House Cleaning Challenges for Those Who Live With Pets

When you share your home with animals, you face special house cleaning challenges. Let’s talk about a few:

Dogs

One of the concerns new dog owners have is the “accident” in the house issue. But unless they’re puppies – or left by themselves for too long – most dogs are actually pretty good about the potty-training issue. Of course, you DO have to train them first!

Perhaps a bigger concern is what to do with all the hair that a dog can shed. There are some breeds that don’t seem to shed at all, some that shed only marginally, and then there are those that leave globs of hair all around the house … constantly … even in the dead of winter!

All that hair can be a house cleaning nightmare! It clogs a vacuum, sticks to surfaces you’re trying to remove it from, scatters again with the slightest puff of wind …

The key here is diligent maintenance. This includes cleaning your surfaces regularly, vacuuming often, not letting it get too built up and unmanageable.

Now, another concern with dogs that live inside is the dirt they bring in on their paws … and that will be mud in the rainy season.

You’re going to be mopping your hard-surface floors A LOT. And you might as well pre-schedule a carpet cleaning every couple of months or so … you’re going to need it.

Cats

Certain breeds of cats can shed just as much as some dogs. And your strategy for clean-up is the same as we discussed above.

A cat’s litter box – and the surrounding area – is a challenge all its own. And, by the way, most professional house cleaning companies won’t touch them for insurance and health safety reasons.

Fish

A properly maintained aquarium is indeed a thing of beauty and tranquility. Healthy fish are soothing and peaceful (which is why so many doctors install aquariums in their offices).

But the key words for fish are “properly maintained.”

A lot can go wrong with fish and aquariums, so please consult a professional for their recommendations and suggestions on best practices.

Birds

Birds are beautiful … beautifully messy! They tend to scatter seed everywhere. The cage needs to be cleaned regularly. And their feathers are actually dusty – especially during molting season.

What to do?

If you’re going to share your home with pets, you’re going to have to accept that your house cleaning routine will be different from that of a homeowner who does not.

You may be doing different cleaning tasks. You may be using special equipment. You likely will be cleaning more frequently.

If it gets to be too much, we hope that you will look into hiring a professional house cleaning service. Just be sure to ask about any pet policies when you’re doing your initial interview.

You don’t want to be surprised later.

Mini Mops, Inc. is a professional house cleaning company serving residential and commercial clients in the Fresno-Clovis CA area since 1975. They are currently accepting new clients. Please visit their website for more information:
www.Mini-Mops.com

Cleaning Tip: Windows – Make Them Shine!

It’s that time of year again when I’m opening my curtains and blinds to enjoy the sunshine. And … YIKES! … I’m really seeing the need to wash my dirty windows!

Right now they don’t sparkle, they don’t shine. Time to fix that!

Getting it done

Mini Mops uses rags that we call “shine” rags – they are recycled surgical towels (completely sanitized before we even get them), and they’re completely lint-free. These are the rags I’m going to use to dry and polish my windows to make them shine.

By the way, these shine rags also work great on mirrors, granite counters … anything that you want to sparkle.

But first, to actually clean the windows, I’m going to use a “scrub” rag (100% cotton terry-cloth) and really wash the dirt and grime off.

On the exterior side of the glass, where it’s extra dirty, I’m going to use a little dish soap in a bucket of hot water … swish the scrub rag around in the bucket, squeeze out most of the excess water, and then wash the dirt off the window.

Then I’m going to rinse the windows with a solution of hot water and vinegar, using a clean rag to rinse away all of the dirt and soap.

Finally, the shine rag to dry and polish the windows.

On the interior, I can probably skip the soap and go straight for the vinegar solution since the inside doesn’t get as dirty as the outside. I mean, really, the outside is where most of the actual dirt is … right?

Of course, the biggest chore is drying to a shine without streaks! I like to use vertical wiping motions on the exterior and horizontal on the interior. That way if I get a streak, I know which side of the glass it’s on.

These tips are strictly DIY

Now, these tips and methods are strictly for the Do-It-Yourselfer. I’m not a professional window cleaner by any means, and they probably don’t use my methods.

You’ll notice that I’m not using a squeegee, for instance, and most professional window cleaners wouldn’t leave home without theirs.

But my old-fashioned way will get the job done.

