Clean Machine - A House Cleaning Blog

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The definitive guide to spring cleaning

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.

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Awwww Yeah!

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!

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How to get hotel-style bedrooms

What is your favorite part about going on vacation? The excitement of getting on a plane? The experience of an unknown place? The comfort and relaxation of being miles away from home and your responsibilities?

One of our favorite parts of vacation is the hotel stay. Those luxurious beds, clean linens, soft pillows, and nice clean lines can have a regenerative effect. For a few glorious days you're able to forget about the press of daily life and completely enjoy the fresh, clean surroundings.

Of course, most of us can't afford to run off to a tropical resort tomorrow, but you can certainly bring some of that luxury right into your own home. Here are some tips to re-create the hotel experience right in your own bedroom, and to give yourself a mini-vacation.

Step 1: Get rid of clutter.
Have you ever walked into a hotel room to find the desk covered in clutter, the chairs piled with laundry, and the floor strewn with shoes, purses and other effects? Probably not. If you want to experience that fresh and clean feel, the first step is to de-clutter your room. Place any of your small and non-decorative items in your drawers or closet, and stash anything that doesn't belong on the bed or bedroom floor.

Step 2: Make your bed the focal point.
When you arrive in your hotel room, one of the first things you notice is how comfy the bed looks. Maybe it's just a simple queen bed but there is something about the way it's made and the linens that are used that make it look soft and and inviting.

You can re-create that plush look for your own bed with a few simple items. If the decor of your room allows, try purchasing a white or light-colored down comforter. The light colors will give the illusion of the bed being bigger than it is. To accent the light colored cover you can get some bright throw pillows of different shapes and sizes. Then add a simple blanket in the same color scheme as the pillows to place across the end of your bed. And then, of course, having big fluffy pillows will only add to the feeling of plush luxury, or plushxury, as we like to call it.

Step 3: Use plenty of lighting.
Having multiple light sources in the room can help to create that relaxing, soothing atmosphere. Have two small lamps on each side of your bed and maybe a couple floor lamps in opposing corners. You should also make sure to use the correct light bulbs. Bulbs that give off an amber light are easier on the eyes, and will add a warm glow to the room.

Step 4: Keep the room smelling fresh.
You can accomplish this by keeping incense on one of the end tables, having an organic, natural smelling plug-in air freshener, or by lightly spraying the room with a natural freshener a couple times a week. One great way to keep your room smelling fresh is to open up all the windows in the room and have a fan pointing outside. This will help cycle the air in the room, keeping things fresh and helping dispel any odors.

Last, but certainly not least, treat yourself to some fresh flowers every once in awhile. Fresh flowers will complete the look of your private getaway and add that special touch. You don't have to purchase an expensive arrangement to make it look rich and luxurious, all you have to do is buy a simple bunch of flowers from your local grocery store, snip the ends of the stems with some scissors, and then arrange the flowers very simply into a clear glass vase.

Now all you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy the beautiful sanctuary that you've just created.

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