Cleaning

How are professional cleaners so fast?

The reason great professional cleaners work so fast is because they have a system that they abide by. They have a set routine that allows them to gain maximum success such as starting at the top and working their way down. They will usually start upstairs, most commonly in the bathroom. They start here because they can leave the toilet and anything that needs it to soak while they complete the rest and come back to rinse at the end. They work from the walls downwards so that the last thing in each room to be cleaned is the flooring, starting upstairs also allows them to bring rubbish and dirt down with them so that the clean flooring upstairs won’t need to be walked on again minimising the need to rewash. Once downstairs they will start in the most problematic room again this being the kitchen. Pre-soaking any appliances such as the oven or kettle to give the dirt time to lift while other areas can be completed. Using the same principle as upstairs ensuring that every surface is clean and then finishing again with the flooring working their way to finish at the exit door taking all rubbish with them. 

How much do cleaning companies charge clients?

When professional cleaning companies charge for their cleaning services there are many factors they consider before giving you their best available price, Factors such as which type of clean you require whether it be After builders, Deep End of Tenancy Cleaning, Spring cleaning, Upholstery cleaning, Steam Carpet cleaning or a regular cleaning. All of these services come with a different pricing. If the cleaning company charges by the hour it can range from £13 to £25 per hour. They may have a set charge for the size of the property, this means that the bigger the property the higher the price they will charge. Most great cleaning companies will sort out the pricing before they agree to clean ensuring that there are no hidden charges at the end. In the rare case that there may be extra charges they should contact you to discuss before any further cleaning goes ahead. 

What is the best way to find a cleaner?

The best way to find a trusted professional cleaner is by word of mouth, recommendations from friends and family give you the peace of mind that someone you already know and trust has received the services from the cleaning company already. This means that you could even go and see for yourself the results of their cleaning before deciding to use them in your own home. Other ways to check whether a cleaning company is the best is on websites online such as checkatrade and google. We would always advise doing some research on the company before vomiting to book them, checking their webpage to see what qualifications their cleaners have and what level of training they have received. On any true professional cleaning website you should be able to view before and after photos of their work, this is a cleaning company’s trophy case. It’s their way of showing off their work and is the best way to entice new customers to use them for their cleaning needs. 

Why is it so hard to find a cleaner?

The main reason it can be difficult to find a great cleaning company is simply due to shortage in cleaners, not many people want to clean for a living so cleaning companies struggle to find candidates that want to clean. The wage is fair however cleaning is not one of the best paid jobs on the market. Some cleaning jobs require the cleaners to provide their own cleaning equipment too; this makes it expensive to do for a job if the pay back isn’t rewarding enough, not to mention the need for transport to the properties; this can also add to the outgoings for cleaners. From the customers’ side of things, finding a trustworthy cleaning company can be time consuming. Spending time researching which company can provide the right service and at times that fit around daily life can be challenging. Once you find a professional cleaning company in London it’s best to pay fairly and tip where it is deserved and possible, this helps cleaners continue to offer the best cleaning service that they can. 

Family-run cleaning business Premium Clean has noticed that when it comes to cleaning our homes, many people are making cleaning mistakes which are doing more harm than good to their houses, so check out the below list that they have put together and make sure you are avoiding these housework blunders to ensure your home is as clean and healthy as possible.

Using Dirty Cleaning Tools

It is essential that when cleaning your home, you are using clean cleaning tools. Dirty tools will spread germs and dirt around your house more than you would realise, so after each clean, thoroughly clean any devices you use, including things such as your mop, broom, dustpan and brush, cloths and feather dusters.

Not Cleaning Before Disinfecting

Surfaces should be thoroughly cleansed before you disinfect them because disinfectants are less effective if dirt, dust, or grime are present. After all, it makes it harder for the chemicals to kill the bacteria, so always wipe down before disinfecting!

Rubbing Stains Instead of Blotting

Stains rubbed into a carpet are one of the most common problems we encounter here at Premium Clean. It is important to blot any spillages with a clean cloth or kitchen towel to soak up as much liquid as possible without rubbing! Rubbing a stain can cause the fluid to seep deeper into the carpet or upholstery, causing more extensive stains that become harder to remove and damaging the fabric.

