No one wants to choose between their pet and a clean home, but no one wants the smell of urine or animal hair all over the place either. We’re here to share a few cleaning tips so that you can have the best of both worlds.
Urine Cleaner Recipes
Hopefully potty training your pet was easier than your toddler, but if not, we’ve got you covered. We know that accidents are the rule, not the exception when it comes to animals in the house. Here are a few DIY cleaner recipes you can try next time you find an unwanted wet spot.
- Homestead Survival recommends 1/4 cup Hydrogen Peroxide, 1 teaspoon baking soda, and a tiny squirt of Castile liquid soap.
- Hills Pets has a similar solution, but suggests applying the cleaning agents on one-by-one rather than mixing them all together in a spray.
- While these cleaners can help alleviate the smells, Catcentric.org claims that these cleaners can’t actually get rid of the enzymes that cause the odor and that spraying is not enough. They suggest an enzyme cleaner and “dousing, pouring, and soaking” any area that is effected by animal urine.
Managing Pet Hair
- Diet–>Did you know that what your pet eats can dramatically effect the amount he or she sheds? Experts at PetMD advise to make sure your pet is getting all the necessary nutrients to grow a healthy coat of fur.
- Grooming–>Use appropriate tools to brush daily, and schedule regular professional grooming to keep your pet’s hair under control.
- Cleaning–> You can do what you can to minimize shedding, but ultimately, having a pet means you will have pet hair in your home. Dogtime.com did a survey of pet owners and respondents helped to compose a list of various cleaning methods. Using rubber clubs or a slightly damp sponge to help ball up fur topped the list.
Eliminating Pet Odor
- Erin at Clean and Scentsible shares a great Carpet and Upholstery Refresher as well as several tips for eliminating odor:
- Clean the litter box regularly
- Add a few drops of lavender essential oils when bathing animals
- Dry bathe animals with a baking soda
- Wash animal bedding and toys on a regular basis (weekly). To make this task a little easier, make sure to buy beds that have removable covers and can be tossed in the washing machine.
- Wikihow has several great suggestions on eliminating odor. You can use an air purifier or you can use deodorizers like baking soda or vinegar to help reduce odor.
We know you love your pet, but you also love a clean home. Don’t choose between the two. Use some of these helpful tips to keep your home clean and your pets happy.
Every now and then we like to have some fun on the blog! We’ve done some research to bring you a list of few unorthodox cleaning supplies that you might want to add to your supply closet. We’ll start of with traditional items that some people are using in a non-traditional manner.
This list on Consumer Report’s website explains how to use every day items like toothbrushes and credit cards to tackle tough-to-clean items. Here are a few of our favorites:
Toothbrush
The rough bristles and small head of a toothbrush make for a fantastic cleaning tool in difficult to reach spots. It works well for cleaning grout, the corners of your showers, or even for scrubbing out stubborn stains. Next time you swap out your toothbrush, toss the old one in with your cleaning supplies. You won’t regret it.
Credit Cards
Use the straight edge of the credit card to scrape up stuck on messes on your stove or microwave. It even works wonders with dried wax. The plastic is hard enough to get things unstuck, but gentle enough not to scratch the surfaces.
Old Socks & Cloth Diapers
Both of these items can be used for dusting or wiping surfaces without the dangers of scratching. Author of the CR article, Mary H.J. Farrell suggests wearing the damp sock like a glove to wipe down the leaves of house plants. How brilliant!
Wacky Inventions
Apartmenttherapy.com listed several unique cleaning items in their article titled Odd, Weird, Wack (& Possibly Helpful) Cleaning Supplies, and we’ve found a few of our own. You can check them out at the links below!
- The Foot Dustpan is just what it sounds like. A dustpan you can operate with your foot. It eliminates the need to bend over while sweeping up messes.
- Cyber Clean is a ball of goop to roll around on your keyboard to catch all the loose particles stuck between your keys.
- FOKI is a pair of cordless, battery operated floor cleaning shoes.
- Baby Mop allows your crawling infant to sweep the floors instead of you!
