Category Archives: tips

iSmudged. How to clean an iPad

iSmudged
1: how your iPad touch screen appears from oily fingerprints.

All of that intimate iPad touching leaves behind a lot of fingerprints and many owners wondering how to safely clean their new favorite companion. It turns out the screen has an “oleophobic” coating, which means it is resistant to oils. That’s good while the coating lasts, as it can simply be wiped clean with a dry cloth. We recommend using microfiber cleaning cloths, which leave behind no lint or dust.  You can also use a cloth slighty dampened with distilled water, but you must first turn off and unplug the device. Any cleaners other than distilled water may damage your iPad. When in doubt consult the manufacturer. See below!

There many brands of microfiber cleaning cloths such as 3M, Scotch-Brite, Zwipes, Peak, etc. which can be found at Walmart, Menards, Home Depot, Ace Hardware, office supply stores, electronics stores, and online.

Here are cleaning instructions direct from Apple’s 154 page iPad user guide:
“To clean iPad, unplug all cables and turn off iPad (press and hold the Sleep/ Wake button, and then slide the onscreen slider). Then use a soft, slightly damp, lint-free cloth. Avoid getting moisture in openings. Don’t use window cleaners, household cleaners, aerosol sprays, solvents, alcohol, ammonia, or abrasives to clean iPad. iPad has an oleophobic coating on the screen; simply wipe the iPad screen with a soft, lint-free cloth to remove oil left by your hands. The ability of this coating to repel oil will diminish over time with normal usage, and rubbing the screen with an abrasive material will further diminish its effect and may scratch your screen.”

To schedule a cleaning with Maid in Chicago or for a FREE quote, give us a call at (312) 829-9600. You can also visit our website maidinchicago.us and fill out our online form.

Set your ceiling fans counterclockwise for the summer


During the summer, your ceiling fans should be set to turn counterclockwise, which will push the cooler air down and draw the warmer air up. Running a fan will help your air conditioner work less, which will in reduce your cooling bill. It is more energy efficient to run a fan and your air conditioner than the air conditioner alone.

Keep your ceiling fan blades clean too so the motor will expend less energy turning the blades. To clean your ceiling fans, prepare a simple solution of dishwashing liquid and water in a bucket. To reach the fan you will need a step stool or ladder. Climb up the step stool or ladder and dust off the blades with a Swiffer or feather duster. Then, wipe them clean with a rag dampened in your cleaning solution.

To schedule a cleaning with Maid in Chicago or for a FREE quote, give us a call at (312) 829-9600. You can also visit our website maidinchicago.us and fill out our online form.

How to get rid of vacuum cleaner odor

Is your vacuum cleaner a little stinky? Try these tips to freshen it up and make your whole home smell nice. Martha Stewart Living suggests dabbing a cotton ball with essential oil, and putting it inside your empty vacuum bag. Those with bagless vacuums can put a few drops directly on the filter. Use essential oil sparingly because less is more. There are endless varieties. If the thought of a Florida orange grove entices you, try orange oil.

Eucalyptus or tea tree oils will give you an instant pine forest type of fragrance.

Another idea is to sprinkle some baking soda on your carpeting and vacuum it up.

To schedule a cleaning with Maid in Chicago or for a FREE quote, give us a call at (312) 829-9600. You can also visit our website maidinchicago.us and fill out our online form.

green cleaning idea #3 – drain cleaner

To unclog a sink or tub try this environmentally friendly drain cleaner. Pour 1 cup of baking soda down the drain. Follow it with 1 cup of hot vinegar. Let it set for a few minutes, and then pour a kettle of boiling water down the drain. Repeat if necessary.

Hint: Instead of throwing away the baking soda used as a freshener in your refrigerator, extend the life of it by reusing it as a drain cleaner.

To schedule a cleaning with Maid in Chicago or for a FREE quote, give us a call at (312) 829-9600. You can also visit our website maidinchicago.us and fill out our online form.

5 ideas to whip your home into shape before summer

Summer is just around the corner, and it’s a great time to whip your home into shape before the nice weather arrives. Here are some ideas to get you started:

1) Pull out your refrigerator and oven, and clean underneath them. Clean the coils on your refrigerator too. You can vacuum them using a crevice tool, or dust them with an extenstion duster.

2) Move couches, chairs, and other furntiture, and vacuum in those hard to reach areas.

3) Wipe down your baseboards.  

4) Wash your windows.

5) Clean the ceiling fans.

