10 Tips to Maintain a Clean Home Between Professional Cleaning Services.

Maintaining a clean and tidy home doesn't have to be an overwhelming task, especially when you have regular professional cleaning scheduled. We recommend incorporating some daily habits and quick cleaning routines to ensure your home is always looking its best.

 

Coming home to a clean and tidy home helps you feel relaxed after a busy day at work. It helps remove the frenzied cleaning spree when you’re having guests over. Additionally, if you have kids and are rushing from activity to activity, it can help reduce the overwhelm. More importantly, a clean and tidy home allows you to enjoy the space so much more!

 

1. Create a Daily 3 Minute Cleaning Routine:
   Set aside a few minutes each day to tackle small cleaning tasks. This is especially helpful for the high traffic areas and those used on a daily basis, such as the kitchen and bathroom. Wipe down countertops, clear clutter from benches and sweep or vacuum high-traffic areas with your favourite eco-friendly cleaning products. Consistency is key to preventing dirt and grime from building up.
2. Declutter Regularly:
   Take a few minutes each day to declutter surfaces and put items back in their designated places. This will not only make your home look tidier, you will also feel more organised and it will also make it easier to clean when you do your regular chores.
3. Make Your Bed Every Morning:
   Start your day off on the right foot by making your bed as soon as you get up. It instantly makes your bedroom look tidier and sets a positive tone for the rest of the day.

 

 

 

 

 

4. Clean Up Spills and Messes Immediately:
   Don't let spills or messes linger. Take care of them right away to prevent stains and odours from setting in. Keep a supply of your favourite eco-friendly cleaning products handy for quick cleanups, especially in the kitchen and bathroom.
5. Stay on Top of Laundry:
   Keep your laundry under control by doing small loads regularly rather than letting it pile up. Set a schedule for washing, drying, folding, and putting away clothes to avoid cluttering up your living spaces with laundry baskets.
6. Wipe Down Surfaces Regularly:
   Make it a habit to wipe down kitchen counters, bathroom surfaces, and other frequently touched areas daily. Use your favourite eco-friendly cleaning products to remove germs and keep surfaces clean and germ free.
7. Rotate Cleaning Tasks:
   Instead of trying to do everything at once, break up your cleaning tasks throughout the week. Assign specific tasks to different days, such as dusting on Mondays, vacuuming on Wednesdays and mopping on Fridays, and ultimately enjoy more of your weekend!
8. Use Storage Solutions to Keep Things Organised:
   Invest in storage tubs and baskets to keep clutter at bay and maximize your storage space. Label containers to make it easier to find items and encourage family members to put things back where they belong (yes, we know… easier said than done).

 

 

 

 

 

 

9. Get the Whole Family Involved:
   If you have a family, get them involved. Set aside a few minutes after dinner and get everyone in the household involved in maintaining a clean and tidy home. Assign age-appropriate chores to each family member and create a reward system to motivate everyone to pitch in.
10. Schedule Regular Professional Cleanings:
    Even with the best efforts to keep your home clean between professional cleanings, there's no substitute for a thorough clean by trained professionals. Schedule eco-friendly regular cleaning to tackle hard-to-reach areas, remove stubborn dirt and grime and keep your home looking its best.

By incorporating these tips into your cleaning routine you will develop daily habits to keep your home clean and tidy between professional cleanings. Consistency, organisation and teamwork are the keys to maintaining a clean and welcoming living environment for you and your family.

Want to experience the Bliss difference?

Bliss Home Care’s professional cleaning services are tailored to your needs and your home. Our regular house cleaning services are a thorough eco-friendly cleaning service intended to keep your house clean, germ free and in the best condition possible. You can choose the frequency (weekly or fortnightly) and we also offer a range of other services such as spring cleaning, move in and move out cleaning, carpet cleaning and more. To learn more about our full range of services, click here.

