Practical tips to keep your home running smoothly during self-quarantine

The coronavirus has sent many Americans home to ride this pandemic out. All the increased food preparation, laundry and cleaning puts family members — as well as houses and apartments — under increased stress.

There are things you can do in this time of heightened awareness to help keep germs under control and make the most efficient use of home appliances. We have been speaking to experts to address some of these issues. Here are some highlights.

Figure out what they are eating before they open the door. As regular maintenance, you should be vacuuming the coils on your refrigerator so it isn’t overworked from being clogged with dust, pet hair and dirt. Check your manual for where these coils are located. Some are accessed by removing the front panel, and some are in the back.

Check to see whether you have a sanitizing cycle on your washing machine, dryer or dishwasher. Many newer washing machines, dryers and dishwashers have a sanitize-cycle option. These cycles offer the hottest temperatures available in your appliances, making them the best choice for anyone concerned about germs. World Health Organization statistics show that temperatures of 140 to 150 degrees are enough to kill most viruses.

If your washing machine has a sanitizing cycle, you might want to use it for bedding or clothing you have worn outdoors.  Standard hot-water cycles in washers tend to be as warm as your hot-water heater setting, traditionally about 120 degrees. A sanitizing cycle can vary in different brands and models but may include hot-water temperatures that reach 140 degrees, and additional agitation time, rinses and spins to remove soils and bacteria. Some models also require an oxygen bleach cleaning additive to power the sanitizing cycle. (Both bacteria and viruses are germs, but machines are only tested for killing bacteria.)

Some dryers also have sanitize cycles of high heat at 145 degrees to kill germs. They could be useful at this time for bedding, especially when someone is ill. If you don’t have a sanitizing option, he suggests drying a load normally using a high heat setting immediately followed by a timed dry cycle on high heat for a minimum of 45 minutes.

If you have a dishwasher, this may be the time to use it on a regular basis vs. washing dishes by hand. During the sanitize cycle in GE Appliances dishwashers, the water will reach at least 150 degrees to kill 99 percent of germs.  The water temperature in a normal dishwasher cycle is 125-135 degrees, and hand-washing temperatures are even lower and vary based on the tolerance of the person washing dishes.  Dishwasher companies statistics say that a sanitizing cycle kills 99 percent of bacteria.

Call us for all your house cleaning Overland Park KS needs; and we will get with you on our special and discounted pricing.

Tidy Up Angels – call us today at 913-642-2006 – or fill out our online estimator for your home: https://tidyupangels.com/house-cleaning/

How to Clean Your Windows and Glass Without Streaks

Don’t give up if your first attempt at cleaning your windows doesn’t come out perfect. Try a small tweak to your cleaning solution.  These tips and tricks are from our Tidy Up Angels.  And by the way ask us about our whole house cleaning services Overland Park Special!

Fill a squirt bottle with a 50-50 mixture of white vinegar and distilled water (or undiluted vinegar for very resistant spots) to remove white spots caused by hard water build-up. Spray the spots and remove with a microfiber cloth or soft bristle cleaning brush. Rinse with clean water and squeegee dry or follow up with the no-squeegee method.

When using microfiber cleaning cloths, either dip the cloth in the solution and wring it out or spray the glass surface. Begin to wipe in a circular motion and as the spots disappear, follow-up with vertical strokes and finish with horizontal strokes (or vice versa). Use your finger tips/fingernails for extra scrubbing power or scrunch up the cloth on stubborn spots.

Finish one side of the window with horizontal strokes and the other side with vertical strokes so if streaks appear, you know which side they are on.

Lemon juice and baking soda (mixed with water to form a paste) are also effective at removing spots from windows or mirrors. Allow the baking soda paste to sit a few minutes on stubborn stains like toothpaste or hold a cloth soaked in cleaning solution against the spot to loosen its hold. Add lemon juice to any homemade cleaner for a refreshing scent. Whenever possible, use distilled water to help eliminate streaks.

Shaving cream removes soap scum from glass shower doors, cleans cloudy mirrors and will prevent foggy windows and mirrors in the bathroom after hot showers. Apply the cream with your fingertips and smear it all over the surface. Remove it with a clean, dry cloth and reapply every 2-3 weeks.

When Cleaning windows with squeechee’s

When using a squeegee, use one continuous motion from top to bottom. Wipe the solution off of the squeegee with a damp cloth before making your next pass on the window. Overlap the clean area slightly so you don’t leave a line of solution between each squeegee pass.

Buff away streaks left from squeegeeing with a dry microfiber cloth or crumbled up newspaper.

