Cleaning Made Easy - Kleenology

KITCHEN

To Do Daily

Spray and wipe the work tops, cooker top and hood.
Sweep the floor.
Scrub the sink with a disinfectant cleaner and then wipe dry.

To Do Weekly

Mop the floor. (You may need to mop more often if have little people and/or pets)
Clean the exteriors of appliances.
Wipe the fridge door.
Scrub and polish the sink.

To Do Monthly

Wipe down the kitchen cupboard doors.
Clean the oven.
Clean the fridge using a disinfectant cleaner.

Quick-Cleaning Tips

Keep a spray bottle with a solution of 1 part bleach to 4 parts water or an all-purpose spray cleaner in the kitchen for quick cleanups.
Keep a broom and dustpan in the kitchen for sweeping after meals or if you have one, a handheld vacuum.

BATHROOM

Basin: Use a general-purpose spray cleaner or mix white vinegar and water. Scrub a mildly abrasive cleanser or baking soda paste on grime and scum. Don’t use abrasives on surfaces that will scratch.
Toilet and Toilet Bowl: Spray the outside with general-purpose cleaner or vinegar and water. Disinfect the inside bowl with antibacterial toilet cleaner or bleach.
Showerhead: To remove lime scale, fill a plastic bag with white vinegar. Attach over the showerhead with a rubber band. Wait 1 hour; remove vinegar, turn on water to flush. Polish with a soft cloth. If the lime scale is severe, leave overnight.
Shower Cubicle: Use neat white vinegar on the cubicle weekly and leave overnight. To prevent lime scale build up use a wiper after every use.
Bath: Clean with general-purpose cleaner, vinegar and water, or baking soda paste.

Bathroom Surface Cleaning Guide

Marble and Granite: Vacuum and damp mop to remove dirt and grime. Do not wax or polish stone. Don’t use acidic products as they may damage the stone.
Glazed Tile: Wipe with a mild detergent and clear water. Do not wax or polish; glazed tiles will become slippery, especially if wet.
Vinyl: Use manufacturer’s recommended cleaner or a mild vinegar and water solution. Use polish only if recommended.
Slate: Vacuum this sturdy tile to pick up dust and grit. Mop with a slightly damp mop. Do not leave pools of water on the floor.
Unglazed or Terra-Cotta Tile: Sweep to reduce dust before mopping with mild detergent and water. Rinse twice to avoid film buildup, and buff with a dry cloth.
Laminate: Damp mop with a mild detergent. Don’t wax or polish.

Wood Furnishings Care
Dust, clean, or wax your wood furniture? What should you do? Read these suggestions and tips.

Dusting

Regularly dust your furniture. Frequent dusting removes airborne deposits that build up in a filmy layer and can scratch the surface.

Clean, dry, soft cloths or feather dusters will effectively remove dust; however, to avoid scattering the dust into the air, where it floats until landing back on furniture surfaces, dampen the cloth very slightly.

Tools for Dusting

Classic feather duster: A feather duster removes dust from easily damaged, delicate surfaces, such as fragile lampshades, pictures and other artwork.
Treated cloths: For dusting, soft, nonscratching cloths pick up and hold dirt. Use them in place of silicon sprays, which are not recommended for fine wood furniture.
Soft, lint-free cloths: Clean cotton T-shirts can be used. Dampen them slightly to help trap dust.
Terry towels: Use a clean dry towel to remove any moisture left from dusting with a damp cloth.

Cleaning

Never use all-purpose cleaning sprays unless your furniture has a plastic coating, such as the kind used on kitchen tables and children’s furniture.

Generally try to avoid cleaning wood with water. However, sticky spots may need to be treated with a little soap and water. Here’s how: dip the cloth in mild soap or detergent dissolved in water, wring the cloth nearly dry, and wipe the area. Rinse and immediately dry with a clean, soft cloth.

Oil polishes, cleaners, and furniture oils protect wood by making the surface more slippery; they do not offer a hard protective layer.

Products that contain a high percentage of oil make the surface smear, showing fingerprints. Avoid polishing with pure olive oil, which smears and attracts dust.