- Double-Sided Window Cleaner uses a strong magnet to save you time by allowing you to clean the inside and the outside of the window at the same time.
- Bottle Cleaning Beads help ensure the inside of your reusable bottles gets as clean as possible.
What unexpected supplies do you use to help clean your home? Let us know in the comments below!
Valentine’s Day is approaching. You probably have one of two opinions on the holiday: You either think it is a great opportunity to show some love to your significant other, or you believe it is a commercial ploy to capitalize off of romance.
Either way, it’s probable that you will want to express your love in some way or another to those that are closest and most important to you. We’ve gathered some quick and easy ideas that don’t cost much, but are worth more than you will ever realize.
Cook Dinner
As simple as this may seem, your significant other will appreciate the thought. After all, the way to the heart is through the stomach. Even if you aren’t the best cook, you could pick up dinner or order take-out. Bonus points for a delicious dessert!
This is particularly meaningful if dinner is normally your significant other’s responsibility. Make sure not to leave a dirty kitchen behind–doing the dishes as a follow up is a must for this to be a success.
Write a Love Letter
If you start with a meaningful greeting card, make sure to finish up with some special words of your own. You could even skip the card and write your own love note on stationary. You could mail it to their work place, slip it in their lunch, or hand deliver it with a warm embrace. No matter how it arrives, it is sure to be a keepsake!
Let Them Choose
While many people think of a date night as a Valentine’s gift, your significant other may want to choose what to do with their time. Give them several choices on how to spend the day and let them decide. Give an option where you spend time together and an option where they get to spend some time alone. Maybe they would prefer a trip to the spa instead of a night out on the town. You’ll never know until you give them the option.
Another fun idea is to create a date idea box for more long-term use. Write down fun ideas of things you can do together or special treats for them on their own. Then, have your significant other draw from the box on special (or not-so-special) occasions.
Clean the House
Coming home to a freshly cleaned house is an incredibly pleasant surprise if someone is used to having to taking care of that chore themselves. You could spend the day and put in the hard work cleaning it yourself, but it will make just as much of an impact (and be a lot easier) if you let us do it for you. We can surprise your significant other, or you could wrap up a gift certificate and allow them to specialize their cleaning.
We’d love to help make your Valentine’s Day a meaningful one. Contact us today at 541-601-6236 to schedule your cleaning or purchase your gift certificate.
If you haven’t already, it is time to prepare your home for winter. The cold weather and precipitation can do some real damage if your home isn’t properly prepped. We’ve checked some of the leading blogs and saved you time by gathering the top tips for winterizing your home.
Winterizing Basics
While almost all the lists include the traditional winterizing elements like changing your filters, reversing your ceiling fans, and caulking, several lists have some extra ideas to help protect your home (and wallet) against the harsh elements.
Heater and Fireplace
First, there are several ways for you to save money this winter. Popular Mechanics has an entire blog dedicated to the energy efficient benefits of winterizing your home. Changing your filter can help your heater run more efficiently, but it may be easiest to call in a professional to give your heater a quick tune-up. That way, you know everything is in proper working order and safe for your home and family to use.
Also, while your fireplace may be a great option for warmth and a gathering place during the holidays, it is one of the biggest wastes of heated air when it is not in use. Make sure to use a chimney balloon or screen when your fireplace is not in use to avoid the draft. However, if you don’t have a traditional fireplace setup in your home, you might want to have a look at an easy install fireplace that’ll help you stay warm during the cold months, without any unnecessary stress.
Gutters
Next, like Bob Vila, we take our gutters seriously. The first tip on this list is to make sure your gutters are completely cleaned out and everything is flowing properly. If not, ice and snow can do some real damage. Let the professionals take over this task. Call us today to schedule your winter gutter cleaning before the weather gets too bad. This is even an important task in places where you wouldn’t commonly associate with freezing winters, like Texas. Whilst you’re having a look at the gutters, keep an eye on the soffits and fascias too – those are the parts the gutter connects to. Any cracks along them could also cause issues with water getting into your home. As well as your gutters you are going to need to make sure there are no pending repairs to your roof, as even a small crack could spell trouble in the freezing months. If you have any existing problems with your roof, it might be worth looking up roof repair Austin TX before it gets too much colder.