Notice I also won’t be using any store-bought glass cleaner. Vinegar works great, and I can get an entire gallon jug for just a few dollars.

Know when to hire a professional

Just writing about cleaning windows has made me tired! It will take me several hours to do all the windows in my house, and my house is average with not too many windows!

What would I suggest to a client who asked about his or her windows?

If the client needed just one or two done – like the window over the kitchen sink, or a sliding glass door — I would have our Mini Mops crew do it, even though we don’t typically do lots of windows.

For the whole house, I would recommend calling a professional.

So maybe I should take my own advice!

Is it worth it to me to pay someone to get the job done (and let’s be honest, a professional WILL do a better job of it than I will) and have those several hours that I would have spent washing windows now free to do something else?

You know, I think it IS worth it!

Do you know a professional, experienced, insured window washer in the Fresno CA area? If so, I’d love an introduction … please call Mini Mops at (559) 264-6677 and leave their contact information.

Mini Mops, Inc. is a professional house cleaning company serving residential and commercial clients in the Fresno-Clovis CA area since 1975. They are currently accepting new clients. Please visit their website for more information:
www.Mini-Mops.com

Living Dust-Free

Dusting – one of the easiest housecleaning chores of them all. Or is it?

The concept is a simple one: There is a surface, usually on some type of furniture, that is coated with a thin layer of dry, powder-light dirt. You don’t want the dirt there, so you remove it.

OK, so why are there so many dusting products out there? Why are there so many choices to make?

When did the simple act of dusting become so complex?

First choice: feather duster or dusting cloth?

In our professional opinion, a feather duster does little more than disturb the dust from where it is and kick it up into the air. That dust hasn’t been removed, it has simply become airborne, and it will fall and accumulate on another surface in the home.

So dusting cloth … do you choose a modern microfiber dusting cloth or old-fashioned flannel?

This seems to us to be a personal preference. With either choice of material, dusting with a cloth actually traps that dirt on the cloth so that it can be removed.

For us, the cloth definitely is the more effective choice.

Next choice: furniture polish, dusting spray, or just a clean cloth?

Again, this is largely a personal preference, but the answer also is determined by the surface that is to be dusted.

For example, certain types of wood have specific recommendations regarding products to be used to treat them. Electronics have specific care issues. So do pianos.

When in doubt, use nothing but a clean cloth.

If you are going to use a product – whether it’s an oil, a spray polish, a dusting spray, or whatever else you may find that you prefer – it’s always a good idea to spray the product on the cloth instead of on the furniture. You will use less product, and you’ll have a better finished result.

The other thing to be cautious of when using a product is to be aware if it is creating a build-up over time. You don’t want a buildup; you just want a clean, dust-free surface.

For us, as a professional housecleaning service, a dusting spray or a clean cloth is the right choice. We do not even carry a spray furniture polish.

Approach it systematically

As with any type of chore, you are much more efficient when you have a system to follow.

For dusting, it is critical that you work from the top down. We also work a room from left to right, finishing a section completely before moving on to the next one.

Once you figure out which choices work best for you, you have to actually do the work! There is no magic cleaning wand. No magic spray. You have to actually do the work to get the results.

Unless, that is, you hire a professional housecleaning service to do it for you!

Here’s to dust-free living … whatever choices you make to get there!

Mini Mops, Inc. is a professional house cleaning company serving residential and commercial clients in the Fresno-Clovis CA area since 1975. They are currently accepting new clients. Please visit their website for more information:
www.Mini-Mops.com

Sometimes it’s OK to just let it go undone

It’s the weekend before Valentine’s Day. The weather is perfect for being outdoors. DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT CLEAN YOUR HOUSE THIS WEEKEND!

Sometimes you just have to be OK with things not getting done. Sometimes you have to put other things first. I suggest that this weekend is one of those times.

Think of all the things you could do instead of cleaning your house this weekend: wine tasting with your sweetie, a bike ride with your kids, a day at the park with your dogs, a run in the park with your dogs … The list is truly endless, and there is no limit to the possibilities out there.

Some people clean a little bit every day so they never have to face an all-day cleaning job. Some people wait for the weekend and do the cleaning then. Some people hire a professional house cleaning service, but even if you hire a professional, I bet you still do some minor cleaning in between their visits.

