12 Days of Holiday Cleaning – How to Clean Your Home Before the Big Day

12 Days of Holiday Cleaning – How to Clean Your Home Before the Big Day

he holiday season can get hectic. There are gifts to buy, parties to attend and if you’re hosting this year, getting the house ready can be a real stressor.

Day 1: Get the Guest Bedroom Ready
If guests are staying overnight, get the guest bedroom ready first so you don’t have to worry about it later. Dust surfaces and baseboards, vacuum, wash linens and make the bed and put out any extras to make their stay more comfortable, such as towels and wash cloths, and any welcoming gifts.

Day 2: The Laundry Room
You’ll be doing a lot of laundry over the holidays so now is the time to get the laundry room prepped and ready for battle. Wipe down shelves and appliances, organize the cabinets and make sure you’re stocked up on supplies.

Day 3: Kids’ Bedrooms
Next, tackle the kids’ bedrooms. Get your kids to help with putting toys and books away and throwing out any trash. Vacuum and dust, put laundry away and make the bed. To get them to keep their room clean throughout the season and help relieve some cleaning stress, offer an incentive such as a family movie night.

Day 4: The Front Closet/Mudroom
Make sure all items have a place to hang and boots and shoes are in their proper bin. Mop the floors.

Day 5: The Master Bedroom
When the holidays get stressful, you’ll want a place where you can retreat and relax, so make sure your bedroom is clean and tidy. Vacuum and dust all surfaces, change the bed linens and make sure all laundry is picked up and put away. Declutter horizontal surfaces.

Day 6: The Hallways
Make sure the hallways are vacuumed or swept and wipe down the walls if needed. Touch up any paint and make sure artwork is dusted and hung properly.

Day 7: The Master Bathroom
Get out the cleaning supplies and spend some time cleaning the master bathroom. Wipe down the walls, mop the floors and wash rugs and towels. Sanitize the counter and sink and scrub the shower and toilet.

Day 8: The Kitchen
Since people like to congregate in the kitchen during Christmas, make sure your kitchen is ready. Take the time to wash down the walls and cabinets and clean appliances, including inside the refrigerator and oven. Make sure your dishwasher is working properly so it’s ready for all those dirty dishes. Sanitize countertops and organize the pantry.

Day 9: The Living Room
Declutter the living room and make sure all trash is picked up. Recycle newspapers and magazines. Water plants if needed. Dust all surfaces and wash curtains or wipe down blinds. Vacuum or mop. Treat any stains on fabric or carpet.

Day 10: The Dining Room
Make sure you’ll have enough seats at the table for Christmas dinner. Dust surfaces and mop floors. Wash tablecloths and placemats. Make sure you have enough wine glasses, plates and flatware for the big meal.

Day 11: The Main Bathroom
Now is the time to make sure all other bathrooms are ready. Sanitize the sink and countertop and scrub the toilet and shower. Mop the floor and wipe down walls. Make sure the bathroom is stocked with toilet paper, towels and any other toiletries guests may need.

Day 12: Christmas Clutter
Have a plan for all that Christmas clutter that seems to multiply before your eyes. Put recycle bins in an easy-to-access spot, have trash bags ready and have a designated spot to keep all those gifts before they’re placed under the tree.

Taking the time to clean ahead of time will help you enjoy the cooking and socializing without being stressed or embarrassed about your housekeeping.  Looking for a BETTER & EASIER Way to Clean Your Home?  Using our cleaning service in Kansas City, you can count on our skilled staff to take care of any loose ends throughout the week. Call us today to our teams of professional cleaners are ready to take care of the hard work for you. Book a clean today and leave the rest up to us – Treat yourself and your home! Tidy Up Angels has been providing residential cleaning service to the Overland Park area since 2008. Trusting someone to clean your home can be a little unnerving. If this is your first time hiring a cleaning company, we want you to know that you can relax with Tidy Up Angels. Our company is fully insured and bonded; safeguarding your most personal possessions. Honesty, integrity, and good work ethics are the back bone of our company. We aim to meet all your expectations and we hope to exceed them during each service. Let us know how we can help with your house cleaning services in Overland Park and how we can help you – contact Tidy Up Angels LLC at 913-642-2006.

Messy Kids Alert: Trick Or Treating Tips for Parents

Messy Kids Alert: Trick Or Treating Tips for Parents

It’s basically a guarantee that if you’re a parent, you have messy kids. Like, what kid isn’t messy? But on Halloween, the mess can get to a whole new level. You’ve got kids hyped up on sugar and excited about the holiday brandishing melted chocolate bars and gooey caramels and sticky lollipops, oh my!

