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How to clean granite kitchen worktops

granite-worktopHaving a natural stone worktop is always hard work. We always have to be careful not to apply anything too abrasive or acidic (e.g. vinegar or bleach) or we can end up with a disaster of a kitchen counter. But here is a simple way to keep your granite worktops clean and shiny (no need for expensive granite-only cleaners!).

First, get prepared. You will need a couple of micro-fibre cloths, warm soapy water (you can use washing up liquid) and a little bit of rubbing alcohol or Isopropyl alcohol (91%).

Follow this simple steps:

1- Wash the surface with soapy water and a micro-fibre cloth.

2- Dry the surface with a clean micro-fibre cloth.

3- For regular disinfection: Fill a spray bottle with 50% water and 50% rubbing alcohol. Spray onto the granite worktop. Leave for a couple of minutes and wipe with a damp micro-fibre cloth.

Rubbing alcohol is a natural de-greaser that can be used to remove grease, grime and soap residues. If applied periodically, it can help you disinfect your granite worktops and keep them shiny for longer!

Do you have any other tips for cleaning natural stone kitchen counters? Share with us

Cleaning with pets

cat and dogAnyone that has experience in cleaning a house with pets will tell you the same thing: it is a hard job! No matter how much you clean and vacuum, pet hair seems to appear magically in every corner of the house.

So here is a list of essential tools to win the “fight” against pet hair at home!

  1. Vacuum cleaner. We all know how important it is to have a good hover to get rid of unwanted pet hair. Make sure you keep the vacuum cleaner working at its full potential by emptying the bag after every use and checking the filter regularly. Hovers are good to use on carpeted floors and upholstery. As we have explained in the past, when hovering a carpeted floor, always do several passes with the vacuum on high transit areas.
  2. Electrostatic dust mop. These are best used on hard floor surfaces. They will attract pet hair easily thanks to their static power.
  3. Microfibre cloth. These cloths are the multi-purpose tool in here. They can be attached to a broom and used on hard floor surfaces, in case you do not have an electrostatic dust mop. They can also be used on hard to reach corners on carpeted floors (just damp them a little bit and drag across the area where the carpet meets the skirting boards). They can also be used on upholstery, to get rid of pet hair on sofas or beds.
  4. Rubber gloves/ squeegees/ damp sponges. As an extra, these can always be used on carpeted floors and upholstery.

Get yourself armed to fight your pet hair with these tools, and don’t forget to brush and bath your pet regularly, as that will reduce the amount of hair around your home, making the cleaning process easier.

Do you have any tips on cleaning pet hair? share with us!

 

 

Cleaning App: Angry Janitors

mzl.ufkkamicA mixture of Mario and Angry Birds is this app that wants us to learn more about cleaning and to make us aware of the importance of Health & Safety.

This free game was brought by ISSA (International Sanitary Supply Association) last year.

Help Sweepy, the janitor, clean all dirt and germs to unlock new levels and get high scores. There are three areas to clean: the school, the office and the hospital.

This app is a fun and quirky mix-match game that may put a smile on your face, even if you are not a cleaning professional.

Give it a try! You can install it for free at Google play.

Tips on how to use your laundry detergent

Following our last post about cleaning detergents, find some ideas on how to use your laundry detergent, either powder one or liquid.

Let’s start with powder detergents:

  1. Dilute them yourself, to avoid residues on clothes. And also as a way to pre-treat stain on clothes.
  2. Use less than you think you need and that will make it last longer.
  3. When shopping, check for a brand formulated for use with cold water, to save energy.
  4. Put half a cup of white vinegar in the rinse cycle to clean pipes from possible detergent residues.

What about liquid detergents?

  1. Buy a brand that comes double concentrated, as they use less water and packaging.
  2. Try to avoid capsules and buy detergent in bottles; this way you can measure the right quantity when doing half loads on the washing machine.

Do you have any other tips on how to use your detergent efficiently? Let us know!

Pros and Cons of liquid and powder laundry detergents

laundry detergents

The average family of four in UK does an average of 250 cycles per year, giving washing machines a ‘life expectancy’ of about only 4 years. Choosing the right laundry detergent will help you increase your washing machine’s life considerably. But, which one is the best?

Currently, the two main types of laundry detergent are powders and liquids. Both share the same active ingredients, but what are the pros and cons of using one or the other?

Here are some of the pros and cons of using liquid soaps for your laundry:

  • Pro: The detergent is already dissolved (so no soap scum inside your washing machine).
  • Pro: It can be used to clean some stains before loading the washing machine.
  • Pro: It dissolves easily in cold water, saving on energy.
  • Con: They usually come on plastic packaging, not very eco-friendly…
  • Con: They are more expensive.

Here are some of the pros and cons of using powdered soaps for your laundry:

  • Pro: They are cheaper than liquid detergents.
  • Pro: They are usually packed in eco-friendly cardboard boxes.
  • Pro: Surfactants (the bit that actually cleans your clothes) are more stable in powders, so these detergents have a longer shelf life (they are more effective than liquid detergents for longer).
  • Con: If you use too much you can find soap residues on your clothes, meaning you will need to have another cycle to wash them off.
  • Con: In some cases they dissolve better in warm water, so no possibility of using a cold cycle, thus higher electricity bills.
  • Con: Sodium sulphate, used as a filler in powder detergents, can destroy septic systems.

Can you think of any more pros or cons? Your choice of detergent will depend on the way you use your washing machine. Keep checking our blog for clever ideas on how to use your laundry detergents!

 

Flying robots to clean your space!

