Cleaning House and the 80-20 Rule

Cleaning house is one of those things that needs doing again… and again… and again! How can you make it less of a burden?

When I taught time management classes, one of the things I loved to teach was the 80-20 rule. It’s best explained by examples. Eighty percent of the time, you wear twenty percent of your wardrobe. Eighty percent of the phone calls you get come from twenty percent of your friends. Eighty percent of the dirt is on twenty percent of the floor. Twenty percent of salespeople make eighty percent of sales. Okay, sometimes it’s 90-10 and sometimes it’s 70-30 but you get the idea.

Eighty percent of the dirt is on twenty percent of the floor? Hmm, what does that suggest about cleaning your house? Often a quick pass through the parts of your house that really need it will make cleaning house much easier. If you are in a hurry, let the dust behind the sofa and under the table alone and just clean a swath through the heavy traffic areas. Sooner or later, you’ll get to them as well — or hire someone else to do a thorough cleaning occasionally.

You can probably make up lots of examples of the 80-20 rule that apply to your own ways of cleaning house and of keeping things picked up. Perhaps eighty percent of the dirty dishes left lying around come from one person. Perhaps eighty percent of your frustration with how your house looks could be solved by doing twenty percent of what you think you should.

Comparison Review of Samsung Powerbot Vs Roomba Cleaning Robot

Review of iRobot Roomba 980:

iRobot Roomba 980 is a Wi-Fi connected vacuum robot that will change the very concept of cleaning your home.It is one of the best smartest cleaning technologies around the world for cleaning dust, dirt, and hair. As tested in iRobot's Home Test Lab on hard floors, this robot is your cleaning partner that is created to put you ahead in every step from room to room, surface to surface that occasionally recharging facilities when needed. It works very well for people with pets lovers. Ultimately, it deliver you a neat and clean home with just in one push of the button.

Easy Cleaning System: The cleaning procedures of the robot is easy enough. You just need to press clean or schedule Roomba on the go with the iRobot HOME App.

AeroForce® High-Efficiency Filter: The highly efficient AeroForce Filter absorbs 99% allergens, pollen, and particles as small as 10 microns.

Working time: Roomba 980 at a stretch works for two hours. After that, it automatically recharges and starts working to complete the rest of the job.

Cleans under the furnitures: The trendy design of the cleaning robot allows it to clean under almost all the furniture including sofas, chairs, tables, etc.

Cliff-detection sensors: Roomba 980 comes with Cliff-detection sensors that help the robot to avoid the stairs and other drop-offs.

iRobot HOME App: The iRobot HOME App allows you to run the cleaning from anywhere and at any time. At start, you have to choose the custom cleaning preferences and look at the statues of cleaning jobs.

Schedule for cleaning: With iRobot Home App, you can set schedule for cleaning your home. You also can pre-scheduled Roomba 980 up to seven times per week.

Perfect for any types of floors: The Roomba 980 cleaning robot is perfect for floors, and it automatically adjusts to clean carpets, tiles, hardwood and laminated homes.

Carpet Boost System: With this system, the robot vacuum automatically increases the power so that it can clean the carpet carefully where dust and dirt hide. It helps to loosen, lift and suction the dirt with up to 10 x more power.

iAdapt® 2.0 Navigation with Visual Localization: Roomba 980 seamlessly works and navigates the entire home. It also keeps track of its location.

Navigation of rooms: The Roomba 980 comes with iAdapt 2.0 Responsive Navigation features that help the robot to navigate multiple rooms by using a high-efficiency cleaning pattern. The sensors contribute to adapt to real-world clutter and furniture.

Clean Map ™: The Clean Map ™ features of the Robot shows the history of cleaning. It will present the data where it previously cleaned together with the duration and coverage of the last completed work.You will also find a receive push notification when the job is completed.

Removes Hair easily: The Roomba is a brush-less robot that ensures clean work. The brush-less extractors prevent the tangles and jams of hair and other debris. However, it cleans hair effectively. Obviously, it will be a great companion for the pet lovers.

Perfect for cleaning walls, edges, and corners etc: The Spinning side brush of the robot pushes the debris and other dirt from the walls.

