Cleaning Hardwood Floors with Vinegar and Water

October 18, 2011 By Owner, Maids Over Austin

Vinegar and water seem to be a magical cure-all for all kinds of grime. But when it comes to cleaning hardwood floors with vinegar and water, is this just another Old Wives’ Tale, or will it do the trick? Yes and yes!

The Secret Cleaning Powers of Vinegar

So, what makes vinegar so special? Vinegar is produced from the fermentation process of liquids like wine or apple cider. White vinegar is best for cleaning as it won’t leave behind any color. What’s so preferable about vinegar to other cleaning solutions is it’s organic and non-toxic.  After all, it is something you’d be okay with eating! So, in a nutshell, it’s safe on your floors, and the people walking on them. It’s also powerful, killing bacteria, mold, odors, and other pesky enemies of a clean environment. As an added bonus, it’s real cheap.

How to Clean a Hardwood Floor with Vinegar and Water
Cleaning hardwood floors with vinegar and water is pretty simple. Here’s a quick step-by-step guide.

  1. Clear the way! Sweep or vacuum the area you’ll be cleaning and make sure all dirt and dust are MIA. You’ll also want to move furniture and rugs out of the way.
  2. Mix vinegar and water in a mop bucket – the ratio should be a half cup of white vinegar to a gallon of water.
  3. Grab your mop and dip into the mixture. However, ring it out until it’s only just damp enough to make a difference. You don’t want to introduce puddles of water onto your precious hardwood floors! Rinse your mop frequently.
  4. Get to mopping! If you mop with the flow of the floorboards, you’ll leave no traces behind and your floors should dry on their own. Make sure to wipe off any leftover liquid with a towel, though.
  5. Replace your vinegar and water with a new mix if it gets too dirty.

Cons of Cleaning Hardwood Floors with Vinegar and Water

While cleaning hardwood floors with vinegar and water is recommendable, there are some drawbacks. For starters, some dirt is just too stubborn for the cleaning duo. If you’ve encountered an especially tough stain or grease spot, try some wood cleaner.  As well, if you’re not careful with your mopping technique, you’ll end up with too much water on your wood floors (no good), and even a sticky residue.  When in doubt, get the best Austin maid service to help!

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Tips for Cleaning a DVD Player

October 2, 2011 By Owner, Maids Over Austin

You know the feeling.  You’re 50 minutes in to that suspenseful mystery flick you’ve wanted to see for weeks, when, BAM, the DVD starts skipping, or freezes up on you. You take out the DVD and blow on it, but it still won’t play. Grr. Hey, don’t toss out the DVD player or your plans for Movie Night just yet. First, check out these tips for cleaning a DVD player. A little TLC may do the trick.

1. Unplug

Of all the tips for cleaning a DVD player, this really should go without saying. However, considering all the plugs and wires your electronics have going on, you may be tempted to skip this step. Well, don’t – that’s just not safe! Turn your DVD player off, and unplug everything from it before you start to clean.

2.  Clean the Outside with a Microfiber Cloth

This is definitely a job for microfiber. Unlike other surfaces, it’s important that you don’t leave behind any fibers when you clean electronics. Dust the outside of your DVD player with a powerful microfiber pad that will leave no trace behind.

3.  Pop in a Cheap Laser Lens Cleaner

A laser lens cleaner is essentially a disc that you put in your DVD player and play like any other DVD. A dirty lens reader is often the reason for a badly behaving DVD player, so this is a cheap and easy way to get things back into working order.

4. No Lens Cleaner? No Worries

A cotton swab with some alcohol on it, and a vacuum with a small nozzle, can also come to the rescue. Open up your DVD player and wipe the inner part with a swab of alcohol (not corrosive water or other cleaning solutions). But first, grab the smallest nozzle of your vacuum cleaner and suck out all that pesky, movie-interrupting dust. If you do use alcohol to clean, give the alcohol a few hours to evaporate before turning the DVD player back on.

