Grout Cleaning Tips

Ceramic and other tiles can create a beautiful appearance in bathrooms, laundry rooms, kitchens, and other areas of the home or office. However, when dirty, the grout between the tiles can create a very unsightly show. The recessed grout is often hard to reach with everyday sweeping and mopping. However, it makes a perfect trap for mud, dirt, and mildew. Lighter colored grout often becomes dingy and darkened over time. The coloration of the grout in the room may vary in higher and lesser traffic areas. The negative affect that dirty grout gives a room often leaves one looking for grout cleaning tactics.

Basic Household Products for Cleaning Grout

Some basic items in the home can be used to clean grout. An equal part of vinegar and water can be an effective cleaner. Spray the mixture on the grout and use a stiff brush to clean. Try this exact same method substituting hydrogen peroxide for vinegar if the smell does not appeal to you.

Baking soda is also often a good cleaning product to use. Make a paste of baking soda and water. Dab the paste onto the grout. Once again, use a stiff brush for deep cleaning. In both cases, it I best to brush in circles rather than back and forth motions. Rinse the floor when cleaning is complete.

Home Cleaning Products

Basic home cleaning products are also a possibility. Use your everyday floor cleaning product in the same manner as described for vinegar. Simply mopping over the floor is not as effective at removing grime from the grout. Mildew stain removers and lime away products are also often good choices. A steam cleaner is often good for loosing the dirt and debris particles before cleaning.

Commercial Grout Cleaning Products

Many home improvement stores sell cleansers designed specifically for tile and grout. These are an option if home products have not worked. Look for a cleaner that is pH balanced. Apply the product and allow it to sit for several minutes.

Herbal Grout Cleaning

Those more in touch with earthy products look toward herbal alternatives. Some believe that using 2 tablespoons of tea oil in two cups of water will kill any mold or mildew on the grout. This is especially important in bathroom grout, which is stained from mold. This likely works because tea oil is an anti-fungal oil

Cleaning with Bleach

Using chlorine bleach can discolor colored grout. It also gives off a fume that irritates many. In some cases, the strong bleach is harmful to the grout. An alterative to this type of cleaning is oxygen bleach. Use oxygen bleach and water mixture to sit for about ten minutes on the grout. Scrub and rinse the tile and grout.

The condition of your grout makes all of the difference in the beauty of your tile and room. Once your grout is clean and free of stains, help keep it that way by applying a grout sealer. When the grout becomes dirty again, repeat the cleaning process. The sealer may need reapplying every one to three years.

Autor: Nathan Richardson

Grout Cleaning Products can help you make grout white again. Also be sure to read the article How to Clean Grout Tile.

Added: January 30, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Carpet Spot and Stain Removers

Carpets are used in most of the homes in the US to protect the floors and add more elegance to the interiors. But in the course of daily activities, marks and stains are prone to occur. Quality carpet spot and stain removers are needed to tackle such issues effectively. A wide range of cleaners and stain removers are presently available in the market to help you keep your house clean.

Benefits of Using Spot and Stain-Removers on Carpets

Well maintained carpets with carpet spot and stain removers add more value to your home. You can also attain more financial benefits with these products. If proper maintenance of the carpets is done with carpet spot and stain removers and other carper care products, you can save the expenses of replacing the damaged ones with new ones.

Spotless carpets are pleasing to the eye and create a healthy environment. Carpet spot and stain removers are very effective in removing all types of obstinate grease and stains from the surfaces. The durability can be enhanced with these carpet care products.

Get Rid of Carpet Stains with Suitable Products

Stains of ink, wine, grease and cola are often very difficult to remove. For the best results, using extractor shampoos which come in the category of carpet spot and stain removers would be a great option. Most of them are formulated with concentrated, low foaming carpet cleaners and are effective against the toughest stains on the carpets.

Once you get rid of the stains and dirt on the carpets, the next step is to take proper care and protect them from easy damage. Using polymer emulsions would be a great option. They can help you prevent abrasion and easy soiling of your carpets. For those who are environment conscious, there are special biodegradable, environment friendly products available today.

Get Quality Products at Discount Prices

While shopping for carpet and stain-removers, it would be beneficial to get them at discount prices. Good wholesalers can provide you with quality products at discount prices for every bulk purchase you make. Amrep, WD-40 Company and Franklin Cleaning Technology are some of the popular brands available today.

Autor: Eric K Kampel

Rydoexpress is a leading provider of janitorial supplies and cleaning products. RydoExpress stock the best Carpet Spot and Stain-Removers on the market from all popular brands.

Added: January 28, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

How to Make Sure Your Carpet Shampoo Machine Isn't a Lemon

You can find countless companies which will offer to clean your carpets for you. Some of them will charge you an arm and a leg, where others will only charge you a log. Most people find it very confusing when looking at carpet cleaning machines. However doing the job yourself will ensure you save a lot of money, and also get the job done well.

If you look around, you'll find a lot of supermarkets and grocery stores now hire out the cleaning machines. You can also find several websites online that will offer to hire them out as well, some of them will even ship the items out to you, and pick them one. To ensure you know what you are looking for, we have compiled the following list so you can ask the right questions.

* The first thing you need to work out is if you want to buy or rent, if you plan on only using the machine once or twice a year, then it is better to hire one of the machines instead of buying one.

* The size of the cleaner will help you work out the size of the rooms you can clean with it. The bigger the machine the more power it has. This means if you get a large machine, you'll be able to clean very large rooms without having to empty the water or change the shampoo.