Recharge and resume: The Roomba 890 automatically recharges when necessary and resumes again for finishing the rest of the work. After finishing cleaning, it returns to its Home Base® docking station.

Samsung Powerbot R7040 Review:

Samsung Powerbot R7040 is another excellent robot for cleaning. This includes a docking station for recharging, a remote control and virtual guards to protect chosen areas. You will also get additional filters for the robot. The features of Samsung Powerbot are:

Great Suction Power: The unique Digital Inverter Technology of the robot ensures powerful and longer lasting suction. The advanced technology creates up to 60 times more powerful suction. The CycloneForce's strong centrifugal force separates dirt and debris into an outer chamber. As a result, it keeps the filter clean and ensures fewer clogs.

Large Drum Brush: The enlarged drum brush covers wide area when cleaning your home. The brush has a width of 311 mm, which is around 107 mm larger than conventional 204 mm brushes

Cleans room fast and efficiently: The Visionary Mapping & trade Plus System helps the robot to follow the optimal path for the fast-track cleaning. It has ten sensors and an on-board camera that makes a complete map of your home and chooses the most effective cleaning path.

Comprehensive scanning System: The FullView Sensor ™ of the robot scans your home comprehensively to perform the best results. It goes to the every nook and corner of your home. Unless stopped by the "blind spots", it navigates safely and cleans your home nicely.

Point Cleaning ™ controller: This allows the robot to clean dusty areas by simply pointing the light of the robot.

Auto Charge function: It always charges automatically when the battery goes down. You do not need to worry about the on and off of the power.

7 Cleaning Modes: The Samsung robot comes with seven different cleaning moods so that you can choose your preferred one. The seven Cleaning Moods include 4 styles of cleaning, including Auto, Spot, Max and Manual modes, 2 scheduling modes and a Dust Sensor mode.

Protective: The robot is very protective. The virtual Guard ™ prevents it from going into the area that you have chosen. You can restrict the robot in several areas by simply pressing a button. In this way, you can save your pet or keep the robot away from the robot.

House Maintenance And Cleaning: A System To Make It Work For You

Owning a home, of one’s own, is often, the best moment, of many people’s lives, but, it also requires planning, commitment, and a system of maintaining a house, in a well – planned manner, in order to reduce the potential for excessive tension and stress, in order to enhance the enjoyment. Most new homeowners believe they are, up – to, the task and responsibilities, while often, avoiding taking a closer look at what might be needed, and necessary, and planning accordingly. With that in mind, this article will attempt to briefly examine, consider, and discuss, a basic system, for getting necessary tasks done, but, doing so, without undo stress, tension, or anxiety, or becoming overwhelmed.

1. Winter: Prepare for this season, by examining the areas, especially exterior, which undergo extensive stresses, during colder weather. Examine concrete areas, such as walk – ways, driveways, foundation areas, steps, etc, and address, even the smallest irregularities, before they become major challenges, etc. In addition, if you live in an area, which gets much snow, bring your snow – blower, etc, in for its Preventative Maintenance, so it is in peak shape, when you need it. Do you have enough shovels, are your leaders and gutters, cleared of debris, leaves, etc, and have you inspected your roof, and addressed potential issues? Also check your insulation, etc, and address air – leaks, etc. Touch – up painted exterior areas, so they minimize chipping, etc, from the extreme weather conditions.

2. Spring: We have all heard of, Spring Cleaning, but, this should be, far more, than simply a concept, but an action plan! Do an interior clean – up, from the stresses, dirt, debris, etc, of the winter. It’s also a good time of year, to do, a few rooms, at a time, of interior painting. Examine any possible damage which occurred because of winter, and address these, sooner, rather than later.

3. Summer: Before the hottest weather, clean and/ or replace the air – conditioner filters, and check/ repair/ etc, if necessary. During Spring, you should have cleaned exterior windows, so you can enjoy summer’s beauty, and sunshine. Check areas, which might require exterior work, such as power – washing, your deck, etc.

4. Autumn/ Fall: After all the leaves have fallen, clean the grounds, and thoroughly remove, especially anywhere near drains, or roof areas. This is the ideal time of year, to have trees pruned, in order to make certain, winter’s snow, does not excessively weaken, the weakest areas. The goal should be safety, and reducing extra work!