But don’t feel like you have to be the wicked witch to avoid disaster. Instead, be prepared before messes happen. Catching messes and stains as soon as possible is one of the keys to removing them.

While you’re trick-or-treating, bring Lysol wipes and hand sanitizer (germs, am I right?) as well as paper towels. If stains happen while you’re trick-or-treating, dab or scrape as much of the offending sweet off the clothing as possible. This will help prevent the stain from setting and help you remove it more easily when you get home.

And when you get home with that pillowcase full of candy, make sure it doesn’t get dumped out on the carpet. Instead, clear a safe space for candy, and lay down a garbage bag or old towel, so nothing gets stained.

Candy Stains
They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors: candy stains! They’re sticky, and they’re gross, but don’t let them defeat you.

Pick off as much of the candy as possible and dab with a paper towel. Get all the candy and colour off that you can before moving to the next step.  Mix vinegar with warm water and rinse the stained area thoroughly.  If you have a stain remover or pre-treater solution, soak for five minutes.  Wash in cold water as you normally would.  If your garment is still stained, soak in oxygen bleach for 30 minutes, then rewash in cold water.

Mud Stains
So your kids and their friends tracked mud all over your carpet after trick-or-treating. What the heck do you do now?!

Wait until the mud is dry. Then vacuum over it thoroughly, removing as much mud as possible.
Make a solution of one part dishwashing soap and two cups of warm water. Sponge the stain with your cleaning solution and blot until the liquid is absorbed. Repeat this step until the mud is gone.  Sponge with cold water to remove any excess mud and cleaning solution.  You can even use these tips for your little dog, too… when they track mud all over your new rug.

Red Wine Stain Removal
So maybe the adults at your Halloween party are a little messy too. You’re going to need to know how to get red wine out of a carpet, just in case.  Blot the stain with a paper towel, absorbing as much wine as possible.  Pour a small amount of club soda over the stain, just enough to cover.

Clean Up After A Party
Cleaning up after a party can feel overwhelming. So before the party starts, remember that preventative measures are essential.

Put out SO MANY COASTERS. More coasters than you have people coming. Cover your entire home with coasters! OK, maybe don’t go that far, but having ample coasters available will encourage your guests to use them, which could save you from dealing with drink rings on your furniture. If you do end up with dreaded wet rings check out our article on Wood Furniture Cleaning Secrets.

Have paper towels handy to deal with any spills on the spot. And remember, the biggest part of cleaning up will probably be dirty dishes, so make sure you have an empty dishwasher at the beginning of the party. Then, if you have time, load your dishwasher throughout the night, saving you some clean-up in the morning.

Looking for a BETTER & EASIER Way to Clean Your Home?  Using our cleaning service in Kansas City, you can count on our skilled staff to take care of any loose ends throughout the week. Call us today to our teams of professional cleaners are ready to take care of the hard work for you. Book a clean today and leave the rest up to us – Treat yourself and your home! Tidy Up Angels has been providing residential cleaning service to the Overland Park area since 2008. Trusting someone to clean your home can be a little unnerving. If this is your first time hiring a cleaning company, we want you to know that you can relax with Tidy Up Angels. Our company is fully insured and bonded; safeguarding your most personal possessions. Honesty, integrity, and good work ethics are the back bone of our company. We aim to meet all your expectations and we hope to exceed them during each service. Let us know how we can help with your house cleaning services in Overland Park and how we can help you – contact Tidy Up Angels LLC at 913-642-2006.

Back To School Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Back To School Cleaning Tips and Tricks

It’s back to school time once again, a time many busy parents use to catch up on some much-needed cleaning that can be hard to accomplish in a full house. As a preferred cleaning service in Kansas City, we have pinpointed some of the most common areas in which parents can get behind. Here is our back to school cleaning tips to see how you can get your home back in order after a long summer.

Go Through Outgrown Clothes

You’ve probably already gone school clothes shopping. Now, their closets and drawers contain both the new and the old. Sit down with the kids and examine every article of clothing they own. If it’s something they have outgrown or never wear, throw it out. It’s likely you could also cut back in your own closet. You’ll cut back on laundry and save storage space for clothes that actually get used regularly.