* Make sure you check the attachments that come with the machine. If you are going to be cleaning more then just carpet, like a couch then you need to make sure the machine has the correct attachments with it.

* you should also make sure the machine moves correctly. if you are hiring the machine in person, roll it around first, if it moves freely then that is good. if it doesn't then look at another machine. Just be aware the larger machines are quite heavy and aren't easy to roll around because of their weight.

* Make sure you ask questions about the carpet shampoo that goes in the machine, and what options you have. You want to make sure you get one or two that are made to clean the materials you'll be cleaning with the machine. Choosing the wrong solutions can damage your carpet instead of making it like new.

* and the Final item which you need to keep in mind, even thou it is pretty obvious, is something that won't even be on your mind when you in the shop looking at the moments, and that is how long the power cord is. The last thing you want to do is have to unplug the machine 2-3 times to clean a single room. If they all have short power leads go and get an extension cord as well, it'll save you a lot of time.

Autor: Justin R Hopley

Justin has been writing articles for almost two years now. In his spare time he creates websites, you can view his latest website about Carpet Shampoo Machines and his latest post about Carpet Shampoo Hire.

Added: January 26, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

How to Clean Your Carpet Like Professional in 6 Easy Steps

To clean your carpets you need some kind of hot water extraction machine and you need a pump up sprayer. You'll also need a clean push broom and a little carpet spotter. Oh, and you'll need a cleaning agent. The truth is an neutral detergent will work.

Okay, here's how you go about it. Mix the chemical as described into the pump up sprayer. Using this mist the carpet. It's okay to put a little more into any spots that are visible. Now, you want want to make the carpet feel damp to the touch. It can't dry out too soon or be too wet. You want to find the happy medium.

After you've gotten your carpet like that, it's time for the secret step. Now is when you need to take that clean push broom and brush all of your carpet. Yes, it seems silly. It's not. This is the agitation that makes the cleaning process work so well. Most commercial carpet cleaners won't do this step. So, by you doing it, you are cleaning your carpets better than even if you had paid someone to do it for you. Now you extract the carpet with the machine. Do two to four strokes with the water trigger held down. Then do an equal number of dry strokes to suck the water out of the carpet.

Do this over the whole area. However, when you come to a spot, you need to slow way down as you extract over it. If it does not come out like this, then you need to stop and get a little brush and some spotter. Gently work on it and then extract over it again. Some spots will not come out and you need to understand this.

After this is all done you have extracted you carpets. If you are felling really fancy, you can get what is called a carpet rake and rake your carpet. It looks nice until someone walks on it and it goes away. For that reason alone, I think it's a waste of your time. We used to do it for clients just as a finishing touch, but it's completely unnecessary.

Your carpet should be dry within about 12 hours. If you live in a dry climate then it will be even quicker. The thing is, if you had a professional outfit come in there and start doing this with a truck mount system, your carpet would be wet for at least 24 hours because it shoots so much water into the rug.

Autor: Jake Weiss

Jake has been a webmaster for over 1 year now. Please feel free to check out his newest site about where to buy coconut oil and cold pressed coconut oil. There you will find helpful information on why so many people are seeking this oil now.

Added: January 25, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

How to Remove a Carpet Spot Or Stain Like a Professional

I've worked as a professional carpet cleaner in the houses of the rich and barely famous. I was good at it, and I've noticed that most people really have no idea how to clean their carpets, or how to get a stain out.

It's actually quite simple when you know how. Let's say that you just brought a dog home. It's a little puppy, and you're all excited. However, the puppy is scared and pees on your white carpet in your living room.

Now what?

First, if you wait to clean it, that kind of a stain could set, and without bleaching (and that could cause irreversible damage to your carpet), it will never come out. So the most important thing is quick action. Get a spray bottle and some dish soap. Put just a drop in the bottle and mix it with water. Mist the spot and blot it.

A little rubbing is okay, but only just a little. After you've sprayed and blotted as much as you can, put a new clean cloth over the spot and put a heavy book over it. Or just a book and some free weights work too. The idea is to get something absorbent down and then to put weight on top of that. Leave that down for at least 6 hours.

Now after removing it, there may be just a little bit of a stain. You've gotten the bulk of it out. Now you'll get the remainder.

Start by misting the spot with the bottle from before. After that you need to tamp the spot. This is best done with a brush. It like you were trying to pound a nail into the carpet, but not quite that hard.

The tamping process draws the stain up into the tips of the fibers. After a good bit of tamping (and you can mix in some rubbing, again make sure it's just a little bit). Then blot the carpet vigorously. If you have a small carpet extractor, that would be even better.

Lastly, just let the spot dry. If you have a spot that's no longer fresh, the you just start with the tamping process to remove the stain. Dirt, and sugar based spills (like soda pop) are the easiest to remove. The hardest would be spots that have color. Any ink or dye is almost positively not going to come out. On a white carpet, you can attempt bleaching, but you need a small extractor to remove it completely when you're done. Otherwise the carpet will continue to bleach and change colors (not a good thing).

Autor: Jake Weiss

Jake has been a webmaster for over 1 year now. Please feel free to check out his newest site about where to buy coconut oil and cold pressed coconut oil. There you will find helpful information on why so many people are seeking this oil now.

Added: January 24, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Carpet Cleaning - How to Remove Stains

If you are you looking to tackle a tough stain caused by a spillage, there are a few decisions and steps to take to ensure that the carpet or rug is fully restored back to its original condition. The decision whether to treat the stain yourself or hire a professional carpet cleaning company is a vital one. Depending on the size of the stain, value of the carpet and what material it's made from should help choose between DIY and cleaning professionals. If you do choose to deal with the issue yourself then you may find some advice, noted below, beneficial.

