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Spring is our favorite time of year. Flowers are blooming, birds are chirping, and the best part: it's time for spring cleaning! Okay, we admit that spring cleaning may not be the best part, but it's definitely an important part of the season. Spring cleaning gets rid of all the dust and clutter that has accumulated over the winter, helps relieve allergies, and gets your home fresh and ready for summer time.

We've created a simple walk-through that you can follow for your spring cleaning, so grab your cleaning supplies, enlist a family member or two, and get ready to clean your heart out!

The kitchen

• Dust - Get into the corners, up near the ceiling, around the vent over the stove, in the closets, and by the windows. Don't forget any artwork or photos in the kitchen.
• Wipe - Clean the exteriors of the kitchen cabinets, clean the food and grease stains from around the stove, and wipe down the spice racks and shelves.
• Wash - Take down the curtains or drapes, and run them through the washing machine. Do a wet wipe of any blinds.
• Scrub - Use oven cleaner to get any stains off the interior of the oven and the stove top. Scrub the exterior of your appliances, and leave the stove knobs, spill-catcher, and burners clean.
• Sort - Get rid of anything expired in your fridge and pantry, and throw out rotten or expired food items.

The bathrooms

• Dust - Clean cobwebs from around the ceiling, and dust behind the toilet to remove webs. Clean the dust from the vents.
• Wash - Wash the curtains, shower curtains, hand towels, wash cloths, and rags used for cleaning.
• Scrub - Use tile cleaner to remove stains, mold, and grime from the bathtub, toilet, sink, and tiles.
• Clean -- Windex and newspapers will help you to get the shower stall and mirrors nice and clean, Ajax will help you to scrub out the toilet, and some detergent will clean your sink.

The dining room

• Dust - Move the cabinets and furniture to dust behind them, and remove cobwebs from the corners of the room. Don't forget to dust the art and photos on the wall.
• Wash - Set the curtains to wash, along with any place mats, table rags, dinner napkins, and tablecloths. Run all of your dinnerware through the dishwasher once.
• Wipe - Use a damp rag to wipe down the dining room table and chairs, as well as the shelves and cabinets in the room.
• Clean -Give the carpets a good beating, air out the rugs, and consider using carpet cleaner to give your dining room a face lift. Sweep and mop the floor beneath the rugs and carpets, and use wax if you have hardwood floors.

The bedrooms

• Dust - Get underneath the bed, inside the closets, behind the night tables, on the ceilings, around the knickknacks, the pictures and photos, and clean the ceiling fan.
• Wash - Wash all of the curtains, bedding, sheets, pillowcases, and pajamas.
• Clean - Vacuum the carpets, and apply wax to any hardwood floors. Empty your closets and drawers to allow you to wipe down the shelves. Rearrange and reorganize your closet, getting rid of old clothes.

Common areas

• Dust - Clean all art and photos, the ceiling fan, the TV, the game and bookshelves, between and under the couch cushions, and behind the furniture.
• Wash - Wash the couch covers, curtains, and drapes.
• Clean - Vacuum any carpets or rugs, wax hardwood floors, and sweep or vacuum the door mats.

That's all there is to it. While it may take a day or two to get all of this completed, it will be totally worth it in the end! Trust us, if your home were sentient and possessed powers of communication, it would definitely thank you.

When it comes to keeping a fresh, clean home, grout and tile cleaning can play a pretty big role. If your tiles are stained, dull, or have lost some of their luster, follow this guide to help restore them to their original resplendent state. Having clean floors and sparkling counter tops can do wonders for the overall look of your home. By following these simple tips you'll have your grout and tile looking fresh in no time!

Cleaning Grout: It's a good idea to start by cleaning your grout first, before moving on to the tile. First, make sure to seal your grout as often as needed to help keep mold and mildew from sneaking under your grout and doing damage. You can use clear nail polish to seal the grout after each cleaning, which is a cheap and easy alternative to more expensive grout sealants. When you're ready to clean the grout, you'll need a toothbrush, bleach, and baking soda. Mix a 3/4 cup of baking soda with 1/4 cup bleach and use the toothbrush to apply the mixture to your grout. Once you've scrubbed down the grout lines, let it sit for at least 10 minutes. This will allow the beach to do its job. Use warm warm water and a sponge to wipe down the grout once that's done. You can now focus on cleaning the tile itself.

