Christmas cleaning preparation needs are, well, no different to everyday cleaning needs really. However, it is a time of year when you’re more likely to be hosting celebrations and welcoming guests into your home. Get your house ready for the Christmas season to stay on top of the clutter!

1- Prioritise your Christmas cleaning preparation

You know where people will be eating, sleeping, and, um, taking care of other business. Focus on these spots and shut off the rest of the house. It helps keep the sanity. After all, if you spend all your energy in preparations for the season, you wind up unable to enjoy it!

2- Declutter while you can

Christmas brings new stuff. Toys. Kitchen utensils. Loads of wrapping paper. Decorations. It’s a parade of presents. Make space now. Get rid of stuff you don’t use and things that are broken. If you don’t have time to sort things out properly then box up the excess bits and pieces just to clear it away for now. 

3- Christmas cleaning preparations is not just about cleaning. It’s also about stocking up for your guests

Guests are going to use things. Toilet paper. Sprays. Tissues. Be prepared so you don’t get caught out. Have cleaning supplies and toiletries ready to go. Extra bags, buckets, or boxes will probably come in handy too. After all, everyone is going to have stuff they’ll want to cart around too. 

Don’t forget those every important spare batteries. Different sizes are handy too. While this isn’t strictly a cleaning tip it is something that comes in handy! 

4- Box it as you go

Christmas means presents. This means wrapping paper, empty boxes, plastic wrap, string, ties, instructions, and all sorts of bits and pieces. Have a box (or a shelf) set aside for instructions to be placed. This ensures you don’t lose them and they don’t get mixed up with the rubbish. Have two big boxes for the wrapping paper, plastic, and other bits and pieces. Once for recyclables and one for rubbish. Drum it into people to toss it in as they unwrap. Don’t let the mess build up. 

5- Have a contingency plan

It’s all very well and good to make a decision to clean and maintain your home. It’s another thing entirely to consistently follow through. Emergencies come up. Kids get sick. You have last minute shopping dashes to make. You know, there’s always something. Just in case you can’t stay on top of everything as you go, it can help to have sorting buckets ready. This can be a place to plunk a bunch of dishes to soak in and keep off the bench. It can also mean having bags or boxes ready for people to stack their gifts into so that they don’t end up spread all over the floor as you go. 

6- Clean clothes

Keeping your clothes clean is an endless job. Make sure you’re up to date with the cleaning before guests start arriving. If you need to ensure you’ve got extras of the essentials then get ready with them now. 

Have two washing baskets. One for essentials/urgent cleans. One for cleans that aren’t as urgent. That way you can ensure that things like underwear and little Billy’s favourite t-shirt are being washed as soon as possible, even if the rest of the stuff sits there for 3 days before there’s time and room to get to to them. 

7- Disposables

Don’t hang the messenger! There are two types of disposables. The plastics that you use, break, and toss, or more environmentally friendly wooden or plant based disposables. The latter one will cost you a lot more for the convenience of cutting down on cleaning requirements. But it is an option. 

8- Kid distractions

Once you’ve cleaned the kids will make a mess. It’s inevitable. So plan ahead. Have a messy corner for them to colour in, paint, build, and play. Or perhaps you can stock up on fun Christmas shows that keep them dancing instead of throwing toys around. Of course every family has their own unique way of doing things and every child has their own… eccentricities. It’s all very well for a stranger on the internet to tell you to keep them distracted, it can be an entirely different story when it comes to the reality. 

Whatever you do, just do what works for your family. 

9- Organise a professional clean up front

The cleaner your home is, the easier it is to keep clean. When the home starts off clean people are more likely to feel the need to keep it clean. In a similar vein, as soon as mess starts to build, people will add to that mess. 

In a similar way everything that’s going to get heavy use will function better if it’s had a good clean before hand. Get your oven spruced up, as well as that microwave. Ensure your amenities are prepared and get those couches crumb free. 

It’s getting close to Christmas already, so now’s the time to jump in and book your cleaner.

10- Remember it’s Christmas. Do Your Christmas cleaning preparation, so that you can enjoy it!

There will be some mess. You may end up with glitter all over the floor. If you’ve got a live Christmas tree then pine needles are part and parcel of the deal. Toys will be spread all over the floor at some point. Food will be spilled. People will tread dirt through the house. 

Enjoy the moments while you can. You can always hire a professional cleaner tomorrow…

How Often Should I Use A Professional Cleaner? 

When you know it’s time to bring in a professional cleaner for your home or office, it’s inevitable to ask how often should I use a professional cleaner? Well the answer depends on a few things. It may also depend on the cleaner…

What matters most when it comes to determining how often to hire a professional cleaner?

1- How quickly does your space get dirty? 

Got a lot of mess makers? Get that cleaner in more often.

If you’ve got kids, tradies, labourers, excercisers, or anyone else who’s likely to be tracking high levels of dirt or sweat around with them, then you need to clean more. Obvious dirt can build up quickly and is off putting to everyone. You want to stay on top of it to keep your place fresh and clean. 

2- Is there a lot of foot traffic? 

More use means more cleaning.

Even when the people coming through aren’t ‘obviously’ covered in muck and mud, they’re still bringing in dirt and germs. Each addition will quickly build up the ick factor and it can get out of hand before you know it. That’s why entrance ways often require extra special attention to keep sparkling clean. A home with a single person living in it may not require professional level cleaning as frequently as a home with a bunch of kids running around. 

3- How important is it to give a good impression? 

When impressions matter you can’t go past a quality cleaner.

People notice dust and dirt easily. That’s because we tend to see when there’s a problem. Sometimes a quick brush over may look good enough on the surface but fail to impress a new customer walking in the door. If your space needs to your professionalism, then you need to get a professional clean done more often. Stay on top it. That way you’ll never be caught out. 

4- Are there hygiene concerns?

Which rooms have extra hygiene concerns?

Rental properties have a full clean and clear in between guests. The sheets are washed and changed, everything is swept and scrubbed. This isn’t just because of the obvious messes that can be left behind. It’s also about the unseen. It’s important to ensure that the place is freshly cleaned and hygenic, ready for the next family to use the place. Kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms typically create higher levels of hygiene concerns because of the way these rooms are used. 

5- Do you have the time to clean yourself?

Hiring a cleaning is not just about getting that professional job done. It’s about saving yourself the time and hassle of trying to do it yourself.

If you’re able to put time in yourself them you can probably afford to space out the frequency of a professional cleaner. When you’re struggling to keep the place in check then you might want to bring someone in more often. One of the great things about bringing in a professional is that it frees up your own time to spend on the things you really want to be focusing on. 

6- What’s your budget? 

Your budget determines your priorities.

Let’s be real. This has to factor in. Hiring a professional cleaner costs money. After all, they’re providing a valuable service and it’s how they make their living. They should be paid properly and adequately for their time and expertise. If you can’t afford a regular clean, then just stick to using professionals for that deep clean maintenance. 

7- What’s your ick factor?

Does mess cause you stress?

The final consideration may be one of the most important. If you’re someone who likes to keep things really pristine then you’ll want a more regular cleaner. (Daily cleans never hurt anyone, right?) When you can comfortably survive until the place is starting to whiff a bit, then you might prefer to space those cleans out a bit more. 

So… how often should I use a professional cleaner? 

