Cleaning Tips Cleaning News & Cleaning Fun

We love this little article from the BBC, it is about the worth of cleaners to society.

Employment correspondent, BBC News

Hospital cleaners play a vital role, the study found

Hospital cleaners are worth more to society than bankers, a study suggests.

The research, carried out by think tank the New Economics Foundation, says hospital cleaners create £10 of value for every £1 they are paid.

It claims bankers are a drain on the country because of the damage they caused to the global economy.

They reportedly destroy £7 of value for every £1 they earn. Meanwhile, senior advertising executives are said to “create stress”.

The study says they are responsible for campaigns which create dissatisfaction and misery, and encourage over-consumption.

Waste workers promote recycling, researchers note

And tax accountants damage the country by devising schemes to cut the amount of money available to the government, the research suggests.

By contrast, child minders and waste recyclers are also doing jobs that create net wealth to the country.

The Foundation has used a new form of job evaluation to calculate the total contribution various jobs make to society, including for the first time the impact on communities and environment.

Eilis Lawlor, spokeswoman for the New Economics Foundation, said: “Pay levels often don’t reflect the true value that is being created. As a society, we need a pay structure which rewards those jobs that create most societal benefit rather than those that generate profits at the expense of society and the environment”.

Tax accountants are said to destroy £47 in value for every £1 generated

She said the aim of the research was not to target individuals in highly paid jobs, or suggest people in low paid jobs should earn more.

“The point we are making is more fundamental – that there should be a relationship between what we are paid and the value our work generates for society. We’ve found a way to calculate that,” she said.

A total of six different jobs were analysed to assess their overall value. These are the study’s main findings:

• The elite banker

“Rather than being wealth creators bankers are being handsomely rewarded for bringing the global financial system to the brink of collapse

Paid between £500,000 and £80m a year, leading bankers destroy £7 of value for every pound they generate”.

• Childcare workers

“Both for families and society as a whole, looking after children could not be more important. As well as providing a valuable service for families, they release earnings potential by allowing parents to continue working. For every pound they are paid they generate up to £9.50 worth of benefits to society.”

• Hospital cleaners

“Play a vital role in the workings of healthcare facilities. They not only clean hospitals and maintain hygiene standards but also contribute to wider health outcomes. For every pound paid, over £10 in social value is created.”

• Advertising executives

The industry “encourages high spending and indebtedness. It can create insatiable aspirations, fuelling feelings of dissatisfaction, inadequacy and stress. For a salary of between £50,000 and £12m top advertising executives destroy £11 of value for every pound in value they generate”.

• Tax accountants

“Every pound that a tax accountant saves a client is a pound which otherwise would have gone to HM Revenue. For a salary of between £75,000 and £200,000, tax accountants destroy £47 in value, for every pound they generate.”

• Waste recycling workers

“Do a range of different jobs that relate to processing and preventing waste and promoting recycling. Carbon emissions are significantly reduced. There is also a value in reusing goods. For every pound of value spent on wages, £12 of value is generated for society.”

The research also makes a variety of policy recommendations to align pay more closely with the value of work.

These include establishing a high pay commission, building social and environmental value into prices, and introducing more progressive taxation.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8410489.stm

This carpet is ruined and we advised the customer to replace it

Carpet in hallway of one of our customers we would have liked to help, but this carpet was beyond repair and we recommended it to be replaced in stead of cleaned.

our friends at Carpet Cleaning London would also have done the same as it’s the only right thing to do for our customers.

We can clean carpets but unfortunately not perform miracles.

Why our houses could be dirtier? I thought that my home is where I and my family can feel completely safe, but unfortunately our home could be a big threat to our health.

Where bacteria hides?

A study in the US showed the number of bacteria per square inch on household surfaces was as follows:

Toilet bowl-3.2million,  Kitchen drain-567,000, Dish cloth-134,000,  Bath – 119,000, Kitchen sink-17,000,  Kitchen tap 13,000, Bathroom tap-6,000, Bathroom sink-2,700, Kitchen floor-830, Toilet floor-764,  Rubbish bin-411,  Microwave -214, TV remote – 70.

Don’t you think that statistic is horrible?

The bugs are one of the most harmful infectors. They are all over the house so I’ll suggest you some ways to beat them.

IN BED: Mattresses can contain hundreds bugs and well over 10,000 dust mites. They feed on your blood and dead skin as you sleep. And 20 per cent of the weight of old pillows may be dead skin. That means even more dust mites, which are a known trigger for asthma and allergies.

