You can usually get to the basics on the weekend – vacuuming, dusting, dishes, wash, sometimes bathrooms. But what about some of those details that you never seem to find the time to do? Or maybe your home is clean but not clean enough for the picky mother-in-law who is coming to visit. You don’t have a lot of time, so having some easy cleaning hacks will help.

Baseboards

You can only ignore your baseboards for so long before dust, dirt, and grime build-up, making them look nasty. These tiny ledges catch it all! Here are some quick ways to have immaculate baseboards:

• Use your vacuum or a whisk broom to remove surface dust.
• Next, using a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser, a mixture of warm water, dish soap, and vinegar, thoroughly clean the baseboards.
• Use a q-tip or toothbrush to clean grooves and corners.
• When dry, use a dryer sheet to wipe down again to create a protective coat and prevent dust from accumulating quickly.

Light Switches

One of the most germ-ridden areas of your home is the light switches. Multiple people frequently touch them. The best way to clean lightswitches is to remove them with a screwdriver and soak in a warm soapy water solution. However, you may not have the time to do this, so try these:

• Use a soft, microfiber cloth and an all-purpose cleaner, or warm water with vinegar. Do not spray anything directly on the light switch, only onto the fabric. 
• Regular cleaning with a disinfectant will help to prevent the spread of Covid-19 and other illnesses.
• The plastic may be discolored and look dingy even after cleaning. If you need to replace, these are an inexpensive change that looks great.

Doors

Doors and doorknobs also get filthy and are often overlooked. To make them spotless, do the following:

• Wipe doorknobs with disinfecting wipes as yucky germs (flu or Covid19) can be living there. Painted doorknobs may need a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser with warm water, dish soap, and vinegar. 
• Always use sanitizing wipes to clean doorknobs as they are a place that everyone touches.
• Painted doors are easily cleaned with a soft cloth and multi-surface cleaner. For marks or dirt that won’t come off, a magic eraser helps here as well.
• For stained wood doors, a wood cleaner is suitable as well. 

Walls

Having light-colored walls results in streaks and marks that take away from the beauty of your home. The first step in getting rid of unsightly stains is determining what kind of paint you have. Flat or eggshell finishes will most likely come off if cleaned too vigorously. In this case, try using the Magic Eraser to remove stains or wall scruffs gently. A semi-gloss or gloss is likely to be more durable and stand up under scrubbing. For a swift job, try these:

• If warm water and dishwashing soap aren’t adequate, try a mixture of two parts water, 1 part ammonia, and 1 part baking soda. Scrub with a sponge and rinse.
• For more stubborn stains, use baking soda moistened with water.
• Dry the walls as much as possible to avoid water spots.
• If the walls are too stained or there simply is too much to clean then your best bet is to paint the walls.

Bathroom

The bathroom is perhaps the most abused part of most homes. It is often difficult to remove water stains, mold and mildew, and soap scum from tubs, showers, and sinks. Toilets sometimes get rings that are hard to remove. Some great hacks include:

• A potion of one cup of vinegar, a half cup of baking soda, and hot water poured into your tub, shower, or sink will clean itself – no scrubbing required. Leave for about five minutes and then rinse. Use this on your toilet ring as well.
• Shaving cream sprayed on the handles, showerhead, etc. will eliminate water stains.
• Mixing up vinegar and water to spray on the tile walls and glass shower doors will dissolve soap scum. Just let it sit for 10-15 minutes and rinse. If that doesn’t work, add baking soda to the mixture. 
• It is a good idea to clean bathrooms with a robust cleaning disinfecting solutions (either DIY or retail) with regularity to avoid the spread of illnesses such as Covid-19 and the flu. 

Whatever your cleaning problems, Maidstr of Toronto is more than able to help. We do one-time cleanings (for that mother-in-law visit) as well as regularly scheduled times. Let us help your home be 5-star hotel worthy all the time!