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Illinois Valley House Cleaning Services | IV Clean Team, Inc.

Home cleaning, window cleaning, gutter cleaning, pressure washing service in Peru, LaSalle, Oglesby, Ottawa, Spring Valley, Utica, Mendota, Illinois

Maximize Your Holiday Cheer: Essential Cleaning Tips for La Salle Homes

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The holidays are a time for joy, celebration, and, of course, house guests. Whether you’re hosting a large family gathering or an intimate dinner, ensuring your home is clean and welcoming is essential. This guide provides a thorough holiday cleaning checklist tailored for La Salle residents, helping you enhance your festive decorations and create a cozy, inviting atmosphere for all your guests. From dusting off the forgotten shelves to ensuring your guest rooms are pristine, follow these essential cleaning tips to maximize your holiday cheer.

1. Preparing Your Home for the Holidays

1.1. Start with a Decluttering Session

Before you even start cleaning, declutter your space. This not only makes cleaning easier but also helps in evaluating what decorations will fit best for the holidays. Remove any non-essential items from counters, coffee tables, and other surfaces. Think about donating items you no longer need—this can be a great way to give back during the holiday season.

1.2. Deep Clean the Living Areas

Living areas are central to holiday celebrations. Start with dusting all surfaces, including ceiling fans and window casings. Use a damp cloth to wipe down shelves and blinds. Vacuum all upholstery, paying special attention to sofas and chairs where guests will sit. Don’t forget to clean under the furniture and in between the cushions.

1.3. Focus on Windows and Mirrors

Clean windows and mirrors as they can be focal points during the holidays, especially if you’re placing candles or lights near them. Streak-free glass will enhance both natural and artificial light, making your home feel brighter and more festive.

2. The Holiday Kitchen Deep-Dive

2.1. Clean Appliances Thoroughly

The kitchen endures a lot of traffic during the holidays. Ensure your appliances are up to the task by deep cleaning them. Clean your oven, microwave, refrigerator, and dishwasher. Don’t forget smaller appliances like blenders and toasters, which may be used during holiday cooking.

2.2. Sanitize Countertops and Sinks

Your countertops and sink must be sanitized before you start preparing holiday meals. Use a disinfectant suitable for your type of countertop to ensure it’s safe for food preparation. Don’t forget to also clean and organize your pantry and cabinets.

2.3. Refresh the Dining Area

The dining area is the heart of many holiday gatherings. Dust and polish your dining table and chairs. Consider a fresh tablecloth or runner to add to the festive atmosphere. Ensure that your china, cutlery, and glassware are sparkling clean before the guests arrive.

3. Guest Bathroom and Bedrooms

3.1. Guest Bathrooms

Ensure the guest bathroom is stocked with fresh towels, toiletries, and extra toilet paper. Clean all surfaces, including the mirror, sink, and counter, and scrub the toilet and shower. Adding a festive air freshener or a small holiday decor item can enhance the guest experience.

3.2. Guest Bedrooms

If you have overnight guests, make the guest bedrooms welcoming by changing the linens, fluffing the pillows, and perhaps adding a holiday-themed throw blanket or pillow. Ensure the room has adequate lighting and minimal personal clutter.

4. Finishing Touches for Enhanced Festivity

4.1. Scents and Aromas

Scents play a huge role in creating a holiday atmosphere. Consider natural scents like cinnamon, pine, or peppermint. You can achieve these through scented candles, essential oil diffusers, or by simmering a pot of water with cinnamon sticks and orange peels on the stove.

4.2. Safety Checks

Before the holiday rush, check that all smoke detectors are working, and that you have a functioning fire extinguisher. Also, ensure that all indoor and outdoor lights are properly installed and that none of the cords are frayed.

4.3. Plan for Pet Areas

If you have pets, ensure their areas are clean and odor-free. This might also be a good time to wash pet bedding and toys, or even designate a quiet room for them to retreat to when the festivities get too much.

Holiday cleaning doesn’t have to be stressful. By starting early and following this detailed checklist, your La Salle home will be ready and radiant in time for the celebrations. For those needing a helping hand, consider hiring professional La Salle holiday cleaning services to ensure your home is in perfect condition. This way, you can focus more on enjoying the season and less on the cleanup!

It’s Time To Organize That Bookshelf

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organizing a bookshelfI 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

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Cleaning out your refrigeratorIt’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

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cleaning scheduleHow 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

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kids and cleaningIt’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.

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