admin, Author at Cleaning Buddy

A Message From Us

March 29, 2020March 29, 2020adminLeave a comment

At Cleaning Buddy our first priority is the health and safety of our clients, employees and community. We are closely monitoring and following the guidance of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and World Health Organization (WHO), to ensure we are doing to help combat the spread of the virus.

Protect yourself and reduce your risk of COVID-19 by doing the following:

Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
Avoid touching your mouth, noses, eyes and face
Carry alcohol-based hand sanitizer when you are outside of your home
Avoid crowds and gatherings

If you have any symptoms such as:

cough
fever
difficulty breathing

Stay home and call your health care provider. If you develop urgent symptoms that feel significant, call 911 and inform them that you may have COVID-19.

Please refer to https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html for more information.

Cleaning

Q&A: Cleaning Bathtubs

March 07, 2020March 7, 2020adminLeave a comment

Q: How often should I clean my bathtub?

It depends. If the bathtub is being used regularly, you should clean it once a week and a deep clean once a month.

Q: How long does it take to clean?

Again, it depends. If you never cleaned your bathtub before, it can take more than 30 minutes to wait for the solution to break down the grime and scrub afterwards. Usually, it would take less than 15 minutes to spray, scrub and wash.

Q: What equipment and materials do I need?

You would need a sponge, cleaning cloth, bath scrubber and all-purpose cleaner or tub cleaner.

Q: Any tips on how to start?

Remove everything from the tub, spray all-purpose cleaner on the ledge and wipe with clothing cloth/sponge.

Q: How do I prevent soap scum from building up?

Towel dry your bathtub after every use. Also, keeping your bathtub dry prevents mold and mildew which grows when moisture are collected on surfaces.

Cleaning

Last Minute Bathroom Clean

March 02, 2020March 2, 2020adminLeave a comment

Remember to wash your hands and use gloves before starting.

Mirror

Remove any noticeable stain on the mirror by soaking rubbing alcohol to a cotton pad and dabbing the stain. Continue to scrub till the stain is removed. Spray the mirror with glass cleaner, fold your microfiber cloth in half and wipe the mirror from top to bottom in a zig zag motion.

Supplies needed: glass cleaner, rubbing alcohol, cotton pad and microfiber cloth

Sink

Wipe any hair off the sink with paper towels and throw away in the trash. For toothpaste scrum, add a little bit of water to the scrubber and go over the area. Finally, spray your sink area with all-purpose cleaner and either wipe with paper towel or microfiber cloth.

Supplies needed: all-purpose cleaner, scrubber, paper towel or microfiber cloth

Toilet

Apply toilet cleaner to the bowl and scrub using the toilet bowl brush. Next, spray the exterior of the toilet with all-purpose disinfectant and clean with paper towel. Option: disinfectant wipes are great to use and easy to throw out.

Supplies needed: toilet bowl brush, toilet bowl cleaner, all-purpose disinfectant and paper towel

December Special

Cleaning for the Holidays (Part II)

December 15, 2019December 29, 2019adminLeave a comment

Remove Dust from Wall and Baseboard

Removing dust from your wall and baseboard is important when adding Christmas decorations and lights around your home. A good option is to fill a bucket with water with a little bit of dish soap and wipe the walls and baseboard. For hard to reach areas on the walls, the easiest method is to get a microfiber cloth with an extension and use as if you were wiping the floors with a mope.

Tidy up Your Staircase

Looping your staircase with Christmas garland is a nice holiday touch to the season. Before you can start ornamenting the staircase, start vacuuming from the top of the step all the way to the bottom. For non-carpet stairs, you will need to mope after vacuuming. To remove dust, you can either use a dust broom or microfiber cloth.

