Baseboards give any house a distinguished and elegant look, but they are some of the most overlooked fixtures when cleaning time comes.

Even if you don’t notice them at first glance, grimy baseboards can hinder your home’s beauty. However, knowing that your baseboards need some attention isn’t actually tackling the chore. Due to their unique placement, baseboards usually are a hassle to clean. 

The good news is that you can clean your baseboards easily—without bending over or getting down on your knees! Keep reading to learn how.

How to clean your baseboards without bending over

You won’t need to spend your precious time and money getting products to carry out this task. Everything you need is already in your cleaning stash (and kitchen).

So, without further ado, let’s get to work!

Step #1. Prepare the room

As baseboards run along the walls, they may be blocked by furniture in a few places. If you can, move small furniture away from the walls until the baseboards are uncovered. You could get somebody else to help you move heavy furniture, though.

Also, you’ll need the rooms to be well lit to see the progress on your baseboards. So, open the curtains for the lovely sunlight to enter your house or turn on your lights to keep the area well-lit while you clean.

Step #2. Follow up by dusting your baseboards

As in any other cleaning session, dusting is essential to prevent a mess later when liquids are involved.

So, get a broom and wrap a microfiber cloth around the brush. Secure the cloth with clothespins, rubber bands, or anything strong enough to hold it tight. Then, use your new DIY tool to sweep the dirt off your baseboards.

Pro tip: Sweep the baseboards in downward motions to avoid leaving any dirt on them.

Step #3. Get rid of the stains

Once your baseboards are dusted, it’s time to wash them. To make a powerful DIY cleaning solution, mix inside a spray bottle equal parts of warm water and white vinegar. Then, add a trickle of dish soap. 

Once your solution is ready, soak a clean cloth into the mix, wring out the excess liquid, and attach it to the broom head. Don’t press too hard while cleaning. Instead, swab through them, and if you find any stubborn stain, use a little elbow grease until it is gone.

Step #4. Dry and dust-proof your baseboards

Excess moisture on your baseboards could cause mold to appear on them. So, prevent that awful scenario by replacing the cloth in your DIY tool with a clean one and dry the fixtures thoroughly.

Once dry, you can make your baseboards dust-free for longer by wiping them with dryer sheets, which will repel the dust thanks to their antistatic properties.

Is baseboard cleaning still too much hassle? Let us help you!

Do you prefer a little help to clean your baseboards? Illinois Valley Clean Team has your back! Our cleaning staff will save you time, effort, and stress by leaving your house and your baseboards spotless! Book with us today, and get an exceptional cleaning experience!

Taking a shower should be one of the most relaxing moments of your day. But your relaxation is affected when your shower head gets clogged or too dirty!

Since the shower head is in constant contact with hard water, it should not be surprising that there’s mineral buildup.

However, there is an easy way to fix this problem! Have you heard of the vinegar trick? If not, don’t worry. We will show you how to clean shower heads using this method!

The plastic bag and vinegar trick

If you’re looking for an easy way to clean a shower head, you are in luck! This method doesn’t even require you to remove the shower head.

Follow these instructions to clean your shower head effortlessly:

1. Make preparations

Grab a plastic bag and pour white vinegar into it. Then, submerge the shower head in the bag—the vinegar should cover the shower head completely (you can adjust the vinegar level so it doesn’t spill).

Fasten the plastic bag to the neck of the shower head. You can use string or rubber bands (double-check that it’s appropriately attached so it won’t fall off!).

2. Wait

Now you can leave the shower head soaking. The wait depends on how grimy it is! So it could be anywhere from a few hours to the whole night. 

However, if your shower head is made of brass, gold, or coated in nickel, you should only leave it soaking for 30 minutes! Otherwise, the finish could get damaged.

3. Rinse, scrub and repeat

After the wait, untie and remove the bag from the shower head. Let the vinegar go down the drain.

Then, run the hot water for a few minutes to wash away the remaining minerals that might have gotten stuck inside the shower head. If there’s any buildup left, you can scrub it with an old toothbrush (focus on the holes from where the water comes).

4. Polish

Once you’ve finished cleaning the shower head, you can polish it. Buff it with a soft cloth and let it dry to give your shower head a shiny finish.

The more thorough way

We also have a solution for you if you need something that works for more stubborn stains!

Follow the next instructions to clean your shower head thoroughly (and get rid of all the mineral buildup).

Remove the shower head

Removing the shower head is necessary if you want all the buildup to come off. 

Just get a cloth to wrap around the connection nut, then twist it with a wrench. This cloth will protect the finish of your shower head!

Soak

Grab a bucket or bowl big enough to fit the shower head. Then, fill it with vinegar and place the shower head inside.

You can now leave the vessel resting for the night! However, if the shower head is made of brass, gold, or nickel-covered, leave it for 30 minutes only. 

If you have a shower head made of metal, you can make the process go even faster! Just let it simmer for 15 minutes.

Rinse and scrub

Dispose of the vinegar and rinse the shower head. Then, use a toothbrush to scrub the inside of the shower head.

You can also use a needle or toothpick to poke through the tiny holes. This way, you can make sure none of the mineral buildup remains!

Reattach the shower head

All that’s left to do is to reattach the shower head! Remember to use plumbing tape to prevent leaks. Do this by wrapping some tape around the pipe before you install the shower head again.

After, run the hot water for a few minutes, and make sure all of the residues come off!

Is cleaning too much hassle?

Having a spotless bathroom takes a lot of time and effort, mainly because you have to clean regularly. But a way to make this chore easier is to hire a cleaning service! 

Letting professionals handle it is the most effortless way to have a clean bathroom, and why settle for that? We can clean your whole house! With Illinois Valley Clean Team, you don’t even have to lift a finger. 

