7 House cleaning tips to save your time

Cleaning tips  •  Mon 13 Jan 2020

House cleaning can be dreary and we are always looking for tips to make the job easier and quicker.

Here are 7 tips to give your house a thorough DIY clean without taking up too much time or energy.

1. Vacuuming the Carpet Correctly

If you have carpet in your home, regular vacuuming is essential to remove any built-up dirt. Experts recommend vacuuming your carpet twice to ensure a thorough clean. That means, vacuuming over it both vertically and horizontally to ensure all the dirt is removed efficiently. However, depending on your carpet type, you may notice shaded areas when vacuuming in a particular direction. While pile reversal is common in the wear and tear of carpets, preventing it makes a big difference in how the carpet looks. Vacuum against the grain first, so that the second layer ensures the fibers face back to its natural direction to avoid shading.

2. Fluff up your Carpet

Another inevitable wear and tear of carpets are due to furniture dents. To ensure the carpet wears evenly, carpet cleaning professionals recommend rearranging your furniture every few months, even if it’s just moving it a couple of centimeters to one side.

Here’s a tip to invigorate the flat and lifeless area of the carpet to look fluffy, fresh and full again is by using a fork! Simply use the prongs of a fork to sift through the carpet fibers to encourage them to stand tall again.

3. Eliminate Window Streaks

Window cleaning Adelaide encourages more natural light and makes a difference in the ambience of your home. As it’s an area that tends to be neglected, it’s especially significant to clean the windows towards the end of a lease. Sometimes after a thorough clean, streaks may appear.

To rid the streaks from the windows, wipe with a soft, static-free cloth. These can be purchased from your local $2 shop.

4. Make Stainless Steel Sparkle

Using mineral or baby oil can make the difference between stainless steel being clean and being sparkling clean.  Baby oil is a common product and is available at your local grocery store or chemist.

This method can also be used on fixtures and appliances such as the oven door, kitchen and laundry sinks, toasters, kettles, and baking trays. It works best when using a 100% cotton cloth to wipe it down, to avoid leaving streaks of lint.

Making the stainless steel sparkle is a great way to make an impression on new tenants during an end of lease cleaning inspection.

5. Removal of Stubborn Stains

Unavoidably, domestic cleaning often involves removing stubborn stains around the house. A great tip for removing food stains on laminated or plastic cupboard doors is by using methylated spirits and a paper towel. Methylated spirits, also known as denatured alcohol, is extremely strong, which works well to wipe away any mess quickly. However, considering its strength, it’s best to spot-test it first to ensure it’s not too harsh. Methylated spirits can be purchased at stores such as Coles, Woolworths, and Bunnings.

6. Deodorise the House

Using white vinegar is a simple but effective solution in removing general odors in the home, including smoke and pet odors. The best thing about this DIY cleaning tip is that usually, white vinegar is already in your cupboard for cooking purposes.

Pour the vinegar into a bowl and place it on a table or benchtop in the room you want to deodorise. Leave it overnight for the best results.

Baking soda is another common product that you can use to deodorise. This is an effective solution to clean out your rubbish bin. Simply sprinkle some baking soda at the bottom of the bin (after the bag has been removed), and leave it for a few minutes to absorb the smell. Rinse out with water once it’s done.

7. Removing Shower Mold

White vinegar is also an effective solution to clean your shower or bathtub. Not only can it remove that musty, moldy bathroom smell, but it can also be used to melt soap scum and shower built-up. To do this, heat the vinegar in a microwave then pour it into a spray bottle. Spray all over the shower and bath and leave overnight before scrubbing and rinsing it off.

To assist with your home cleaning needs, Home Service Professionals offers house, window, carpet, and end of lease cleaning services to areas in Adelaide, Gosford, and surrounding suburbs.