A good place to start is by assessing the carpet material and thickness. Wool, plant fibres and synthetics are all common materials used to make carpets and all require different cleaning methods. For example, the use of heated products and bleach are not recommended on woollen carpets or rugs. Therefore try to decipher what your carpet or rug is made from before tackling the stain.

A common and effective method of tackling the stain straight away is to apply clear cold water to the carpet. Then blot clean the stain with a blotting cloth drawing as much of the spillage out of the carpet as you can. If removing the stain with this method is not proving successful then a carpet cleaning or stain removal chemical is recommended. There are many stain removal chemicals on the market and they all have their benefits. Liquid and powder based products offer solutions for different types of carpet stains. Powder based chemicals can be applied to dry stains and brushed off for removal. They can also be used for wet cleaning to absorb liquid spillages. The most common form of stain removal product is liquid and is mostly applied to wet stains.

When using carpet cleaning chemicals or stain removal products, ensure that safety instructions noted on the packaging are adhered to. If the product contains corrosives then always wear protective gloves to prevent skin damage. Always make sure that the area in which you are cleaning is well ventilated minimising the intake of any fumes generated from the stain removal process.

If the above carpet cleaning advice has not helped remove the stain then the hire of specialist cleaning equipment could give you a different angle of attack. Carpet cleaning machines are designed to help preserve your carpets original condition while removing the build up dirty in the fibres. The main decision is whether to use a steam carpet cleaner or dry carpet cleaner dependant on your needs.

To guarantee the stain is removed, it is always recommended that a professional carpet cleaner is consulted. Specialist cleaning equipment including hot and cold water specific machines are used in the professional carpet cleaning industry. This means that almost any type of spill or stain can be removed leaving your carpet in its original condition.

Autor: Mark D James

For more information on carpet cleaning, how to remove stains and what cleaning services are available, visit http://www.britanniacleaningservices.com.

Added: January 22, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Is Your Office Under a Carpet Stain Alert?

Keeping carpets clean is the hardest thing to achieve when dealing with office cleaning. If don't believe it, just ask your commercial cleaning company.

Every carpet needs regular cleaning to keep bacteria, dust, and dirt under control. These are guilty for the deterioration of carpets and can really shorten their use. However, the worse problem commercial cleaning staff encounters is stains. These really make the carpet look ugly and convey an unprofessional image.

Here we present several tips to help you keep your carpets clean when an emergency occurs and the professionals are not around:

1. Coffee stains

This is probably the most common type of stain that you will find in office carpets. When dealing with a coffee spill, soak up the excess with a towel, clean with soda water, dry with a cloth, and repeat until the stain disappears.

2. Wine stains

We've all been there. You're having a sweet glass of red wine to celebrate a colleague's birthday or an office achievement when suddenly, tragedy strikes! Red wine is spilled over the white carpet. Luckily, this is a very easy problem to solve: just pour some white wine or soda water over the fresh red wine spill. If you spill white wine instead, spray with soda water.

3. Beer stains

These are not very common in the office, but if you happen to spill some, you should soak up the liquid with a paper towel and clean with warm water or soda water.

4. Chewing gum

This is a true nightmare! If you don't get it right, you will lose your carpet. We recommend putting ice in a bag and rubbing it on the gum so that it solidifies, and then scrape as much as possible with a blunt knife. After this is done, use carpet shampoo to clean the spot, wait until it dries, and finally vacuum it.

5. Ink stains

These are also very common in the office. The treatment will depend on the type of ink:

- Ballpoint ink stains have to be dried up ASAP. Wipe with menthylated spirits or apply a stain remover.

- Fountain pen ink stains have to be diluted with soda water and washed out as much as you can. Make a hot mixture of soap flakes, leave it on the stain for fifteen minutes, and clean. Repeat this procedure until the stain is gone.

6. Grease, oil, fat, and candle stains

Put blotting or brown paper on the stain, put a cloth over the paper and iron the spot at medium heat so that the grease adheres to the paper. Later, apply carpet shampoo. If the stain shows up again after a few weeks, it means the grease was sucked inside the carpet, and you will have to look for professional treatment to clean it.

7. Tar stains

These also give cleaning staff the biggest headache. If you don't remove them right, you will have to simply change the carpet. Start by scraping the excess tar off, combine equal parts of glycerin and water, apply and leave for one hour; finally rinse with water. Do this until the stain is no longer visible.

Yep! Stains can cause you physical pain! You and your personnel should be extra careful when handling beverages or materials that could cause serious stains. Prevention is the best practice; however, accidents happen. Stay calm, follow the instructions above, and call your office cleaning service immediately for professional support.

If you liked this article, tell all your friends about it. They'll thank you for it. If you have a blog or website, you can link to it or even post it to your own site (don't forget to mention maintenance-one.com as the original source).

Autor: Virginia Stamford

Commercial cleaning services - http://www.maintenance-one.com/ - office cleaning.

Added: January 19, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Cleaners For Different Kinds of Floor Surfaces

Often than not every kind flooring requires different cleaning process. Here are some of the most common floor surfaces and the maintenance needed to make it appealing over the years.

Ceramic Tile Flooring: When using acids to clean this kind of flooring, remember to rinse it thoroughly. Acidic products can be absorbed by the gout and eventually make it thinner and prone to dirt.

Finished Wood - The best solution to use in cleaning wood surfaces is neutral or mild alkaline. Do not overuse liquid solutions even water because the wood fibers can easily absorb it and sooner or later will damage your wood flooring.