A good rule of thumb, depending on the answers to the above questions, is weekly or fortnightly. In some cases once a month should suffice. On top of this there should be a quarterly deep clean to really get into the nooks and crannies. Or, if you’re like the average Joe, you may just wait until you can’t handle it anymore and call in for a last minute rush job. This isn’t exactly ideal, and may result in you missing out on a clean when you really need it. So let’s just avoid this option ok! 

Of course if you are basically on top of your own cleaning you may only want to bring in the professional cleaner for those once off occasions or to get in that regular deep clean that truly makes your house sparkle. 

For the best cleaner in Perth just contact CleaningBest.

Trending cleaning tips are essential because keeping a house clean is a tricky thing to do. There is literally an army of little critters (aka germs and bugs) who are fighting you every single step of the way. So prepare for battle. Arm yourself with sprays, brushes and cleaning cloth, and let’s get to work. Here’s a few super simple, totally doable, and glove wrenchingly possible, cleaning tips to win the war.

Trending Cleaning Tip #1: Never let your spouse or children enter the home

This super simple tip makes a lot of sense. Less people through your pristine doors means there are fewer of those warrior germs and bugs fighting their way over your squeaky clean floors in an effort to make a mess again. While dust may still settle, noone is dragging in full on loads of dirt or tossing half eaten crackers under the couch cushions (except you of course, but you can always blame any strays on, say, a break in). 

Trending Cleaning Tip #2: Have visitors over several times a day

I know, I know, this seems like it totally contradicts the previous piece of advice. That’s what good advice is like nowadays though, totally contradictory advice for the perfect solution, one right after the other… Anyway, onto the point at hand…

You should have visitors more often because you never clean harder than you do in those ten minutes before a visitor shows up. Ergo, more visitors means more ten minute scrambles to scrub, scrub, scrub. 

Trending Cleaning Tip #3: Develop a totally new personality

You’re obviously reading this because you are not one of those natural cleaners. You know the ones. They just walk into a room and it is magically all shimmer and shine. Their arms are constantly in dish gloves because they don’t spend more than a moment away from the sink. They live and breath for the clean. The only logical solution is to become one of these people. 

Trending Cleaning Tip #4: Create an artificial intelligence robot maid.

This is so on trend it’s literally ahead of its times… but not by much. I mean, have you seen the amazing things that these robots can do? We are literally thiiiiiiiiis close to having full on android machines who can put on an apron and use their laser focus to ensure every single tiny speck of dirt in your whole house is taken out with the trash.

Trending Cleaning Tip #5: Move out for a period of time and rent your house out

Ok, this might seem like a weird solution but hear me out… When someone rents out your house they are required to return it in pristine condition in order to get their bond back. So just move out, rent it out, then move back in once the lease is up. Voila, the tenant has to ensure it is all super clean and tidy before you return. (No, no, there’s absolutely no loopholes or missing steps in this totally savvy plan. It’s on point.) 

Trending Cleaning Tip #6: Commit a fake crime in your home

When a crime is committed the police come in and take away everything to check for evidence right? It’s a total win win. They get to chalk up an arrest to increase their credentials and you get them to do the dirty work in cleaning up your home. Don’t forget to enjoy your relaxing holiday in jail while the investigators get onto the task and figure out it was all fake. If you’re super lucky, or just hire an unscrupulous liar, I mean lawyer, then you might even end up with a nice little payout to compensate you for the “inconvenience”. Don’t think too hard about this one, I’m sure it will all work out in the wash. 

Trending Cleaning Tip #7: Close your eyes and wish it all away

It’s really that easy. It happens in the movies, so I know for sure that wishes work. Find the right spot in your home, shut your eyes, relax, and wish. Seriously this has got to be the most trendy tip to follow when it comes to cleaning. In fact more than 80% of people who want to clean their home default to this tip instead of, you know, physically doing something about it. That’s how we know it’s so doable! Don’t despair if your wish doesn’t work at first. There’s always some sort of hiccup before things kick in. Besides, everyone knows that if what you’re doing doesn’t work the first time you just keep repeating it the exact same way until it does. It’s called persistence. That’s a great quality to have. 

Trending Cleaning Tip #8: Burn it to the ground

A change is as good as a holiday. At least that’s what they say. If the cleaning is getting you stressed, distressed and repressed, then it’s time for a total change. Out with the old and in with the new, they say. Imagine it… fresh new home. Brand new furniture. Everything totally clean and amazing. This is such a good idea… right?

Bonus Trending Cleaning Tip:

Or you know, if none of these ideas will work for you, maybe you could hire a super amazing cleaning team. If you live or work in Perth, then CleaningBest has got you covered. Book us in today and see for yourself how totally doable this cleaning tip is.

*Other than the bonus tip, these tips are totally not trending, or doable. Actually it is not advisable to do any of them at home. Warning notice added in on the threat that I’d be the one who got cleaned out if I forgot the disclaimer.

Do you value your cleaner? This blog post is going to be a little bit different. Let’s pull off the sales veneer and tell it like it is.

I’m not a cleaner. I do some admin and accounts work for a cleaning company, including writing their monthly blog. It doesn’t make sense for the cleaner to take time and focus out of what they do best to write up blogs. They are focusing on the cleaning side of things. That means they can get that done well. I, in turn, focus on the backend and admin side of things. It works well for most businesses who understand the importance of not spreading oneself too thin.

Being on the admin side of a cleaning business has opened my eyes to what it’s like for a cleaner trying to make a living through their cleaning business. I’ve worked, and still work, for many different kinds of businesses. This means I get to see a perspective that is bigger than just the view from within one company. It’s interesting to see how differently clients treat and approach different businesses, depending on how much value they place on the service they are recieving. Let’s look at it this way…

The value of quality products & materials

Have you ever tried to paint your own home?

If you did, did you go for the cheapest product you could find, only to discover that it is really is worth putting in a little extra? 

That 90c brush that fell apart while you painted was just a waste of 90c. The $15 brush made life easier.

That $2 roller that left bits of lint over the wall wasn’t just a waste, it added hassle, time, and frustration to the job. That $50 roller held more paint, made the job run more efficiently, and took away the headache. 

The cheap paint that you thought was such a good deal didn’t turn out so great in the long run did it? You ended up having to do three times as many coats just to get it to look ok on the wall, and you can tell that a repaint is needed already. 

Perhaps you just realised it was all too hard and paid the big bucks to get a professional out there and make sure the job was really done right. 

When it comes to quality materials for cleaning your home, do you value your cleaner?

The value of a bit of skill and focus

Have you ever paid for a decent hair trim?

A $30 trim takes up a lot of your time and hardly any of the hairdressers. You have to leave your home, figure out what to do with the kids, drive to the store, find a park, wait your turn. It takes them about 10 minutes. That’s $30-$50 for maybe several minutes of their time to snip along your hair, and maybe along the fringe too. 

Maybe you only go in for a longer style, colour or full treatment. This, of course, costs you more, maybe even hundreds of dollars more. It would be much cheaper and quicker to just take a pair of scissors and snip your own hair. Though we can’t guarantee that the outcome would be pleasant… At least hair grows back… I guess. 

When it comes to needing some skill and focus, do you value your cleaner?

The value of professional training and focus

What about a tax return? Ever paid to get your tax return lodged?