5) Declutter your home. Professional organizer Pooja Gugnani, founder and owner of Organizing with You in Chicago, wrote some great advice about changing your mindset about clutter in her article titled “Mind Over Clutter.” 

To schedule a cleaning with Maid in Chicago or for a FREE quote, give us a call at (312) 829-9600. You can also visit our website maidinchicago.us and fill out our online form.

Recommended cleaning supplies

(updated 10/10/12)

Whether you are cleaning your home yourself or hiring a service, you will need to have basic cleaning supplies. The following list will give you a general idea of items to have on hand. You don’t have to have everything, but it is a good idea to cover your bases. Tip: If you are pressed for storage space, store your cleaners in a milk crate under your kitchen sink. This will allow you to easily take them out and put them back.

equipment:
__ vacuum cleaner with attachments
__ vacuum cleaner bags
__ wet mop/hardwood floor mop (Quickie Wet Mop with Microban, Bona hardwood floor mop systems, etc. Please no sponge mops!)
__ bucket
__ broom
__ dust pan
__ step stool
__ dusters (feather, lambswool, or Swiffer disposable dusters)
__ scrub pads (3M Scotch-Brite, S.O.S.)
__ sponges
__ garbage bags
__ rubber gloves
__ cleaning cloths
__ paper towels
__ toilet bowl brush
__ empty spray bottles (Zep brand professional sprayers) 

cleaners:
__ vinegar (Heinz distilled white)
__ dishwashing liquid (Ivory, Dawn) and/or dishwasher detergent
__ Murphy Oil Soap (for wood floors)
__ all-purpose/general cleaner (Fantastic, Formula 409)
__ bathroom spray cleaner (Tilex, Comet Spray)
__ bathroom cleanser (Soft Scrub)
__ toilet bowl cleaner
__ glass cleaner (Windex or vinegar and water)
__ stainless steel cleaner
__ furniture polish (Pledge, Endust)
__ oven cleaner (Easy Off)

__ Mr. Clean Magic Eraser 

laundry supplies:
__ liquid / powder laundry detergent
__ fabric softener dry sheets (Bounce)
__ liquid bleach (Clorox)

Substitutions may be made for the brand names listed above.

To schedule a cleaning or for a FREE quote, give us a call at (312) 829-9600. You can also visit Maid in Chicago’s website maidinchicago.us and fill out our online form.

Spring Cleanings

Spring is just around the corner, and there have been many inquiries about spring cleanings. We generally consider spring cleanings to be everything normally covered in a general cleaning (dusting, floors, bathrooms, etc.) plus special projects–such as windows, blinds, ceiling fans, and the insides of kitchen appliances. Some of our customers will hire us for just the special projects alone. It is a time of year when everybody likes to get caught up before summer.

For those of us who are completely overwhelmed and don’t even know where to begin, try to be realistic. A home that has not been cleaned in months is going to require much more time to get back into shape than a home that is cleaned weekly or every other week. Depending on the size of your home, you may want to budget an entire visit on windows and ceiling fans alone. Also, if you have a lot of blinds, it may be more cost efficient to hire a blind cleaning service to take care of that task.

 A little bit of organizing can help immensely. If you can, remove clutter off of the floors, tables, and countertops before your maid arrives. We are more than happy to help you pick up and organize, but the more time the maid spends “picking up” and figuring out where things belong, the less time will be spent actually cleaning your home.

Stock up on cleaning supplies, and store them in a central spot. If space is limited, try putting them under the kitchen sink in a milk crate, so they can be easily taken out and put back.

 Here’s to a clean home!

To schedule a cleaning or for a FREE quote, give us a call at (312) 829-9600. You can also visit Maid in Chicago’s website maidinchicago.us and fill out our online form.

Keep ceiling fans clean

During the winter, your ceiling fan should be set to turn clockwise, which will draw the cooler air up and push the heated air down. Running a fan will help your furnace work less. This will reduce your heating bill because it is more energy efficient to run a fan than your furnace. It is a good idea to keeping your ceiling fan clean because the motor will expend less energy to turn the blades, and of course who wants chunks of dust floating down on top of them. 

First, to reach the fan you will need a step stool. Next, prepare a simple solution of dishwashing liquid and water. Then, dust off the blades with a Swiffer or feather duster. Finally, wipe them clean with a rag dipped in your cleaning solution.

To schedule a cleaning or for a FREE quote, give us a call at (312) 829-9600. You can also visit Maid in Chicago’s website maidinchicago.us and fill out our online form.