This simple plan won’t work, by itself, so you must create, a system, to get it done, rather than procrastinating! Since our house, is usually our single – biggest financial asset, doesn’t it make sense, to protect it effectively and efficiently?

6 Cleaning Chores You Can Deal With in Less Than an Hour

If you are no fan of devoting a whole day or your entire weekend to cleaning tasks, you are not to blame. You hardly live to clean your home every spare minute you get, and you are not supposed to. Home cleaning should be a task that you engage in with a clear mind of the benefits it brings. It should also be a task you are well prepared and ready to complete as quickly and with less effort possible.

Here are a few tips that will teach you to deal with chores in under an hour:

Spray down the shower – if scrubbing down the bathroom is your least favourite thing in the world, you should use the opportunity to spray your shower every time you use it. A simple mix of vinegar and water does the trick nicely and protects against soap scum and hard water deposits. Imagine how much effort this will save you in the long run.

Vacuum furniture – every time you vacuum the carpets, you can also address your furniture. You can do that with the aid of your upholstery cleaning attachment. Simply lift cushions and vacuum underneath. Do a quick run of the cleaner over other areas of the upholstery as well. It will hardly take you much time, but surely counts as an effective way of reducing dust in the room.

Remove grease from kitchen cabinets – if you cook regularly at home, it is likely that your kitchen cabinets will become sticky over time. In order to de-gunk them, you should use a specialised cream cleaning product. Do a quick wipe with a microfibre cloth and check out how effective such a solution is.

Clean the ceiling fan – one item in the room that is likely causing somewhat of a mess is the ceiling fan. If the blades and other items get too dusty, dust can spread all over the room. In order to prevent this, make sure you clean the fan on a regular basis. Use an old pillowcase to place over each of the blades so that the dust ends up inside.

Restore the shine to stainless steel – if you want to make a surface sparkle again, mix a teaspoon dish detergent with a quart of tap water. Grab a microfibre cloth and rub the solution on smudgy areas and areas with fingerprints. Rinse only with clean water and buff dry with a clean towel immediately after.

Clean the windows – use a microfibre cloth and a window cleaner to shine up windows. If the room has blinds, lower those and tackle them with an old sock. It easily gets the dust out of each particular piece. Lastly, you can vacuum fabric shades and drapes to prevent dust accumulation on them.

By following these tips, you can greatly improve your cleaning routine. It will not just be easier for you to tackle home cleaning chores, but the place will overall be cleaner.

Few Benefits of Hiring a Professional Deck Cleaner

Decks work as an important part of the house. Since, constructing a deck requires a significant amount of investment; one needs to seriously consider the maintenance aspects associated with it. Without proper cleaning at regular intervals, these external structures often tend to become dirty and unhygienic. In fact, the worst part is; neglecting the cleaning and maintenance aspects might lower the life of the decks, and they might start losing their natural lustre and decay within few years.

Deck cleaning at regular intervals often becomes a tough job for an individual mostly due to absence proper materials and techniques. Moreover, it is obvious, that many people find it difficult to devote adequate time behind cleaning purposes due to tight work schedule and busy lifestyle. This is exactly where professional deck cleaners create the difference. Apart from helping in cleaning the decks, there are many other aspects that make them valuable indeed. Let us have a look: –

• Relevant Expertise and Experience

Cleaning the decks individually is convenient for many, but for that one needs to have adequate knowledge about the wood types and proper cleaning techniques. One has to remember that timber and steel decks are vulnerable to water and other chemical cleaning solutions. Thus, without involving proper cleaning approach, the decks might lose their natural lustre. Professional deck cleaners have relevant experience and ability and thus, it is easy for them to offer comprehensive and effective cleaning solutions. Manufacturing the decks involve the usage of different types of woods like cedar, mahogany, redwood, etc. The professional cleaners involve separate cleaning approaches based on the wood type. This ensures better results and prevents the risks of corrosion on the long run.

• Involvement of Advanced Cleaning Techniques and Innovative Equipments

It is not always possible to get the deep clean results by involving regular household cleaning techniques and equipment. Thus, getting the best cleaning results with domestic cleaning is next to impossible. The professional deck cleaners involve advanced cleaning techniques and equipment which offer deep cleaning results. A simple search on the internet might help one in knowing about the latest cleaning techniques, however utilizing them needs the usage of advanced equipment that are mostly available with the experts.