Marble Flooring - Never use acidic solutions in cleaning this surface because marble is made up of lime, the use of acid will soften the floor. Even the natural color of the surface is affected when acids are used.

Concrete Floors - Acidic products should not be used to maintain the surface. It will just cause deterioration. It is also important to use sealants on the flooring regularly to avoid penetration of soil.

Vinyl Tiles - The flooring can be easily maintained because most solutions and products can be use on the surface. It is immune to acids and solvents so anything can be used to maintain the floor. Wax coating can be applied to avoid friction and wear.

Polymer Floors - A synthetic kind of flooring that will not wear with any kind of cleaning products even ammonia and acid. The flooring is really shiny especially when more layers of polymer are coated on the area.

These are simple procedures to be kept in mind when cleaning floor surfaces. Better be knowledgeable because special floor surfaces require different floor cleaners.

Autor: Koen B

This article is written by Koen B. He owns a number of websites and enjoys sharing information about his websites with readers. Not only does this author specialize in a large range of topics, you can also checkout his newest website on Carpet Cleaner Machine which also explains information about Floor Cleaner Machine

Added: January 18, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Washing Delicate Clothes

Washing is a must for all clothes that you have worn, but washing delicate clothes can be knowledge that you required to keep you delicate (probably costly) clothes always NEW. Follow the tips below and you can have your new beloved clothes on for every occasion.

First, before you have decided anything to do with washing your delicate clothes, you should read the care labels on your clothing. Read carefully which type of cleaning is required (machine or dry clean), what temperature should be used, how to dry, etc.

Normally, for delicate clothing, you will probably need to hand wash them instead of machine wash as the clothing can be damaged by the spinning of washing machine.

Also, you should try to washing clothes with similar colors together, for that I mean at least dark color clothing and light color clothing.

For water temperature, usually it is best to read the care label or to play safe, use cold or warm water. Never try to use hot water as majority of the people will find shrinkage or color fade of their clothes after washing their clothes (especially delicate ones) with hot water.

To choose the suitable detergent is also important. You should choose those detergents which are specially formulated for hand washing or delicate clothing. For certain type, they also have color protection formulated to keep the clothing color long lasting.

Before putting your clothes into the water or detergent, mix the detergent with water first ("the mixture"). During your washing, co not try to rub it hardly but just gently squeeze (don't swirl) and let the mixture coming out of the tiny holes of your clothes. Soak for while around 2-5 minutes (depends on the type of detergent you are using, read the using direction). Gently squeeze (don't swirl) and soak the clothes into clean water and squeeze again until they are completely rinsed.

Then you have to dry your clothes. Do not use dryer or tumble dry, just put them flat on table (with towel). You may not wish to hang them as for some of the clothing, the shape can be changed especially those clothes which has soaked with large amount water (and it is so difficult for you to squeeze out all the water).

Try the above simple method to clean and keep you delicate clothes beautiful and new! You will find it worthy for putting effort in washing them.

Autor: Michael Ki Fai Wong

Best cleaners, check out:

All About Cleaners

Added: January 17, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

A Few Carpet Cleaning Tips

Carpeting represents a major investment in the home. If properly taken care a carpet can last a lifetime. If not cleaned and cared for not only will it deteriorate, but illnesses may develop. So from a financial and a health perspective it makes sense to keep a carpet clean.

Cleaning carpet stains
Small stains will respond to either hand cleaning or the attachments that come with most carpet cleaning machines. If you are able to catch the stain right away this will make your job easier. Once the stain has set, it becomes more difficult to remove it.

Immediately blot the stain while it is wet, removing most of the moisture. Be careful not to over blot as this may crush the pile and cause damage. If blotting is not sufficient you can try using one of the many household products available such as baking soda, vinegar or a commercial carpet cleaning solution. Spray a little of the solution onto the stain and blot immediately.

If the stain is fresh this method should be sufficient. In not you may want to try using a solution of one part white vinegar mixed with one part water. Saturate the stained area and leave for approximately 10 minutes. Using a sponge scrub the area clean and rinse it with warm water. Let the area dry thoroughly.

If your stains are resisting your cleaning methods you may need to employ the services of a carpet cleaning machine suited to the type of carpet and type of stain.

Removing Wax
Wax is notoriously difficult to remove from a carpet. Let the wax cool and harden before attending to it. Using the sharp edge of a knife remove as much of the wax as you can. Over the residue place a brown bag, a paper towel or a wet towel and gently iron on a warm setting. The wax will stick to the bag or towel instead of the carpet.

Preventative Care
A little preventative care can go a long way toward keeping your carpet clean and damage free. The better condition your carpets are in the easier it will be to clean them.

The first and most important is vacuuming. Vacuuming only gets to surface dirt and for this reason it should be done at least once a week. This can prevent more dirt and dust being tramped down into the fibres. High traffic areas should ideally be attended to on a daily basis.

It is simply not possible to keep dirt out of a home and out of carpets. While a no shoe policy may work for some, it will not work for most homes. Placing mats or rugs in high traffic areas will lessen the amount of dirt being tracked into a carpet. Use mats with high grip rubber backings as this will help prevent damage to the carpet fibres.

Take care of spills and stains immediately. When left they become a time consuming and difficult job. If your carpets are dyed, a wet stain can seep into the fibres and become a permanent fixture. For this reason it is also a good idea to avoid harsh chemicals as they can weaken the fibers. Where possible stick to remedies using natural products.

If it is possible restrict pets from carpeted areas. If you can't then these areas should be attended to more frequently than others in order to minimize dirt, hair and parasites that make their home in the carpet fibers.