Beat the bugs: If you have an infestation, get an exterminator in or shell out for a new mattress. With your pillows, bin ones that are more than a year old or put them in the freezer for 24 hours to kill bugs.

KITCHEN SURFACES:  The kitchen is the household hotspot when it comes to food poisoning. Cross contamination – where bugs from uncooked meat end up on raw fruit or vegetable-is one of the biggest problems. Raw chicken, for example, can carry a nasty bug which causes sickness.

Beat the bugs: Use separate chopping boards for meat and vegetables rather than those with antibacterial coating. They can take several hours to kill bugs.

CARPETS: have been blamed for a surge in UK asthma cases in the past 40 years. They are the perfect breeding ground for dust mites. Bugs are so small that they are barely visible, but whose droppings are thought to irritate the lining of the airways.

Beat the bugs: Fit a wooden floor. Experts claim doing so can slash the amount of allergens circulating in the air. If you must have carpet, make a short pile so it is harder for mites to hide.

DOOR HANDLES: Bacteria and viruses can creep into some surfaces for hours. Door handles are one of the most dangerous sites because they come into contact with skin all the time. One US study showed 26 per cent of door knobs at home and work carry traces of harmful bacteria.

Beat the bugs: Apply disinfectant to the surface using a paper towel to remove residual dirt. Do it again with another fresh towel to get rid of bugs.

TOILET: The obvious culprit when looking for hidden hazards in the home. Flushing gets rid of most organisms but some can survive for weeks in a dirty bowl.

Beat the bugs:  Degasify the toilet bowl at least twice a week and scrub regularly to get rid of limescale and scum that might harbour bugs.

COMPUTER: A study of 33 computer keyboards showed that one was five times dirtier than a toilet seat. Two others had “warning” levels bacteria, a bug usually spread by hands not being washed after going to the loo.

Beat the bugs: Don’t eat at the computer, food can spread bugs. And always wash your hands before sitting down to work or play at the screen.

DISH CLOTH: Probably one of the most contaminated items in your home. If cloths are not decontaminated and dried after use, or are left damp for several hours, bacteria grows on the surface. Bugs get attached to the cloth fibres and even detergent will not decontaminate them.

Beat the bugs: Disinfect cloths after use, soak in boiling water or put in washing machine at 60°C.

When you forget the recipe for your famous apple pie and spills apple syrup all over the bottom of the oven, you’ve got a cleaning job on your hands. If you use the self-cleaning feature for that, everyone will be forced outside and the neighbours will call the fire-brigade. While most oven cleaners are not made for self cleaning or continuous cleaning ovens, there are some products you can use to spot clean without causing any damage whatsoever. Follow these steps on how to clean your oven, and do it as often as necessary.

Identify your oven. Remember most oven cleaners are not made for self cleaning or continuous cleaning ovens. The chemicals in these products can damage oven surfaces when exposed to extremely high heat.

For health reasons put gloves on because a chemical that is strong enough to clean the inside of an oven is also strong enough to eat skin! Avoid eye contact especially. It’s also not healthy to breathe the fumes from oven cleaners. A well ventilated area is one that has outside air circulating through.

Choose your cleaner. Many products available at the grocery store will do a fine job of tackling the baked-on build up in your oven. Some brands even make sprays without fumes. Read label directions to be sure the product you buy is right for your type of oven.
Household cleaning products can also be used. Mix ammonia, baking soda, vinegar and water. Apply to oven surfaces and scrub with steel wool.

Remove the racks and preheat the oven to 200 degrees if cleaner requires. Spray a complete coating of cleaner all over the inside of the oven, the walls, floor and ceiling as well as the inside of the door.

In gas ovens, remember to open the bottom flap to clean the boiling surface. Your cleaner may require heating the oven to 200 degrees after spraying. Follow all product directions, including how long to leave it on before wiping.

Wipe clean with a sponge or cloth. Again the rubber gloves are a must. Nylon scrubbers are good for removing any tough spots that don’t simply wipe off.

So you need not worry anymore about cleaning your oven if you follow these instructions.

We are sad that this show on Channel 4 is being closed, it was fun watching and it was nice to see house cleaning made open, we see all kinds of houses from luxury estates to down right water damaged houses, they all need a cleaning and it’s skill and hard work that’s required. That is also why we do this blog to share some of the tips from what we learn when cleaning.

One of the best things with How Clean is your House, was that this question you can ask everyday.

