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3 Ways a regular cleaner can change your life

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Why are so many people choosing to give up on their own cleaning, in favour of paying someone else to do it? We listed 3 ways a regular cleaner can change your life down for you!

#1 You’ll have a lot more spare time

Everyone likes to have a lot of free time, so why would you want to spend your precious spare time on such a thing as cleaning? Having a cleaner that’s taking care of the cleaning in your house will make you able to spend more time with your loved ones like your children, family, friends and husband! It will also make you able to focus more on your career or to just relax by yourself. Your spare time is way too short to spend it on such things as cleaning, so why not get someone that can take care of all the cleaning for you?

 

 

 

 

#2 It could save your marriage

Many people have claimed that a cleaner has played a beneficial role in saving their marriage. The benefits to a couple’s relationship can stem from a happier household due to there being fewer chores to do and less stress. A cleaner can reduce the strain on a relationship and prevent couples from getting fed up with their partner around the house which can often cause arguments. Hiring a cleaner to do your regular weekly cleaning can mean you and your partner come home to a clean and happy household.

 

 

 

 

#3 It will make you a lot happier

Studies have found that people who are paying other people to do their jobs are a lot happier in their lives. The experiment tested how happy participants felt when they spent £30 on their cleaning, on their cooking and other chores compared on how to felt when they spent £30 on goods like books and clothes for example. It was found that the participants all were happier and more satisfied with their lives when they paid someone to do their jobs, a lot more than they were after buying material goods. 

 

 

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How to clean your washing machine

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Do you need tips on how to clean your washing machine? A household appliance that we rely on to clean our clothes may need to get cleaned as well from time to time.  Below are the tips on what you need to know on

How to clean your washing machine:

It’s good practice to leave the door open for a few minutes after removing a clean load to let the interior fully dry. This will help to get rid of the musky smell and keep it smelling fresh and cleaner. It’s also worthwhile giving the door and inside a quick wipe down with a cloth from time to time, particularly if you notice condensation or the first signs of mould. Washing machine mechanics also recommend leaving the soap tray pulled out to let it air-dry in-between washes. This can also prevent mold from accumulating. However, even with the best of intentions, over time, bacteria, mildew, and soap scum will build up and clog pipes and parts. This prevents your machine from running as efficiently as it could and can cause more serious problems further down the line.

Deep-clean a washing machine:

A good deep clean every once in a while will keep your washing machine running smoothly and happily for a long time to come. We reckon it’s definitely worth preventing problems with your washing machine because an out-of-action appliance means you’ll be spending a lot of time – and money – at your local launderette. The good news is, giving your washing machine a deep clean can be done using everyday products and doesn’t take long to do.

You will need:

  • 2 cups of vinegar
  • 1/4 cup bicarbonate of soda
  • 1/4 cup water
  • A sponge scourer

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mix the bicarb with the water in a bowl, and pop the solution in the detergent tray. Pour the vinegar directly into the drum and set the machine on its highest water temperature setting. When the cycle is finished, use the scourer to wipe around the opening of the machine. This will help remove any stubborn stains or residue. The drum of your washing machine is where germs tend to hide in the nooks and crannies. So even running an empty wash from time to time will also help.

If the detergent tray is particularly caked, you can remove it and soak it in hot soapy water before scrubbing with an old toothbrush. Don’t forget to clean the drawer cavity too. It’ll be spotless in mere minutes and your clothes will feel fresher instantly.

The filter:

the washing machine filter is usually located along the lower edge of the machine, behind a hinged cover. Check your user manual if unsure. Carefully free the emergency drain tube and place a bowl or pan on the floor below it. Unplug and allow any trapped water to drain off. Replace the plug, remove the bowl and lay a towel on the floor. Carefully unscrew or release the filter cover. Any trapped debris should run out with the trapped water, but check inside the cavity to be sure. Wipe around with a cloth, clean any components and replace the cover. Check again that you have replaced the cover properly to prevent any accidental leaks.

For a final sparkle, wipe the drum, outside the machine and around the seal of the door with a microfiber cloth soaked in a little vinegar. For best results, it’s worthwhile cleaning your washing machine every 2-3 months.

 

If you require further help or enquires regarding any of our services, don’t hesitate to contact us. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have via:

E: contact@stanneshousekeeping.com

P: 020 3397 7495 | 0800 999 3397

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Ten Steps to Clean Your Bathroom

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Cleaning is a hard job no matter where you are in the house. Your bathroom is the place in your house you know will get messy very quickly. So why not look after it? Here are ten top tips to keep your bathroom clean!

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Supplies:

Here are the things you need for a clean bathroom:

  • Glass Cleaner and rag
  • Toilet Brush
  • Towel Bowl Cleaner
  • Disinfectant
  • Broom and Map
  • Clothes Hamper/Basket
  • Rubbish Bin/Container

 

Step 1:
  • Pick up the dirty clothes and put them in the hamper or laundry basket.
  • Remove all of the trash/rubbish within the bathroom and put it in a bin bag for removal.
  • Move all of the items that don’t belong in the bathroom and place them in a box to be put in the correct area.