Deep clean your carpets at least once a year

The process of cleaning carpets
Careful and regular cleaning will prolong the life of your carpet and keep them looking great for years to come. Neglect will cause damage down in the pile of the carpet causing them to look used and worn. Aside from aesthetics a dirty carpet can be a health hazard for those living in the home and can be the cause of respiratory illnesses.

Start by vacuuming surface dirt before using a carpet cleaning machine. Begin with high traffic areas or stained areas. Move onto the remainder of the carpet before returning to these areas. It may be necessary to re-do problem areas a few times before they are perfectly cleaned.

Carpets need to be cleaned even in those places that cannot be seen such as under beds and tables for instance. It will be necessary to move furniture beforehand in order to gain access.

Depending on the type of carpet cleaning machine you choose you may need to leave your carpets to dry for at least 24 hours. If this is the case you may need to make alternative arrangements for your family or lay down clean rugs in high traffic areas. Alternately if you are able to, remove carpets and place them outside or open the windows to encourage faster drying.

Autor: Merilee Paige

About the Author:
Merilee Paige is a cleaning expert. For more great carpet cleaning tips to keep your home clean visit http://www.speedcleaningmadeeasy.com

Added: January 16, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Experience Your Completely Cleaned Toilet

Everyone has to admit that they use toilet everyday and many times every day. Some of you may find it difficult or really disgusting to use the public toilet in public areas like malls as they are...not really clean, right. But is the toilet at your home clean? It is only if you know how to clean it thoroughly.

Before you have actually started to clean your toilet, the first thing you should do is to turn on the fan. As most of the cleaning products have chocking or stinging smell, good ventilation inside the bathroom is very essential for thorough clean of toilet.

Secondly, from experience is to remove all the stuff near or on top of the toilet. It is so easy to get them dropped into the toilet bowl when you are doing your cleaning.

Now, wear your gloves to protect your hands from the cleaner chemicals. Then, take your toilet cleaner and read about the usage direction. Apply the cleaner to the inside of the toilet bowl abundantly and try to apply as close as much to the rim. Depending on the type of cleaners (according to the usage direction), you may need to wait for several minutes.

During your waiting for the inside cleaning, you can clean the exterior parts of the toilet. You should clean every part including the tank, than handle, the outside of toilet bowl and most importantly, the toilet seat (this is the part you are always touching) from the top to the bottom with the cleaner and sponge. Do not try to clean the exterior part with the toilet brush as you know the germs from the inside can be spread to the exterior parts.

Before you have flushed the toilet, you have to clean the toilet bowl with toilet brush. Scrub as hardly as you can especially to those stain formed. Then, you can flush the toilet. When the water is coming out for flushing, you can keep brushing the toilet, this help clean the toilet and you brush.

You should then wipe clean the toilet with paper towel. It is considered paper towel is a better choice for the wipe clean than towel or cloth as it is disposable, therefore, less germs or bacteria can be spread to the toilet. Finally, spray the disinfectant onto the whole toilet and you can either wait until the disinfectant dries up or use the paper towel to wipe again.

Now you can get your completely clean toilet!

Autor: Michael Ki Fai Wong

Find out about the ultimate cleaners, check out:

All About Cleaners

Added: January 14, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

How to Eliminate Urine Odor From Mattresses

When dealing with babies, children, and pets you find yourself cleaning up after them. And, unfortunately, this includes urine accidents seeping through mattresses. When this occurs, you need to remember urine contains bacteria producing a foul smell and it must be taken care of immediately before a bacterium spreads causing a health hazard. Here are a few tips on how to rid urine odor and clean your mattresses preventing any diseases and/or infections from developing in your household.

Baking Soda
Baking soda absorbs smells and moisture no matter the size of the urine accident. The manner in which you utilize baking soda is sprinkle a liberal amount on the soiled area, allow it to dry completely then vacuum it up afterwards. The baking soda may take a few days to dry, but it is worth employing this technique. Baking soda helps rid the urine smell from sticking to the mattress.

Rubbing Alcohol
Rubbing alcohol has a dual purpose. It disinfects the area, and masks the urine smell from fusing to the mattress even after the area has dried. To use rubbing alcohol start by blotting the mattress dry. Dry the mattress with a disposable material ensuring you throw away the drying material when finished, such as paper towels. Otherwise, you may contaminate other areas in the house. Next, once the mattress is dry, pour a liberal amount of rubbing alcohol on the area, and let it sit. The rubbing alcohol should evaporate quickly. This is an important step for the rubbing alcohol has antiseptic properties preventing any bacteria from growing in the tainted area.

Shampoo or Liquid Detergent
Many people with young children who are not potty trained claim that applying regular liquid detergent to the stained area cleans the majority of it eradicating the urine odors from settling. However, it is important to note, when using shampoo or liquid detergent it must be applied shortly after the urine accident transpires. For this method is ineffective if the stain has been sitting for duration of time. Another tip when using this method is if possible place the mattress in the sun to dry. The outside air will refresh the mattress of the urine smell further and assist in decreasing drying time.

Steam Cleaner
A hot steam cleaner is valuable to removing urine odors from mattresses. It eliminates the smell of the urine, kills the bacteria, and removes the stain. Apply the hot steam cleaner as directed then allow the mattress to air dry. Hot steam cleaners are available for rental in your local stores.

If all else fails, you may try over the counter cleaning products. However, urine smell is a tough odor to eliminate effectively. Many products claim to get the job done but do your research. Check if the product is safe for mattress surfaces. Make sure the product may be applied to areas where humans and pets sleep for some products are harmful to the surface, humans and pets resulting in more harm than good defeating the purpose completely.

