How to Clean Your Home to Keep Allergies at Bay

Part 1 in a Series about How to Clean Your Home to Eliminate Allergens.

This blog post is meant solely for informational purposes. It is not intended to provide medical advice. Please consult your physician for details about treating allergies.

Your house is a place to relax and entertain family and friends, far from the worries of the outside world. But is your home a haven for hidden allergens? Do dust mites hang out on your sofa as much as you do? Do mold spores hide in the crevices of your shower? Unseen housemates can turn a happy home into a house of allergy horrors.

According to a spokesman from the Honor Society of Nursing:

“About one third of all Americans suffer from some kind of allergy. Many suffer from environmental allergies. And about 35 million (more than 10%), experience hay fever, which is an allergy to pollen. Others are allergic to pet dander, mold and dust mites.”

The good news is that interior allergies can be tackled if you simply take a few easy steps to allergy-proof your home. Once you develop and implement some basic housecleaning strategies to reduce allergens, you will be able to breathe a sigh of relief without sneezing, sniffling, or wheezing.

• Cover the basics.
  • Cover all bed linens in mite-proof material.
  • Enclose your mattresses and box springs in zippered allergen-impermeable, mite-proof covers.
• Clean and repeat. (Follow a regular cleaning schedule.)
• Enlist the troops. (If you personally suffer from allergies, the best advice we can provide is to hire a professional to clean your home, or get your family on board. An allergy-prone person shouldn’t do extensive housecleaning since the cleaning process stirs up allergens that aggravate symptoms.) You could always leave the job to the professionals at My Cleaning Lady. A domestic referral agency, we work with only the best housekeepers in the business and are based in LaVerne, California. We offer professional housecleaning services all along the 210 corridor in the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire.
• Invest in the right equipment. To rid your home of allergens, you need to be well-equipped. After all, you’ll be nose-to-nose with sneaky spores, multitudinous mites, and drifting dander.
  • Purchase a vacuum cleaner that has a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance) filter. Allergists recommend HEPA-filter vacuums because they reduce airborne allergens by trapping dust mites and other small particles without re-releasing them into the air.
  • Encase comforters in allergen-impermeable material.

• Tame dust. Using a damp rag, wipe down your bed frame to keep it free of dust.
• Rinse and repeat.
  • Each week, wash all of linens in hot water.
  • Wash your mattress pad and blankets every two to four weeks in hot water.
  • Wash the mite-proof encasings as recommended by mattress manufacturer.
  • Washing linens regularly not only kills dust mites, it also reduces their food source (i.e., dead skin flakes). Washing only kills the adult mites but does not harm their larvae. So it’s important to wash linens weekly—to eliminate each new crop of critters.

If your commitment to keeping a clean home extends beyond your floors, you could benefit from professional housecleaning services. My Cleaning Lady is a domestic referral agency that only works with experienced cleaners. Our house cleaners offer complete home cleaning services including thorough dusting at reasonable prices. We are currently offering a Spring Cleaning Special. If you book any cleaning at regular price, we will clean your refrigerator for free. Offer good through April 30, 2012.

My Cleaning Lady proudly serves residents in the following California cities; Arcadia, Chino, Chino Hills, Duarte, Ontario, Pomona, La Verne, Covina, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Montclair, Claremont, Phillips Ranch, Upland, West Covina, Glendora, San Dimas, and Sierra Madre. Visit www.MyCleaningLady.com or call (909) 593-6690 for more information or to arrange a free estimate.

How to Buy a Broom

Cleaning equipment used to be pretty basic. If you wanted a broom, you would drive to the store and buy whichever model was available. Large discount chains might have carried two choices—blue or red. But times have changed. There are now thousands of cleaning tools on the market, all of which boast unique features. Most stores today carry numerous options. In light of this, which one should you select?

Your best bet for a broom depends on a few things:

• Where do you plan to sweep? Some brooms are gentle and best suited for indoor use in kitchens, hallways and areas with hardwood floors while others are specially designed for heavy-duty applications in workshops, garages and commercial locations. Brooms come in a range of sizes, from large, industrial-strength sweepers designed to clean filthy commercial areas to small, standard, modest household models. You might find it best to buy different brooms for various areas of your home to make sure you don’t track garage dirt onto your kitchen floors or bathroom dust bunnies into the nursery.

