Homeowners are often left frustrated and dissatisfied with their cleaning results because, no matter how hard they try, they still fall short of what professional cleaners can achieve. Well, that’s because it is an unfair comparison to begin with! Professional house cleaners or maids are not only trained to do this job, they possess the skill and knowledge required to yield such satisfactory cleaning results. 

So if you’re looking to maintain a spick and span house, here are five reasons why professional maids clean better than the average homeowner.

1. They Don’t Leave Out Unseen/Out-of-Reach Places

If not all, most homeowners are guilty of overlooking those unseen and out-of-reach places simply because no one else really sees them. Well, this ‘out of sight, out of mind’ attitude leaves many areas in the house to accumulate dust, dirt and, even worse, sometimes mould. 

Harbouring dirt and germs in your home affects one’s health and therefore, must be removed regularly. That is exactly what housekeepers do! Perhaps, not on a daily basis, however, as and when needed, a professional cleaning service can be hired to deep clean your home and keep those unseen places clean, too.

2. They are Equipped for the Job

Sometimes, undesirable cleaning results and inefficiency all come down to not having the right cleaning products and tools. There is a reason why maids carry around a cleaning kit as they go about household cleaning; some individual tasks demand specific cleaners and/or types of tools that enable the user to clean better, faster, and more efficiently. 

While homeowners can always purchase these items that are used by professional cleaners, it should be noted that there are ways and techniques that go hand in hand with using the products/tools correctly. Experienced house cleaners are trained for this and therefore, are capable of providing homeowners with spotless cleaning results!

3. They Will Sanitise Surfaces

Although it has always been important to keep your home sanitary by sterilising it every now and then, many homeowners have only just considered the risks of an unsanitary house after the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Since then, it has become critically important to sterilise household surfaces, especially frequently-touched items/areas. Unfortunately, not all homeowners are aware of the difference between cleaning and sterilising, or how to effectively sterilise a surface. 

As per cleaning experts and doctors, you must first clean the surface/item, then apply the disinfectant and allow it to air-dry as opposed to wiping over it while still wet. This is because the disinfectant does not take effect immediately. Nevertheless, you can trust that your house cleaner will sterilise your property effectively when you hire an experienced and well-established home cleaning service.

4. They Know the Tricks of the Trade

Nowadays, there are so many cleaning hacks out there that help you clean more efficiently and get better results. In fact, for every household cleaning task there is, someone has thought of a shorter way to do it, and how to do it right!

While homeowners are still learning these cleaning hacks and constantly looking up new ones online, you can bet that your house cleaner knows all the tricks of the trade, and will get right on the job without wasting any time. Thanks to the many innovative cleaning hacks out there, professional maids are able to clean homes in a much more time-efficient manner.

5. They are Consistent

The phrase “consistency is key” holds a lot of meaning where maintaining a clean home is concerned. While many homeowners are probably aware of this, their schedules don’t always permit regular DIY house cleaning. Because of this, the accumulation of dust, dirt, and grime tend to make it harder for the homeowner to clean effectively when they do find the time for home cleaning. 

This is where a professional house cleaner truly excels. Not only are they consistent, but even when hired on a weekly or monthly basis, you can rest assured that the accumulation of dirt and bacteria will be removed from your home.

So, if you’re looking for the best cleaning service in Perth, CleaningBest is just a booking away! We are committed to providing 100% satisfactory cleaning results and guarantee to give you more than five reasons why we clean better than both, the average homeowner and home cleaning service!

At some point in time, every homeowner has been left red-faced, standing at their door with surprise visitors in front of them, and a messy home behind them! The thing about random visits from friends or neighbours is that they are pretty rare, hence, most people don’t think to prepare for them. Well, after that first experience, you’re probably looking for the best ways to keep your home ready for “surprise!” visitors; fortunately, you’ve come to the right place because CleaningBest knows best!

These are simple tips and habits that go a long way in maintaining a clean and tidy home that is always ready to impress and entertain people who decide to pop-in unexpectedly. Read on to find out what they are!

Declutter Daily

You will never be motivated to keep your home clean if it is cluttered. Why? Because it doubles the amount of time and effort required to clean a room. More importantly, clutter causes mental stress and makes an otherwise clean room look untidy. 

The best way to maintain a clutter-free home is to declutter daily. While most working individuals struggle to find time to clean every day, the benefit of doing something daily is that it cuts down the amount of time you spend on a task. For example, when you declutter your home daily, you will only spend a few minutes on it before the work is done. So, the extra time you spend decluttering your home for the first few days will be well-worth it in 5 days tops!