Autor: Tony Mandarich

What-Odor? doesn't just mask odors, it guarantees it will completely eliminate odors. So if you are looking to eliminate pet bedding odor or urine odor then What-Odor? is the product for you.

Added: January 13, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Choosing the Best Carpet Cleaner

There are many things to consider when looking for the best vacuum cleaner for your cleaning needs. Here is just a few things that you will need to consider.

First, you'll need to consider exactly what type of carpet cleaner is best for you. Do you want a steam vacuum or will a shampoo model be better? There are benefits in both choices so let's go through them to see which one will be the best carpet cleaner for you.

Steam vacuum cleaners use hot water and cleaning solutions converted into a steam jet which can penetrate deep into the pile of a carpet. When used in conjunction with various brushes and hoses that come with the vacuum cleaner, you can be sure that dirt is dislodged from the base of the pile, brought to the surface, and then cleaned away by the vacuum. The attachments can also assist in directing streams of steam into more stubborn stains thereby giving an excellent result.

Carpet shampoo cleaners also use cleaning agents and can be more useful for particular types of carpets. For example it is possible to use specially developed anti-mould cleaners or even deodorizers to remove pet smells, for specific applications. One of the benefits of using carpet shampoo is that it usually can be left to dry overnight and by morning it will have disappeared and your carpet will look brand-new.

Although both of the above will work well in most household situations there will be times when you need to call in the big guns. That means a professional cleaner who will have access to a range of powerful equipment, special formula cleanses and attachments and processes that will target particular problem areas. For commercial premises this is an obvious solution, but can be a great backup option even for the home.

After you have decided which type of carpet cleaner is best for you, you'll be left with the decision as to which brand and model. Naturally you not only have to consider the specifications of the cleaner but also your budget.

Autor: Mary L. Thompson

Choosing the best vacuum cleaner is easy when you look in the right place. Go to Consumer Reports Vacuums to learn more.

Added: January 12, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Cleaning Kitchen Things - 5 More Top Tips

We all know how important hygiene is and it is nowhere truer than in the kitchen. I do not know the reason, either the bugs have got stronger of humankind has got weaker. Or perhaps it is a bit of both. Not so long ago, say between the First and Second World Wars, the average person had less access to all the cleaning gear we have now and so the human immune system just had to cope. Then we began to hit germs with all sorts of powerful weapons and they have responded by strengthening their immune system while we have weakened ours through lack of use.

At least, I think that this is the story in the West, I now live in Thailand and I am sure that their bodies can withstand attack from germs more than our can in general. However, time will tell as lifestyles are changing here now too as the relentless onslaught of advertising is making Asians ever more like their Western counterparts. So, here are my top five tips for cleaning in the kitchen without the use of over-harsh chemicals.

Tasteless: you know sometimes when you cut a slice of bread or cake on the chopping board, the bread or whatever tastes 'funny' - of something else? Usually, the foreign taste is onions, garlic, leeks or ginger. Well, instead of rubbing it with bleach or something else nasty, just rub in half a lemon or even the remnants of a lemon after a gin and tonic, leave stand for ten minutes and then rinse it off. The chopping board will lose its smell and will probably whiten (bleach) up too if it was discoloured.

Brown Cups: stained tea or coffee cups look horrible, don't they? Most people reach for the bleach again, but far too much bleach is being flushed into our rivers and seas. It does not do much good in a septic tank either as bleach will kill the organisms that break down the waste. So, how do you clean those horrible brown cups? Just put some salt on a damp cloth and scour. Very easy. Some people use denture cleaner, but I say that salt is cheaper and more natural.

Good News At Last: stainless steel sinks do not remain unstained for long, but there are plenty of sprays you can buy to buff them up with. However, the best thing to do is to leave the sprays in the supermarket and reach for yesterday's newspaper. Soak it a page at a time and use it to buff the metal. It will come up a treat.

Furry Kettles: if you live in a hard water area, you will already know about the problem of kettles furring up, but what do you do about it? Rush to the supermarket for a bottle of something nasty again? The cheapest and most eco-friendly ways are these: either fill the kettle with 50% water and 50% vinegar, boil and let stand overnight; or fill the kettle with cold water and freeze it solid, allow to melt and the fur will come away in the water.

Caramel Coating: it is far easier to clean caramel from a pan in plain cold water than in hot soapy suds with the rest of the washing up.

Autor: Owen Jones

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on a lot of topics, but is currently occupied with Body Glove neoprene products. If you would like to know more about Body Glove Wetsuit Sale, please go over to our website for some impressive bargains.

Added: January 10, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Buying a New Upright Vacuum Cleaner - Best Rated Options

There are many vacuum cleaners to choose from and finding one that will work well, last a long time, and not cost an arm and a leg is not a simple task. Vacuum cleaners have become very expensive and for in today's economic climate, most of us can't afford to make a huge investment in a new vacuum. Below is a list of the top three upright vacuum cleaners, best rated for value. These machines are considered by many industry experts to be the best when taking price, performance, and durability into consideration.

1) The Eureka 5A. This amazing machine retails for under $100. It contains a small motor, (only 5 amps), but is surprisingly powerful. It has five height adjustments so that you can get the best suction possible on the floor you are vacuuming. It also gets top ratings for durability in a model this cheap.

