0 Easy Outdoor Spring Cleaning Checklist

• House Cleaning
• by Administrator
• 07-04-2018

With spring here, many of you are probably starting to feel the need to spring clean or maybe you have even completed your indoor spring cleaning. Next on the list is outdoor spring cleaning and it can be an overwhelming task.  Here is my outdoor spring cleaning checklist. Wash exterior windows and screens. Inspect gutters and clean out any debris. Pressure wash the siding of your home, always beginning at the top and working your way to the bottom. Clean out the garage. Sweep out at dirt or mud accumulated over the winter, put away winter items and bring out summer items so they are easily accessible.  Scrub and clean your patio furniture. Whether it has been outside or indoors it’s a good time to get it ready to go for BBQ season. Clean your BBQ. Wipe down the outside, as well as clean the grill and clean out any build up inside the BBQ. If you have a deck inspect the boards for any signs of rot or decay and repair where necessary. Spring is an excellent time to re-stain your deck and fence. Prune dead and damaged branches off of your trees and shrubs. Trim overgrown trees back and pick up any branches that are laying on the ground.   Remove weeds from any flower beds your have and throughout your yard. Clear any dead plants from flower beds as well as cut dead sections away from perennials and grasses. Rake leaves and dead grass from around your flowerbeds and in your yard. Fertilizing in the spring can give your grass a boost to increase growth for the summer. Complete any maintenance for your sprinkler system if you have one. This includes testing the system for leaks.  Treat your garden area and flower beds for insects before they become a problem. This simple and straightforward checklist will help keep you on track and make your outdoor spring cleaning a breeze. 

0 My Favorite Spring Cleaning Tips

• Tips & Tricks
• by Administrator
• 07-04-2018

Who is ready for spring? I know I am! When the weather starts to get nicer and we start having longer days I get spring fever like crazy. My spring fever includes an huge urge to clean the entire house.Here are my top 20 spring cleaning to do’s. With so many tasks to complete its easy to get discouraged and overwhelmed. Sit down and make a plan with everything you need to complete. I suggest spreading it out with one or two tasks a day so you’re not rushing and doing a good quality clean. Washing walls is a must on my spring cleaning list. I wipe down all baseboards and cold air vents when washing the walls as well. I love using my telescopic handled mop and warm water. Cleaning windows inside and out. When cleaning the windows, I also clean the blinds, screens, window frame and curtains. Dust light fixtures and lightbulbs. Take any removable parts off and wipe down as well as unscrew light bulbs and dust them off.  Clean out the fridge. Remove all items and wipe down the fridge. Wash out the drawers also if need be. Vacuum your entire house, including the area behind your furniture and along the baseboards. Steam clean carpets and area rugs. Make sure you save this one for a warm day so you can open your windows and have the carpet dry quicker. Clean your cabinets inside and out. Remove all items and thoroughly wipe down. I personally use warm water and dish soap to clean my cupboards.  Organize your closets. This includes vacuuming or washing the floors, wiping down the walls, shelving and discarding of items you no longer need or want.  Remove all books from your bookshelf. Dust and replace books in an orderly fashion. If you have wood floors, spring is the perfect opportunity to treat and care for your floors to keep them in tip top shape. Wipe down all door knobs and handles on cabinets. Wipe down all doors inside and out as well as moulding around the doors. Rotate and flip your mattress to extend its lifespan. While you’re working on the bed, clean the mattress as well as wash the bed skirt for a totally clean bedroom. Make sure you work top to bottom when cleaning. That way any crumbs, dust, etc that fall to the floor will get cleaned up at the end. 

0 15 Tricks to get MOTIVATED to Clean!