Spot Clean When Needed

The more often you ‘spot clean’, the less overall cleaning you will need to do. More often than not, small spills in the kitchen, dust on the coffee table, and stains on the floor are not given immediate attention and hence, accumulate to the point where the whole house needs a thorough clean.

When you spend 5 minutes (or less) to spot clean a stain or area in the house, it makes a world of difference to the overall cleanliness of your home. So, the next time you see crumbs on the counters, wipe them up; and if there is a surface that needs dusting, don’t wait until later to do it because it will only take a minute of your time to do it right now. A great way to stick to this habit is to make sure that your cleaning supplies and products are kept in easily accessible places so that you are more motivated to spot clean immediately.

Adopt Daily Bathroom Cleaning Habits

Nothing is more embarrassing than having a surprise visitor ask to use the guest bathroom when it is anything but clean! Nevertheless, that can easily be avoided with these simple, daily and weekly practices that will keep your bathroom clean and ready for anyone to use. Take a look below.

1. Once a week, pour your chosen cleaning product into the toilet bowl and leave it overnight; in the morning, give the interior a light scrub and turn the flush on to rinse off the bowl. 
2. After you shower, spray the floor to rinse it off, and then squeegee the water into the drain. Not only will this clean off mild bathroom floor stains but it will also help the floor dry up quickly which will keep future stains to a minimum.
3. Keep a microfibre cloth under the sink which can be used to wipe away toothpaste splatters from the mirror as soon as they occur.
4. Spray the bathroom sink with all-purpose cleaner and wipe it down with a designated sponge/scrubber every day after you brush your teeth.
5. Give your bathroom a thorough clean once a week on your day off. This won’t take much time or effort if you stick to the cleaning tips/habits mentioned above.

Keep Your Pantry Stocked

You may not always be prepared to offer surprise visitors a hot meal right away, but you should be able to bring out a tray of snacks and a cold beverage, at least. Even if it’s chips and store-bought dip along with a glass of juice, your guests will certainly appreciate it.

Now, you’re probably thinking nothing ever lasts in your pantry (especially when you have growing kids), nor is it advisable to store packaged foods for too long; well, the trick here is to purchase fresh items, store them at the back, and bring the older foodstuff forward so that they are consumed first. This way you’ve always got a fresh backup of snacks and beverages ready to offer to your surprise visitors!

If the tips above sound super simple to you, that’s because they are! Yes, that really is all it takes to keep your home ready for surprise visitors so make the effort, spare those few minutes, and we guarantee that they will go a long way in maintaining a clean and tidy home!

It’s really not that difficult to clean your bathroom. While each task may come with its own set of challenges (especially if not cleaned in a while), they are still fairly easy to complete. The REAL challenge is making your bathroom shine again! 

More often than not, average bathroom cleaning results are merely good enough but not overly satisfactory. In other words, everything looks clean but nothing sparkles the way it does when a professional house cleaner does the job. Well, today, you’re going to learn the secrets to making your bathroom shine again with four of our favourite bathroom cleaning tips! Read on.

Simple Trick to Make Bathroom Tiles Shine

Overtime, bathroom tiles become dull due to dirt and grime buildup; but did you know that excess product and hard water are also major contributors to that dull film covering your bathroom tiles? For these reasons, our first tip is to limit the amount of tile cleaner used and instead, make a mild solution to scrub your bathroom tiles. Secondly, dry the tiles immediately after washing them by taking a squeegee to the floor, followed by wiping the tiles with a dry, absorbent cloth.

Now, the secret to making your bathroom tiles shine again is furniture polish! Using a minimal amount of the product, spray the tiles directly, and buff them with a soft microfibre cloth. Avoid using excess furniture polish on bathroom tiles as they will become slippery when wet; just a half spray from about one foot away from the surface is advised. 

How to Buff Bathroom Fittings/Fixtures

If your bathroom fittings and fixtures are covered in hard water stains caused by mineral deposits, you probably already know how stubborn they can be to remove. Multi-purpose cleaning sprays and other products aren’t always effective, and even when they are, the dullness seems to remain.

Before we tell you how to make your faucets and other bathroom fittings sparkle, here’s a useful method to effectively clean stainless steel and chrome fixtures in your bathroom:

1. Pour white distilled vinegar and distilled water (1:1 ratio) into a spray bottle.
2. Spray fittings/fixtures and wipe them down with a microfibre cloth.
3. Buff with a dry cloth.

