Notepad Corner

During the winter months we often have a habit of allowing our garden to become slightly neglected, but there’s definitely no excuse to avoid spring cleaning once the warmer weather returns. It won’t take too long to spruce up those outdoor areas and although a little effort will be required it should only take a few evenings or weekends to get your garden into shape. A little hedge and lawn trimming, a clean sweep and some washing down can easily return your garden to its former glory. Large areas first Mowing the lawn and sweeping away any dead leaves should be first on your list before you take a broom to garden paths. If you do these tasks in reverse then you’ll simply have more to clean up in the long-run. Make sure your lawn is weed-free and some additional watering may be required if the ground is particularly dry. Mixing some slow-release fertilizer into your lawn is a good option to provide much needed nutrients after a long hard winter. Trimming and pruning Ne...

Cleaning is not an activity that many people prefer. It is highly unlikely to hear someone tell you “Cleaning is my favorite thing!” It is much more likely to hear people complain of cleaning, thinking of it as a tiresome work that they do just because they have to, not because they like it. And while it is true that cleaning should be done because it is the only way to provide a healthy environment and proper living conditions, it can in fact turn into a fun activity. Do not frown on this thought just yet. Cleaning, just like any job, can be made easier and more interesting in various ways. You will hardly want to clean everything by yourself, since hiring a cleaning company is always an option, but if you follow some of the following suggestions you might just feel more inclined to do some cleaning service in your home. Develop a cleaning routine  – cleaning is often times deemed difficult and tiring, simply because there is so much you have to deal with all at once. ...

Maintaining a clean home each day without spending a fortune can quickly become overwhelming without the proper planning and supplies. Using a few tips and tricks can ensure your home remains bacteria-free and an enjoyable living space for both you and your guests. image credits to: photostock - freedigitalphotos.net Clean Up and Sweep Daily Cleaning each room by picking up clutter and sweeping or vacuuming daily is a way to avoid deep-cleaning needs less often. Simply taking the time to wipe counters, toilets and other surrounding appliances rids larger messes that require more time to clean entirely. Invest in cleaning wipes and sweeping products that allow you to quickly sweep and mop with minimal effort, keeping spills at bay while allowing you to ensure your home is clean and safe for children and pets at all times. Rid Clutter and Excess Items Rid the clutter from your home and living areas to create a more serene and enjoyable living environment. Thro...

Image credits to: bandita on Flickr - https://flic.kr/p/4dNKoV Cleaning is never a fun job, but someone has to do it. When your home needs a quick clean, you might think that dusting the floor and wiping the surfaces is enough. It's not. If you spend just a few more minutes on your cleaning routine , you can completely revitalize your household. Your home should be your pride and joy. If you take good care of your home, the results will be rewarding. People tend to think that cleaning has to be a huge hassle. By doing just a little every day, you can stay on top of your cleaning without it impacting your lifestyle. Throw away sponges You use sponges every day when you wash your plates and surfaces. It may shock you to find that your sponges are home to all kinds of bacteria. When you use your sponges for a long period, they become filthy. Wiping a dirty sponge across your kitchen surface, means that you are wiping germs and bacteria onto it. When you are cooking, ...

The Sunday chores are something not very amusing but their necessity is significant for the household hygiene, and hygiene is one of the main factors for our health conditions. There is another way to improve your environment and make it healthier and Eco friendly. It is not a secret that the world is trying to work for its future and now is the right time to make your cleaning habits Eco ones. We would like to share some information how you can make your cleaning green. Here are 4 steps to green-up the Sunday cleaning. 1. Plants are green Adding some plants will definitely give a fresh look to your house. You may ask what plants have to  do with cleaning. The thing is that plants are natural air filters that produce oxygen and consume carbon-dioxide. A good number of flowerpots in a room is a great solution for the air quality of your house-space. If we choose some fragrant flower, we will also have a natural air freshener and decoration also. 2. Use nat...

Most of us hate cleaning because it’s tedious and sometimes, it consumes most of our time in a day. It gets really insane to do things in a fast-paced manner without compromising our other household chores. But worry not, we’ve got you covered as we are about to spill genius hacks that will forever change how you clean your house. 1. Blender Cleaner It’s actually easy peasy to clean the blender. Simply fill it up with warm water and drop little amount of dish soap. Turn it on and blend for a few seconds and then dump, rinse with clean water, and dry it. 2. Dishwasher Deep Cleaner Image credits to Paul Flint & Company on Flickr - https://flic.kr/p/9YvwwP Run your dishwasher on the highest temperature with a cup of vinegar on the top shelf. Afterwards, sprinkle some baking soda on the bottom and run it again. Now, your dishwasher is immaculately clean! 3. Mattress Pour some vodka into an empty spray bottle, spritz lightly ac...