 

Bliss Home Care uses only eco-friendly cleaning products that are locally sourced. The cleaning products are certified by Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA). GECA’s ecolabel on products provides an independent assessment and approval that products are better for the environment and reduce their impact on human health. GECA’s standards are rigorous, scientific and relevant to key Australian industries. Click here to read more about Bliss Home Care’s green cleaning processes and products.

Is it really possible to reduce waste at home and save money? Each small step we take, every change we make will create a positive impact on our environment, our lives and the wider world.

One of our favourite quotes by Matt Bevin sums it up… “While it may seem small, the ripple effective of small things is extraordinary.”

Consider what sort of impact would be made if every person in the world did something small every single day. Collectively we’d make a big impact! Reducing waste at home may seem difficult and a big task at first but there are small things we can do around the home that will create less waste and the added benefit is that it can save you money too.

Here are our top five ideas to inspire you to make a change in your daily habits, and to reduce waste at home:

1. Become a Mindful Consumer

Your home is the best starting point because you can control what comes in and what goes out.

• When shopping for groceries and fresh produce take your own shopping bags.
• Kindly refuse plastic and buy produce that has not been packaged unnecessarily.
• Try to shop in bulk where possible to save money and normally less packaging.
• Plan meals each week to avoid food waste and you will realise very quickly how much money you have been throwing away.
• Opt for a reusable water bottle and get into the habit of taking it with you when you leave the house.
• Move away from plastic cling wrap and choose a beeswax wrap or reusable containers.
• Choose bamboo products over plastic which does not break down. This includes bamboo toothbrushes, clothes pegs, body brush and cotton buds.
• Read your news online rather than buying newspapers or magazines.
• Choose paperless bills by having them emailed to you where possible.
• When buying clothing or items for your home consider if you really need it. This also helps set up good savings ethics in young minds.
• If you are decluttering or clearing things out, think about donating items to those less fortunate.

You will lessen your carbon footprint by using reusable items or those that are biodegradable. You will also save money when you are not constantly replacing items after every use.

2. Get Composting and Enjoy Your Own Veggies

Compositing may be daunting but it probably not as involved or messy as you may think. It’s an ideal process in particular if you’re keen to grow your own veggies. It builds good soil structure, it allows soil to retain nutrients, water and air and protects plans from garden diseases. All soil types will improve with the addition of compost.

If you’d like to give it a go here are the basic steps…

• Start the compost pile on bare earth which will allow worms and organisms to aerate the compost.
• Lay twigs or straw for 10-15 cm to help drainage and aerate the compost.
• Lay compost materials in layers and alternate dry and moist ingredients. You will need to have a mix of carbon rich and nitrogen or protein rich matter to make the compost healthy and nutrient dense. Carbon rich compost items include branches, stems, dried leaves, peels, small pieces of wood, saw dust, brown paper bags, egg shells and straw. Protein rich matter includes food scraps, green lawn clippings, green leaves and manures.
• Keep your compost moist (not soaked) by adding water or allowing rain to enter so that it doesn’t dry out.
• Cover the compost with anything you have lying around – wood, plastic sheet or carpet. It helps to retain moisture and heat and keeps out too much rain.
• Turn the compost every 2 to 3 weeks with a shovel or pitch fork. This is needed to aerate the compost and keep it healthy. It is ready to use when it’s a dark rich colour, crumbles easily and has an earthy smell. This process can take 3 to 12 months to achieve.

Once it’s ready add it to you garden and get growing your own veggies. Plant seasonally and you’ll reap the rewards

of delicious, fresh veggies that you’ve grown yourself!

If you’re still not keen you can keep your food scraps in a container in the fridge or freezer and find a community composting location such as a community garden to contribute to.

3. Enjoy Fresh Produce all Year Around

Before modern conveniences were available there was canning, freezing, pickling and fermenting. These are the methods that have been around for centuries to keep food from spoiling and avoiding it going to waste.