Emergency Resources
In addition, one step to winterizing that is often overlooked is making sure you have resources for emergencies. Having a generator on hand can be very helpful if the power is knocked out by a winter storm. You can find reasons for owning a generator on Lowe’s list for winter preparedness. Home Advisor also adds the need for stocking up on canned goods and water, plus having a snow shovel around to dig your way out in an emergency.
Pipes
Finally, one of the most frequent issues when it comes to cold weather is problems with pipes. Lowe’s has an excellent plan for preventing and repairing frozen pipes. Interestingly enough, pipes in southern climates are more susceptible to damage because those owners don’t typically take the steps necessary to protect them from freezing.
Don’t be left out in the cold. Use these tips to prepare your home for the long winter ahead. Call us today and we will help you prep those gutters and maybe even throw in some window washing while we’re out there!
I’m sure you’ve seen the quote, “Collect moments, not things.”
In a 2012 study conducted by UCLA, findings concluded that more than half of mothers are overwhelmed by the amount of stuff in their house–so much so that they find it too difficult to even deal with. In a DecluttrMe article, they explore this study and the term “stuffocation.”
Are you suffocated by the amount of stuff in your home? If so, it may be time to de-clutter.
Many people don’t know that here at The Cleaning Crew, LLC., we offer organization services. Our professional organizers can help you evaluate your belongings and the storage options in your home or office. We can offer advice on maximizing your space with the most appropriate storage solutions and help you organize your belongings in a manner that supports the easy flow of your lifestyle. We can also help with the process of removing excess belongings if necessary.
You can call us today at 541-601-6236 to schedule a free estimate. While you’re waiting for our organizers to arrive, here are a few tips and tricks to get you started.
Getting Started
Sometimes, you just have to start purging. Many of the items in your house are there “just in case” or simply because you are too busy to clean them out. Set aside a day or a weekend that you can knock things out and feel accomplished. You can get started with this awesome list from Organise My House that has 101 things you can throw away right now without feeling guilty.
Once you have started, it will get much easier. As you are de-cluttering, it helps to divide your items into piles. This 4-Pile Strategy is specific to clearing out a closet, but will work for just about anything.
Make four piles:
- Keep
- Unsure
- Donate
- Trash
If you aren’t sure how to determine which pile to put items in, PopSugar has a great list of 8 Questions to Ask Yourself to Help You Declutter. If you were shopping right now, would you buy this? Do you have something else that serves the same purpose? Have you used this in the last year?
Following Through
Once you have completed your piles, follow through with donating or trashing the items in piles three and four and reorganizing the items in pile one. The items you placed in pile two should be boxed up and looked at again in about a month. Anything you haven’t used or don’t feel tied to should be donated or trashed. They also suggest that if you are keeping something simply because of sentimental value, take a photo! Then, you can keep it forever without taking up too much space.
If the items in your home seem to be taking over and you aren’t sure where to begin, let our professional organization team help out. Don’t waste any more time stressing…Call us now at 541-601-6236.
Enjoy the nice summer weather, and be productive at the same time. You don’t have to be cooped up inside to get cleaning accomplished. Here are some easy tips and tricks for DIY car detailing that you can put to use while spending time in the great outdoors. Alternatively, you could seek out some Car Detailing Services that will prevent you from having to spend so long getting your car clean all by yourself.
Inside the Vehicle
There are a few key components to detailing the inside of a vehicle. First, you want to clean the upholstery. Second, you want to get into all the nooks and crannies (a cotton swab is good for reaching into all the tiny crevices). Lastly, you want to make sure to condition and protect the dashboard and other interior areas from fading. This Popular Mechanics article gives and in depth look at detailing the inside of a vehicle.