While the cleaning method above will result in shinier fittings already, you can go one step further to make them sparkle as if they were brand new! To do this, dab some lemon oil onto a soft cloth and buff your bathroom fixtures and fittings.

Natural Solution to Remove Toilet Bowl Stains & Dullness

Cleaning the toilet is one of the least favourite chores among homeowners. While we can understand why, having to spend extra time and elbow grease to scrub the interiors of the bowl make it that much more unpleasant than it needs to be!

Luckily, we’ve got a brilliant tip to naturally clean your toilet bowl and best of all, it requires minimal effort! Here’s what you need to do:

1. Pull the flush and add ¼ cup of baking soda to the toilet bowl water.
2. Follow this up by pouring in a cup of white distilled vinegar all around the bowl interior. The ingredients will then start to foam; allow the reaction to settle down.
3. Finish off by scrubbing with a toilet brush and rinsing the interior with 1-2 flushes. 

The chemical reaction between baking soda and vinegar, along with their respective cleansing properties, eats away at stubborn grime while leaving a visible sheen on the surface.

No Grime and More Shine for Your Bathtub

Yet another bathroom surface that falls prey to mineral deposits, hardened grime, and dullness. Cleaning your bathtub thoroughly is quite a task but one that is necessary for hygienic reasons, as well as aesthetic purposes. With that said, cleaning your bathtub doesn’t always result in sparkling results, even if you dry the surface immediately after which is recommended by cleaning experts. For a truly sparkling finish, you need to go one step further to buff the surface after deep cleaning the tub.

While lemon oil is a good option to buff your bathtub exterior, it can make the surface quite slippery or slimy when water is re-introduced. As a safe alternative, spritz the tub (one section at a time) with undiluted white vinegar, and buff the surface with a clean microfibre cloth using quick, circular motions.

With these simple and effective bathroom cleaning tips, you’ll never have to worry about dullness taking over anymore! Be sure to use them at least once a week for a clean and gleaming bathroom interior!

With the right maintenance and cleaning measures, the appearance and condition of your hardwood flooring will last for years to come! Of course, apart from the use of safe methods and appropriate cleaning products, consistency is key! Unless your hardwood floor is cleaned regularly and in the right manner, you’re going to end up disappointed with the outcome.

At CleaningBest, we are dedicated to maintaining crucial aspects of a home including one’s precious wooden floor. With that said, we are here to help you understand the best, simplest, and safest way to clean and maintain your hardwood flooring. Read on!

How to Clean Polyurethane Hardwood Floors

It’s rare to find wooden floors that do not have a polyurethane finish because unfinished hardwood is prone to all sorts of damage. Hence, homeowners prefer to play it safe and have their wood flooring sealed and finished. The following cleaning method and cleaning solution used are intended for polyurethane finished hardwood floors.

Step One: Remove Dust and Debris from the Surface

Believe it or not, dullness on hardwood floors is often caused by dust and debris that are allowed to sit on the surface for too long. Typically, daily dusting of your wood flooring is advised to keep it looking clean, as well as to remove debris that may scratch the finish due to heavy foot traffic. 

Depending on your personal preference, you can either vacuum your hardwood floor with a soft brush attachment, or sweep it with a broom. For the latter, we recommend an electrostatic broom which is more effective in picking up dust and fine debris as compared to regular straw and twine brooms. 

In general, sweeping is more convenient because you can remove dirt and dust from tight spaces without worrying about switching to another attachment head. On the other hand, vacuuming is quicker because you are picking up dirt instantly as opposed to gathering it and then having to pick it up. Regardless of how you choose to remove dust from your hardwood floor, it is important to do this thoroughly daily or every alternate day.

Step Two: Use a Wood-Safe Cleaner

Although there are plenty of commercial wood cleaners to use on hardwood flooring, they can be quite expensive in the long run. As a cheaper alternative and yet, one that will help keep your wooden floor clean and stain-free, consider making the following natural hardwood floor cleaner:

1. Fill up a bucket with warm water.
2. Mix in ¼ cup of baking soda.
3. Add 5-10 drops of scented oil for a pleasant fragrance.
4. Stir the cleaning solution well to combine the ingredients.

Dip a cotton string mop or a microfibre cloth in the bucket, wring it thoroughly, and mop/wipe the floor clean. Bear in mind that the cleaning tool should be merely damp and not wet as prolonged exposure to moisture can be damaging to both finished and unfinished wooden floors.

Step Three: Dry and Buff the Floor

The annoying part about ‘washing’ hardwood floors is that they often leave water spots/marks on the floor. Of course, this can be prevented by manually drying the floor as opposed to letting it air-dry. This can be done with a dry, lint-free mop or cloth immediately after you have cleaned your hardwood floor with a floor cleaning solution. 