Most indoor brooms feature bristles made from synthetic materials which offer excellent flexibility and are densely packed together to easily grab fine dust particles along with larger chunks of debris. Classic straw or corn brooms are also used indoors and are best suited for sweeping up large materials. Because they handle large debris well, they make an excellent choice for clearing porches or walkways.

• How soft is your surface? For delicate surfaces that can be dulled and damaged, such as hardwood floors, you may want to consider purchasing a soft dust mop or gentle wide-bristled style, which is designed to gently clean without scratching. Rubber brooms work great as do microfiber tools which won’t scratch or mar the finish of your floors and often work better than traditional brooms.

• What is your budget? Brooms range in price from $3 for a hand-held straw model to thousands for an extravagant, artistic version made from folded dollar bills. Since so many options abound, you can likely find whatever you need at any given price point. The average brooms costs about $10 and should last for several months. Don’t make the mistake of keeping brooms past their prime as debris build-up can damage sensitive surfaces.

• Are environmental factors important to you? Brooms are constructed from a variety of natural and synthetic materials, each of which is suited to certain applications. All things being equal, you can choose to make your selection based on which models are made from Eco-friendly natural, biodegradable materials instead of man-made supplies. Cotton, for example, is a natural fiber while microfiber sweepers consist of very fine threads of man-made polyester and polyamide (nylon) that combine to form a single thread.

• Which special features matter most to you? Some people prefer thin-handled brooms or dust mops while others are more interested in versions that sport attached dust pans or hooks for easy storage. Consider these additional options:
  • Bristles made from synthetic fibers can be easily washed and dry quickly.
  • Brooms with densely packed bristles pick up more dust and dirt.
  • Poly fibers with a split tip to ensure even the smallest particles are captured
  • Brooms with an angled head can be used in tight corners
  • A whisk and dustpan can be used to sweep up large dirt piles generated by push brooms
  • Cotton-loop dust mops provide a larger surface area for dust to cling to
  • Spray-on cleaning solutions used on dust mops can increase their efficiency

The bottom line is that, when it comes to choosing the right broom or dust mop, select the one that will meet your needs.  If your commitment to keeping a clean home extends beyond your floors, you could benefit from professional housecleaning services. My Cleaning Lady is a domestic referral agency that only works with experienced cleaners. Our house cleaners offer complete home cleaning services including thorough dusting at reasonable prices. We are currently offering a Spring Cleaning Special. If you book any cleaning at regular price, we will clean your refrigerator for free. Offer good through April 30, 2012.

My Cleaning Lady proudly serves residents in the following California cities; Arcadia, Chino, Chino Hills, Duarte, Ontario, Pomona, La Verne, Covina, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Montclair, Claremont, Phillips Ranch, Upland, West Covina, Glendora, San Dimas, and Sierra Madre. Visit www.MyCleaningLady.com or call (909) 593-6690 for more information or to arrange a free estimate.

Everything you ever wanted to know about spring cleaning but were afraid to ask

Daylight saving time, warm temperatures and chirping birds are all signs that spring has sprung and it’s time to do spring cleaning. This annual ritual differs from weekly cleaning because it’s far more intense. Spring is the perfect time to thoroughly scrub every nook and cranny of your home, condo or apartment.

If you choose to tackle this chore alone, set aside several days for the task. And if you don’t have that much time to spare, enlist your family to help with the process since many hands make light work. Or, better yet, leave the job to the professionals at My Cleaning Lady. A domestic referral agency, we work with only the best housekeepers in the business and are based in LaVerne, California. We offer professional housecleaning services all along the 210 corridor in the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire.

Regardless of how you choose to spring-clean your home, here are some hints to ease the process:

1. Remove, clean and replace everything

We’re not proposing that you dispose of all of your furniture and personal effects. But the only way you will be able to reach every single surface is if you pull each and every item away from walls and pull large items outside of closets and cabinets. Once you’ve pulled it all out, vacuum, dust or wipe down items and clean floors before replacing.