Washing the Vehicle
Unlike cleaning a home where you clean from the top down, on a vehicle, you want to start with the wheels. After you have completed the wheels, you can head to the roof and windows. Then, the hood, trunk, doors, and down. Professionals prefer to use a mitt when washing a vehicle and have several processes to avoid scratching the paint. You can read about these tips in this Practical Hacks article that outlines the entire detailing process.
Clean without Chemicals
Here at The Cleaning Crew, LLC, we prefer to be as chemical free as possible. That’s why we love DIY cleaning recipes that help maintain our “green” clean. Robin at Fluster Buster blog complied a list of awesome alternative cleaning solutions that you can use to clean your vehicle. This list includes: Homemade Car Soap, Spot Free Rinse, No Streak Glass Cleaner, and Upholstery Cleaner
You can find the complete list here.
Stop the Scratching
Avoiding scratching the exterior paint of the vehicle is one of the major parts of hand washing a car. Technically, it’s called micro-marring. That’s the small scratches that can be seen when light hits the finish of a vehicle. They come from small bits of grit or dirt that get rubbed against the finish as it is being washed. If you’re worried about scratching your car whilst washing it, you could look into getting a Ceramic coating for cars which helps prevent your car getting scratches.
Do’s and Don’ts
Don’t just use any old towel or rag to wash.
Do Use microfiber cloths.
Don’t use the same rag or towel for the entire process.
Do label them for each part of the car to reduce scratching.
Don’t use automated car washes with strips that touch your car.
Do use spray car washes if you must go through one.
Don’t dunk your cleaning mitt into dirty water.
Do use a double rinse or grate in the bottom of your bucket to get the dirt and grime off the mitt.
You could even opt for using an air blower for car drying which could save you time cleaning your car, this is a great tool when wanting to cheat the drying process!
With the help of these tips, detailing your car should be a breeze. Now, get out there to enjoy the fresh air and a freshly cleaned vehicle.
Do you have any car detailing tips? Let us know in the comments!
April showers are in full swing, and flowers are beginning to bloom. One of the best parts of spring is being able to enjoy the outdoors. A great way to spend some time with nature is to grow a garden. Plants are not only beautiful; they can also be used as ingredients in natural health remedies or cleaning solutions.
Before you begin, here are some great tools from Urban Farmer to help you in knowing when to plant certain seeds. Climate and soil conditions drastically affect the ability to grow some of the plants we suggest, so be sure to check out the information on your local area. If you’d prefer to stay out of the unpredictable spring weather, all of our recommended plants can be grown indoor or outdoor. We have chosen some low-maintenance options that anyone can handle. If you are choosing indoor grows, you will need to maintain the atmosphere with products like this quest dehumidifier, lighting and temperature controls.
Aloe Vera
Aloe is one of the most well known indoor plants because it is extremely low maintenance. With a little water and some exposure to sunlight, you can easily grow an aloe plant. Aloe Vera has multiple uses. Most notable are its healing properties for burns and cuts.
Lemons
If you’ve followed our blog for long, you know we love lemon for all kinds of reasons. It is a great natural cleaner that fights grease and grime, but it also helps fight disease because it is filled with antioxidants and vitamins. This super fruit can be grown inside or outside your home as long as it is watered regularly and receives 8-12 hours of sunlight a day.
Ginger
Ginger is quite possibly one of the easiest plants to grow, and it’s benefits are enormous! This is a natural remedy for nausea and generally a great addition to your diet. Buy some from the store. Cover it with dirt, and keep it damp as it starts to grow.
Air-Cleaning Plants
Fresh Home compiled a list of plants that naturally filter the air in your home. These houseplants require little work, but help to keep the air in your home safe for you and your family. You could start with the most common houseplants like smaller palms, English Ivy, or a Rubber Plant.
Other Herbs & Natural Cleaners
With both medicinal and culinary uses, Parsley, Basil, and Sage are all great options for an herb garden. From fighting infections to anti-inflammatory properties, the health benefits of adding these into your diet are well proven. You can even make your own essential oils. These herbs require a lot of sun, so make sure to put your indoor garden near a window.
