Blog - Illinois Valley House Cleaning Services

Getting Children Involved With Home Cleaning

April 29, 2016 by Illinois Valley Clean Team

It’s hard to get children to lift their head up from tablets, smartphones and videogames, but if you want them to become more responsible adults, then it’s a necessity. We love coming to clean your homes, but one of the biggest questions we get is how can I get my children to help out.

Giving kids responsibilities and making them help out around the home not only helps reinforce the bond between parent and child, but also prepares them for adult life. It’s up to you when you believe a child is ready for this and what they will do.

The Right Time

The right time for a child to begin doing chores and cleaning depends on their maturity level. One person’s 3-year-old can be more mature than another’s 6-year-old. When you believe your child is ready, start small. Have them clean up their room. You can be with there with them at first, but after a few times let them do it on their own. Don’t be afraid to get them involved in other chores in the house such as vacuuming and doing dishes. Don’t get frustrated if the children have a hard time concentrating or doing the job properly and steer them in the right direction.

Make it Fun

The key to keeping children involved with cleaning is to make it as fun as possible. You might ask yourself, “How do I make cleaning fun?” First of all, don’t call it a chore. A chore makes it sound like something difficult and burdensome. Instead, tell them they are getting more responsibility. Children want to impress they’re parents and adding responsibility is one way to do that. You can make it into a game by seeing how fast they can get it done. If they’re cleaning their room, then time them on how fast they can put away toys, put clothes in the hamper, etc. If you find way to make the cleaning fun, then they’ll be less likely to rebel against it or complain.

What it does

Sometimes it can seem so much easier to just do it yourself. You have a certain way of doing things and a level of expectation. Kids take forever. Kids mess up. Kids fight and complain. As much as you want to take over, let them do it themselves. They will get better and learn so much from the experience. You’re preparing them for adulthood when mom and dad won’t be around to help. Skills such as washing dishes, cleaning the house and doing laundry are important. You’re also teaching them independence and self-reliance.

If you need some help with cleaning, visit our quote page and let us take care of your home cleaning needs.

The Magic of Floor Mats

April 26, 2016 by Illinois Valley Clean Team

We all love it when people come over to visit, but sometimes they leave behind dirt and debris that gets stuck in our carpet and floor. Uncle Ted is a hoot at parties, but we just wish he’d leave his boots at the door. The first line of defense against a dirty floor and carpet is a floor mat. They’re inexpensive and can keep the bulk of the dirt where it belongs. A home needs to have one mat outside the door and one mat just inside to door to effectively keep dirt at bay.

The outside mat

It’s tempting to make the outside mat something cutesy or homey to welcome visitors into your home, but this is the workhorse of floor mat system. It’s the one that picks up all the dirt and debris when people come to our home. They walked through mud and puddles to get there and you don’t want that on your floor. The mat needs to be durable possibly with bristles that can get between the grooves of the shoes to dig the dirt out. Just make sure that anyone with bare feet avoids it. Kids love going out barefoot in the summer and the bristles could hurt.

The inside mat

The inside mat is the opposite of the outside. Its job is to absorb any liquids and excess dirt the outside didn’t get. It’s not designed to be bristled, but softer and absorbent. For example, if it’s raining and people come over, then the outside mat gets off the bud and the inside mat absorbs the water and wet dirt on the bottom of their shoes. When you put the two together, the shoes are cleaned of dirt and debris and dry when the first step onto your floor. It’s not 100 percent effective, but it’s much better than having muddy footprints everywhere.

Cleaning the mats

A mat is only effective as long as it’s clean. The mats need to be cleaned weekly during heavy rain periods. The plastic bristled mat for the outside can be rinsed out with a hose. It’s not a good idea to wash it and put it in the dryer as the plastic may melt. The inside mat is a different story. It can likely be put into the washer and dryer and come out looking brand new. If you don’t clean the mats regularly, dirt and grime will build up on them. The outside mat won’t be able to get the dirt out and you can actually make the shoes dirtier if the inside mat isn’t clean.

If you’re looking for home cleaning services, then contact us for a quote.

How To Clean Grill Grates

March 28, 2016 by Illinois Valley Clean Team

Is there anything better than the smell of steak cooking on an outside grill? Spring has sprung and grillers are getting out their gas and charcoal grills. They’re also finding the remnants of last year’s hot dog and hamburger fest that has sat idle for the past four months.

Cleaning a grill grate, especially when you forget before the winter, can be a difficult job. The grease, fat and general goo has become a concrete-like substance that’s keeping you from the ribeye of your dreams. It needs to be cleaned and cleaned thoroughly before you even think about putting that slab of heaven on it.

The Tools You Need

The first thing is a pair of sturdy rubber gloves. You don’t want to touch that nastiness with your bare skin. You’ll also need a wire grill brush. They’re not very expensive and do a great job of scraping the gunk off. In house, you’ll need dish soap that has a reputation for being tough on grease and a sponge or microfiber towel.

Cleaning the Grill

You need to heat the grill for a while to get the food deposits hot. It may mean sacrificing some charcoal, but having the goo warm makes it easier to get off. Don’t clean the grill when it hot. You may need a little elbow grease and you don’t want a third degree burn to your hands. Wait until the grill grate is warm and use the grill brush. It should make short work of the particles. They’ll fall down into the charcoal and may flair up a little if there’s grease in them.

The grill grate should be free of all particles and don’t forget to do both sides. Set the grill off to the side and empty the charcoal and ashes. Some may argue charcoal and ash removal isn’t necessary as it falls into the trap under the grill, but trust us, it is. The charcoal and ashes are covered in leftover food particles. This could end up making the food taste bad if used right after cleaning.