2. Store Seasonal Clothing

When warm spring weather arrives, it’s time to pack away sweaters, coats and other cold weather clothing. Storing seasonal clothing is easy to do if you follow a few simple rules. Make sure that storage containers are clean, cool, dark and dry to keep clothing in good shape for winter.

3. Maintain Appliances

We often take the functionality of our appliances for granted. But high-ticket items deserve attention. Each spring take time to inspect major appliances for wear and tear. For example, the coils of the refrigerator should be vacuumed and the drain pan should be cleaned out. Clean lint buildup from dryer vents. Remove accumulated gunk from your oven and refrigerator. Clean dishwashers, disposals, and washers. For details about how to clean everything from your refrigerator to your dishwasher, check out our series: Caring for Your Appliances.

4. Conquer Clutter

Spring is the perfect time to remove clutter from your house. To help figure out which items to keep, sell, give away, or trash. If paper clutter is a persistent problem, find out how to reduce paper piles around the home.

5. Attack the Garage

It may be daunting. But spring is a great time to clean out your garage. Whether you need to organize a cleanup day or just remove a few items for donation or garage sale, give your garage a little love when you do your spring cleaning. It will pay to give attention to you’re the spot that stores your tools, sports equipment and holiday decorations.

6. Do Windows and Blinds

Spring is a great time to inspect and clean window treatments. Wipe or wash blinds in the backyard or in the bathtub. Send drapes to the dry cleaners or toss washable curtains into the washing machine. Cleaning window treatments after a long winter can brighten an entire room. Don’t forget to dust window casings, wash window sills, and clean hardware while you are at it.

For more information about keeping everything in your laundry room clean, check out the My Cleaning Lady blog post: How to Clean Your Laundry Room. If your commitment to keeping a clean home extends beyond your household mirrors, you could benefit from professional housecleaning services. My Cleaning Lady is a domestic referral agency that only works with experienced cleaners. Our house cleaners offer complete home cleaning services including thorough dusting at reasonable prices. We are currently offering a Spring Cleaning Special. If you book any cleaning at regular price, we will clean your refrigerator for free. Offer good through April 30, 2012.

My Cleaning Lady proudly serves residents in the following California cities; Arcadia, Chino, Chino Hills, Duarte, Ontario, Pomona, La Verne, Covina, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Montclair, Claremont, Phillips Ranch, Upland, West Covina, Glendora, San Dimas, and Sierra Madre. Visit www.MyCleaningLady.com or call (909) 593-6690 for more information or to arrange a free estimate.

How to Clean Your Washer & Dryer

Besides your home itself, the largest household investment you will likely make is in large appliances such as a refrigerator, dishwasher, oven and washer and dryer. But do you know how to protect that investment by properly taking care of pricey appliances?

My Cleaning Lady is a domestic referral agency which works with only the best housekeepers in the business. Based in LaVerne, California, we offer professional housecleaning services all along the 210 corridor in the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire. And we’d love to share some expert hints about how to clean and care for your large home appliances. This week, we’ll focus on two of the most important appliances in your home…the washer and dryer.

To work properly, efficiently and for the long haul, washing machines and dryers should be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis. And since they fulfill very different roles in your laundry room, you need to employ completely different methods to clean them. Thoroughly cleaning your machines will keep them in good working condition and will protect a very important, fragile investment—your clothes.

Cleaning Your Washer

1. After you’ve washed your clothes, run an empty load sans detergent.
2. Clean unwanted debris from the filter. Rinse the filter and set it aside.
3. Dust or vacuum the area immediately around the machine.
4. Mix ½ cup of lemon juice with ½ cup of vinegar. Remember your eighth grade science volcano project? Be prepared because the concoction will fizz. Dip a clean sponge or toothbrush into the mixture to loosen dirt inside the tub.
5. Wipe the outside of the machine with a non-abrasive cleanser.
6. Scrub the fabric softener dispenser with a damp sponge.
7. Run a final cycle with vinegar and color safe bleach.