Cleaning Tile Floors: It's important to consistently maintain your tile floors in order to keep them looking clean. Vacuum your tile floors often, making sure to pick up dust and dirt. When your floors need a little extra TLC, it's time to break out the mop. Fill a bucket with warm water and a cup of white vinegar. Do a thorough mop of the floors, going in 5 feet sections. Make sure to wash out your mop, and replace the water once it gets dirty. When you're finished with the mopping, it's important to dry mop the floors at the end. This will dry off the flooring as well as the grout, so there's no chances of mildew growing in any cracks and causing damage to your floors. Finally, if your tiles are of the glossy variety, just add some tile polish to help bring back their original shine!

Cleaning Tile Counters and Showers: Maintenance is the key here. Wipe down your tiles with a damp cloth after cooking or after a shower. Clean up any spills immediately to keep your tiles from getting stained. It's important to air out your bathroom after a shower as well, as this will prevent mildew from building up. If your tile is in good condition, you can clean it using warm water and dish detergent and wipe it down with a sponge. If your tile is stained, you can used bleach to wipe down the stained areas, which will help remove any stains and bring them back to their original color. If you've got a serious mold and mildew problem, you can find some tile cleaning products that are designed to help eliminate any unwanted organic materials, and will help prevent mildew and mold in the future. Once you're finished cleaning the tiles, dry with a microfiber cloth and voila! Your tiles will shine, and your kitchens and bathrooms will look 100% better.

We're proud to announce that we are the recipients of a 2012 Angie's List Super Service Award. This exclusive recognition is given annually to the top 5% of service companies who have achieved a superior service rating throughout 2012.

Between our amazing housekeepers and friendly office staff, we like to think we are truly the best in the business. Time for a round of office high-fives!

The Super Bowl is just around the corner, and you're probably gearing up for the big game. There are few traditions quite so time-honored as sitting around the TV with your friends and family while watching athletic exploits take shape across the big screen. Throw in some hot wings, pizza, and cold drinks, and you have yourself a recipe for a great time!

The only downside to all this revelry is the potentially post-apocalyptic state of your living room, once all is said and done. It's not uncommon to find that a fair portion of the chips, salsa or queso found its way to a rug, onto the couch, or some place other than its intended destination.

Luckily for you, we've put together some great tips and tricks you can follow once the final touchdowns are thrown, victory speeches made, and the Lombardi trophy has been hoisted high. With these simple tips you'll have your living room back to, well, livable condition in no time!

Beer stains in your carpet:
If beer has been spilled on your carpet, you can use a simple ammonia solution to get rid of it. Use a cloth to soak up excess beer, apply some ammonia, and let it sit for a few seconds before blotting it up. Next, spray a mixture of equal parts water and white vinegar onto the stain. Use warm water as a final rinse, and use a bit of baking soda to dry out any remnants of liquid. Finish things up by going over everything with a vacuum, which will pick up any remaining baking soda.

Hot wing sauce on the couch:
Use a simple mixture of water and a dash of mild detergent to get the first layer of sauce off the cushions, followed by a mixture of one part ammonia to four parts water. Blot the stain until it comes up, then rinse the area with warm water.

Muddy footprints on the rug:
If it rained on game day, the celebrations may have tracked a bit of mud onto your fine rugs. Use a bit of water mixed with detergent to loosen up any dirt, then rinse the area with warm water. Use a rag to soak up the water, and repeat the process until your rugs are back to normal.

Cheese dip on the cushions:
You'll want to mix one part ammonia with four parts water, and use that to scrub out the stain. Rinse the area with warm water, and remember to subject the offending party to sufficient amounts of shame and ridicule.

Red wine on your clothes:
If your cheers and proclamations have caused you to spill wine on yourself, a simple application of white wine can help to loosen the fibers of the fabric. Rinse the garment with warm water, apply a bit of ammonia, and rinse again.

Whether or not your team wins, these steps will have you feeling like a winner, if not a household superhero. Plus, your living room will thank you.