Most commercial spray and liquid furniture polishes contain silicone oil, which provides some protection. If you have used sprays and polishes in the past or suspect that furniture has been polished with them, be aware that residues can interfere with refinishing and may need professional attention.

Typically during manufacture, varnish, polyurethane, or shellac is applied to wood to protect the surface. Applying wax or polish protects the manufacturer’s finish and helps to reduce surface scratches.

Wax provides a hard finish and long-lasting protection, doesn’t smear, and is more durable than sprays or polishes.

Use paste wax or liquid wax made specifically for furniture. Depending on use, paste wax finishes may last as long as two years. Liquid wax is easier to apply but leaves a thinner coating; it may need to be applied more frequently than paste wax.

Learn how to properly apply waxes to eliminate streaks or a cloudy appearance. Always apply wax in light coats, rubbing into the surface with the grain. Allow to dry and buff to a clear shine with a soft cloth.

Tips for Applying Paste Wax

Put a spoonful of wax, about the size of a golf ball, in a square of 100-percent-cotton fabric. Wrap the fabric around the wax ball and knead it until soft.
Rub in a circular motion, one small area at a time, until the waxing is complete.
When the surface dulls, wipe off the excess wax. Use a clean, soft cotton cloth and turn it frequently.
Repeat waxing and wiping until the entire piece is waxed. If you notice a streak, keep wiping to remove excess wax.
Polish the wood, with a soft cloth or lamb’s-wool pad attached to an electric drill or power buffer. If the wax smears, wipe with a soft cloth and continue buffing.
For a deep shine, apply a second coat of wax in the same manner; to maintain waxed furniture, dust with a lamb’s-wool duster. Never use liquid or aerosol furniture polishes because they can dissolve the wax and leave a hazy film.

Rug Care

Rugs add warmth and colour, pattern and texture to any room. You can easily change a room’s look and feel from one season to another, relatively inexpensive and easily achieved, by replacing the rug. Follow these tips for cleaning various types of rugs.

Basic Care Tips

Storing When storing a rug have it professionally cleaned first and wrapped before storing in a damp free cupboard or other place.

Care Tags When you buy a new rug, keep the care tag in a safe place for future reference.

Large Rugs Treat large size room rugs the same as you would an all over carpet. Fine Oriental rugs and other unusual materials, however, require special care.

Small Rugs Small rugs, such as those used at entrances, are difficult to vacuum. Take them outside and shake them well until dust and dirt are no longer evident..) You can also hang rugs over a clothesline or sturdy outdoor furniture and beat them with a broom to remove dust and dirt.

Dry Cleaning Always read care labels for small rugs, to see whether they should be dry-cleaned, spot-cleaned, or washed. If a rug, even a cotton one that appears washable, is labeled dry-clean only, it may not be colorfast. Imported rugs tend to need dry cleaning; colors may bleed otherwise. Test before spot cleaning.

Washing When you ascertain that a rug is washable, machine wash on delicate cycle. To ease the problem of long rug fringes becoming tangled and knotted in the washing machine divide the fringe into several hanks, wrapping each hank with white string. Place the rug in a mesh laundry bag or zippered pillowcase and wash in cold water.

Drying Wet Rugs Hang wet rugs over a clothes-drying rack, a slatted picnic table, or several bricks stacked in a porch or conservatory. Hanging a wet rug over a single clothesline will distort the shape of the rug as it dries. Small rugs that are made from synthetic fibers similar to carpeting can be laid to dry on a table that is protected with an old sheet or table cloth.

Pet Problems When pet hair accumulates in a rug, hard brush with a stiff clothes brush, in the same direction as the nap until dirt and hair stop coming out. Deal with pet stains using a commercial enzymatic cleaner to help break down stain and odour.

Woven and Braided
Check for stitching breaks before and after cleaning woven or braided rugs. Check labels to ascertain whether small rugs are washable. If a rug is washable, a small rug can be placed in a zippered pillow case or mesh laundry bag. Machine wash in cool water on a gentle cycle, rinsing thoroughly. Tumble dry on low setting.

