Cleaning Secrets

Down N' Dirty Big Spring Clean Special!

02/27/2012 20:51:00

Now is a fantastic time to take advantage of getting a jump start on spring cleaning.

We've been lucky enough to not have much of a winter, and now, since the coldest month of winter is just about over, getting the house in tip-top shape before the warmer weather of spring (who the heck wants to be inside cleaning when you could be outside enjoying the weather?!?) has been made even easier with our Down N' Dirty Big Spring Clean!

Starting at $199, (From now 'till April 8th, Monday-Friday) you're getting the whole enchilada, top to bottom cleaning! Our Down N' Dirty Big Spring Clean goes beyond a typical maintenance cleaning and keep-up. We start from the top of each room, removing all the cobwebs, dust, etc, and work our way down to furnishings, appliances and floors. Knick nacks and frames are dusted, shelving is dusted, blinds, moldings heat vents and radiators are dusted, window sills are dusted and window panes are cleaned, area rugs are removed and shaked out out-doors, counter tops, sinks faucets and fixtures on them are disinfected, bathrooms and kitchens are disinfected, bed linens are changed, floors are mopped, polished, shined and/or vacuumed, trash cans are emptied, cleaned and garbage is removed from the premisis. We're talking a complete, thorough, down and dirty, nuts and bolts deep cleaning, with special attention to the items that are of priority to you!

Down N' Dirty Big Spring Clean Starts at $199 (Reg $225) Price includes 5 Rooms. Each additional room is $9.95

FAQ:

Q:How long does a Down N' Dirty Big Spring Clean take?

A: Because we want to be thorough, a Down N' Dirty Big Spring Clean is typically an all-day affair. We like to start as early as possible (Between 8 & 8:30) and usually finish (depending upon the size of the home) between 3 and 5pm.

Q: Do I have to leave my home while your cleaning professionals are working?

A: Absolutely not! Just as with regular maintenance cleanings, we don;t mind the company, if you don't mind the sound of vacuums!

Q: How many cleaners should I be expecting?

A: The miniumum number of cleaning professionals we send to your home are 2. This number could change howeve, depending upon the size of your home and the amount of work that will need to be done. You will always be informed of how many cleaning professionals to expect for your cleaning at the time of your estimate, and you will be contacted via phone, email or text (whichever your preference is) the day before or the morning of your cleaning to tell you the names of your cleaning professionals.

Q: Is there an additional charge if I should need a third cleaning person?

A: There is a nominal $15 per hour, per additional cleaning professional fee should your individual cleaning needs require an additional cleaner. We try our best to limit our crews to two cleaning professionals per team however, there may be circumstances (such as post renovation dust and debris, extreme heavy cleaning, or simply the size of the home) that would warrant a third, or in rare cases forth cleaning professional. You will ALWAYS know exactly how many to expect for your cleaning, and options and alternatives can always be discussed at the time of your estimate =)

CALL US TODAY FOR YOUR FREE ESTIMATE! (914) 519-7963

** Rates exclude post construction clean-up, major renovation clean-up, estate clean-outs, eviction or foreclosure clean-up. Additional charge for cleaning of pet areas, excessive pet hair, ovens, garages and attics, weekends. Rates for the Down N' Dirty Big Spring Clean may not be combined with other offers, discounts or coupons.***

Cleaning Granite Countertops-Kitchens

01/09/2012 23:07:00

Granite counter tops are beautiful and increasingly popular as a counter surface. If not just for the beauty of this stone, it has many practicalities to it as well, such as that it is resistant to scratches, nicks and scorching and, since a granite counter top is almost always treated with a protective seal (which is why it's so nice and shiny ;) ) it is extremely easy to clean.

DO NOT use chemical cleaners on granite! Over time, it will ruin the stone, causing it to crack or even warp!

Just go over it with a sponge dipped in warm water and mild detergent (dish soap without any of those neat add-ons like anti-bacterial or bleach...just plain, old-fashioned liquid dish soap) and gently use a plastic scrub pad to remove stubborn surface dirt or grime. Buff dry with a soft cloth and spray on and buff with a granite cleaner/polish, and you will have a nice, clean shiny granite counter top! :)

The Dish on Disinfectants

01/05/2012 11:32:00

The makers of home cleaning products apear to be committed to making your house not only clean and sparkling but also totally antiseptic. In recent years, manufacturers have introduced hundreds, if not thousands of every days cleaning agents labeled "antibacterial" or disinfectant." There are now antibacterial products for almost every kind of cleaning job you might want to undertake.

