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2021 CLEANING ARTICLES
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Art- MZ article – Cleaning- December 2020

How to Remove Ink Stains from Clothes
 
Has this, or something similar, ever happened to you?
 
You put on a nice, fresh shirt and head out the door. When you arrive at your destination and are chatting with friends or colleagues, someone points at your shirt and asks, “What’s that?” You look down, and a small blue or black spot is starting to grow. That’s right, the ink pen in your pocket is leaking.
 
Or perhaps your nice, fresh shirt or other item of clothing has a small spot on it, and you learn it was from simply touching an ink pen to your shirt and the ink transferred to it. It’s small, but everyone sees it.
 
An embarrassing moment, one you wish you could have avoided.
 
This type of stain doesn’t just wipe off. It takes a lot of effort to remove an ink stain, and if you don’t do it right, you will just make the situation worse. Ink spreads and migrates out, creating a bigger stain as you work on it.
 
While not an easy task, here are some tips to make ink stain removal a little easier for you. But remember, this isn’t typical cleaning, it’s aggressive, so there is always the chance of damaging the fabric.
 
Hair spray: Using an aerosol version, alcohol-based, apply liberally to the stain. Work it in and dab at it with a white paper towel. Hair spray sometimes works because the alcohol disperses some inks. Wash immediately.
 
Acetone: The ingredient in traditional nail polish removers, acetone is a very dry solvent that will work on ink. When you saturate the ink stain, it will dissolve and migrate so be ready for that, working your way from the outside in, to limit spreading. In addition to acetone, other liquid dry solvents, such as rubbing alcohol, can be used. After application, wash immediately.
 
Detergent treatment: Use a product meant to pre-treat laundry and apply to the ink stain liberally, work it in, from the outside in to limit spreading, and then wash immediately.
 
No matter the type of treatment you use, washing the garment will help remove more of the ink. Be sure to wash separately, and do not dry the garment until you are satisfied with the ink removal results. When you dry an item of clothing, attempting to remove more of the stain is often futile.
 
And remember that true fabric cleaning experts know how to remove ink stains. When you have a challenging cleaning situation, do the right thing. Call your favorite cleaning company. After all, it pays to call a pro!

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Art- MZ – Cleaning – November 2021

Cleaning Up the Medicine Cabinet
 
Although springtime is generally the accepted time of the year to clean out the medicine cabinet, it is something you should do on a more regular basis.
 
Medications, drugs, and other items can expire between annual cleanings, and it’s important to keep on top of what makes you healthy and happy.
 
If you take a peek inside your medicine cabinet, you will find all types of items, some of it medicine, some of it not. Look at all expiration dates, from prescription drugs to over-the-counter products, toothpaste, sprays, and more.
 
Here are a few quick tips to consider as you start rummaging around in your medicine cabinet (or wherever you tend to store your products):
 
Date check: Look at the expiration of everything in the cabinet. Although it is generally accepted that the expiration date is usually before items become obsolete, it’s safer to go by the date. Discard any items beyond the expiration date.
 
Quality: Look at how your items are stored. If not in airtight containers, the quality may have taken a hit. Look at the color, check the consistency… is it the same as when you purchased these items brand new? If not, it’s time to replace them.
 
Unmarked goods: Some people like to put things in baggies and other containers that aren’t marked. If you aren’t 100% sure of what’s in that baggie, discard it. Be safe.
 
Discarding items: Just throwing drugs, pills, and other items into the toilet is a bad habit. Flushing it away might damage the environment. Instead, properly dispose of any items that you are replacing in the trash, preferably in a sealed bag in case the trash spills or moisture gets into what you are discarding. That can cause an unwanted reaction (rare) or create an odor (more common) that you might find distasteful.
 
The big picture: Although items that are beyond their expiration date may not harm you if you use them, they may not help you, either. The effectiveness of the item diminishes over time, and if you consume products that aren’t helping you, you are wasting your time.
 
