Everyone knows you can keep your fridge smelling nice and sweet by putting in a box of baking soda. But have you thought of all the other things baking soda can do?

• Closets can easily get a slight musty smell especially if they aren’t well-ventilated. But a box of baking soda can solve that problem in a jiffy. Just change it every month or so.
• Sprinkle baking soda in stinky sneakers as soon as you take them off. Empty the shoes before you wear them next. This will not only keep sneakers smelling fresh, but your closet as well.
• Babies may be sweet as can be, but their diapers sure aren’t. Sprinkle baking soda on each layer of dirty diapers to keep everything deodorized.
• Sheets, towels, socks and workout clothes can be stinky too. Add a half cup to the rinse cycle of your washer to keep them smelling clean and fresh. (To make it easy, just put the baking soda in the fabric softener dispenser).
• Clean your microwave with a paste of baking soda and water. Ditto the plastic surfaces in your refrigerator. Don’t ever use an all-purpose cleaner on these surfaces.
• Sweeten a sour sponge by wetting it and then rubbing it with baking soda.  Rinse after 15 minutes.
• Sprinkle your cat’s kitty litter with baking soda to help keep the house smelling fresh.
• No time to bathe the dog? Baking soda makes a great dry bath for  in between shampoos. Lightly sprinkle the fur with baking soda, work it through with a brush and then thoroughly remove. Whew!! No more doggie odors. (Remember to freshen the carpets with baking soda too. Vacuum after 15 minutes or so).
• Mix baking soda with your favorite shampoo and wash your hair as usual to remove all that build up of hair care products. Your hair will be cleaner and more manageable. And did I say shinier too?
• Oops! You forgot to dump out the coffee (or tea) from your morning cup and now it’s all discolored. No problem. Just scrub it clean with baking soda paste.
• To keep the septic system flowing freely, put one cup baking soda down each drain once a week. What a simple way to maintain a favorable PH balance in the septic tank.

There are lots more uses for this inexpensive wonder worker. But these are some of the best. What have you used it for?

Filed under: Green Cleaning, housekeeping tips Tagged: baking soda, carpets, dirty diapers, dog odor, hair care, stinky sneaders

We found a good video on House Cleaning supplies -

Here are some slick tips for keeping your carpeting looking good and prolonging it’s life:

• The kindest thing you can do for all your floors is to install large mats at all your entryways. This will dramatically reduce the amount of dirt that enters your house each day and save you countless hours of vacuuming and mopping!
• Spray traffic areas of all your carpets with Scotchgard to help retard soil buildup.
• For fresh spots on your carpeting, pour clean water on the spot and immediately blot with a clean towel. Repeat until the spot is gone. If the carpet is wool, you need to be very careful not to put too much water on at one time.
• Occasionally there are spots that mysteriously reappear after shampooing. The usual cause is improper rinsing in the previous cleanings. If this is the case, try the above procedure.
• Sometimes the spot is coming up from the padding. You can try cutting out and replacing that patch of pad, but don’t be the rent that it will work.
• To neutralize pet odors, try white vinegar or a commercial product such at Out! Pet Odor Eliminator. If the odor persists, the problem is in the pad. Cut and patch as above.
• For a carpet brightener and deodorizer, sprinkle the area with baking soda (about one cup for a 9×12 rug). Leave it on for about an hour and then vacuum thoroughly. (This will also deodorize your vacuum bag.)
• Has heavy furniture put dents in your carpet? Often they can be brought up with a fork plastic hair pick. For stubborn areas hold a steam iron a few inches above the carpet, gently lifting as you steam.
• Vacuum your carpets thoroghly once a week so dirt is not ground in. (Carpet manufacturers recommend you go back and forth in the same path 5 times, but I won’t tell if you aren’t quite so conscientous)! A quick vacuuming of the traffic areas should suffice in between times.

Hope these are helpful. What can you add?

Filed under: housecleaning tips, Uncategorized Tagged: dents, deodorize carpets, spots, traffic areas

Here are a few of our favorite housekeeping tips:

1. Fill dishwasher soap cups half-full. You’ll not only save money, but your glasses will not get water marked or scarred.

2. Use equal amounts of dishwasher soap and baking soda in your dishwasher. The baking soda softens your water and makes the detergent perform better. Your dishes and silver will be cleaner and so will the machine.

3.  The tops of kitchen cabinets are a trap for grease and dirt. To keep them clean, cover them with plastic wrap. When it’s time to clean, just remove the plastic wrap and replace it with fresh wrap.