If you’re growing your own veggies or fruit then you may find that you have an abundance of fresh item each season. Next time you have too much of anything consider how you can preserve it and use it at a later date when perhaps it’s not in season. Here are some examples…

• Most fruits can be frozen for smoothies or to use in baking (once thawed). Think bananas, berries, cherries, mango, melon, oranges, passion fruit, peaches and pineapple.
• Most vegetables can be blanched and frozen. These include green leafy vegetables, beans, broccoli, cabbage asparagus, carrots, cauliflower, celery, eggplant, parsnip, peas and corn.
• Veggies such as carrots, onions, garlic, shallots or celery that are wilted can still be used to create a vegetable stock that can be used fresh or frozen for when needed.

You’ll end up saving lots of money by not buying food and produce out of season and it will be just as fresh or tasty as though you’d just picked it. Best of all you will not be contributing to more environmental waste.

4. DIY Cleaning Products

This one is one we are incredibly passionate about. It astounds us that supermarkets and retail outlets are still allowed to sell toxic and harmful cleaning products. These toxic products contribute to indoor air pollution and medical conditions and are poisonous, just read the labels on their own packaging!

You can create your own effective home cleaning solutions that will be safe for adults, babies through to teens, your pets and the environment. Best of all you are likely to have most of the key ingredients in your pantry already. These include:

• White vinegar
• Bi-carb soda
• Lemons

You may also like to read more in our article, 10 Natural Home Cleaning Hacks, which provides great tips on cleaning almost every area of your home without the nasty, toxic chemicals. When you choose to stop buying expensive and toxic solutions you will quickly notice how much money you are saving! Not to mention the health benefits…

5. Conduct a Bin Inspection

Do you really take notice of how much you throw in the bin? Sometimes we think we are recycling, reusing and being responsible but we often don’t realise how much we are actually sending to landfill until we empty the contents of our bins.

Once a week empty the contents of your bin (including recycling bins) and see where you can make small changes to your habits to contribute less to landfill. Here are some ideas for your consideration….

• If you find take-away coffee cups in there then invest in a keep cup.
• Take-away containers can be replaced with reusable glass containers.
• Tissues and paper towels can be replaced with good old fashioned handkerchiefs or cleaning cloths.
• Disposable razors can be replaced with a good base and only purchase the replacement blade which is recyclable.
• Magazines and newspapers can be donated to local kindergartens which can be repurposed by creative little minds.

So there are our five tips to help you reduce waste at home and save money along the way. Best of all you can get the whole family involved. Buy less, waste less, save more! Create a ripple effect by starting in your home and community and watch the movement grow around our precious world.

Let’s face it, our floors are one area of the home where dust, dirt, crumbs and bacteria constantly collect and live. This may be particularly concerning if you have young children who spend lots of time playing, rolling, crawling and even licking the floors! So let’s take a look at how natural floor cleaning solutions can keep your family home clean and safe.

If you’ve ever read the labels on commercial cleaning products you will be horrified by the chemicals and toxins that are included in these products. Not only are they harmful to the environment, but there has been much research to suggest they are harmful to our health and can cause serious health concerns over time.

Natural floor cleaning solutions are incredibly easy to create and use in your home. Most of the ingredients you most likely already have in your cupboards, so why not create a solution that is natural and safe?

Here we share our top tips for all kinds of floors in your home. These natural floor cleaning solutions are cost effective, easy to make and so much safer for your and your family’s health.

Timber Floors

Timber floors are known for being low maintenance and a great flooring choice for those who suffer from allergies. There are many different finishes on timber floors from high gloss to matt and laminate. Firstly vacuum or sweep your floors. Never saturate timber floors with water or leave water sitting on the timber as this will cause damage when it is absorbed by the timber. Instead use a light damp mop as part of your regular clean to get the best results and maintain your beautiful timber floors.

Solution:

Mix one part white vinegar to four parts warm water (250ml vinegar to 1 litre warm water) and lightly spray on a microfiber mop for the best finish. You can also add a couple of drops of essential oil to the mixture if you’d like to have a nice fragrance throughout your home. Open doors and windows to ventilate the air and ensure the timber floor dries well.

