Tag Archives: cleaning tips

Tips for the Ritual Cleaning Out of the Fridge

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I’m currently going through the motions of giving the household fridge a decent clean, so thought I’d outline the steps one takes to clean the fridge and how to maintain it leaving it hygienically clean. Considered to being the hardest working and most important appliance in the house, the refrigerator which operates around the clock, plays a vital role in the health and wellbeing of your family.

I’ve come across some sordid fridges in my time, ones that are covered in mould and grime and reeking from an awful stench. The fridge is constantly bombarded with drips and spills, together with food that have passed their used by dates, resulting in bacteria and bad odours. These come about due to normal day to day activities within the house and can be resolved by following some easy tips.

I’ve waited until the day before a big shopping day, where much of the food from the fridge has been consumed, doing it when the fridge is fully stocked after a big shop makes the job so much harder. So let’s roll up our sleeves and get started:

  1. To get started you’ll need gloves, a bucket of water with disinfectant, rags, sponge, scourer, and spray bottle of disinfectant. As a safety tip, be sure to turn off the fridge at the power point.
  2. Empty the refrigerator of all its contents, disposing of food that contain mould, give off an abnormal stench or have passed the used by date.
  3. Fill the kitchen sink up with water and detergent then remove all the shelves and compartments from the fridge. Place them in the sink and clean thoroughly using the kitchen scourer and sponge. Wipe down all food containers, where possible remove the food and clean inside the container as well as out.
  4. Return to the inside of the fridge and begin cleaning the inside starting from the very top and work your way down the walls of the fridge, cleaning all crevices and compartments making use of your bucket of water, disinfectant, sponge, rags and scourer for those hard to remove stains.  Finally it is time to mop up the bottom of the fridge with the rags before disinfecting it.
  5. Clean the fridge externally, start by removing all items that tend to accumulate on the top of the fridge. Spray and wipe clean the fridge, once again starting from the top and working your way down. Be sure to clean in and around the handle and any other crevices that can collect grime.
  6. With the cleaning complete it is time to Dry and return all shelves and containers to the fridge. Don’t forget to turn fridge back on and replace the food and drinks. To prolong shelf life make sure they are stored to allow proper air flow throughout and visit your manufacturers refrigerator manual to determine where best to store certain food types.
  7. Now that the fridge is clean inside and out it is up to you to maintain the hygiene and cleanliness of the fridge – ensure the fridge seals completely when the door is closed – check the rubber seal for any damage, seal food containers properly, dispose of unwanted food stuffs regularly and clean up fresh spills as they occur.

Follow these instructions and you too will have a fridge that is clean and hygienic, with food that is safe for your entire family to consume whenever those pangs of hunger hit.

A Few Tips For The Spring Racing Carnival

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Spring has sprung and the Spring Racing Carnival is well underway in Melbourne. With The Melbourne Cup and other feature race days like Oakes Day just around the corner its high time I gave you all a few tips… cleaning tips that is.

Tip Number 1: The Sweep – the broom of choice for professionals everywhere is made by Oates. The brand we rely on.

Tip Number 2: The Odds – Sick of washing socks and coming up with one short? Here’s the solution Nooddsocks. The no fuss wash bag that saves you time and money.

Tip Number 3: Scratchings – Annoyed by those difficult to get rid of scratches on your windows and mirrors. How to remove scratches from glass will give you the answer.

Enjoy the Spring Carnival and I hope you all clean up at the races!

Delegate And Clean Up Your Act

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Business can be hectic at the best of times. Everyone in your business has a role to play in making things tick along like clock work. In business you need to satisfy your customers, provide harmony and safety in the workplace, and a multitude of other tasks, the least of which is ensuring you make a profit.

A large part of customer satisfaction and loyalty as well as employee harmony & safety can be put down to providing a clean environment. This however is not something that happens with a snap of the fingers.

You have the option of having your employees being burdened with the role of cleaning your business on top of all their other functions. In a small business where there is plenty of down time this is a common option.

Another option is to delegate that role to a commercially trained cleaner, one that guarantees results. This option allows you and your employees to concentrate on the core of your business, doing what you do best.

When looking for a commercial cleaner to service your business I recommend using a cleaning service provider you can trust. That means one with a solid history in the cleaning business who has the experience and necessary know how to provide you with a service that maintains your workplace with a minimum of fuss. This means providing you with suitably trained cleaners, covered by the necessary insurances and have undergone appropriate background checks.