And when it comes to cleaning anything in your home, it’s always a good idea to consult a cleaning expert. Call your favorite cleaning company today with any questions you have. After all, it pays to call a pro!

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Art- MZ – Cleaning – October 2021

How to Fix the Mess in the Microwave
 
There is no greater compliment to your cleaning skills than someone commenting that your microwave oven is the cleanest they have ever seen.
 
You’ve never heard someone say that about the microwave in your kitchen? Then let’s get to work!
 
Microwaves are known to be messy. After all, they are designed to warm up food, and usually, that involves spills, spatters, and for some food items, explosions. Who hasn’t put something in the microwave to heat it up only to hear that dreaded POP as it expanded and flung remnants all over the inside of the oven?
 
Some of you may be diligent with covering up food you are warming, but most of us… just hope for the best. And when that fails us, here are a few practical tips to a perfectly clean microwave oven.
 
Start smart
 
The first step to cleaning a dirty microwave oven is to wipe up as much excess food particles you can. Spraying them just means a smeary mess. Use a dish cloth or paper towels to remove food particles, paying special attention to the inside of the door and corners, where particles can build up over time.
 
Steam it up
 
Nothing works better than a little preparation. Take an uncovered bowl of water and put it in the microwave and cook it for two or three minutes. The steam and heat of the water will help loosen the grease and remaining food particles for easier removal. This head start is a very smart way to clean your microwave oven.
 
Wipe it all down
 
It’s best not to spray the interior with just any cleaning solution. What you smell might end up in your food. Residues and odors can affect the next dish you prepare. Instead, use a cloth, hot water, and dish detergent as your cleaning arsenal. With the dampened cloth, wipe away greasy residues and food particles, repeating often until you have a squeaky-clean surface. You can also put the dampened cloth on really stubborn areas and allow the detergent to work a few minutes and then wipe it away. When you are done, dry it all with fresh towels and inspect, recleaning any areas of concern.
 
Of course, to really get something clean in your home, do the right thing. Call your favorite cleaning company. After all, it pays to call a pro!

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Art-MarketingZoo Cleaning article – September 2021

The Often-Forgotten Vacuum Bag

Vacuum cleaners are an integral part of life for any family and a common tool used daily in commercial buildings.
While the vacuum hums along doing its job, picking up dirt, grit, debris, and potential contaminants, there is a part of the vacuum we might not think about that often.
You usually can’t see it… but it’s right there, inside your vacuum cleaner — the bag.

The vacuum bag is the repositor of all substances that the vacuum collects through the beater bar or suction assembly and hoses. Unless you use a bagless vacuum, and there are some on the market today, all air goes from the surface being vacuumed and through the vacuum bag. The air you breathe around a vacuum is partly the air that has passed through the unit.

Problem detected

You know you have a problem when you turn on the vacuum cleaner and notice a foul odor. What you are detecting is the result of organic and inorganic matter inside the vacuum bag that has had time grow microorganisms that create odors. A vacuum bag that has sat a long period of time without being changed or cleaned can produce significant bad odors.

While your vacuum cleaner manufacturer will have recommendations on the frequency of changing the bag, those are simply general recommendations. Professional carpet cleaners recommend changing a bag when one-half to two-thirds full.

Is that enough?

The nose knows

In addition to following a schedule, use some common sense. Remember that a vacuum bag in the dark that is stuffed with organic soils will quickly become an odor-causing source. If you vacuum every day, you may not notice it. But give it a week or two, and the odors become evident.

At the first hint of an odor, change the bag. Even if you vacuum once or twice, and put the vacuum away for several days, it may be good to change the bag before using it again.

Bags are cheap. Your health is not.

Professionals cleaners often change the vacuum bag and clean all equipment before going from one home to the next. The do this to avoid cross-contamination. Their basic principles of equipment maintenance keep you and your family safe.

When it comes to the absolute best cleaning of all surfaces, do the right thing. Call your favorite cleaning company. After all, it pays to call a pro!