Establish a Shoe Station

As the season progresses, Kansas City residents can count on rain, ice, snow, and more. It’s inevitable that dirt, mud, and other residues will cling to the shoes of everyone in the home. Take 30 minutes to establish a shoe station on the front and/or back porch where shoes are to be removed. You can even get creative and place a sign at your shoe station(s).

PRO TIP: If you have hardwood floors, lay a rug in your shoe station to catch dirt before it makes contact with the wood floor.

Designate Chore-Time and Make It Fun

You’d be surprised at how willing the kids will be to join in at chore time when you make it fun. First, designate a time during which everyone will participate. This establishes a routine and gives everyone a better sense of overall organization and structure. Try making a list of everything that needs to be done. Write each chore on a piece of paper, slip it in a hat, and have participants draw chores. It’s always more fun when you play upbeat music in the background.

Soak After Dinner

Nobody wants to waste their time scraping dried cheese, sauce, and other residues as they clean up after dinner. You’re full, and you’re probably ready to sit down and relax! Before dinner is served, fill up the sink with hot, soapy water. Have everyone rinse their plate and put it in the sink to soak when they’re done eating. It’s a small step that only takes a minute or two that can save even more time and energy later.

Small Steps Go a Long Way

Most of the tips listed here don’t require much of your time or effort. However, they all make life easier and are simple to get the whole family involved in. With everyone working as one, you can enjoy a school year with a home that’s easy to keep in proper working order.

Schedules are busy though, and most of us could always use an occasional boost in keeping their home presentable. Using our cleaning service in Kansas City, you can count on our skilled staff to take care of any loose ends throughout the week. Call us today to our teams of professional cleaners are ready to take care of the hard work for you. Book a clean today and leave the rest up to us – Treat yourself and your home! Tidy Up Angels has been providing residential cleaning service to the Overland Park area since 2008. Trusting someone to clean your home can be a little unnerving. If this is your first time hiring a cleaning company, we want you to know that you can relax with Tidy Up Angels. Our company is fully insured and bonded; safeguarding your most personal possessions. Honesty, integrity, and good work ethics are the back bone of our company. We aim to meet all your expectations and we hope to exceed them during each service. Let us know how we can help with your house cleaning services in Overland Park and how we can help you – contact Tidy Up Angels LLC at 913-642-2006.

July Cleaning Checklist

July Cleaning Checklist

Maintain your garage door

  • Check to make sure that your garage door is properly balanced, and the coils are lubricated. Replace the batteries in your garage door opener.

Clean Deck

  • Clean and repair your deck as needed during this time. Leaving a deck uncleaned can serve as an invitation for pests and bugs to begin living in its wood.

Check Ductwork for leaks

  • Assuming your air conditioner is up and running, go to the ductwork so you can visually inspect to see if there are any leaks.

Fix Clogged Sinks

  • Have a clogged sink? Make sure that your plumbing is taken care of by de-clogging sinks easily.

Ready your home for vacation

  • July is the month of summer trips and vacations. Make sure your home is ready for vacation by prepping it before you go using these tips.

What about those summer chores?

What about those summer chores?

You know all about spring cleaning, but what about those summer chores?

Summer is for outdoor recreation, cocktails on patios, scenic dog walks, waiting in unreasonably long lines for ice cream, crashing pools and catching free music in urban parks. Summer is for camping, fireworks, BBQs and sunburns. Summer is for watermelon, salt water and road trips.

Summer’s not for cleaning, but summer is for maintaining! Summer happens fast. There are dandelions, pollen, ants and crazy thunderstorms that strike with little warning. There is still lots to clean during the summer, especially when you’re out of town for long stretches of time. Your house isn’t going to keep itself up. You’ll still have to put in minimal effort to ensure you’re not totally overwhelmed once your tan fades and the days grow shorter and it’s time for your annual fall cleaning.

The more you maintain during the summer months, the less tedious the next seasonal deep clean will be.

Kitchen summer cleaning
Clean your microwave monthly.
Clean out your fridge and freezer weekly.
Wipe out shelves, drawers and handles.
Clean out and organize your pantry monthly.
Disinfect high-touch areas weekly.
This includes cabinet handles, light switches, sink faucets and countertops.
Wipe down countertops daily with a multipurpose cleaner or a DIY solution.
Clean out your garbage disposal monthly.
Toss a few ice cubes and fresh lemon peels down the drain and let ’er rip.
Sweep, dry mop and/or vacuum the floors weekly.
Clean your kitchen blinds monthly.
Wash the windows monthly.
Wash the trash and recycling receptacles monthly.
Clean your dishwasher by running it on an empty cycle with Cascade Dishwasher Cleaner monthly.

