Back-to-School Cleaning: De-Cluttering, Clothes Considerations

While parents of school-aged children may still feel like it’s the dead of summer right now, the next school year will be coming sooner than you’d think. Many schools will be back in class within a month or so, and those with one or more students in the home will often be thinking about how to prepare and clean the space ahead of a return to the daily school schedule.

At Healthy Homes Housekeeping, we’re here to help. We offer a wide range of maintenance cleaning, deep cleaning and other services to assist any homeowner with their cleaning needs, including those who have kids and want to keep the space well-equipped for school-related scheduling needs. What are some general tips we can offer on cleaning the home ahead of back-to-school periods, whether on your own or with the help of our team? This two-part blog series will go over several.

De-Cluttering

One of the single most important parts of preparing the home for back-to-school is also one of the most basic – getting rid of clutter. If there are items in the home that haven’t been used in months or longer, chances are good they can be removed to open up space. This is especially important in kids’ bedrooms and play areas, where they may need room to do homework or other school-related activities.

This is one area where a quality house cleaning service like ours can come in handy. Our team can help with decluttering efforts, and we also offer organization services to help you keep the space neater on an ongoing basis. We understand that it can be tough to keep a home tidy when kids are around, but we’re here to help make it easier.

Cleaning Common Areas

Another key area of focus when preparing for back-to-school is cleaning common areas. This includes the kitchen, where kids may need to do homework at the table or help with meal prep; the bathrooms, which everyone in the family will use on a daily basis; and any other areas where kids spend significant amounts of time.

Get Rid of Old Clothes

This could technically be part of the de-cluttering section above, but it’s important enough to merit its own mention. If your kids have clothes that no longer fit or they’ve simply outgrown, now is a good time to get rid of them. This will free up space in their closets and dressers, and it’s also a great way to declutter the home as a whole. You can donate items to a local thrift store or charity, or you might even be able to sell them online or at a consignment shop.

This is just a general overview of some of the things to keep in mind when cleaning your home ahead of back-to-school season. In our next blog post, we’ll go over some more specific tips to consider, including some that may involve your kids themselves.

For more on this, or to learn about any of our house cleaning or related maid services, speak to the team at Healthy Homes Housekeeping today.

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Outdoor Spring Cleaning: Porch, Furniture, Walls

In part one of this two-part blog series, we looked at a theme that some homeowners don’t consider enough during their spring cleaning: Outdoor areas. While many typically have a yearly routine for cleaning their homes during the spring, one that may or may not involve professional housekeeping services, some don’t pay attention to some outdoor themes that also should be kept in mind.

At Healthy Homes Housekeeping, we’re happy to help a variety of Ogden clients with all their spring cleaning and maintenance cleaning needs, including every area of your home. Whether on your own or with our help, what are some of the other main outdoor areas you should be considering during outdoor spring cleaning? Here’s a primer.

Porch and/or Patio

Another common area to overlook during spring cleaning is the porch or patio. If you have either of these, it’s important to sweep them down and clean them off regularly – not just in the spring. However, the springtime is a great opportunity to give them both a more thorough cleaning.

This may include power washing if there is significant dirt or grime build-up. You may also want to consider re-sealing concrete or stone surfaces if they are starting to look worn. This will help protect them from further weathering and wear-and-tear.

Outdoor Furniture and Grill Area

Whether you have a porch, patio, deck, or other outdoor living space, chances are you also have some outdoor furniture. This may include a dining set, chairs, loungers, or other pieces — and may also include your grill and grill area. Many times, this furniture can be easily overlooked when it comes to cleaning because it’s not used as frequently as indoor furniture.

However, just like indoor furniture, it still needs to be cleaned on a regular basis – including in the spring. This may require simply wiping down surfaces or, if the furniture is significantly dirty, hosing it off and scrubbing it down.

You should also take this opportunity to inspect your furniture for any damage. This may include worn fabric, loose screws, or other problems. If you catch these early, they can often be easily repaired. However, if they are left unchecked, they can often lead to more serious damage – and may even require you to replace the piece entirely.

Exterior Walls

Finally, especially if you notice specific buildups of dirt or grime, it may be a good idea to give your home’s exterior walls a good cleaning. This is often best done with a power washer, which can quickly and easily remove dirt, pollen, and other buildups.

If you don’t have a power washer or would prefer not to use one, you can also clean your home’s exterior walls with a garden hose and some elbow grease. However, this will likely take significantly longer – and may not be as effective.

For more on these areas, or to learn about any of our basic cleaning, deep cleaning or other house cleaning services, speak to the team at Healthy Homes Housekeeping today.