How to Clean Your Dryer:

1. Remove the lint trap and wipe the area where you stow the filter. Dispose of all excess lint. Remove and clean the lint filter in a solution made with soapy dishwater.
2. Pull the dryer away from the wall, being careful not to dislodge hose in the process.
3. Carefully remove the dryer hose from the back of your machine. It is most likely attached by a plastic flange that slips into the dryer. If it is screwed on with a clamp, use a screwdriver to remove it. Once it has been loosened, the hose can be pulled off.
4. Remove the hose from the outside vent connection. Again, they can usually be pulled off, but if there is a clamp, remove it with a screwdriver.
5. Run a rag mop through the vent hose to clean out all of the built up lint. Be careful not to push the mop too hard and damage the hose. Once cleaned, remount the hose onto the dryer in exactly the same way that it came off.

Tips & Hints

• Small items like coins, clips, pens and lighters can get stuck in the dryer mechanism. To improve the lifespan of your dryer, make sure everyone in your household gets in the habit of removing loose items from pockets before tossing into the laundry bin. To be safe, check every pocket before tossing clothes into the washer or dryer.
• If your clothes are taking longer to dry than when you first bought the machine, check filters and vents. Blockages can drain energy, which will result in higher natural gas bills.
• Clean the lint trap after every time you run the dryer.

For more information about keeping everything in your laundry room clean, check out the My Cleaning Lady blog post: How to Clean Your Laundry Room. If your commitment to keeping a clean home extends beyond your household mirrors, you could benefit from professional housecleaning services. My Cleaning Lady is a domestic referral agency that only works with experienced cleaners. Our house cleaners offer complete home cleaning services including thorough dusting at reasonable prices. We are currently offering a Spring Cleaning Special. If you book any cleaning at regular price, we will clean your refrigerator for free. Offer good through April 30, 2012.

My Cleaning Lady proudly serves residents in the following California cities; Arcadia, Chino, Chino Hills, Duarte, Ontario, Pomona, La Verne, Covina, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Montclair, Claremont, Phillips Ranch, Upland, West Covina, Glendora, San Dimas, and Sierra Madre. Visit www.MyCleaningLady.com or call (909) 593-6690 for more information or to arrange a free estimate.

How to clean your dishwasher

Besides your home itself, the largest household investment you will likely make is in large appliances such as a refrigerator, dishwasher, oven and washer and dryer. But do you know how to protect that investment by properly taking care of pricey appliances?

My Cleaning Lady is a domestic referral agency which works with only the best housekeepers in the business. Based in LaVerne, California, we offer professional housecleaning services all along the 210 corridor in the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire. And we’d love to share some expert hints about how to clean and care for your large home appliances. This week, we’ll focus on one of the most important appliances in your kitchen…your dishwasher.

One great way to care for your dishwasher is to use it regularly. Running it frequently will prevent food and other debris from building, which will, ironically, reduce the need to clean it.

Another great way to keep your dishwasher in good working order is to empty it completely after every load. Here are some other great dishwasher cleaning tips:

• Make sure you run the garbage disposal every time you start your dishwasher. This will prevent waste from being pulled into the dishwasher.
• Check spinning arms. Clear debris out of the holes under spinning arms.
• Make sure holes are open so that water can run freely through them. To reach small holes, use needle-nose pliers, a toothpick or a straight pin. Take care not to scratch the interior of your machine in the process.
• Don’t forget to wipe the edges of the door around the gasket. This space goes untouched during the dishwasher cycle. Use a damp cloth, an old toothbrush or a soft household brush.
• Wipe under the bottom of the door, which is a spot where water and debris can accumulate.
• On the surface of the dishwasher, use a brush or a cloth to loosen and remove hard water deposits.
• To remove hard water deposits or scale, run your dishwasher when it is empty.  A “light” or short cycle should suffice. Place powders into the detergent cup. Place liquids in a bowl in the top rack. Use a rinsing agent to keep stains from accumulating on glassware. If you have a water softener, don’t use a rinse agent.
• Other mild (somewhat surprising) cleaning agents—powdered orange drink (such as Tang), lemon juice, distilled white vinegar, commercial dishwasher cleaning product.
• If you notice the presence of mildew or mold, remove with bleach. Don’t mix bleach with other cleaners or dishwasher detergent. If problems with mold and mildew persist, leave the dishwasher open loosely following each cycle in order to allow it to dry out.
• If your dishwasher is stainless steel, avoid the use of bleach.
• To clean the controls on your dishwasher, spray the front of it with a mild spray cleaner of your choice, then wipe with a sponge or soft cloth.
• For water conservation, run only full loads. And don’t pack dishes too tightly. Water needs to be able to reach dishes to clean them.