Place large rugs on a vinyl or concrete floor or place an old blanket beneath them. Sponge commercial carpet cleaning foam over the surface and rub it in according to the product directions. Finish by rinsing or vacuuming. Dry thoroughly before replacing the rug on the floor.

Oriental Rugs
Vacuum new handmade, Persian, antique, and Oriental rugs as you would carpet and wool rugs. Use special care with delicate vintage or antique rugs by following these guidelines.

Special Vacuuming Tip: Lay a piece of nylon cloth over the rug and weight it around the edges with books or bricks. Vacuum over the nylon. The dirt will be removed while the nylon protects the rug from the vacuum. Alternatively, tie nylon mesh over the vacuum attachment and change the mesh frequently as dirt accumulates.

Stains : Immediately treat wine and other drink spillages with club soda; use baking soda to soak up gravy, sauces, and liquid foods. Consult an Oriental rug dealer for a more complete list of food stain removal. If the rug is positioned in a heavy traffic area, it is wise to have it professionally cleaned annually; rugs placed in other areas can be cleaned every few years. Rug dealers may offer their own cleaning service.

Rotate rugs to ensure even wear; direct exposure to sun will cause fading. Be sure to find appropriate window treatments to safeguard valuable rugs from sun exposure, or install UV blocking window films.

Coir and Sisal

Rugs made from coir (coconut), sisal, rush, grass, and other natural materials tend to have an open weave, allowing dirt to sift through to the floor beneath. Vacuum frequently. Remember that water weakens the fibres. When washing stains, work quickly and dry thoroughly to extend the life of these natural rugs.

Vacuuming:– Remove the rug occasionally to vacuum the floor. – If possible, take the rug outside and gently beat it to loosen dirt trapped between the fibers. – Many of these rugs are reversible; flip rugs over each time you vacuum for even wear.

Stain Cleaning:– To clean stain or discolorations on a room-size natural fiber rug, leave the rug in place, protecting the floor beneath with a plastic drop cloth and towel. – Move small rugs to a protected counter or table to clean. – Scrub the stains with a soft brush dipped in soapy water. Rinse with clear water. – Place towel over the wet area. Blot the cleaned spot as dry as possible. – Use a portable fan or hair dryer to speed drying.

Sisal Saver Tip: Some natural fibre rugs are constructed in squares that are sewn together. Buy a few extra squares or a smaller size of the rug. If a rug square is stained, clip the threads that hold it in place, replace with a new square, and hand-stitch with heavy-duty carpet thread.

Fur and Sheepskin
– Shake unscented talcum powder over a fur, sheepskin, and hair-on hide rug and leave for several hours. – Brush the talcum powder through the hair; then shake it out. – Repeat the process several times, depending on the length of the fur. – Dip a clean cotton cloth in lukewarm soapy water and wipe off the back. – Rinse with a cloth dipped in clean water. – Allow to dry before replacing.

Vacuum Living Areas

Vacuum your living areas once a week to control the unavoidable accumulation of dust and dirt. Before you vacuum, pick up large bits that may damage your vacuum belts and hoses. Try vacuuming steadily and evenly in sweeping movements.

Mop Hard-Surface Floors
Mopping is one of the most inexpensive and effective ways to keep your home clean. Wet mops are used for scrubbing and for applying disinfectants to bathroom and kitchen floors. They work when pressed firmly to the floor and moved in long, overlapping strokes. When mopping, make sure to wipe up excess liquid because standing water can damage wood surfaces.

Change Bed Linens
The changing and washing of bedding should really be done about once a week. For even wear, rotate your sheets, storing fresh sheets at the bottom of the pile in your airing cupboard. For best results, wash your sheets in warm water. Wash all-cotton spreads and blankets in luke warm water or even cold water to avoid shrinkage.

Sweep Front Entrance/Porch and Steps
Don’t forget to give your entrance or porch a little attention every week. Try using a stiff bristled broom to clean large areas that require heavy-duty sweeping such as decks, patios, and driveways. Use a softer, natural-bristle brush for general sweeping with a dustpan. Choose the best-quality broom to avoid bristles that fall out when you sweep.