So remember, don’t burden your staff with cleaning your premises and don’t settle for second rate cleaning, delegate that responsibility to the cleaning professionals. Also, when seeking out professional cleaners, ensure they have the experience, workplace practices and backup to ensure your business is cleaned to your satisfaction.

Spring Time in Melbourne – So Let’s Clean!

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For many spring cleaning can be such a chore. You can approach it in a variety of ways, first of which is to just avoid getting started at all. Avoidance is the most commonly used tactic when it comes to the annual spring clean. Unfortunately, while this approach takes little of your time and effort, the results will be far from desirable. There’s gotta be a better way. And there is.

Hire a cleaning service to do the hard, laborious, painstaking work for you. Of course I would say that, wouldn’t I. In fact don’t hire any cleaning service, for a cleaning service with the best results you’ll need to hire the best cleaning service in the business. Hillson Cleaning Services comes to mind.

For those of you who are gluttons for punishment, have masochistic tendencies or one of those rare people who just get great joy out of spring cleaning we’ve come up with some helpful hints on spring cleaning in your home.

  1. Prepare for D-Day – Ensure you have all the supplies and equipment necessary to complete the job required. This is a spring clean. There’s no room for doing the job half-heartedly. Psyche yourself up, set aside time to complete the job thoroughly and ensure no interruptions.
  2. One step at a time – Spring cleaning can be overwhelming for the uninitiated. The trick is to take it one room at a time. This can even be broken down further to a closet or a cupboard at a time. Whilst the task will seem never ending eventually you will see the light at the end of the tunnel. Reward yourself by taking a long look and admiring your handy work at the completion of each room.
  3. De-clutter – But for a few unconventional people, we humans have lodged deep in our DNA the uncanny ability to hoard the most useless bits and pieces imaginable. The spring clean is that special time of year where we have to make that all important decision – ‘Do I really need that?’ Odds are if you do ask yourself that question then you don’t really need it. Toss it to the schizenhowzen.
  4. Top to Bottom – When cleaning the room one must start at the top of the room an work your way down. To begin with remove any cobwebs often found around the cornices, clean the light fittings then wipe down and remove marks from walls and tiles. Windows will need to be cleaned, ledges dusted, bench tops, cupboards – inside and out, furniture, architraves. You name it, you clean it. Spring cleaning means everything in the room gets special attention and every item that is cleaned is done so meticulously.
  5. Rest and recline – Cleaning is hard work. You have probably used muscles you never new you had and they will remind you of it the coming days. So now that the work is done it’s time to shower, relax and pamper yourself. Take pride in your work and rest easy knowing that spring cleaning comes but once a year.

Office Cleaning – Going For Gold!

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WhIle the worlds focus is currently directed firmly on London 2012, perhaps it’s time for us at Hillson to reflect on some of the ideals of our great athletes and how those ideals may in turn relate to our own business and future success.

An athlete expels blood, sweat and tears in order to reach their ultimate goal of a berth at an Olympic Games. They will toil for hours on end, year after year, determined to succeed; hone their natural abilities; maintain focus and direction; sought out guidance; surround themselves with experience; implement regimented schedules; take advantage of new technologies; compete against rivals to improve competitiveness; and visualise success to achieve the result they yearn for.

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The objective of the athletes gruelling training and preparation is designed to get the edge on their competition. To prepare for that moment in time when all they have worked on over the years will come together to enable the athlete to perform at their optimum.

It takes 20 years to become an overnight success.

Being successful in business will require many of the same attributes. Possessing that determination to succeed; attaining and enhancing our skills; guiding staff and passing on ones own experience; implement staff routines that will achieve results; search for and introduce technologies that will smooth-line business procedures or attract customers; learn our rivals strengths and weaknesses; and visualise our future success.

Let’s endeavour to do our best and become the Office Cleaning Gold Medal favourites.

The Lowdown on Cleaning Washrooms & Toilets

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So you’ve drawn the short straw and it’s up to you to clean the toilets. Good luck with that, this can be dangerous stuff. You may be facing high concentrations of bacteria (Yuck!), which have the potential to pass on diarrhea or vomiting (Double Yuck!!).

Don’t let this disturb you though. Consider the fact that regular, sanitary cleaning of washrooms and toilets are the only way to reduce bacteria numbers and prevent cross contamination.

Here are some tips for you on how to get the job done hygenically and with a minimum amount of fuss, first of all we require the proper equipment:

Rubber Gloves used specifically for the toilet – a must to form a barrier between you and those darstardly germs. Make sure you then don’t use those same gloves cleaning elsewhere, we don’t want to cross contaminate now do we.

