Cleaning by Lesley

Tips

Stick to a system of working right to left, top to bottom, and start with the top of the refrigerator (the most often-missed surface). Use a stainless steel cleaner for the stainless steel appliances and then buff them. They will look great.
Water, mild detergent and a sponge is all you need to clean a microwave oven.
Unplug and pull the refrigerator/freezer out three to four times a year to clean the underneath. Vacuum the front of the motor and coils to remove dust monthly. Your refrigerattor will work better and last longer.
Small cotton balls with a few drops of vanilla on it will eliminate odors in the freezer and refrigerator.

Before cleaning, use a dry tissue to pick up loose hairs in the tubs and sink nicely. Then use Glass cleaner on the tile walls and ceramic fixtures to clean and shine.

A small whiskbroom will help you clean the carpet edges around each room and in corners. Can't find the source of pet odor on your carpet or furniture? Darken the room and then aim a backlight: the source will glow.
If you spill either red or white wine on the carpet, believe it or not,use salt! Pour salt over the spill. All the wine will soak into the salt and then vacuum the salt. If the stain remains, mix 1/2 tsp. of dishwashing soap with 8oz. of vinegar water. Apply small amount and blot it up. We don't do Carpet Cleaning but can refer a local company that does.

Always remember to use a very dry mop when you mop hardwood floors. Mop with a mixture of 1/4 cup vinegar to bucket of water.

A lint removerwith tape strips is a great way to remove loose hair, dirt and particles from the fabric on your sofa and chairs. It puts less pressure on the upholstery than a regular lint brush, pulling dirt away rather than pushing into the fabric weave.

You need not clean your windows and mirrors frequently than on a monthly basis, it is less work yet still prevents build up from occurring. Only use vinegar with a little alcohol on windows, ammonia may ruin your mirrors over time, and it won't streak.
A dry newspaper works better than paper towels to clean wet windows, but is a mess to work with. We don't clean windows but we can refer you to a local company that does. We use microfiber cloths on mirror and windows.