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Outdoor Spring Cleaning: Windows, Gutters, Garage

As the weather turns warm and spring comes about, many homeowners think about some basic spring cleaning themes for their homes. And while many consider their home’s interior first while taking this approach, it’s vital not to forget about certain important outdoor areas that also should get some cleaning after the Utah winter.

At Healthy Homes Housekeeping, we’re proud to assist clients with any cleaning needs they may have this time of year, including everything from basic cleaning and spring cleaning services to deep cleaning, move-in/move-out cleaning and more. Whether on your own or with whatever assistance you need from our team, what are some important outdoor spring cleaning themes to hit this time of year? This two-part blog series will go over several.

Exterior Window Cleaning

One area of your home’s exterior that may take a beating over the winter is your windows. Between the accumulation of snow and ice, as well as salt used to de-ice walkways and driveways, it’s important to take some time this spring to clean your home’s windows properly. Not only will this make them look much better, but it will also help them function more optimally.

You should be checking your window screens as well at this time of year – if they’re damaged, it’s a good idea to get them repaired or replaced so that you don’t have any unwanted guests (such as insects) coming into your home through the windows.

Gutter Cleaning

Another important exterior cleaning task to take on in the spring is your home’s gutters. If they haven’t been cleaned regularly (or at all) over the winter, there’s a good chance that they’ll be filled with leaves, branches and other debris. This can lead to a number of problems, such as water damage to your home’s exterior, blocked drainage and more.

Be sure to wear gloves and use a ladder when cleaning your gutters – it’s not a job you want to do more than once this season!

Garage Cleaning

Another area that may fall into some disorganization during the winter in many homes is the garage. If you’re like most people, the garage is generally used for storage – and it’s likely that a lot of that storage was put to use in the past few months.

Now is a good time to go through everything that’s been stored in the garage and get rid of anything that you no longer need. This will help to clear out some space and make it easier to find what you’re looking for when you need it. You may also want to consider organizing the remaining items in the garage so that it’s more functional for you.

In part two of our series, we’ll go over some other important areas to consider here. For more on outdoor spring cleaning themes to keep in mind this year, or to learn about any of our housekeeping services, speak to the pros at Healthy Homes Housekeeping today.

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Ogden Super Bowl Party Cleaning Recommendations

For those who are so inclined, a major sporting event approaches on the calendar: The Super Bowl! If you’re the sort who hosts a yearly Super Bowl party at your home, or if you’ve just decided to do so this year, there are a few important areas to think about in advance — and one of these is cleaning.

At Healthy Homes Housekeeping, we’re proud to offer a wide range of maintenance cleaning and deep cleaning services to clients throughout Ogden. Our services can range from scheduled periodic cleanings to jobs specific to a certain event, including those who are looking for some help cleaning up their home either before or after a Super Bowl party. If you’re among this group, here are a few simple recommendations to consider ahead of the big day.

Pay Attention to the Major Areas

As you’ve likely already considered, even the biggest Super Bowl parties are mostly confined to a few specific areas of your home. For the most part, you’ll be setting up and enjoying your party in and around the kitchen and living room, plus any areas you need to walk through to move from one to the other.

Whether on your own or with some professional assistance, make sure to give these areas enough attention. The kitchen, in particular, probably needs special attention. If you’ll be serving food and drinks that need to be kept at a certain temperature, make sure dishes are done ahead of time and the dishwasher is running in advance so it can begin heating up for the big day.

Storage Themes

One big part of many house cleaning projects is properly storing things that are no longer needed. At Healthy Homes Housekeeping, we think of this as a storage theme: You’ll want to put away anything that’s not in use and bring out anything you might need for the party.

If it’s your first Super Bowl party at the house, don’t forget to do some preparation before people arrive so you have time to enjoy the party. If you need some help, consider a deep cleaning service from a local professional housekeeping company in your area.

Call the Pros if Needed

If your space isn’t too large and you’re only having a few guests over for your Super Bowl party, you might feel totally confident in handling all pre- and post-party cleaning needs on your own. If you’re having a larger event, however, or even if you simply don’t want to invest lots of time in cleaning your home, make sure to give some thought to hiring a professional housekeeping company.

With the Super Bowl fast approaching, contact us at Healthy Homes Housekeeping today so we can get started on making sure you have the right plans for your Ogden party! Get in touch with us to learn about these or any of our other services.

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Winter Cleaning Checklist: De-Cluttering, Deep Cleaning, Windows

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some basics on winter cleaning for your home. While many people employ periodic house cleaning services like ours for their needs throughout the year, winter in Ogden is a particular season where additional forms of dirt and grime make cleaning in between your professional appointments an important task as well.