Other products required are a toilet brush, toilet bowl cleaner, sponge, cloths or disposable paper towels and disinfectant.

So lets get started. First of all let’s don those all important gloves and wipe down the toilet with the use of a damp sponge to remove excessive grime.

Next, it’s time to enter the bowl of terror, where all those nasties are likely to reside. Reach for the toilet brush and toilet bowl cleaner, squirt the cleaner making sure you reach up under the rim. Scrub the bowl thoroughly removing any stains and paying special attention to any marks on the bowl caused by mineral deposits from the water. Flush the toilet whilst still scrubbing with the brush, thus cleaning the brush in the process. Repeat the process by again adding the toilet bowl cleaner into the bowl and scrub. This time do not flush, allow the coloured-aromatic cleaner to become diluted in the toilet bowl water.

Let’s return to the exterior of the toilet. Spray with disinfectant then wipe down with a cloth or paper towel. Make sure you get into all the nooks and crannies. Spray and clean the exterior of the bowl, under the seat to the rim of the bowl. Clean on and under the seat, top and bottom of the toilet lid and the cistern – paying special attention to the flush button (an area where bacteria is likely to accumulate). Finally, don’t forget to clean the commonly neglected front and back areas of the bowl.

The toilet is now clean, so let’s look to the surronding areas. Look behind the toilet for any hidden grime, wipe down the wall/tiles surrounding the toilet and disinfect the toilet door handle.

The washroom usually consits of a basin and mirror. Use windex to clean the mirror leaving it streak free. Clean and disinfect the basin and its tapware. Again, make sure you clean in the nooks and crannies. This may require the use of a toothbrush to scrub those hard to get areas. Finally, it’s time to clean and mop the floors.

Stand back and admire your handy work. You deserve it. Well done!

How To Keep A Tidy Office

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The frequency that cleaners are required to clean premises comes down to the type of business and traffic they experience.  For instance businesses in the retail and hospitality industry often require daily cleans in order to maintain a polished image, entice customers and encourage their return business. Office cleaning does not have the same intensity, so many of our customers prefer our professional cleaning to be conducted on a weekly or bi-weekly basis.

It’s well understood that a clean and tidy office environment will increase hygiene, enhance company morale and customer relations. This in turn leads to a boost in productivity. So we’ve come up with a list of handy hints in order to maintain a clean and tidy environment in your office in between visits by your professional cleaners:

  1. Tidy Desks: Maintaining a tidy desk assists in work performance and productivity. It also enables the desk to be cleaned thoroughly. Make use of items that will maintain order such as desk drawers for storage, desk organisers, pen holders, In and Out baskets.
  2. Wet Wipes: Have at arm’s reach wet wipes or disinfectant and paper towel to clean up any accidents, spillage, coffee marks you may leave behind during the course of the day.
  3. Food Storage/Disposal: Food often is a source of odours within the office. This can be reduced by making use of the proper storage facilities such as a drawer or the kitchen refrigerator. Dispose of foods in the bins located in the kitchen or outside office area rather than at your desk.
  4. Hang Items: Slinging items of clothing over chairs or desks makes the office look cluttered, unkempt. Make use of cupboards or if not available use hooks or coat stands.
  5. File Cabinets: Once any work is completed, file any documents/folders that are no longer required. Aim to keep the out tray clear as well. Not only does it make your desk look tidy but creates order and keeps you feeling in control.
  6. Coffee Mugs: Most people enjoy a cuppa whilst working, some can’t work without one. If you fit into this category, make use of coasters to prevent coffee rings on your desk and return mugs to kitchen and clean. Don’t leave dirty mugs on your desk.
  7. Pickup Rubbish: Rubbish lying on the floor makes the office look dishevelled even chaotic. A few suggestions, have the bin close by, avoid going for the long hoop shot – it’s amazing how many of us are poor shots and then too lazy to pick up after ourselves. Make sure you pull out staples over the bin rather than letting them fall to the floor embedding themselves in the carpet. Empty the bin when it gets full, don’t allow it to overflow.
  8. Air Freshener/Incense: An office with bad odours are off putting for staff and visiting clients. Combat these smells with air fresheners or incense as some of my clients tend to use.
  9. Avoid Office Clutter: Tidiness applies not only to the desk, look at the entire office space. Dispose of any unwanted items that maybe on shelves or on the floor. Folders and boxes lying on floors for months at a time are commonplace. If they are not required, move them to where they belong. This helps avoid trip hazards, allows for better cleaning of carpets by cleaners and makes your office look presentable.
  10. Start Afresh: Before you leave for the day spend a few minutes to tidy up your desk and office. You’ll appreciate it the next day and if the cleaners are due in that night, so will they.