• Tips & Tricks
• by Administrator
• 07-04-2018

I don’t know about you but I find February to be an exhausting month every year. With the hustle and bustle of the holidays being over, Christmas décor taken down and put away and life being back to normal you would think it would be the opposite right? WRONG!I find myself burned out, stressed and tired when February comes along. In turn my house seems to suffer for it. I make excuses not to tidy up as often as I normally do. I find myself procrastinating cleaning day and just generally lack motivation to stay on top of my responsibilities.If you have times of the year you feel like this then this post is for you!Check out these 15 top cleaning motivation tips: Shower, change your clothes and wash your face. Taking care of yourself first can give you the jump start you need to get going on your cleaning responsibilities. Set a timer. Challenge yourself to beat your old time when tidying an area of the house. Housework does not need to be an all-day task and this reinforces that. Start with the easiest tasks first and gain momentum from there. Crank the tunes! The more fun cleaning is the more motivated I am to do it…just don’t mistake the toilet brush for a mic! ;) Clean room by room so you don’t overwhelm yourself. Talk on the phone. Catching up with a family member or friend is a great way to pass the time while cleaning. It will keep you from continually checking the clock. Reward yourself! Read a book for a half an hour, take a long hot bath, eat a cookie…whatever you want! Exercise first, clean after. Exercise is a great way to boost your energy and give you the motivation you were looking for. Make a list of rooms you’d like to clean or tasks you’d like to accomplish. Checking them off the list can be motivating for some. Set a deadline for yourself. Whether that is by the time your spouse gets home, your child wakes from a nap or you have company coming for dinner. Read an article, book, or blog about housekeeping.   Try a new cleaning product. Involve your family in the process of cleaning. Reward yourselves with a family game night, movie night or otherwise. Plan a garage sale and donate leftovers. This will make less clutter in your house and cleaning will not seem to be as overwhelming of a task. Rearrange a room. Moving furniture around is a great way for a room to get totally clean and give you the finished product to look forward to. Regardless of when your lack cleaning motivation occurs, give these tips a try.  

0 Holiday Clean-Up 101

• Tips & Tricks
• by Administrator
• 07-04-2018

The holidays are exciting, fun and exhausting! Between travelling, cleaning, hosting company, decorating, etc. the last thing anyone wants to worry about is un-decorating and clean-up. Here are some tips to a pain free holiday clean-up this year! Put shelving up somewhere out of the way (ex. Basement or garage) since you’ll only need access to these items once a year. Put wreaths in a clear plastic bag and place them shelves or hang in up out of the way(mine hangs in my un-finished basement utility room). Forget putting your ornaments back in their original boxes.  There are lots of options out there for Christmas decoration boxes with layers of trays for individual ornaments. These will save your time…and patience. Remove ornaments the opposite way you put them out. Put keepsakes and previous ones first and the larger more sturdy items last. Garland can be wrapped around a piece of cardboard or even placed in a Ziploc bag for space saving storage. To avoid the tangle of lights consider purchasing speciality boxes made for storing lights. You can also make your own organization for storing lights using a piece of cardboard. Cut notches along the long edges and wind the lights around the cardboard. Inflatable and oversize lawn decorations can be bulky and take up a lot of space. Dedicate space between shelving units or behind the shelving unit for these larger items. Pack your holiday china in a bin in the storage room. Make room for holiday baking supplies like cookie cutters in your cupboards that are used the least. Store these items toward the back of the cupboard. This time of the year is a great time to clean out your closet, kitchen cupboards, etc. If you have received new items clear out some of the old and make space! If you use a live Christmas tree there are a couple of options to minimize the mess. Plastic tree bags can save you a ton of clean up. Simply place around the base of your tree when setting it up. When the time comes you can just pull the bag up over the tree and carry it out. A bedsheet works great for packing out a tree as well. To clean up the needles from a live tree sweep as much as you can up before vacuuming. Vacuuming the needles can harm your vacuum. We would love to hear from you! What are your favourite holiday clean up tips? 

0 Make Safety Your Priority This Holiday Season!

• Tips & Tricks
• by Administrator
• 07-04-2018

The holidays are such an exciting time of the year. It can be easy to forget about the safety concerns that arise from hanging greens, and lights, lighting candles and more.Keep an eye out for these potentially dangerous situations. Inspect your light strings each year. Discard any with frayed cords, loose connections, or cracked light sockets. Be sure to unplug the light string when replacing bulbs and make sure the voltage and wattage match the original bulb. Turn off all Christmas lights when going to bed or leaving your home. Purchase a freshly cut tree. They are less likely to catch fire. Be sure to keep your tree hydrated and away from open flames. Use an outdoor timer to switch your lights on and off. When purchasing light strings, extension cords, electrical decorations, etc. look for the certification mark to ensure the products comply with safety standards. Never use more than one extension cord together. For outdoor lights, keep electrical connectors off the ground. Use insulated tape or plastic clips to hold them in place. If using a ladder, choose the correct size for the job you are doing. Be sure the ladder meets safety standards. Avoid overloading electrical outlets. Overloading of outlets is a common cause of electrical fires during the holiday season. Use battery operated candles instead of open flame candles. Candles are a common cause of household fires year round but especially during the holidays. Keep clutter to a minimum. Potentially flammable materials need to be stored away from open flames, heat from lights, fireplaces, etc.   Your safety is important to us here at Perfection Cleaning. Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday season.Do you have any safety tips to share with us?