You could lodge yourself you know. It’s free to do that. Those are the sort of returns that end up with people getting fined for claiming ineligible costs such as the costs of parking at their usual place of work (sorry that’s not tax deductible), or missing out on rebates and offsets that you just didn’t know about (you have to include that remote zone offset if you want it applied against your taxable income). 

Tax accountants spend years studying and gaining work experience before they qualify. They are required to maintain minimum annual education (since the system is constantly changing) and it’s what they focus on. That’s why you pay them to prepare your return for you. Plus, it’s a tax deductible cost, so win win right? 

When it comes to getting a professional clean, do you value your cleaner?

The value of a cleaner

Why are some people so reluctant to pay for cleaners?

Cleaning your home is something everyone does. Yet it’s not something everyone has the skills to do well, nor is it something everyone has the time to do. 

Yet we don’t learn from the times we’ve gone for the cheaper options only to realise that actually ends up costing us more, especially in time and hassle. 

We’ll happily pay $35 for a ten minute haircut and complain if someone wants to charge us $35 for a physically demanding hour of cleaning. 

We recognise the value of getting in a professional to assist with our finances, yet we often don’t see that a decent cleaner, one who really knows what they are doing, can provide value beyond what you can do on your own. 

I am not a cleaner. I do admin work for a cleaning company and I’ve gained some insight into the issues that cleaners regularly face with quoting jobs. We regularly see potential clients quickly become angry when they see the rates and make claims such as:

No other cleaning company charges as high as you do, can’t you do it cheaper? 

My last cleaner only charged $20 an hour, why can’t you charge $20 an hour?
It only takes 2 people 2 and a half hours to clean my home, I was expecting it to only cost under $100. 

The cost of employees

Let me put it to you straight.

A good cleaning company knows what they are doing and what products to ensure the job is done well. Behind the scenes they are investing in quality product and cleaning material, as well as focusing themselves on continual improvements through ongoing training and education. They are professionals.

When you hire a cleaning company you are not hiring a young Mum who is just looking to earn a few dollars on the side. There are laws in Australia that require staff to be paid not just for the hours they work. They must also be paid for travel time, training time, downtime, and even holidays. On top of that there is insurance, superannuation, allowances for extra icky or tricky jobs (like cleaning your toilet or working on roofs), bonuses, uniforms, staff amenities, and vehicles.

For the 2020 financial year the legal minimum wage for a fulltime cleaning employee is $20.82-$22.70 per hours for normal hours of work, depending on their skill and authority level (higher for evenings, public holidays, weekends, and overtime). If someone works on a Sunday then their minimum wage will be between $41.64 and $45.40 an hour. If they work overtime on a public holiday their base minimum wage will be $56.75. Part time workers have higher minimum hourly rates of pay starting at $23.94. Casual workers are higher again (although this is at least partially offset by not having the requirements to pay them for leave time). 

Undervaluing has an onflow effect

If you expect a cleaning company to charge only $20 an hour then you are expecting to be charged rates that are lower than the lowest possible minimum hourly rate before even factoring in superannuation, allowances, leave, training, uniform, travel etc. If a cleaning company is charging you this low they are either not a cleaning company (they’re an individual just looking for some extra cash on the side and willing to work under minimum wage requirements to get it) or they are not paying their staff properly. 

As a rough guide it costs a company almost twice as much as the base minimum wage rate for their productive hours of employment. (Although this can vary depending on how much down time, travel time, additional allowances, training, uniforms, additional hours etc are appropriate for the situation). When you realise that you realise that most cleaning companies make a living by working in the business themselves. 

Not to mention the actual value of a good clean

That’s just the cost side of things.

The real value of hiring a cleaner is in the value that you get from a proper cleaning job. Do you have a cleaner who doesn’t miss those nooks and crannies? Someone who uses high quality material? A company whose cleaners work efficiently and effectively? If so you are getting genuine professional value. That’s not the same thing as paying someone who basically knows how to tidy up and run a wipe over the most visible surfaces. It’s worth a whole lot more.

It saves you time and energy. Plus your home is in better shape than you could realistically keep it.

If you want a professional service then expect a professional fee to be charged. If you’re lucky enough to get a cheap rate with a quality cleaner then be grateful while you’ve got it. These cleaners are working hard to make a living for themselves. You are reaping the benefits of quality job.

Thank your cleaner today!

Do you value your cleaner? If you’re someone who values the exceptional service that is provided by your cleaning then thank you! I know we’d love your kind over at www.cleaningbest.com.au

Don’t forget to let your cleaner know how much you appreciate them. I wonder if there’s a cleaner appreciation day…. 

We’re a serious cleaning business. But sometimes we need a laugh too!

CleaningBest

Do you ever wonder if you’re the only parent out there who doesn’t have time to keep your place sparkling clean? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! While there are some super Mums (or Dads) who can shape their child’s life while keeping their home sparkling clean (and massive kudos to them!), for the rest of us, there’s a real world to deal with. Between burping babies, school recitals, trying to remember which bills to pay, and avoiding lego related injuries, sometimes it’s just easier… not to clean. These handy, humourous cleaning tips will help you keep your sanity… (cause you know, laughter is good for the soul, and even unintentionally funny cleaning tips can have us rolling around the floor. So enjoy a laugh, even if you don’t have the time or energy to even follow through with these nifty ideas…).

1- Make it look like you’re in the middle of cleaning. You know, just in case someone pops over during the day.

The key to this tip is finding ways to make it look like you’re doing something about the mess, even when you’re not. Once you’re a pro at this you will look like you’re so busy cleaning that people will start to tell you not to stress about the little messes (even when they can see for themselves that it’s more than just a little mess). It could even result in an invitation to get out of the house and take a break from all your hard work!

Some of the pro tips include: 

• Soak Your Dishes in Soapy Water. This is a great way to give the appearance that you’re going to clean them.
• Scatter a couple of empty containers around the house so that you can claim you’re in the middle of spring cleaning. After all, everyone knows how messy it gets when you take everything out to sort through things. 
• Leave some old clothes up on the clothesline. This makes it easier to claim that you’re “catching up” on the washing. 
• Place a brush and shovel near any large mess. This way it’s easy to explain that you were in the middle of attending to it when they knocked on the door. 
• If someone arrives and you’re totally unprepared, knock some furniture over. This way you can answer the door with a crazy story about how some wild animal tore through your house and how overwhelmed you’ve been trying to deal with the aftermath. If this doesn’t draw immediate sympathy and an offer to help, don’t be afraid to add on some tears!  

2- Ignore the non important cleaning needs. Then keep ignoring them. 

When you ignore something it becomes less important right? It’s like that saying “out of sight, out of mind.” Real parenting cleaning tips must include some strategies for ignoring things. If you don’t master this skill then you’ll always be overwhelmed by the amount of cleaning that is constantly required. 

Some perfect ignoring methods include: 

• Shut the door to your kid’s bedrooms. Then you won’t have to see the mess that they call their sanctuary. 
• When you go to vacuum remember that cleaning out the vacuum is not a priority. With your vacuum cleaning remaining full you will have a valid excuse not to vacuum.  
• Watch an episode of Hoarders. It really helps give you a low bar so that you can feel good about justifying ignoring your own messes. 
• You’ve heard a lot of tips about how lemons and lemon juice can help with the cleaning. Since you don’t have lemons just put off the cleaning until you can get around to buying some. Don’t forget to forget the lemons next time you go shopping!
• Ask your child to clean the house. Next time you’re tempted to clean remember that you asked your child. This means you’re intentionally ignoring the household cleaning needs in order to teach them a lesson. It kind of makes you a good parent… right? 