Tiled Floors

Tiled floors are very durable and give a very sleek, modern look to any home. When maintained regularly your tiles and grout will keep looking new over time. Most tiles are made from ceramic or porcelain and are very easy to keep clean. Firstly sweep or vacuum your tiled floors and then proceed with the following natural cleaning solution.

Solution:

Fill your mop bucket with warm water and add quarter cup of white vinegar. Use a clean mop (our favourite is a microfiber mop), wring out as much water for a streak free finish. You can also add your favourite essential oil to the mixture if you want to leave your home smelling fresh and nice. If you have heavily soiled floors or dried stains you can add a few drops of dishwashing liquid to the mixture for more effective cleaning. Remember to change your water frequently while mopping for the best finish. Open doors and windows to ventilate the air and allow for faster drying.

Note: avoid using sponge mops as these tend to retain more water and the water gets pushed into the grout lines.

Carpets & Rugs

Carpets are cosy and comfy and normally used in bedrooms and living rooms. Rugs are also a great way to add warmth to floorboards or tiled areas, however carpets and rugs are renowned for collecting dust, crumbs and dirt particles.

As part of your regular clean vacuum the carpet or rug and if you want to give it a spruce up or have some stains to clear then try this natural solution.

Solution:

Mix equal parts of white vinegar and water. Spray on stain and allow to sit for 5-10 minutes before scrubbing clean with a soft brush. If you have a stubborn stain try adding 1 or 2 drops of dishwashing liquid to the mixture and scrub gently with a soft brush. Wipe clean with a clean cloth and allow to dry completely by opening windows to ventilate the room.

Note: try the solution on a small patch of carpet to ensure it does not discolour prior to using.

As passionate advocates of natural cleaning we love to share our insights on natural cleaning and protecting you, your family, pets and the environment. Not convinced? If you would like to know more about why you should choose green cleaning you may be interested in reading our article, 7 Reasons To Choose Green Cleaning. We hope our tips on natural floor cleaning solutions help quickly and easily keep your floors clean.

Bliss Home Care also offers a range of natural cleaning products for other areas of your home, including a multi-purpose bio-bacterial cleaner, shower cleaner and stain and odour remover. Click here to learn more about our natural cleaning products.

Bliss Home Care Services is very excited to announce the launch of a range of natural cleaning products that are now available for purchase for our clients, friends and those who care about keeping their home clean with only natural cleaning products.

These natural cleaning products are ones that we and the Bliss team have been using for years when cleaning our and our client’s homes. We made a conscious decision when we started our business over 15 years ago that we would only use Australian made natural cleaning products. We conducted a lot of research and sourced this range that has been certified by Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA). GECA is an independent body who assess the products to ensure they meet environmental, human health, ethical impact criteria.

There has been lots of research that proves toxic chemicals are harmful to our health and the wider environment. There is absolutely no reason to still be using any toxic cleaning products that are harmful to your and your family’s health. In our blog, 7 Reasons To Choose Green Cleaning, we discuss how you can switch to natural cleaning products in your home. It will not only save time and money but you will dramatically improve the lifestyle for yourself, your home, family, pets and the planet.

 

 

10 Reasons Why You Should Choose Our Natural Cleaning Products

1. Do not contain hazardous, dangerous, toxic or polluting ingredients
2. Free of all known or suspected carcinogens
3. Do not contain phosphate, ammonia, butyl cellusolve, aerosols or acid
4. Products are biodegradable
5. World class certification by GECA
6. Are cruelty free and not tested on animals
7. 100% Australian owned and made
8. Produced in compliance with current Good Manufacturing
9. Are septic tank, grey water and black water safe
10. Company with all Australian standards.

