Illinois Valley Clean Team, Author at Illinois Valley House Cleaning Services

Best Parks for a Family Trip in the Illinois Valley and Chicago

November 5, 2018 by Illinois Valley Clean Team

Chicago and the Illinois Valley region have a lot of places you can go to with your family. You can enjoy Chicago’s sleek, skyscraper-filled skyline, but this fertile land is also filled with fantastic nature scenes and high-quality dining experiences. Get ready and grab your phone’s camera and explore rolling hills, forests, and wetlands. Why not get into the fall spirit and enjoy the precious moments of what you have left with a wholesome trip to these places?

Here are the best places to go within Illinois Valley and Chicago!

Millennium Park

Its completion in 2004 made this park an instant hit, and it became the top attraction in the Midwest as well as being one of the most-visited tourist sites in the country. You’ll see attractions like Frank Gehry’s Pritzker Pavilion, Jaume Plensa’s Crown Fountain, and Anish Kapoor’s Cloud Gate. In the summer months, you should take a look at this fountain which has an array of the resident’s faces that blows water every five minutes. It’s Lurie Garden will wow you with monthly garden walks and a year-round flower displays.

Matthiessen State Park

Visitors come to a delight when they see canyons, prairie, forest, and streams here at Matthiessen State Park. Its location is in central LaSalle County, which is approximately four miles south of Utica and three miles east of Oglesby. This park is a paradise on earth for those people who are in love with geology and recreation.

You can expect to see abundant vegetation and wildlife as well as rock formations. There are also picnic facilities for a special outing with your family. Its geological features are unusual and beautiful. These rock formations make your trip to Matthiessen State Park a fun educational experience.

Garfield Park

As one of Chicago’s more prominent parks, Garfield Park offers one-of-a-kind facilities for boxing, baseball, tennis, swimming, and basketball. Your children will also enjoy the playground, and as for the adults, you can go to the fitness center and lagoon. You’ll also find the paths for walking, biking, and jogging wonderful. One of its well-known attraction is the Garfield Park Conservatory that has 120,000 plants which represent some 600 species as it occupies 1.6 indoor acres and 12 acres of outdoor gardens on the summer.

Adams Playground Park

If you want your kids to enjoy, you can take them to Adams Playground. It’s a hidden gem that is loved by the neighborhood and is located off Seminary Avenue in Chicago. Its name came from the former Congressman named George Adams that donated this land to the city in the early 1900s. Then the city turned it into this great community space for kids with playgrounds, sand court, and an ice rink for ice skating in winter.

You can spend your quiet afternoon with your family here as well as a perfect place for a picnic. This park provides massive opportunities for excellent family fun. Beat the heat at the waterpark in the summer, or you can sign up for activities that they offer in the field house.

Grant Park

It’s considered Chicago’s front yard and spans 319 acres on the shores of Lake Michigan. Grant Park can be considered a group of smaller parks, which include Maggie Daley Park, Millennium Park, the Museum Campus, and Buckingham Fountain. This is where Barack Obama and almost a million people celebrated his victory on election night 2008. And it’s also where thousands more attend the Lollapalooza and Taste of Chicago festivals.

Oz Park

From the creative mind of a native Chicago reporter, Oz Park is a public park located in the North Side of Chicago. It contains several statues modeled after characters from The Wizard of Oz. In the 1950s, it was constructed following an effort to revive the area and fans come here to reminisce about the old park.

Now the park features a biking or walking trail a little over a half mile long, and also contains a playground for children and gardens. It features four statues created after the beloved book characters like The Cowardly Lion, The Tin Man, The Scarecrow and Dorothy & Toto. You can also stop by and watch some of the free outdoor movies offered in summer, as well as a fall festival and Art Therapy Connection Chalk Festival. You can bring your child, or enjoy reliving childhood memories yourself!

After a long day of walking and playing, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to reward yourself with a quality cocktail or delicious meal afterward. If you want, you can let the professionals take good care of your home while you’re away. So you can come home to a relaxing and clean house.

Easy and Creative DIY Halloween Decorations

October 24, 2018 by Illinois Valley Clean Team

Halloween is fast approaching and it’s that time of the year again to decorate your home with spooky and frightfully fun decor. Why wouldn’t it be popular? It lets people dress up and trick-or-treat!

But best of all for some, you get to hang some fun decorations. And to make your home stand out in your neighborhood, we’ve gathered some halloween decoration ideas. These ideas will make your party stand out, and allow you opportunities to surprise and scares your guests. These ideas are a bit out of the ordinary and bring a lot to the table beside black and orange.

Here are some terrifying DIY Halloween decorations ideas that will make you stand out.

Haunted Mirror

You can find a neat image of someone trapped in a haunted mirror here , or just photocopy your hands, like they’re trying to escape, and print it out with your mirror’s measurements. If you have a big printer, good, but if you don’t, just go to your nearest copy or printing shop and they can help you out. Add some weaving fake snakes in between wall sconces or other mounted ornaments on your wall next to the mirror in order to have the whole spooky set up. Your guests will be frightened when they catch a glimpse before they reach for your candy bowl.