Let us do the dirty work for you. Get your free quote!

Keeping your house spotless is already a tall order; don’t make it more challenging by having a messy cleaning stash. Try these five neat hacks to organize your cleaning supplies.

Let Illinois Valley Clean Team help you with the chores, and you’ll never have to worry about a dirty home! Book now!

Feeling unmotivated to clean your home is normal. Although some people like to clean and can get quickly in the mood for cleaning, most people aren’t like that. 

Getting in the right mindset becomes particularly challenging when a considerable task is ahead, like cleaning a big house or a week’s worth of mess. Thankfully, some tricks can help you get in the mood for housework. 

Scroll down to learn how to get motivated to clean your home!

Why is cleaning so related to your mood?

It isn’t a coincidence that you’re in a better mood when your house is clean. There are several health benefits associated with tidy spaces, and here are a few ones:

• Boosted productivity: A study found that the less cluttered people’s visual field is, the more the brain can focus on specific activities.
• Better sleep: A survey conducted in 2011 concluded that people get improved sleep quality in a cleaner, fresher room.
• Healthier choices: Physical order and cleanliness influence people to make better choices (especially in eating habits), according to this study.

How to get motivated to clean

With these fantastic tips, pull yourself up by your bootstraps and tackle your cleaning chores.

Tip #1. Make it manageable

A great way to eliminate an overwhelming feeling is by organizing all the things to do. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Break down your cleaning routine into small tasks: Make a list of your specific pending chores and separate them into categories. For example, you can sort them by room or time required; the goal is to divide your routine into more manageable pieces.
2. No need to do it all at once: Despite what you might think, you can do your tasks at your own pace. When you don’t force yourself to clean, housework becomes less daunting.

Tip #2. Make it enjoyable

You can relieve the burden of cleaning by pairing your chores with another activity you enjoy. So, stop dreading housework time with these pieces of advice:

1. Listen to something: Music has numerous benefits and can make cleaning more enjoyable. You can listen to an upbeat playlist or your favorite songs while you clean—audiobooks and podcasts are great options too!
2. Reward yourself: You’ll be even more motivated if you have something to clean for. Choose something you like; it can be a trip to the mall or a restaurant, but do not fulfill it until you finish cleaning!

Tip #3. Get inspired

Sometimes you just need a little push to start. Do it yourself by putting into practice the following tips:

1. Buy something new: Think about getting a new addition to your house. For example, a piece of furniture can make you want to start cleaning to see how it fits in your home.
2. Invite your friends over: By inviting people to your house, you may feel the need to prepare your place and receive your guests in a top-shape living room. Take this opportunity to clean your house.

Let Illinois Valley Clean Team help with your chores!

You can get a motivation boost by seeing how well your place looks when cleaned! Our professionals can leave your house fresh and help you keep it tidy. We also have options for indoor and outdoor cleaning tasks. Book now!

Summer is here, and it’s the perfect time for thoroughly cleaning your home. Even after tackling spring cleaning in the past months, your home has specific cleaning needs during summer.

Here are six summer cleaning tips to ensure a successful seasonal cleaning project. 

Tip #1. Dust the ceiling fan

Relying only on the air conditioning system to control temperature can be expensive. However, when the hot summer months arrive, homeowners can set up the ceiling fan to spin counterclockwise to keep airflow in the room.

Since you’ll need to reach for the switch to reverse your ceiling fan spin, you can take advantage of this process and dust the fixture; especially the upper side of the blades.

Tip #2. Wash outside the windows 

Maybe you clean the inside of the windows regularly, but when was the last time you washed the outside? Having sparkling clean windows during summer is a good idea if you enjoy the sunshine!

However, avoid cleaning the windows under direct sunlight, or water will evaporate before washing away the dirt—leaving streaks on the glass. 

Tip #3. Clean inside kitchen appliances and cabinets

During summer, food spoils quickly, so the kitchen should be spotless to avoid unpleasant smells. If you haven’t cleaned kitchen cabinets this year, make it a priority during your summer cleaning.

Also, large appliances need cleaning. Wiping inside the refrigerator thoroughly and discarding spoiled food is an excellent way to prevent foul smells in your kitchen. 

Tip #4. Remove foul odors from trash cans

Trash always smells terrible, but things can get worse when the heat rises. During summer cleaning, wash inside the cans to prevent the buildup of nasty residue. Once the cans are dry, sprinkle a thin layer of baking soda at the bottom to keep them fresh for longer.

Note: Baking soda could damage some metal trash cans. If you are unsure if using baking soda is a good idea, you can try dryer sheets or cat litter as an alternative.

Tip #5. Refresh the garbage disposal

As said above, foul smells multiply during summer. Another place to keep a watch on is the garbage disposal. However, you can clean this device easily—follow these simple steps by This Old House.

Once cleaned, you can keep the garbage disposal fresh by grinding up citrus peels.

Tip #6. Don’t forget window treatments

Window treatments can retain dust and pollen from springtime, especially when made of fabric. So, cleaning them is a good idea to prevent allergic reactions and excess indoor dust. 

Sometimes, refreshing your curtains is as easy as tossing them into the washing machine. However, not all window treatments are suitable for machine washing. If this is your case, you can clean your curtains with a vacuum cleaner.

Is summer cleaning too much work? We can help!

Illinois Valley Clean Team proudly offers top-quality house cleaning services in Spring Valley, La Salle, Peru, and nearby communities. 

Do you need a helping hand to keep your home clean this summer? Maintaining everything neat can be time-consuming, and we understand it, so we make it easier to book and get your home professionally cleaned!

Request your estimate today!