 

Step 2:
  • Scrub sink and wipe down taps and countertop

 

Step 3:
  • Clean the toilet out with toilet cleaner and brush. Pour a cup of white vinegar into the toilet and toss in a handful of banking soda to soak for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, scrub with the toilet brush and flush.
  • Spray and wipe down the outside of the toilet, including the seat.

 

Step 4:
  • Wipe down the mirror, using glass cleaner or vinegar with water

 

Step 5:
  • Scrub the tub ring or wipe down the shower stall.
  • Spray the shower floor with disinfectant and spray the shower curtains with cleaning solution, then wipe clean

 

Step 6:
  • Sweep and mop the bathroom floor

 

Additional Bathroom Cleaning Tips:

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Here are some additional tips for you to make sure your bathroom always stays clean.

  • You can cut down how often you need to clean by having a house rule that the last person to shower or bathe wipes down the walls and rinses off the bathtub ring.
  • Drop a denture-cleaning tablet into the toilet for a fast cleanup.
  • Wipe bathroom fixtures with a little rubbing alcohol for a quick shine.
  • Safely and easily unclog a hair-filled drain without harmful chemicals. Make a solution of equal parts of vinegar, salt, and baking soda. Pour it down the clogged drain, let it foam for 15 minutes, then flush with boiling water.
  • To keep mirrors clean, dampen a soft rag with rubbing alcohol and wipe over the entire surface.
    Keep tile and fiberglass shower walls clean. After washing them well, apply a thin coat of car wax and buff well. This will prevent most soap buildup, and the little that does build up will wipe off easily.

 

If you follow these tips, then your bathroom will be the jewel of your home.

 

Towels

How often should you wash?

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It is one of those areas that it is often best not to enquire too closely. So, of course, someone has.

Just how often should you wash towels? And if no one can see them does it really matter?

Or, now that it is winter, the bed sheets?

Well you may be surprised to learn that we should change them far more often than we actually do.

Because even if they appear clean they can contain lots of harmful microbes that can make us ill.

Here’s our guide.

  • Dishcloths

Dishcloth9/10 UK dishcloths tested in a Dettol study were deeply contaminated with germs. More than half harboured E. coli. Used dishcloths have 4 billion living germs, 6 times as much bacteria as toilet handles.

How often? Rinse completely and air-dry after every use. Don’t cover over bacteria-ridden kitchen taps or leave in the kitchen sink. Replace once-a-month. 

How to clean them: Each evening, rinse with an anti-bacterial washing cleanser or wash at 60C or more. Air or tumble dry.

  • Teatowels

teatowelsThese are one of the top causes of cross contamination. “Cloth towels could quickly and easily become contaminated at significant levels, including microorganisms that can lead to food-borne illnesses,” Science Daily reported.

How often? Change every day – and don’t dry your hands on them! 

How to clean them: Launder at 60C or above, different to regular towels.

  • Towels

TowelsBath towels engross dead skin cells and natural bacteria from our bodies and warm, damp conditions mean this bacteria flourishes. Sharing towels can increase bacteria and viruses such as Staphylococcus aureus (which can cause skin infections), cold sores and Athlete’s Foot.

How often? Bath towels should be washed after every 3 uses, insists Philip Tierno (New York based microbiologist).  

How to clean them: Clean the sheets at a high temperature, 60C or more, and an anti-bacterial product.

  • Bedsheets

bedsheets“Beds can become reservoirs of human cells, bacteria and bodily excretions. Humans shed half an ounce of skin each week – and a lot of that will be in the bed,” says Dr Ackerley. Warm, especially moist environments are also ideal breeding grounds for dust mites, with the ordinary bed containing 10 million of them! Their faeces can activate allergic reactions.

The build-up of bacteria from your sweat and skin cells can become “significant” in as little as a week. Your mouth and nose are very close to those sheets so you’re breathing in those spores. In hot weather we sweat more, creating the perfect conditions for bacteria and fungus to blowout.

How often? Every morning, pull back the duvet and open the window to release moisture and humidity. Change your sheets each week. 

How to clean them: Wash at 60C to kill mites.

  • Duvet and Pillows

Duvets PillowsApparently, a 3rd of the weight of a two-year-old pillow is made up of dead skin and dust mite faeces. According to Johnson Cleaners: “Duvets can harbour live and dead dust mites, skin scales and fungus, which can lead to allergies such as rhinitis and infections such as conjunctivitis.”

How often? Duvets should be washed every few months, or at least twice a year, says Sara Wadsworth (from The Fine Bedding Company), and replaced every five years, pillows more frequently – every two to three years,

How to clean them: If the duvet has synthetic filling, wash at 60C to destroy dust mites. Feather fillings need professional dry cleaning twice a year.

Everything is important to us – the way it looks, how it feels, and how it runs. Expect more with a housekeeper trained to the highest standards, and a dedicated account manager devoted to ensuring everything is done just the way you like it. Every one of our London housekeeping service rotas is custom built to take care of what you need, when you need it.

If interested in any of our Housekeeping services or have any general enquires, don’t hesitate to contact us on:

E: contact@stanneshousekeeping.com

P: 020 3397 7495 | 0800 999 3397