House Cleaning Value for Moves: New Buyers, Safety, Fresh Start

In part one of this series, we went over some of the initial benefits of utilizing the services of professional housekeepers and cleaners during a move. Whether for a move-out of your old location or a move-in for your new one, there are many areas where cleaning professionals provide major value to this process.

At Healthy Homes Housekeeping, we’re happy to offer the very best house cleaning service in Ogden, including deep cleaning and move-in/move-out services for any client in need. Here in today’s part two of our series, we’ll go over some other major benefits of utilizing services like ours when you’re moving.

Making the Space Attractive for New Buyers or Renters

Whether you’re renting your current location or selling it, making the space attractive for new buyers or renters is key. This is something that’s much easier said than done when you have to worry about packing up all of your belongings and getting ready for the move itself.

However, with professional cleaners on the job, you can rest assured that your old place will look great for whoever moves in next. This is especially important if you’re selling the property, as first impressions are key in real estate.

A Clean Space is a Safe Space

Another huge benefit of professional house cleaning services during a move is that it helps to ensure a safe environment for you and your family. When you’re in the midst of packing up all of your belongings, it’s very easy for things to get cluttered and chaotic. This can create trip hazards and other safety issues in your home.

By hiring professional cleaners, you can be sure that your home will be clear of any potential hazards. This will give you peace of mind knowing that your family is safe during the move.

Starting Off on the Right Foot

Speaking specifically to those moving into a new location, starting off with a clean slate can be a great way to get settled into your new home. After all, the last thing you want is to have to deal with cleaning up after the move is over.

By hiring professional cleaners for a deep clean before you even start unpacking, you can rest assured that your new home will be clean and ready for you to enjoy. This can help you to feel more comfortable and at ease as you settle into your new space.

As you can see, there are many benefits that come along with hiring professional cleaners for your move. If you’re looking for the very best house cleaning service in Ogden, look no further than Healthy Homes Housekeeping. We’re here to help make your move as smooth and stress-free as possible. Contact us today to learn more about our services or to schedule a free consultation.

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House Cleaning Value for Moves: Stress, Time, Deposit

There are certain situations where house cleaning and housekeeping services are especially valuable to clients, and one great example here is during any kind of major move. The moving process often involves some significant cleaning and organizational needs, both in your prior space and the one you’re moving into, and professionals can assist you in several ways here.

At Healthy Homes Housekeeping, we’re happy to assist clients in this area. Our deep cleaning services are often specifically utilized by clients in the move-in or move-out phase, and we provide cleaning solutions for every nook and cranny of any space you require. What are some of the key areas of value we add to clients who are moving? This two-part blog will go over several.

Reducing Your Stress

First and foremost, as many of our readers are well aware due to past experience, moving can be a very stressful time. There are a lot of logistics to coordinate, not to mention the potential for things to go wrong along the way. This stress can be exacerbated by having to also clean your old place and get it ready for the next tenants or owners, or clean your new place before you can even start unpacking and making it feel like home.

This is where our team comes in. We can take care of all of the deep cleaning needs in both your old and new spaces, giving you one less thing to worry about as you’re dealing with the other challenges of moving. It’s our goal to make your life easier, not add more stress to an already challenging time!

Saving You Time

Down related lines, another big value we provide clients during a move is simply saving them time. Time is often at even more of a premium than usual when you’re in the process of moving, as there’s so much to do and coordinate.

Again, our team can take care of all of your cleaning needs while you focus on everything else that’s going on.

Helping Recover Your Deposit

If you’re moving out of a rental situation and hoping to recover your security deposit, professional housekeeping services can be a big help here as well. Most landlords or rental management companies have specific standards for cleanliness that must be met in order for you to get your deposit back, and our team can ensure that your space meets or exceeds these expectations.

Additionally, if you’re moving into a new rental situation, we can also provide a deep clean of the space before you even start unpacking, giving you a fresh start in your new home. We even provide services on the other side of this coin: For landlords who need to get a rental unit ready for new tenants, our team can provide a thorough cleaning that will make the space look great and help ensure it meets any necessary standards.

For more on the value of housekeeping services during a move, or to learn about any of our house cleaning or other services, speak to the staff at Healthy Homes Housekeeping today.

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Ogden Back-to-School Cleaning: Entryway, Upholstery, Chore Chart

In part one of this two-part blog series, we went over some basics on how to begin cleaning and preparing your home for the upcoming back-to-school period. Many homes with children in them will take some significant time preparing for this new season every year, and getting the home itself in the proper shape to handle the new demands is one of several areas to attend to.

At Healthy Homes Housekeeping, we’re proud to assist Ogden homeowners with a wide range of housekeeping and house cleaning services, from simple maintenance and themes like back-to-school cleaning all the way to major deep cleaning or move-out cleaning services. What are some other general themes you should be thinking about when it comes to prepping the home for impending returns to school for your kids? Here are several, whether you’re completing this job on your own or with our team’s help.

Entryway Station Setup and Cleaning

One area of the home that takes on increased importance during the back-to-school period is the entryway. This is where kids will be coming in and out every day, often with muddy shoes or tracking in all sorts of materials from outside. As such, you want to have a good system set up for taking care of these items as soon after they come into the house.

A small table or shelf near the door can help with this, along with some sort of storage for shoes and other materials. Backpacks and book bags should also have a place to be hung up or stored as well, both so they’re not tracking in more dirt and also so they don’t become misplaced. This is an easy way to organize things from the start, rather than letting them pile up in a corner.

Cleaning the Carpets and Upholstery

Another big area of focus will likely be your carpets and upholstered furniture. These can be magnets for all sorts of dirt, spills and stains, especially if your kids are younger. A good professional cleaning can help get things looking and smelling fresh again, which is key for a comfortable and inviting home.

This is also a good time to think about any other flooring in the house that might need attention. Wood floors, tile and others can all benefit from a good cleaning as well, so give them a once-over as you move through the house.

Setting Up a Chore Chart

Proactively looking to the future is another important part of back-to-school cleaning, and one great way to do that is by setting up a chore chart. Assigning various tasks to different family members (or yourself) on certain days of the week can help keep the house cleaner overall, and it’s a good way to ensure that everyone in the family is pitching in.

This can be as simple or complex as you want, but even a basic chart with a few key tasks can make a big difference. You can also use this as an opportunity to teach kids about taking care of their belongings and the importance of pitching in around the house.

These are just a few of the many themes you should be thinking about as you begin preparing your home for the upcoming back-to-school period. For more tips and advice, or to learn about any of our professional housekeeping services in Ogden, speak to the team at Healthy Homes Housekeeping today.

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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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