If your commitment to keeping a clean home extends beyond your household mirrors, you could benefit from professional housecleaning services. My Cleaning Lady is a domestic referral agency that only works with experienced cleaners. Our house cleaners offer complete home cleaning services including thorough dusting at reasonable prices. Currently offered cleaning specials include one hour free of cleaning with the purchase of five hours of one-time service, and a 15 percent discount off one-year prepayment of recurring housecleaning service.

My Cleaning Lady proudly serves residents in the following California cities; Arcadia, Chino, Chino Hills, Duarte, Ontario, Pomona, La Verne, Covina, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Montclair, Claremont, Phillips Ranch, Upland, West Covina, Glendora, San Dimas, and Sierra Madre. Visit www.MyCleaningLady.com or call (909) 593-6690 for more information or to arrange a free estimate.

How to Clean Your Refrigerator

Besides your home itself, the largest household investment you will likely make is in large appliances such as a refrigerator, dishwasher, oven and washer and dryer. But do you know how to protect that investment by properly taking care of pricey appliances?

My Cleaning Lady is a domestic referral agency which works with only the best housekeepers in the business. Based in LaVerne, California, we offer professional housecleaning services all along the 210 corridor in the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire. And we’d love to share some expert hints about how to clean and care for your large home appliances. This week, we’ll focus on the largest appliance in your kitchen…your fridge.

Refrigerator—Avoid using harsh chemicals on the delicate exterior surface of your fridge or inside where chemicals could come in contact with your food. Instead, rely on food-safe cleansers such as baking soda and vinegar. For a thorough periodic cleaning, remove all of the shelves and drawers. Wash them in a sink filled with dish soap and hot water and wipe the entire inside of the fridge with a non-abrasive all-purpose cleaner.

If jelly jars or syrup bottles have tipped over and left sticky spots, resist the urge to scrape the shelves with a metal or hard plastic surface. Instead, boil some water and pour it over sticky spots to loosen residue.

After removing expired food and cleaning every single surface with baking soda and water, use baking soda to remove residual odors. If odors remain despite these efforts, try lining a cookie sheet with a thin layer of baking soda. Place this on the bottom shelf of your refrigerator for 24 hours so the baking soda can absorb lingering odors. To keep the refrigerator odor-free, clean it regularly and place a new open box of baking soda on one of the shelves. But be sure to replace it every three months.

To keep your refrigerator running in tip-top shape and eliminating costly repairs, take these extra steps:

1. Clean condenser coils.
2. Don’t forget the drain hole and drip pan.
3. Check and clean the gaskets.
4. Wipe down rubber door seals to prevent them from drying out and cracking.
5. Change the water filter, if necessary.
6. Make sure your refrigerator is level.

If your commitment to keeping a clean home extends beyond your household mirrors, you could benefit from professional housecleaning services. My Cleaning Lady is a domestic referral agency that only works with experienced cleaners. Our house cleaners offer complete home cleaning services including thorough dusting at reasonable prices. Currently offered cleaning specials include one hour free of cleaning with the purchase of five hours of one-time service, and a 15 percent discount off one-year prepayment of recurring housecleaning service.

My Cleaning Lady proudly serves residents in the following California cities; Arcadia, Chino, Chino Hills, Duarte, Ontario, Pomona, La Verne, Covina, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Montclair, Claremont, Phillips Ranch, Upland, West Covina, Glendora, San Dimas, and Sierra Madre. Visit www.MyCleaningLady.com or call (909) 593-6690 for more information or to arrange a free estimate.

Mirror, Mirror, on the wall: who has the cleanest mirror of all?