3- Lean on good intentions. 

Intentions are the most important thing right? So if you have good intentions about cleaning then it doesn’t really matter what happens in reality. 

Here’s some examples of good intentions that make you a perfect caretaker for your home:  

• Consider washing all the sheets on a weekly basis. It’s totally fine that you’re more likely to completely forget about them and leave them gathering mildew in the washing machine for a week instead. 
• Think about dusting. It’s the thought that counts.  
• Plan to be an adult even though you know you’ll end up emulating your child instead. The intention of being responsible keeps means you’re maturity. The reality of looking around at the messy house then flopping down on the couch with a whiney “I don’t wanna” is more cathartic though. 
• Spend your free time noting down all the things that need to be cleaned in your diary. The fact that you spend your free time making those plans and thinking about cleaning the house is clear evidence of your good intentions.  
• Make sure you always have something going on that is a bigger priority than cleaning. Then ensure your intention is always to do some cleaning right after that priority is taken care of. The trick with this one is to ensure there is always another important priority ready to slot in before you actually get to the cleaning stage. 

4- Put aside for later what you can’t get to today

Ah here we have some good old procrastination. I’ll explain this one in more detail… later… 

• Throw letters and school notes into a paper tray. In about 3 weeks you can go through them. Many of them will be redundant by then so you’ll have less work to do and more you can just toss straight into the bin. 

5- Do it the short-term easy way

Cleaning is a literal chore. That’s the reason there are so many shortcuts, tips and tricks floating around online. It’s all about finding an easy way to deal with the mess. 

For some super handy tips on doing it the short-term easy way (as long as you ignore the long-term consequences), consider the following cleaning ideas:

• Once you have a pile of clothes on your floor that is too big to ignore, simply pick it up and shove it in the nearest closet. You will feel much better when there’s room to move your feet without tripping over. More importantly, it will totally look like you’ve done a lot of work. 
• Let the dog clean up all the crumbs from the floor. If you don’t have a dog, then get one. It’s a life saver for keeping under your table clear from gross food clutter. 
• Have a box to throw to “the be sorted” stuff into. When that box is full, just get another box. If anyone wants something in the box badly enough they will sift through it.
• Once it’s time to put dinner on but your kitchen it too messy to cook and eat in, simply move the meal outdoors. You can order some fish and chips and enjoy some fresh air. It’s good for you. Especially since your kitchen is literally swimming in grot and germs at this point. 
• Put a laundry basket at the side of your table and sweep everything off the table and into the basket. Voila! Clean table. Now your desk is clear from clutter so you can work, your table is free to set up the next meal, or your bedroom has a fresh new decluttered look.
  
  

6- Mind over matter

Sometimes it’s not so much about what you do, but how you perceive it. That’s when mind over matter tips come into play. 

Here’s some thoughtful ways of changing your perspective about cleaning: 

• When your mirror is too dirty to see your reflection simply don’t worry about it. You probably look fine, and no one else really cares what your mirror looks like anyway. 
• Whenever the mess gets too overwhelming just remind yourself that the only thing you hate more than a dirty house… is cleaning. 
• If you get worried about the state of the house remember that a messy home is just a lived in home. That obviously means that an extremely messy home is just a really lived in home. 
• Reframe your perception of mess as a problem. Look at is as a finely honed obstacle course. It’s set up to develop gross and fine motor skills, of yourself and your family, as you weave your way around dangerous obstacles and crunchy, sticky floor gunk. 
• If a visitor seems to have a problem with the mess ham it up. Ensure they know how much they clearly mean to you since you’re so comfortable with their friendship that you no longer feel the pressure to clean up the house before they arrive. 

7- If in doubt, smell it out

Sometimes we can’t avoid the cleaning or get around it any longer. That’s when we need to resort to smell checks. Smell checks alert us to the priorities of what might actually, really, genuinely need to be done. In some cases you can hide things longer with some additional smelling aids. 

To boost your smell check abilities, follow these smellerific ideas: 

• Invest in air fresheners and strong smelling sprays. This will ensure you can minimise which areas you absolutely have to stop ignoring. 
• Sniff around a room to determine if there is any part of it that is emitting a stench that you can’t cope with. Then just focus on cleaning these key parts. 
• Smell bathrooms after kids have used them to determine if they need to be sent back in to wipe up any overflow. 
• Develop an awareness of what rotting food smells like. This way you will be able to prioritise when something needs to be cleaned, and when something really needs to be cleaned. 
• Open all your windows and doors so that the fresh breeze can come through. If this doesn’t work, blame any stench on something wafting in from the outside. 

8- Hoard brilliant cleaning tips and hacks

They say that it pays to be prepared. When it comes to cleaning there are a million hacks and cleaning tips that can save you time and energy.

Here’s a few tips that sound great for busy mums and dads: 

• Just spend 10 minutes a day focusing on cleaning. Have a roster in place that lists all the things you need to clean and work your way down that list, doing a new item each day. If those 10 minutes aren’t enough to finish the job don’t worry about it. You can carry that task on next time it comes around on your list. 
• Clean as you go! 
• If you’re struggling to find time to clean around a young baby, remember that the tip is to clean when baby sleeps. Or is that to sleep when baby sleeps… Maybe you can just wait until baby is old enough to help you clean then clean when baby cleans!
• Use boxes. Have a socks box and a jocks box, a toy box and a dirty dishes box. It’s much easier to toss things into a box than to properly sort and pack them away, so it should be easy for everyone in your family to pitch in and just chuck stuff into the boxes as they go. 
• Now that you’ve got a few more brilliant cleaning tips to hoard, plonk them in your diary, have a laugh, and forget about them. 

9- Consider excessive measures of decluttering

Sometimes you just get to a point where you need to toss it all in and start again. That’s when excessive decluttering measures sound really tempting.

Consider these options before you decide to completely abandon the home and set up camp elsewhere:

• While looking at the mountain of laundry make a rash decision on whether it’s better to clean it all or just toss it all and buy everyone new wardrobes. 
• Take a holiday from the mess by taking the family on a holiday. Go somewhere warm so that you only have to bring your swimwear. Stay in a hotel without cooking facilities so that you always have to eat out. Ensure they have a daily cleaning service. Even if you sink back into overload on your return, at least you had a breather! 
• Accidentally knock over the stack of dishes into a carefully placed garbage bag (you don’t want to be stuck having to clean up broken bits an pieces). Less dishes to use means less mess to clean! Consider replacing them with disposable picnic gear. 
• Let your kids play with water in the house. Then declare everything to be water damaged. It’s easier to toss things into garbage bags then to clean and sort through them. 
• Farm the children out to friends or relatives for the weekend. It may be tempting to change the locks so they can’t return, especially if you get around to doing some cleaning, but I’m pretty sure that’s not a good idea… 

10- As a last resort have handy excuses ready. 

If all else fails, be prepared with excuses. Excuse me, I mean, reasons, for why the cleaning is just a little out of control. 