At Healthy Homes Housekeeping, we’re proud to serve clients throughout Utah with a variety of maid and house cleaning services, including everything from standard maintenance cleaning to deep cleaning, move-in and move-out services and more. We’re also happy to provide basic tips to clients on how to keep their homes clean in between our appointments, with simple daily tasks that take little time or effort. Here are some other top such areas to consider during the winter season.

General De-Cluttering

Both for practical and aesthetic reasons, de-cluttering your home is almost always a good practice. A lot of clutter can build up in the course of a year that you likely don’t even realize during periods when you’re not taking it all in at once.

De-cluttering can be both an ongoing and a specific task, depending on your daily habits. As you move through the winter months and towards the end of it, you can take time to do a more thorough job of de-cluttering. It’s not as easy as throwing stuff out or giving things away, as there is often some thought involved in deciding what is worth keeping around and what isn’t anymore. Make sure every item has a practical use for you or a place to go before you get rid of it.

Deep Clean Curtains, Carpets and Furniture

Items like curtains, carpets and furniture pieces are at some of the highest risk of picking up dirt and other grime during the winter. Dry dirt from snow accumulates in carpets and furniture, while humidity and condensation build up between window panes and on glass surfaces.

For this reason, periodic deep cleaning of these surfaces throughout the winter is important to keep germs, allergens and other potential problems at bay. Curtains are one of the biggest culprits for trapping heavy accumulations of pet dander, dust and pollen inside your home. Not only can this make your allergies act up, but it also contributes to conditions like asthma.

Wash the Windows

One commonly overlooked area among homeowners performing DIY cleaning: washing the windows. Windows are a frequently touched surface in your house, and over time accumulate a lot of dirt and grime from hands, pets, people and cars… not to mention the chemicals from snow-melting agents used by public services. Repeat this process throughout winter to keep them spotless for optimal visibility.

For more on winter cleaning checklist items to be clear on, or to learn about any of our maintenance or deep cleaning services, speak to the staff at Healthy Homes Housekeeping today.

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Ogden Winter Cleaning Checklist: HVAC and Kitchen Appliances

Different seasons of the year come with changing needs for cleaning within the home, and the winter is perhaps the best example. Unique elements like snow, ice, salt and others that will likely be tracked into the home create different cleaning needs, and cold temperatures also lead to a few different circumstances that aren’t really present in other seasons.

At Healthy Homes Housekeeping, we’re proud to offer a variety of house cleaning services throughout Ogden, from basic maintenance cleaning to deep cleaning, move-in/move-out cleaning and more — available year-round no matter the season. For many of our clients who receive periodic cleaning services from us, however, keeping things tidy in between visits is an important consideration, and it’s vital to know some of the unique winter areas to keep an eye on. Let’s go over several important themes to cover in this two-part blog series — we’ll start in today’s part one with items that should be covered during the early parts of winter, while part two will dig into ongoing themes throughout the season.

Check the HVAC System

Whether your home is heated using a furnace, a heat pump or any other HVAC system, it’s important to take a look when the temperature begins to drop. Even when your home is kept at a comfortable temperature throughout much of the year, you’ll want to ensure that your HVAC system is operating properly — and that its general area is kept clean and free of dust or debris.

This starts with HVAC filters, which should be removed and replaced on a regular basis depending upon the type you have in place. These filters should be checked at least once per month, preferably starting in autumn or winter, to ensure that they’re doing their job.

Dryer Vent Cleaning

Whether on your own or with the assistance of professionals, taking a look at the dryer vent and cleaning it out regularly is an excellent idea — such as before or during winter. This can be done either through specific vent cleaning products, manual vacuuming or using a combination of both methods.

Cleaning this area is important because it removes potential lint buildup — making for better efficiency of the dryer, and reducing the risk of a fire.

Deep Clean Kitchen Appliances

Many people do a lot more cooking during the winter months, especially during the holidays, so it pays to perform a deep clean on various kitchen appliances early in the season. This includes ovens, microwaves, toasters and more.

Be sure to take care of any spills or messes as soon as they happen, and use a general degreasing agent on all kitchen surfaces at least once per month. Doing so will help keep your kitchen looking neat and tidy not just during the winter season, but throughout the year.

For more on how to keep your home clean and tidy in between visits from our housekeepers this winter, or to learn about any of our maid services in Ogden, speak to the staff at Healthy Homes Housekeeping today.

