Who says a Christmas gift has to be something to play with, wear, or watch? Sure, those things are nice but sometimes what we really want is a practical gift; a useful gift. Sometimes what we wish Santa would bring is a shiny, home cleaning gift for Christmas! Maybe we’re too afraid or embarrassed to ask. Fear not, the Illinois Valley Clean Team understands your passion for a clean home and is here to offer you several Christmas gift ideas for house cleaning. 

Illinois Valley Clean Team Gift Card 

As last year’s host for Christmas, you remember the mess left by your friends and family. Oh, sure they didn’t mean to trash the living room, downstairs bathroom, upstairs bathroom, the guest room, the kids’ rooms, the office, the kitchen, the dining room, the family room, the basement…AAH! You remember how long it took to clean your home and don’t wish that horror on your worst enemy, especially not this year’s host for Christmas. A maid service gift card is the perfect gift idea for that special host in your life. Moreover, the Illinois Valley Clean Team is the largest residential cleaning company in the Illinois Valley with a valuable reputation. You can’t go wrong! 

Angry Mama Microwave Cleaner 

Whether you have a large family or a spouse who refuses to use a cover, the microwave is a playground for caked-on spills and messes—a cleaning disaster waiting to happen. Sometimes the simplest solutions are all the answers you need. With the power of steam, the Angry Mama Microwave Cleaner effortlessly loosens grime in seconds. These little wonders not only save your back but make excellent little stocking stuffers for that special someone in need of a helping hand. 

Cordless Shower Scrubber 

After a long week of work, the last thing you want to do is spend the weekend bent over the tub scrubbing tile and breaking your back. The Cordless Shower Scrubber, weighing less than 4lbs., is a wonder at getting laborious work done. Not only is this a great Christmas gift idea for the avid house cleaner, but the Cordless Shower Scrubber would also be an asset for car collectors, lawn lovers, and more. This is truly a versatile machine. 

Ecovacs Deebot Robotic Vacuum 

The trend these days is trying to find the time to get the essential things in life done. Things like general health care, car maintenance, lawn maintenance, and house cleaning. We no longer have enough time. One solution to this problem is the Ecovacs Deebot Robotic Vacuum. Able to clean both hard floors and carpet with ease, this little beauty moves about the house silently keeping your home clean while you tend to more important things in life. With such a time-saving solution, why not add this gem to the top of your Christmas list ideas! 

The Amazing Whip-It Cleaning Solution 

Here comes a one-hit-wonder cleaning solution that does it all! The Amazing Whip-It is an eco-friendly, plant-based, pet and child safe, biodegradable, non-toxic, power cleaner/stain remover that does it all. Seriously! It’s even safe for clothes. This wonder product is safe to clean all surfaces. So, whether you’re in the kitchen, bathroom, living room, kid’s room, laundry room, or garage make sure the Amazing Whip-It is on your Christmas wish list for you and your family. 

Universal Cleaning Gel 

Nothing is worse than getting food stuck between the keys of your keyboard or in anything with small buttons. Now, cleaning those little annoying areas is no longer a problem with the reusable Universal Cleaning Gel. This glob of putty-like substance has a nice lemony scent and when pressed into a surface will adhere to the shape and pick up dirt and other small particles. This is a great Christmas gift idea for office workers, car enthusiasts, techies, and just about anyone who carries a device. 

Woolzies Pure Wool Dryer Balls 

With inflation growing by the minute, we’re always looking for ways to cut expenses at home. A simple and effective solution is Woolzies Pure Wool Dryer Balls. These energy-saving wool balls bounce around your dryer without harsh chemicals or artificial materials. Moreover, the gentle pounding in the dryer reduces the amount of time for your clothes to dry and eliminates wrinkles. Drop a set of these in Christmas stockings and see the joy you bring this holiday season! 

No longer are the days where cleaning gifts are a taboo Christmas present. We live in a society where new generations are learning to abandon old stereotypes. It’s becoming vastly acceptable to give gifts of practicality and thought versus popularity and commercialism. Therefore, with this helpful list go bravely forward as you adventure into the wonderful Christmas season of giving.

There is no secret to have a perfect holiday dinner, but there are some tricks and tips you can apply to avoid setbacks and unnecessary stress.

Halloween is fast approaching and it’s that time of the year again to decorate your home with spooky and frightfully fun decor. Why wouldn’t it be popular? It lets people dress up and trick-or-treat!

But best of all for some, you get to hang some fun decorations. And to make your home stand out in your neighborhood, we’ve gathered some halloween decoration ideas. These ideas will make your party stand out, and allow you opportunities to surprise and scares your guests. These ideas are a bit out of the ordinary and bring a lot to the table beside black and orange.

Here are some terrifying DIY Halloween decorations ideas that will make you stand out.

Haunted Mirror

You can find a neat image of someone trapped in a  haunted mirror here , or just photocopy your hands, like they’re trying to escape, and print it out with your mirror’s measurements. If you have a big printer, good, but if you don’t, just go to your nearest copy or printing shop and they can help you out. Add some weaving fake snakes in between wall sconces or other mounted ornaments on your wall next to the mirror in order to have the whole spooky set up. Your guests will be frightened when they catch a glimpse before they reach for your candy bowl.

Hang a banner

You can skip the traditional orange decor and try another hue instead.  Say, millennial pink and the result is insanely chic. Round out the fireplace with a DIY flag spelling out “Happy Halloween”—or another message from beyond the grave. You can use this as DIY Halloween decoration for outside.

Floating Candles

Remember the dining room from the Harry Potter movies, with all the floating candles? Well, replicate this with some paper towel and toilet paper rolls! Glue or tape LED candles on top, then create the fake wax with a hot glue fun. Tie them up and have a dark, magical Halloween with these great candles! You can use any thin string to hang them whichever manner you like, but we recommend a fine fishing line.

Decoupage Halloween Lanterns

If you’re tired of the same old Halloween orange and black, don’t be spooked by other colors and use them!  Get some regular paper lanterns, and ad some découpaged clipart: owls, cats, spiders, or even starbursts, with several colors at your disposal.

Cheesecloth Spider Webs

Just get some cheesecloth, hang it on the ceiling so it drapes over where you want it too, and start tearing, snipping and pinning away at the cloth. Do it enough so it looks like an old, thick spider web (and not a sheet torn to shreds by your cat). Don’t forget some plastic spiders to hang them from the cheesecloth.

Paper Shadows

What would you do if there’s a shadow’s that’s been following, but it’s not yours? Shadows can sometimes scare us and no wonder they’re popular during Halloween, so here’s a great idea: Print or cut out from black paper some shadows and place them where you would normally see your own, like going up the stairs. Here’s a neat shadow template you can print out and paste on your wooden or concrete stairs, but you can make your own, just make sure they cover the entirety of each step.

Creepy Candles

With a cluster of white tapers with dripping blood, cast a sinister glow over any setting. You need to fill a cup or a small pail with sand, and put white candles inside, so they stand upright. Then, light a red candle and tilt it over the white candles, so the wax trickles down the sides and tops, being careful not to burn yourself. You can now let the wax cool completely before removing candles from sand.

To have a fun-filled Halloween, you have to think of the decorations and treats that you will give away to kids. And most importantly, let the professionals keep your home spotless and tidy.