A new cleaning system that uses mini robots to clean your home has been the winner of this year’s Electrolux Design Lab. Maybe elbow grease will be a thing of the past sooner than we expect it!

mab electrolux design lab 2013

Check the video to see these robots in action:

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tech/news/a524667/flying-robot-beehive-cleaner-wins-design-prize.html

And if you want to know the ins and outs of the project (designed by Adrian Perez Zapata), check this:

http://electroluxdesignlab.com/en/submission/mab/

What do you think? Will this invention be suitable for a domestic environment? Share your thoughts!

The use of antibacterial cleaning products

antibacterialWe recently red some news about the possible dangers of using antibacterial soaps. Some recent studies suggest that the overuse of antibacterial soaps may help create drug-resistant germs.

Antibacterial products have been used on the health sector for decades. It has only been recently that antibacterial cleaning products have become “a norm” for private households and families. It has been so extended that almost half of the soaps/chemicals on sale contain antibacterial agents, such as triclosan and triclocarban.

 

But, apparently, scientists are starting to get worried. They are still unsure whether antibacterial cleaning products work any better than the good old soap and water to keep germs below dangerous levels.

Soapy water wash away germs; antibacterial products kill everything, even bacteria that are helpful to the body because they keep other dangerous bugs at bay, experts say.

Scientists are warning to use antibacterial products just when needed, that is, when taking care of a child or sick person. Indeed, recent research suggests that antibacterial soaps and chemicals my encourage the growth of “super bugs” resistant to antimicrobial agents.

What do you think about the findings? Do you think this “antibacterial fever” on the consumer market is a marketing strategy to sell more products or in fact we need these cleaning products to survive?

How to have a professional domestic cleaning service on a budget

cleaning spongeMost of us would do with the help of a professional cleaner; work, kids… everything seems to take most of our time and cleaning gets neglected. We know we need the help of a professional service, but sometimes employing a domestic cleaner can turn up expensive.

 

Here at  http://www.amycleaning.co.uk/  we have put together a list of ideas that may help you have a regular domestic cleaner even if you are on a tight budget. Keep reading!

1- Provide good equipment and cleaning products: With not enough chemicals or a broken hoover the cleaning can take ages. If you have the right tools and products, the cleaning can be done quicker and the cleaner will be more motivated to do a good job.

2- Prioritise: If you are on a budget and can only afford a couple of hours per week, a good idea is to prioritise the tasks. Ask your cleaner to concentrate on kitchen and bathroom, as they are the most neglected areas, while you do the bedrooms. Other way, you can ask your regular cleaner to clean something different every week.

3- De-clutter before the cleaning: Leaving the dirty dishes to dry in the sink or your clothes all over the floor won’t help your cleaner. If you do a “de-cluttering session” on a daily basis it would be more manageable for you and the domestic cleaner could get on with the cleaning easily.

What are your tips to make the most of your regular cleaning service? Share with us!

pH level of house cleaning products

1193877_clean_home_2A common misconception about cleaning products suggests that a bigger pH means superior cleaning. But this is not always the case. The pH of a cleaning products does not relate to its cleaning performance or strength; it just indicates the concentration of hydrogen or hydroxide ions.

Understanding the importance of pH is essential when choosing cleaning products for a particular job. The pH scale goes from 0-14, 7 being considered neutral. Anything below 7 is considered acidic and anything above 7 is considered alkaline.

Alkaline products are better at cleaning dirt, grease, oils and other organic items. Acid products are better for removing calcium, rust and other mineral non-organic items.

Here is a list of the most common used cleaning products and their pH levels:

– Chlorine bleach (pH 11-13): At the top of the alkaline level, therefore corrosive and to be use with caution and not in all surfaces as these can be damaged.

– Oven cleaner (pH 11-13): The same as bleach, so ideal to cut through grease and grime, but protect the kitchen floor and worktop when using it as they could be damaged.

– Baking soda (pH 8-9): It has enough alkalinity to clean grease and dirt but not enough to label it as a corrosive product, so it is a great option to use at home.

– Washing up liquid (pH 7-8): The neutrality makes this cleaning product ideal for daily cleaning. Most surfaces will not be damaged and it can be used in hundred places around the house, not only to do the washing up.

– Natural stone cleaner (pH 7-10): Most natural stone surfaces can be easily damaged with cleaning products that are too alkaline or too acidic; hence the neutrality on these stone cleaning products.

– Vinegar (pH 3): As a natural product, most would think vinegar is safe to use almost everywhere in the house, but it is not the case. Vinegar is quite acidic so it can damage some delicate surfaces (e.g. wood or limestone). On the other hand, it is great for removing mineral deposits (e.g. lime scale).

– Lemon (pH 3):  Like vinegar, lemon is very acidic. Some surfaces, like drains, will benefit from a good scrub with lemon, but this product can damage other surfaces, so be careful where you use it.

– Toilet bowl cleaner (pH 1-3): Very acidic product, so ideal to remove minerals and other non-organic substances. As it is at  the end of the pH scale, you have to be careful when using it.

So, what cleaning products do you have at home? Have you ever checked their pH level?

Amy Cleaning participating in Race for Life

race for lifeTeam VAMA running Race For Life!

4 of our lovely colleagues at http://www.amycleaning.co.uk/ will be participating in the Cancer Research UK Race For Life event in Regent’s Park on 1st June. We aim to raise £300! Please support us – every penny counts!

Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life is a series of 5K or 10K women-only fundraising events which are raising money for research to help beat all 200 types of cancer sooner.

Events like Race for Life are vital in funding Cancer Research UK’s life-saving work into preventing, diagnosing and treating cancer. By sponsoring us, we can unite and create a force that cancer can’t ignore.

Even the smallest donation can make a difference in the future! Go to our sponsorship page or come along on 1st June to support Race for Life!

With gratitude,

Team VAMA