When did you last look on top of your cupboards? or inside your drawers, when did you last vacuum your mattress, when did you last clean your oven, when did you last clean your bathroom fully.

We suggest to have a deep cleaning performed in your house twice a year.

Why because you can avoid getting vermin, moths, mold, mildew and a lot of bugs if you really clean twice a year, we recommend a weekly or bi-weekly thorough cleaning, and weekly cleaning of kitchens and bathrooms.

The more cleaning you get done the less time it takes each time.

Did you ever see some of the things they were showing on how clean is your house, well we see it everyday and it can be so nasty. It can be really bad how some houses are kept.

We especially find tenants to be the worse which is why we offer end of tenancy cleaning and why we do so many of them.

If you are moving in to a new place and even if the landlord has cleaned it, then it’s not necessarily clean, so check behind cubbaords etc and see for yourself, we also also offer move in cleaning to avoid you moving into someone elses mess.

But we are sad to see a good show going, we enjoyed it while it lasted.

How Clean is your house Axed on Channel 4

source:

More and more people are realising the damaging effects that synthetic chemicals are having on the environment and our health. Using eco-friendly cleaning products that work by absorbing and lifting the dirt from the surface, rather than stripping the dirt and the finish like synthetic cleaners is much more in a satisfactory way. I use fresh fruits, plants, malt solutions, minerals and essential oils, which used correctly, are harmless to me, my family and the environment.

I currently make a range of different eco-friendly cleaning products.

Anti-bacterial Cleaner

Great for in the kitchen or any where life makes a mess. With powerful antibacterial properties it will kill germs and bacteria, leave your surfaces clean and your house smelling beautiful. Just spray where needed or on to a cloth and clean. It is made from natural ingredients, minerals, fruits, plants and essential oils.

Anti-bacterial Bathroom Cleaner

A great all purpose bathroom cleaner for grime, lime scale and germs, a strong antibacterial solution to tackle every bathroom’s needs. I am using spray where needed or onto a cloth and clean. Made again from natural ingredients.

Surface Cleaner for Wood and Granite

I am using cleaner created with wooden and granite work tops in mind, using a seed oil base to care for your surfaces, and with minerals, fruits, plants and essential oils to clean. This puts back in what naturally should be there and my wood never looks dull. Just use as a normal surface spray and spray where needed or onto a cloth and clean. It is made from a traditional recipe (you can’t beat a classic) this leaves your glass smear free and shiny. It is also suitable for use on windows, mirrors, stainless steel and chrome.

Glass Cleaner

That’s my favourite cleaning product.  A beautiful blend of seed oils to care for and protect the furniture so they never look dull whether they are sealed or open wood. For use on varnished, waxed or open surfaces. Like the other products, I’m just spraying onto surface or onto a cloth and wipe, you may find you need a bit more on open wood as it soaks in.

My advice to you guys is to use more environmentally ingredients and production. The natural ingredients are bio- degradable and better for the water supply systems. They are safer and less toxic, though they shouldn’t be used in high doses. They won’t irritate skin, to provoke allergic reactions and usually smell nice.

I will agree with some of you that they are normally more expensive than the standard products, but to my mind we and the environment deserve better life.

Having a party in your home can be fun but also stressful so here are a few ideas to help alleviate some of that stress.

First thing to do is to look at the area’s you intend your guests to be using. Then decide as to what you need to remove to keep them from getting damaged, your home is full of keepsakes that you would not like to be broken or lost. These can be put safely into a room your guests will not use.

With that done, you need to cover your soft furniture that you would like to protect. Then give the room a good clean this should include hovering and dusting. Then you need to make sure all the polished surfaces are covered with drink mats and covers that will protect them from glass marks.

Make sure you have plenty of ashtrays around if you are going to let your guests smoke in your home. If you and your family don’t smoke you may want to ask them to go outside into the garden to smoke, again make sure you have ashtrays out there and also a metal bin they can empty these into when they are full. Make sure there are plenty of waste bins around so they can put any used beer tins or bottles into them. This will save some time for you later when you have to put your home back to the way it was. Make sure the outdoor space is clean. Place chairs and tables for them to use. It would be nice if they can hear the music outside so maybe move a speaker outside.

With that done, your kitchen will need to be cleaned and ready for any food that is going to be prepared in there, also clear out any unwanted food out of your fridge so you have the space for the party food. It would be a good idea to have cooler boxes to store your drinks in or maybe another fridge.