Although you probably spend less time in front of it than the evil queen from Snow White, your mirror is a household item that you likely use each and every day. So how can keep this important tool clean and clear so it provides a smear-free reflection? Since mirrors are routinely exposed to steam from showers and aerosol products such as hairspray, deodorant and perfumes, it takes a bit of doing to keep them clean.

My Cleaning Lady is a domestic referral agency which works with only the best housekeepers in the business. Based in LaVerne, California, we offer professional housecleaning services all along the 210 corridor in the San Gabriel Valley and the Inland Empire. And we’d love to share some expert hints about how to clean the mirrors in your home:

• First, clean the mirror to remove heavy dirt or marks. Use plain water for pre-cleaning. Then, use a tightly-woven cloth, which is softer and less abrasive than a paper towel.
• Although there’s virtually no way to save the silver if it’s wearing off of your mirror, if the surface is spotted but not destroyed, you can remove streaks by applying a 50/50 solution of distilled white household vinegar and tap water.
• Does a murky film form on your mirrors after you clean them? If the surface of your mirrors resembles the steam-covered film that forms after you shower, avoid traditional cleansers such as ammonia and window cleaner. Instead, apply a crumpled newspaper to the mirror’s surface along with a diluted mixture of ordinary dish soap and water and it will shine. Go over the wet areas with a dry portion of newspaper. This will leave the mirror dry and keep drip marks from drying onto the surface. For more details about this method, check out our instructional window-cleaning video.

[Please note: some newspapers use soy-based ink instead of traditional inks which contain lead. If your newspapers smear the surface instead of cleaning it, you might have to change newspaper subscriptions or use another cleaning method for windows and mirrors.]

• If dust is on the surface of the mirror, use diluted dish soap or rubbing alcohol to remove the residue. Or dry with a lint-free cloth or paper towel that won’t leave fibers behind.
• To prevent hard-water staining, stuff some paper towels under the sides of the mirror while you’re cleaning to catch excess drips to prevent them from running between the mirror surface and the silver on the mirror back.
• Another inexpensive option is to use coffee filters with a mixture of plain white vinegar and a dash of baking soda, which will clean the surface of the mirror without leaving streaks.

If your commitment to keeping a clean home extends beyond your household mirrors, you could benefit from professional housecleaning services. My Cleaning Lady is a domestic referral agency that only works with experienced cleaners. Our house cleaners offer complete home cleaning services including thorough dusting at reasonable prices. Currently offered cleaning specials include one hour free of cleaning with the purchase of five hours of one-time service, and a 15 percent discount off one-year prepayment of recurring housecleaning service.

My Cleaning Lady proudly serves residents in the following California cities; Arcadia, Chino, Chino Hills, Duarte, Ontario, Pomona, La Verne, Covina, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Montclair, Claremont, Phillips Ranch, Upland, West Covina, Glendora, San Dimas, and Sierra Madre. Visit www.mycleaninglady.com or call (909) 593-6690 for more information or to arrange a free estimate.

How to Clean Your Laundry Room

Is your laundry room a mess? Don’t know where to begin to clean things up? Whether you have a large dedicated laundry room or just a small corner of the garage with a stackable washing machine and dryer, with just a few simple steps, you can regain control of the space.

1. Catch up on laundry. Nothing spells disorganization more than clothes strewn all over the floor. To take control of your laundry room, start by putting away clean clothes. Hang anything that belongs in your closet. Fold towels. Organize undergarments and haul everything to the room where it belongs. Wash dirty clothes and put those away, too.
2. Clear away unnecessary items. This is particularly important if your laundry room doubles as office space, mud room, pet area or storage spot. Even if you have a dedicated laundry room, the space will be more comfortable to spend time in if you clear the clutter.
3. Dispose of extra bottles and boxes. If you store cleaning supplies in the laundry room, safely dispose of outdated items, especially if you don’t use them anymore or if the container is ripped or dented. To dispose of household chemicals, contact your city about proper disposal procedures.
4. Organize. Place remaining items on shelves or in cabinets and bins so that the items you use most are close at hand but out of sight.
5. Dust walls and cabinets. Lint in laundry rooms can wreak havoc on walls. You can take care of this unsightly lint build-up with a long-handled duster or mop.
6. Clean appliance surfaces. Wipe the outsides of your washer and dryer with a mild, diluted spray cleaner and a rag or sponge.
7. Scrub counter tops and wipe out the laundry sink, if necessary. Laundry sinks often end up getting the messiest jobs, like rinsing paint brushes and muddy shoes or serving as doggie baths. So don’t worry if it doesn’t look like it did in the store. Just clean the worst of it and move on.
8. Clean your dryer vent once a year. While blockages aren’t visible, they pose fire hazards and reduce dryer efficiency. A clogged vent could also contribute to dust in your home, which may trigger allergies. To keep a handle on dryer lint and maximize appliance performance, clean the lint trap after every load.
9. Sweep and mop or vacuum the floor. Also, shake out area rugs and mats.
10. Run an empty load with vinegar to keep your machine clean. The acid will help dissolve minerals.