2) The Hoover UH70010 Platinum Collection Cyclonic Bagless. This machine retails for about $300 and comes complete with a bunch of "extras" you wouldn't expect for one so cheap. It has a HEPA filter, several attachments to get into hard to reach places and to clean upholstery. The warranty is for a very respectable 6 years.

3) The Lindhaus Healthcare Pro. This model also comes with a HEPA filter and is recognized by some industry experts, and many consumers who own it as one of the most durable vacuums on the market for under $1000. It runs between $600 and $700 dollars retail but gets almost exclusively positive reviews.

Autor: Jennifer Lynn Hanson

For help finding the best vacuum cleaner for you and to find the lowest price on it, visit the free online resource, Top Rated Vacuum Cleaners.

Added: January 8, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Hiring a Rubbish Clearance Company

It might not be today, but there will come a time when you look around your home or work area and realize that something happened while you weren't looking. Rubbish built up. Now this could have happened over time, or it could have been the result of some sort of project you were doing. Regardless of how it actually happened, you need to get it off of your property, and fast.

So what do you do? Many people will choose to hire a skip, which was a great idea when there was no other choice. Basically a skip will come to your location and you will be able to load everything from your place into the skip. There are a number of problems associated with doing this, some of which you might not have even considered when you decided to hire the skip.

The first issue you are going to run into is the fact that you have to sort through everything yourself. This might be alright, but it can be quite exhausting. Then you get to deal with moving all of it onto the skip. If you've ever had to do anything like this, you know it's not exactly a walk in the park!

Where is all of your rubbish going to end up? Did you ever consider that? Chances are the skip will take it to a landfill where it will sit for an unknown number of years. If you are someone who cares about the environment, then you're definitely going to want to consider another way. So what can you do? How can you avoid doing all of that work yourself, and avoid having your rubbish sit in a landfill for all eternity?

Why not hire a rubbish clearance company? There are actually companies that specialize in removing these things from your property. Not only that, you won't have to sort through any of it. Think of them as an advanced house cleaning service. A uniformed company will come to your residence, sort through your rubbish, and they will move it on to their own lorry for transport to a recycling facility. No longer do you need to worry about your garbage ending up in some landfill.

On top of that, they will charge a fixed price, meaning that no matter what you happen to have on your property, they will take it without charging extra. These people have seen everything, so it's likely that you won't be surprising them any time soon. If you have an excess pile of junk or garbage on your property, then you should consider hiring a rubbish clearance company. They will meet both your needs, and the needs of the environment.

Autor: Claire L Taylor

To read more about the benefits of rubbish clearance visit http://www.theallclearcompany.co.uk.

Added: January 7, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Mold Infestation Removal

Do you have increased sinus infections, headaches, and dizziness? Well, it's possible you have allergies, but it's also possible you have mold in your home. If this is the case, you need to carefully inspect your home for a mold infestation. Typically, mold likes to grow in damp, humid areas. Check in attics, water leaks, or any past water damage in your home. If you find a fungus infestation that is of any size, then it would be wise to hire a professional to remove the infestation.

Many American's like to go at a mold infestation with house hold cleaners such as bleach. In all fairness, bleach will kill the fungus. However, if you have a large infestation you may have architectural issues as well as health risks in removing the fungus yourself. A lot of people are fearful of black mold, which can be toxic and lethal in some cases. In cases where you're dealing with a black mold infestation, then you'll be glad you're working with a professional. If you hire someone to remove the mold, then they can help identify what type of mold you have present in the home and identify any associated risks with the mold removal process.

If you insist on removing the infestation yourself, then make sure you wear a respirator and other appropriate personal protective equipment. Mold actually eats building materials such as drywall and once digested the mold emits organic air particles. When a person breathes in these mold particles, they are at risk of mold infestation symptoms that include those similar to common allergies. In extreme cases, mold could cause headaches or vomiting. This is important to keep in mind when you're dealing with an infestation of any size, because more mold equals more risk to yourself. When in doubt, hire a professional.

Autor: James Loope

Learn more about Mold Infestation and dealing with a Black Mold Infestation.

Added: January 6, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

Learning More About Central Vacuum Cleaners

Many people choose to use central vacuum cleaners to remove the dirt and debris that collects throughout their home. This type of system is unlike many others and has several advantages as well as disadvantages.

Unlike traditional vacuum cleaners that you can move from one room to another, these vacuum systems provide a way to clean your entire home with ease.

The only thing that you will have to carry around with you is the actual hose. There are separate inlet valves that are located throughout your home that will collect the dirt and debris. Once this happens, then it is deposited into a bag that is centrally located somewhere in your home. This is usually put somewhere inconspicuous as to not be in plain sight.

There are several different attachments that you can find to go along with your central vacuum system. This adds to the convenience because you are able to use your vacuum to clean your furniture, window treatments and other areas that may be hard to clean with a regular vacuum cleaner. These attachments can often be purchased along with your vacuum system.

There are many advantages to having one of these great central vacuumcleaners. First of all, the fact that you will not have to tote your vacuum all over the house and empty a filter each time can be very convenient. Emptying the filters can become a very big pain. You will find that you will only have to empty your central vacuum bag a few times throughout the year.

There are many things to consider when choosing central vacuum cleaners such as quality and price.

Autor: Mary L. Thompson

You can learn more about different vacuum systems at Carpet Cleaner Reviews

Added: January 4, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

About the House - Five Tips For Polished Things

Cleaning and polishing used to be taken very seriously by the lady of the house. I suppose it still is in some quarters, but I do not think that anyone would deny that standards have and are slipping, despite the mechanical and chemical cleaning aids. Most people just do not have the time any more. Kids do not seem to help like they used to either. I remember having to complete a few chores before I got my pocket money and my Dad said we had it easy compared with him and his siblings. And I believe him too. Times are easier and why should they not be?