Here is another great list from Organic Authority of natural ingredients you can use to create cleaning solutions to use around your home. This list includes some of the plants we’ve already mentioned as well as chamomile, cucumber, and peppermint.
Get Started
While you’re tending to your garden, we’d love to take care of the housework. With our all natural cleaning methods and supplies, you can trust us to keep your home safe and clean. Don’t wait! Call us at 541-601-6236 to schedule a quote or a cleaning.
Lemons! Forget pricey toxic household cleaners. You have all you need to clean your home sitting in your fruit bowl! Lemons are Nature’s Sunniest House Cleaner. Cleaning with lemons is simple with these 7 fresh and effective DIY recipes!
Cleaning with Lemons: 7 Safe, Fresh, and Effective Recipes from The Cleaning Crew, LLC.
Cleaning with Lemons Recipe #1
All-Purpose Lemon Cleaner
Via Live Simply
–> Make an all-purpose kitchen cleaner with this easy DIY recipe. This recipe is great because the vinegar and lemon combo has some superhero germ-killing properties in addition to being a great all-around cleaner. –> Click Here!
Cleaning with Lemons Recipe #2
Lemon Glass Cleaner
Via Doterra Blog
—> Make this easy Window and Glass Cleaner and you just might have to put up a warning sign for pigeons! Take a 16oz spray bottle and add 8 drops lemon essential oil or 2 table spoons lemon juice. Fill the rest of the bottle with equal parts vinegar and water then give it a shake. –> Click Here!
Cleaning with Lemons Recipe #3
Refresh Your Cutting Boards
Via The Cleaning Crew LLC.
–> Clean your wooden cutting boards plus remove stains from butcher block counter-tops. Before the wood grain has the chance to absorb stains and before you reach for the sandpaper, try this easy DIY stain removal recipe. –> Click Here!
Cleaning with Lemons Recipe #4
Lemon Polish Copper & Clean Mineral Build-up
Via The Kitchn
–> Here’s how to clean copper naturally with just lemon & salt! Cleaning your kitchen copper is easy. No need for harsh chemicals or special solutions when all you need are two natural ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen! –> Click Here!
Cleaning with Lemons Recipe #5
Lemon Garbage Disposal Ice Cubes
Via Redefined Mom
—> DIY natural garbage disposal cleaner. Clean up sink smells with these DIY Garbage Disposal cleaning cocktail cubes. These are so easy to make, and you will LOVE the fresh sent of lemons in the air.–> Click Here!
Cleaning with Lemons Recipe #6
Lemon + Salt Scouring Scrub
Via Hello Glow
–> Freshen up your sink and tub with this scrubby, lemon-scented paste. When the tub gets those gross rings or the sink looks stained, use this recipe for a little extra scrubbing and whitening power. Click Here!
Cleaning with Lemons Recipe #7
Rosemary and Lemon Foot Soak
Via A Bird Sleep
—> Rosemary and Lemon Foot Soak This soothing foot soak is a must-have for anyone on their feet all day long. Fill a shallow bowl with warm water, add the rosemary infused hot water, (recipe below) and pour in a 1/2 cup of Epsom salt. Mix up and relax! Relax. Seriously. You deserve it! Click Here!
When life hands you lemons, what other Lemon-based solutions do you make?
Our homes can become cluttered without us realizing it. This is especially true during the transition from winter to spring. Generally speaking, we’ve spent more time inside our homes during the winter. We have accumulated more stuff during the holidays. And the motivation to get stuff done is typically lowest during the winter months. But if your lack of space is becoming a real problem then it might be worth looking at storage containers for rent. With Spring on the horizon, we’ve put together a handful of super handy DIY Home Hacks and Home Storage Solutions to help keep our homes organized and clutter free. And of course, it is always fun looking at the different DIY products others have done and learning more about DIY from places like https://howtohome.com/.
DIY HOME HACK #1. Eliminate Paper Clutter Forever!
