(Above & Beyond Cleaning. - San Jose, CA) Above & Beyond Cleaning

Professional House Cleaning Tips

General Cleaning Tips
Dedicate 5 minutes a day to checking your home’s cleanliness. Use anti-bacterial wipes to quickly remove stains, spills or smears.

Keep your cleaning supplies close at hand, preferably in a tote to carry the supplies together. Keep bathroom cleaning supplies on a bathroom shelf, kitchen cleaning supplies in the kitchen cabinet, etc.

Use professional-quality cleaning products. Above & Beyond uses Zep cleaning products, which are available at your local Home Depot store. The products are very efficient and work well on most surfaces. It is extremely important to read the label on the product to confirm the product is appropriate to use on a specific surface.

Use a routine to clean. Go from top to bottom in the room, and work your way to the right around the room. Start at the same place every time so you do not miss anything.

Kitchen Cleaning Tips
Stick to a system of working left to right, from the top to the bottom, starting with the top of the refrigerator (the most often-missed surface!). And after using Zep Stainless Steel Cleaner for your stainless steel sink, buff it with a dry cloth to really make it shine.

Water, mild detergent and a sponge is all you need to clean a microwave oven; avoid harsh or abrasive cleaning agents.

Unplug and pull the refrigerator/freezer out three to four times a year to clean underneath. Vacuum the front of the motor and coils to remove dust and dirt. Your refrigerator will work better longer.

A small cotton ball with a few drops of vanilla on it will eliminate odors when placed in your refrigerator.

Bathroom Cleaning Tips
Before cleaning, use a dry tissue to pick up loose hairs in tubs and sinks nicely. Then use Zep Glass Cleaner on tile walls and ceramic fixtures for clean, shiny surfaces.

Carpet Cleaning Tips
A small whisk broom will help you clean the carpet edges around the outside of each room and in corners.

Can't find the source of a pet odor on your carpet or furniture? Darken the room, and then aim a blacklight; the source of odors will glow.

If you spill either red or white wine on carpet, believe it or not, use salt! Pour salt over the spill. Allow the wine to soak into the salt and then vacuum up the salt. If the stain remains, mix 1/2 tsp of dishwashing soap with 8 oz of warm water. Apply a small amount, then blot and repeat until the stain is completely removed. Cover the stain with a towel and press down repeatedly to absorb the stain and the soap. Once the stain is completely removed, rinse the area with cold water. Blot with a dry terrycloth towel and repeat if necessary until all the moisture and residue is removed. If the spot or stain turns to a brown color when dry, mix 1 part white vinegar and two parts water. Apply a small amount and blot. Repeat only once.

Wood Floors
Always remember to use a very dry mop when you mop hardwood floors. This prevents moisture from leaking between boards in the floor.

Resilient Floors
When mopping, use two mop buckets: one for the cleaning solution and one to rinse your mop. The dirt and sand from your mop will wash out and settle in the rinse bucket, keeping the cleaning solution cleaner longer.

To remove a water-based stain from a marble surface, mix ½ cup of flour and add 1 tsp. of hydrogen peroxide. To remove an oil-based stain from a marble surface, mix ½ cup of flour and some dishwashing soap (a few squeezes of the bottle will do the trick!). Pour warm water into the mixture until the consistency is thick and no longer runny. Spread the substance over the stain and cover it with clear plastic wrap. Tape the wrap to the floor and let it settle overnight. Remove it in the morning and let the mixture dry. Scrape the mixture off the marble once dry.

Upholstery Cleaning Tips
A lint remover with 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 it into the fabric weave.

Chandelier Cleaning To clean the glass baubles, place a terry towel in the bottom of a sink, partially fill with water adding some automatic dishwashing detergent and rubbing alcohol. Remove the baubles from the chandelier, let them soak and dry.

Sprays are available that clean without removing the baubles if used frequently. Protect your furniture and carpet by laying down plastic, then newspaper. You can mix your own spray by partially filling a 32 oz spray bottle with water, add one tablespoon of automatic dish washing detergent, ¼ cup rubbing alcohol and 1/3 cup vinegar.. Finish filling the bottle with water. This is a wonderful window cleaner too

Windows & Mirrors
You need not clean your windows and mirrors more frequently than on a monthly basis. It is less work yet still prevents buildup from occurring.

Only use ammonia or alcohol-based window cleaners to efficiently remove dirt and grease while minimizing smearing or streaking.

A dry newspaper works better than paper towels to clean wet windows and prevent streaking.

How do I clean a Dishwasher Fill your dishwasher's soap cup with Citric Acid Powder. Citric acid powder is used in canning and for aromatherapy, it may be a bit hard to find but will last awhile. Run your dishwasher empty on the regular cycle and when it is done your dishwasher will be fresh smelling and sparkling!

If you can't find citric acid powder, fill a coffee cup with white vinegar and place it on the top rack of the dishwasher, run on regular cycle with no other dishes. This helps to remove dishwasher odors as well.

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