The range of natural cleaning products currently available include:

 

 

Let’s take a closer look at why the technology behind these products is so effective and why the products work so effectively…

Bio Bacterial & Enzyme Technology  

These biological cleaning products are made up of “good” living bacteria to break down and liquefy soils such as fat, proteins, carbohydrates and grease while simultaneously eliminating odours. When this type of bacteria cleaning product is applied, the microorganisms begin to digest the waste and the “good” bacteria in turn multiply. The soil is broken down and continues to break down the soil into smaller pieces, until there is nothing left.

Bacteria use the enzymes they produce to break down complex waste into simple compounds, which it then consumes, thereby completely eliminating grime, waste and odours.

The bio bacterial cleaner makes cleaning quicker and easier. The product keeps on working even after you have finished cleaning.

As always, nature provides the answers. For good health and a naturally clean home, look no further. To purchase or learn more about these products click here.

So you’re looking for a house cleaning service to clean your home? This is your private sanctuary and we understand the importance you place on a quality clean, your privacy and ensuring you get the best results.

At Bliss Home Care Services, we can proudly say there are a few things that set us apart from other house cleaning service companies you may encounter. We are a family run business and take pride in our reputation and the quality of our service. We place a huge emphasis on training our team, quality control and only using green cleaning products so that your home, our employees and environment is safe and cared for.

Below we shed some light on what you can expect when you engage with Bliss Home Care Services.

You set the priorities

We will come to your home and go through your expectations and needs with you, find out what you want cleaned, what you don’t want cleaned and assess your home so that we can provide you with a thorough quote. If you have a specific day, time or expected hours of cleaning you want to work with we will do our very best to meet your requirements. We provide you with a detailed quote and an hourly rate - we are very transparent in our services. It’s only fair to you and to our cleaners that the expectations are set accurately so that there is no room for misinterpretation.

The first clean may take a little longer

Yes, that’s correct. When we first attend to cleaning a new home we may take a little longer. This is because we provide a thorough clean of each area of your home or the areas that have been agreed to.

If you choose Bliss Home Care as your cleaning provider, we take the time to attend your home with our dedicated cleaner to provide a detailed brief of expectations and on-site training. We also do spot checks to ensure that our cleaning standards are always maintained at our expected high standards.

We will ensure that every surface is spotless so that you can get on with enjoying your time in your home with those you love. From then on we will continue to provide cleaning services to maintain the areas of your home with our high cleaning standards in the agreed timeline.

Our team of employees are fully trained

We do not hire contractors or independent operators. We take pride in hiring quality cleaners and the Bliss team we have created who provide a quality cleaning service. Because we hire employees you can rest assured that you will have a regular cleaner who has been police checked, is covered by WorkCover and is ethically trained.

The Bliss team are all thoroughly trained in our processes and procedures for using our eco-friendly cleaning products. You know you can rely on a consistent team of cleaners rather than strangers and different people coming into your home each week or fortnight. This also means a high level of consistency with the standard and quality of your regular clean.

We only use Australian made eco-friendly cleaning products

We are passionate about the environment and keeping your home safe from toxic chemicals. Using quality green cleaning products and showing our team how to use them effectively is important to us. In fact, we use the very same cleaning products in our own home.

We don’t cut corners by replacing products with cheap commercial cleaners and our employees are known for providing a quality service and never cutting corners to work faster. Commercial cleaners are known for being full of toxic chemicals which can be detrimental to your health.

All our products are sourced locally and certified by the Good Environmental Choice Australia (GECA). GECA are an independent body that provide certified products with ‘tick of approval’ that demonstrates these products are better for the environment, have a lower impact on human health and have been ethically made.

The Australian made high quality products we use are free of toxic chemicals that can be harmful to your family and pets and because they have been tried and tested, we know they work. You may like to read our article 7 Reasons to Choose Green Cleaning to find out more about why you should choose green cleaning products over traditional cleaning products.

So whether you’re after a regular clean, a one-off spring clean or a vacate clean you can rest assured that we will develop a house cleaning service plan that works with your priorities and requirements.