Follow these easy tips, make it a routine and your office will remain hygienic and tidy throughout the week, not just following the professional cleaners.  Remember, a clean office promotes a healthy working environment, improved work performance, and supports better customer relations.

Tips to Window Cleaning (Part 2)

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The excellent results achieved by professional window cleaners comes as a result of many hours of intensive work where one learns the tricks of the trade, whether it be via a schooled professional or more commonly trial and error. I previously listed the equipment commonly used by professionals when cleaning windows and will now explain the technique I use to employ this equipment. Follow this guide and you too can have windows that glisten with that much wanted professional touch.

The first step is to fill the bucket with water and add your detergent; my personal choice is Morning Fresh, this will assist in lubricating your squeegee to glide over the surface of the glass. Next add methylated spirits to your water, I do this so as to aid evaporation which helps prevent streaks.

We’ll assume the windows we are to clean are free of debris; we’ll look at tips on cleaning windows after a builders clean in a later post. First I would apply the detergent to the glass using my washer. In the event the glass hasn’t been cleaned for quite some time and is covered in grime the doodle bug with its scouring pad will be useful in scrubbing the window. Ensure the pad and the glass are free of any debris that may scratch the window pane. You will eventually develop a feel of the doodle bug and notice that it glides so much easier as it frees the window of its grime.

With the glass now covered in your cleaning solution we take a hold of our squeegee and look to the top of the window. Apply the rubber corner of the squeegee along the edge of the glass or you could use a cloth, make sure the cloth is free of lint, like a microfibre. The purpose of wiping the top edge is to prevent solution running down your glass when you squeegee the solution off the glass.

For the novice let’s begin with the easiest technique. Place the squeegee horizontally at the top left of the window. Now run the squeegee straight down the window in a vertical direction. Keep constant pressure on the window all the way down to the bottom, with practice you will develop a feel as to how much pressure on the squeegee you will require, too little or too much will leave streaks.  Wipe your rubber with a cloth then return to the top and repeat this action to the right side of the area just cleaned, have the squeegee overlap the cleaned area by about 3 cm, repeat this until you reach the right side of the window.

The window is now clean so let’s dry the side and top edges with a dry cloth, using your finger to run along the edges. At the bottom of the window you will need to mop up the excess water on the sill then use your dry cloth to dry the bottom edge.

Step back and inspect your work. Look from different directions to try to detect any streaks or marks left on the pane. Marks can appear from different angles. Should you detect any streaks use your dry lint free cloth. If there are too many streaks then it’s easier to start the process again by applying the solution to the window. For stubborn marks I tend to use grade 0000 steel wool, designed for polishing glass. Of course the window isn’t truly cleaned until both sides are done.

A couple of warnings, on hot days your solution can evaporate quickly, this can cause friction with your squeegee on the glass resulting in streaks. Also, your worst enemy is the sun. A window that looks perfectly clean in the morning may show horrible streaks once the sun shines through so the key is to develop a keen eye for spotting those marks on your window.

For the next technique, again for novices, run your dry cloth down the left edge of the pane. Now hold the squeegee vertically and place it along the left edge of the window at the top. Run the squeegee straight across the window in a horizontal direction. Keep constant pressure on the window all the way across to the right side of the window. Wipe your rubber with a cloth then return to the left and repeat this action to the bottom of the area just cleaned, have the squeegee overlap the cleaned area by about 3 cm, repeat this until you reach the bottom of the window.

The technique most professionals use is to glide the squeegee across the window in one fluid motion, without lifting the rubber blade, to prevent stopping and starting. This speeds up the process. I start at the bottom left side of the window, move upwards to the top of the window, with the squeegee slopped towards the centre of the glass to allow for run off. Then without lifting the blade, move across the top then down the right side, all the way pushing the detergent to the centre of the glass. Again, without lifting the blade, move to the top of the window, overlapping the cleaned area by a few centimetres and always pushing the solution to the centre. Now snake your squeegee down the glass to the bottom.  Mop up the sill, dry the edges, step back and inspect. Correct any blemishes then you’re done.

So there you have it, gleaming clean windows, just like the professionals.

Tips to Window Cleaning (Part 1)

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If you want professional results when cleaning windows you’ll need to acquire the right equipment and learn the proper technique. The equipment is relatively cheap for anybody considering starting a new business or even for the do-it-your-self window cleaners. The technique to cleaning windows isn’t too difficult and most will master it with a few instructions, tips and most of all experience.