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DIY Vacuuming Tips: Backing Out, Frequency, Avoiding Odors

In parts one and two of this multi-part blog series, we’ve gone over everything you need to know about vacuuming within your home on a DIY basis. Homeowners will regularly vacuum their spaces, even those who have professional housekeeping services carried out periodically, and knowing how and when to properly execute this basic process will help keep your home cleaner and healthier at all times.

At Healthy Homes Housekeeping, we’re proud to offer a variety of house cleaning services, from standard cleaning through deep cleaning and move-in/move-out services — and also to offer expertise to our clients looking to keep their homes clean and tidy in simple ways even between appointments from our maid service staff. In today’s final entry into our series, we’ll go over a few more basic pointers or themes to consider when vacuuming any part of your home.

Backing Out of Rooms

One extremely simple theme that will help you keep your carpets, rugs and other vacuumed surfaces as clean as possible: Taking the time to back out of areas you’ve already vacuumed. Let’s say you’ve worked your way through all of the carpeting within your living room, and are ready to turn around and get out of there — but fail to consider backing out.

What happens is that dirt, dust and other debris becomes dragged along with you into another room, because all of the surfaces you’ve already vacuumed are now in your path to the door. By backing out, you’re able to ensure that all of these areas are properly cleaned before you move on.

Vacuuming Frequency

We’re commonly asked by clients how often they should be vacuuming their home. While we don’t feel that there is a single answer to this question, we do suggest looking into how it varies from region to region and country to country — and also based on the size of your space.

For instance: Standard dwellings in some regions will be more prone to buildup of dust and other debris if they are not vacuumed on a regular basis. This is especially true for regions with moderate climates, or those coming out of winter months, when windows are routinely opened to let in fresh air.

Does the size of your home play into this? Absolutely — if you have multiple stories within your home, it will require more frequent cleanings than others that are on a single floor.

Avoiding the “Vacuum Smell”

Most are familiar with the smell of a freshly vacuumed area, but some don’t enjoy this scent. There are a few methods to avoid it:

  • Sprinkle some baking soda in the bag or dirt reservoir to remove dirt-related odors. Some also try cinnamon in the bag instead.
  • Use a dryer sheet in the bag to release this pleasant scent.
  • Occasionally, deodorize the entire carpet or rug space you’re vacuuming using baking soda.

For more on proper vacuuming in any part of your home, or to learn about any of our house cleaning services, speak to the pros at Healthy Homes Housekeeping today.

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DIY Vacuuming Tips: Height, Pattern and Speed

In part one of this multi-part blog series, we imparted some expertise onto those who regularly vacuum their own spaces. Vacuuming is a big part of cleaning a home, both in the professional and DIY spheres, with many of our clients asking us for our best vacuuming tips so they can keep their home clean in between our professional appointments.

At Healthy Homes Housekeeping, vacuuming is just one small part of our comprehensive housekeeping services, which include everything from maintenance cleaning and spring cleaning solutions to deep cleaning, move-in and move-out services and more. For our clients who prefer to vacuum often and keep their space clean between our visits, here are some more general tips on how to do so properly.

Proper Vacuum Height

Most of today’s vacuums come with a feature that allows you to adjust their height, and it is important to set it in order to maximize your vacuum’s effectiveness. The handle should be at roughly the same height as your knees when you are standing upright and holding onto it with both hands.

If your vacuum itself is set too low, you risk wearing out your carpet with too much friction, or even damaging it. If your vacuum is set too high, you are putting more strain on your back, which could lead to injuries down the line — and you also may not be generating enough suction to truly clean the area in question.

Vacuuming Pattern

Did you know that carpet fibers are flexible and rest in a variety of directions? This means that if you only vacuum in one direction, you leave dirt on parts of the fibers.

For this reason, we generally recommend a crisscross pattern, which starts by vacuuming from one side to the other. Then, return to your starting position and vacuum first north-south and then east-west. This ensures that you get all of the area in between so as not to miss any spots.

Don’t Go Too Fast

A common mistake made by DIY vacuum users is trying to go as fast as possible. When you rush, it increases the chances that you will miss dirt and other debris, which can lead to a larger buildup or even damage your carpet fibers.

Especially if you’re looking for a deep clean of the area and removal of tougher buildups like pet hair or other debris, letting the vacuum do its job is key. Speed will come as you gain more comfort with the process and as your carpet begins to look cleaner!

For more on how to properly vacuum your space between housekeeping appointments, or to learn about any of our house cleaning services or programs, speak to the staff at Healthy Homes Housekeeping today.