Besides being used as a drink, club soda can be a means of cleaning in the household as well. It can be used for cleaning stains from different fabrics and carpets, cleaning jewellery, the windscreens of cars, counter tops, fixtures, cast iron and other items. Cleaning with club soda is easy and can be done by everyone. It doesn't require any special skills. To remove stains from different fabrics just simply pour the club soda over the stain. If you want to remove urine, wine stains and more obstinate odours and marks from your carpets, just blot the club soda up. It will remove the bad smell and won't let the stain spread into a larger area. The final step of  removing the stain is scrubbing it. Scrub more gently if the fabric is more delicate and more energetically for steadier fabrics and carpets. If you want to clean your gems like rubies, diamonds and sapphires, you can use club soda. The cleaning procedure is very easy. Pour club soda in a cup, put the expens...

For homes that have stains on the carpets or furniture, it can be difficult to remove the blemishes with common products and tools. From red wine spills to ink marks, there are many stains that can be impossible to remove and can detract from the fabric. Fortunately, there are a few tricks to getting rid of the marks and restoring the condition of the carpet or couch. Pretreat the Item One of the main secrets to removing stains is to pretreat the affected area as soon as possible, which will prevent the stain from setting in. Consider using an enzyme detergent or solution, which will break down the proteins. Allow the detergent to set for several minutes before repeating the process once or twice. Hire Professional Cleaning Services It can be difficult to remove stubborn stains from carpets with your own vacuum cleaner or carpet cleaner. According to Grimebusters Ltd , a company that provides Edmonton carpet cleaning, a professional carpet cleaning company will use high-...

The carpet is like the middle of the ocean. It may look clean and beautiful on the surface, but deep down lies a village of mysterious creatures named dirt and grime. And when food and drink stains hit the surface? You might as well play the Jaws instrumental while you try to furiously clean and scrub. But over-the-top analogies aside, maintaining and caring for your carpet isn’t a sink or swim situation after all. With most problems, come a series of pretty smart solutions. But what are they? Read on and find out! image credit: kropekk_pl - pixabay.com Preventing Dirty Dramas Averting a potential cleaning dilemma before it occurs will not only save you time, but money. As they say, prevention is the most effective cleaning method. But how can you prevent this? With a dependable vacuum cleaner! While vacuuming, concentrate your time on areas that are close to entryways, outdoor areas and different corners of the room. These regions have high tendencies of accumulating dust, h...

Photo credits: flooringamerica.com So you just had hardwood flooring installed throughout your house. The beautiful natural luster of this stunning flooring option is sure to bring years of enjoyment, and a lifetime of beauty, but there are a few tips to take into consideration to take care of your new hardwood flooring. Many people are often confused as to the best practices to follow when cleaning their hardwood flooring. Below is our easy guide to caring for your brand new hardwood floors , or old hardwood floors alike. Hardwood flooring looks best when clean. Dry mopping is perhaps the best way to keep your floors clean. Never use a cleaner on your hardwood flooring unless it was specifically mentioned by the flooring manufacturer or the professional installers who handled your flooring installation. Never use water on your hardwood floor, as it can ruin the finish and damage the wood. Never use abrasive cleaners on your floor like steel wool. Wax is also nev...

We all want a spotless home, yet due to busy schedules most of us cannot afford to spend bulk of our time cleaning each and every corner of the house on a daily basis. However, we can maintain a spick and span abode by having a system. The key is take care of cleaning jobs as they come up, instead of  putting them off until weekends which is usually the scheduled cleaning day. image credit: AKARAKINGDOMS - freedigitalphotos.net Here are some suggested cleaning short cuts that take less time to accomplish. Dusting – wiping out dust using a micro fiber cloth can take away dirt in an instant. The static charge of this cloth attracts dirt and dust so dusting chores on shelves, appliances and furniture will be easier without using spray or chemicals. Micro fiber cloth is also safe to use as they are not abrasive, thus won’t scratch surfaces.  You can use it damp or dry. Change trash bags or vacuum bag – less than a minute is all you need to change your v...

Let us know if this scenario sounds familiar. The real estate called and you have just over two days to makeover your rental, transforming a cluttered, lived in ‘home’ into a photogenic property, securing another few months of suburban living. You panic a little (or a lot), hitting the local supermarket and splashing out on new sponges and harsh chemicals packaged in purple plastic; sure, a few drops burn your knees into oblivion and your eyes pearl with tears in your mission against bathroom scum, armed with bleach and spray solutions, but beauty is pain, or something like that. The reality? Everyday people just like you unknowingly place themselves in risky situations, rushing from one job to another, making amateur mistakes and exposing their bodies to harm. Cleaning is deadly, and no, we’re not just talking about the pile of underwear threatening to catalyse a new form of bacteria; corrosive, flammable, toxic, noxious, each word is a justified descriptor of the chemical yo...

