AmeriMaids Inc.

05/14/2018

09/10/2014

How to Clean Your Cleaning tools

Clean the Broom

0714- How to clean cleaning tools- broom

Weekly: Take your broom outside and gently bang it against a tree or the side of the house to remove loose particles. Or clean the bristles with your vacuum cleaner.

Monthly: Place the broom (whether synthetic or straw) in a bucket of warm water with a few drops of dish soap added; let soak for an hour. Rinse and let dry for several hours before putting it away. For extra cleanliness credit, give the dustpan a once-over with a bleach wipe.

Tip: Consider designating a special broom for each germy area (the bathroom, around the litter box, etc.) and another broom for the kitchen.

09/09/2014

How to Clean Your Cleaning Tools

Clean the Washing Machine

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Weekly: Washing a load of whites in hot water and chlorine bleach sanitizes the machine. Not a fan of chlorine in your laundry? Run the unit with an empty load. Fill the dispenser with bleach, set the water temperature to hot and opt for the longest cycle possible. When it’s finished, run an extra rinse cycle.

Monthly: After cleaning the inside, go over the outside of the washer (and plastic hampers) with a bleach wipe.

Tip: Regularly using bleach, hot water or both when you do laundry helps keep your washer clean. Don’t use the machine very often? That gives germs extra time to proliferate, so you should freshen the unit more frequently.

09/08/2014

How to Clean Your Cleaning Tools

Clean the Toilet Brush

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Weekly: Tend to the brush’s handle by giving it a swipe with a bleach wipe or a germ-killing, disinfecting cleanser.

Monthly: Pour 2 cups of bleach into the toilet bowl, then submerge the brush and let it sit for an hour. Rinse and air-dry—an easy way to do this is to position the wand between the seat and the toilet, with the brush suspended over the bowl. While the brush is drying, clean off the inside and outside of its holder with a disinfecting wipe.

09/06/2014

How to Clean Your Cleaning Tools

Disinfect the Sponge

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Weekly: Sponges that are used in the kitchen can be placed on the top rack of your dishwasher and washed along with your regular load every day or two. For bathroom sponges (or to give kitchen sponges a deeper clean), soak them and pour on about a tablespoon of vinegar. Then pop into the microwave on high for two minutes. (Caution: Don’t microwave scrubbers containing metal.) Let cool for another two minutes. Bonus: Zapping a vinegar-soaked sponge loosens any crud in the microwave. After removing the sponge, wipe down the unit’s inside surfaces with a paper towel. Throw away sponges that are used to wash dishes after 10 to 14 days. Dispose of other sponges every 3 to 4 weeks

09/05/2014

How to Clean Your Cleaning Tools

Clean the Vacuum

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Weekly: Empty the bag or container when it is 1/3 to 1/2 full to ensure the machine runs efficiently.



Monthly:

Dirt container: For bagless units, empty the contents and rinse the container inside and out with water and mild soap. Let dry before reassembling. For units that use bags, shake out excess dust and wipe with a dry cloth.

Attachments: Disassemble all hoses and check each for debris. (Try using a coat hanger to dislodge clogs.) Remove hair from any pet or floor attachments with a comb or your hands.

Exterior: Those same microbes that cling to the unit also congregate on the outside. Wipe off the machine with a damp cloth and mild dish soap.

Brush roll: Hair is the bugaboo here; it not only gives germs a hangout, it also slows down the vacuum’s rotation. Detach the roller, if possible, then use a seam ripper to cut through the clog. (Scissors or a knife works, too—but be careful!) Once the roller is clean, spray it with a disinfectant and reassemble.

Less Often:

Filter: For washable HEPA filters, follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Let dry overnight before reinstalling. Most nonwashable filters need to be replaced every one to three years, depending on use and allergies. Not washing the filter defeats its purpose, which is to catch fine dust molecules and allergens and prevent them from spreading around the room. A dirty filter might even make your air quality worse.

09/04/2014

How to Clean Your Cleaning Tools

Clean the Mop

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Weekly: Remove the head from your microfiber mop’s handle and place it in the washing machine on the hot setting with a mild detergent. Tumble-dry on the delicate setting. Soak sponge mops in a bucket with 1 cup hot water and 1 cup vinegar for 30 minutes, then rinse. Allow to air-dry completely (in the sun, if possible).

09/03/2014

How to Clean Your Cleaning Tools

Clean the Dishwasher

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Weekly: Leave the door open after running the machine to let it dry completely. Pull out the bottom rack and run a damp paper towel around the basin’s surface to clean out debris. Pay special attention to the drain area.

Monthly: Use a cloth dampened with white vinegar and water to clean the rubber gasket that’s around the door. Pour a cup of vinegar into a glass or any other dishwasher-safe container on the top rack and run a cycle—with no other dishes—on the hottest setting. To deal with strong odors, sprinkle a cup of baking soda on the floor of the basin, then run the dishwasher on a half cycle, again without any dishes. Afterward, wipe down the interior with a clean, damp cloth and crack open the door until it’s dry.

09/03/2014

How to Clean Your Cleaning tools
Clean the Broom

0714- How to clean cleaning tools- broom

Weekly: Take your broom outside and gently bang it against a tree or the side of the house to remove loose particles. Or clean the bristles with your vacuum cleaner.



Monthly: Place the broom (whether synthetic or straw) in a bucket of warm water with a few drops of dish soap added; let soak for an hour. Rinse and let dry for several hours before putting it away. For extra cleanliness credit, give the dustpan a once-over with a bleach wipe.



Tip: Consider designating a special broom for each germy area (the bathroom, around the litter box, etc.) and another broom for the kitchen.