Wednesday, December 15, 2010

How to Clean and Polish Marble Floors

Demand for marble cleaning products has increased as the amount of people opting for marble floors has also increased. The truth is, marble cleaning and polishing kits are expensive and ultimately unnecessary. You can achieve the same look using a damp cloth or mop and some tin oxide. Marble will always add value to your home in both visual appeal and in financial worth.

If you do use marble polishing products be sure to read the label and follow the instructions exactly.

Never use acid products to clean marble tiles. The calcium carbonate, which marble is composed of, will be destroyed by the acid. The acid will find its way under the highly buffed polish or finish and will spoil the surface. Soaps, even mild detergents, are also not suggested. If you�re not using a proper marble cleaner, use warm water only.


To clean and polish marble floors:

1. Start by sweeping away the excess dirt using a soft bristle broom.
2. Wet the entire marble surface with clean water.
3. Sprinkle tin oxide over the whole wet area. Tin oxide is the home ingredient found in marble polishing kits. You can find tin oxide at any hardware store for a cheaper price.
4. Using a soft rag or cloth, rub the marble floor forcefully in a circular motion until you can see improvements.
5. Use a wet rag to wipe the surface down and then repeat using a dry, soft cloth.
6. Apply marble flooring sealer


Dave�s Tip:

For heavily damaged, soiled areas call a professional marble restoration service.


Residential Cleaning Melbourne

Thursday, December 9, 2010

How to clean venetian blinds

Venetian blinds are an expensive purchase so it is important to keep them well cleaned and maintained. They are a great feature to your windows, and block a lot of light out. Venetian blinds collect dust very easily and require very regular dusting. It is also important to thoroughly clean your blinds every four to five months to prevent the build up of grime and dust which will spoil the look of your venetian blinds.

To thoroughly clean your venetian blinds follow these steps:


1. Remove blinds from the window via user guide or following the method you used to install them.
2. Place them in your bathtub
3. Fill the bath three quarters of the way or until the water covers the blinds.
4. Add 3 and a half litres of white vinegar to the water and mix it around with your hands.
5. Let the blinds soak in the water and vinegar until the dirt has completely disintegrated. The vinegar works by corroding the filth on the blinds without damaging them. Stir the water every so often to loosen the surface dirt.
6. Empty the blinds and rinse the water from the bathtub. Then use cold water to rinse the blinds. If possible, use a shower attachment to rinse.
7. Allow blinds to dry. You can air dry them during the summer or pat them dry with a soft clean towel in the winter.
8. Once dry, place them back on as usual. Remember to dust them regularly.

Dave�s Tip:

For really dirty blinds it may be necessary to wash with a soft broom on a hard clean concrete surface with a mild degreaser.


Cleaning Services Melbourne

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

How to clean a flat screen TV



In terms of home entertainment, it is hard to go past a flat screen television. Everyone wants the perfect picture when viewing a TV program or DVD. Like all other things found in the home, your TV easily picks up dust and finger marks. Don�t spoil the perfect picture by having a child�s hand print in your way. It is important to keep your flat screen clean to avoid damage and possible warranty problems. The good news is cleaning grime, dust and fingerprints of your TV is not a difficult task.


Follow Dave�s easy steps to cleaning a flat screen TV:


1. Firstly, do not bring out chemicals or cleaning products when cleaning TVs as this will damage the screen.
2. Disconnect the TV from its power source before beginning the clean. As well as being a safe method, having the TV off will make the dust, grime, smudges and dirty marks easier to see and therefore remove
3. Dust the TV with a soft feather duster.
4. Next, use Luke warm water or a screen specific cleaning solution. Sometimes when you purchase your flat screen TV you will be given a cleaning solution for the screen. These solutions are fine to use and are labeled safe usually with the words safe for LCD screen or Laptop Screen.
5. Using a soft microfiber cloth dampen it with Luke warm water or the above mentioned cleaning solution.
6. Gently wipe the screen in a smooth method with the cloth. Do not rub, scrub or use hard pressure when wiping because this may damage the screen.
7. Maintain your TV cleanliness by regularly dusting the Screen and TV. Like most appliances, without regular dusting, excessive dust may cause this electronic device damage.

Dave�s Tip

It is always best to clean the screen with a soft feather duster first so that you don�t then rub any residual grit over the screen.


House Cleaners Melbourne

Tuesday, December 7, 2010

How to clean pet hair from furniture



Pets are great companions in the family home and are generally great company to have around. Unfortunately, their fur can provide a frustrating problem when trying to remove it from the furniture. Of course, the easiest strategy to avoid this problem is to train your pets not to sit on the furniture.


However, if this is almost impossible, at least we can show you a great step by step way to removing pet hair from your furniture:



1. Use your hands to remove any clumps of hair that you can see.

2. Using the hose attachment of your vacuum cleaner, vacuum as much pet hair off the furniture as possible.

3. In this step you can use one of two options. First option is using a large, lint roller or other tape product. Or, lightly wet a rubber glove and run your hand over the furniture or use a dryer sheet to lift the fur.

4. In both options, brush in downward strokes in a rolling motion to gather all the fur up in one motion.

Dave�s Tip:


Use the sole of the runner, the rubber sole will cause the pet hair to ball and lift.


Residential Cleaners

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

How to clean a fridge

It is important to thoroughly clean out your fridge every 6 months to ensure it stays odour free and remains hygienic. There is nothing worse than opening the fridge and being confronted with an awful smell, especially when you�re hungry! 

Follow these step by step instructions to achieve a clean fridge:
1.       Start by removing the entire fridge�s contents. It is much easier to clean the fridge without having to work around its contents.
2.       Throw out any food that is out of date, mouldy or passed its prime.
3.       Wipe out any food scraps or crumbs.
4.       Remove the trays of the fridge that you are able to. This will make scrubbing them much easier and allow better access into the fridge.
5.       Wipe both sides of the trays removed using a mild dish soap. Allow to dry by standing on the dish rack or on newspapers or paper towels.
6.       Before replacing the trays, wipe the inside of the refrigerator using a clean cloth soaked in warm, soapy water.
7.       Rinse this area with a clean cloth and warm water.
8.       Clean the door of the fridge. Again, remove any trays you can and don�t forget to clean behind the areas you have removed.
9.       Take out the vegetable and salad holders and clean these in the sink with detergent and warm water. Wipe dry with a tea towel before replacing back in the fridge.
10.   Dry the fridge.
11.   Replace all the trays and compartments back inside the fridge.
12.   Place all the food back into the fridge. Make sure all bottles and items are clean before putting them back. A messy bottle or sticky jar may undo all your hard work.
13.   Wash the outside of the fridge including the gasket (rubber around the door) with warm water and soap. Wipe dry with a tea towel.
14.   To prevent odours from lingering and minimizing store an open packet of bicarbonate soda in your fridge.

rubber gloves image by AGphotographer fro
Dave�s Tip:
Scuffs and stains in the fridge can be removed by using non-abrasive tooth-paste, also grease spills will succumb to a little lemon juice and water.