When in doubt use these handy go tos: 

• Plonk some get well cards on your shelf. If guests come over they will think you’ve been too sick to clean and forgive the mess. If you’re really lucky they may even step in to help tidy up a bit.
• Do some research on religious holidays, the more obscure the better. Print out some informative posters that make it clear that you are forbidden to clean at these particular times. Make sure you’ve got the whole year covered by various special days, weeks, or months. If you don’t have time or just can’t be bothered doing all this preparation, then invent a special year and stick with your story. 
• If someone asks why the house is so messy remind them that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. You’re not insane, so you stopped cleaning the house and expecting it to stay clean. 
• Cry. I mean what’s worse- something thinking you’re just a messy slob, or someone thinking you’re going through a rough time and need a little support? 
• Mention that it’s time you hired cleaningbest again. That way people will think you’ve had a professional cleaner through in some not too distant past, and that professional help is once again on the way. 

Thank you for your time. We hope you find some of these tips, um, useful for some unwinding! Let us know your favourite funny cleaning tip.

Keeping your kitchen clean is literally a never ending job. You clean, then you mess it all up again, just to feed the family. Since it is the place where your food is prepared, cleanliness it pretty important. Reduce the stress of the never ending clean and maintain good hygiene with the following kitchen cleaning tips. Tips to help keep your kitchen clean can make a big difference in easing up to agony of the grime wipe.  

1- Use preventative methods to make your kitchen easier to clean

Start by keeping your cleaning equipment clean! For example, clean your dishwasher once a week. Shake baking soda on a damp sponge and wipe around the machine’s edges to remove any stuck on food or stains. Then run the dishwasher on empty with a dishwasher cleaning product designed to kill bacteria. This will keep it nice and fresh to ensure it does what it is designed to do- keeps your dishes clean!

Make oven cleaning easier by employing preventative measures. One way of doing this is lining your oven with a nonstick oven liner. The liner can readily be wiped with a paper towel, then washed in the dishwasher and reused as often as needed.

Avoid build up on top of the fridge by covering it with a layer of plastic wrap. Just remove the plastic wrap once a month and replace it with clean wrap. This handy tip will prevent the buildup of gross, tiny food particles that float into the air on steam and end up mucking up your fridge top.

2- Clean As You Go to minimise the effort it takes to clean your kitchen

Cleaning is much, much easier when you do it as you go. This means getting in there before food hardens and sticks on. Spills should always be immediately cleaned, so they don’t cause stains or get stuck and sticky.

Pots and pans need a quick wipe down, even if you can’t thoroughly wash them straight away. One way handy tip can be to fill the sink with hot soapy water when you’re cooking. Then as you finishing using pots and dishes, simply throw them in to soak while you’re eating. After the meal they will be ready to easily finish up.

3- Organise your clean: Prepare your kitchen clean as your starting point.

When you clean the first priority is to do it in an order that makes sense to you. Something that you can work with. That said, there are some tips that can help keep the clean, well, easier and cleaner…

The best way to do this is to set up the things that take time first. For example start off by soaking any pans, stove knobs and other bits and pieces. These bits and pieces will then be easier to clean when you get back around to them. If you’re using an oven cleaner or any other sprays that need to sit for a while, get it on before you get into the rest of the cleaning.

4- Clean from cleanest to dirtiest.

Once you’ve set up your clean for sprays to sit and things to soak, it’s time to get moving. Keep in mind that your stove is often the dirtiest part of the kitchen. It can host a massive build up of grime, dirt, and germs. It can therefore be a smart move to begin cleaning next to the stove, then move around the kitchen to clean it so that you finish with that dirty stove. Ending with the dirtiest part of the kitchen will help prevent you from spreading dirt and grease around.

5- Disinfect and remove odours from your kitchen

Did you know that your dirty kitchen sink can have more bacteria than your toilet seat? Given you eat out of your kitchen it’s therefore important to disinfect it. Once you’ve disinfected, let it air-dry.

Food intensive spots such as your disposal need particular care to disinfect and remove odours. For example, dropping some cut up lemon, salt and a few ice cubes into your disposal can do wonders. The lemon deodorises, the ice and salt clean away residue. Lemon, salt and water make great natural cleaners, disinfectants and deodorisers for many parts of the kitchen. Check out our microwave cleaning tips for specific ways to get this potentially stubborn part of your kitchen clean.

6- Use handy tips to ease the cleaning of any baked on or hardened grime

Here’s one tip to soften those baked on bits: make your job easier by blasting it with your hair dryer. Once it’s warm your job of wiping it down with a soapy damp cloth is a breeze (pun totally intended).

7- Bring in the experts for a regular deep clean of your kitchen

Staying on top of the cleaning is one thing, but every kitchen needs a regular deep clean. The professionals know how to get into the tough spots and how to break down the build up that inevitably happens. Regular deep cleans make it easier to stay on top of the day-to-day cleans.

Hey You! Yeah I’m talking to you. The one wondering why you’d bother hiring a professional cleaner when you could just do the job yourself. The one trying to work out if the cost of a cleaner is really something your business needs. Maybe you’ve been thinking that you could just grab someone you know who can, you know, clean. Let me ask you this… If you’re running, let’s say, an accounting firm, you know that people could do the job you provide. They could take time away from their own field of expertise to get the accounts done. Or they could drag in a friend or family member to keep the books. Is this a good idea though?

Let’s consider why it’s better to let a professional cleaner do the cleaning for your office…

1- Saves Your Time

A professional cleaner will be far more efficient at cleaning. They will do a better job, in quicker time, than you can. Meanwhile you aren’t diverting your attention from what you do best.

2- Keeps your focus on what bring in your money

The less you focus on what brings in your money, the less money you’re going to end up bringing in. There are a lot of bits and pieces that are essential to creating a productive workspace. However if you divert your focus onto the bits and pieces then the primary focus of your business will suffer.

3- A professional cleaner will ensure the quality of the clean

The professional cleaner knows how to get into cracks and corners that a less experienced cleaner may miss. This means you are getting rid of more than just the immediately visible grime. Those extra touches don’t just look better either.

4- Your health is better cared for

A better clean means that more of those germs, dust mites, bugs, and other gunky things, are well and truly taken care of. A good clean literally leaves your office healthier. The air is fresher. The surfaces are clearer. This means less sick days, lower risk of allergic reactions, and better ongoing health all around.

5- A Professional cleaner is insured

Accidents can happen to anyone. While a professional cleaner will have the training to minimise risk, they are also backed by comprehensive insurance for those just in case rarities.

6- The professional cleaner will use safe products and materials

They don’t just know how to clean. A professional cleaner understands the products they are working with. Harsh chemicals, products used on the wrong surface, equipment used the wrong way… there are a lot of ways that an inexperienced cleaner can cause damage.

7- Hiring a professional cleaner reduces potential tensions.

When you do the clean yourself, or get a friend or family member to help out, you’re risking straining relationships. Whether it’s from burning yourself, or someone else, out, or causing friction when something is cleaned as well as it needs to be, there’s a lot of room for potential issues. I’m not saying this will always happen, but unless the friend or family member is a professional cleaner, and they know how to keep the cleaning job within those professional boundaries, then you’re kind of asking for trouble.

8- It keeps your workers happier

You’re not leaving the expectation of cleaning on them. This ensures they can utilise their time to actually do their job. They are working in an office that is clean and fresh. This helps keeps their heads clear and focused.