• Save Valuable Time and Money

Apart from the fact that professional deck cleaners provide effective cleaning results, it is important to note that they save valuable time and money, as well. Decks cover a large section of the house and cleaning them requires time. Most of the firms offer deck cleaning services at an affordable price and opting for the services helps one to save time.

Expert deck cleaners aim at maintaining the structural formation of the decks by providing minute repair services. One should necessarily consider opting for a credible and renowned firm to get the best cleaning services.

Keep Your Bathroom Up to Scratch With Our 17 Point Bathroom Cleaning Plan

Firstly, as with virtually any form of cleaning, you should aim to work from top to bottom, that is to say, clean the upper surfaces before the lower, in this way you will avoid splashing areas you have already attended to, and having to redo work.

  1. Clear any surfaces by moving any toiletries, pots and packets out of the way
  2. Wipe over chrome fittings with a proprietary scale remover and leave per instructions
  3. Pour a generous amount of bleach up around the rim of the toilet and leave
  4. Clear any cobwebs or dust from top of walls and ceiling
  5. Wipe with a lightly bleached cloth all around your window frame and inside the frame of any opening widows. This will prevent mould growing
  6. Wipe a damp rag on the top surface of any wall cabinets. Rinse and repeat.
  7. Clean mirrors and shower panels with a clear proprietary window cleaner and a piece of kitchen roll. Re-wipe with a dry sheet
  8. Rinse scale remover from chrome fittings
  9. Spray all surfaces with bathroom cleaner designed to remove soap, scum and body fat ensuring that you spray all around and underneath tap and shower fittings
  10. Leave the cleaner on the surfaces for a few minutes (dependent upon manufacturers instructions) then fill sink and bath with a couple of inches of warm water.
  11. Take a clean j-cloth or similar and use it to flood the surfaces and taps allowing the water to flow back into the basin/shower. Repeat this procedure then drain away the water and rinse basin/bath
  12. If you have a detachable shower head, flood the areas carefully with clean cold water to rinse, otherwise use a rinsed j-cloth
  13. Run over the whole area with another slightly damp cloth to dry and polish
  14. Use a toilet brush inside the loo to thoroughly scrub with the bleached water then flush.
  15. Pour a surfactant toilet cleaner in the bowl (this sticks to the sides and gives a fresh smell) but make sure you have flushed away bleach first
  16. Finally give the floor a sweep and a wipe down with a moist cloth (depending on floor covering).
  17. Last thing, open a window for an hour or so and get some fresh air in. This will keep the bathroom fresh and inhibit the growth of mould on windows and ceilings

Use this as a guide for your bathroom cleaning and you’ll keep it clean and fresh.

Ease Off Your Burden By Entrusting Cleaning Tasks To Cleaners

The lifestyles of contemporary women and men have become very hectic and complicated these days. Nowadays, people hardly have time to look after home cleaning tasks; does this mean they have to stay all messy? A BIG NO! It’s rightly said that every problem has a solution and even in this case, the saying is completely applicable. When a person doesn’t have time to handle daily chores, he can entrust this job to a good house cleaner.

Have you thought of why a domestic cleaner needs to be hired?

Basically, these home cleaners can be termed as “Maids”; they work in homes on owners’ conditions and do every possible task that’s assigned to them. Given below are few tasks that they commonly perform.

· Cleaning junk and basic mess in the house

· Rearranging stuff and placing them properly

· Mopping and hovering the floors

· Cleaning dusty areas, including doors and windows

· Dishwashing

· Cleaning bathrooms and toilets

· Handling laundry tasks like folding clothes, drying and washing

· Cleaning after children and pets.

How can the best house cleaner be found?

You might find a lot of cleaners in your vicinity and so, you need to have that capability of differentiating between average cleaners and reliable ones. The following qualities are needed in professional cleaners;

· Reputation

Many cleaners enjoy an excellent reputation in the market and this is mainly due to previous customers. If the customers are happy, they leave good reviews and help in strengthening the reputation of the agency. A good reputation is a perfect indication of a competent, sincere and affordable house cleaner.

