Autumn Cleaning Checklist

Fall is the time to clean your outdoor furniture.

Fall is just around the corner and summer will be gone before we know it. Ahh, those warm summer nights spent outside on the deck or back porch were divine. They also took a toll on your beautiful patio furniture that right now probably lacks the sparkle it held in early Spring. 

This is the BEST time to dive in to doing some outside clean-up, and a good place to start is with your patio sets. 

1. Start by vacuuming

Vacuum it all. Your soft cushioned furniture will love you for it, and it’s also a great way to get the dirt and dust off the harder metal and wood chairs and tables. 

2. Wash those cushions and pillows.

You can do this a few different ways. Try a power washer, or if you don’t own one, you can use an upholstery cleaner. Throw anything that’s able in the wash. Make sure everything is put out in the sun to dry. 

4. Clean outdoor rugs.

You’ll want to check your cleaning instructions for the rugs first. Once you know what you’re dealing with, don’t forget to wipe down or spray off those outside rugs and leave them out to dry. 

5. Clean up hard furniture.

Deep clean your hard furniture with a wet rag and whatever cleaning solution you like best. Be careful with hardwood as some have special cleaning instructions. Everything should be dust and grime free.

6. Tackle the outdoor umbrellas.

Umbrellas can be daunting but they’re not all that hard and they’re a must when cleaning up outside. Bring them to a shady area and use a stiff brush to clean off soil and other dirt. You can use a mixture of dish soap and water to scrub, and then spray down with the hose. Keep the umbrella open to fully dry.

Deep Cleaning Tips from our Professional Cleaners

Deep Cleaning Jobs are one of our most requested services (and for good reason). Deep Cleaning is a tough job! But it doesn’t have to be as daunting as you may think. Here’s a few tricks of our trade: 

For the Windows: While cleaning your windows, consider cleaning your window drapings by vacuuming them using the brush attachment. And instead of laundering and ironing curtains, just fluff them in the dryer for a few minutes. Don’t forget to wipe the hanging bar, and hang them right back up. We like to spray the linens with an essential oil mist for a nice fresh scent.

For the Floors: If you have carpet consider sprinkling a bit of arm and hammer on the floor 20 minutes before you vacuum. This will absorb any odors that might be lingering in your carpet and give it a deeper clean. 

For your Appliances: Give your appliances a fresh wipe with a basic water and soap solution. Don’t forget the top and hard to reach spots. If possible, pull appliances out from the wall to get at the surrounding walls and the floor. You can also rent an air compressor and blow the dust bunnies off your refrigerator coils to boost its efficiency.

For the Bathroom: Remove all items from the bathroom that will not be cleaned such as towels, towel racks, chlidren’s toys, makeup etc. and set those aside to be wiped down. Toss what doesn't belong there, wipe down what does, and reload it by category. Next, evaluate soap scum and areas that will need extra attention and spray with distilled white vinegar and water solution and wipe it on the doors, reapplying to keep them wet for 30 minutes. Then scrub with baking soda sprinkled on a non-scratch pad. Repeat for your medicine cabinet or any additional cabinetry. Remove all drains and ensure no hair or lingering items are clogging the drain. 

For the Living Room: Take all framed artwork and photos down and dust them front and back using a damp microfiber cloth. Be careful not to spray anything directly on the glass. It could seep into the corners of the frame and potentially ruin the picture and mat. If the couch or seating chairs need to be wiped do so, if they require to be vaccumed, the brush attachment works well for fabric covered couches and seating areas.  Launder all the throws and throw pillow covers. 

Tips for Cleaning Your Wood Floors

We find more homes with wood flooring than we ever have before. Wood floors can be easier to maintain than carpeting but they also require maintenance and an occasional repair. Here’s a few hacks we use and recommend: 

It Starts With A Mop Bucket
Not everyone has access to professional cleaning supplies, but you have access to our tips. :)  To avoid spills and heavy lifting of your mop bucket and cleaning solution, use a pool noodle to help fill your bucket; slide one end over the faucet, point the other end into the bucket, and voila.

Setting The Stage…and preventing scratches to those precious floors!
We are very careful when working with our clients floors, so we always prevent any wear and tear and scratches, especially when working with wood floors. We carry socks with us to put on table and chair legs to prevent floor scratches when rearranging furniture to clean. 

Fix Scratches With Oil
If you find a scratch in your wood floors, you can easily fix it with ingredients you likely have in your cabinets. We use a mixture of 1 part vinegar and 3 parts canola oil (olive oil works well too). Simply wipe the solution on the floor and gently rub it into the scratches with a terrycloth town. You don’t even need to wipe it off!

Remove Permanent Marker From Wood
Did you know that you can remove permanent marker from wood floors? Simply dab toothpaste on the area and rub gently with a damp cloth. Don’t worry we bring our own toothpaste with us :)

5 Cleaning Hacks from Professional House Cleaners

Last year we shared 3 Cleaning Hacks from our Professional House Cleaners and we decided that we’d add two more to the list. With more time spent at home than ever before you’re likely finding yourself tidying and cleaning more than ever before as well -- here’s tips to make the most of your time and cleaning efforts with materials you likely already have on hand. 

Cleaning Hack 1: Lemons are great for cocktails and cleaning.

We never say no to lemons. Not only are they amazing in almost every cocktail, but they are a house-cleaner’s sidekick. We use lemons to clean faucets with. 

Cleaning Hack 2: Static sheets are for more than the dryer.
After cleaning your baseboards with soap and water and allowing them to dry completely, gently wipe them with a static sheet to prevent future dirt and dust from sticking.

Cleaning Hack 3: Pumice stones aren’t just for feet.
We use them to clean toilets! Yep, say goodbye to ugly toilet rings. 👋🏻

Cleaning Hack 4: Turn up the lights
Light helps you to see what should be cleaned. Open the windows and turn on all the lights. We aim to clean earlier in the day before the light starts to fade and you don’t see the dirt with the same clarity as you did in the early morning light.

Cleaning Hack 5: Use the self-cleaning oven option
In almost every home we service we start the self-cleaning option on the oven the secord that we start working. Let the oven cool after the cleaning cycle and wipe out the residue.