Wiping Surfaces Too Soon

After spraying anti-bacterial spray onto a surface, you must leave it for at least a couple of minutes for it to do its job and kill all the bacteria. If you wipe too soon, the cleaning spray will have the same effect as using just water.

Cleaning Surfaces with Sponges

This is a big no! Sponges harbour thousands of germs and are one of the most dirty things in our kitchens. If you are cleaning surfaces with a dirty sponge, you are spreading those germs around and making your surfaces dirtier than they were to start with, so ditch the sponge for a clean cloth!

Using the Same Cleaning Cloth Around the House

This is similar to using a sponge – once you have used a cloth to clean something, it must be washed before it can be used again to clean another area. You will probably have quite a few clean clothes for cleaning your whole house, so it’s good to purchase lots of clothes and then pop them in the washing machine together on a hot wash after every use. Top tip: rinse them before putting them in the washing machine to keep them cleaner.

Not Providing Proper Ventilation

Ventilation is as essential for our houses as it is for our health. The air inside our homes can contain elevated levels of dust, moisture and odours, which put the house at risk of mould growth, so open your windows and doors as often as possible to let fresh, healthy air in for your home and your lungs.

Cleaning from the Ground Up

If you are cleaning from the ground up, you are making much more work for yourself! It may not be enough for you to have noticed, but once you start cleaning the higher areas, small amounts of dust or grime you haven’t picked up with your cloth will fall to the ground or lower surfaces. This means you will have to go over places you have already cleaned or cleaned again sooner because the dirt and dust have built up more quickly than they should have.

Kill and Removing Mould

So, before removing mould spores, you must first find the leading cause. This can be coming from an external source or internal. A drippy drain pipe on the exterior wall can cause moisture to seep through the brickwork, causing damp spots inside your property. 

Mould can also be caused by internal causes such as poor ventilation and condensation. Much heated air in the bathroom or kitchen crashes into colder air on surfaces such as window panes and external walls with wallpaper. 

Once you have determined the main issue, you can look at how to remove and kill mould, stopping it in its tracks. So before you reach for the bleach and any other harsh chemicals, know that bleach is not a cleaning product that will do any good fighting against mould. We want to help you find an eco-friendly, safe product that can be used around children, pets and even allergy sufferers. 

After all, removing the mould protects your health, so 

you want to ensure whatever cleaning products you use aren’t going to cause damage to your health. You need to ensure that once the removal process has been started, there is correct ventilation to allow the cleaned area to dry thoroughly.

Don’t forget mould and moisture.

There are a few ways to ensure that your property is correctly ventilated. Some choose to purchase dehumidifiers. However, this option can be costly on your energy bills, and these units require regular maintenance and regular cleaning. 

Some more cost-friendly methods include using some of the following cleaning products that can be found in most of your household pantries:

Nearly everyone will have a box of baking soda in the cleaning cupboard. This stuff is used in so many cleaning methods that it is a common item in your home. Its neutral pH makes it safe to use around everyone in the household, including pets and children. It works by absorbing the moisture that mould requires to grow. It also kills mould spores and deodorises the area, leaving no mouldy, damp, or small behind. 

Because of the absorption also allows the site to dry quickly, which is essential when fighting mould. You must begin by sprinkling baking soda directly onto the affected area and let it sit for approximately 1 hour. Then, using a stiff bristle brush, scrub the site thoroughly and wipe off any soda residue. Finally, rinse with warm, soapy water to remove any remaining mould. Always let the area completely dry by allowing as much airflow as possible. 

Another natural solution is vinegar.

Vinegar is naturally acidic and kills 80 per cent of mould species. Again, it is entirely safe to use around children and pets. Mix 1 part vinegar with 1 part water and put it into a spray bottle. Please apply to the affected area and let it sit for approximately 1 hour. 

After the recommended time, wipe the area using a damp cloth. This is to remove the acidic solution. Finally, again, allow the site to dry, providing correct ventilation. With this method, you may notice a lingering smell of vinegar briefly but don’t worry. This will disappear within a couple of hours. Vinegar is a very effective method for removing mould from all surfaces. Even clothing can be soaked in vinegar to kill off mould spores.