4. To pick up small shards of broken glass, press pieces of bread over the area.

5. Get remove blood from washable fabric, apply hydrogen peroxide (available in any drug store) directly to the stain and launder as usual.

6. To stop drawers from sticking, rub a bar of soap on the runners. 

7. Vacuuming a mattress, especially along the piping and crevices, removes dead skin cells that attract dust mites.

8. Every 3-6 months rotate your mattress for longer wear.

9.  To clean the microwave oven, put a few lemon slices in a cup of water and microwave on high for about 5 minutes. Wipe with a soft cloth. Never use chemicals in your microwave.

10. Always wipe stainless steel with the grain of the metal. (I can just hear you saying, “What? There’s a grain to stainless steel?” And, yes, there is….)

11. Shower curtains and liners can be washed in the machine on the delicate cycle. Toss in a bath towel or two for a scrubbing action, and then hang to dry or put it in the dryer on low for a couple of minutes.

Filed under: housekeeping tips Tagged: dishwasher, kitchen cabinets, mattress, microwave, stainless steel

Here’s the process we use to remove urine even from deep in the carpet padding.  Just a few years ago, before this process was invented, urine removal in padding was possible.  But now this state of the art technology will rid your carpet and padding of odors without expensive padding replacement.  This process reduces odors by 80-98%.  And it eliminates the possibility of the urine stain returning (of course unless the pet comes back to the area.

If you’ve got pet stain and odor problems in the Pensacola area, we can help you.  Give Premium Carpet Care of Pensacola a call today.

Just click play below to see the video now.

If you own a business in London then you might know there are many commercial cleaners and office cleaners in the city. You may not know that there are some specific cleaning services available to you, though. Just do a simple online search for cleaning services in London to discover a wide variety of services offered by numerous cleaning companies.

There are more than just office cleaners; there are also cleaners for pubs, shops, restaurants, warehouses, and other commercial businesses. These dedicated companies provide daily cleaning programmes, as well as those that are less frequent. The advertisements noted that you could opt in for carpet dusting, window cleaning, upholstery cleaning, or speciality options. Many of the companies offer hard to reach options for both indoor and outdoor needs.

The best part about the process and the professionally tailored service is their dedication to offer an affordable solution that is both professional and efficient. One such commercial cleaning company has made it their mission to offer the best employees they can staff. Their staff is not only skilled in cleaning, but they have also had the proper training in safety and health. Restaurants for example require that you clean surfaces and the sitting area to certain codes. A failure to keep a restaurant clean can be detrimental.

Hiring a professional cleaning staff through commercial cleaners in London ensures your business’s cleanliness for many years to come. You can also feel safe in knowing that no matter where they are cleaning, even in the harder to access regions, all areas will be given the same priority unless otherwise instructed. Professionalism is imperative in any business. The professionally trained staff of these institutions understands this; therefore they offer you uniformed staff who will work around your needs. Whatever is convenient for you as the client will also be convenient for the office cleaners of Wokingham.

If you want more proof that the commercial cleaners in London are what you desire all you have to do is look at their business references and testimonials of their clients. Look no further than London for your commercial cleaners. London simply has the proper staff and office cleaners you require for your building in the city. It does not matter if you require car park and washroom cleaning or other maintenance, the commercial cleaning companies in London are there for you.

With highly trained staff to work quickly, without damaging any of your property. However, if an unfortunate event does occur you can feel content knowing the office cleaners in London will take care of your tidiness needs.

If you've read Jay Conrad Levinson's Guerrilla Marketing books, you know he's an advocate for making a marketing plan and working it. At a time when many business owners are backing off on all spending (including marketing), those of us who continue marketing will have a distinct advantage.

Here are some of the reasons Levinson says you SHOULD continue to actively market your business:

1. The market is always changing. If you're not in the game you'll be missing out on new opportunities.
2. People forget quickly. We are bombarded with advertising every day and if you don't stay in front of them, they'll forget all about you.
3. Your competition won't quit. If you're not in front of the customer, they'll go with your competitor, who is.
4. Marketing strenthens your identity. You can't build a brand and reputation without a strong presence.
5. Marketing is essential to survival and growth. You can't rely on word of mouth alone. If you don't get the word out, your business will stagnate and die.
6. Marketing enables you to keep your customers. You are cleaners, after all, so many of your customers don't see you unless you build a relationship with them so you can retain them as loyal customers.
7. Marketing maintains morale. When you see success in your marketing efforts, your morale improves.
8. Your marketing program gives you an advantage over competitors who have ceased to market. Don't be the one NOT marketing!
9. Marketing allows your business to continue operating. Without the results marketing brings, you won't be able to pay your bills.
10. You stand to lose out on the money, time, and effort you've invested. If you stop marketing now, you lose customer awareness and will have to start all over again.