0 Brace YOURSELF…the HOLIDAY clutter is COMING!

• House Cleaning
• by Administrator
• 07-04-2018

Clutter is a part of almost everyone’s daily life. Whether in your home, office or car it seems to be unavoidable. Staying on top of your clutter can seem like a daunting task at times…especially during the holidays. Here are a few tips to help you de-clutter before this holiday season. When bringing out your seasonal décor it can be overwhelming to find a place for everything among your year-round items. A simple way to minimize clutter is to store away your year-round items during the holiday season. Consider the size of the home you live in when purchasing new decorations. If storage space is limited consider keeping a few sentimental items and buying others that can be recycled or donated at the end of the season. This will save you trying to find storage space for all those decorations. When unpacking your previously acquired Christmas decorations start to de-clutter right away. Items that are outdated, broken or that you no longer like should be disposed of appropriately right away. With the holidays you know everyone in your family is going to receive new items. Just before Christmas consider clearing closets of clothes that don’t fit or your family doesn’t wear. Sit down with your children and sift through their toys. Donations for both of these are greatly accepted by many others. When exchanging gifts with others, be upfront and honest about it. If there is something you need or will use let them know. You can avoid the cycle of obtaining items that you will never really use by doing so. This is an important point to remember when giving gifts as well. Don’t let the clutter of the holidays stress you out. What are your favourite holiday de-cluttering tips? 

0 Simple Housecleaning Tips for Busy Parents!

• Cleaning With Kids
• by Administrator
• 07-04-2018

If you have kids, you know how challenging even regular cleaning can be. When is the last time you deep cleaned your home? For most of us, we likely don’t remember the last deep clean we completed. We strongly recommend deep-cleaning seasonally, with tasks for each time of year to keep the daunting task seem a little easier. Having kids is tough on your home, vehicles and furniture.   Let’s chat about some amazing tips to remove stains and fix things that your kids have been tough on.   ​Did your child or children colour you a beautiful photo while you were showering? How cute…except that fact it is on the wall! Quickly grab your toothpaste or shaving cream to remove the crayon quickly and painlessly.    Do you have mini blinds in your house? If you do, you know the pain of keeping your kids from bending, breaking, pulling, etc on them. Check out these great tips to replace a slat.  DVD’s and CD’s can get expensive…especially the Disney ones! You’ll never believe that Vaseline is the easy trick to fix them!  One of the joys of potty training is removing pee stains from a mattress! With this simple mixture of hydrogen peroxide, baking soda and dish soap stains and smells come out easily.  Crayon stains in everyone’s clothes can be frustrating to remove.  Whether melted in or small marks, here are some tips for removing all types of stains.  With flu season coming up learn to clean up vomit effectively from your furniture. Clean up the majority of the mess. Then make a paste of baking soda and water. Leave to dry overnight and vacuum the next day to remove the stains.   Anyone who has kids or pets for that matter knows all about carpet stains.  Make carpet cleaner from hydrogen peroxide, water, and lemon essential oil. Be sure to test in an unseen area before using in a large area.  If your hardwood floors have come under attack by permanent marker put a dab of toothpaste on it and scrub with a damp cloth.  Microfiber furniture and kids are not always a good combo. Using hydrogen peroxide, a sponge and a bristle brush can make your furniture look new again.  Having some secret cleaning tips up your sleeves can turn an 'OH NO' moment into an 'AHH HAH' moment. Especially with little one in the home.We would love to hear some of your favourite cleaning tips!

0 Get Ready for Fall With Perfection Cleaning!

• Tips & Tricks
• by Administrator
• 07-04-2018

Hard to believe it is fall already isn’t it? As you get back to your regular routine now that the summer time rush is over, it can be overwhelming to make a plan to stay organized and keep your house in tip top shape. There are a lot of resources out there so here are some of the best tips combined in one place!  This detailed list of fall chores that will have you prepared for winter in no time!  Outdoor Cleaning Checklist:  Clean and store your patio furniture, remove any cushions and umbrellas and store in a dry place.   Organize any outdoor children’s toys and put them away.   Check the paint on your fence, deck, railing, etc. For any peeling paint remove loose paint and reapply.   Check the seals around all your windows and doors. If necessary, re-caulk to keep any cold drafts and moisture out.   Inspect all doors and garage doors to be sure they close tightly. Replace weather stripping as needed.   Drain and store all garden hoses.   For those that have underground sprinklers, blow out water lines or hire someone to do so.   Clear any debris from gutters on your house and also in downspouts.   Have your chimney inspected and cleaned as necessary.   Indoor Cleaning Checklist:   Work on public rooms of your home first (ex. Guest bathrooms, living room, family room, entryway).   Always clean from top to bottom. Start with drapes, blinds, and windows and end with vacuuming around baseboards and in corners.   Wash all walls. Dust, wash, rinse and dry.   Vacuum furniture or hire a professional to clean couches and chairs as necessary.   Move all furniture and vacuum beneath and behind it.   Wash all interior windows.   Turn mattresses end to end.   Wash all bedding including mattress pads, pillows, duvets, and comforters.   Book an appointment for carpet cleaning as needed.   Remove everything from your kitchen cupboards and wipe them down. Reorganize and declutter as you put things away.   Pull your fridge and stove out from the wall to clean behind. Sweep and wash the floors, and walls behind the appliances.   Vacuum refrigerator condenser coil.   Take light fixtures down and wash and dust all surfaces.   Inspect washer hoses to be sure they are secure and there are no cracks.   Check dryer vent for any build-up of lint. Dryer vents can get clogged with lint and are a potential fire hazard.    Declutter and reorganize all closets.   Test your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors.   Replace your furnace filter. Deep cleaning and decluttering in the fall makes for a more relaxing winter. When spending so much time indoors during the cold season you and your family might as well be comfortable and relaxed!   SHORT ON TIME? GIVE US A CALL, WE CAN HELP YOU GET YOUR HOME CLEAN!