I love it when it rains as less dirt and dust gets in and home cleaning for me is much easier. The cool and fresh wind is also refreshing. The rain helps me to conserve water as I do not have to water my plants and can save on electric consumption too. However, there are also cons that the rainy days can bring. The dilemma and burden of cleaning areas of homes soaked in floodwater is one of the extraordinary situations that most Filipinos tackle during the monsoon season. When too much heavy rains fall, floodwater arises, soaking vehicles and homes in most areas around the Metro. Inundation is contaminated with different disease-causing germs, exposing every family member to various host of infections thus, tough cleaning is needed. To name some of the water-borne diseases we can get from the dirty floodwater are diarrhea, flu, and the deadly leptospirosis. Proper cleaning and sanitation is required to get rid and control the spread of such infections. 

Frequent cooking such as baking, roasting and food spills can build up grease and charred food into your stove, oven or microwave. Charred food when accumulated turn into carbon, the reason why there is a strong burning smell when cooking and eventually can taint your food which can be harmful to your health. Cleaning your cooking appliances regularly using the green cleaning solution of baking soda and water, instead of the harsh commercial oven cleaner chemicals is best recommended. Here are tips on how to clean your cooking appliances: Remove the oven grills and burners on the stovetop and wash in soapy water. Rinse thoroughly and drip dry.  Clean the stovetop, interior and exterior walls of the oven using the water and baking soda solution to remove cooked-on food spatters and scatters.   Unclog burner holes using an old toothbrush. Clean under and behind the cooking range too. For convection oven, read manual and follow instructions carefu...

Rugs and carpets give liveliness and loveliness to any space. But these floor coverings are dirt magnets, so they need regular care and maintenance. Rugs and carpets differ in some ways, yet share the same purpose which is to provide accent and decoration on your floors.  Rugs are smaller in size and usually used as centerpiece flooring or foot rugs in the bedroom or used as corner rugs. It is also made in artistic and stylish pattern, color and shape in a variety of fabrics. While a carpet is used as floor covering and attached to the sub-floor. Dusts and stains build up depends on the foot traffic, thus a standard cleaning is essential to keep it in good condition and to take away accumulated dirt to prevent odor and bacteria build up.  There are two options you can consider to maintain its cleanliness and beauty.

Due to the high cost electricity, most of us use an electric fan instead of an air-conditioning system to save on electric usage. Now that the hot summer months are fast approaching, this cooling device will definitely be working double time. However, as it helps air to circulate it also acquires dust along the way. Regular cleaning will make it work efficiently and at the same time extend its lifespan. It is recommended to clean it on a weekly basis. Here are suggested ways on how to clean an electric fan. 

I learned to do the laundry when I was 12 years old.   I wash clothes manually then for we do not have the washing machine.   Mom taught me tips and tricks how to make clothes cleaner especially the white ones. However, the task of clothes washing will be easier and less tiring with the use of a washing machine. Here are laundry do’s and don’ts tips in doing the laundry with a washing machine. Do’s It’s not necessary to use warm water, do wash clothes in tap water. It will give the same result as with using warm water. You can also save on your utility bills by using tap water. Dissolve the detergent before the cycle begins, most washing machines has the detergent compartment, put enough detergent according to your wash load.   Too much detergent will only cause you to use more water by repeating the rinse cycle. Use colour-safe detergents for colored clothes as it helps keep colours bright while getting out tough stains. While the regular chlorinat...

Good hygiene in the kitchen can prevent the spread of infections and germs. Did you know that men are the worst offenders when it comes to basic hygiene? The Hygiene Council found that many people are not washing their hands before they prepare food, and almost 25% of the population handles food after touching their pets, without disinfecting first. The figures are startling but as homeowners, we can make a difference in our home. It is our responsibility and the first point of call is the kitchen. We can have a nice, clean cooking area with some simple techniques and tips. But what about the hard to reach places? There are several nooks and crannies in the kitchen where dirt can congregate. However, read on to find out how to combat those difficult hotspots.      Tough Spot 1: The oven The oven can amass a lot of grime over time and it can prove difficult to clean thoroughly. Food waste can accumulate right at the back, as well as on the upper top...

I learned all my cleaning techniques from my mom.   She taught us, my three other sisters and I how to do house chores and inculcated to us that we should always keep our home clean and tidy. She is very meticulous when it comes to cleanliness, that’s why we call her the cleaning expert and her influence made me an OC too Here are several tips to keep your home clean and tidy. Put mats by the front and back doors to prevent dirt from being tracked in   Disinfect the telephone daily by swabbing it with cotton dip in alcohol   Sanitize doorknobs with an anti-germicidal spray or disinfectant sprays like Lysol.   Always straighten the shower curtain and keep the bathroom floor and all surfaces dry to prevent molds.   Immediately clean the stove after cooking.   Set a small box for remote controls in the living room.   Place magazines and newspapers on a magazine rack to avoid clutter.   Launder curtains at least tw...