9- It keeps your client’s impressed

Clients won’t know why they feel comfortable and confident when they walk into a clean office. It’s one of those things that people can only pinpoint when there’s something wrong. A messy office will turn people off. It feels unprofessional and makes clients feel like you don’t care about their health or comfort. When the place is clean, they will relax and remain more confident in your business.

10 – It is better for your bottom line

At the end of the day business decisions are about your bottom line. You can consider all the pros and cons, but what you really want to do is something that will improve your profits.

It can be hard to think of paying for a professional cleaner as anything but an expense. An expense reduces your bottom line. So stop thinking of it as just an expense.

For the reasons listed above, hiring a professional cleaner is an investment. You are investing in your business in a way that improves your ability to focus on your business. This means your capacity to generate income is increased. Your offices look better and feel better. This makes them more appealing to clients and workers. You’re reducing the chance of mistakes, mishaps, damage, or other costly slip ups.

Can you afford not to hire a professional cleaner?

10 Ways to Tell If Your Expert Cleaner a Gourmet Chef or a BBQ mate

Do you know how to choose an expert cleaner? When choosing the best Perth cleaning services for your needs, make sure you pick someone you can rely. A decent cleaner and a professional cleaning business is like the difference between hiring a gourmet chef for your function, or just tossing some bucks to a mate who’s putting on a BBQ.

Of course, there’s something to be said about having a mate who can cook a BBQ. A BBQ is a cheap meal, half decent grub, friendship and some jokes about cremated meat. Hiring a basic cleaner is kind of the same. A cheap clean that gets the basics of the job done, is friendly, and shows a lack of finesse that you can laugh about.

A gourmet chef kicks it up a notch. They know just the right spices to mix in when you’re after pure flavour. This means the food is cooked perfectly, the right components are soft, or crunchy, rich, or subtle… The result is a carefully crafted blend that boosts your palate and enhances any function. Hiring a quality professional cleaning company is kind of the same. A premium clean, friendly, reliable quality, and a focus on finesse.

Premium Quality Work from an Expert Cleaner

While you may chuck 20 bucks or pitch in with a salad for your BBQ mate, you’d pay the gourmet chef a premium fee for premium food. The funny thing is that, when it comes to choosing your cleaning company, many people expect to treat the professional like they would their mate.   

This is nuts!

They’re not just saving you time and doing an undesirable job for you. They are putting their experience and training into giving you superior results. These results genuinely benefit your home, office or cleanroom. A professional cleaning company has spent the time needed to provide you with an expert cleaner. They have devoted their energy to selecting quality tools and equipment. In addition, they undertake ongoing training and continually improve their services. There is a high level of quality and assurance from a professional relationship.

Let’s take a deeper look at some typical differences between a basic cleaner (the BBQ mate), and the expert cleaner who works in an expert cleaning business (the gourmet chef)…

1- The little things matter to an expert cleaner

When it comes to eating, a BBQ is a pretty casual affair. Toss a salad here, slop on some sauce there, and hope more gets into your mouth than on the floor. When it comes to cleaning, it’s even more important that things are not that sloppy. When you do a quick tidy up you don’t need to worry about the little things. When you hire a cleaner, the little things matter.

The expert cleaner pays attention to those little things. They will clean behind the doors, not just forget to look because a door is closed. You won’t have to run every little thing past them because they actually know what they are doing. The small stuff isn’t ignored on the premise that it doesn’t matter. Rather, the little things are given attention. The professional cleaner knows that it’s the attention paid to the little things that makes a big difference.

A basic cleaner will miss things. They may get the big picture, but in their hurry to get through they forget to check the little things, or don’t even realise they matter.

2- The results from an expert clean are good for you

A good meal is filling, delicious, and nutritious. There’s an actual benefit that forms part of the yum factor. A deep clean from a quality cleaner is about more than just looking pretty. It clears away dirt, bugs, germs, mould, and other nasty surprises that could be making your home sick. While a superficial clean from a basic cleaner may help your house feel a bit more tidy, the professional clean improves the health of your home.

3- Your senses are heightened by the experience of having an expert cleaner through your home

A good meal is something that enthralls and tingles all of your senses. An expert cleaning job does the same.

When you clean your house thoroughly, you feel the difference. While you may not be able to put your finger on it, your senses pick up on it. It’s not just something you see and smell. Although there is that, of course. A really good clean lifts your mood and clears your head.

4- Presentation matters

When a BBQ mate cooks, the food is typically just thrown on the plate. Charcoal, sauce, salad, whatever works. A gourmet chef makes presentation a big part of the meal experience. From the way the food is set on the plate, to the extra garnishes that give a finishing touch. It’s the same with a quality clean.

You might think that this doesn’t make sense. After all cleaning is pretty much all about presentation. However there is a difference. A basic cleaner will clean. But they may not put things back properly. They won’t worry about spots, or tweak the edges. Your rubbish bin may even highlight the evidence of their clean. A professional cleaner is all about presentation. Their rubbish won’t be left behind for you to take out. If they move things around, they’ll fix it up again. The cleaning job is finished off with just the right touches that fill out the overall presentation.

5- The expert cleaner has the right tools & materials

A professional cleaner doesn’t just know how to clean, they know what cleaning materials and tools work for each type of clean. This means they also know what they can and can’t clean. An expert cleaner is not going to spend time on a job that they just aren’t equipped for. That’s because they understand both their own level of experience and the proper supplies and equipment needed for specialised cleans.

Cleaning products can cause damage if they are used in the wrong way or on the wrong surface. A basic cleaner will only have a limited understanding of what to use, and is at a higher risk of causing damage by failing to understand their materials properly.

6- The expert cleaner is experienced and proactive

A gourmet chef knows how to make a great meal because they’ve done it a thousand times. They don’t need you to list all the ingredients or instruct them on how the plate should look. An expert cleaner is the same.

Their experience means they can anticipate the needs of a clean. While they will work to your specifications, you should never have to give a professional cleaner a play by play on what you expect from them.  

7- They have the right accreditations, insurances, and certificates

Just like a professional chef, your professional cleaning company will be backed by the right accreditations, insurances, and certificates. They’ve proven themselves and have their contingencies in place.

8- It’s not just about the cleaner

When you hire a cleaner from a professional cleaning company, it’s not just about the cleaner. In a professional food services environment there is a head chef, a sous chef, waitstaff, dishwasher, the host, and more. It is a team effort. While the head chef may be the one who is credited with the good meal, there is really a lot more going on.

A basic cleaner may just be working for themselves. They don’t have a team of focused experts supporting them to improve the overall results. Nor do they have a team of people to train and provide for. A quality cleaning business will have a professional cleaner who fronts the work for you. However there will be a team of experts supporting them. Their work, although central to the job, is the outcome of a number of hands that help the overall flow of the business. This means each worker concentrates on the expertise they bring to the overall experience.  

9- The expert cleaner takes responsibility

A professional cleaning company will guarantee their work. Since things can go wrong, no matter how experienced people are, they will take responsibility for mistakes. This includes having insurance, redoing work when necessary, increasing training for new staff, improving tools, and taking on board criticism. Solid criticism can be extremely useful for the expert cleaner. Someone who isn’t a professional is less likely to take responsibility for issues or understand how to utilise criticism to make improvements.