0 Questions to Ask When Hiring a House Cleaner

• House Cleaners
• by Administrator
• 07-04-2018

Hiring a House CleanerIf you are one of us that are constantly on the go, and struggle to find time to get your house perfectly clean, you have probably considered hiring a house cleaner. In fact, the majority of our clients are people like you, that just don't have time to mop floors, deep clean the home, and other tedious tasks that seem impossible after a long day at the office. Sometimes knowing that you have someone to rely on helps relieve the stress, by knowing you have a few more hours in a week to yourself.Building a positive reputation in the house cleaning industry takes a lot of work, client relationship building, establishing a skilled and trustworthy staff and on-going training. The staff are the core of our services, and we appreciate each and every person that works with Perfection Cleaning! We know this industry inside and out, and even if you do not live in our area, or benefit from the Perfection Cleaning services, we want to help you to make an educated choice when it comes to hiring a house cleaner! Here are some basic questions to ask when looking to hire a cleaner or cleaning company:What is included in your standard house cleaning services?Are you bonded?How do I arrange payments?Can I leave a list of specific tasks for my house cleaner?What about my pets?Are you insured?What if something gets broken?Do you have a service guarantee?Can you provide references?What am I supposed to supply?How often should I hire a cleaner?There are many dependable companies, as well as independent contractors. Always be cautious when hiring a house cleaner. Do your research, and ensure they have a satisfaction guarantee policy in place. Make sure you know exactly what your getting, ask the right questions!If there is a question you think is necessary to ask your house cleaning company, please join the conversation in the comments below!

0 Are You Ready for Back To School?

• Cleaning With Kids
• by Administrator
• 07-04-2018

Ahh... Back to School is soon approaching! It's that bitter-sweet time of year where the kids head back to the classroom, and parents scramble to get the home organized, registering for sports, school supplies shopping done; and making a meal plan for lunches (that may be forgotten by October 1st)! It can be a lot for us parents to juggle, especially working full time! Just like most tasks, having a game plan, a list and some helpful tips to keep your head in the parenting-game.Perfection Cleaning to the Rescue! Here are 5 Perfect Tips to send your kids back to school and stay stress-free! THE KIDS BEDROOMSAt the end of every summer, we take the time to completely overhaul the kids bedrooms, and get rid of any toys or clothes that they no longer need. This helps them start the school year fresh and focused, as well as assists in taking inventory on what they need.REVIEW THE CHORE CHARTWhen's the last time your family reviewed the chore chart? Does it work? Get the kids involved in deciding what chores they can easily help with around the house. A great tip is to build their daily routine into this chart, it helps them understand their responsibilities. Here's a list of the 20 BEST CHORE CHARTS FOR KIDS.REDUCE SCREEN TIMEI wish we didn't have to say it, but there it is. Kids have much more screen time during the summer, so to mentally prepare themselves for back to school, we recommend a decrease in video games. Why not start bed time a little sooner too? ;)HEALTH CHECKThis is the perfect time of year to get the kids in for an annual check up with the doctor, an eye exam, or a trip to the dentist. Vision checks are often overlooked, and can be a huge contributing factor to students lack of ability to focus in school. This is also a good time to talk to your kids about healthy eating habits and brainstorming school lunch ideas! HIRE A CLEANERHiring a Professional House Cleaner will allow you to get ready for the 2015-2016 school year with ease. Even a one-time deep clean will give you a sense of freedom and accomplishment to get your tasks done, and feel fresh and organized! Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.  ~Chinese Proverb