To finish off, the professionals at Cleaning Best recommend buffing your wooden floor to restore its lustre and new-looking appearance. You can either do this with a machine or the more feasible way which requires a muslin cloth or microfibre mop, and some diluted white vinegar. 

In a bucket, mix 1 part white vinegar to 10 parts water; stir to combine the ingredients properly. Dip and wring the mop/cloth so that it is just damp with the homemade buffing solution; use circular motions to buff the hardwood floor one section at a time.

By the end of CleaningBest’s safe and effective three-step guide to cleaning hardwood floors, you will be left with gleaming results, and a big, satisfied smile on your face!

Over time, those white grout lines trap dirt and bacteria which begin to show very clearly! Not only is it unpleasant to look at discoloured tile grout but it creates an unsanitary space due to the accumulation of germs. 

Nevertheless, dirty grout lines in your bathroom, kitchen, and rest of the house can be cleaned up and restored to their original colour in many different ways. Today, Cleaning Best is sharing five of the most effective ways to clean tile grout depending on the level of dirt and grime that has built up on them. Read on to find out what they are!

How to Clean Tile Grout With Vinegar

In a spray bottle, mix equal parts of warm water and white distilled vinegar. Close and shake the bottle well to combine the ingredients properly. Using the ‘stream’ setting on the bottle, spray the solution directly on the grout lines and allow it to soak for a few minutes. Follow this up with a quick scrub using a semi-hard toothbrush or grout brush (if you have one). You may need to spray the grout again if it has gone completely dry; alternatively, you can wet the cleaning brush with the water-vinegar solution. After scrubbing down the grout lines, rinse off the cleaner with plain water.

How to Clean Tile Grout With Oxygen Bleach

Before you attempt to clean anything with oxygen bleach, open up your doors and windows to increase ventilation in the room, and wear a pair of rubber gloves and protective eyewear as a precautionary measure. 

Typically sold in powder form, you will need to mix the oxygen bleach with water to create a paste. This can then be applied to the dirty or stained grout lines using your fingers (while gloved), or with a toothbrush. Let it stand for at least 15 minutes before rinsing the area thoroughly. If stubborn stains persist, repeat the process one or two more times for best results.

How to Clean Tile Grout With Baking Soda

For an all-natural solution to clean tile grout, make a paste of baking soda and white vinegar in a bowl. The ingredients will begin to bubble and foam once combined so be sure to let them settle before proceeding with the application. Use your fingers to apply the paste to the grout – cover the lines properly without leaving gaps – and let it stand for 10 minutes. Next, dampen a medium or semi-hard toothbrush, and scrub the grout lines clean. Finish off by rinsing the tiles and grout.

How to Clean Tile Grout With Hydrogen Peroxide

There are two ways to use hydrogen peroxide to clean and whiten your tile grout: 

1) Undiluted (for mild dirt)

2) Mixed with baking soda (for stubborn stains)

Both methods are fairly simple, and very effective in removing dirt and restoring the grout’s original colour. To clean your grout with plain hydrogen peroxide, simply pour the liquid into a spray bottle, and spray down the lines. After a few minutes, scrub the grout with a cleaning brush, and rinse clean.

When dealing with stained and discoloured grout lines, you can double up the cleansing power by combining baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to form a paste. Once again, apply the paste to your tile grout, give it a few minutes to dry on the surface, and scrub it thereafter. Finally, rinse the area thoroughly to reveal clean and bright grout lines!

Basic Tile Grout Cleaning

Once you have cleaned the tile grout using one of the methods above, it is advisable to maintain it with a basic clean every week or so. All you need is warm water and a tile grout brush to scrub away mild dirt and grime that have built up over the course of the week. This is something you can do before you take a shower; it will only take 5 or 10 minutes to complete. Simply wet 

the floor with warm water, scrub the grout lines with an appropriate brush, and rinse them off. 

Although it is not difficult to learn how to clean tile grout, a lot of homeowners overlook this crucial part of their tiled floors and walls, leaving these narrow spaces to accumulate dirt and germs. Well, you don’t have to let that happen anymore thanks to these effective tile grout cleaning methods from the experts at CleaningBest!

The kitchen is said to be the heart of every home; everyone loves to gather here and catch up over a snack or beverage. Unfortunately, your kitchen is prone to grease and grime buildup which makes it a rather unpleasant place to be in if not cleaned up. 