· Check the one that has professional and knowledgeable staff

Usually, people have that misconception in their minds that anyone and everyone can clean the home. However, the idea is certainly a wrong one. Professional cleaning is a way to different and it needs expertise. Only reputed and experienced cleaners will be able to tackle cleaning tasks securely and safely.

· Rates

Be very sure of the rates too; the consumer should find the rates affordable.

While selecting one, just don’t consider the “Price” factor; cheap is always good but is not always favorable. Moreover, even track record should be checked. While speaking to the company ask them as to whom they are sending in for the cleaning task. When you speak to them, you will come to know about their seriousness and dedication. Also, talk to other people in the area and see what they have to say about the particular service.

After all, things are cleared, you will surely get the burden off your shoulders.

Benefits of Window Cleaning

Windows provide an aesthetic curb appeal of the property, but surfaces covered in dirt and deterioration can negatively affect the look of these features and decrease the value. It is harder to sell a house with grime-covered windows in comparison to surfaces that are pristine and beautifully maintained. Office spaces that leave the dust and dander to settle on the exterior develop a negative customer and business partner impression. It creates one of carelessness or a lack of interest that businesses certainly do not want to associate with the brand. It is simple and cost effective to call on people familiar with handling window cleaning to keep these structures properly managed. Professionals are knowledgeable in the correct use of quality cleaning products that provide barriers against dust and fungal growth.

Window cleaning service is utilized both in commercial as well as residential properties. This particular task requires professional and experienced window cleaners as the job has its risks. The tools needed for the cleaning include a squeegee, water, and a water fed pole system. Aside from these tools, ladders and cherry pickers are used for hard to reach glass windows that needs cleaning. Ladders are mainly used while cleaning home windows as the peak is usually reachable with the ladder. However, for cleaning commercial buildings, the team must be equipped with more serious access equipment like the water fed pole system, cherry pickers and rope access.

For residential windows, a major problem includes the formation of streaks and marks after the areas are washed. Professionals with the right tools and training know how to apply technique and apparatus to minimize the development of streaking and leave a sparkling clear surface. The buffing and polishing procedure will remove the toughest grit that has settled on the glass for a beautiful finish. Houses with outstanding outdoor views can benefit from having windows cleaned and left in a pristine condition to ensure a lack of obscurity when checking out the surrounding sights. These techniques are cost effective producing the greatest value and long-term prevention against the accumulation of dirt and the degradation of surfaces. Consulting with a reputable and experienced company can provide regular maintenance tips and ensure that all surfaces remain in top quality states.

Window cleaning is known to be the most dangerous type of job. Individuals who opt for this job are highly skilled. Window cleaners not only clean and make your home and office windows look shinier but also guarantee to do a great job of keeping a healthy relationship filled with trust and loyalty with their customers.

Though, windows don’t need a daily cleaning like other parts of our home, however, cleaning the windows once in a month or even once in two months will make a noticeable difference and you would be able to visualize the results clearly. Some companies provide you the benefit of entering into a contract with them which entails you to a scheduled window cleaning of your home or office at regular intervals, without you having to worry about it. They visit your home at the scheduled time and day for the cleaning, and in case you are not home, they can leave you a bill which you can clear once you are back. However, since this may occur more than one time, it’s very critical that you only deal with reliable and popular window cleaning companies.

Professional commercial and residential window cleaners invest in quality maintenance methods and the use of safety gear to keep all exterior surfaces in top condition. Acid rain, sand, and mold can settle on the glass and frames causing damage and unsightly marks. Buildings left to deteriorate including obscured and dirty windows create negative first impressions compared to a pristine office space. Hiring experts in the industry will deliver precision results and best manage surfaces on a scheduled basis to prevent the dust and debris from accumulating. It is cost effective and valuable relying on knowledgeable professionals in the industry who can deliver comprehensive solutions to prevent surface damages.

5 Most Common Carpet Cleaning Mistakes

Many people think that cleaning the carpet is something very simple that can be done by anyone. Well, that is not actually true. Before starting the whole process, you need to be aware of the most appropriate methods for removing dirt or stains and extending the life of your carpet. Here are a few common mistakes that people make:

Not cleaning up spills immediately. Leaving a spill to dry on the carpet will make it much harder to clean. You should know that liquids seep deeper into the carpet padding, leading to unpleasant odors and mold growth. Eventually the stain will erode the carpet fibers, too. So, when a spill happens, clean it right away in order to avoid more serious problems with your carpet.

