Illinois Valley House Cleaning Services | IV Clean Team, Inc.

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How to Make the Most of Your Professional House Cleaning

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Hiring a professional house cleaning service can be a great way to ensure that your home stays clean and tidy without taking up all of your free time. However, before the cleaners arrive, there are a few steps you can take to prepare your home and make their job easier. Here are some tips for getting your home ready for a professional house cleaning service.

Declutter your space

The first step in preparing your home for a professional house cleaning service is to declutter your space. Clearing clutter makes it easier for the cleaners to get to all of the surfaces that need to be cleaned, and it can also help to reduce the amount of time it takes to complete the cleaning. Go through each room and remove any items that are not necessary, and be sure to put everything in its proper place.

Put away valuable items

While most professional house cleaning services are trustworthy and careful, it’s still a good idea to put away any valuable items or delicate objects that could be damaged during the cleaning process. This includes things like jewelry, small electronics, and fragile decor items. Make sure to communicate with your cleaners about any specific items that you are concerned about.

Clear off surfaces

To make it easier for the cleaners to do their job, it’s a good idea to clear off all surfaces in your home. This includes things like kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, and coffee tables. If there are items that you want the cleaners to leave in place, such as a vase of flowers or a decorative item, be sure to communicate this with them.

Tidy up the floors

In addition to clearing off surfaces, it’s also a good idea to tidy up the floors. This includes picking up any toys, shoes, or other items that may be on the floor, as well as doing a quick sweep or vacuum. If you have pets, be sure to pick up any toys or other items that they may have left out.

Communicate your expectations

Before the cleaners arrive, it’s important to communicate your expectations with them. This includes letting them know which areas of your home need the most attention, as well as any specific cleaning products that you prefer to be used. If you have any concerns about the cleaning process, be sure to bring them up before the cleaning begins.

Prepare your pets

If you have pets, it’s a good idea to prepare them for the cleaning service. This includes keeping them in a separate room or outside while the cleaners are working, as well as making sure that any pet toys or items are picked up and put away. Be sure to communicate any specific instructions for your pets with the cleaning service.

Be available to answer questions

While the cleaners are working, it’s a good idea to be available to answer any questions that they may have. This can help to ensure that the cleaning process goes smoothly, and it can also help to address any concerns that may arise during the cleaning.

By following these tips, you can help to prepare your home for a professional house cleaning service. This will not only make the cleaners’ job easier, but it can also help to ensure that you get the most out of the cleaning service. With a little preparation, you can enjoy a clean and tidy home without having to do all of the work yourself.

How To Prevent Living In A Dusty House

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Dust, if nothing else, can be very annoying and persistent. However, even if dust isn’t the most harmful thing, inhaling it may cause unexpected allergic reactions since you never really know what’s in those particles.

So, having a dust-free home—as much as it’s possible—will be very helpful in keeping your family healthy! Here are some ways you can achieve this:

Replace the duster with a damp cloth

Cleaning dust in your home is straightforward, but why not try to make it even easier? 

If you don’t want dust particles flying around your house, use a damp cloth instead of a duster. Moisture makes it easier to trap the dust in the cloth, saving you from only pushing dust particles around. 

Do you want to take things further? After dusting a surface, you can keep dust away for longer by rubbing any surface with a dryer sheet. Dryer sheets will add an oily coat that prevents static buildup on the surface.

Don’t let the dust into your home

Dust particles take a ride in the air and go wherever they like. So, a great way to prevent your home from getting dusty is to stop the dust from coming and going as it pleases. Here are three tricks to make it easier:

Trick #1. Close doors and windows

The first trick to stop dust is to shut off its way in—quite literally. Keep your doors and windows closed when it’s too windy.

Trick #2. Use a mat 

A considerable amount of dirt entering your home is dragged in by the sole of your shoes. So, if you’ve been looking for a pretext to add more decoration to your home, this is it! Choose a mat you like and place it at the entrance to wipe your feet off before entering your home. 

Trick #3. Leave your shoes at the door

When cleaning your shoes on a doormat is not enough, you can always leave your shoes at the door and wear slippers instead. Make sure everyone in your household follows the no-shoes policy, or it won’t be effective. 

