cleaning Archives - Illinois Valley House Cleaning Services

It’s Time To Organize That Bookshelf

March 30, 2017 by Illinois Valley Clean Team

organizing a bookshelf I love bookshelves. There are houses that have just one and others that have several. The bookshelf once had a clear and concise purpose…store your books, but in this digital world it’s become much more. If you’re anything like me, the bookshelf has become a catchall for anything that simply needs a place, but it’s time to clean up and organize it.

Decide What Needs To Be On It

Today’s bookshelf contains everything from books and DVDs to video games and knick knacks. I’ve been known to throw board games, boxes filled with stuff and anything else I can’t seem to find a spot for in the moment. It looks like a disaster area and forget trying to find something because there is no rhyme or reason.

Before you begin organizing, decide what needs to be on it. Do you have enough books to fill an entire bookshelf? Do you want it to be entertainment based? Anything that doesn’t fit with what you want should be removed. You can also choose to keep it as a catchall, but you still have to organize it.

Keep Like With Like

The hodge podge bookshelf is not an organized bookshelf. Start by grouping everything together, so books should be with books, DVDs with DVDs, etc. It’s important that if you are looking for something specific that you know where to go. The only exception is if you have figurines or knick knacks included. These can be spaced out throughout the bookshelf to act as dividers and add to the aesthetic.

Organize

This is where you can let your imagination soar. You can organize things any way you want. All that matters is that it’s something you’ll easily remember. You can organize by alphabet, genre, size or anything you like. If you have a large number of small items, then consider placing them into a nice decorative box to save space.

However you decide to finally organize it, the end result it a much cleaner and saner bookshelf. It looks great and you can find anything you want with a quick glance. For more information about Illinois Valley Clean Team Inc., explore our website.

Food for Thought: Cleaning and Organizing Your Refrigerator

December 27, 2016 by Illinois Valley Clean Team

Cleaning out your refrigerator It’s only natural to clean the things we see on a regular basis. You don’t think twice about vacuuming your living room or mopping the kitchen, but when was last time you cleaned the refrigerator? If you look inside and see food from last Christmas or something moving that shouldn’t be alive then it’s time to take out Fridgenstein’s monster and clean it.

Food is perishable, so get rid of it

If it’s in the refrigerator, then it’s got a shelf life. We all put away leftovers thinking we’re going to eat it. We hate to waste food, so it only makes sense, but inevitably it ends up sitting in the fridge untouched. We have good intentions, but life’s busy and we’re forgetful. It’s time to toss it. If you have even the slightest worry that it might be a little past its time, then throw it away. Don’t be afraid to toss the cheap Tupperware it’s in as well. Sometimes there’s going to be casualties in World War Fridge.

Bins make organizing easier

Small bins you can get at most department stores are great for grouping together foods. If you need to make lunches for children or your significant other, then put lunch meats, cheeses, etc. in a bin and then just take out the bin when you need it. You can have a leftover bin, so there’s no looking behind bottles of ketchup and who knows what else. It also cuts down on leftovers getting lost. Did you cut onions and other vegetables and a have few left over…put them in a bin. Do you have snack food like cottage cheese or cheese sticks? You know where to put them. Bins are great for your kid’s toys, so why not use them in the fridge.

Keep expiration dates in view

One of the biggest problems with food in the fridge is expiring. You can’t wait to get some cottage cheese or drink milk, only to find out the milk has become the cottage cheese. YUCK! Everything that expires has a date on it. It’s the one you never look at until you’ve eaten half of it. Face the expiration date towards the front of the refrigerator. This way it’s the first thing you see. No one wants an expiration surprise, so keep an eye out.

Illinois Valley Clean Team Inc. is dedicated to giving you the best home possible. If you need a little helping with cleaning or other chores, then contact us for a quote today.

Don’t Want To Get Overwhelmed Then Create A Cleaning Schedule

July 11, 2016 by Illinois Valley Clean Team

How many times have you wanted to get that garage cleaned out or dust your overhead fan, but never got around to it. You know there are things you need to do throughout the year, but it’s hard to fine time. What you need to do is create a cleaning schedule that last the entire year or at least month to month.

Why do I need a cleaning schedule?

You probably have no problem doing the day-to-day or weekly cleaning that has become routine. You vacuum, sweep, etc., but when it comes to the things that don’t happen regularly, they often fall to the wayside. Cobwebs may start to gather in corners and the carpet hasn’t been cleaned in two years. You don’t need a schedule for everyday cleaning, but for the cleaning you tend to put off.

Sit down and make a plan

The first step is to sit down with a planner and make a plan for the year. Write down what you do on the weekends and choose dates to take are of those pesky tasks that are so easily forgettable. Make sure to include all the tasks for the year no matter how big or how small. Give yourself multiple days if the task is large and needs extra time.

Use it as a guideline

The plan for the year should be adhered to as best as possible, but don’t get discouraged if life gets in the way. If you’re scheduled to clean the bathroom on Saturday, then grandma calls and says she’s got tickets to Disney on Ice, don’t blow off grandma. Instead, enjoy the activity, but make sure to reschedule the cleaning.

Call in the professionals if needed

When the going gets tough, the tough call a professional. If nothing is getting done or you’re feeling overwhelmed, then feel free to contact us. We’ll swoop in and take care of the cleaning, so you can focus on some of those other projects.

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.

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.

It’s Time To Organize That Bookshelf

Food for Thought: Cleaning and Organizing Your Refrigerator

Don’t Want To Get Overwhelmed Then Create A Cleaning Schedule

Getting Children Involved With Home Cleaning

How to Remove Salt From Floors and Carpets

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