If you want a premium clean, then be prepared to pay premium rates. 

10- The expert cleaner isn’t charging mates rates

You don’t have to worry about paying your mate to put on a BBQ for you. When you hire a gourmet chef to cater for your function, well, that’s an entirely different story.

While you want to minimise your cleaning costs, a professional cleaning company is not just an individual cleaner earning some extra cash on the side. There are legal, ethical, and practical considerations that need to be taken into account. An individual cleaner may offer rates that equate to less than minimum wages. A cleaning company simply cannot do that, nor should they be expected to. When quality matters this means there is additional cost. Training, hiring processes, quality supplies, taking care of staff, client relations… everything adds to the picture.

You’ve probably heard the old adage, that “you get what you pay for”. The same is true with your cleaner. If you want a premium clean, then be prepared to pay premium rates.

Choose the Best Expert Cleaner For Your Needs

There are cleaners, and then there are cleaners. A professional cleaning business will offer expert cleaners for residential, commercial, cleaning room, or other specialised cleaning services. They will pay attention to the little details and give a thorough clean that genuinely improves your home or office. This can actually have a tangible impact on your health. You will sense the difference with a final presentation that has been meticulously cared for. With the right tools and materials, backed by experience, accreditations, and insurance, they are a reliable team of experts. The expert cleaner is part of a expert cleaning business. They deserve the respect and consideration that matches the efforts they put into doing an exceptional cleaning job.

When you find a cleaning business that provides you with this premium service, don’t think of them like they’re just a mate putting on a BBQ for you. After all, they’re creating a gourmet meal for you. Choose them for the professionals that they are.

To learn more from the best cleaners in Perth, see www.cleaningbest.com.au

Did you know that the first microwave oven was 6 feet tall and cost around $5,000? Fortunately this pivotal piece of kitchen equipment is now available in a more convenient size and cost. It is such a handy amenity that most microwaves take more turns than Australia’s road system. In the interests of hygiene and a pleasant kitchen aroma, it’s therefore important to know how to keep your microwave sparkling clean.

Simple Methods To Clean Your Microwave

Cleaning your microwave is actually quite simple. All you need is a cup of water, a lemon and some paper towels. Or maybe a cup of water, some vinegar and some paper towels. Baking soda and dish soap are also often recommended… Then of course there’s commercial cleaning products, specifically designed to clear away the grease. And don’t forget to rinse… Suddenly things are murkier than your microwave after a spaghetti explosion! Take a breath, step back and look at the options.

Option 1- A Lemon that isn’t a dud

This is one of the simplest and best options for cleaning a microwave. Fill a microwave proof cup with water. Squeeze some juice from half a lemon into the water. Then pop the water and both halves of lemon (cut side down) into the microwave. Turn the microwave on high for a minute or two, so that it steams. Leave the door closed for 5 minutes so that the steam can do its work. This will make your microwave easy to wipe down. As an added bonus it creates a fresh scent for your kitchen.

You could turn up the juice by adding in or alternating with a lime or orange slices.

Option 2-  Bubble and Brew with Baking Soda, Dish Soap or Vinegar (white or apple cider).

If fruit isn’t cutting it for you, use a few tablespoons of dish soap or vinegar to add to that cup of water instead. Heat up the cup on high for a couple of minutes so that it steams up the microwave. After 5 minutes you should be able to easily wipe down the microwave with some paper towels.

Tip: Adding baking soda to the mix helps to remove any unpleasant smells.

Option 3- Nothing but Wet Paper Towels

Usually you want to avoid wetting paper towels and leaving them sitting around. However, when it comes to cleaning your microwave they may be your cup of tea. Simply wet a bunch of paper towels and put them in your microwave. Microwave them for up to 5 minutes so that everything is steamy. Leave the doors closed while the steam does its work and the towels cool down. The steam will loosen the grime and you can then use the cooled towels to wipe everything clean.

Cleaning the Exterior of Your Microwave

A sparkling clean interior is great, but a clean exterior completes the show.

Option 1- Back to the Baking Soda and Vinegar.

Use a damp sponge dipped in baking soda to wipe clean the rubber connectors on the door. A damp cloth can be used to give it a final rinse. If the window is greasy then mix in half a cup of vinegar with half of cup of water to remove the grease.

Of course if things are really icky you may opt to use a commercial grease-cutter to bring back the shine.

Option 2- Dish Soap and Water

Once again a sudsy mix of water and dish soap may do the trick for a shiny exterior clean. Just mix and scrub, then rinse.

Alternatively you can use an all purpose cleaner. Just don’t spray it directly on the microwave as you don’t want to get cleaner into the vent holes. Either way, rinse off with a clean sponge and then dry.

For Those Stubborn Spots

Option 1- Baking Soda Is Magic

Create a paste of ⅔ baking soda and ⅓ water. This paste should be spread over any hard and stubborn spots and left to sit for around 5 minutes. Once the paste has done its job you can wipe it and the mess up with a wet cloth or sponge. Use a paper towel to dry it up and eliminate any residual bits and pieces.

Option 2- Water and Vinegar (and more baking soda) Helps the Elbow Grease

If your whole microwave needs a deeper clean then try this option. Dissolve 4 tablespoons of baking soda into warm water. Dip your sponge or cloth into the water and wipe this all over the interior of the microwave. Once you’ve done this, combine an equal amount of water and white vinegar in a bowl (make sure it’s microwave safe!). Put the bowl with the mixture into the microwave and let it spin on high power for three minutes, until the water is boiling. Once again steam is our hero here. Leave the door closed for 10 minutes while the steam does its thing. Remove the removable components and soak them in hot, soapy water while you wipe down the interior of the microwave with the water and vinegar mix. If there is still baking soda residue then wipe it down again. Repeat until the entire microwave is fresh and clear.

Option 3- Soak a Cloth in Olive Oil

For an alternative food friendly scrub, try soaking a cloth in olive oil. Apply some elbow grease and wipe, wipe, wipe. Don’t forget to rinse the oil off once the stubborn spots are removed.

Option 4- Scrub Away

If your stubborn spots need more work there are more options. Depending on your microwave (read the manual people!), you should be able to remove pieces like the turntable to give them a good scrub in the sink, or even in the dishwasher. For the non removable pieces you may need to turn to a commercial and some extra elbow grease.

While commercial cleansers are an option, and will usually do the job, you need to take precautions to avoid residue. If you leave any product behind it can get into your food or create an unpleasant smell. Don’t use pre-soaked scrubbing pads as loose particles can create a hazard. As with any wash option, rinse afterwards. You may just have to take extra care with ensuring there is a good rinse when chemicals are employed.

Option 5- Windows Are Clear, Try Some Diluted Window Cleaner

An alternative commercial product option is to use some diluted window cleaner. Using a solution of ⅔ window cleaner and ⅓ water, you can sponge both the interior and exterior of the microwave. Don’t forget to the clean the roof of the microwave, where food splatters often stick. Once everything is glistening use a fresh rag to wash it over again. Since you’re using chemicals to clean the microwave it is important that you rinse until there is no more residue. Keep rinsing until you can’t smell any of the window cleaner.

Option 6- Hire a Professional Cleaner

Of course, sometimes scrubbing away at those stubborn stains just isn’t appealing. That’s where you may want to book in a professional cleaner to help. They can clean your microwave as part of a regular or once off cleaning job.