5. For a Deeper Clean, Take It Apart

If the DVD player is still acting up after a clean, that doesn’t mean all is lost. If you’re up to the challenge, consider unscrewing it and taking it apart. At this point, you can use your vacuum nozzle or a can of compressed air to get rid of all those dust and dirt particles. For either a vacuum (with small attached nozzle) or compressed air can, make sure to hold it about 10 inches away from the equipment. Warning: if you’ve got a warranty for your DVD player, this isn’t the best idea, as taking the DVD player apart will void it.

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Top 10 Benefits of Hiring a Maid Service

October 2, 2011 By Owner, Maids Over Austin

If you’re used to tidying up your home all by your lonesome, living in squalor, or fall somewhere in between, this one’s for you. It’s okay to ask for help. Really! In fact, it’s good for your mental health, personal productivity, and even your family dynamics. It’s the responsible – not lazy – thing to do. Unconvinced? Here are the top 10 benefits of hiring a maid service.

1. De-clutter Your Home and Your Mind

It’s not just your house that Austin maid services can help get into order – it’s your life. Dirty floors, unmade beds, and tons of clutter make it hard to get things done, and make it hard for you to unwind. Put it this way: watching your favorite TV show in a messy living room is just not as fun as watching your favorite TV show in a clean and organized living room.

2. Clean Home Sweet Home

If piles of dishes or un-swept floors are the first thing to greet you at home, you may not want to come home at all. After a long day at work, the last thing you need is a bunch of mess added to your plate. Your home should be your sanctuary, not just another chore.

3. Don’t Fall Behind

Even clean freaks don’t have the time to keep up with a big house, and cleaning should be done regularly, not in quick spurts. Make sure you always have a clean kitchen to cook in, clean bathroom to shower in, and clean bedroom to relax in. Even if you hire a maid for a weekly or monthly visit, rather than daily, it’s much easier to keep up with the mess if you’ve got some professional help on your side.

4.  A Professional Cleaning Service Does it Better

Many do-it-yourself types avoid hiring a maid service because, after all, who doesn’t know how to clean? But the truth is – you probably don’t. Well, you don’t know how to clean as well as a trained expert. You may not know which powerful cleaning solutions to apply to which surfaces, or how to get rid of stubborn stains. A professional house cleaning service knows it all. Why take up your own time and energy to do a job half as good as an experienced and knowledgeable expert?

5. Pay for the Service, Not the Supplies

It’s not just the expertise of Austin maids that come in handy. It’s their powerful cleaning equipment! Don’t invest your own money into the most cutting-edge cleaning supplies (or your time into learning how to use them); get the benefit through a maid service. Professional cleaners will come equipped with everything they need to get the job done perfectly.

6. Germ-free Living

You may only have time for quick scrub or sweep. A professional maid service has the time, staff, and supplies to make sure every inch of your house gets the attention it deserves. Don’t worry about a grimy toilet or kitchen sink – check out our deep cleaning services in Austin if you’re looking for the best clean possible. Talk about a breath of fresh air.

7. Improve the Value of Your Home

A little neglect can go a long way. Sitting water can turn into mold, tough stains can turn into permanent scars – and once the damage is done, it can be impossible or very expensive to undo. With a maid on your side, you can maintain the cleanliness of your home, while keeping it intact for future generations. Improve today’s living conditions, and tomorrow’s resale value.

8. Increased Productivity

Sure, a clean house is great. But you’ve also wanted to install new tile in the bathroom, get that vegetable garden going, and paint the walls a new color. If you’re constantly keeping up with house cleaning, you’ll have zero time for other “do it yourself” projects. As well, you won’t have time to help the kids with their homework, or your coworkers with a deadline – even though a maid service isn’t free, it can pave the way for more success in life, and even more money.

9. Bring Peace to the Family

While it’s good for every family member to have different chores and tasks they’re in charge of, the more that can be taken off their collective plates, the better. Less fights over spilled milk, and more family game nights!

10. Free At Last

One of the best benefits for hiring a maid service, hands down!  Enjoy more quality time with friends and family, partake in your favorite hobbies, and make de-stressing a regular – rather than a rare – thing.

If you’ve enjoyed this list of the top 10 benefits of hiring a maid service, why not see how we can help you? Check out our basic to deep house cleaning services in Austin.

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