Have YOU stopped or reduced your marketing efforts lately? Or have you increased them? Share your thoughts by clicking on the Comments link below.

Cozgroovy Green Cleaning Inc. is an exciting company servicing the Madison, Fitchburg, and Verona communities. Cozgroovy prides itself on providing clients with a spotless, sparkling home without harming the environment with toxic chemicals and cleaners.

We use only environmentally friendly products that are safe for your home, your family, your pets, and the Earth.

FREE in-home estimates
(608) 206-6059
cozgroovy@yahoo.com
References Available
Insured and Bonded

Our service is 100% guaranteed. We are not satisfied until you are.

It’s our pleasure to be of service to you.

Go to our main page right now at www.CarpetCareTips.com and register for our email newsletter.  You’ll get a gift certificate good for $25 off in home cleaning you have done with Premium Carpet Care.  This certificate is good for the next 60 days.

Just enter your email address above. We HATE spam and love our Pensacola neighbors. We promise to never give away your email.

Did you know carpet cleaning can actually imporve teh health of your home?  That’s right.  It can.  Of course, you have to clean your carpet correctly.

If a carpet is cleaned with water over 150 degrees, some health benefits includes killing dust mites and bacteria. 

If the machine being used has a powerful vacuum from a truck mounted extractor, the dirty water is extracted outside of the home so nothing gets airborne inside your home.

If the cleaning agents are all natural, there’s no risk of chemical exposure.

Premium Carpet Care is very pleased to meet all these requirements.

Call 474-1133 or click the banner to the right for an easy estimate.

Have you been rejected by a cleaning customer lately? Here’s how you can learn from rejection.

Have you been rejected by a cleaning customer lately? Here’s how you can learn from rejection.

This is a follow up to last week's post, 7 Reasons Cleaning Prospects Don't Return Your Calls.

How many times do you cold call a prospective customer, only to be connected to their voice mail? Do you leave a message? Many people will not leave messages because they never receive a call back (see last week's post).

So what’s the trick for getting them to call back? A good rule of thumb for leaving voice mail messages that get return calls is to:

1. state your full name and company name and then get to the point quickly. 
2. make a compelling statement that gets them thinking. Use words that describe how they might feel about their current cleaning service: frustrated, disappointed, irritated, annoyed, concerned, overwhelmed, unhappy, skeptical.

Here is an example:

Hi, this is John Smith with All-American Cleaning Company. We work with companies who are frustrated with their current cleaning service, or disappointed in the value they’re receiving for the money they’re spending. If this sounds familiar, please give me a call because I may have some solutions for you. My number is 555-123-1234. I look forward to talking with you.

Challenge yourself to create a list of problems that your customers want solved. Then use this list to create variations of the voice mail message above.

What tips do YOU have for getting your voice mail messages returned? Click on the Comments link below to post your replies.

A few months back I bought the most beautiful thick, fluffy terry towels for our guest bathroom. Now I knew that the dark color would mean they didn’t absorb as well as white or pastel, but what the heck, they wouldn’t be used that much anyway.

But with the advent of our Remodeling Project (from hell!!) my husband and I started using the guest bathroom shower and the new towels.  They were terrible!  Like wiping your body with a squeegee!

So I did a little research and found that  manufacturers now add a super fabric softener to their towels so they appear fluffier and more appealing to us dumb consumers. But this same fabric softener drastically reduces the absorbency of the towels!  Hmmm.  I thought that’s why we have towels: to absorb water!!  Well, it is what it is.  But there’s an easy, green solution:

Wash your new towels in hot water, and then add a cup of white vinegar to the rinse. I can’t tell you what a difference that makes!! It’s fabulous.  This works to a lesser degree on older towels as well.

It doesn’t get any easier than that!

Comments, anyone?

Filed under: Green Cleaning, housekeeping tips, How To Tagged: absorbent, bathroom, solution, towels, vinegar

Have you been rejected by a cleaning customer lately? Here's how you can learn from rejection.