Via Design Sponge
—> Clipboards! Any desk is bound to get messy at some point, but there are certain items that you need to have within arm’s reach 24/7. These DIY gold and acrylic clipboards keep papers and notes all together and easy to access. Click Here!
DIY HOME HACK #2. DIY Clothes Pin Scarf Holder
Via Sally Ann
—> Scarf Holder! Scarves are easily tangled, lost, or damaged and organizing them can be a pain. We are always looking for ways to organize our plethora of scarves. We’re pretty sure you can think of a dozen other brilliant ways to use this clever clothespin holder. Click Here!
DIY HOME HACK #3. Organize The Mail
Via Design Sponge
–> DIY: Nature Office Organizer. Bring nature in—along with your mail! Try this DIY home hack with a simple, mossy mail organizer. Click Here!
DIY HOME HACK #4. DIY Book Shelf
Via wikiHow
5. DIY Food Storage
—> Glass Jars: Banish all commercial packaging for a clean, natural effect. You don’t need to hide your baking products behind pantry doors when they’re stored so beautifully. Easy DIY home hack –> Click Here!
DIY HOME HACK #6. Easy DIY Magnetic Knife Strip
Via Turning It Home
—> Magnetic Knife Strip! Proudly display your collection of knives and keep them within reach. After all, this is a work-space and chefs need their tools handy. Click Here!
DIY HOME HACK #7. Under Your Sink
Via Martha Stewart
—> Tension Rod Storage! Who knew your housecleaning products could look so cool? Conquer under-the-sink chaos and clutter with the help of a humble little tension rod. Suddenly housecleaning and storage doesn’t seem so daunting. Click Here!
Which of these hacks are you planning to use in your home? Chat with us about your favorite storage solutions in the comments.
As always, if you would like help with your organization projects, contact us today. Our team of trained professionals would be happy to help give your space the organization treatment!
Start the conversation here:
It’s time for some DIY inspiration!
Try one or all of our easy DIY home recipes. We’ve got you covered from beauty to home. These recipes will save you cash and work wonders too!
1. DIY SHAVING CREAM
Via Hello Glow
—> Here’s how to make an easy homemade shaving cream with coconut oil. It smells delicious and will leave your skin smooth and silky without using preservatives or synthetic ingredients.
Get started so you can get your shave on! Click Here!
2. DIY LIQUID DISH SOAP
Via Mommy Potamus
—> This is an easy DIY Homemade Liquid Dish Soap you can make at home with just a few ingredients. This simple eco-friendly recipe will remove food and grease with ease and make it easy to wash your dishes…and save money. Click Here!
3. DIY ANTIBACTERIAL SPRAY
Via Pop Sugar
—> Clean your home and freshen it at the same time with this DIY antibacterial spray. Keep your entire space germ-free with this awesome spray. What’s more, it’s safe to use around pets and kids. Click Here!
4. DIY LAUNDRY STAIN REMOVER
Via Dont Waste The Crumbs
—> Only the BEST Homemade stain remover EVER!
Remove tough stains only using 3 ingredients from your pantry. Don’t waist another moment Click Here!
5. DIY BUG SPRAY
Via Live Simply
—> While covering up is the best option for decreasing bug bites, it’s not always realistic. This quick, easy, and family-safe homemade bug spray does the trick. Live Simply’s insect repellent is great for mosquitoes, flies, and other annoying seasonal bugs. Tweak to your liking and apply with confidence. Click Here!
>>BONUS TIPS <<
Use a squeegee to remove pet hair from carpet.
First, use a squeegee with a long handle and move it back and forth across the carpet. The rubber attached to it will loosen the embedded hair. Then, pick up the clumps of hair that accumulate. Continue this process until all the hair is removed.
Ice cubes can take indentations out of carpet.
Use ice cubes to remove those annoying furniture dents from carpet. Let them melt, and then vacuum or gently lift the fibers with a spoon.
Do you have any genius home hacks we should know about?
Share with us in the comments below. 
As always, a free and simple no-obligation housecleaning quote is just a phone call away: 541-601-6236.