WHAT CONSUMER REPORTS TESTS HAVE FOUND

A variety of disinfectant products are used to kill bacteria and germs on dishes, household surfaces and fabrics. Disinfectant cleaners for hard surfaces--such as floors, sinks, and countertops--contain chlorine bleach, quaternary ammonium compounds, pine oil, or ethyl alcohol as their active ingredients. All of these work against common disease-causing viruses and bacteria. Strictly speaking, antibacterials kill only bacteria, while disinfectants kill viruses and mildew (So there IS a difference.) as well.

When you want instant disinfecting because you need to prepare food on a surface that was just touched by raw meat or meat juices, use a disinfectant appropriate for the surface, preferably a product containing chlorine bleach. Make sure you read the product's labeling carefully and follow any instructions about use on surfaces that touch food.

Disinfectants may make you feel that your home is safe from germs, but because most bacteria is airborne and most disinfectants can cause problems in waterways by killing helpful bacteria (especially in septic tanks), use disinfectants with discretion. Focus on controlling viruses and bacteria where they are most likely to to cause illness.

Normal cleaning is sufficient for walls, drapes and blinds, bedding, floors, and other dry surfaces where germs do not survive long. Ordinary cleaners can suffice even for toilet bowls, there's little chance that germs there can infect you and your family. Unless mold or mildew is a problem, you generally don't need disinfectants in your bathroom at all. Cleaning thoroughly with an all-purpose cleaner or bathroom cleaner and hot water will usually do the trick.

THE LIMITS OF DISINFECTANT

Cleaning products manufacturers have ingeniously incorporated the antibacterial chemical triclosan in dozens of durable products--cutting boards, shower curtains, knife handles, socks, pillows, mattress pads, underwear--usually under the trade name Microban.

According to Consumer Reports, these products containing this chemical offer minimal advantage. While the triclosan does inhibit the growth of bacteria and mildew within the product it's on, the main effect is to prevent bad odors. The truth is that there isn't enough Microban on the surface of these products to stop the accumulation of bacteria there, where they pose the reatest hazard. So evein if your cutting board or mattress pad has Microban in it, you will still have to clean it properly if you want its surface (and judging by the information I've been reading about these particular products, it ONLY covers the surface) to be free of disease-causing germs.

Happy New Year!!

01/01/2012 22:15:00

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Whew! What a year!! I don't know about anyone else, but I'm glad it's over! 2012 will be the year of greatness!!!

We're finally keeping up with the times and started a blog! Check back for weekly updates and cleaning tips!

First and most importantly, I just want to apologise to everyone and anyone who has tried contacting us through the website. We moved, phone numbers changed and then we had some tech issues with being able to update all that information here on the site (there's some truth to that expression, "When it rains, it poars!"). But the problem has been resolved, (keeping fingers and toes crossed!) and everything has been updated.

I hope everyone had a relaxing and enjoyable holiday. I was one of those people I said I wouldn't be (cough, cough) out there on Christmas Eve wrapping up my shopping..... it was crazy out there! Thankfully, I got up bright and early, was finished and on the check-out line by noon (when the stores REALLY started getting packed) and back home to start baking. I'm thinking about starting my holiday shopping early this year (in like August), so I don't find myself being a maniac again on Christmas Eve....should we take a poll to see if I really do it? LOL

Anyway, on to the good stuff!... Here's the first (of many more to come) Weekly Cleaning Tips. This week's tip:

Cleaning Bath & Shower Mats

While it is safe to launder most fabric bath and shower mats, make sure you check the care label first. Air dry mats that have a rubber backing. Rubber bath and shower mats (the no-skid rubber kind) collect dirt in their indentations. Use a scrub brush to clean these with warm water and dishwashing liquid (or liquid dish soap). To remove mildew, submerge the mat in a solution of one part chlorine bleach and three parts water. Rinse well and air dry.

More tips next week! happy new year!

Krystal