Hang a banner

You can skip the traditional orange decor and try another hue instead. Say, millennial pink and the result is insanely chic. Round out the fireplace with a DIY flag spelling out “Happy Halloween”—or another message from beyond the grave. You can use this as DIY Halloween decoration for outside.

Floating Candles

Remember the dining room from the Harry Potter movies, with all the floating candles? Well, replicate this with some paper towel and toilet paper rolls! Glue or tape LED candles on top, then create the fake wax with a hot glue fun. Tie them up and have a dark, magical Halloween with these great candles! You can use any thin string to hang them whichever manner you like, but we recommend a fine fishing line.

Decoupage Halloween Lanterns

If you’re tired of the same old Halloween orange and black, don’t be spooked by other colors and use them! Get some regular paper lanterns, and ad some découpaged clipart: owls, cats, spiders, or even starbursts, with several colors at your disposal.

Cheesecloth Spider Webs

Just get some cheesecloth, hang it on the ceiling so it drapes over where you want it too, and start tearing, snipping and pinning away at the cloth. Do it enough so it looks like an old, thick spider web (and not a sheet torn to shreds by your cat). Don’t forget some plastic spiders to hang them from the cheesecloth.

Paper Shadows

What would you do if there’s a shadow’s that’s been following, but it’s not yours? Shadows can sometimes scare us and no wonder they’re popular during Halloween, so here’s a great idea: Print or cut out from black paper some shadows and place them where you would normally see your own, like going up the stairs. Here’s a neat shadow template you can print out and paste on your wooden or concrete stairs, but you can make your own, just make sure they cover the entirety of each step.

Creepy Candles

With a cluster of white tapers with dripping blood, cast a sinister glow over any setting. You need to fill a cup or a small pail with sand, and put white candles inside, so they stand upright. Then, light a red candle and tilt it over the white candles, so the wax trickles down the sides and tops, being careful not to burn yourself. You can now let the wax cool completely before removing candles from sand.

To have a fun-filled Halloween, you have to think of the decorations and treats that you will give away to kids. And most importantly, let the professionals keep your home spotless and tidy.

Historical Landmarks in Illinois You Shouldn’t Miss!

October 1, 2018 by Illinois Valley Clean Team

Although it is nicknamed the Prairie State, and there are a lot of prairies, Illinois has its share of farmland, coasts, hills, forest, wetlands, cities and much more. It is home to rich historical landmarks that makes it stand out, both in the middle of its small towns like Peru and LaSalle, or in its major urban center of Chicago. There are so many things that you can learn just by touring these places.

Check out these historical landmarks of Illinois that you shouldn’t miss!

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum

If you want to take a tour of the late president’s library, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library is situated in Springfield. It also offers an excellent opportunity to learn not only about Abraham Lincoln but also about Illinois and its history.

Officially opened in 2004, the museum’s collection has been a work in progress for at least a century. The facility is also used for research, so not all of it is open for public viewing. Still, there are plenty of things you can learn about Abraham Lincoln here, and about America as well.

Ulysses S Grant Home State Historic Site

The Ulysses S. Grant Home was built in 1860 and was designed by William Dennison. It is the former home of Civil War general and the 18th President of the United States, Ulysses S. Grant. This house was presented to him upon his return from the war in 1865, where he lived in before becoming president and moving out in 1869.

The Grant residence has been fully restored to how it looked in the 1860s, furnishings and all. It also contains many of Grant’s belongings. It is open to the public for tours and is a comprehensive way to learn about an American Civil War Hero. The house has been preserved as a memorial to Grant since 1904, and today it’s a historical museum with rooms furnished in typical 1860s fashion.

Leaning Tower of Niles

Standing proud in the Chicago suburbs is the Leaning Tower of Niles—a miniature version of the Leaning Tower of Pisa—that was built in 1934, after the city of Pisa and the village of Niles established a sister city pact in 1991.

It was initially intended to conceal the water tower that supplied to large pools in the park with water, so they created it as part of a 22-acre amusement park. Admission is free of charge, and visitors are welcome to enjoy a picnic on the landscaped grounds, take photos or attend one of the open-air music concerts put on by the city.

The Field Museum

One of the largest museums in the world, the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago was established in 1893. It has permanent exhibits cover topics from the life of bugs to ancient Egypt. You’ll be amazed when you see the fossil of Sue, the Tyrannosaurus rex.

There are several working laboratories in the museum, and tourists can watch real scientists as they extract DNA, prepare fossils for study, and perform other tasks. It also offers 3D movies and educational programs for people of all ages.

LaSalle County Historical Society

Located at the heart of Downtown Utica, the LaSalle County Historical Society’s museum campus has five outstanding facilities. There’s the 1865 One-Room School House, the 1848 Canal Warehouse, the 1875 Barn, the 1892 Blacksmith Shop, and the Heritage Center.

With its extensive collection, the Canal Warehouse offers a broad range of Native American artifacts, pioneer furnishings, and more.