While daily cleaning of your kitchen is important to keep the space sanitary, you may end up neglecting some stubborn grime that doesn’t seem to come off in a hurry. On top of this, there are some components/surfaces that are rarely cleaned and therefore, accumulate stubborn grease and grime over time. Today, we’re going to guide you through tackling the most stubborn kitchen grime with simple, tried and tested cleaning methods. Read on!

Stainless Steel Sink

To make your kitchen sink gleam again, all you need is white vinegar, water, and some salt. Start by wetting the interior of the sink with warm or hot water (heat helps to loosen stubborn grease and grime). Next, combine equal parts of water and white vinegar (warm up the mixture), dip a soft scrubber or cloth in the solution, and sprinkle some salt over the cleaning tool. The salt will provide enough abrasion to scrub away tough grime without scratching your stainless steel kitchen sink. After scrubbing and rinsing the sink, dry it with a clean cloth to prevent hard water stains.

Backsplash Tiles

Grease and discolouration are inevitable when it comes to the caulking of your kitchen backsplash while the tiles can also get really dirty and stained. In order to restore the caulk and tiles back to their original clean and beautiful appearance, combine 1 part hydrogen peroxide with 2 parts baking soda. Use this pasty solution to cover the caulk lines and leave it for a few minutes. Next, dip a damp sponge in the paste and scrub your kitchen backsplash thoroughly. Follow this up by wiping over the surface with a clean, damp cloth to remove the cleaning agents. With this method, your backsplash tiles and caulk lines will be as good as new!

Microwave Touchpad

Unlike the rest of the microwave, you can’t scrub the touchpad because it is prone to damage (especially when excess pressure is applied). So, to get rid of the grease and grime buildup, you need to implement safe cleaning techniques and solutions. Start by heating up some undiluted white vinegar (it needn’t be too hot). Dip a sponge in it and carefully squeeze out the excess liquid without burning your hands. Hold the sponge over the touchpad for 5-10 seconds (one section at a time). This will help loosen the grease and grime present of the surface. 

Next, mix 1-2 tablespoons of bleach in 3-4 cups of water; stir well to combine the two. Dip a cotton face pad in the mix and gently wipe the touchpad from top to bottom. For stubborn spots, use a cotton swab dipped in the solution to gently scrub them away.

Stove Grates

When it comes to removing burnt grime from stove grates, soaking is key! Make a hot soapy solution and allow your dirty stove grates to soak for about an hour. During this time, grime will loosen up and peel off. Next, take an old toothbrush and spot clean existing stains/grime. Finish off by scrubbing the stove grates with dish soap and a scrubber; rinse and dry thereafter.

Stove Knobs

Most types of stoves are equipped with removable knobs; these can very easily be cleaned in a dishwasher, however, if you prefer to do it by hand, take them off and soak them in hot soapy water for about 30 minutes. If the knobs are ridged or have intricate grooves, use a toothbrush to scrub them clean. Don’t forget to clean the back of the knobs which also accumulate grime. If needed, gives the knobs one final scrubbing with dish soap and a sponge/scrubber. Rinse them off and dry each knob completely before you fit them back onto your stove.

Although it can be a messy job, removing stubborn kitchen grime on a regular basis is necessary for maintaining the overall cleanliness of the space and keeping it sanitary, too. Fortunately, you don’t have to struggle with that task anymore thanks to the quick and effective cleaning methods above!

First of all, it’s important that we address why you should clean your mattress to begin with. Along with the hygienic reasoning behind it, the condition of your mattress can interfere with your sleep cycle and health. A few examples include bed bugs which cause itching and skin irritation; dust mites which can lead to coughing, sneezing, and wheezing; and mildew which has many negative effects on the respiratory system.

Now that we’ve established why it’s important to clean your mattress, it’s time to tell you how to do it! For a truly thorough and relatively simple clean, take a look at Cleaning Best’s DIY guide on how to clean your mattress.

Step 1: Vacuum 

Not only is this the first step, it’s also the most important one. Vacuuming alone can remove 90% of dust, dirt, mites, and bugs; therefore, a thorough vacuuming of your mattress is a must. This means vacuuming the top and bottom of the mattress, as well as the sides. Let’s not forget the seams and corners where those pesky bed bugs tend to hide.

The key to vacuuming your mattress efficiently is to do it in columns or straight lines from top to bottom. Overlap each column as you go, and take your time to vacuum over each section multiple times. 

Step 2: Apply Baking Soda

Before you start scrubbing or cleaning the mattress further, use baking soda to absorb moisture and foul or mouldy odours from the material. Do this by sprinkling a generous amount of baking soda over the top of the mattress, and spread it around evenly with your hands. It helps to work the powder into the material to increase absorption of odours and moisture.