In the House

The grill may look great, but it’s best to error on the side of caution. There could be dangerous bacteria residing on it. Don’t start grill season started off with a salmonella outbreak. Take the grill inside the house and put it in the bathtub. (It won’t likely fit in the sink.)

Pour the dish soap over the grill and cover it in hot water. It should soak for a little while to let the soap and hot water break up any grease on the grill. Grab a sponge or washcloth and scrub down the grill from end to end. The hot water and soap should not only remove the grease, but also take care of any bacteria.

With the grill in perfect order, place the grate back on and season that ribeye. It’s grilling time.

Is your outdoor patio ready for grilling guests or does your deck need refinishing? Do you have a big party coming up and want the house spic and span? Contact us for a quote and we’ll take care of everything you need.

Spring Into Spring With Outdoor Projects

February 23, 2016 by Illinois Valley Clean Team

What’s that? Could the birds be chirping once again? Is the grass getting green and the temperatures rising? Spring is nearly here and that means it’s time to start working on the outside of your home. Illinois Valley Clean Team Inc. is more than just a home cleaning service, we also offer a wide variety of outdoor services to make the outside of your home look as beautiful as the inside.

Window Cleaning

Snow may be white, but that doesn’t mean it’s crystal clear. Dirt and other contaminants can make your windows dirty and grimy after the big thaw. Don’t let Mother Nature turn your windows into an unsightly terror this spring. Our professional window cleaning services can get the months of dirt buildup from the winter off quickly. Your window will be streak free and sills, tracks and frames spotless. We use only professional grade tools and contractor grade ladders to keep your gutters, siding and windows from being damaged.

Gutter Cleaning

Gutters are easy to forget about because you don’t really see them on a day to day basis. Leaves and branches can clog up the gutters leading to pooling on your roof and poor drainage. Winter is about over and now is the perfect time to set up a gutter cleaning appointment. Spring rains will be here before you know it and you want to make sure your gutters are clean and water is freely flowing from your roof and into your gutter system.

House and Siding Washing

The same dirt and grime that accumulated on your windows also darkens and stains your siding. We don’t bombard your home with high pressure water that can cause damage and instead specialize in soft washing techniques. It makes your siding look like new without the potential dangers of high pressure washing. Our house and siding washing is second to none.

Concrete Cleaning

Time, weather, the sun and countless other problems can cause the luster and look of your concrete to change over time. While the damage doesn’t happen over a single winter, spring is still the perfect time to get concrete cleaning. The grass and leaves are green. The flowers are blooming and the last thing you want it to have the look of your home marred by ugly concrete. Our concrete cleaning process makes your concrete look good as new.

Deck and Fence Refinishing

With the temperature rising, you’ll likely be spending more time outside. Don’t spend your days drinking tea on an ugly porch. Illinois Valley Clean Team Inc. specializes in deck and fence restoration and refinishing. You can lounge on the most attractive deck in the neighborhood. We’ll strip the wood, brighten it and then apply a quality stain that will keep it looking pristine for years to come.

How to Remove Salt From Floors and Carpets

January 15, 2016 by Illinois Valley Clean Team

Each year state and city workers spread thousands of pounds of salt on roadways to melt ice and keep all of us safe. It’s obviously a necessity, but all the excess salt gets stuck on your car and clothes. By the end of the winter, you’ve got enough salt on your floors and carpets to take care of all your popcorn needs for a few millennia. This stuff can be a pain to get out, but Illinois Valley Clean Team has your hookup.

Why so hard to remove?

One thing people don’t realize is the salt used on roads is hard to clean. Salt has a high pH, making it a strong base that can interact with your flooring. This isn’t table salt (sodium chloride), but most likely calcium chloride (so don’t actually use it on your popcorn). The problem is before it can be clean, the pH has to be decreased to neutral levels or else it starts to dissolve the finish on your floors or just smear. If there’s a high enough concentration, then it can turn into a sticky mess.

Cleaning the Mess

If you have high pH, then you can neutralize it by adding a low pH i.e. an acid. There are many cleaning products that are acidic or you can use a couple ounces of vinegar per gallon of water. Once you have your acid, use a mop to mop up the salty mess. If there is a high concentration of salt, then you’ll want to let the vinegar set in for a little bit before mopping it up. If there’s some persistent streaking, then don’t be afraid to get s sponge soaked in the mixture and give it a little elbow grease.

Once the salt has been removed, you can dump out the vinegar mixture and fill up the bucket with warm soapy water. Run that over the area with the mop and then use with clean water to make sure all the salt is removed.

Salt in Carpets

It’s one thing if there’s salt on your hardwood floor, but salt on the carpet can be a real problem. People track in the wet slush. When it dries on your carpet, it leaves behind a crystalline stain. For this, mix a 1-1 mixture of vinegar and warm water into a spray bottle. Vacuum the area thoroughly and then spray the stain with the mixture. Let it soak for a little while and then rub the area with a cloth, according to howtocleanstuff.net. This should get rid of the salt crystals. If not, then repeat the procedure again. If you have a carpet cleaner or wet vac, then go over the area to remove as much moisture as you can or else let it dry on its own.

IV Clean Team is the Illinois Valley’s leading cleaning service. We offer a wide variety of services from home cleaning to concrete cleaning. Call today or get a free quote.

Getting Children Involved With Home Cleaning

The Magic of Floor Mats

How To Clean Grill Grates

Spring Into Spring With Outdoor Projects

How to Remove Salt From Floors and Carpets

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