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Art-MarketingZoo Cleaning article – August 2021

A Litter Help

Cats are responsible for many things, such as making you happy when they snuggle up to you, making you cheer when they rid your house of a mouse, and giving you something to do with the camera app on your smartphone. They do a lot to bring people happiness, but they also need quite a bit of attention at the same time.

Besides feeding them, taking them to the occasional veterinarian visit, clipping their claws, and generally making them happy, you have something unpleasant to deal with: The litter box.

Unless you have a fancy one that is self-cleaning, you have to do the scooping because your cat isn’t going to do it for you. And more than just scooping is involved with the chore. Here are a few tips to give you a “litter help” with the cat box (pun intended).

The first thing to consider is a schedule. Don’t just clean the litter box when you smell it or the cat(s) start kicking out some gross objects. It’s good to do it every day, or every two days, so it stays hygienic and doesn’t start to smell. Make it a habit, the frequency of cleaning.

Wear rubber gloves and use a scooper meant for the task and scoop out the waste into a plastic bag. DO NOT toss it all in the toilet, as that will just plug up the plumbing and then you have another task to handle. Close the bag up and discard it into the trash can, preferably one outside. Just adding the clumps to your regular trash can in the kitchen means you will have an odiferous situation on your hands within an hour or so. Bag it, close it, toss it.

Depending on how many cats you have, completely change out the litter on a schedule as well. This should be done every 3-4 weeks. Completely empty out the pan, and carefully rinse it out, using detergent and hot water, but be careful not to make bigger mess. Remember that most cat litter clumps when wet.

Finally, placement of the litter box is important. It needs to be in an area not too close to the nose, if you know what we mean. The litter will come out, either kicked by the cat(s) or tracked out on paws. Sweeping it up is part of the job.

And once in a while, your cat(s) cause “accidents” and bad odors can become part of your carpet, furniture, and other textiles. When that happens, do the right thing, and call your favorite cleaning company. After all, it pays to call a pro!

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Art-MZ article – Cleaning – July 2021

Computer Cleaning Made Simple

When people discuss “cleaning the computer” they often refer to running a disk check, removing old files, deleting applications that just take up space, and all the tasks that help it to run faster.

But cleaning can be an old-fashioned task and add value to that electronic device you rely on each and every day. Everything works better when it is cleaned and maintained.

Whether you have a computer with a “tower” and separate monitor, keyboard, etc., or a laptop, or a tablet, even a smartphone, they all need attention from time to time.

Keep it safe and organized

The first step is to turn off the device, no matter what. Electric shock can occur during cleaning, especially since you will use moisture to some degree.

Take apart the tower (if you have one), remove it, and keep all the screws and tiny parts organized. There’s nothing more frustrating than taking something apart and either losing a small part or having extra when the job is done.

Getting to work

Using compressed air, such as from a small can, blow out the dust that has accumulated inside. There may even be some spider webs. If you need to wipe out the interior, use a very soft cloth and be careful with the wires and connections. You don’t want a cleaning to turn into a repair.

Most likely, the computer or device you have is a laptop or tablet. For those, using compressed air is smart on openings and vented areas, you want to keep dust out of the device. A close examination of ports often shows accumulation of soil and grime.

With any device, wiping down the outside keeps oils from building up and especially helps with any buttons and keys. Using a solution such as for eyeglasses, and a soft microfiber cloth, apply the solution to surfaces and quickly (before it penetrates) wipe it off. Screens can be stubborn, as they show streaks. Microfiber cloths are the best tool for minimizing streaks.

For keyboards, use compressed air and cotton swabs to remove the dust and buildup in crevices. For stubborn soils, a little more effort will be required and maybe some careful cleaning with sharp objects, such as a wooden toothpick, might be warranted. But always be very careful not to cause damage to the keys.

And don’t forget, for all your cleaning needs and questions, contact your favorite cleaning company. After all, it pays to call a pro!