December Special

Cleaning for the Holidays (Part I)

December 08, 2019December 15, 2019adminLeave a comment

Wipe Your Floors

Make sure to clean your floors thoroughly before bringing out the Christmas tree and decorations. For hardwood floors, this involves vacuuming and moping. If the floor is carpet, it’s wise to hire a professional to treat the carpet if you are expecting guests over for the holidays. Cleaning your floors early in December will help you get ahead of holiday hustle and give you a chance to enjoy the holiday season.

Deep Clean Your Bathroom

Deep cleaning your bathroom will require a bit of time when you first start but your bathroom will require low maintenance after the deep clean. Remove any grimes from the sink with soap and water, then use a glass cleaner for the mirror. Scrub the bathtub surface with a sponge and make a paste out of baking soda and water for any stubborn stains. Also, don’t forget to scrub your toilet with toilet bowl cleaner and toilet brush.

Cleaning

3 Tips to Cleaning Your Fridge

November 24, 2019December 15, 2019adminLeave a comment

1. Prepare the Basic Cleaning Essentials.

Be prepared to clean your fridge by having gloves, sponge/cloth, warm water, vinegar and baking soda ready. This will eliminate the need to procrastinate since supplies are readily available. Also, scheduling the time to clean your fridge will hold you accountable to completing the task.

2. Remove Everything.

Remove everything from your shelves and drawers. This may take a little bit of time but it will give you a chance to throw out anything expired and re-organize your fridge. This is also your chance to change your dietary habits to a healthier one.

3. Start Wiping and Scrubbing.

Fill a bucket with warm water, take your sponge/cloth and start wiping the shelves and inside surfaces of your fridge. Optional: Use 1 part vinegar, 1 part water to eliminate bacteria. Afterwards, use a small amount of baking soda with tiny amount of water to create a paste and apply it on for 15-30 minutes to remove any tough stains. The baking soda breaks down the particles and absorbs odor.

Lastly, don’t forget to clean the exterior!

Cleaning

How to Clean Granite Countertop

March 16, 2019March 16, 2019adminLeave a comment

Unlike stovetops, exposing granite to acidic chemicals damages countertop. Minerals that makes up granite is porous, it may not be as impenetrable as stainless steel but granite is very easy to clean and maintain. Putting a seal on top of granite countertop keeps it shiny and eliminates bacteria from seeping into its surface. Maintaining a granite countertop can be easy with these 3 steps:

Get a paper towel or dish cloth with water and wipe down the countertop. You can use gentle dish soap as well.
Once your counter is wiped, use a microfiber cloth to dry it and prevent streaks
To shine and disinfect the counter, make a 50:50 solution of water and isopropyl alcohol and allow the solution to sit for 3-5 minutes. You will dry the surface again with a microfiber cloth.

Using harsh cleaners such as lemon juice, bleach or vinegar will damage the granite stone by breaking its seal. If the sealant wears off, the countertop will be susceptible to staining and discolouration. Another tip is not to use abrasive cleaners or heavy-duty scrubs because it will be too harsh and break the sealed granite. Overall, maintaining your granite countertop is easy and you can save money by not having to re-seal the surface as often.

References:

How Sanitary are Granite Countertops?. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.granitegold.com/are-granite-counters-sanitary/

This Easy Homemade Cleaner Makes Granite Countertops Sparkle. (2017).Retrieved from https://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/homemade-granite-cleaner/

Bold, Cambria. (2014). Retrieved by https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-clean-and-disinfect-granite-countertops-cleaning-lessons-from-the-kitchn-202159

Cleaning

How to Clean Your Stovetop (The Easy Way)

January 07, 2019January 13, 2019adminLeave a comment

When cooking a meal, it’s inevitable for the stove top to become dirty with burned water marks and grease. Instead of buying expensive products to clean your stove top, a cheaper method with few ingredients can be found in your pantry and will get the job done.

Start by wiping your stove top with white vinegar. White vinegar is a good household cleaning agent because of its acidic composition. The acidic nature of white vinegar dissolves mineral deposits on glass and smooth surfaces so it’s great to remove grime.