Buy paper or plastic plates if it is a buffet style meal and plastic cutlery as this always helps when the party is over in cleaning up, also there won’t be as much washing up for you to do. If it is a sit down meal make sure all your tableware and glassware are clean, the cutlery is clean and polished as this always looks good.

Then all should go well and you can enjoy the party and maybe be the talk of your friends for giving a good party.

Enjoy your party.

Are you obsessed with cleaning?

Do you wish that you could stop but every time you try to, you get major anxiety to the point where it is just unbearable, you break down and give in?

What is the fear that drives you to clean all the time?

This is a disease called O.C.C.D. (Obsessive Compulsive Cleaning Disorder) – A disease that has a quite a few of the world’s population under its clutches. Hereditary in nature, it mainly affects the female of the species, with close to 98% of the cases leading to infections lasting a life time. The male of the species is somehow amazingly resistant or resilient to effects of this deadly strain.

These people know what it’s like to feel like they have to do things that they know are ridiculous and don’t make any sense. One thing that they’ve learned over the years is that when they are obsessed with something there is always a fear driving this obsession.

As humans, our behaviour is driven by two things, to avoid pain or to receive pleasure. In the case of obsessions, it’s usually driven by the avoiding pain part. So now that you know that you are trying to avoid some pain, it’s important to really think about what that pain is that you’re trying to avoid.

It is one of the most comical yet (maybe) the most deadly of various strains of infectious diseases known to man-kind (not necessarily woman-kind). The symptoms of this disease are quite easy to spot. The person shows a maniacal zeal and fervour to the process of cleaning and the art of keeping things clean.

Researchers have yet been unable to figure out whether this is an illness of the mind or the body. But, all evidence seems to point to the former. Though a permanent cure has not and may never be found, researchers have been able to formulate a remedy that at least seems to have some effect in stunting the growth of the disease and to an extent, ameliorate it.

A case study conducted seems to confirm the above postulate. A female was chosen as the subject to increase the chances of finding the disease quickly. Careful study and analysis done over a period of one month has led researchers to the conclusion that the subject in question has undoubtedly been under the influence of the disease for such a long period of time that the medication that was administered was only able to stunt the growth of the illness and un-fortunately, could not ameliorate it.

So going on all this information you need to isolate that fear. Think about how you can face it. Really think about this and spend time pondering the different ways you can face this fear. Once you generate some ideas, it’s time to put them into practice.

So here are some ideas that you can put into practice right now that will guide you along your way.

1.) Refuse to perform the rituals and wait to see if the thing you fear happens or not no matter how major it may be.

2.) Get medication from your doctor to help you deal with the anxiety while you go through this transition period.

3.) Get a buddy to help you. Not to be a crutch, but to challenge you to take action in facing your fears.

4.) Don’t give into to saying, “I just don’t have the will power or the strength, just do it.

Take action: Just take action, period.

Hi,  we are on Twitter.

Yes the craze that has hit everyone has hit us. We are also on twitter, we are currently providing cleaning tips via twitter.

So why not follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/cleaninglondon

We look forward to letting you know about various Cleaning tips and tricks

For now stay happy and have a nice day.

Many younger adults (and some older adults) find that they are not quite sure what it really means to do the dishes. Sometimes we learn the hard way when living with roommates for the first time, that kitchen duty demands more than loading a dishwasher. This article is for anyone who feels kitchen clean-up means just washing the dirty dishes.

Gather all the dirty dishes, not just what is sitting in the kitchen sink. Make sure to check all rooms for cups, glasses and plates. If you have roommates ask them to help gather the dishes. There is nothing more frustrating when doing the dishes then being handed more after you are done.

Whether you have a dishwasher or do them by hand make sure all washing is done properly. This means loading the dishwasher correctly and making sure all dirt, grease and leftovers are gone from those that you do by hand. Wipe the inside of the sink, making sure to remove all food particles.

Next rinse the coffee or tea pot if dirty. This is part of doing dishes, making sure appliances are clean. Wipe the counters, microwave and stove. This is not a chore left for Saturdays or “cleaning day”. Daily cleaning of your kitchen appliances lessen your cleaning day work load and keep bacteria and pests out of your kitchen. My favourite cleaning solution is water and vinegar. The vinegar cuts down the grease and disinfects your surfaces. For an added bonus I add a few drops of grapefruit oil extract to my solution; this is another good disinfectant and leaves your kitchen smelling fresh and clean.