The Heritage Center’s displays focus primarily on the 20th century and the military. The Barn next to the Blacksmith Shop offers agricultural shows from 19th-century veterinary tools to horse-drawn farm equipment. The Blacksmith Shop is still an operating shop with forge and smith, just as it has since it first opened in 1892.

Don’t miss your chance to witness a bit about the rich history of Illinois. The state has historical landmarks that will leave you in awe. While you’re out for the day, let professionals take care of your home! You’ll feel relaxed once you get home with a spotless house.

Kids Are Back To School…Now What?

August 20, 2018 by Illinois Valley Clean Team

School's back in session are you ready for cleaning? For the last three months, you’ve either had extra helpers to keep the house clean or lumps of flesh interested more in Fortnight than laundry.

Either way, you’re left with an empty house and whole new schedule. Summer sports are over and now school meetings, homework and everything else that comes with school is taking up your time…really, another fundraiser? What do you do now?

Day One: Enjoy It

The first day without children in the house is quiet. You’ve spent the last three months being a referee over arguments that you didn’t even understand. “Mom, Steve stole my kill on Fortnight.” “I did not; I killed him fair and square.” Huh? Do we need to dispose of a body?

You have the whole rest of the school year to take advantage of the empty house for cleaning, but the first day should be all yours. Don’t clean, don’t think about plans. Relax and watch some television. Read a book. Have lunch at your favorite restaurant and invite your friends.

They’ll be back around 3 and life gets back to normal. In a few weeks, routine takes over and things start running on autopilot. Don’t let that first day go by without you enjoying it for all it’s worth.

Develop a Cleaning Plan

If you had helpers, then your house could be cleaner than normal and if you had…I’ll just come right out and say it…teenagers, then the house could look far worse. It’s time to get a handle on things and that requires a plan for the whole school year.

Get a year planner and start filling out the daily chores and things you need to do. Daily chores could be picking up clothes, laundry, dishes, etc. Once that’s done, hit the weekly chores, monthly, and so on. The goal is for you have a handle on the entire school year when it comes to cleaning. They’ll have to be some changes for holidays, illnesses, etc., but overall the plan should help you keep on track.

School Doesn’t Mean No Housework

Many children, I’m not specifically talking about teens (yes, I am), tend to take a more lackadaisical approach to cleaning and life in general. They may think because they’re in school and have homework, etc. they should be excused from housework.

Sure, you may have a job, chair the PTA, volunteer at the animal rescue, shuttle them everywhere, clean the house and fix the meals, but they’ve got school. Once they’ve got their homework done, they’re ready to go for chores. They don’t have to do it every day and you can even only focus on weekends, but the kids need to learn responsibility and how to clean the house.

It may be hard to admit, but it won’t be long before they’re out on their own and you don’t want the college kid who can’t figure out macaroni and cheese or laundry.

If your children have turned your home into a disaster area and you can’t imagine getting caught up, then call IV Clean Team and let us catch up for you. We’ll give you a head start on cleaning and you can still enjoy that first day.

Dryer Sheets Have Uses Outside of Laundry

July 24, 2018 by Illinois Valley Clean Team

Dryer sheets clean dry spills Everyone knows that if you want to keep your laundry smelling fresh, soft and free of static, then add a few dryer sheets to your loads. These wonderfully smelling sheets are commonly used for laundry, but their unique attributes make them perfect for other cleaning purposes as well. Don’t just keep a box of them in the laundry room because they can be used throughout the house.

Dusting Electronics

Electronics are fragile and using the wrong cleaner or cleaning instrument could lead to devastating consequences. A dryer sheet’s ability to handle static electricity makes it ideal of dusting electronics. Since electronics like televisions and game system rarely move, they’re magnets for dust and a few swipes of a dryer sheet will clean it up with no worries about harming the machines.

It’s not just electronics is perfect for either. It’ll handle ceiling fans, windowsills, miniblinds and more. In fact, any hard to reach place is perfect for a good dryer sheet dusting.

Dry Spills

While they’re not the greatest for cleaning up spilled drinks, dryer sheets are perfect for dry spills. Anyone that bakes knows that flour gets everywhere and there’s bound to be a mess. These dry powder spills are hard to clean up and you may make the problem worse using a paper towel by spreading it instead of picking it up. If you use a wet wash cloth, you end up with bread dough. Dryer sheets can pick powders up without a problem. It’ll stick to the sheets like glue.

A Bevy of Bathroom Uses

The bathroom is not everyone’s favorite place to clean, but it can be a bit easier using dryer sheets. There’s the standard dusting or cabinets, toilet tanks, etc., but it’s also great buffing the bathroom mirrors and polishing your chrome fixtures. They’ll shine like never before. If your hubby leaves his beard trimming on the sink or your wife leaves make-up smudges, clean them with dryer sheets.

Do you have pesky soap scum buildup on your tile? Don’t worry, a few swipes with dryer sheets will take care of it in no time.

Dryer sheets are great for a number of uses…if you have the time. If not, then let Illinois Valley Clean Team Inc. handle the cleaning for you. Contact us today for a free estimate and let us make your home look amazing.