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Mold in Homes: Basic Risks and DIY Removal Methods

Among the growths or buildups you never want to find in your home, mold is at or near the top of most lists. Not only is mold ugly and unsightly to the eye, it comes with poor odors and, in many cases, significant health risks to both humans and animals living in the home.

At Healthy Homes Housekeeping, we’re here to offer a wide variety of home cleaning services, from maintenance and basic weekly cleaning solutions up through deep cleaning and move-out cleaning services – and mold removal is one of many distinct tasks we carry out on a regular basis for our clients. Why is mold a risk in your home, and what are some DIY solutions you might consider for minor mold buildups? On the flip side, when should you consider calling in the pros for a major mold concern, and how can mold be prevented to begin with? We’ll go over all this in this two-part blog series.

Mold Basics and Risks

For those who are unaware, what exactly is mold and why is it a risk? Mold refers to a form of fungus comprised of living organisms, one that tends to form and thrive in moist, damp environments. There are actually over 100,000 different specific types of mold.

Many of these types do not pose much danger to humans, while others definitely do. But in both cases, mold is known to trigger allergies and other respiratory symptoms in many people, and may lead to a higher risk of being sick. It also looks ugly and breaks down other surfaces, such as your tile floor or bathroom porcelain.

So how do you get rid of it? Our next few sections will go over some simple DIY methods for small mold buildups.

Vinegar Vs Bleach

Many homeowners naturally reach for bleach when they find a mold buildup, but this is actually the wrong move. Bleach can do just fine cleaning off mold on some surfaces, but due to its chemical structure, it’s not able to penetrate into porous materials – this means that when mold spores have dug into a material and built a protective membrane, a common occurrence for mold buildups, bleach will have no impact.

Vinegar, however, will do the job well. It penetrates porous materials due to acidity, attacking the mold membrane and its entire colony. This stops the mold from reproducing and coming back. If you have vinegar on-hand, it should be your first try for removing mold from a given area – put some in a spray bottle and spray the surface, then wipe it off after letting it sit for at least an hour.

Hydrogen Peroxide

If you don’t have vinegar around, hydrogen peroxide is another antifungal substance that will have a similar impact to many mold buildups. Use a 3% concentration of hydrogen peroxide, poured into a spray bottle and soaked onto the surface of the mold for about 10 minutes. Scrub the area down after and remove any mold residue.

For more on mold growths and how to remove them, or to learn about any of our professional cleaners and how they’ll help, speak to the staff at Healthy Homes Housekeeping today.

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Dog Owner Home Cleanliness: Vacuuming, Dishes, Professionals

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some general tips for homeowners who live with at least one dog in the house. Our furry friends offer incredible amounts of joy and companionship, but they’re also not exactly clean – and between hair, dander and other related risks, they may increase your cleaning and home maintenance needs in a few simple ways.

At Healthy Homes Housekeeping, we’re here to help with numerous home cleaning and maintenance needs, including basic maintenance cleaning that’s often ideal for homeowners with pets. What are some of the general themes, both DIY and with our team’s assistance, that we recommend in terms of caring for a home with a dog or another shedding pet? Here are several others to keep in mind.

Vacuuming Themes

While chunks of part one of our series went over some general mess prevention themes that will attempt to keep hair and other dirt out of the home completely, it’s a simple reality that these will only work to a certain extent. Your dog will inevitably create at least some mess inside, and the biggest culprit here for many dogs is their shedding and all the hair that spreads around.

Your top tool against this remains vacuuming, and it should be done much more often in homes with pets than in those without them. You should be vacuuming the whole home at least once a week, if not perhaps a bit more often. Pay particular attention to high-traffic areas and spots like carpets and rugs that often collect hair.

Placemat and Dish

One simple approach to limiting your dog’s mess: Using a placemat or some other kind of blocker that’s placed under their food and water dishes. This will catch splatter and crumbs that fall from their mouths, and therefore the dirt on your floors. Use either a mat that can be wiped down with soap or a small rug you can put in the washing machine.

Work With Pros

For some homes, including those with multiple pets or those where the owners lead busy lives and don’t have time to dedicate to regular cleaning, pet maintenance can be a major chore. But this is why our team of house cleaners exists – to assist anyone who needs an extra hand here, including those who own pets. We’re happy to attend to many of the areas we’ve gone over on this list, plus several other professional cleaning themes that will ensure your home is clean and healthy despite the presence of one or more dogs.

For more on any of our pet cleaning services, or to learn about our deep cleaning solutions, move-out cleaning and related themes, speak to the staff at Healthy Homes Housekeeping today.

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