Trap dust and improve air quality 

If your family suffers from allergies, investing in keeping the indoor air clean will improve your household’s quality of life, on top of saving nuisances. Here are a couple of tricks to increase the air quality of your home:

#1. Invest in an air humidifier or air purifier

An air humidifier is a good choice if you want to make the dust easier to clean. Humidity makes the dust heavier, which turns it too heavy to fly in the air your household breathes.

On the other hand, an air purifier is a more direct approach to cleaning the air since it also catches the dust particles floating around.

#2. Change the filters of the air conditioner

The air carries a lot of dust particles that tend to settle anywhere they can, including the air filters.

So, change the air filters to avoid blowing dust around your home when you turn on your air conditioner. Replacing the filters once a month is usually enough, but check your manufacturer’s guidelines to be sure.

Let us help keep your house dust-free

Everyone would love to be always on top of their home, ready to clean even the tiniest speck of dust. However, a busy life can get in the way of a clean home, and that’s when Illinois Valley House Cleaning Services comes in! 

We offer different packages to cover your cleaning needs when you’re too busy to clean. With our maintenance cleaning program, we can help you keep your home clean, healthy, and dust free. Get a free quote today!

8 Practical Ways To Eliminate Odors From Your Trash Can

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Your kitchen is supposed to be one of the most comforting places in your home. However, this changes when garbage leaves its awful smells permeating the room’s air, turning cooking and eating unpleasant.

Stop suffering from the trash can’s awful odors in your kitchen! Try these tips to keep the bad smells at bay.

Use these deodorizers in your trash can

Deodorizers are the quickest and most straightforward way to get rid of unwanted odors. All you need to do is place the deodorizer of your choice at the bottom of the trash can when replacing the bag. Easy, right?

If you don’t want to get a strong-smelling chemical-based deodorizer from the store, here are the best options for natural deodorizers:

Option 1. Baking soda

You probably have some baking soda in your pantry. This common household item is used for many purposes, one of them being as a natural deodorizer—baking soda neutralizes the more acidic things that smell bad in your trash. 

Option 2. Charcoal

If you’re interested in beauty and wellness products, you’ve probably heard about the wonders of activated charcoal, but did you know that it can also be used as a deodorizer? Activated charcoal is very porous, which allows it to absorb moisture and bad smells.

Option 3. Essential Oils

Many essential oils have properties that kill tiny bacteria (which provoke those ill smells), and they come in various scents, so you can choose the one you prefer. Simply pour a couple of drops of your chosen oil into a cotton ball to make your deodorizer.

Option 4. Vanilla extract

Vanilla extract offers a softer and more natural smell than most essential oils. You only need to pour a few drops of it into a cotton ball and put that at the bottom of the trash can to deodorize it.

Option 5. Dryer sheets

Do you use dryer sheets for your laundry? These sheets have properties that neutralize odors and give off a fresh smell, so you can also use them to deodorize trash cans! 

Option 6. Coffee grounds

If you like drinking coffee in the morning, you can reuse your old coffee grounds to deodorize your trash can. Coffee contains nitrogen, which will help capture the icky smells of garbage in the air.

Option 7. Citrus peels

Do you like to eat oranges and lemons? Don’t get rid of the peels once you’re done! Citrus peels absorb smells, so saving them for your trash can will be a great way to recycle them!

Option 8. Cat litter

Kitty litter works for more than covering your cat’s smells. This product is designed to absorb leaks and stop bad smells, which makes it perfect for deodorizing your trash.

A few tips to prevent odors

Besides using deodorizers, you can tackle foul smells even before they become a bigger problem. Here are three tips to prevent odors:

Tip #1: Separate your trash

Separating trash not only works for recycling but also diminishes the smells of your garbage—even when it lingers in your home! 

If you separate perishables—like food and other organic waste—you can easily take them out right before or as soon as it starts to smell. Meanwhile, the rest of the trash can remain inside for a little longer without stinking up the kitchen.

Tip #2: Keep the trash can covered!

Sometimes, the solution might be as simple as covering up the trash can. Don’t forget to keep the garbage can lid on (or the bag with the trash closed). This way, you can spare yourself some of the foul odors that would escape an otherwise uncovered trash can.

Bonus tip: Don’t forget to take out the trash often

The best way to avoid smelly garbage in your kitchen is to take out the trash often, and Illinois Valley Clean Team can help! In our regular cleaning packages, we take out the trash for you on top of leaving your home spotless. Book now!

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