But sometimes, you have to realize that there really is more to life than getting all the chores done. Sometimes, it’s really OK that the house is dirty.

Guess what … the dirt will still be there waiting for you next week. Let it wait!

Mini Mops, Inc. is a professional house cleaning company serving residential and commercial clients in the Fresno-Clovis CA area since 1975. They are currently accepting new clients. Please visit their website for more information:
www.Mini-Mops.com

Cleaning Tip: Choose the Right Vacuum for the Job

Anybody who works with tools will tell you that having the right tool for the job makes a huge difference. This applies to house cleaning, too!

The Upright Vacuum

The upright vacuum sits on the floor and works when you push it. It uses suction to remove dirt and debris from carpet and area rugs.

A word of caution: because of the strong suction created by a good upright vacuum, you must make sure that area rugs are sturdy enough to hold up to being vacuumed with this type of vacuum.

As a professional house cleaning company, Mini Mops, Inc. uses commercial Sanitaire vacuums like the one pictured here. However, there are a wide variety of upright vacuums for homeowners to choose from.

The Canister Vacuum

Unlike the upright, the canister vacuum has different attachments that are used for different jobs.

For example, the canister vacuum that Mini Mops uses is the Hoover Portapower. It has a floor brush, an upholstery brush, a crevice tool, and a soft brush for delicate jobs.

The canister vacuum is used to vacuum upholstered furniture, drapes, blinds, lamp shades, the corners and edges of a room, and much more.

The canister vacuum also can be used to vacuum delicate area rugs that can’t stand up to the more powerful upright vacuum.

What’s Best for You?

Homeowners have a wide array of makes, models and features available to choose from, and it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the number of choices.

That’s why our best advice is this: visit a vacuum shop and talk to an expert. Your best bet is to find a shop that both sells and services many brands. Talk to the professionals about your needs and your budget, and they will be able to find the perfect vacuum for you.

If you need help finding a vacuum shop, we suggest calling a local house cleaning company and asking them where they purchase and get their vacuums serviced. Mini Mops is happy to give referrals for the Fresno-Clovis CA area.

Mini Mops, Inc. is a professional house cleaning company serving residential and commercial clients in the Fresno-Clovis CA area since 1975. They are currently accepting new clients. Please visit their website for more information:
www.Mini-Mops.com

A Clean Start to the New Year

Happy New Year!

As you’re putting holiday decor away and getting your home back to “normal,” you may be finding an increased amount of cleaning that needs to be done.

Don’t worry … this is common! It’s the same phenomenon that occurs when you move out and find lots of hidden dirt in the corners and around the edges of the rooms of your home.

This is actually a great time to do some of the extra cleaning that may not be part of your normal routine.

As you’re moving things around, dust the walls floor to ceiling with a dust mop. Clean the baseboards and other woodwork. Clean the faceplates of light switches and electrical outlets.

Dust and clean the items that you’re putting back into storage, and do the same with the items you’re bringing back out.

Of course, if you find you just don’t want to do this yourself, you can seek the professional help of a house cleaning company.

The new year is naturally a time of new beginnings and fresh starts. This year, why not make yours a CLEAN start as well?

“The Rose Bowl is the only bowl I’ve ever seen that I didn’t have to clean.” ~Erma Bombeck

Mini Mops, Inc. is a professional house cleaning company serving residential and commercial clients in the Fresno-Clovis CA area since 1975. They are currently accepting new clients. Please visit their website for more information:
www.Mini-Mops.com

Carpet Cleaning: Spots and Stains 101

Carpets take a lot of use and abuse in many homes. Think about it: where have your feet and shoes been all day before they come home and walk all over your carpet? Do you ever lounge around and lie on your carpet? Do you have children who do? Do you really want you or your loved ones exposed to whatever your shoes have come in contact with throughout the day?

We at Mini Mops, Inc. frequently get asked if we clean carpets. The answer is, “No, that is not our specialty. But we can refer you to an excellent carpet cleaning company.”

Our carpet cleaning referral partner is John Schmidt at The Floor Show (559-225-6300), and he has graciously allowed us to post the following article that he wrote on the subject:

SPOTS AND STAINS 101

 WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

We need to begin with basic definitions for good understanding.  Spots are what you have when some foreign substance is either spilled or tracked onto your carpet or upholstery.  Stains are what you have when there is a permanent change in color on specific areas of your carpet or upholstery.  Everything begins as a spot, but only becomes a stain once we have exhausted all cleaning possibilities, and a permanent color change remains.