Using too much water or cleaning products. Big amounts of water and cleaning solutions are usually hard to soak up. In that case you’d better dry the carpet with a steam cleaner, otherwise it may again result in mold growth. Another common mistake is utilising strong cleaning products. They can damage the fibers or dissolve the colours of your carpet. That is why you should read the labels of the cleaning solutions carefully to see if they contain any unwanted formulas or chemicals.

Scrubbing stains out – that is definitely not the best idea for your carpet. Sure, after hard scrubbing you may remove the stain, but at the same time you will seriously harm the carpet fibers. It will be a lot more effective to blot the stain with a towel. Then you wait for a while to absorb and after that use a stain remover to clean it.

Cleaning too often – you should clean your carpet only when it is actually necessary. Excessive scrubbing and the overuse of cleaning chemicals may have a very negative effect. They could cause colour fading or even more serious damages on the carpet. Remember, more is not always better.

Neglect hiring a professional carpet cleaning company. A lot of people do not want to call a professional service for help because of the extra costs they have to make. But that is not always the right decision. Yes, most times you can clean your carpet properly without the need of any assistance. However, in cases of badly damaged carpets or frequent stains from children and pets, you’d better call the specialists. Otherwise damages may become permanent, leaving you with no other alternative than to buy a new carpet.

Hopefully this article will be of use to you. Cleaning the carpet and maintaining it in a good condition is a very serious job – one that has its secrets. Sure, not everyone can be a cleaning specialist. But you have to at least avoid certain mistakes that may lead to a negative effect and utilise reliable and verified methods for keeping the carpet clean and healthy.

Tips for Effectively Advertising Your Cleaning Business

As the owner of a fledgling online directory, I am astounded at how many businesses don’t provide adequate information on their websites and business listings. A large number of cleaning businesses state their business name and their city location -leaving a great deal of uncertainty as to whether this business is positioned to handle a customer’s cleaning needs. This article will present the proper way for a cleaning business to list their information online, as well as, provide tips for protecting the private information of the business owners.

When starting a cleaning business, or any business for that matter, it’s important to consider the arena in which you are setting up shop. As a service provider, who travels into the homes and businesses of your customers, you have to be able to demonstrate two important things: 1) that you service the area where the job is needing to be done, and 2) that you are trustworthy, honest, and capable to do the job. Your business marketing materials (business cards, fliers, cleaning checklists, and website material) must observe both of these.

To demonstrate that you service the area where the job is, you must state where you are located. The address of your business may not seem that important if you have a service radius of 50 miles. However, a prospective customer may not be able to determine your radius if they don’t know where the center of that radius is. Saying, for instance, that your business is in New York City does not indicate which part of New York City you service -nor does it indicate to the customer that you service their home in Flushing, Manhattan, Queens, or anywhere else in the city and suburbs. It’s too vague.

How do you go about stating your address without compromising the safety of your home or family? The honest answer to this is hard to state for a number of reasons. No matter if you have a home office or a standard business front, safety is always a concern. That’s true for small business and large corporations. If you can’t get over this fact -and list your home office address- then your next best bet is to get a post office box smack dab in the center of where you plan to conduct your business: your service area. This will at least give you the benefit of utilizing the zip code itself -as a zip code is an ideal means to delineate service areas. P.O. Boxes aren’t that expensive and also serve as a way to separate your business mail from your private mail. It’s an investment that will reap bigger rewards.

Finally, listing your address also promotes a sense of trust and honesty to prospective customers. All to often, people are duped by businesses that purport to offer x service. Today’s consumers are smarter and now look for basic identifiers to vet prospective providers (look at the rise in importance of reviews, for instance). Listing your information separates you from scammers. It opens you up to your customers.

So when you go to create a listing on a directory or adding your contact information to your website, take a big step and add your address, email, and other identifiers. It builds trust with your customers, provides a focal point for your service radius, and aides in separating you from bogus companies out to dupe consumers. It’s what establishes you as a business.

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