Cleaning Archives - Page 3 of 6 - Oh My Heartsie Girl

August 1, 2019

4 Things at Home That Might Need Immediate Attention

Image source: Pexels

Did you know that there are many hidden dangers lurking in your home? You may have spent sums of money beautifying your house, but there are little details that could make it unpleasant and even downright deadly if you overlook them. Here are four red flags that you need to pay immediate attention to at home.

Filthy Carpet

Carpets can do a great job of tying up different elements of a room together. An otherwise cold and dull floor can instantly pop out with the addition of a lovely carpet. However, that gorgeousness can become the breeding ground of molds and mites. Aside from dust mites and allergens, at least 200,000 germs and bacteria could be lurking in the carpet. If your nose has been feeling stuffy and you’re experiencing allergies lately, it might be time to clean the carpet. In addition to the weekly vacuuming sessions, you also need to deep clean the carpet at least every six months. This extends to rugs all over the house too

If you don’t have a steam cleaner, a natural way to deep clean the carpet is to use a mixture of 1-quart water, one tablespoon of dish soap, and ¼ teaspoon of white vinegar. Test apply the solution on a small area of your rug first before cleaning the rest. Deep cleaning can be time-consuming, so if you don’t have the time for it, simply hire professional cleaning services to do the job for you.

Broken Locks

How many times have you had to force open a jammed lock using all kinds of household items? Broken locks are annoying, but they can also be very dangerous especially if you have a child in the house. With their endless reserves of energy and curiosity, children love playing, exploring, and getting into all kinds of trouble. This could spell disaster in a house with malfunctioning doorknobs, locks, and deadbolts as kids could end up getting accidentally trapped. Do regular checkups of the locks around your home, including those on closets that a curious kid can walk into. Immediately replace rusty old locks with new ones. Double-check cabinets and drawers that contain sharp objects and hazardous substances.

In addition to replacing the locks, you should also keep a lockpick gun or similar tools on hand in case of emergencies. Store it in a safe place that children can’t easily access.

Leaks

Your bathroom may be a small space, but it can be one of the most dangerous rooms in your home. In fact, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 235,000 people end up in the emergency room every year because of accidents that happened in the bathroom, and the majority of this is caused by falls. Your family may slip and fall in the bathroom because of a leaky pipe.

Leaks are dangerous, and they can damage other parts of the house. Small leaks can spread and leave unsightly water stains, and replacing drywall or flooring that have been stained is not cheap. The puddles and moisture that form can also cause mold growth, and treating mold growth can cost you between $500 to $3,000. If you notice leaks in your home, immediately check what could be the problem. For a more thorough inspection, hire a professional plumber who can assess the damage and what repairs need to be made.

Emergency Phone Numbers

Do you and your family know who to call in the event of an emergency, like a fire or injury? Make a list of important emergency contacts and family members who can help for situations like fire, theft, injuries, and pest control. Make multiple copies of this list and keep it in visible areas like near the telephone and on the refrigerator door. If you have children, make sure to teach them about these numbers. You can also ask everyone in your home to take a photo of this list on their phone so they have a copy of it at all times.

These may sound like simple tasks, but they can save you and your loved ones a lot of trouble if something unexpected happens. It’s better to imagine and prepare for worst-case scenarios than wait for them to happen.

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This post contains affiliate links, which means I might receive a small commission if you make a purchase using this link.

March 26, 2019

6 Home Cleaning Tips

Cleaning is an integral part of one’s day to day activities. Being on top of your house cleaning and making it tidy is not easy. Nonetheless, there are simple and easy ways to go about your home cleaning activities with relative ease. Here are essential cleaning tips for homeowners to give you the much-needed direction.

Start by Decluttering

Ever been in the house and you keep bumping on items you hardly use? Items that are in bad shape, but you just never throw them away? Well, it is time to do thorough decluttering of all that stuff. That should be the first step you take when you decide to undertake the cleaning of your home. Sort items that you do not use on a regular basis or you feel you will need in future, then clean, pack and safely store them.

Perform Fumigation

Cleaning is not just about dirt and rubbish, but also about keeping away the pests away. A proper way to do that is by undertaking a home fumigation exercise. You can do this occasionally to ensure that your home is pest and vermin free. For a good job, you can hire fumigation services from a professional company.

Regular Cleaning

To ensure that your home remains dirt and rubbish free, then you will need to undertake regular cleaning. Cleaning after 2-3 days will prevent dirt and rubbish buildup. Living in a dusty and dirty house is unhygienic and can lead to you and your family contracting illness. Clean your dishes after taking your meals. Take out your bin when it is almost full. Avoid piling dirty clothes. Try to give extra attention to sensitive areas like the toilet, bathroom, and kitchen. Never leave them in a filthy state.

Use Recommended Cleaning Equipment

There are lots of materials that can pass as cleaning detergents. However, they will not do a good job. Always use appropriate cleaning tools. For instance, when cleaning glass furniture, ensure you use appropriate creams and cleaning liquids together with smooth cleaning pads. This way you avoid damaging their delicate surface.

The same applies to wooden and metallic furniture. For the floors, especially the laminated ones, you can get to use recommended laminate floor cleaners such as BLACK+DECKER BDH1720SM SmartSelect Steam Mop for even and smooth cleaning.

Cleaning Schedule

Well, cleaning should not be an activity that should stress you out. It can be very overwhelming if it is not undertaken in an orderly way. Therefore, having a cleaning schedule for your home will be a good idea.