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Art-MarketingZoo article – Cleaning – June 2021

A Time for Reflection

Cleaning windows is a common chore, and many people will schedule an entire day or more to it during spring or annual cleaning. It involves removing screens, climbing up on ladders, stepping over shrubbery, a little huffing and puffing, among other challenges.

When cleaning your windows, don’t forget the interior glass that can get neglected. That’s right, the mirrors in your home. If you keep your mirrors clean, you might even look better when you gaze at yourself!
Cleaning mirrors may seem like a simple task… but like with all household tasks, there are proper, best-practice steps that make the job easier, better, and save you time as well.

Supplies

As with window washing, you can use a scrub tool and squeegee on mirrors, but that’s not very effective on smaller surfaces and especially those not perfectly flat.
Most will opt for a quality glass cleaner, one that limits streaking. You can find plenty of options at your grocery or department store.

If you are the do-it-yourself type of person, you can also make your own. Most cleaning products are, after all, water based. In a trigger sprayer, mixing up a few cups of water with a few drops of dishwashing detergent and about a cup of rubbing alcohol makes a great homemade alternative as a glass cleaner. The rubbing alcohol helps with evaporation. Some recipes call for a few drops of vinegar as well. Can’t hurt!

You also need lint-free towels. Many use disposable paper towels but make sure they are higher quality as you don’t want them falling apart when you use them. Wiping off edges and streaks is essential to a good glass cleaning job.

Cleaning tips

The actual cleaning is pretty simple, but you must be thorough. Apply/mist on a small amount of solution, wetting out the entire surface. Using your towels, work over the surface until all the moisture is evaporated and then keep wiping. Use a zig-zag pattern, turning over the towel and using the dryer side when you can. A final wiping with a clean, unused towel should finish off the job.

Make sure the room is well-lit. Look at the glass from all angles. What might look fine from one side of the room may look terrible from the other side.
For all your best cleaning tips, and to get some help with all your cleaning tasks, call your favorite cleaning company. After all, it pays to call a pro!

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Art-MZ Cleaning article – May 2021

How to Remove Wax from Surfaces    

Wax is a big part of everyday life.

You use candles to add a nice warm glow to your home, and to add a pleasing scent as well. You wax your car to give it a nice shine. You use wax to remove unwanted hai… oops, let’s not get too personal.

But you get the picture. Wax is beneficial, handy, it has many uses, but when it is spilled onto a surface by accident, it can be a tough challenge to clean up. As you know, when wax is spilled, it is hot and can really stick to surfaces, especially fabric like carpet or upholstery.

Here are a few useful tips you can implement when cleaning up wax.

Carpet, furniture, and fabrics

There’s no point in hurrying. Once it hits the surface, it hardens up faster than ice cream disappearing in front of a teenager. But once it hardens, you may be able to break up the wax and pull it off the fabric. BE CAREFUL not to damage the fabric, especially furniture.

You can choose cold or hot treatment. You can freeze the wax with ice cubes and break it off, or you can warm it up for removal. You can do this with a hair dryer, clothes teamer or even a clothes iron if you use the lowest setting and keep a damp towel between the iron and the surface, and just dab at it to transfer the wax. If you can warm up the wax to melting temperature, you can remove it. The color left behind will most likely need the attention of a cleaning company.

Hard surfaces

This is easier. You have several approaches. Whether glass, wood, tile, or other hard surfaces, simply scrape (be careful not to scratch the surface) the wax off. If stubborn, you can also warm up the wax with a hair dryer or clothes steamer and then wipe it off.

An oily residue may remain, and you can use a hot detergent and towel to remove that. Some recommend rubbing alcohol as the solvent of choice.

Prevention – and the best cure

Of course, being careful not to spill the wax is the smart thing to do, but accidents do happen. And when they do, and you need help, reach out to your favorite cleaning company. After all, it pays to call a pro!