This year how would you celebrate mothers day. Are you looking for new ideas to surprise you mother (Mom). Well here you will find not only one, two or three but many ideas to please your dear mom. It does not matter, if mother is young mother, middle age mother or old mother, the day mothers day applies to all mothers. This is special day for mothers and kids to show affection for each other. all year our mothers take care of our need, they shower their love and blessing on us. This is the only one day we get to show publicly our love, respect and affection for them.

• The Ornaments pleases the eyes of the beholder, a feel good factor. Coupled with bunch of flower is perfact gift on mothers day.
• Many women’s like jewelry (any kind) because it will make them feel good when they wear it. Few of them probably wear it to convey their social status and some were it because it adds prettiness to their personality.
• We all know women’s like flowers and they do expect flowers on birthday, anniversary and mothers day etc. Get nice bunch of flowers for gift.
• all women like makeup, it is integral part of their life. For them it’s just a pleasure to feel and look attractive.
• These days Mall operators maximizing their marketing dollars by focusing on just half of the population “the female shopper”. Why women have a reputation for shopping more than men, this is one more tip for you to get shopping gift cars as gift for mother.

Mother are mothers, they can be happy with one rose, one phone call or even with hug, for them sight of their love one is enough to make them happy. However on this day we take extra care in identifying what our mothers like and presenting them with gift of their choice.

Young or old mothers like flowers and lots of them. If you are away from home or out of country, send your mother a nice bunch of flowers along with a card and small gift.
You will definitely miss your mother and would have liked to give gift yourself and your mother would have liked the same.

Other than flowers next best thing to gift is jewelry, it can be mothers ring or mothers bracelet. It doesn’t have to be costly or extremely pricy, important thing is to show your love and care.

All women’s like jewelry, be it expensive or artificial, as long it is given with love they will cherish it for long time.

Mother Day Choices?

The easiest way to see my approach on the challenge is to remember what your mother likes the most. Is it Mothers Jewelry, Mothers perfume or Mothers gift items. It depends some mothers relate more with precious metal while others will go for mothers cloth, mothers utensils or vacations. Choose wisely and make your mother happy:

• Mothers day Gift Ideas.
• Flowers for Mothers – on Mothers day
• Mothers ring – the best idea to present on mothers day
• Vacation plan for Mothers – She has been taking care of you for decades, it is time for her to take a break from busy life.
• Healthy Mothers – Gift fitness membership to remind them importance of healthy life
• Mothers shopping – Gift them their favorite color dress or coats.
• Well, if you still have not got your favorite idea- click here to get more versatile ideas for your dear mother.

Mother Day Message to your Mother

• I Love You
• Thank You – Send one picture frame with lots of your her memorable pictures placed in it, with flowers an small gift.
• Personalized – Jewelry Box with encrypted her name. – Printing college photograph on card, with small gifts
• Relaxing – all-natural bath and body luxury products
• Thoughtful
• Time Saving – Travel Accessories – Adult Lunch Cooler – Whistle Key Finder
• Fashionable – Diamond Solitaire Pendant – Pearl White Gold Pendant – Mother’s Heart Pendant
• Sentimental – “A Poem For Her” Jewelry Box – Personalized Nightshirt
• Decorative – Family Canvas Art – Candle set – Rocking chair
• Healthy – Dieter Gift Basket – Sonoma Lavender Spa Wrap – Therapy Spa Gift Basket
• Luxurious – Expensive Rings – Women’s White Cashmere Robe – Large – Sandstone Bamboo Bath Robe – Diamond Cross -
• Practical – Personalized Grandparents Bench – Personalized chair or bed
• Professional – New desktop with internet, be connected to Mom. GPS or Laptop.
• Spiritual – Daily Reminders of God – ‘Peace and Grace’ Plaque – Book on religion or spirituality
• for Grandma – personal letter, nice dress, automatic key finder, your picture imprinted on key magnet

http://www.m-o-t-h-e-r.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sanjay_Kak