The true definition of clean is to be free of foreign substances and bacteria (sanitary) but most people judge “clean” by visual appearance.  Therefore, it is important for us to remove every spot possible, while making the carpet sanitary as well.

WHAT CAUSES SPOTS?

Most spills and tracks contain either oil or sugar or both.  Most spots are visible not because of what was spilled on the yarn, but what it later attracts.  Most spots are just plain old dirt that has been attracted by the foreign substance on the yarn.  These are relatively easy to deal with.

Other spots can be caused by an endless variety of substances spilled or tracked.  Many can be removed while some cannot be fully corrected and therefore remain as stains.  A stain is from a spot that had a dye or discoloration component to it.

All things “show” on a carpet or fabric because of the differences in the way that light is reflected.  You should understand that abrasion areas also appear to be soiled for this same reason, even though they are fully clean.  The individual fibers are rough and pitted, which makes them reflect much less light and appear just like they are “dirty”.  This is why abrasion areas show much sooner on light colored carpet.
The best defense against this is to clean regularly to remove damaging dirt and grit!

RE-APPEARING SPOTS?

The dirt attracting type of spot is easy to make clean instantly, as the attracted dirt is very easy to remove, but you must be certain to remove the entire original spill or it will just attract more dirt in the future.  This can be more difficult or even impossible if a large quantity was spilled and soaked down into the carpet backing or underlying pad.

No carpet cleaning – no matter how good – can clean the underlying pad through the carpet.  We can remove every bit of the spill from the pile of the carpet only to have the original spill wick back up from the pad and spread back into the pile yarn.  Walking on the carpet and compressing the pad also accelerates this process.  The end result is that more dirt is attracted and a few days later a spot can appear to have never been removed.

In these situations, additional cleanings may be needed and it is a good idea to allow a week or two between cleanings to get as much as possible of the remaining spill to wick up to the surface before re-cleaning.

WILL OUR STATE-OF-THE-ART PROCESS ALWAYS WORK?

Usually yes…. but there can be a great variance in the degree of success.  The variables beyond the cleaner’s control are the type and quantity of foreign substance, the type of yarn fiber and the color of the carpet or upholstery.

• The type of substance is obviously the most important factor.  The quantity of spill can be a factor as generally, the more there is, the more difficult to completely remove.  Sometimes, future cleanings will improve any remaining stains if the carpet is maintained regularly and properly.
• The yarn fiber type is a factor in that synthetic fibers are smoother and have less stain traps while natural fibers are rougher, are more absorbent and will be more likely to stain permanently.
• The yarn color is a factor in that white and light shades will show abrasion areas or small amounts of stain while darker colors will camouflage some stain remaining in the carpet or upholstery.

All stains generally fall into two categories.  Permanent color additions such as dye stains  – or -  Permanent color reductions such as bleached-out or faded areas.

Our industry has made great strides in recent years, in the removal of some dye stains that were previously considered to be permanent.  The process is time consuming, more difficult and uses expensive specialty chemicals.  This means some additional cost to the customer and there is no guarantee of success, but if the carpet is worth saving, it can be the right choice.

Color reduction areas are not correctable by any stain removal techniques.

THE BEST THING YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR CARPETS AND UPHOLSTERY IS TO HAVE US CLEAN THEM REGULARLY EACH YEAR.

OUR PROCESS:

CAUSES NO WEAR,  LEAVES NO RESIDUE,  HAS NO DAMAGING EFFECTS.

We at Mini Mops, Inc. have used The Floor Show in our own personal homes, at our business, and have referred countless clients to John Schmidt over the years. We have full faith in his expertise. We hope that you have found his article helpful and remind you to call him if you have any questions: John Schmidt at The Floor Show, (559) 225-6300.

Mini Mops, Inc. is a professional house cleaning company serving residential and commercial clients in the Fresno-Clovis CA area since 1975. They are currently accepting new clients. Please visit their website for more information:
www.Mini-Mops.com

Chlorine Bleach — controversial, but a darn good cleaner!