If you prefer using newspaper or a coffee filter, apply the solution with a spray bottle. Wipe the solution away using horizontal or vertical strokes for a streak-free finish.

Clean your windows on an overcast day or when the sun isn’t shining directly on the window. The sun dries the cleaning solution before you can remove it, leaving behind streaks and marks.

Always wet the glass or use a damp cloth to remove spots on the window. Scraping at a spot on a dry window might scratch the glass. Rubbing dry dirt can also cause small scratches on the glass surface.

Never use abrasives on the windows. You might scratch the glass.

Avoid using paper towels as they leave bits of lint and paper remnants.

If you use a commercial window cleaner, choose one with an ammonia base like Windex. This lets the solution dry faster and reduces the chances of chemicals being left behind. Never use an ammonia-based cleaner on tinted windows.

Take special care when cleaning stained glass. Dust the surface frequently and use only filtered or distilled water to avoid discoloring the glass.

Try different combinations of cleaning solutions and cleaning tools to find the one that works best for you.

If you are to your wits end and do not want to mess with it and want to leave it to the pro’s – call us for all your house cleaning Overland Park KS needs; and we will get with you on our special and discounted pricing.

Tidy Up Angels – call us today at 913-642-2006 – or fill out our online estimator for your home: https://tidyupangels.com/house-cleaning/

Cleaning Wipes – Great for everything

Cleaning wipes are easy to make, economical, and contain only those cleaning agents you select. Use them in the kitchen, the bathroom, or for cleaning windows.  These little things will help get you through until the Tidy Up Angels can come back for your monthly cleaning.  And if you don’t have us helping with your cleaning and want to leave it to the Angels – we can help with all your house cleaning services in Leawood KS and Overland Park KS needs.  No job in the KC Metro area is to big for us Angels.

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Here are some great tips and tricks when it comes to making your own refillable cleaning wipes – and put homemade cleaning wipes to work for you with our easy instructions and cleaning recipes.

Homemade Cleaning Wipes

Materials and Equipment Needed:

  • cylindrical or tall square plastic food storage container, 10-cup capacity
  • extra-large roll of paper towels
  • cleaning agents of your choice (recipes follow)
  • electric drill with 1/2-inch drill bit
  • electric knife
  • liquid measuring cups

Instructions:

In the garage, place a small block of wood beneath the plastic food storage container lid. Use electric drill to drill a 1/2-inch diameter hole in the center of the container lid.

For best results, select an extra-large roll of good quality paper towels for this project. Less-expensive towels fray or shred when pulled through the holder; thicker quilted towels have greater cleaning strength and withstand more scrubbing.

Without removing the paper towel wrapper, use the electric knife to cut the paper towel roll into two shorter rolls. Be patient! It may take up to two minutes to cut through the towel roll and cardboard tube inside.

Remove the wrapper, and place one short paper towel roll inside plastic food storage container. Save the second roll for a refill later.

Using a liquid measuring cup, gently pour one of the following cleaning solution recipes over the top of the paper towel roll.

Place the lid on the plastic food storage container, and allow paper towels to absorb cleaning solution for overnight.

Open the food storage container. Gently pull the wet cardboard tube from the center of the paper towel roll and discard.

Carefully pull the end of the paper towels from the inside, where the cardboard roll had been. Thread the end of the towels through the hole in the lid, and replace the lid.

Pull gently on the exposed end to separate the cleaning wipe.

You can make your own concoction – but here are some Cleaning Wipes Recipes

You will need between 2 and 4 cups of cleaning solution to fill your homemade cleaning wipes container, depending on the size and absorbency of the paper towel product selected. These cleaning recipes make about three cups of solution; increase or decrease amounts if needed.

General Surface Cleaning Recipe:

  • 1 1/2 cups white vinegar
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • Disinfectant Cleaning:
  • 1/4 to 1/2 cup pine cleaning solution such as Pine-Sol brand
  • 2 1/2 to 2 3/4 cup water
  • Window and Glass Cleaning:
  • 1/2 cup rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol
  • 2 1/2 cups water
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar
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Tired of scrubbing and cleaning and want to be done with it – call the Tidy Up Angels and we will do your entire house cleaning.  Call the Tidy Up Angels today at 913-642-2006 – or fill out our online estimator for your home: https://tidyupangels.com/house-cleaning/ And ask us about our whole house cleaning services in Leawood KS specials.