Start by having specific cleaning days or list. For instance, you can start by dedicating a single day to clean all your home electronics and appliances. Another day you can dedicate to cleaning the rooms. This way cleaning becomes less stressful and more enjoyable.

Outdoor Cleaning

Cleaning your home should not just be about the inside, but also outside. Start by cutting your lawn short and removing the build-up of dead leaves and branches by racking. If your rubbish area is outside, then ensure that all the rubbish is thrown inside the bins. Also, you can get to clean the house windows and if necessary, undertake small paint jobs to beautify your home.

This post may contain affiliate links and I might receive compensation if you make a purchase after clicking on a link.
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January 24, 2019

The Different Types Of Rats That Can Infest Your Home

Rats are one of the most successful species ever, as they have managed to conquer every continent, with the exception of the two poles, and rats can be found wherever you find people. There are three main species of rats, and they thrive in similar environments, and all are extremely adaptable, which is proven by the fact they are still here, despite man’s efforts to eradicate them.

Image Source: Pixabay

The Common House Mouse

This is the species you are most likely to encounter in a residential environment, and the common mouse lives in groups, so if you see one, there are likely more on the scene. This hardy little creature survives on small pieces of food that are found in just about every kitchen, and there are many ways that claim to remove mice. These creatures can get through the tiniest of holes and are notoriously difficult to remove, which is why most homeowners turn to the electric pest control apparatus, as this is the only way to ensure the rats leave for good.

The Electronic Pest Control Device

Of all the mice repellents, the electronic pest control device is the most effective. Not only that, it is clean and perfectly harmless to children and pets, and they can easily be sourced from an online supplier, such as https://gopestfree.com/, a leading supplier of these innovative devices that tick all the boxes.
Image Source: Pixabay

The Norway Rat

Known also as the common sewer rat, this species grows to a significant size – in tropical climates they can be as big as the cats that are tasked to get rid of them. These hardy animals were transported to all corners of the world, thanks to the many merchant ships that sailed from country to country, and they breed very quickly indeed. Another trait of the common sewer rat is its ability to develop an immunity to poisons. This pest can easily gnaw through electrical cables and has a big appetite for just about any kind of food. Cats have long been tasked with ridding kitchens of rats, with a limited degree of success, yet the best way to remove rats from your home is to buy an electronic pest control device. It works by sending an electromagnetic pulse along the power cables, and rats do not like this, and will immediately vacate, looking for another location.
Image Source: Pixabay

Black Rats

Also known as ship rats or roof rats, these creatures possess an amazing ability to live in a way that we do not know they are there. Fortunately, all three species react the same when a pest control device is plugged in, and if you would like to purchase a few units, a Google search will help to locate an online supplier.

Rats carry diseases and if you want your home to be rat-free, all it takes is an online search, which will lead you to a pest control device supplier. The device does not harm humans or pets and is clean and easy to use. Invest in a few units and your home will always be rat-free, as long as you leave the units in place.
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January 23, 2019

How to Clean Mold in the Bathroom

Mold is a kind of fungus that is known to begin its growth in warm, humid conditions, and can sustain life practically anywhere. That should be no shock to you if you see mold in your bathroom. Mold spontaneously grows when yeast spores from the air land on a moist life source. When you think of mold, you think of a stubborn condition to deal with. Bathroom mold can be a hassle to take care of, but once you know how to handle it and properly clean it up, it’ll be a breeze!

Prevent Mold from Growing

The first step to cleaning mold out of your bathroom is preventing the mold from further growth. As mentioned previously, mold spontaneously grows in warm and humid environments. If you dry the wet source and where your mold is getting their water from use a fan to help dry the area, you have a greater chance of preventing mold growth. Additionally, though, they need a food source to live. This food source, as unpleasant as it may sound, is often your dead skin cells and soap residue. For this, you have to manually clean up the mess.

How Not to Clean Bathroom Mold

There are different methods of cleaning mold off of your bathroom surfaces. There are also various methods to avoid when trying to remove bathroom mold. If you happen to clean the mold off improperly, it can microscopically stay on your surfaces and continue to grow over time. When cleaning mold, avoid bleaching or scraping.

Bleaching, unlike the common misconception, does not kill mold. This will pose as an ineffective method. If you try to scrape the mold off, it ends up brushing more mold spores into the air. This allows the mold to grow in a different location in your bathroom. Now that you know how not to clean bathroom mold, let’s look at the proper way.

How to Properly Clean Bathroom Mold

There are two great ways to clean mold to ensure no regrowth and great removal results. The more properly you clean the mold in your bathroom, the less likely it is to grow back. The first way to correctly clean bathroom mold is using vinegar. Vinegar is known to kill around 80% or higher of mold species.

Put pure vinegar in a spray bottle and spray the mold and the area around it. After about an hour, use hot water and pour it over the vinegar. Dry and remove remaining mold with a dry towel. A second way to clean mold is by using soap and warm to hot water. Pour this solution on the mold and let it sit, then wipe away with a dry cloth. Vinegar is more effective, but if it’s emergent and you only have soap, use the soap.

Having Trouble?

If you notice you’re having trouble removing mold in the proper way, or if your bathroom mold keeps returning, consider hiring a professional to help you. Maid service Boston can help you permanently remove mold. They are qualified to clean and follow proper methods of cleaning. If you have mold in your bathroom and can’t appropriately control it, hire a maid in Boston to help you out today.