Have allergies and living in Plano, Texas? If so, Aqualux now offers Allergy Treatment Services to it’s customers in the Plano, Texas area!  Having worked with many residential and commercial customers wanting carpet cleaning in Plano, we found that allergies affect most homes and office buildings in the Plano community. As allergies flare in people and animals, Aqualux’s Allergy Treatment Services deliver professional results for our Plano, Texas customers with no adverse affects. Therefore, making a dramatic difference in your homes health. First, who gets allergies? The tendency to develop allergies is often hereditary, which means it can be passed down through your genes to another family member. Some inherit the gene and some don’t! But, allergies can basically affect anyone at anytime. Second, what are allergies? An allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to a substance that’s harmless to most people (ie: pollen) which can cause nasal and breathing problems. Homes or businesses affected by poor ventilation and pet dander often increase the risk of allergies in people dramatically. Whether in Plano or Dallas, most homes have allergens such as dust mites, pollen, molds and other allergens caused by drink spills and food contamination. Allergy Treatment Services combined with our AquaMaxx anti-bacterial solution provides instant control and removal of bacteria and allergens, therefore making your home a cleaner and healthier environment. Keep it clean Plano, Texas! Let Aqualux show you the difference!

Areas Most Contaminated with Allergens:

• Carpet
• Tile & Grout
• Fabric/Upholstery
• Rugs
• Mattresses
• Draperies
• Air Ducts
• AC Filter

Allergy Treatment Benefits

• Hot Water Extraction Services (Carpet Manufacturers Recommend Hot Water Extraction)
• AquaMaxx Anti-Bacterial Solution (Reduces Dust Mites, Dander, Bacteria & Allergens)
• Certified Technicians (CCT Certified)
• Allergen Free (Reduces Allergies Overall)
• Odor Free (Eliminates Odors from Pets & Allergens)
• Cleaner & Healthier Environment (Less Risk of Allergens & Bacteria)

Have allergies and living in Plano, Texas? If so, Aqualux now offers Allergy Treatment Services to it’s customers in the Plano, Texas area!  Having worked with many residential and commercial customers wanting carpet cleaning in Plano, we found that allergies affect most homes and office buildings in the Plano community. As allergies flare in people and animals, Aqualux’s Allergy Treatment Services deliver professional results for our Plano, Texas customers with no adverse affects. Therefore, making a dramatic difference in your homes health. First, who gets allergies? The tendency to develop allergies is often hereditary, which means it can be passed down through your genes to another family member. Some inherit the gene and some don’t! But, allergies can basically affect anyone at anytime. Second, what are allergies? An allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to a substance that’s harmless to most people (ie: pollen) which can cause nasal and breathing problems. Homes or businesses affected by poor ventilation and pet dander often increase the risk of allergies in people dramatically. Whether in Plano or Dallas, most homes have allergens such as dust mites, pollen, molds and other allergens caused by drink spills and food contamination. Allergy Treatment Services combined with our AquaMaxx anti-bacterial solution provides instant control and removal of bacteria and allergens, therefore making your home a cleaner and healthier environment. Keep it clean Plano, Texas! Let Aqualux show you the difference!

Areas Most Contaminated with Allergens:

• Carpet
• Tile & Grout
• Fabric/Upholstery
• Rugs
• Mattresses
• Draperies
• Air Ducts
• AC Filter

Allergy Treatment Benefits

• Hot Water Extraction Services (Carpet Manufacturers Recommend Hot Water Extraction)
• AquaMaxx Anti-Bacterial Solution (Reduces Dust Mites, Dander, Bacteria & Allergens)
• Certified Technicians (CCT Certified)
• Allergen Free (Reduces Allergies Overall)
• Odor Free (Eliminates Odors from Pets & Allergens)
• Cleaner & Healthier Environment (Less Risk of Allergens & Bacteria)

So, you’re feeling right on top of things when you clean out the lint trap every time you run the dryer–well, maybe not every time, but at least some times. But if you use fabric softener sheets, you absolutely must wash the lint trap with soapy water and a brush every 6 months or so.  Why?  Because all that waxy stuff in the dryer sheets that make your clothes static-free and smelling fresh, builds up on the lint trap.

Why is this a problem?

• It can cause the heating element to burn out.
• You use a lot more electricity.
• You run the risk of starting a fire!

So remove the lint trap, run it under hot water. If the water just puddles up, you’ve got a problem. Grab an old toothbrush and some soap and give it a good scrub–about 30 seconds or so–until the water runs through it again.

If you’d like to do away with using fabric softener sheets altogether, try putting a half cup of white vinegar in your washer’s fabric softener dispenser, or add it to the rinse cycle. No, your clothes will not smell like vinegar!! But they will be nice and soft, your towels more absorbent.  And besides you will feel every so “green” as you do your part to save the planet!

Comments?  Please share!

Filed under: Green Cleaning, housekeeping tips Tagged: clothes dryer, fabric softener, green, vinegar