 

If you’re in the midst of moving, you know how stressful and time consuming it can be. The end of lease cleaning is often the last thing on your mind. However, it is important to leave the home clean, particularly if you’re a tenant so that you can have your bond returned in its entirety.

In this latest blog we are sharing with you our End of Lease Cleaning Checklist so that you can work your way through each area of the home. It’s no secret, dust, dirt and grime builds up over time in corners, hard to get to areas and under furniture that is often too difficult or heavy to move so the cleaning is best done when the home has been vacated.

Hallway
 Clean walls, floors and skirting boards
 Remove any nails and hooks from walls (repair and repaint if required)
 Remove any cobwebs
 Check light-fittings and replace any light bulbs not working

Living Room
 Empty all cupboards and wipe down shelves
 Clean walls and floors, removing any nails and hooks from walls (repair and repaint if required)
 Clean window ledges and windows (both inside and outside)
 Clear sliding door tracks and ensure doors are cleaned inside and out
 Ensure curtains or blinds have been cleaned and are in working order
 Remove any cobwebs in corners, wipe down skirting boards
 Check light-fittings and replace any bulbs not working
 Dust ceiling fans and heating/cooling outlets

Bedrooms
 Empty all cupboards and wipe down shelves
 Clean walls, remove any nails and hooks from walls (repair and repaint if required)
 Clean window ledges and windows (both inside and outside)
 Ensure curtains or blinds have been cleaned and are in working order
 Vacuum and steam clean carpets, remove any stains if required
 Remove any cobwebs and wipe down skirting boards
 Check light-fittings and replace any bulbs not working
 Dust ceiling fans and heating/cooling outlets

Kitchen
 Empty all cupboards and wipe down shelves and cupboard doors
 Wipe down splashback, remove grease and grime
 Clean cooktop, removing any stains and build up of grease and grime
 Clean the oven including oven walls, oven racks and baking trays
 Clean the rangehood, including filters and ensure it’s in working order (including light)
 Disinfect sink, taps and plugs, ensure no blocked drains
 Clean dishwasher and wipe down door, ensure working properly
 Wipe down benchtops and cupboard doors
 Clean walls and floors, particularly where the fridge was placed
 Clean window ledges and windows (both inside and outside)

Bathrooms
 Clear and clean all shelves and drawers
 Remove any mould from tiles, grout, walls and ceiling
 Clean vanity, bath, shower and shower screen
 Polish and clean taps and showerhead
 Wipe down benchtop and cupboard doors
 Polish mirror, clean windows and window sills
 Dust ceiling fan and ensure it’s in working order
 Disinfect and clean toilet and toilet seat

Laundry
 Clear and clean all shelves and drawers
 Wipe down splashback, benchtop and cupboard doors
 Remove mould from tiles, grout, walls
 Disinfect and clean laundry trough
 Clean laundry door (inside and outside)

Outdoor Areas
 Clear and clean the porch, verandah or alfresco
 Remove cobwebs from exterior walls, windows and eaves
 Mow lawns, pull weeds and ensure garden has been maintained
 Sweep path and/or driveway and garage including garage door
 Replace any broken outdoor light bulbs and check they are working
 If you have pets ensure any pet droppings have been collected and cleaned
 Remove any rubbish, kids toys and pet toys from front and back yard areas.

We hope our End of Lease Cleaning Checklist helps you work your way through to a clean home and always remember to use natural cleaning products to protect yourself and the environment. If you’d like to read our 10 Natural Home Cleaning Hacks article, click here. To make cleaning easier we suggest carrying all your cleaning supplied in a portable holder (such as a bucket or tub) to make it easier to move them from room to room.

If you’re finding it difficult to find the time for your end of lease clean, the team at Bliss Home Care Services can get it sorted for you. Our attention to detail will ensure that the property is in immaculate condition. Enquire now about our end of lease cleaning services. Email us or call us on 03 9383 1363.