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​Art-MarketingZoo article – CLEANING – April 2021
 
Dive into Spring Cleaning

When the temperature is climbing up to an acceptable level and flowers are flexing their muscles, when the birds are singing and you are in a (generally) better mood, that just might mean that spring has arrived.

And with that comes the unignorable urge to clean everything in sight.

Spring cleaning is an age-old tradition that grips virtually everyone with a home or apartment. It’s that annual event likened to a pilgrimage that means you discover all kinds of things, such as “What in the world has been growing behind the refrigerator?” and “Just how many spiders lived in our basement this winter?”

Spring cleaning needs to be strategic, not a haphazard running around the house with a feather duster in one hand and the vacuum in the other.

The first step is to prioritize. Which areas of the house need attention first? Which will take the most time? Which will make the most impact (positive) on creating a cleaner, healthier home?

Make a list. What you will do with the high-touch points, dusting, vacuuming, moving furniture, special tasks such as window washing or oven cleaning. Also add in what you need professional services for, such as carpet and furniture cleaning, hard floor care, and similar tough jobs that give you a migraine just thinking about them.

Create a schedule. While some may have a few days they can put against spring cleaning chores, many must split it up. Make it manageable. After you create your list and priorities, get out the calendar and map it all out so your plan gets some life to it. Nothing feels as good as checking off those cleaning tasks over a period of time.

Take your time. When dusting, vacuuming, or another cleaning task, don’t hurry through it. There’s nothing as valuable as a thorough, diligent cleaning of surfaces. Moving that vacuum slowly over the carpet means you are pulling more dry soil, which means less dust “coming back” after spring cleaning is over.

You will also be “getting rid of stuff” during the spring-cleaning process. Sentiments may come into play. Although that elephant shaped planter in the back corner of the basement came from a favorite third cousin (what is her name, anyway?), you have never introduced anything resembling live growth to it. Maybe just get rid of it, along with all that other stuff that you know you won’t use in this lifetime.

And when it comes time to get some expert help with your cleaning tasks, do the right thing. Call your favorite cleaning company. After all, it pays to call a pro!
 

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Art-MZ article – Cleaning – March 2021

The Tenacity of Soap Scum

Soap scum is an irritating by-product of cleaning, especially in tubs, showers, and sinks. It’s ironic that a product you use to clean with creates problems on surfaces.

And besides just soap buildup, what’s encased in the soap scum includes body oil, dead skin, bacteria, dirt, and more. This is why you may notice a foul odor as the soap scum gets thicker over time.

Using liquid soap instead of bar soap will hinder soap scum buildup, because bar soap contains products that tend to create a film. Wiping down surfaces in your tub, shower, and sinks after you use them also helps. And there are specialty products you can mist onto surfaces routinely that will hinder the buildup of film.

But when soap scum strikes, here are a few easy steps to follow to remove it.

Mix up equal amounts warm water and white vinegar and add a small amount (just a drop) of dish detergent. Use a spray bottle and liberally apply to the soap scum, give the solution several minutes to work, and wipe it off. Keep repeating until the soap scum is gone. The small amount of dish detergent acts as a surfactant and penetrates the soap scum, and the water/vinegar mix helps break down the elements that created the scum.

Mixing up a paste of baking soda and vinegar also works. Use about a half cup of baking soda in a small bowl, add just enough white vinegar until it becomes a paste. It will fizz for a while, and once it is done fizzing, apply to the areas you wish to treat. This is especially effective in areas such as where you leave a bar of soap and the scum is really thick.

There are some cleaning products you can purchase at your favorite department store that also work on soap scum. They are applied directly to the surface and bubble and fizz and make removal much easier.

All three of these solutions will work for you, but as with all cleaning activities, it takes time, elbow grease — aka scrubbing — to get the job done. Rinse it all off and wipe dry to really see how effective you were in removing the soap scum.

But when you really need some cleaning help and tips, do the right thing. Call your favorite cleaning company. After all, it pays to call a pro!