Allow the baking soda to work on the mattress for a few hours. Some prefer to leave it overnight, however, even a minimum of 3 hours should do the trick unless you’re dealing with a very musty or foul-smelling mattress; in this case, overnight is advised.

Step 3: Vacuum Up the Baking Soda

This time around, you needn’t spend too much time on vacuuming your mattress. Unlike the first vacuum, removing baking soda is quicker and easier. Nevertheless, it is advisable to be thorough by following the same column-by-column vacuuming process to ensure that you don’t miss any spots. Moreover, the powder that has been worked into the mattress must also be removed.

Step 4: Apply a Homemade Cleaning Solution

Cleaning your mattress with harsh detergents and cleaners can cause skin irritation if not removed entirely. More importantly, they are not necessary when a simple homemade mattress cleaner is just as effective! To make a DIY cleaning solution, combine the following ingredients in a spray bottle:

• 4 cups water
• ½ cup white vinegar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Few drops of citrus essential oil (optional)

For the application process, shake the bottle well and spray a fine mist over the mattress (from a distance so that you don’t saturate the material). Spray one section at a time, and use a clean microfibre cloth to rub the dampened area. This should lift dirt as opposed to push it into the mattress. Continue the process using fresh/clean microfibre cloths as and when needed until you have scrubbed the entire mattress – top, bottom, and sides.

Step 5: Remove the Cleaning Solution

The best part about using a natural homemade cleaning solution on your mattress is that even if there are traces of the ingredients left, there’s no problem! Of course, you still need to ‘rinse’ off the cleaner as thoroughly as possible to prevent a slippery residue and/or a strong fragrance from the solution.

For this, dampen a clean towel (make sure it is merely damp and not dripping wet), and wipe the entire mattress to remove the cleaner. Rinse off the towel at intervals to ensure that you are not transferring the cleaning solution back onto the mattress.

Step 6: Dry the Mattress

It’s important to allow your mattress to dry up completely before using it again as this will trap moisture within the material. To ensure that the mattress dries through and through, place it on a large bed sheet or plastic outside under direct sunlight (or indirect sunlight for coloured fabric). Flip the mattress after a few hours to ensure that both sides dry up. If one day isn’t enough to dry the mattress, bring it in at sunset and place it outside the next morning.

Don’t wait till your mattress is causing you sleepless nights and interfering with your health; use this tried and tested mattress cleaning guide from CleaningBest to keep yours sanitary and in tiptop condition!

A lot can contribute to clutter in your home; odds and ends, things left out of place, excess stuff, lack of storage, and so much more. So, how do you tackle clutter in the house when there are so many things causing it? Well, these 7 proven tips to keep clutter away are your best bet!

#1 Practice Minimalism

More often than not, we hold on to possessions we no longer need, or buy more stuff when we have enough; these are two of the biggest reasons why homes end up cluttered. The more you have, the more difficult it becomes to maintain a clean and tidy house. By practising minimalism, you will be able to organise better, free up storage space, and enjoy the mental benefits of a neat, clutter-free home!

#2 Have a Place for Everything

No matter how big or small it is, ‘it’ needs a designated place to be stored! Without one, things get moved around and left in places they shouldn’t be which, in turn, causes more clutter in your home. If needed, take the time to purge and reorganise drawers and cabinets so that you can make space for things that don’t have a place to go. 

#3 Install Clever Storage

Look around the house and make use of ‘dead’ space by installing storage aids. Whether it’s a spice rack on a bare wall in the kitchen, wall hooks behind your bedroom door, or a wall-mounted corner shelf in the bathroom; there are plenty of ways to add more storage to your home. This, of course, helps keep clutter at bay since you will be able to keep things organised with the additional space. 

#4 Declutter One Room at a Time

Even if it takes a few days to collectively have enough time to declutter one room, do it. This is better than doing half the job in one room, and then moving on to another room the next day. When it comes to decluttering your house, it pays to be thorough because that’s when it is easiest to maintain a clutter-free space. If you’re unsure of where to start decluttering a room, divide the space into zones, and tackle one at a time. For example, in a bedroom, declutter your closet, dresser, and table tops separately (or on separate days).

#5 Put Things Back in Place Immediately

Sometimes the only thing that’s causing clutter in the house is random items left lying around. Everything from chargers for your devices to online packages that haven’t been opened or put away yet; too many things occupy table tops and shelves a lot longer than they should. Instead, one should practice putting things away as soon as they are done using them. The biggest mistake most homeowners make is leaving such tasks for later because they tend to pile up, and then require a chunk of time to get everything done at once. This can be solved by simply acting immediately.