Mini Mops, Inc. has used a chlorine bleach mixture for decades as one of our most basic cleaning supplies. We combine the chlorine bleach with some liquid laundry detergent and water. (Sorry, the exact mix is a trade secret!) This is an economical and very effective cleaning solution, and we should know! Mini Mops, Inc. is a professional house cleaning service, after all.

But as much as we might love it, we are aware that there is some controversy surrounding it.

Chlorine is chlorine — it’s the same whether it’s the chlorine bleach you use in your laundry and to clean your home or whether it’s the chlorine used to treat drinking water and swimming pools. And why is chlorine used to treat drinking water and swimming pools? Because it kills bacteria and algae … because it’s a great disinfectant!

When cleaning your home, where do you typically need a great disinfectant? You need to disinfect where the germs are! Bathrooms and kitchens are where the Mini Mops, Inc. crews most typically use our Bleach Mix. In addition to killing the bacteria and algae found in our water supply and swimming pools, chlorine also kills household germs like E. coli and Salmonella.

As great as it works, some people just don’t like it. One blogger, Lindsay at passionatehomemaking.com, says, “I hate how bleach leaves that horrible scent upon your fingers after use and makes me nauseous!”

The Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for bleach suggests wearing safety goggles and impervious gloves to protect yourself when handling bleach as it can cause eye and skin damage. You should also work in a well-ventilated area and run the exhaust fan if there is one in the bathroom. 

And what about bleach’s effect on the environment?  According to an article on viewpoints.com, “Actually, bleach doesn’t contaminate groundwater because it doesn’t survive sewage treatment. It quickly breaks down during normal consumer use and disposal, and as a result, has no harmful effects on the environment.”

In fact, the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend the use of bleach for controlling the spread of pathogens that can lead to infections.  

You’ll have to make up your own mind, of course, but we’re sticking to our tried and true cleaning friend, good ol’ chlorine bleach!

A Clean Toilet – All the Way Around

Cleaning the toilet … not anybody’s idea of fun, right? But since we all like the luxury of indoor plumbing and nobody is running out to install an outhouse (are those even legal?), the job of cleaning the toilet is one of those “necessary evils.”

So let’s make sure we do a thorough job.

Some people swish a toilet brush around the bowl and consider the job done. Not even close!!

Once you’ve cleaned the bowl, including up under the rim, you still have the rest of the toilet to clean. This includes the seat (the bottom and the top), the lid (again, both bottom and top), the tank AND the base!

Anyone who has raised little boys … or simply had little boys visit … knows the importance of cleaning the ENTIRE toilet!

Even big boys have problems with their aim every now and then. Urine that remains on the outside of the toilet — either on the bottom of the seat, on the area in front of the tank where the seat attaches, or on the base — begins to produce an unpleasant odor. And nobody wants to live in a smelly home!

By the way, when cleaning the base of the toilet, remember to clean all the way around the back, too.

At Mini Mops, Inc., our housecleaners are trained to use a bleach solution to clean the entire toilet. We use other cleansers in the actual bowl when necessary, but the bleach solution is what sanitizes the enitre toilet. Anyone hiring a professional housecleaning service should expect to have a thoroughly cleaned toilet, little boys in the house or not.

Shouldn’t YOU?

A Happy Client Asks for Housecleaning “Secrets”

This just in from another happy client:

Hi Michele – just a note to you and Suzette that I am REALLY enjoying my clean house…..especially the bathrooms and the floors!!  Do you give any secrets away as to what products you use to get them so clean? – Carol

I really enjoy getting feedback from our housecleaning clients … especially the happy ones! And if you’ve read other posts on this blog, you know that I don’t mind giving away some “secrets.” So guess where I directed Carol? Yes … right here to this blog!

These are the specific posts that I directed her attention to:

http://minimops.wordpress.com/2010/06/14/to-mop-or-not-to-mop-that-is-the-question/

http://minimops.wordpress.com/2010/03/29/for-a-cleaner-greener-home-mix-your-own-cleaning-products/

It is my belief that the value Mini Mops, Inc. provides our clients is not just about the house cleaning. As great as the cleaning is, I think Mini Mops, Inc. really is about more than just scrubbing floors and cleaning toilets. I hope that our clients see us as a resource to turn to for help, advice, a referral … I hope they see Mini Mops, Inc. as a means to reaching their goal of living a better life (in a cleaner home, of course)!

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Until next time … stay cool, and keep it clean!