If you are committed to keeping a clean home, you could benefit from professional housecleaning services. My Cleaning Lady is a domestic referral agency that only works with experienced cleaners. Our house cleaners offer complete home cleaning services including thorough dusting at reasonable prices. Currently offered cleaning specials include one hour free of cleaning with the purchase of five hours of one-time service, and a 15 percent discount off one-year prepayment of recurring housecleaning service.

My Cleaning Lady proudly serves residents in the following California cities; Arcadia, Chino, Chino Hills, Duarte, Ontario, Pomona, La Verne, Covina, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Montclair, Claremont, Phillips Ranch, Upland, West Covina, Glendora, San Dimas, and Sierra Madre. Visit www.mycleaninglady.com or call (909) 593-6690 for more information or to arrange a free estimate.

The Ugly Facts about Dust Mites

How to eliminate them from your home

Microscopic insects referred to by entomologists as “skin-eaters,” Dust Mites are common residents on floors and surfaces in homes of every kind. They live where human beings reside, when the humidity is optimal for their life cycle. Dust mites are known for causing allergies, hay fever, eczema, and asthma attacks in millions who react to mite droppings on floors and furniture in homes…even in houses that appear on the surface to be clean.

One of the barriers to the identification of house dust mites is the fact that the tiny creatures are invisible to the naked eye. Measuring a mere 1/100^th of an inch, what they lack in size they make up for in sheer numbers. According to DustMites.org, densities of dust mites in the typical used mattress can range from 100,000 to ten million individual mites. Dust mites feed on organic detritus such as flakes of shed human skin.

House dust mites survive in every climate, even at high altitude. They thrive in the indoor environment provided by homes, specifically in bedrooms and kitchens, hiding out in mattresses, carpets, furniture and bedding. Since experts agree the best treatment for allergies is avoidance of dust mites and their allergens altogether, the experts at the domestic referral agency, My Cleaning Lady, would like to advise you about how to keep your house spic and span to eliminate or at least reduce the presence of dust mites in your home.

The environment commonly found in bedding is optimal for most dust mites. And comparative studies have shown that the density of dust mites in mattresses to be on average greater than 2500/gram of dust. Cleaning beds with most vacuum cleaners will not remove dust mite allergens, but actually throw them into the air, thereby increasing their volatility.

So how can you combat this creepy creature?

• Some polyethylene bedding is beneficial as it makes the environment difficult for the dust mites.
• Bedding should be breathable and able to withstand frequent washings.
• Proper, thorough sweeping and mopping of hard floors as well as carpet are critical. (Wall-to-wall carpet and upholstered surfaces can be reduced or replaced with hard surfaces that are easier to clean.) Since dust mites absorb water through contact with their environment, they cannot survive long on hard surfaces because they dehydrate.
• Carpets that get damp on a regular basis should be replaced with hard surfaces. If you cannot replace carpeting, have it steam cleaned at least once a year in the spring.
• The vacuum cleaner is one of the most important tools for managing house dust mites and their minute droppings. Vacuums which incorporate very efficient Certified HEPA or ULPA filters in completely sealed systems are optimal.
• Do not scatter dust. Instead, dust with a damp cloth rather than dry dusting. Spraying furniture polish/dusting liquid directly on surface reduces airborne particles by 93 percent compared with dry dusting.
• Having carpets professional cleaned with superheated steam will effectively killing dust mites in them.
• Wash all bedding weekly. Research shows laundering with detergent in warm water (77 degrees F) removes nearly all dust mites from bedding. If you cannot launder blankets, dry clean them once a year.
• Use air cleaners.