Daily Kitchen Cleaning Checklist

Kitchens take a messy beating between hurried breakfasts in the morning, weeknight meals, and food-centric get-togethers. A little routine cleaning and regular upkeep results in a neat space day to day and makes more in-depth monthly kitchen cleaning less daunting. The key to sticking to a routine is creating a cleaning list that works for your schedule and preferences. Use these kitchen cleaning checklist ideas as a guideline and make them your own.

A few minutes of daily cleaning keeps on track and messes at bay. With day-to-day grime wiped away, more thorough weekly and monthly cleanings aren’t such a chore.

  1. Spray and wipe the countertops and range top. Clean off splatters from the vent hood, too.
  2. Sweep the floor and wipe up spills.
  3. Scrub the sink with a general-purpose cleaner. Then wipe dry.
  4. Deal with dishes: Unload clean dishes from the dishwasher and take care of hand-wash dishes as soon as possible.
  5. Tidy up and put away stray items. Relocate anything that doesn’t belong in the kitchen to its proper home.

Set aside some time every week to take your daily cleaning a bit deeper. Pick a time during the week when your schedule is usually free and make a date with your kitchen. Establish an order and process that works for you and before long, you’ll be able to breeze through this weekly kitchen cleaning checklist.

With a regular and frequent basic cleaning routine in place, a monthly kitchen deep-clean will be a breeze. Turn your attention to the places that miss most of the day-to-day grime but still benefit from an occasional once-over.

As you establish your cleaning routine, keep these smart tips and tricks in mind:

  1. Commit to your routine with a printed checklist. The visual presence of a kitchen duties checklist is a good reminder and having something to check off feels like an accomplishment.
  2. Tackle spills and messes as they happen and be thorough. Spilled milk that splashes across the counter and onto the floor also tends to find its way into odd places. Open drawers and cabinets to assess the extent of the mess.
  3. Keep a spray bottle of your favorite homemade cleaner or all-purpose cleaner handy for quick and efficient cleanup.
  4. Know your kitchen materials. What is suitable for laminate countertops may do a number on granite or quartz. With material-appropriate cleaners, your kitchen surfaces will stay sparkling.
  5. Keep a broom and dustpan in the kitchen for sweeping after meals and cooking sessions.
  6. Clutter can be a foil to your cleaning routine goals. Get in the habit of returning things that don’t belong in the kitchen to their rightful homes. Do a regular purge of your pantry, freezer, and refrigerator contents.
  7. Delegate, or divide and conquer, and make cleaning a collaborative effort by assigning tasks to family members.

Tired of scrubbing and cleaning the kitchen and just didn’t get to it and want to be done with it – call the Tidy Up Angels and we will do your entire house cleaning.  Call the Tidy Up Angels today at 913-642-2006 – or fill out our online estimator for your home: https://tidyupangels.com/house-cleaning/ And ask us about our whole house cleaning services in Leawood KS specials.

WHY TIDY UP ANGELS FOR YOUR OVERLAND PARK AND LEAWOOD CLEANING SERVICES

Tidy Up Angels has been providing residential cleaning service to the Overland Park area since 2008. We are a family run business with fantastic employees that allow us to accomplish what we aim to do as a locally owned business. Nathalia (sibling) oversees our office operations and makes sure our day to day runs smoothly. More than likely if you call or email she will be the one responding.

When we formed Tidy Up Angels, we set out to create a company that we would want to do business with. We know there are a lot of options when it comes to selecting a cleaning service and we are always honored when we are chosen. Our clients are important to us, which is why we continue to look for ways to improve the services our house cleaners provide through reliability, consistency, thoroughness, flexibility and your complete satisfaction.

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.

For all your Leawood and Overland Park cleaning services we are your team.  We have monthly and reoccurring specials for cleanings.  We will get with you on our special and discounted pricing plans.

Tidy Up Angels – call us today at 913-642-2006 – or fill out our online estimator for your home: https://tidyupangels.com/house-cleaning/

SPRING CLEANING – INSPIRATION FOR THE EVERYDAY PERSON

They say spring is in the air, love is in the air, and or course that means we all are dreading the “Spring Cleaning time”.

Here are some amazing words of inspiration from Maxine…

If you are already tired of thinking about spring cleaning – not to worry, we can be your easy button and the solution for you.  We will come in and get your house up and running and clean again!  Call us for all your house cleaning Leawood Kansas needs; you will be happy you did.  We will get with you on our special and discounted pricing plans.

Tidy Up Angels – call us today at 913-642-2006 – or fill out our online estimator for your home: https://tidyupangels.com/house-cleaning/