Next, cover the stove top with baking soda for 15 – 30 minutes depending on the dirtiness. Baking soda helps breakdown grit and grime and makes the scrubbing effective without scratching the glass.

Afterwards, dampen a towel with hot water and cover the stove with it for 15 minutes. Covering the stove top with the towel will soak and loosen the crud that has accumulated.

Lastly, scrub until there is no baking soda left on the stove.

Sources:

Telkamp, Mick. How to Clean a Glass Top Stove With All-Natural Ingredients. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/maintenance-and-repair/cleaning/how-to-clean-a-glass-top-stove

Doman, Erin. 11 Easy Ways to Clean Your Stove & Cooktop. (2015). Retrieved from https://learn.compactappliance.com/easily-clean-your-stovetop/

Cleaning

Part II Answers to Common Bedbugs Question

December 01, 2018December 2, 2018adminLeave a comment

How do I know if I have bedbugs?

Bedbugs are not easy to spot since they are very small and hide away in plain sight. You can look for signs of droppings that look like tiny black dots or red smears around the bed frame, headboard, mattress, pillows and around the bed. Surprisingly, bedbugs can attach to clothing so it’s best to check your closet as well. The biggest giveaway of bedbugs is feeling itchy around your body which leads to the second question.

Do bedbugs bite?

The answer is yes. Bedbugs are active at night and usually bite people while they are asleep because the bugs feed on blood as their only source of nutrition. For many people, a bite can inflict a burning sensation and then develops red bumps, known as papules or wheals (rash). It is important to keep the bites clean and not to scratch because it can lead to secondary infection. Individuals with weak immune systems, children and elderly may develop secondary infection that can cause further swelling and bleeding. Most bites heal within one to two weeks of appearing or longer.

How do I get rid of bedbugs?

The best way to get rid of bedbugs is to call in the professionals. Pest control companies do a good job of inspecting and treating them. The progress of the treatment may be intensive and you may be asked to throw away furniture and mattress from your home. The disadvantage of calling in a professional is initially the cost but it may be the safest and may actually save you more money.

Source:

Bed Bugs. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/bedbugs-infestation#1

When Bed Bugs Bite. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/bed-bug-bites#locating-bedbugs

Bed Bug Extermination Cost: Inspection and Treatment Costs. (2018). Retrieved from https://pestkilled.com/bed-bug-extermination-costs/

Bed Bug Bites. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.orkin.com/other/bed-bugs/bedbug-bites/

How Long Do Bed Bug Bites Last?. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.terminix.com/blog/bug-facts/how-long-do-bed-bug-bites-last/

Cleaning

Part I: Answers to Common Bedbugs Question

September 27, 2018September 27, 2018adminLeave a comment

What are bedbugs?

Bedbugs are small parasitic insects that feed on the blood of humans and animal while they sleep. These little critters are nocturnally active and they can release unpleasant odors when disturbed. Even though bedbugs do not carry diseases, they can cause itchiness and allergic reactions to humans. The damage that bedbugs inflict is largely psychological since getting rid of them is difficult. Besides, who wants bedbugs on their mattress.

What do bedbugs look like?

Most bedbugs are the size of an apple seed or small as a head of a pin. When fed, they are round and reddish otherwise flattened and brown. Looking for bedbugs itself is difficult, but you can look for trails of fecal spots to detect bedbug’s infestation.

Is there a chance that I can bring bedbugs home?

The answer is yes. A good example is traveling far away from home or sleeping at a friend’s house across the street can seem harmless but your designated sleeping area might be bug-infested. We tend to leave dirty laundry around the room and pack our dirty clothes into our luggage for convenience. According to The Scientific Reports, there is twice as many bugs that get attracted to dirty clothes as to clean ones. Bedbugs can easily climb onto your clothes and stow away in your laundry and luggage where it gets the chance to live in your home. It can be the other way around where your guests are visiting and may be carrying bedbugs in their luggage that can hop onto your bed.