#6 When You Buy Something New, Give Something Away

With the convenience of online shopping and innovative marketing that entice customers to purchase things they don’t really need, a lot of homeowners find themselves buying at least a few new things every month. While some of them may be useful, it’s still advisable to develop a system wherein you give away old stuff when replaced with newly-purchased items. This is especially recommended when you buy new clothing; a lot of old clothes sit in your closet which could be of great use to someone else.

#7 Declutter Daily 

Decluttering your house is not a one-time task; it’s an ongoing process that can very easily be achieved by adopting simple habits to keep clutter away. One such habit (and one of the most important ones) is decluttering on a daily basis. This is your best bet in maintaining a neat home because you are stopping clutter in its tracks! Best of all, it only takes a few seconds to put things back in place or into a donation box and yet, makes a world of difference to the overall tidiness of your home. 

Take it from the experts at CleaningBest who are trained and experienced in professional house cleaning, and keeping homes immaculate; the tips above are your ticket to a clutter-free home from here on out!

For the longest time, we’ve relied on chemical cleaning products that are not only damaging to the environment but burning a hole through our pockets, too! If you can relate to this, you’ll be happy to know that the eco-friendly alternatives just might lie in your own home!

Natural homemade cleaners are incredibly easy to concoct and very effective in household cleaning if you get the ratios right, of course. Well, that’s what CleaningBest is here to help you with! Read on to find out how to make effective eco-safe home cleaners to clean up just about any surface or area of your home.

Multi-Purpose Cleaner

When a surface needs something more than a damp cloth to get rid of dirt and grime, a multi-purpose cleaner is your best bet!

How to make and use natural all-purpose cleaner:

1. Combine 2 cups of water, 2 cups of white vinegar, and the juice of 1 lemon.
2. Pour it into a spray bottle with multiple settings including a mist and stream setting.
3. Shake the bottle well before every use.
4. Spray the all-purpose cleaner directly on the surface and wipe with a clean, dry cloth.
5. Store the remaining cleaner left in the bottle in a cool and dark place such as a cabinet.

Glass Cleaner

If you thought only chemical-based glass cleaning products were effective, this eco-friendly homemade glass cleaner will prove you wrong!

How to make and use a non-toxic glass cleaner:

1. Combine 2 cups of water, ¼ cup of isopropyl alcohol (70%), and ½ cup of white vinegar.
2. For a pleasant fragrance, consider adding ¼ teaspoon of essential oil, and stir the mixture well.
3. Pour the solution into a spray bottle and shake well.
4. Before you use your homemade glass cleaner, make sure to wipe the surface to remove dust and loose debris for better results.

Grease Remover

Stubborn grease can be really messy to clean up, especially if you aren’t using a degreaser. Fortunately, there are some eco-friendly ingredients that can cut through grease to speed up and simplify the cleaning process.

How to make and use a natural degreaser:

1. Combine 2 cups of warm-hot water, 2 tablespoons of lime juice, and 1 tablespoon of baking soda.
2. Stir the mixture and pour it into a spray bottle.
3. Soak the greasy area with the cleaning solution and leave it for 2 minutes.
4. Take a clean, damp microfibre cloth and wipe up the grease.
5. If needed, spray the grease stains again (to soak them) and wipe immediately.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner

This organic cleaning solution will not only remove stains and grime, it will also deodorise your toilet bowl!

How to make and use a natural toilet bowl cleaner:

1. Combine 1 cup distilled water, 1 cup white vinegar,  ½ cup castile soap, ½ cup baking soda, and 1-2 tablespoons of essential oil. Stir well.
2. Pour the cleaner all around the interior of the toilet bowl, and leave it to sit for 10-15 minutes.
3. Spray over the bowl interior with hydrogen peroxide and scrub with a toilet brush.
4. Rinse and flush the toilet once the stains and grime have been scrubbed away.

Floor Cleaner

When it comes to cleaning your floor, you need something that will remove stains, smell good, and make the floor shine again; that’s exactly what we have for you!

How to make and use a non-toxic floor cleaner:

1. Combine 2 cups of warm water, ¼ cup of isopropyl alcohol (70%), ½ white vinegar, ¼ cup castile soap, and 1-2 tablespoons of essential oil for fragrance.
2. Pour the solution into a squirt bottle.
3. Shake well before every use.
4. Squeeze some of the cleaning solution onto the floor (one section at a time), and clean with a damp mop.