If you are committed to keeping a clean, dust-mite free home, you could benefit from professional housecleaning services.  My Cleaning Lady is a domestic referral agency that only works with experienced cleaners.  Our house cleaners offer complete home cleaning services including thorough dusting at reasonable prices. Currently offered cleaning specials include one hour free of cleaning with the purchase of five hours of one-time service, and a 15 percent discount off one-year prepayment of recurring housecleaning service.

My Cleaning Lady proudly serves residents in the following California cities; Arcadia, Chino, Chino Hills, Duarte, Ontario, Pomona, La Verne, Covina, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Montclair, Claremont, Phillips Ranch, Upland, West Covina, Glendora, San Dimas, and Sierra Madre. Visit www.mycleaninglady.com or call (909) 593-6690 for more information or to arrange a free estimate.

Should you leave your shoes at the door to keep your house clean?

Is it okay for you to ask visitors to leave their shoes at the door?

In Japanese homes, it is considered disrespectful to leave your shoes on as you enter someone’s home. Guests remove their shoes and either slip into soft booties or socks provided by the host or go barefoot. And the practice is not just relegated to the Far East. Other countries observing this custom include Thailand, the Czech Republic and Sweden.

On the other hand, in the United States, the practice of requesting shoe-removal is somewhat controversial. In fact, in some cases, asking folks to leave their shoes at the door is considered tantamount to requesting that visitors take off their shirts. But the custom not only helps keep homes cleaner, it helps make them healthier.

After all, think about where your shoes have been. If you stop at a gas station to fill up the car on your way home, you likely track petroleum and grease on your feet. If you’ve walked on a freshly treated lawn, you could track toxic pesticides, manure or chemical fertilizers onto the floor your baby crawls across or drops her pacifier. What’s more, seemingly benign dirt can even contain traces of lead.
The professional cleaning industry estimates that we track 85% of the dirt in our homes from the outside on our shoes or on the paws of our pets. In a recent warning about lead exposure, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends that shoes remain outside the house.

According to a report called The Door Mat Study, lead-contaminated soil from the outside causes almost all the lead dust found inside of homes. The study revealed that wiping shoes on a mat and/or removing them at the door cuts lead-dust by 60 percent. The study also explained that limiting the amount of dust and track-in may also help reduce exposure to lawn and garden pesticides, wood smoke and industrial toxins, mutagens, dust mites and allergens.

Wiping our shoes off as we enter the home reduces the amount of contaminated dirt tracked in. Large mats will ensure that even those who refuse to wipe will leave most of the dirt on their shoes on the mat rather than on your carpet.

Experts agree the BEST solution is to take off your shoes as you enter your home. If you like the idea of keeping outside dirt outside your door, you could provide your guests with slippers or socks in a basket by the door. Not only will your tile floors stay clean and wood floors protected from scratches, but removing shoes effectively keeps dirt and toxic threats from being tracked onto carpets and area rugs.

 

If you are committed to keeping a clean home, you could benefit from professional housecleaning services.  My Cleaning Lady is a domestic referral agency that only works with experienced cleaners.  Our house cleaners offer complete home cleaning services including thorough dusting at reasonable prices. Currently offered cleaning specials include one hour free of cleaning with the purchase of five hours of one-time service, and a 15 percent discount off one-year prepayment of recurring housecleaning service.

My Cleaning Lady proudly serves residents in the following California cities; Arcadia, Chino, Chino Hills, Duarte, Ontario, Pomona, La Verne, Covina, Rancho Cucamonga, Fontana, Montclair, Claremont, Phillips Ranch, Upland, West Covina, Glendora, San Dimas, and Sierra Madre. Visit www.mycleaninglady.com or call (909) 593-6690 for more information or to arrange a free estimate.