Living standards are higher now than ever before, but people in most countries are also working harder or rather longer than in the last 100 years, with the possible exception of farm labourers, who have probably always had it hard. This higher amount of disposable income has lead to more people throwing more away rather than cleaning or mending them and maybe that has to slow down or stop - if manufacturers made things that could be repaired that is. Appliances are welded shut these days with labels like 'No User Serviceable Parts'.

Anyway, here are five top tips for polishing and not buying new every couple of years.

Smear-Free: instead of buying window cleaner, there is a home-made cleaner which is cheaper yet just as effective on any glass or mirrored surface. Mix one part methylated spirits with one part paraffin oil and one part water in a litre bottle and shake before use. You can spray it on if you like or apply it sparingly with a soft cloth. It will keep your glass and mirrors smear-free for far longer than shop-bought liquids.

Busting Out: never ever use metal polish on a bronze statuette or bust or anything else precious or nice for that matter. Instead clean it gently with luke-warm soapy water, dry it off carefully and rub brown shoe polish onto it sparingly with a soft cloth. Buff it up lovingly. Using metal polish would remove the precious, beautiful patina that only time can produce.

Lime Lines: lime lines can spoil the appearance of fine glass or china, but they are quite easily removed in the old fashioned way. Dip a soft cloth into a cup of cider vinegar and rub the lines until they dissolve. If they are persistent, stand the vessels upside down in cider vinegar over night.

Fishy Business: we all know that you are supposed to wash the glasses washing up water first, but it does not always work out like that. One way to avoid fishy smelling crockery, cutlery and glasses is to put a tablespoon of vinegar in the washing up water before you start. No smells, not even vinegary ones.

Storing Silver: if you have some nice silverware that you only bring out on special occasions, you can cut down on the cleaning by putting it away between uses in a see-through plastic bag tied off with a twist strip. One per bag. It will cut down the oxidization of the silver

Autor: Owen Jones

Owen Jones, the author of this article, writes on a lot of subjects, but is presently occupied with Polar Express train sets. If you would like to know more about train sets for kids, please go over to our website for some great offers.

Added: January 3, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/

5 Essential Tips to De-Clutter and Clean Your Home

Follow this simple 5 step process for a clean and tidy home:

1) De-clutter

If you have ever walked into an untidy room and wondered "where do I start first" and end up walking away and shutting the door for another day, then de-cluttering is your first step, it is worth this initial effort because in the long run your rooms will take a fraction of the time to keep clean. Your clutter is someone's must-have item, so why not earn some cash by selling unwanted items on eBay or in newspaper classified advertisements.

2) Prioritise and Motivate

It is important to take on one room at a time, otherwise the whole task will seem too daunting. Give yourself a little treat for completing work - you've earned it!

3) Light Cleaning

Once all your rooms are de-cluttered go back to the first room and surface clean.

Wipe down surfaces (that are now much accessible because everything is tidy)

Take a damp cloth and wipe down window seals, shelves, and ledges and run the cloth along the skirting. Vacuum or sweep the floors.

Put on some music - this helps to keep you going and energised, you will soon find yourself dancing and cleaning to the beat! Tell yourself you are only going to spend a designated amount of time in each room and stick to it, only stay longer if you feel like continuing and remember the next room may only take you 10 minutes in total, keeping this in mind motivates you on.

You will find that the closer you get to finishing, the more you want to keep going. Once you have one room finished, carry on to the next room or take a break, it is important to feel that you are achieving something here, once it feels like a chore, stop.

This may take you a day, a few days or even a week. Take it at your own pace.

4) Deep Cleaning

Periodically rooms will need a bit more care and attention so a deep clean may be required. Don't be put off by the workload, just do one room at a time, one day at a time.

• Thoroughly wash surfaces and polish as needed.
• Use an extended feather duster or a broom handle with a cloth tied to the end, to reach up to the ceiling to sweep away the cobwebs. Pay special attention to the corners.
• Wash cushion covers and dust down the suite, dust down the dining table and remember to run a damp cloth over the chairs, chair rungs and legs.
• Thoroughly vacuum or sweep.
• Take a mop and bucket and wash the floor thoroughly, take a damp cloth to reach into the corners.
• Any carpet stains can be dealt with using a commercial spot cleaner

Stand back and admire your work, doesn't it feel good.

5) Ad-Hoc Cleaning:

For those harder to clean places and spots - don't worry it's easier than you think and worth the effort.

a) Window Cleaning - mix a solution of 2 cups of water with 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar. If a commercial window-cleaning product has previously been used then there may be a little wax residue left on the surface leaving unsightly streaks. If this happens try adding 1/2 teaspoon of liquid soap to the vinegar solution and try again.

b) Grout cleaning - mix together a solution of 2 parts bicarbonate of soda and one part vinegar, mix together in a large bowl, as it will fizz up. Apply the paste to the grout with a toothbrush, leave for 10 minutes and then rinse off with warm water.

c) Oven Cleaning - spray the bottom of the oven with water, scatter with a sprinkling of bicarbonate of soda and spray with a little more water. Leave overnight. Mop up residue with a kitchen roll and rinse with hot water.

That's it - de-cluttered and clean. Now all you need to do is maintain that tidiness and the cleaning will be quicker and easier than ever before.

Autor: Mike Applin

http://www.cleaningdirectory.co.uk

Added: January 1, 2010
Source: http://ezinearticles.com/