Drain Cleaner (for clogged drain)

Got a clogged and smelly drain? Say no more because this natural drain cleaner will blow you away!

What you’ll need to clean your drain naturally:

1. 1 litre of boiling hot water
2. 1-2 cups of white vinegar
3. ½ cup of baking soda

To unclog and deodorise your drain, sprinkle the baking soda over the drain first, and then pour the vinegar down the drain. Allow the ingredients to react for a few minutes before pouring the hot water down the drain. Just like that, your drain will be unclogged and smelling great again!

Don’t let those harsh chemical cleaners lined up on shelves at the department store take over your house too! Do yourself and the environment a favour by switching to these effective, non-toxic homemade cleaners!

Keeping your carpets clean and stain-free is impossible. That’s because occasional spills are inevitable while foot traffic can’t be stopped altogether. This is especially true in households with more members or kids and pets running all over the place! 

Fortunately, it is fairly simple to remove stains from your carpet if you know the right methods to follow. For that, you’ve certainly come to the right place! Today, we are sharing tried and tested, easy-to-follow methods to remove different types of carpet stains. Read on!

How to Remove Natural Carpet Stains

(Dust, mud, dirt, etc)

These natural stains are typically mild in nature, and occur regularly. Unless they are severe or have had time to set, most of the dried stain can be vacuumed up while the rest, removed with mild soap and water. 

Here is a quick step-by-step guide to remove natural stains from carpet:

1. Blot the stain with paper towels (if it is wet or damp). Allow the dirt/mud to dry up completely, and then vacuum the spot. 
2. Make a carpet stain remover consisting of liquid dish soap (1 teaspoon) and cool water (2 cups).
3. Take a clean, white cloth, dip a part of it into the solution, and squeeze out excess water. Use the dampened cloth to gently wipe and lift the stain.
4. Finish off by blotting the area with paper towels, and allow it to air dry.

How to Remove Food & Beverage Carpet Stains

(Chocolate, pasta sauce, ice cream, ketchup, wine, coffee, tea, juice, cola, etc)

No carpet stain causes more panic among homeowners than one caused by food or drink! Perhaps it is the vibrant colours of the stains that scare people, or simply the misconception that beverage/food stains on carpet are impossible to remove. Well, we are here to tell you otherwise!

Use the method below to remove different kinds of carpet stains left by an accidental beverage or food spill:

1. Pick off chunks or bits (if any) so that you are only left with a liquid stain. 
2. Absorb as much of the stain as possible with paper towels (blot, don’t scrub).
3. If you don’t have a carpet cleaning product, mix 2 tablespoons of fabric detergent in 2-3 cups of water; adjust the strength of the stain remover according to the severity of the stain.
4. A white hand towel or absorbent cloth should be used to clean the carpet stain as it needs to be lifted as opposed to dissolved. Dampen the cloth with the solution and wipe the stain gently in circular motions; be sure not to use the same side of the cloth when the stain begins to transfer onto the cloth.
5. Soak up moisture from the carpet with paper towels.
6. Repeat steps 4 and 5 until the stain is removed.
7. If needed, allow the carpet to dry completely before repeating the steps.

How to Remove Oil/Grease Stains from Carpet

(Oils, grease, butter, body lotion, lipstick, salad dressing, etc)

A lot of homeowners believe carpets with grease or oil-based stains are a lost cause and therefore, do not even attempt to remove them. While old carpet stains caused by oil or grease may require professional cleaning techniques, if you act sooner than later, you just might be able to remove the stains yourself. 

Take a look at our stain removal method for oil and grease carpet stains:

1. Dampen a clean, white cloth with a dry cleaning solvent such as glycol ethers or perchloroethylene, otherwise known as ‘perc’. 
2. Blot the stain and observe how much of it is getting removed before using another side of the cloth (or a fresh one altogether).
3. Continue cleaning the carpet stain using more of the solvent if needed.
4. After 5 minutes of removing the stain, gently wipe over the area with a clean, damp cloth to rinse off the solvent.
5. After the carpet dries, check if any discolouration remains and repeat the stain removal process one more time.
6. Be sure to allow the carpet to dry before repeating the steps.

Bear in mind that removing different types of stains from your carpet requires patience and, oftentimes, the need to repeat steps or the entire method depending on how old the stains are, and the severity of them. Nevertheless, these are tried and tested carpet stain removal methods so the next time you see ugly marks on your favourite carpet, use the cleaning guides above to get rid of them!