Time-saving tips for summer cleaning
Keep your drains (and especially your garbage disposal!) mold and bacteria free during the warm weather months by pouring some boiling water down them, followed by a dollop of baking soda and dash of white vinegar. Finish with more boiling water to flush.

Dry brush outdoor couch cushions (or hit them with your vacuum’s upholstery attachment) to remove pollen and pet hair before hosting company.

Clean and reverse your ceiling fan blades each summer, so they’re not just aimlessly swirling dirt and pollen around in your home. By reversing the blades to turn counterclockwise, the fan will push cold air, rather than warm air, downward.

Invest in a few inexpensive brooms and dustpans to stash on each porch, patio or deck. These are handy for spot cleaning all your window treatments, screens, railings, ceilings, window boxes, etc.

Buy a new summer shower curtain liner, and pretreat it by running it through the washing machine on the cold, gentle setting with ¼ cup of white vinegar. This will prevent mold and mildew from forming on the shower liner during the warmer, more humid months.

Give your gas grill an exfoliating spa treatment in between uses to keep the grates fresh.

Just turn it on high, and let the grates get hot (or use this technique when you’re done cooking, while the grill is still hot).

Hold a cut lemon with long-handled tongs, or stick it on the end of a long-handled fork (either way, be careful!).

Dip the lemon into a bowl of salt and then rub it across the grates from front to back. The lemon’s acid will cut grease, while the salt is a scrubbing agent.

Crush grass stains by pretreating them with a DIY solution of 1 part white vinegar and 2 parts water. Let the solution sit for 5 minutes before machine washing stained items with an enzyme detergent on the hot setting.

Your free time is precious. For an extra hand around the home to help with all your spring cleaning – our teams of professional cleaners are ready to take care of the hard work for you. Book a clean today and leave the rest up to us – Treat yourself and your home! Tidy Up Angels has been providing residential cleaning service to the Overland Park area since 2008. Trusting someone to clean your home can be a little unnerving. If this is your first time hiring a cleaning company, we want you to know that you can relax with Tidy Up Angels. Our company is fully insured and bonded; safeguarding your most personal possessions. Honesty, integrity, and good work ethics are the back bone of our company. We aim to meet all your expectations and we hope to exceed them during each service. Let us know how we can help with your house cleaning services in Overland Park and how we can help you – contact Tidy Up Angels LLC at 913-642-2006.

Summer Cleaning Chore Checklist

Summer Cleaning Chore Checklist

Summer’s almost here in Kansas City – vacations season is almost here. However, busy families don’t have much time for home chores these months. For that reason, it’s important to keep tabs on some important areas in the Summer Cleaning Chore Checklist listed below:

Basic Cleaning Areas

  • Dust all surfaces
  • Dust corners and edges
  • Vacuum edges
  • Vacuum all floors
  • Wash all baseboard
  • Wash all floors
  • Wipe switches and door knobs
  • Clean appliances
  • Wash bathroom counters, scrub toilets, tubs and showers
  • Spot clean walls
  • Wash vents
  • Oil furniture
  • Deep Cleaning Extras
  • Clean under appliances
  • Wipe ceiling fans and lights
  • Dust door tops
  • Wash doors
  • Clean carpets
  • Wash windows
  • Vacuum lampshades

USING A HOUSE CLEANING SERVICE IN OVERLAND PARK AND KANSAS CITY
If you do choose to hire a professional cleaning service, it’s vital to find someone with a reputation for dependability. Tidy Up Angels is a reliable house cleaning service for Overland Park, Leawood, Prairie Village residents that can be counted on to provide exceptional quality service.

Tidy Up Angels offers a variety of services to suit the different needs and budgets of their customers. Whether it’s to set up a one-time cleaning service or to schedule recurring weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly cleanings, you can contact them and discuss your personal cleaning needs. We’ll help you find the package that will work best for your lifestyle and schedule. With a qualified cleaning service taking care of deep cleaning your property before your move, you’ll be able to lower your stress level and reap the benefits of having a turnkey ready home. Let us know how we can help with your house cleaning services in Overland Park, Leawood, Prairie Village and how we can help you – contact Tidy Up Angels LLC at 913-642-2006.