Prevention Is Better Than Cure

Keep the job of cleaning your microwave easy by actively preventing those disasters. This means regular wiping every couple of days. The more often you use your microwave the more often you should give it a wipe down. This also means giving it an immediate wipe down when there has been an eruption. If you leave the splatter sitting around then it can start to bake on and make the cleaning work even harder.

To take prevention a step further think the cleaning through while you’re cooking. Always covering your food helps prevent these splatters from happening.  

Safety First!

When you’re washing down your microwave make sure you unplug the power cord. This will protect you from any electrical danger. It also serves as a good opportunity to check the power cord for any damage or build up of dirt. Damaged cords can be a fire hazard, and accumulated dirt can cause damage.

Use Your Microwave to Rejuvenate Your Sponges

While we’ve been talking about cleaning your microwave, it is possible to use your microwave to keep something else clean. Throw your sponges into the microwave for a couple of minutes to kill off bacteria and extend their usable life!

Chocolate Dessert

While this article may help you clean off some chocolate splatter in your microwave, did you know there is one other connection between microwaves and chocolate? Dr Percy Spencer, the engineer who invented the microwave, accidentally melted a chocolate bar in his pocket while building radar sets. This led him to patent microwave ovens. Now next time you eat a chocolate bar I’ll bet you think about cleaning your microwave. Take the opportunity to get into those good cleaning habits and don’t delay!

For more cleaning tips and stories, check out CleaningBest Perth’s blog on www.cleaningbest.com.au

10 Tips for Hiring The Right Perth Cleaner

Whether you’re looking for a Perth cleaner to clean your home or your office, finding the right cleaner can be a daunting task. After all, this is your space that you are asking someone to come into. Space that sends a message about how you are and the image you want to represent. Your cleaner will be airing out your dirty laundry (although only figuratively unless you pay extra for them to do a load of washing as well). You need to feel comfortable with them, and be able to trust and rely on them. Here’s ten tips to ensure you make the right choice

1- Plan ahead.

Most cleaning companies are booked well in advance for both one off and regular clients. Not only will it be hard to find a company who can complete a rush job, you won’t give yourself enough time to do the required research if you wait until you really need the cleaning job to be completed.

2- Ask for Recommendations.

There are plenty of places to ask for recommendations. While personal friends and business associates can be the most useful source of recommendations, you can also ask in local groups and online community pages.  

3- Do online research.

Find out if the company has positive or negative reviews. While one or two bad reviews may be explainable, a barrage of negative reviews is a pretty big red flag. Even checking the company’s website can tell you a lot about them. While a badly done website may not be an accurate reflect of the company’s quality of work, a well done website does usually reflect a commitment to professionalism.

4- Hire a cleaning company who is properly registered and insured

In Australia all businesses must have an ABN. If you can’t find this on their website, ask for it. This ensures they are registered as a business with the ATO. If they are specialised, make sure they have any necessary registrations and permits.

Since even the most highly trained and experienced cleaner can encounter unexpected problems, it is important that your cleaner has full and comprehensive insurance. While an uninsured cleaner may do a good job, it will be a disaster if things go awry.

5- Ensure they are the experts that you need.

Cleaning, whether residential, commercial, or industrial, can vary greatly in what is included. Each cleaner will have their own specialisations and different types of experience. Make sure the cleaner you are looking at is willing and able to clean all the items and areas that you want cleaned. Many cleaners won’t clean the external areas of your property for example, as this often requires additional specialised knowledge and equipment. Don’t expect a “cleaning firm” to be able to cover all bases. This may mean you need to be prepared to hire a specialised window cleaner and a gardener as well as an office cleaner.

6- Be prepared to pay for quality.

While a business looking for an office cleaner will typically have a better understanding of this point, it is common for families looking for a residential cleaner to undervalue the cleaning service. Since cleaning is an industry that can be tempting to get into as cash on the side jobs or helping out friends, it is vulnerable to offerings from less experience, poorly trained, or inadequately insured workers. If you want professional quality work, you should be prepared to pay for professional quality work.

If you need to understand this point more, consider that the minimum wage for a cleaner is $20.21, plus superannuation. A good rule of thumb is that for every chargeable hour worked an employee actually costs a company roughly one and a half to double their base hourly wage. This is especially true if the company is paying their staff ethically and investing in ongoing training- two factors you want in a good cleaner. Keep in mind that the income a cleaning company generates has to cover all of their employee’s work hours, not just their billable hours. This includes their leave time, training, travel time and administrative tasks. On top of that a company has penalty rates, allowances, insurance, education, equipment, materials, and other overheads to cover. Be suspicious of any cleaning company that doesn’t charge enough to cover employee costs, insurance, training, and cleaning supplies. If the rate seems too low then ask for an explanation. It may mean you are hiring a sole trader, or it may mean you are hiring a company who doesn’t ensure their staff are adequately trained and insured.

After all, remember that you are asking other people to clean your toilets….

7- Ensure you can align your expectations.

To ensure they can cover their costs different companies will have different policies on minimum charges, where they are able to travel to, and the level of work they will do. You may only want a 15 minute clean, but find that cleaning companies have a two hour minimum charge. Conversely you may be wanting a deep clean, only to find you’ve hired a company that only does general cleaning. Know what you want and ensure that the company you choose can work with the same expectations.

When it comes to cleaners one of the key points that need to be aligned is who is responsible for supplying the cleaning materials and equipment. Imagine the fuss if you hire a cleaner with the expectation that they provide their own cleaning materials, only for them to show up expecting you to provide them. Some cleaners prefer to use their client’s supplies so that they can ensure they are working with cleaning products that the client likes to use. Other cleaners prefer to work with their own products so that they can ensure they are working with cleaning products that they know and trust. Just make sure you are both on the same page before they show up to clean.

8- Make sure the cleaning firm is good with communication.

Sometimes things happen that are outside our control. This can mean that even the most organised and reliable cleaning company will have to reschedule. You do not want to be stuck with a cleaner who leaves you in the lurch without a word. Nor do you want one who just shows up two weeks later with a lame apology (and yes this has actually been known to happen). Clear, proactive, communication is an essential for any quality cleaning company. This will ensure you aren’t left frustrated, or wondering if they will ever show up.

9- Check That They Service Your Area

Perth is a large region. Most Perth cleaning companies will not clean every single location around Perth. A Balga cleaning company, for example, is more likely to service the North Perth suburbs than the south Perth suburbs. Since companies must pay their staff travel time, it is also possible that a cleaning firm will ask to charge a travel fee if you want them to clean outside their immediate service area. While this is an option you may want to take if you are set on a particular cleaning company, it may be an additional charge that you want to avoid.

10– Ask the right questions.

Utilise the above tips to ensure you have a clear, direct line of questioning.

Other than asking if they are reliable, trustworthy, and good with communication, you want to ensure that the cleaning company:

• Ensures they have properly trained staff
• Typically uses the same cleaner for your property every time
• Is adequately insured
• Services your area. Perth is a large expanse. Most cleaning companies will only service selected Perth suburbs.
• Has comparable rates for their inclusions (for example do they provide their own cleaning equipment and materials or are you expected to supply these).
• Are people that you personally feel comfortable working with

Make sure you know what you need and what it is you want, so that you ask the right questions.