Defines Comfort
Furniture is something that is bought for the maximum comfort and beauty of your home. If you are possessing your own home, then you must have some good set of furniture which can define comfort and ease. If you are looking for such furniture, then you can visit the urban ladder to buy a beautiful set of furniture. There is no need to copy the style of others as you can have something unique when you will visit this online furniture store. Some of the furniture that is there which causes trouble and people suffer some of the health issues. They consult medicos, where they recommend changing the furniture that the house because they are not comfortable. How to choose comfortable furniture? When you are going to buy furniture for your house, then you should keep in mind that they should be comfortable and relaxing. If these qualities are not there in the furniture, then you are going to waste your money by buying a worthless sofa. Here are some of the qualities of comfortable furniture. Design of the furniture The design of the furniture should be not much complex and it should be of the normal type. Complex and heavily designed furniture looks good, but they are really hard to handle. The material used in the furniture Materials used in the furniture should be of good quality. Cheap and bad materials can cause severe health problems like back, neck, and leg pain. Buy a piece of good furniture which is made up of quality material for maximum comfort. Shape and size of the furniture Some of the people buy furniture which fills their room and there is hardly any space in the room for any other activity. So, buyers are advised to buy according to the size of their room otherwise this can cause mental discomfort. These are some of the points which should be considered while you are going to buy a piece of furniture for your comfort and ease. Which furniture you should buy for your comfort? If you are going to buy a piece of furniture for your comfort, then you should be a little critical as there are many of them. You can buy a sofa, rocking chair, study chair, etc. for your comfort. Some of the users feel comfortable when they buy drawers, tv showcases and other furniture items for their home. Some of them buy racks for their kitchen. Everybody has their ways of being comfortable in terms of furniture. Some of the furniture which one can buy are defined here. The urban ladder also offers a wide collection of teapots, coffee tables, and tea tables. Sofas The best furniture item which one can buy is a sofa. The sofa is one of the most favorite items for the majority of users when they are going to buy a piece of furniture. For maximum comfort and ease, buy a super glossy sofa and place it in your drawing room. Rocking chair The rocking chair can be placed in the living room and can be used by those who are fond of reading before sleeping. While rocking on the chair, you can get ready for your bed. This furniture item is possessed by almost all people. Sleeper sofa One can buy sleeper sofas for their maximum comfort as these sofas can be converted into beds at the time of night. A sleeper sofa is available in different sizes and qualities. One can buy according to their need. Buy any of these sofas for the best results. You can buy them from any of the online stores at the best rate. You can also check for some other furniture item which suits you as there are many of them available at the furniture store. Why one should not use irregular and uncomfortable furniture? Generally, it is not advised to use furniture which is uncomfortable and has been disfigured. Such a furniture set causes the problem to those who are using it for a long period. Health problems can also occur to the users like severe aches in backs, joints, legs, hands and neck joints. If you have detected that your furniture is no more comfortable, then you should replace it immediately, as one should not stake their health with such minor things. When an individual uses a sofa or chair to sit or sleep, then the posture of their body should be natural and balanced. Irregular sofas didn’t allow you to sit or sleep comfortably, and as a result, aches would happen. That’s why one should stop using uncomfortable and irregular furniture if they are using it. Comfortable furniture should be bought if you are planning to have a new one. Investing money in something good is smartness. Some of the users pay a heavy price only for show-off. Such things would not serve the purpose. So, if you are fed up with your old furniture and planning to buy a piece of new furniture, then you must buy something comfortable and cozy. Read Also: Top Secrets That Slash Your Kitchen Remodeling Bill in Half We Buy Houses Companies Saving Homeowners From Foreclosure
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