With experience you’ll develop a keen eye for detail and avoid leaving marks and streaks on your freshly cleaned windows.

The equipment I use consists of:

Window cleaning bucket – these buckets are designed specifically for holding your cleaning solution, squeegee and washer. Sizes range from 10-20 Litres.

Window squeegee – for best results don’t skimp on your squeegee. Buy a good quality squeegee and replace the rubber blades often to ensure they have a sharp edge to them. Avoid using the rubber too long as they tend to become rounded and get nicks in them, this will result in poor performance leaving streaks on your window.

Washer with scrubber – this is used for applying the solution with a scrubbing pad on one side for removal of bulky and hard waste from the glass.

Handheld doodle bug – this holds a scouring pad to assist in removing grime from the glass.

Window cleaning solution – of course there are commercial glass cleaning products on the market but you can also create your own window cleaning solution from everyday household products that bring  your windows up a treat. There are many recipes available that you can experiment with that include ammonia or vinegar, however my preference is simply water mixed with a tbsp. dishwashing liquid and add a dash of methylated spirits.

Scrapper – not all debris or paint can be removed from the glass when cleaning so you will need to resort to the scrapper. Ensure blade is sharp and has no broken edges. Care must be used with this tool to prevent scratching your windows.

Ladder – *warning, beware, this is where window cleaning gets dangerous. Ladders account for many household/workplace accidents which can result in serious damage. The ladder I use has a Level-Eze Ladder Leveller.  Highly recommend as it assists in stability when on uneven ground.

Extension Pole – for those windows that are hard to reach, the extension pole is a godsend. They come in a range of sizes and can be used to attach your squeegee, scrapper, washer and brush. Cleaning windows from the safety of the ground.

Holster – the ideal holster will hold your washer, 2 different sized squeegees and a scrapper. This is perfect for ladder use with your equipment at your fingertips.

Cobweb Brush – this is a bristled brush to assist in removing cobwebs that are common around external windows. The brush can be attached to the extension pole for those places that are hard to reach.

Cloths – lint free white nappy cloths or microfibre cloths used to remove any unwanted streaks or water on your window.

Steel Wool Grade 0000 – for that added touch of class. After all is done and you stand back and admire your work, this grade steel wool will polish out most marks you discover, leaving your window blemish free.

So you want to start a cleaning business

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Take a walk through any city. Wherever you find people working or families residing means there is cleaning to be done. With the rapid pace of life these days, more and more people are delegating their cleaning to others. Rather than hiring in-house, businesses are subcontracting out their cleaning duties whilst working mums are resorting to hiring cleaners to help maintain the household. There is plenty of work to be had out there, you’ve just got to work out a way to get it.

Starting your own cleaning business means you become the boss. To become successful you will need to develop business and organisational skills, communicate with clients and staff, manage your business administration, develop marketing plans and sell your service to prospective customers. Above all else is servicing the needs of your current clients. Obtaining a new client takes great effort, so protect your base, make every effort to ensure the satisfaction of your regular clientele. This gives you every chance that they will remain loyal and you will retain their business into the future.

Whilst there is plenty of work to be had, there is also plenty of competition in the cleaning industry, an industry often regarded as cutthroat. As an owner/operator establishing a new business be prepared to work long hours, working into the nights and on weekends. Be meticulous and reliable. With hard work comes experience. You will soon develop a reputation which you can then use when spruiking to potential clients.

Whether you are looking to start anew in the industry or already employed as a cleaner but wish to branch out on your own, remember that all businesses have small beginnings. My first job in the industry came about through a family contact. Your start may come from similar means, by word of mouth, by networking family, friends or work colleagues. Other techniques may include advertising, leaflet drops, selling your service door to door and to local businesses or online marketing. Whatever your method persistence pays and when that opportunity comes your way grab it with both hands and run with it.

To get my business up and running I first had to develop a business identity. This meant registering a business name, acquiring an Australian Business Number and organising business insurance. For marketing purposes I then designed a company logo and had printed business cards, developed a website and networked with local business. It was not long before Hillson Cleaning had a steady income from regular clients across a spectrum of industries.

With focus and a willingness to succeed your business is sure to steadily grow. Don’t limit yourself to doing all the work. In order for your business to truly thrive you will need to expand your operations. This can be done by employing staff and subcontractors, however be sure to monitor their work and that cleaning standards are upheld.

Good luck on your business venture and remember the harder you work, the more luck will come your way.