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Art-MarketingZoo-Cleaning-February 2021
 
Stinky Garbage Disposals
 
Your garbage disposal is probably one of the devices in your home you seldom think about. After all, it’s hidden from view, you activate it with a simple flip of a switch, and it does its job.
 
But if it ever fails you, it quickly jumps to the top of the list of things you value most.
 
Your garbage disposal is, obviously, fitted to the drainpipe of your kitchen sink, and it grinds up all kinds of food waste, gunk, and more. It works diligently to gobble up and push into the sewer system what you should put and what you should never put into a disposal, which shortens the life of the device.
 
Safety first
 
It should be obvious to most that putting your fingers into the garbage disposal is a bad idea. Even when the unit is turned off, never reach in an attempt to dislodge or remove something that is hindering the garbage disposal’s efforts.
 
And when working in the disposal unit, always unplug or turn off the power before proceeding. It’s always best to call a pro in those circumstances when a simple, quick fix is not an option.
 
Disposal tips
 
While your garbage disposal might seem like a superhero, it is not. You can put many food and other items down through the disposal, but some will create future problems. And the following advice will be tempered or adjusted by the type of garbage disposal you have. Some find their disposal will dispose of anything. Others find they have to be very selective on what they put into the disposal.
 
Smaller portions are better. Avoid greasy foods, fruit pits/seeds, bones, pastas and rice, nuts, coffee grounds, and any other substances that might build up in your sewer system.
 
Maintenance
 
Taking care of the health of your garbage disposal is important.
 
Weekly — and no less than monthly — let your disposal while running gobble up some baking soda and vinegar. You can put both down the drain slowly and if you see foam develop, that’s fine, it’s normal.
 
Alternate disposing of ice and also hot water. This helps with removal of the different types of debris that may attach to the blades of the garbage disposer.
 
There are times when advice is just not enough. Do the right thing. Call your professional cleaning company.
 
After all, it pays to call a pro!
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Art-MarketingZoo article – January 2021 – Cleaning
 
Dust(less) Best Practices

Dirt and grime can be found in most places and are part of life. The goal most of us have is to keep all of it outside, where it belongs. But inside it comes, sometimes with a vengeance. In the air. On shoes. Tracked in by pets.

But what about dust? Is dust a simple type of soil that floats in the air, that you can see hanging in the sunlight coming in a window? That’s a common belief, yet you would be surprised at what composes dust in your home.

Dust can be pet dander, skin cells, dust mite excrement, flooring materials breaking down, and, of course, just regular fine soil that has made its way into your home. Much of this may be allergen triggers for those in your household, so keeping your home as dust-free as possible is important.

It’s a simple matter to dust a surface, but another one entirely to do it thoroughly and to remove dust from those hard-to-reach areas. Sometimes, our dusting efforts actually create more problems, as we might simply put the dust in the air or just move it around.

Here are a few best practices to consider. As you work, think of your own lungs and perhaps wear a mask appropriate for dusting. If you have allergies, this is very important.

Tip #1: To keep dust in its place, start at the top of a room and work your way down. Top to bottom. If you don’t collect all the dust with the cleaning cloth you are using, it should fall down, and you can get it as you keep working.

Tip #2: It’s always best to use a moistened cloth rather than a dry cloth, if the surface can be cleaned with moisture. This way you easily collect the dust as you work. Turn the cloth over or rinse it out often. You want to remove dust, not redistribute it.

Tip #3: For hard-to-reach areas, many might just skip cleaning. Don’t do that. Think smart. You can use long-handled dusters that collect dust and don’t sweep it away. You can use flat-mop type dusters for the sides of appliances. Also, think about vacuums with attachments to suck up the dust under furniture or behind heavy items that can’t easily be moved.

Of course, the best option is to call your favorite cleaning company and let them handle the entire job, giving you time to do something you enjoy. After all, it pays to call a pro!